Finding a slice of paradise in Port Royal Naples

Sitting on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, dazzling white sand between your toes, tropical warm Gulf waters, nothing to worry about except choosing a restaurant for dinner, or wondering if you want to come back in the evening to watch the sun go down.

The reasons for moving to Florida, or buying a second home there are many, but the scenario above is probably one of the most common.  Visitors from all over the world visit Naples, stay for a vacation, then decide they want to keep coming back, so they call a Realtor and before you know it they have their own little piece of paradise to return to year, after year, after year. 

Let’s face it, who wouldn’t want a property in Naples, voted one of the happiest and healthiest places to live in during a recent Gallup Poll.  

When I first came to Naples over 25 years ago it was as a tourist, like many others escaping the winter cold in Illinois.  Back then the most memorable part of this my first trip to the Gulf Coast, was on an evening sunset cruise, along Naples back bay, in and out of the many canals in Port Royal, where some of the most magnificent and expensive homes sit on the water's edge.  Tantalizingly close, but completely out of reach, at least for my pocket.  

But, I had hope, interspersed between the mansions, here and there sat older, smaller homes, that looked like they could be in my price range.  These home’s, together with the charm of Olde Naples had me in their grasp.  If I had stretched my wallet back then over 25 years ago, I could now be living, if not in a mansion, at least in one of the small old Florida homes in Port Royal. 

I would like to be able to say I did what my gut was telling me to do.  But like so many of us, before I could buy a home in Naples, I first have to sell my Illinois property, convince my whole family that moving south was the right thing to do. Plus, my real estate business up north was doing splendidly, to leave all that behind would be hard. 

However, years later, happily I accomplished my goal!  I recently took a boat out in the Back Bay, this time with friends for relaxation, during the boat trip I saw a small older home, nicely kept, but definitely in need of updating, it made me think just how few of these old homes now exist, new mansions are being built steadily along the shoreline, finding a bargain in Port Royal or Aqualane Shores is now almost a thing of the past.

But still, Naples has many opportunities for home ownership, the town is expanding rapidly with new communities connected by an ever-growing road system, offering a choice, from small one bedroomed condos to million dollar homes on Port Royal and everything in between. 

So, to all the visitors who sit on Naples pristine beach thinking of how nice it would be to have their own little slice paradise in this wonderful, happy and healthy town. I hope your dreams become plans, that one day in the not too distant future, you too will have your own home.   Here in this wonderful town where it’s summer all year round, where wondering whether to go to the beach to watch the sun go down or choosing a restaurant for dinner, are some of the only decisions you have to make.