Hello from Naples!
Last month was a wonderful combination of business and pleasure. On the business front, many sellers entered the market, and we feel very fortunate that so many homeowners trusted us to help list and sell their properties this season. February kept us busy with staging, photos and videos, social media posts, marketing materials, open houses, and showings.
On the personal side, we celebrated Jeff’s birthday on February 25th. Throughout the month we also enjoyed some great time with friends—hosting a game night at our home, attending the Nate Bargatze comedy show, rocking out to The Alter Eagles cover band at Valencia Trails, playing golf and sharing a few evenings out to dinner. The month seemed to fly by, though it always does this time of year. Season in Naples has a way of keeping everyone moving!
Here is an excerpt of a recent article from Naples Daily News: When will 2 major SW Florida projects including Costco open this year?
A hot topic you've been raising is regarding construction of the newest planned Costco in Southwest Florida including from readers Kay Anthon, Vivian Nelson and Geri Anger. "This new Costco in Naples is going to be excellent ― can't wait to check it out," said reader Wayne Rose. "When is it planned on being done and open?"
Where is the next Costco store planned for in Southwest Florida?
With more family-friendly attractions like the Great Wolf Lodge, Collier Boulevard has been bubbling with growth bursts, where commissioners last year approved a controversial Costco, the second for the county.
The 26-acre chosen site for the members-only warehouse club sits at the southeast corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Snake Hammock Road, within the Hacienda Lakes Planned Unit Development. The plan submitted to the county shows a nearly 162,700-square-foot store, with about 820 parking spaces, and enough gas pumps to serve 24 vehicles at a time.
How long does it take to typically construct Costco in America?
Once construction starts, it takes 110 days to build a Costco store, according to the big-box retailer's longtime architects MG2, thanks to a highly efficient building process. But it might actually even take less time than that.
By when could the new Costco in Southwest Florida be open?
County officials said last week that Costco is hoping to launch construction as soon as this month as part of a spring start goal of getting it done in about 100 days. Even though there's still some moving parts, Collier folks are anticipating a ribbon cutting happening by early fall if all the pieces come together.
The enterprise received some opposition from nearby neighbors, who said they reached a settlement late last year with Costco. That's expected to lead to enhanced signage to improve pedestrian safety and more landscaping plus a $35,000 donation to the Esplanade community for improvements that should make access easier for residents.
How much did Costco pay for its newest Southwest Florida site?
County records show Costco paid $19.4 million for its parcel last autumn. The county's only Costco, off Naples Boulevard, north of Pine Ridge Road and west of Airport-Pulling Road, opened in 1999.
More conversations come could this year about a potential Costco along Cape Coral's Pine Island Road corridor that officials have said the company has been eyeing without making public pronouncements. With zoning changes, the city of Fort Myers also has cleared the way for a Costco replacement off Colonial Boulevard.
Official February 2026 Climate Data at Naples Airport:
February was COLD. We are not used to prolonged cold weather in Naples, but February 2026 reminded all the residents what it feels like to be around the freezing mark. Not many of us liked it! We had several days of temperatures in the 30’s. Some inland areas did dip below freezing and there was concern for the crops. We also heard that there was snow in the air inland. People posted pictures of snowflakes in the air, but it didn’t reach the ground.
Book Review: “Tell Me Lies” by J.P. Pomare
This is a taut, unsettling psychological thriller that explores the fragile line between professional duty and personal obsession, and how easily a carefully constructed life can be dismantled by a single lie. The narrative centers on Margot, a psychologist whose life is defined by order and clinical distance—until a new client arrives who seems to know the intimate details of a past she thought she’d left behind. As their sessions progress, the story unfolds through a shifting sense of reality, where the boundaries between therapist and patient begin to dangerously blur.
No character is exactly who they appear to be; Pomare expertly crafts a sense of claustrophobia, where every conversation feels like a high-stakes chess match. This narrative design amplifies the suspense, turning every session into a puzzle piece that makes you question Margot’s own reliability as much as her client’s. It’s a sharp, expertly paced thriller that rewards close attention. It certainly kept my attention; I did not want to put it down.
Here are a couple reviews on Amazon for Tell Me Lies:
“I was completely wowed by this book. For the first quarter or so, it seemed like more or less just a very well-written drama of the garden variety. But the author has many hands to play and she plays them extremely well. There are shades of Poe's tortured narrator style of writing here. The final third of the book is a heart-thumping ride through... Well, I don't want to give too much away. Excellent read and an awesome surprise. Will look for more from this author.!”
“This was such a good book. Hold you seat, it will take you on an amazing ride.”
“There is nothing like the lies we tell ourselves. This isn't what I would consider my normal kind of book, but the telling of Margo's story, the craftsmanship that has you thinking you know everything just to drop a bomb on you with the last couple of paragraphs is nothing short of breathtaking. Very well crafted thriller.!”
Restaurant Review: HB’s 801 Gulf Shore Blvd. S. Naples
We had been eagerly anticipating the grand reopening of HB's, formerly located at the old Naples Beach Hotel. After the hotel was demolished and replaced by the new Four Seasons, the developers thoughtfully recreated the beloved beach bar and HB's restaurant, preserving much of what longtime patrons appreciated while introducing a fresh, more sophisticated aesthetic.
Knowing how difficult reservations can be to secure, I booked a table in November to celebrate Jeff's February birthday. The new hotel and restaurant are undeniably beautiful. The sunset view from the dining room was spectacular, and the ambiance is exactly what one would expect from a Four Seasons property--polished, elegant, and serene.
Unfortunately, the service did not rise to that same standard. While the setting felt five-star, the attentiveness felt far more casual. When I think of the elevated, intuitive service and culinary precision at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, HB's simply did not compare. Our server was frequently absent, slow to respond, and did not address concerns thoroughly. At a restaurant of this caliber, having to request water refills--twice--is disappointing.
The meal itself was inconsistent. We began with cocktails, a smoked trout dip, and an octopus appetizer. Both were solid and enjoyable. For our entrées, we ordered the grouper and grilled lobster. We were told the grouper was black grouper; however, having enjoyed both varieties many times, this appeared and tasted more like red grouper, which is less premium. Beyond that, the portion was modest, and the accompaniments were minimal. The lobster was particularly disappointing--overcooked in some areas and undercooked in others--paired with a very small bowl of raw greens that did little to elevate the plate.
The bar may be worth visiting for a sunset cocktail, as the setting truly is stunning. However, based on our experience, we would not return for dinner.
Here are a few recent reviews on Open Table:
“Beautiful venue. Service was slow and not attentive. My recommendation would be to review menu on line before making a reservation. Scallops were excellent, as was the tuna appetizer. Oysters were overpriced, and not tasty. Dessert menu very limited.”
“Beautiful venue. Friendly staff at drop off. Did not care for the lobster salad in the roll. Was chopped in tiny pieces and tasted like artificial crab salad from the deli case. The spice was overpowering. Side salad was nice. Wrong dessert was brought and staff did not come by after it was delivered to check. Latte came when we were ready to leave. Was disappointing especially for the Four Seasons!”
“Beautiful Gulf views right on the beach. Food was excellent, although a couple of nightly specials would be a good addition. Service was timed right and attentive.”
Naples Real Estate: Here are the February 2026 Naples & Bonita Springs market statistics.
2026 YTD numbers through the end of February are encouraging. We can see that overall closed sales are up 10% versus YTD 2025 and while closed sales in the higher price point homes are down slightly (2%), all other prices points are showing increases.
The following table provides a snapshot comparison of sales activity through February 2026 versus February 2025.
As the following table shows, the level of inventory varies by price point:
Overall, the Naples/Bonita market has an average of 9 months of supply. Interestingly the months climb by one month based on priced until you look at the over $3.0M market. The Wakelin team believes that a balanced market is about 6 months of supply. You can clearly see that we are in buyers’ market
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 March 4, 2026:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 22 active listings, 4 pending sale and 3 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 40 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 3.33 per month, there is 6.6 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 March 4, 2026:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 17 active listings, 2 pending sales and 2 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 34 homes sold in the last 12 months. With average monthly sales at 2.83 per month, there is 6.0 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 January 2, 2025:
Here’s a breakdown of what’s currently on the market in MLS:
There are 35 active listings and 1 sale pending and 6 sales pending with contingencies. The MLS system lists 45 homes sold in the last 12 months; however, this number includes many new construction and builder spec homes. With average monthly sales 3.75 per month, there is about 9.3 months of inventory at Valencia Trails.
With over $300M in closes sales, The Wakelin Team as the experience to move you! Give us a call if we can help with any real estate questions you have at 239-451-9351.
