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Volume
2, Issue 3 - May/June 2003
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  Welcome!
Happy summer! Welcome to our May/June newsletter, which has a number
of pertinent articles, such as real estate news, our new office in
Europe, our community profile of Grandezza, as well as local events
and information. We hope you find this issue helpful and informative.
You can always explore past issues by visiting the newsletter
archive. If you would like to be notified of new communiqués monthly, just send your email address to newsletter@carlabontenrealty.com. Don't forget to include your email address! Enjoy! Real Estate Market News Market Keeps A Strong
Sales Pace
More local statistics, provided by the Naples Area Board of Realtors are available in Adobe Acrobat format. Click HERE to view them. The U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov) has provided statistics for the 15 largest counties in Florida. You can see these statistics in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking HERE. Florida Real Estate Since Florida became a territory its rate of population growth has always been high. Throughout Florida history, the ten-year growth rate has been between 40 and 60%. In all census periods the population growth in Florida has been higher than those of the United States as a whole. Florida Population Facts:
Other interesting Florida Facts ------ Carla Bonten
Realty, Inc.
Carla Bonten Realty, Inc. is proud to announce that it has officially opened a new branch-office in Europe…Rotterdam, the Netherlands to be exact. This office is operated by real estate agents Carma De Reus and Dorothea Vermeulen, and under the brokerage supervision of Carla Bonten herself. Ms. De Reus and Ms. Vermeulen know the European market. They provide the highest quality in information on available properties, developments, and service that you’ve come to expect when dealing through Carla Bonten Realty, Inc.
They complete “The European Connection’s” bridge for bringing to you available properties within Europe including Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, the U.K., and Switzerland just to name a few. A new website specifically designed for the European market will be coming soon to help you find your way to your new destination within Europe. Contact Carla Bonten for more information regarding the new European office and the services it can provide for you. ------ Planning The
Vacation
Carla Bonten Rentals, Inc. stepped up to the plate and is now offering
you travel protection through CSA Travel Protection. You, our respected
clients, pay top-dollar for the quality and service we provide to you.
By offering you the travel protection option policy through CSA, we
can help yo We are here to serve you, our respected clients, and to provide you with the best and smoothest stay ever. Please contact Carla Keogh, our Rentals Manager, for more information on how we can help you when you visit us for your special vacation. ------ Carla Bonten Realty News The Ronald McDonald House of SW Florida’s “For the Love of Art” Benefit Update… Carla Bonten Realty, Inc. announces that it has joined forces with 4% Properties, Inc. to help make next year’s function even more successful. We still need money to help The Ronald McDonald House of SW FL’s expansion of more rooms to accommodate the immediate families of hospitalized children. Our committee consists of the following members: Carla Bonten (Broker/Owner Carla Bonten Realty, Inc.), Edward Lorenzini (Carla Bonten Realty, Inc.), Liliane Black (Carla Bonten Realty, Inc.), Colleen Pearsall (4% Properties, Inc.), Roxanne Dohanich (4% Properties), Marian Rosencrans (First American Title), Lisa Portnoy (Colonial Bank), Heather Klein (The News Press), Karen Parsley (Ronald McDonald House SW FL.), Kimberly Parsley (Ronald McDonald House SW FL.), Nancy Reynolds (Reynolds & Associates, Inc.), David Schiering (5th 3rd Bank), Bill & Pam Jurek (The HomeTeam Inspections.) We are currently in-process looking for those of you who would like
to sponsor or donate to the benefit that will be taking place Saturday,
February 7, 2004. Look for the place where the event will be held in
our next edition of Carla Bonten Realty – Digital Communique. ------ March 2003 April 2003
You may email Laura at: laura@carlabontenrealty.com Congratulations to Laura for her outstanding listing and sales work! ------ March 2003
He brings this professionalism to his five year real estate career working with rentals, new home construction and general real estate. His fluency in Swiss German, English, German, French, Spanish and some Portuguese allows him to also dedicate his experience to the international clientele in the area. You will receive the royal treatment! Email Peter at peter@carlabontenrealty.com ------ The American Red Cross
Collier County Chapter (Naples, FL – May 2, 2003) The public is invited to attend a special luncheon celebration for the Collier County Chapter of the American Red Cross’ 75th Anniversary in Collier County. The luncheon will be held at the Hilton Naples and Towers, 5111 Tamiami Trail North in Naples on Friday, May 23 from noon until two. The Honorable Bonnie MacKenzie, Naples Mayor, the Honorable Burt Saunders, Florida Senator, Chuck Mohlke, representing the Honorable Bob Graham, and Keynote Speaker, James Krueger, Executive Vice President of Chapter Services from American Red Cross National Headquarters, will attend the luncheon. The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It does this through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and the fundamental principals of the International Red Cross Movement. The luncheon cost is $25.00 per person and reservations should be made by May 16. For more information or to make reservations, which may be charged by phone, call Carol Bensyl at 596-6868.
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Welcome to the
Grand Life
Serving as the center piece
is Grandézza's 18 hole championship golf course, which provides both
exciting golf and an exhilarating test of skill. The course is a showcase
of
undulating greens, rolling fairways and sharp evaluation changes. Designer
Darwin Sharp III creates a memorable experience also witnessed by countless
species of birds and deer, which share the natural habitat accentuated
with stately pine trees. Prior to experiencing this course, the island
range provides a glimpse of what lies ahead with its four target greens
on the peninsula that range from 80-200 yards and are situated like
islands in the water. With golf memberships limited to only 400, members
can truly enjoy this in an unhurried pace. Carla Bonten Realty has just listed 3 estate homes
built by Worthington Homes, a builder who has created over 3000 homes
in Southwest Florida. The model home named, " The Cayman" is
furnished by a ------
Naples Philharmonic Tickets Manatee Park Date(s): 6/17/2002 - 12/31/2003 Annual Jazz Concert Series Kicks Off SummerJazz on the Gulf, the 18th annual free concert series at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, kicks off from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 14, with an appearance by guitarist Cristian Valenzuela. Other concerts are set for July 12, Aug. 23 and Sept. 20. Participants are urged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Guests are invited to park free at Lowdermilk Park and take the courtesy trolley to and from the resort. Information: 261-2222. Baryshnikov Art League of Bonita Springs Calendar: The Art Center has several summer classes scheduled! For further information about activities of the Art League, you may call the center at 941-495-8989 or visit the Art League's web page. ------ Need an idea of what dining experiences are in our area? Click here for a list of some of the best! ------ Buy New Or Upgrade: I’m often asked if an aging computer’s components can be upgraded to give the computer new life. Other computer owners want to add a new component, such as a CD re-writable drive. It’s hard to know which gives you the most mileage out of your computer dollars, buying new or upgrading. I’ll try to shed a little light on this issue and offer some buying pointers. Upgrading can be cost effective, although not nearly as much as it was a few years back. Computer costs have dropped dramatically in the last year and in many cases, it’s simply more efficient to buy new. A good unit of measure is your computer’s age. If it is less than two years old, upgrading it may be your best route. For instance, adding more RAM (random access memory) to your computer can speed it up and solve many freeze and lock-up problems. If your computer has 128 MB of RAM or less, it’s a good idea to upgrade. You can see how much RAM your computer has in it by clicking on the MY COMPUTER icon on your desktop with the RIGHT mouse button, then clicking once with the LEFT mouse button on the word PROPERTIES that appears at the bottom of the drop-down menu. The amount of RAM in your computer will appear near the bottom of the screen. RAM prices are low and it’s an easy and quick installation. RAM is the single most inexpensive and important upgrade you can offer your computer. You might also want to add a new, second hard drive for extra storage, or replace the hard drive you currently have with one that offers more capacity. Again, this is another component that has dropped in price dramatically. Consult your computer’s manufacturer or your local computer shop for prices and installation fees. If your computer is greater than two years old, it is often more cost effective to simply buy new. Here’s why. Many of the components currently in your older computer won’t and can’t handle the speed and power of newer components, so you’ll be forced to upgrade more components than you anticipated to balance this issue. Components and their installation costs can quickly exceed the cost of a new computer. Another advantage of buying new is a new warranty, which can save you hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the computer. I’ve seen more than one client upgrade their older computer with either a new operating system (Windows XP is the current Microsoft operating system) or component, such as a CD re-writable drive, only to find out that the upgrade now leads to another required upgrade and a domino effect begins.
One of the nicest features of a newer system is the additional power and storage space that comes relatively cheap these days, as well as energy efficient components. Space-saving flat panel monitors are more affordable than ever. These monitors not only save power and space, but cause less eye strain than conventional CRT monitors. Most major computer manufacturers now include them with most new desktop computer systems. As technology moves forward at ever-increasing speeds, the size of computer equipment shrinks and the power increases as they drop in price. This formula, while hard on owners who are used to hanging on to a piece of electronics for twenty years, is only good news for the consumer. So…you’ve decided to buy a new computer. What do you need to make it last you for the next several years? First, buy plenty of RAM, at least 256 MB. Windows XP requires a minimum of 128 MB, and if you’re going to work with photographs or graphics, you’ll need even more. In this case, more definitely is better! Hard drives are cheap these days, so be sure you get one with plenty of room. A minimum should be 40 gigabytes (GB). The spin speed of your hard drive should be 7200 rpm. Be sure you get a computer with at least 4 USB ports. More and more peripherals, such as printers, scanners and digital cameras, use these types of ports to make a connection to your computer. So, again, more is better. Companies like Gateway and HP often put at least two USB ports in the front of the computer for easy access. CD rewriters are wonderful. You can make CDs yourself, which allow you to back up information, share files and make music CDs. CDs typically hold about 700 MB of information. In the not-so-distant future, they will be replaced by DVD re-writable drives, which are available today and offer far greater capacity. If you do decide to get a computer with a CD rewriter, be sure the “write speed” of this component is at least 10x. Some computer manufacturers, such as Dell and Gateway, have taken a bold step forward and removed floppy disk drives from newer computers. It is true that the floppy disk is rapidly becoming obsolete, but if you are a person who regularly needs to use one, be sure you specify this when you buy a new computer. If your printer is older than two or three years old, you might want to consider updating that, too. Today, printer prices are cheaper than ever; printers can be found for well under $100. You want a printer that can keep up with your new computer, so I strongly recommend it. Be sure you buy a unit that is compatible with Windows XP, if that’s what your new computer comes with. And be sure to buy the proper cable with it; most printers do not come with one. Take stock of your software inventory. If you use Microsoft Office, versions 97-2000, you can rest assured that your software will install and run on Windows XP without any special changes. Just be sure you have your Product ID number (typically found on the back of the CD case). You’ll need to install the software on the new computer, and then transfer your data files. If you are unsure if your software needs an update, just visit the manufacturer’s web site. Usually, you can click on the SUPPORT link and find a wealth of information about this topic. Now you have a new computer - what do you do with your older one? Older computers make wonderful back up units. With a little networking know-how, you can connect the old and new together and viola, you have a wonderful data back up station. I keep an older computer for exactly that purpose. It also serves as an emergency computer, should my primary, newer computer ever fail. That’s an insurance policy that is hard to beat. If you feel you have no need for such a setup, don’t throw the old computer away! They can be donated to any of the major charitable services in your area, such as the Salvation Army, Lion’s Club, charity day care centers, and churches, as a tax deductible donation. However, be sure you remove all personal information before donating the computer; you never know who will end up with your computer. Depending on its age, your computer probably won’t bring you much if you try to sell it. Unfortunately, they simply don’t hold their value for very long. And one last thing: please remember not to throw computer components in the trash. Many components contain lead and mercury and are not good for landfills. If you are unable to donate or give away your computer, contact your local computer store and see if they have information about disposal sites in your area. |
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| Next
issue: Real estate news, area information, and more wonderful web
sites
to visit! |
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Because
we at Carla Bonten Rentals, Inc. know how important your vacation time
is, we always strive to bring you the best in quality and service to
meet your needs at all times during your stay here in Southwest Florida.
Unfortunately, we also know how tragedies sometimes affect our clients’ abilities
to meet, or complete their vacation reservation “requirements” as
to a preplanned stay in one of our luxury vacation rental units.
u
eliminate any fears of completely losing moneys you’ve invested
towards your Dream Vacation to Sunny Southwest Florida with your family.
Laura
Clark moved to southwest Florida from Massachusetts some 13 years
ago and has been practicing real estate for 4 years. She has experience
in standard residential and in investment properties and is a member
of the Bonita-Estero Association of Realtors and NAR. When she takes
a break from her professional career, Laura enjoys participating in
extreme sports such as skydiving. So, if you're looking for a realtor
with great tenacity, courage, and ability, Laura may be the one for
you. We are proud to have her as a new addition to our team at Carla
Bonten Realty, Inc. 
Peter
Meili was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland. He was educated in
Switzerland, Germany and the US. Among others, he attended the world-renowned
hotel school, Ecole Hoteliere in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hotel business
took him around the world, specializing in opening new hotel properties.
That is what originally brought him and his lovely family to Naples,
Florida, known as "America's Best Kept Secret". 
Imagine living in a community embraced
by nature's own wealth - a showcase for fiery sunsets, awe-inspiring
sunrises and gentle tropical breezes. 
Nestled
within Grandézza are spacious homes that showcase superior craftsmanship
by some of the best builders. The variety of home styles
perfectly suits the many lifestyles and needs of Grandézza's residents.
Within the enclave of Grande Estates are a select group of custom homebuilders,
each with a long history of crafting homes that reflect your own lifestyle
needs. Each builder offers a distinct flair for creating the home of
your dreams. Each home is a showcase of gracious living and architectural
detail. Grande Estates offers spacious home sites with your choice
of champion golf, sparkling lake or lush nature preserve vistas. 
AREA HAPPENINGS:
Regardless of whether you upgrade or buy a new computer, you
must factor in your software and peripherals. For instance, many older
printers,
scanners and digital cameras require updated software to run properly
with Windows
XP.
Typically, this software can be found on the manufacturer’s web
site, but this is definitely an area that needs research. Software
is the same. Some
older versions of popular software such as Quicken and Norton won’t
run properly under Windows XP and require a newer version. 