Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2012
Back in my prior global 500 life, before moving full-time to Naples, Florida, my business partners listened to a visiting economics professor from the University of Chicago (think more Nobel Prizes in economics than any other institution in the world). The main theme of the talk in 1995? “Follow The Blue Hairs!.”
The professor’s point was all about demographics and the extreme wave of baby boomers headed through the economy and eventually into retirement. A human “bubble” if you will of kids (like me) born in the post WWII world in greater numbers than we have seen historically causing a disproportionate impact on just about everything – school size, traffic, insurance, business … Find businesses and services which cater to this human wave – the advice went – and you will ride a very favorable economic wave. You’ve heard it before. Ok, these boomers are retiring, now what?
Hmmm. How about real estate destinations favored by retirees? According to White Sands Realty on 1/2/12 this week “Florida is winning top awards for it’s great weather (averaging 75 degrees Fahrenheit year round) charm, and laid-back sophistication on the Gulf coast. In the last few months, both Bankrate.com and Portfolio.com have named Naples, Florida as one of the top retirement destinations in the U.S.”
Now the weather here is nice of course and in particular this time of year we have folks step off the plane at Southwest Regional Airport for the first time, breath in that warm southern air in the middle of January and wow – it hits them. They can be outside year round and feel that glorious sun.
One not so secret fact known to us locals is Naples has more to offer than just sunshine. It seems many of our local business are “following the blue hairs” with products and services just fine. Naples Community Hospital for example was rated number one in the state and number 5 nationally for cardiac care and top ratings for orthopedics (think knee replacements, etc.). Health care is good here, longevity clinics, organic eateries (we even have a dry cleaner with organic solvents) – lots of health minded stuff.
If you get bored here it is your own darn fault. Plenty to do from sports (golf, tennis, bike …) and plenty of leagues and clubs and team and events to go with them. The White Sands Realty report confirms the Naples lifestyle is as attractive as the winter. They go on to report Naples “(received) additional rankings as ‘top 10 beach town’ and ‘top 10 art town,’. I am not sure the place really fits the traditional idea of “retirement” with active folks never slowing down.
By the way there are plenty of young folks here too. And the best part for real estate and business here, the migration of our up north friends to Naples for season or full year living is driving demand for Naples products and services. You have to like the state’s model of zero income tax (that’s right) and balanced budgets due in part to tourism and our sales tax model. Come on down and join an economically vibrant warm and active town – year round outdoor living with plenty of lifestyle in a beautiful part of creation.
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No legal or investment advice or suggestions are being given in this Blog. Actual real estate price and sales results are subject to market forces and are not completely predictable. Please consult a lawyer or investment advisor for such legal and investment advice. The writings of this Blog are intended for the sole use of our clients.
Mark Goebel, PA is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker on 5th avenue in Naples, Florida with 35+ years of visiting and living in Naples. After 25 years at Accenture, Mark retired as a managing director and spends his time helping non profits and building a Naples real estate team with his wife Nan. Talk to Mark and Nan about life in Naples and why they chose this place to live full-time over all others and enjoy Naples real estate.
Mark Goebel, PA
REALTOR
Mobile: 239.595.3921
Email: mark.c.goebel@gmail.com
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