SanibelSusan Realty Associates

2242 Periwinkle Way, Suite 3 at Sanibel Square, Sanibel Island, FL  33957

Phone: 239-472-HOME (4663)

Fax: 239-472-4673

Toll Free:  888-603-0603

E-mail: Susan@SanibelSusan.com

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9/3/10

Did we say that it was quiet on Sanibel last week - & the week before? Double that for this past week. Last weekend, we had not a single call & did not have many during the course of the work week either. Interesting too, that though it's a long weekend, our buddies at one of the island's largest rental division advise that they have only 5 check-ins tomorrow (& 3 are owners). Too bad, as this is one of the best times to be on the island. We are even having a spell of low humidity & cooler temps than usual (35% & low 70's evenings & mornings). Here are a few news items:
Top Secluded Beach - Shermans Travel had a posting on MSNBC last weekend describing the 10 Most Secluded Beaches in the U.S.  Sanibel's Bowman's Beach garnered the top spot & the write-up included: "The island is well-known as one of the best shelling spots in the country, but you’ll find little competition here. There’s minimal development & ditto on amenities — though Bowman’s does have one perk not found on any other beach on Sanibel: barbecue grills." Bet you didn't know Bowman's has grills, I sure didn't. FYI, the other beaches rounding out the top 10 are: 2) Carova Beach, NC; 3) Cumberland Island, GA; 4) Dry Tortugas, FL; 5) Enderts Beach, CA; 6) Kaihalulu, HI; 7) Orient Beach State Park, NY; 8) Point Bennett, CA; 9) Rogue Bluffs, ME; & 10) Sandbridge Beach, VA.
Florida Population Growing Again - Interesting article posted today on www.Tampa.com by the "St Petersburg Times". It said that while the recession caused FL to lose population for the 1st time in more than 60 years, the state's population is growing again. According to estimates released yesterday by the University of FL, researchers calculated a modest addition of 21K residents from Apr 2009 to Apr 2010, while from 2008 to 2009, FL's population dropped by more than 56K. Some see this as a tentative sign that the worst of the recession has passed. From 2003 to 2006, FL's population grew by more than 400K per year & in the previous three decades increased approx 300K per year. The decline last year was the 1st since 1946 when military personnel left the state at the end of World War II. Counties statewide were fairly split between those that lost & gained population, but there were some differences. Tampa's Hillsborough County added 6+K residents, 2nd only to Miami-Dade, which grew by 8+K. Some large counties grew because of a fairly sizable number of births & increase in foreign immigrants. The largely built-out Pinellas County (Clearwater/St Petersburg area) lost 3+K residents, 2nd only to Seminole (central FL), which lost 3,659 people. UF is forecasting continued slow growth for FL. To quote the article "One factor inhibiting growth in the short term is the housing slump gripping the country." A lot of retirees who might have already moved to FL are probably having trouble selling their homes up north - or maybe even working longer. According to the article, FL's estimated population as of Apr 1 was close to 19M.

Mortgage Rates Hit Decades Low - This week, mortgage rates fell to their lowest in decades for the 10th time in 11 weeks, as investors continue to worry about the economy. According to Freddie Mac yesterday, the average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was 4.32%, down from 4.36% last week. That’s the lowest since Freddie began tracking rates in 1971. Low rates have fueled a wave of refinancing, now at its highest level since mid-2009. But, the low rates have not been enough to lift the struggling housing market. Home sales are at the lowest level in more than a decade. Potential buyers are holding off purchases, worried about jobs & the economy, while some are having trouble meeting tighter lending standards.

Taste of the Islands - For those of you who remember these CROW fund raisers being in the spring, after high season, this year, it will be Nov 21, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The "Taste" brings together island restaurants in a celebration of Sanibel-style cuisine, while raising money for CROW's mission to care for sick & injured wildlife. There will be sample dishes from a variety of local establishments, live music, recipe competition, & more. The 2010 Taste logo created by Ikki Matsumoto is bound to be a crowd-pleaser & collector's item.  (We're excited as The Taste will again be across the street from our office at the Sanibel Community House & City Park.)

 

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This representation is based on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Assoc of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Neither the author nor the Assoc guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy.

SanibelSusan’s Weekly Blog