Jill Kushner - Specializing in The Colony Golf & Bay Club, Bonita Springs, Florida FL - Downing-Frye Realty Inc.

Colony high rises differ from one another in many different ways. With the intended mission of providing something for everyone, each of the 6 high rises have different floor plans, different number of total residences and the amenity lobby levels are unique in every one, including their garages.
Often those who are intermittent Colony residents, who rent a car on their way from the airport and to
The Colony, might elect a leaner garage option. Both Sorrento and Navona have one deeded covered parking space and one additional space for each residence.
Navona's garage, while attached to the building, sits directly to the south of the building. This can present a challenge for those schlepping luggage and provisions to the their place on the north side of the building. By and large, most Navona residents are not concerned with perceived inconvenience.
Sorrento garage is placed under the building, making a more balanced critical path to everyone's front door.

Treviso and Florencia both offer two deeded spaces in their garages which sit below the building. That one additional space has inspired many former Sorrento or Navona residents to move over to one of these two.
And Treviso offers private garages inside the under building garage, as does Palermo and La Scala.
Trivial to some, many people who were concerned about forfeiting the garage feature of a single-family home found this to be the perfect solution. #1503 Palermo, as an example, has a 2-car private garage in the Palermo garage, with air conditioned storage room. There's ample space as well for bicycles, clubs, etc.
When we were selling these buildings on a pre-construction basis, private garages came at a premium...usually $100k. There are only a few in each of these buildings and they are, as well, deeded.

When we get together to see some of these beautiful high rises, we can find out which parking spaces are associated with the homes you most prefer, as the information is usually included on the Seller's Disclosure. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Many times over the years, I have contracted on property for clients whose primary residence is elsewhere.
This week I helped some clients-turned-friends purchase a piece of property. Busy in their work, they couldn't fly here but didn't want to miss the opportunity to seriously consider this investment purchase.
I was their eyes to view the residence, confirming, in their absence, what they saw on the web was actually what they were making an offer on. Client on the other end of a phone call I place as I approach the property, I provide a narrative during the tour.
I could corroborate the current value of the property and submit an educated assessment, based on closed sales of comparable units.

Castella at The Colony Golf & Bay Club

A good buyer's agent asks many questions of the client. This takes time, particularly if the property is something they want to live in versus an investment property.
I knew what these clients were looking for. I knew my client. And the property I located on their behalf, had met an exceeded the stated goals. Thoroughness includes the evaluation of the property's re-saleability but the primary goal of this property was its ability to produce rental income.
Having been in the local real estate market for many years, I had more than a notion of what to look for on the tour; both good and bad. And I understand the value of hiring a licensed inspector.
I am experienced and trustworthy but still humble enough to know what's outside of my skill set and that includes rendering legal opinions. Hiring a board certified Florida real estate attorney is optional however, I highly recommend it. Here in Bonita and Naples for something like $700, you ensure comprehension of the language in contract and how you can exercise the clauses suggested.
When interviewing agents, ask where and what kind of real estate represents the majority of their experience. If unimproved land, perhaps there's a better choice in seeking perspective on condominium purchases.

Florencia 901

The weather word is that the "north" is experiencing hotter temps and humidity than we are here in Bonita. The number of folks in residence here at The Colony Golf and Bay Club is pretty low. An in-season percentage of people in residence at any of our high rises might be around 50%. This time of year we hover around 15% of capacity. So, Florencia, where I will be sitting Open House today, with its 116 homes, might have 20 units occupied. But really this is THE BEST time of year to enjoy Bonita Springs.
Funny enough, new high rise, such as those in The Colony, are really built to withstand storm conditions beyond some of the best single family building codes. Additionally, the contemporary building theme endeavors to consider the "what ifs" of a storm.
For example, Treviso, La Scala, Florencia are among 3 of the high rises that during a power loss with convert to generator power, making the elevators operable and much of the lobby level still lighted and air conditioned.
All of these high rises built with impact glass making hurricane shutters more of a luxury convenience to keep debris off furniture than the duplicate effort to protect the home.
High rises are such a wonderful solution for a secondary home purchase. They are designed with the idea in mind that management oversees scheduled mechanical maintenance of each individual unit and pest control, as two examples, always "watching the ship", all year long, when everyone is here and like now when their trying to enjoy their summers up north. Come home SOON!

I consider living in Bonita Springs a privilege. I moved to Naples in 1984 and fell in love immediately. When I moved to Bonita Springs, I thought I'd find myself regularly returning to Naples because it was far more established, more sophisticated.
What I came to experience was much different. With the advent of the Coconut Mall, some of the state's best road systems & city plan, convenience to beach, ease and proximity to airport & I75, frankly its rare I find a need to return to Naples.
My move to Bonita was largely inspired by love for and success in selling Colony Golf and Bay Club homes and high rises. I wanted to live nearer to my business.

The Colony buyers and sellers of homes have been very loyal to me. I have dedicated my real estate practice to listing homes in The Colony Golf and Bay Club with a special focus on working with Colony buyers, as well.While I have a lots of experience in selling real estate in other areas, I feel we got the best gig going here in Bonita Springs!
Understanding the high rise business is a bit different than single family homes. Communicating how highly amenitized communities work, like The Colony, requires a special presentation to buyers and one lots of agents don't completely understand themselves. How will they be able to "paint the picture" to the buyer? Agents like me are here to help these agents, too.
My observation is when a buyer who formerly only thought to purchase in Naples, actually experiences our Bonita Springs and particularly what The Colony has to offer in terms of privacy, private dining, golf, private beach park and tennis, all of which is situated curbside to the Bay and Gulf, this makes for a very privileged life.

Great opportunity for those looking to buy a ready-made, professionally decorated, corner residence with a million dollar view for $649k, Navona #1201:
http://www.rickbethem.com/Navona-1201/
The Colony Golf and Bay Club is a gated community offering equity golf, tennis, sailing, kayaking and a private beach park.

This residence is really a great selection in that it has 3 beds/3.5 baths and guest suites available when you have more family than you have bedrooms. The views are absolutely spectacular.
Let's set a time to show you around this lovely place.