Don't deny it! Summer is on your mind. For all you snowbirds out there, summer is NOW and for locals, summer will be here before we know it. Check out these designs and "hacks" below for some stellar pool ideas. 

Whether your pool is modern, traditional, small, or unique -THIS IS FLORIDA! Paradise living is not complete without a pool. If your home does not have a pool, increase its value by adding a pool. Call Homes By Bill and Katie for a pool builder referral and complete your dream. Here is a list of a few types of pools for you to choose from: 

1. Modern- Characterized by lines and geometric shapes, modern pools offer vivid color and in-set spas. 
2. Mediterranean- Known for their aqua water color and roman or greek shapes. Stone decks are usually popular with ceramic tiles around the pool. Waterfalls are a popular feature in Mediterranean pool. 
​3. Traditional- Usually surrounded by brick of pavers, traditional pools are timeless. Traditional pools can be rectangular shaped or kidney shaped. The water color is usually natural looking like a lake or a pond. 
4. Tropical- Bring the vacation to you! Planters, waterfalls, mosaic, and boulders will complete your "tropic" feel in your own backyard. 

NARBOR (Naples Area Board of REALTORS), tracks home listings and sales within the Collier County area -excluding Marco Island. The market concludes the year of 2015 with the only difference between this year and last, is that the inventory is much LOWER than last year. What does this mean? It means that prices are increasing as is demand. 

Most pending sales near the end of 2015 average over $300,000, and homes over $1M are more abundant. Home market prices are rising, so buy or sell NOW. 

On the flip side, homes under $300,000 are going fast with the number of first home buyers, retirees, and boomerang buyers, increasing in Naples. Competition is high, which is good for sellers -not so much for buyers. It’s more important now than ever, to have an experienced realtor when purchasing a home in Naples. 

When selling your home, know that the days on the market have decreased. There’s no time like today to list your home. Call Homes By Bill and Katie!

Open floor plans have been very popular over these past decade. Is this about to change? Many architects are stating that the trend may change soon that home buyers may require more walls. 
Mobile technology is creating a desire for more privacy. “Fragmented” spaces may be more popular for individuals who work from home, need to have a quite space, or purely enjoy their privacy. Open spaces lack privacy and deter from focus. Studies and television rooms may see a comeback verses a great room. Split-level floor plans may be used more often to help divide open spaces without closing them off entirely. 
It always depends on what you and your family are looking for in a home, but walls may be coming back. Everything is cyclical. 
What do you think about walls? Let us know @homesbybillnkat on Twitter or on our Facebook page! 

Are you looking for something fun to do this Halloween, especially since it's on a Saturday this year?! Stay safe whether it's you and friends, or a loved one, or the entire family. Check out these events and we're sure you'll have a wonderfully, frightful time! Now's the time to face your fears. Happy Halloween from Homes By Bill and Katie. 

“Gross” House- Collier Fairgrounds

October 23, 24, 30, and 31. Gates open at 7 PM until 11 PM. There will be hay rides, food vendors, costume contest, and more! See full details here. 

Halloween in the Park- Bonita Springs

Celebrate a safe Halloween at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. Vendors will have candy to give away and other prizes. Costumes encouraged! See more here. 

5th Annual Spooktacular on 5th

Live music, kid’s activities, trick or treat, pet costume contest, night at the museum (haunted house), and an adult costume contest complimented by fun for all ages! See more here. 

Monster Mash at The Village

Join us for a frightfully good time! Face painting, Sharkey the Pirate, pumpkin decorating, complimentary photos, arts and crafts, trick or treating, and even meet real wild animals! See more here. 

Farmer Mike’s 1st Annual Fall Festival
A Halloween-themed corn maze for all ages, hay rides, pumpkin patches, and Fridays are “Flashlight Fridays.” See more here!

Hello! I was asked to write a guest blog for my good friends Bill and Katie, here. I recently went to GL Homes' new and growing development, Riverstone in North Naples. Well, here it is: 

The location is very well in North Naples -well desired and growing along Immokalee road. Riverstone is located off of a short road back that's connected to Logan Boulevard. It's secluded enough, but only about 10 minutes to any amenities. When you pull up the elongated drive, you will see waterfalls and a beautiful gated entrance. There are guards (at this time it seems only on the weekends as there's construction still going on). The security guards are pleasant and thorough. He even took my husband's business card! Our drive to the home I was visiting was brief once we entered the community. The new home we were visiting is just over a year old and recently purchased. Looking around, you can see many new homes as this is a newer community and MY, are they beautiful! There are many varieties of homes in the community, 1-story and 2-story, in different models.

After dinner, we took a short stroll to the Clubhouse of Riverstone. Friendly neighbors waved at us as we walked down the streets. Nice cars surrounded us, and even a Lamborghini was seen! The Clubhouse has recreation rooms with a pool table, foosball, and ping pong. There is even a Pac-Man game in the "kids" room. There are activities for everyone in the family: a lap pool, recreational pool, playground, tennis courts, outdoor basketball, AND indoor basketball!

There is a special key used for all entry and re-entry to the clubhouse and is amenities. I think anyone looking to purchase in North Naples needs to see Riverstone. It's not a golf community, but you'll see a hefty difference in HOA fees compared to one. If you're not a golfer, it won't bother you a bit! If you are, there are plenty within driving distance! Visit Riverstone today and remember to call Homes By Bill and Katie to see it!

This just in: Hammerhead shark found butchered in Estero bay. Read full article here: 

A Hammerhead shark was found in Estero bay to have seemed to be killed for its jaw. A creature's life for a wall decoration item or sale. These species are protected by laws, but the laws are only good if people obey by them. 

Sharks play a huge role in our ecosystem, as do all creatures. We know that there has been more sharks in the news for showing up on shores, and "attacking", but now this? The sharks have been here long before we have, and ONLY with our help, will they be here long after we've gone. 

We don't know about you, but we feel that all laws are in place to protect these creatures for a reason. The laws are there not only to protect us, but everything around us. When one shark is destroyed, it effects the whole ecosystem below it. Fishing is a great sport and recreation in Naples, Florida and surrounding areas, but it needs to be taken seriously. Catch and return when you can! We're on board with raising awareness of how important sharks are to our ecosystem -join us by learning more here!

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | RELEASED FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

Inventory Shortages Keeping Home Sales Low- Home sales will pick up to a solid 5.3 million this year and are expected to hit 5.5 million next year, but until inventory constraints improve, the country’s large pent-up demand for home sales can’t be met, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said at the 2015 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C.

Overall, the economy is on a steady growth track, with solid job formation, continuing low interest rates, and the large millennial generation entering its peak household-formation years. But with buyers having to compete for a limited selection of properties in many markets across the country, home prices are rising fast, making it hard for many first-time buyers to get into the market.

Yun’s concerned that, as a result of these conditions, many households risk missing out on the wealth-building effect of home ownership at a time of low interest rates and strong price appreciation. “Young people are in a position to leave their parents’ home because job growth is picking up, but the lack of inventory and rising prices is making that hard,” he said.

For lawmakers, there are important policy implications, because home ownership is the path most people take to building wealth. As more households find their options limited to renting, inequality—already rising across the country—will worsen. “Without home ownership, many people will not be able to enter the middle class,” he said.

Despite the need for more inventory, builders are concentrating on the multifamily rental market right now, because that’s where the demand is, said Robert Dietz, vice president for tax and market analysis for the National Association of Home Builders. Dietz, speaking at the same forum on residential issues and trends, said the renter population has been the big growth story in real estate since the economic recovery began several years ago.

There’s plenty of interest among builders to fill the need for more single-family homes, too, but small builders, who historically have been responsible for building two-thirds of new homes each year, can’t get the acquisition and development financing they need to get back into the market. Lenders want them to have buyers already lined up before they give them financing, Dietz said, making it hard for builders to get inventory in the market for buyers to look at. Also keeping housing starts down are a lack of skilled labor and a shortage of developed lots, he said. Prices of building materials are on the rise, too.

Yun is forecasting 1.1 million housing starts this year, rising to 1.4 million next year. Prices are on track to rise 6 percent this year and then ease to a sustainable 4 percent next year, as more homes come on the market. He predicts long-term mortgage rates will stay at a low 4 percent this year, rising to 5.2 percent next year. Yun said interest rates will continue to rise, but he doesn’t expect big jumps in the years ahead because inflation remains in check and energy prices aren’t expected to go up to any significant degree in the years ahead.