Do's and Dont's for Buying Homes for Sale in Naples, FL

Naples has some of Southwest Florida's most diverse collection of neighborhoods and homes for sale. It's easy to get swept away by emotion when you're visiting gorgeous designer-decorated homes. While we like to think of ourselves as rational homebuyers, the reality is that, much like shopping for cars, home buying is about how we see ourselves and what we "deserve" to have. Here are some do's and don'ts when shopping for homes for sale:

Naples research
Take plenty of time to research the neighborhood. Sounds obvious, right? But really think about what you want in a neighborhood. Do you have season tickets to the symphony? Then find out how far the concert hall is from the home you're considering? Do you like to bike? Are there bike trails nearby? If you have kids, check out the school system and double check the boundaries. School boundaries change from year to year, and if you've got your heart set on sending them to an A-rated school, make sure that's where your children will go. Check out the gifted and talented programs, and the ratio of students to teachers. Beyond school choices, consider just how "neighborly" the neighborhood is. Visit a community meeting or check out the online yahoo group or other forum. It's a great way to see what kind of folks you'll be living near. And, of course, check out crime statistics. Is the home you're buying a gated community? How close is the nearest police station? And, if there is a neighborhood crime watch, how active is it?

Don't buy at first sight
Ok, you've done your research on homes for sale; Naples is looking like the perfect place! After you've visited your dream home once, you're excited and ready to make an offer. Not so fast. Put the brakes on, and go back again, and again, and again. Neighborhoods change depending upon the time of day. If your realtor only shows you the house in the morning, ask yourself why. Is the home in the flight path of the airport with planes flying directly overhead in the afternoon? Is there a train that sounds the horn at 3 a.m.? Drive the commute to and from the home. If you've got children in school, do you feel comfortable with the route they would walk or bike?