|
|
Give Me A Call Today! (239) 770-0561
|
|
Bonita Bay Real Estate Newsletter
October | 2025
|
|
|
Greetings from Bonita Bay!
As of October 1, 2025, there are 73 active listings in our area multiple listing service (MLS) in Bonita Bay; 12 less than last month.
For comparison, last year on Oct. 1, there were 81 listings in Bonita Bay.
There are 16 single-family homes on the market from $770,000 to $5,999,000. The average list price is $2,585,494 and the average days on the market is 169. The combined days on the market is 192.
There are 32 listings in the carriage, mid-rise, townhouse, and attached villa market with prices ranging from $350,000 to $795,000. The average list price is $564,322 and the average days on the market is 165. The combined days on the market is 187.
In the high-rise market, there are 25 active listings in Bonita Bay ranging in price from $723,000 to $5,495,000. The average list price is $2,385,505 and the average days on the market is 204. The combined days on the market is 239.
A reminder, you have access to the most comprehensive website devoted to Bonita Bay, BonitaBayRealty.com. I’ve included maps, floor plans, photos, and descriptions of each neighborhood within this desirable community.
Please contact me for all your real estate needs in Bonita Bay. With almost 40 years of helping buyers and sellers in SWFL, my experience will be invaluable in this ever changing market.
Your Bonita Bay REALTOR®,
Ed Gongola
|
|
|
Summary of Bonita Bay Home Sales
|
|
|
If you are considering selling your Bonita Bay home, here are some statistics that may help you decide to place your home on the market.
BONITA BAY CARRIAGE, MID-RISE, TOWNHOUSE AND ATTACHED VILLA HOMES
- Within the last 12 months, there were 63 sales with an average sales price of $595,117; these condos were on the market an average of 112 days; combined days on the market is 184.
- During the 12 months previous, there were 69 sales with an average sales price of condominiums was $690,817; these homes were on the market for 62 days; combined days on the market is 114.
BONITA BAY HIGH-RISES
- During the last 12 months, there were 38 sales with an average sales price of $2,206,289; these homes were on the market an average of 132; combined days on the market is 183.
- During the 12 months previous, there were 58 sales with an average sales price of $2,210,820; these homes were on the market for an average of 100 days; combined days on the market is 164.
SINGLE-FAMILY BONITA BAY HOMES
- During the last 12 months, there were 70 sales with an average sales price of $2,070,763; these homes were on the market an average of 86 days; combined days on the market is 144.
- During the 12 months previous, there were 80 sales with an average sales price of $2,053,738; these homes were on the market for an average of 44 days; combined days on the market is 114.
For a list of BONITA BAY homes SOLD in the last 12 months, click here.
For a list of BONITA BAY homes that are PENDING at the moment, click here.
Meet Ed Gongola and discover how he can help you with his concierge-style of service when buying or selling your home.
|
|
3370 Oaklake Court
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
RIVERWALK | BONITA BAY
|
|
|
|
FEATURED LISTING
Updated, single-family home on a very generously sized landscaped homesite in Riverwalk offered furnished. Light and bright and well-maintained. Newer wood flooring throughout all the main living areas. Renovated kitchen in 2024 with new cabinetry and quartz counters.
|
|
|
Updated Home
Bedrooms: 3 | Full Baths: 3; Half-Baths: 1 | Living Space: 3,041 sq. ft.
$1,495,000 (Furnished)
|
|
|
New microwave, dishwasher and cooktop in 2023. All bathrooms have been updated from top to bottom. New roof in 2018. Hot Water Tank replaced in 2023. Main HVAC unit replaced in 2023. 2nd HVAC unit condenser replaced in 2024. Heat pump for pool replaced in 2024. A/C storage in the garage. His and Hers Master Bathrooms. Plantation Shutters. MLS #225034685
|
|
October 2025 Real Estate Market Update
|
|
|
DOWNING-FRYE: INCREASED PENDING SALES
“September 2025 was a very good month for Downing-Frye Realty agents!” said Mike Hughes, V.P. and Gen. Mgr. of Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. “Downing-Frye agents had 25% more September pending sale transactions than they did a year ago. Our pending sales volume for September 2025 was up 26% compared to September 2024. Our closed sales were up 17% from a year ago. We also had a 22% increase in company listings from what we had a year ago. Downing-Frye had 815 total listings on September 30, 2025. The promising September 2025 numbers follow a very good summer for sales compared to the summer of 2024. It looks like the market is starting to pick up. Many agents in the area seem to be busier. Hopefully, this builds momentum as we head toward our typically busy winter season. The mild hurricane season (so far) has been helpful for sales.”
BONITA / ESTERO: AUGUST ACTIVITY
August 2025 compared to August 2024 showed that new listings rose from 4,516 to 5,024 (+11.3%), and pending sales increased from 3,132 to 3,530 (+12.7%), while closed sales declined from 2,965 to 2,627 (−11.4%). Inventory finished at 1,725 homes (+22.1% year-over-year), with 9.5 months supply. Sellers received 94.2% of list price on average. Single- family homes posted a median sales price of $415,000 (DOM 58.5) versus $418,000 last August, while condos recorded a median sales price of $335,000 (DOM 105) versus $390,000. Year-to-date through August, closed sales are 24,118 vs 27,114 (−11.1%), new listings are 48,882 vs 47,400 (+3.1%), YTD median sales price is $368,410 vs $370,000 (−0.4%), pending sales are 20,778 vs 22,766 (−8.7%), and median days to contract lengthened to 58 from 45.
NAPLES AREA: SUMMER SALES SURGE
The Naples housing market held steady during the summer, with inventory decreasing to pre- pandemic levels and an overall median closed price that showed strong value retention. The Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®) reported August 2025 figures as compared to August 2024: Total closed sales were up by 11% and pending sales were also up by 10.5%. The overall median closed price of $588,500 was down slightly by 1.1%. New listings were also down by 4.4% but there were 4,892 total active listings, which was 9.1% higher than last August. The average days on the market went from 83 days to 109 days, representing a 31.3% increase. The median closed price for single-family homes increased from $677,500 to $732,000 for an 8% increase. The median closed price for condos went down from $499,500 to $408000, representing an 18.3% decrease. Single-family home inventory increased by 4.8% to 2,418 homes and condo inventory increased by 13.6% to 2,474 condos.
MARCO ISLAND AREA: INVENTORY UP 20%
The Marco Island Area Assoc. of REALTORS® reported August 2025 figures as compared to August 2024: Inventory was up 20%; the number of properties sold was down 10%; the average days on market remained the same as the previous month; and the dollar volume sold was $87M, up 6% from the year before. In August, the median sales price for homes was $1.9M, for condos was $528K and for lots was $370K.
FLORIDA: PENDING SALES INCREASE
In August, pending sales of single-family homes were up by 9.9% compared to August 2024, and condo/ townhomes were up by 4.9%. “The most likely reason we saw such an uptick in new contracts in August is that mortgage rates fell to yearly lows early in the month and fell even further late in the month,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in August was $410,000, down 0.4% compared to a year ago, while the statewide median price for condo-townhouse units was $290,000, down 6.5% from August 2024. Single-family existing homes were at a 5.3-months’ supply in August, while condo-townhouse properties were at a 9.3-months’ supply.
USA: SLIGHT DECREASE IN AUGUST
Existing-home sales remained essentially the same in August, ticking down by 0.2% from July. “Home sales have been sluggish over the past few years due to elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, mortgage rates are declining and more inventory is coming to the market, which should boost sales in the coming months.” The median single-family home price in August was $427,800, up 1.9% from last year, and the condo-townhouse median price was $366,800, up 0.6%.
Sources: The Bonita Springs-Estero REALTORS®/SWFLMLS, Naples Area Board of REALTORS®, Marco Island Area Assoc. of REALTORS. If your property is currently listed with another broker, this is not a solicitation of that listing. National Assoc. of REALTORS®, Florida REALTORS® ©2009 Design by Downing-Frye-Marketing, powered by Naples Media Group, Inc.
|
|
3483 Gulf Shore Blvd. N #401
Naples, FL 34103
ST. CROIX CLUB | MOORINGS
|
|
RARELY AVAILABLE
Nestled on the 4th floor, this exceptional condominium offers unparalleled, direct panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico and expansive vistas of the pristine, renourished sands of Park Shore. Wake each morning feeling as if you’re on the deck of a luxury yacht and unwind every evening with breathtaking sunsets visible from the comfort of your living room. The highly sought-after 01 stack, rarely available and untouched by sales for years, presents a rare opportunity to own a truly distinguished residence.
|
|
|
|
Bedrooms: 2 | Full Baths: 2 | Living Space: 1,783 sq. ft.
$1,595,000
|
|
|
Call me for information: (239) 770-0561.
|
|
Florida CEOs Project Growth, Optimism Surges
Florida’s top CEOs report higher optimism than national peers in Q3 2025, with stronger hiring and investment outlooks, signaling confidence in Florida’s economy.
|
|
|
Once again, Florida CEOs appear more optimistic than their national peers, according to the Florida Council of 100 Q3 2025 CEO Economic Outlook Index.
The quarterly index is a forward-looking measure capturing expectations from top Florida CEOs on sales, capital spending and employment. It is modeled after the nationally recognized Business Roundtable (BRT) index.
Increasing 8 points from last quarter, Florida’s overall CEO Economic Outlook Index score for Q3 was 91, higher than the national number at 76 for the BRT index.
“Florida’s economy is on the rise, and our CEOs are building for the future-growing teams, sparking innovation, driving investment and creating new opportunities that strengthen Florida’s communities,” said Mike Simas, president & CEO of the Florida Council of 100.
Florida vs. national sentiment
Compared to their national peers, Florida CEOs are showing greater optimism across key indicators:
- Hiring confidence significantly higher: Florida CEOs reported a significantly higher employment outlook (87) compared to national peers (37), highlighting strong confidence in workforce growth and talent availability.
- Stronger capital investment plans: Florida leaders reported a capital spending index of (85) versus (77) nationally; however, Florida increased by 9 points from last quarter while the nation jumped 12 points.
- Measured sales outlook: Florida CEOs projected a sales outlook (100) compared to the national index (114); however, Florida increased 14 points and the national number only increased by 7.
“Confidence in Florida’s future economic growth and development is clear from the FC100’s Q3 forecast,” said George LeMieux, chair of the Florida Council of 100.
“The quarterly index signals increasing optimism among our members who are collaborating with business leaders around the world to create opportunity and welcome innovation so that Florida’s economy and workforce can thrive.”
Source: Florida Council of 100
© 2025 Florida Realtors®
|
|
|
Equity-Rich Homeowners on the Rise
By David Mcmillin
Nearly 50% of mortgaged homes in the U.S. are equity-rich, creating potential opportunities and considerations for real estate professionals in a fluctuating market.
|
|
Owning a home has long been considered one of the best pathways to building wealth. Homeowners’ median net worth is around $396,500 – significantly higher than the $10,410 median net worth of renters, Federal Reserve data shows. The single biggest asset most people have is their home.
However, not all homeowners are equally wealthy. Some aren’t just rich, but equity rich: They own more of their house than they owe on it (with their mortgage). Nearly half of mortgaged residential properties in the U.S. now fall in the equity-rich category – close to double what they were just five years ago, according to a new report by real estate data analyst ATTOM.
What’s behind the rise of the equity rich – and what does it mean for homeowners who’ve joined their ranks?
What does “equity rich” mean?
“Equity rich” is an industry term used by real estate analysts and mortgage professionals. To consider yourself equity rich, you need to have an equity stake of 50% or more in your home – meaning your outstanding mortgage balance is less than half the home’s fair market value.
For example, let’s say your home appraises for $500,000. If you owe $250,000 or less on your mortgage, you’re equity rich. Determining equity rich status is not about how much you paid when you purchased your home. Instead, it relies on knowing how much your home is currently worth.
According to the latest figures from A
TTOM, 47.4% of all mortgaged residential properties in the U.S. fell under the “equity rich” label at the close of the second quarter of 2025. That’s quite a difference compared with five years ago: In Q2 2020, just 27.5% of properties had reached equity-rich status.
What’s behind the rise in equity-rich homes?
There are two basic ways to accumulate home equity: Your property’s mortgage debt decreases, and/or your property value increases. The recent surge in equity-rich properties isn’t due to loads of thrifty homeowners prepaying their mortgage principal (though many doubtless are). Instead, it’s the housing market that is creating more equity-rich homeowners.
The trend can be traced to the pandemic’s impact on residential real estate. Home prices and values rose at a fast clip between 2020 and 2022, much faster than mortgage debt – and they’ve kept on rising even as the pandemic ebbed. The median price of a home in the U.S. increased from $317,100 in the second quarter of 2020 to $410,800 at the end of Q2 2024, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As a result, home equity stakes have risen to unprecedented amounts. Total home equity in mortgaged properties is $17.8T, according to data analyst ICE Mortgage Technology. Their owners can access an average of $213,000.
Between 2020 and 2025, the average U.S. mortgage-holding homeowner enjoyed an equity increase of 142%. But the gains were unequal across the country.
What is the significance of being equity rich?
The biggest upside of being equity rich is fairly straightforward: a stronger financial profile and higher net worth. You have an asset that’s worth more (and that’s more valuable to bequeath to heirs). And you’re likely to profit more: If you sold your home tomorrow, you’d have less mortgage debt to settle, letting you keep more of the sale proceeds.
Speaking of mortgages, you’re in a better position to take out a second one – to tap your property’s value via a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC) – when you have a sizable ownership stake. More equity means more borrowing power. That not only means a bigger loan or credit line, but better terms as well.
From home improvements to consolidating high-interest debt, there are numerous reasons to tap your home equity for cash. But it’s an obligation to take seriously, since your home will act as collateral: Miss too many payments and the lender can foreclose on the property.
Are there any drawbacks to being equity rich?
There’s clearly plenty to celebrate if you’re equity rich. But there are some additional considerations to keep in mind:
- If your home is worth more, owning it will likely cost more, too. As home values have risen, so have homeownership costs – everything from property taxes to homeowners’ insurance premiums to maintenance expenses. Not surprisingly, states with the highest home prices tend to have the highest home costs, too, as Bankrate’s Hidden Costs of Homeownership Study found.
- All that equity isn’t going to be yours to keep. Being equity rich can be a bit deceiving, notes Sebastian Frey, a broker with Compass in the Bay Area of California. For example, consider someone who has amassed a $1 million equity stake in their home. It’s only a paper amount until you actually sell the property and, even then, “that does not equal $1,000,000 in cash,” Frey says. “A typical homeowner with $1,000,000 in gain, even if sold as a married couple, would result in a cost of sale of close to $200,000 considering expenses for home preparation, marketing, sales commissions, and capital gains tax.”
- Values change all the time – which means your equity does, too. Being equity-rich doesn’t necessarily mean staying equity-rich – especially if a serious deflation of your local real estate market occurs. For example, ATTOM’s latest figures show that the percentage of equity-rich homes in Florida decreased by more than seven percentage points over the past year. Arizona, Georgia, Colorado and Washington all posted declines in the number of equity-rich homes, too. With that in mind, if you are carrying a big home equity loan and a large mortgage, you could wind up owing more than the property is worth should a recession occur.
Will more homeowners become equity-rich soon?
Maybe not. “It’s a challenging time for many first-time homebuyers looking to build equity,” says Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM. “Home prices are at record highs, and for the typical American, buying and maintaining a home consumes about a third of their annual income.” Many homebuyers, especially first-timers, can only afford a small down payment: The median amount is currently 15% of the sale price. That means they own only that percent of the home outright, which translates to it taking more time to achieve the equity-rich level of 50%.
Also, while the past few years have delivered big equity gains, the housing market is coming back down to Earth. Home prices are still increasing, but the pace has slowed considerably. So, no tide of rising property values to lift all home equity boats – at least, not as rapidly as in the last few years.
Barber points out that owning a home hasn’t been this demanding on one’s finances since 2007 – just before the Great Recession, during which real estate values and home equity plummeted. “While today’s housing market is quite different from that era, it serves as a reminder that markets don’t go steadily up forever,” Barber says. “There are likely to be drops and corrections in the future that lower the value of homes – but also make it possible for new owners to buy one.”
© 2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
|
|
Naples Housing Market: Summer Sales Surge
The Naples housing market held steady during the summer, with inventory decreasing to pre-pandemic levels and an overall median closed price that showed strong value retention. According to the August 2025 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), closed sales increased 11 percent to 604 closed sales from 544 closed sales in August 2024.
|
|
|
Inventory of homes declined month over month through the summer but increased 9.1 percent in August to 4,892 properties from 4,485 properties in August 2024.
Broker analysts reviewing the report believe one reason inventory fell during the summer was because sellers pulled homes off the market, a familiar summer occurrence that creates a shadow inventory. But another factor was an increase in pending sales, which outperformed activity for the last four consecutive months compared to 2024. In all, the August report is positive confirmation that the Naples housing market continued to retain its desirability through the summer.
“We are in a window of opportunity for buyers,” said Sherry Stein, CRB, Managing Broker, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. “Those who were priced out of the market during the pandemic can find more options today and more sellers open to negotiate.”
Many properties are expected to come back onto the market before the end of the year. Ryan Bleggi, Managing Broker for John R. Wood Properties, added that, “Sellers who removed their homes from the market during the summer with the expectation that they will achieve a higher price if they sell during the upcoming season are going to be disappointed. Pricing is still trending downward, so unless they reintroduce their property into the market at a price in line with what buyers are willing to pay, they will be unsuccessful in selling. Buyers are taking action on opportunities too good to pass up, or ones where they fear losing the property to a competing buyer. The good news for sellers is that the median closed price in Collier County is still up approximately 80 percent compared to 2019.”
Stepping Outside the Shadow
The report showed overall median closed price in August decreased 1.1 percent to $588,500 from $595,000 in August 2024. As a result of sellers pulling homes off the market, this shadow inventory influenced prices in the desirable Naples single-family home market. For example, in May there were 3,120 single-family homes on the market with a median closed price of $704,000. By August, inventory in the single-family home market had decreased to 2,418 with a median closed price of $732,000.
Conversely, in May there were 3,404 condominiums on the market with a median closed price of $450,000. By August, condominium inventory had fallen to 2,474 with a median closed price of $408,000.
“The older condominium market in Naples is facing some challenges,” said Mike Hughes, Vice President and General Manager for Downing-Frye Realty, Inc.
”However, if the reserves are adequate and the milestone inspection came in fine, condos should still sell if they are priced right and show well.”
According to Cindy Carroll of Carroll & Carroll Appraisers & Consultants, LLC, “We reached the top of the market, in terms of price, during the first quarter of 2022. It’s interesting that the median closed price this August is higher than what was reported in August of 2022 indicating confidence in the market. Like Mr. Bleggi, I’m concerned about the shadow inventory. If these properties return to the market at their previous list price, they will re-join the other overpriced listings. But if they work with a REALTOR® to the price the home properly it is likely to market and sell within a reasonable time frame.” Jeff Jones, Broker at Keller Williams Naples, remarked, “Over the past three to four months our market has transitioned from an extreme buyer’s market to a more balanced market with motivated sellers that have remained on the market with realistic prices. The real impact the shadow inventory will have when these residences return to the market will be on those sellers who work with their agents to return with pricing that is truly competitive in their communities.”
The NABOR® August 2025 Market Report provides comparisons of single-family home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges, and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. NABOR® sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings for 2025:
|
|
|
Comparisons & Projections
“One positive trend I witnessed is that both pending and closed sales were up this summer compared to last summer,” said Bleggi.
“Closed sales this year are 25 percent lower than 2019 levels,” said Budge Huskey, CEO, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. “But pending sales activity is up and this means the closed sales gap will shrink in the next few months. However, we have to be careful comparing activity in September and October to recent years because our market was encountering stressful times due to hurricanes.”
“The first four months of each year are our busy winter season,” said Hughes. “But this year, activity was down at the start of the year and continued through the first four months of the year. This deficit in activity should be largely made up over the balance of the year. In 2024, September and October sales activity was hampered by the hurricane season which had multiple hurricanes enter the Gulf of America. This September, the storm front has been relatively quiet and that has helped our sales. We are crossing our fingers for the same in October!”
“I run reports frequently and they show homes priced right have a list-to-sale price of 97 to 98 percent,” said Adam Vellano, Managing Director of South and Southwest Florida at Compass Florida. “But priced wrong, this drops to 90 percent after the first 30 days.”
|
|
|
If you are considering buying or selling your home, look to a Naples REALTOR® who has the ability to provide an accurate market comparison and give you expert advice on how to capitalize on today’s market conditions. A REALTOR® can ensure your next purchase or sale in the Naples area is a success. Search for your dream home and find a Naples REALTOR® on Naplesarea.com.
|
|
Why Choose Me As Your REALTOR®?
|
To learn more about me and my real estate business and Bonita Bay real estate specifically, I encourage you read the About Ed section as well as the Testimonial section of the site. Over the years, my clients have expressed their satisfaction in my services and I’ve showcased their kind words so you can determine if I am the right REALTOR® to represent you.
If you are curious as to my sales success, visit my Sold Homes page. This gives a clear picture of exactly what I’ve accomplished and, more importantly, what I can accomplish for you.
|
|
|
|
|
