Hello from Naples!
Season has arrived! We love this time of year—out goes the humidity and in come the snowbirds, including many of our close seasonal friends and wonderful neighbors. October was filled with dinners, both at home and out, as we reconnected with friends we hadn’t seen in months. Jeff hosted college friends from Boston for a visit and a guys’ golf weekend, while Nicola enjoyed a well-attended Riverstone ladies’ lunch at Lujack’s and has started playing some evening pickleball at Riverstone.
You can feel the shift everywhere, the lively energy downtown on 5th Avenue, the familiar buzz at local restaurants, and yes, even the telltale sign that season is here: a crowded Costco! We’re excited for the months ahead and hopeful that the quiet hurricane season will give tourism a much-needed boost. Like so many businesses tied to the hospitality industry, we in real estate are looking forward to welcoming back our seasonal residents and visitors. It’s wonderful to see Naples come alive again.
Here is an excerpt of a recent article from Florida Weekly: Autumn Delights at Audubon Swamp
Falls blooms of eastern sunflowers are about to give way to the next visitors’ delights as Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary expands its reach in North Naples. The Sanctuary is in the midst of a $20 million capital campaign and updates to the campus with the first phase of construction focused on enhancing visitors’ experiences with new interpretive signs along the boardwalk and inside the Blair Visitor Center followed by the debut of the Spurlino Foundation Discovery Center exhibit hall, slated for November, said Renee Wilson, media liaison for Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
“We are deep in the permitting process now and have already made some changes to the site,” Wilson said. “As we near the finish line of fundraising for this transformational vision, construction of mission-critical labs and buildings is still slated to begin this winter and spring.”
The Sanctuary is one of the remaining swaths of land functioning as Western Everglades north of Naples, between Bonita Springs and Ave Maria. Corkscrew Swamp, located off Immokalee Road in northeastern Collier County, is a haven for wildlife; cleans and stores water; and provides the nearby human population with a much-needed submersion into nearly undisturbed nature. The fundraising campaign to improve facilities there is continuing with $16.2 million of the $20 million raised as of mid-October, Wilson said.
“Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is built on a 70-year history of staunch supporters and advocates preserving this special place. As proud guardians of 13,000 acres of still-wild Florida land in an ever-changing region, there is no better time to invest in this place to ensure we preserve the quality of life in Southwest Florida — from our watershed to the coasts,” said Sanctuary Director Keith Laakkonen.
“We have an experienced team of planners, architects, and engineers working through the planning and permitting process,” said Wilson.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, now approximately 13,000 acres, was created in large part to preserve the 500-year-old bald cypress trees from the lumber industry in the 1950s. Birds were protected due to over-hunting by the plume industry for fashion prior to that. Now, land and water are the greatest resources at risk due to over-development in the area, Laakkonen said.
The Sanctuary is a leader in conservation in Southwest Florida and to remain that way, the Sanctuary plans to expand and share the science and research they are doing with partners and other conservation leaders, Laakkonen said.
Several of the planned new buildings, such as the laboratory, dormitory and classrooms, will allow Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to deepen their research and share with other organizations the data and land management knowledge that can be used elsewhere.
Construction of the new buildings will occur on footprints that are already disturbed land and with the intent not to affect wetlands, Laakkonen said. This is an important aspect of the plans to the Sanctuary leadership and members, he said.
Many Audubon members have stepped forward with generous gifts. Among them is Paul Pactor, who frequently traverses the 2.25 mile boardwalk taking photographs of the numerous species. His contribution will lead to a construction of an open-air outdoor classroom that can be closed if needed, depending on weather and other conditions.
Most of the existing amenities have remained the same for decades. The most well-known and publicly used building, the Blair Audubon Visitor Center, will remain much as it is. So too will the essential parts of the boardwalk.
The construction project was initially estimated to cost about $20 million, depending on factors that could affect future costs. There is approximately $3.7 million remaining to be funded, Wilson said.
Several large private gifts have helped to fund entire buildings. In addition to the Paul Pactor outdoor classroom, which is an open, shaded space that can be closed and air-conditioned, there is also the John “Jack” Hayworth Western Everglades Research Laboratory, which will continue to expand Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s ability to remain a leader in research, Laakonen said.
Official September 2025 Climate Data at Naples Airport:
October in Naples brought a welcome change of pace, easing us out of rainy season with just under 4 inches of rainfall—far more than last year’s “blink and you missed it” trace amount.. Temperatures stayed warm but manageable, topping out at 94° with lows dipping to 74°, hinting that cooler air isn’t too far off. All in all, it was a gentle transition month—less steam, a bit more sunshine, and the first subtle signs that fall might actually be on its way.
Book Review: “Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall
From its first pages, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall drew me in with its haunting sense of place and the emotional depth of its characters. Set in rural Dorset in the late 1960s, it tells the story of Beth, a farmer’s wife still reeling from the tragic loss of her young son. Her days are shaped by the rhythms of the farm and the quiet endurance of grief, until Gabriel, the man she once loved, unexpectedly returns. His arrival stirs up memories and emotions Beth thought she’d buried, unraveling the fragile stability of her marriage and her carefully ordered life.
At the heart of the novel lies a mystery, a violent crime that shocks the small farming community and forces Beth to confront uncomfortable truths about the people she loves. Clare Leslie Hall blends emotional depth with an undercurrent of suspense, painting a vivid portrait of rural life where beauty and brutality coexist.
What I admired most is the author’s ability to capture both the physical landscape, the frozen fields, the cold Dorset light, and the inner terrain of a woman torn between duty, loss, and desire. It’s a story about grief, resilience, and the power of confronting the past, told with quiet elegance and emotional precision. Broken Country is beautifully written and quietly haunting. It is the kind of novel that leaves you reflecting on the choices that shape a life.
Here are a couple reviews on Amazon for Broken Country:
“Beautifully written with lots of unexpected turns. A story of true and unending love and forgiveness. The ending is the best.”
“Great storytelling about real people and real emotions. Life doesn't always go like you think it's going to turn out... But true love Is always there and never dies. great book!”
“This story grabbed me from the first paragraphs. The author made me feel the protagonist’s emotions deeply and kept me riveted throughout the book. It is a tragic love story set in the sixties but felt timeless. I completely enjoyed the book.”
Restaurant Recommendation: Amber Cove 885 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Naples, FL
If you’re familiar with the Pavilion Plaza at US-41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road, you might remember KC American Bistro, a long-time local favorite. The restaurant recently changed hands and has been reimagined as Amber Cove, now under new ownership. Since we had always enjoyed KC, we decided to give this new spot a try.
Amber Cove is conveniently located near the movie theater, making it the perfect place to enjoy dinner before or after a show. The interior has been refreshed with a lighter, more coastal look that complements their seafood-forward menu. We arrived early before a movie, and the service was wonderfully attentive—the new owner even stopped by our table for a friendly chat, which was a nice personal touch.
We sampled the Crab & Fish Cakes, Beet Salad, Hazelnut Grouper, and Lobster Linguine. The linguine was a bit sweet for my taste, but everything else was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. All in all, Amber Cove feels like a welcome addition to the North Naples dining scene—polished yet relaxed, with a menu that invites you to linger and explore. We’ll be back to see how it continues to evolve.
Here are a few recent reviews on Open Table:
“Excellent service and exceptional dining experience! My recent visit was truly superb. The presentation was beautiful, the cuisine was expertly prepared, and the service was equally impressive. The owner provided personal attention, demonstrating a palpable passion for his business. He has created something special, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sophisticated dinner. I highly recommend Amber Cove for a dining experience that you will genuinely appreciate. I eagerly anticipate returning to indulge in another exceptional dining experience.”
“Wow, this is a great new fine dining restaurant in Naples! Lovely ambiance, nice cocktail & wine list, knowledgeable staff, tasty, interesting & beautifully plated meals, a completely wonderful experience. We tried beet salad, Caesar salad, short ribs & grouper, plus 7-layer carrot cake, all delicious. We will be back.”
Naples Real Estate: Here are the October 2025 Naples & Bonita Springs market statistics.
For the first ten months of 2025, there were 8,658 closed sales in Naples and Bonita Springs, a slight 1% decline from the 8,739 closings recorded during the same period last year. While most price ranges experienced decreases, the most notable slowdowns occurred between $700,001 and $3 million, down 11% and 9% respectively. The under $300,000 segment was the only category to post meaningful growth, up 41%. This jump likely reflects both a shift in buyer demand toward more affordable properties and an increase in the availability of lower-priced homes.
The following table offers a snapshot comparison of sales activity through October 2025 versus last year:
As the following table shows, the level of inventory varies by price point:
Overall inventory rose slightly in October, increasing from a 7-month supply in September to an 8-month supply. This uptick reverses several months of flat or declining inventory and aligns with a seasonal pattern as sellers position their homes for early-arriving snowbirds and winter visitors. Inventory is especially elevated in the luxury segment, where homes priced over $3 million now represent a 13-month supply. The broader trend suggests that while buyers are enjoying more choices, sellers may need to remain flexible with pricing and expectations as the market continues to balance.
Riverstone Real Estate:
Riverstone is the community where Jeff and Nicola live. Riverstone has numerous amenities available for residents to enjoy. You can spend days swimming and relaxing at the community resort-style pool, playing tennis, taking a fitness class or socializing in the community’s private clubhouse. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Riverstone as of November 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 19 active listings and 3 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 43 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 3.58 per month, there is 5.3 months of inventory at Riverstone.
Stonecreek Real Estate:
Stonecreek is the sister community to Riverstone, about a mile up Logan Blvd. and was built by the same developer, GL Homes. Both communities offer social, vacation-inspired lifestyles with extensive amenities & A-rated schools. Stonecreek is a bit newer and home prices in this community tend to be a bit higher than Riverstone. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Stonecreek as of November 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 18 active listings and 1 pending sale. The MLS system lists 33 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 2.75 per month, there is 6.5 months of inventory at Stonecreek.
Valencia Trails Real Estate:
Valencia Trails is the active, adult community about 5 miles east on Immokalee Road from Riverstone and was built by the same developer, GL Homes. As a 55+ lifestyle community, Valencia Trails offers even more amenities than Riverstone and Stonecreek including a 43,00 SF clubhouse, that includes a theater for live performances, a spa, a restaurant and pool bar. The fitness facilities and calendar of events are extensive. Here’s a look at the MLS market in Valencia Trails as of November 6, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 21 active listings and 2 pending sales. The MLS system lists 51 homes sold in the last 12 months; however, this number includes many new construction and builder spec homes.
Give us a call if we can help with any real estate questions you have at 239-451-9351.
