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VICKI TRACYBOUTIQUE REAL ESTATE FIRM ADDS AS COO
by Robin F. DeMattia clients and team,” Tracy says. “They’re already successful. I will just help them enhance
T im Savage and Mike McCumber their impact.”
were competitors for years, Savage
working for Downing-Frye Realty and The 20 realtors at Gulf Coast International Properties – hand-picked by Savage
McCumber with Premier Properties. They
often crossed paths, with one representing the and McCumber to join the team – are experts in the luxury lifestyle available in Naples,
seller and another the buyer in a transaction.
But it was a chance meeting on a sandbar whether it’s a $350,000 Old Naples condominium or a $45 million waterfront house on
in The Bahamas that led to their formation
of their own firm, Gulf Coast International the beach.
Properties, in 2008.
“Most of us grew up here
“We got to talking and realized we were
both interested in offering clients more of or have lived here for the past
a boutique, high-end service experience,”
McCumber says. “And though the market 30 to 40 years,” says Savage, a
was down and the big companies were pulling
back, we wanted to move forward.” second generation realtor in
The partnership has thrived, with Gulf Naples. “Some of us went off
Coast International Properties holding
multiple price-per-square-foot records for to school, but we all came back
sales in Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Old
Naples and other beachfront properties. here and are selling the lifestyle
“Part of the reason our firm works is that that we love and appreciate. It’s
we instilled in our agents the values of how we
conduct ourselves, that we treat people well, a testament to Naples, and it
and we operate as a team,” Savage explains.
“We try to build each other up and give each makes us successful in selling it.”
client the best service, and that involves a
group effort. When a client calls, anyone who McCumber says buyers are
picks up the phone knows about that person
and their property. That can’t be done at a attracted to the climate, beaches
corporate level in other firms.”
and myriad activities available.
That level of service is set to expand,
now that the firm engaged Vicki Tracy as its He says the firm works with
Chief Operating Officer. A long-time Naples
resident, Tracy is known throughout the several generations of families
community as someone who gets things done,
whether it is spearheading a $250 million and multiple CEOs who like
new start-up and sales at The Arlington,
a continuing care retirement community Naples so much they refer their
recently opened in East Naples, or planning
signature fundraisers like the successful friends. “The wealthy follow the
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples “Big
Wigs” gala last winter. wealthy,” he says. “If you look at
Joining the team at Gulf Coast the history of Port Royal, you
International Properties is a great fit for Tracy,
who held a Florida realtor’s license earlier will see people from the same
in her career and has known Savage and
McCumber for years. “I like their values, the companies and families.”
way they do business, and how they treat their
Savage also notes that Naples
does not have the industrial
TIM SAVAGE,VICKI TRACY AND MIKE MCCUMBER or congested feel of Florida’s
east coast. “Naples has a little bit
of everything and not too much of anything,” he states, noting that people enjoy the
shopping, dining, nightlife and cultural events that are offered.
As far as trends in what people want in a property, Savage says it ranges from
renovating older homes to teardowns to new construction. The deciding factor is often
how long a buyer wants to wait before enjoying their home.
One clearly evident trend, however, is the move toward coastal, transitional and
contemporary architecture. Savage says this look is being influenced by the younger
generation as well as buyers from Canada and Europe. “They like the clean lines and
‘less is more’ feel,” he says.
In addition to serving its clients, Gulf Coast International Properties makes it a
priority to give back to the community by supporting charities such as the Greater
Naples YMCA and Hope for Haiti.
“I think it’s important to reinvest in your community,” Savage says.
McCumber, who has owned Marine Management Yacht Services since 1981,
donates his boat and time to charter cruises purchased during local charity auctions.
Learn more about Gulf Coast International Properties at www.gcipnaples.com or call
239.404.7006.
26 Life in Naples | February 2016
