FLORIDA
Southern Gulf Coast
Florida’s mild west T
TUCKED AWAY IN THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF THE GULF COAST, NAPLES AND ITS ENVIRONS IS ONE OF FLORIDA’S MOST UNDERSTATED AND EXCLUSIVE AREAS. HERE’S WHAT’S WAITING FOR YOU THERE
WORDS LIZ ROWLINSON
here’s a saying down in south- west Florida that if you take the glitz out of Miami, you get Naples. Certainly there’s a
world of difference between these two sides of the Sunshine State. It’s cosmopolitan and lively at
Miami’s South Beach on the Atlantic coast, but two hours’ drive across the state to the quieter Gulf-coast towns the money is much less obvious. Don’t let appearances fool you: Naples has plenty of cash, with the second highest count of Forbes 500-listed CEOs in the United States (after New York), and properties were more expensive per square metre than Beverly Hills – until the downturn.
Yet property prices are up 11 per cent on last year, according to Charles Peerless at Winkworth International Developments (international.
winkworth.co.uk), who says that British buyers love Naples for the standard of living, its clean, manicured feel and subtle affl uence. “It reminds me of Salcombe [in Devon] for its ambience,” says the agent who deals in properties of $800,000 (£485K)-plus, “except for all the private jets lining up on a Sunday evening to take the second- home owners back to New York.” However, there’s something to suit all budgets in this region, which includes Fort Myers, Cape Coral,
Inset Pier at sunset in Naples,
Main A home in typical tropical surroundings in Sanibel
Bonita Springs, Estero, and the popular island of Sanibel/Captiva. Naples itself is favoured by most British buyers, who tend to seek second homes to which they can semi-retire, according to British-born Elaine Osbond who has sold property there for 18 years (www.
amerivestrealty.com): “Many people will stay up to six months, keeping a car at their property, which will usually be within 20 minutes of the beach. Most communities are. “Short-term rentals are not widespread, but possible at a few condo high-rises near the Ritz- Carlton/Vanderbilt Beach, or at the communities of The Shores, Briarwood and Berkshire Lakes.” Elaine highlights Briarwood and
Berkshire Lakes as very popular communities, located 20 minutes inland in East Naples, close to amenities and the Interstate 75 which goes to Tampa or Miami. You can fi nd good deals here too: “Naples has foreclosures, and this is a great
JUNE 2011 A PLACE IN THE SUN 51
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