This has been a week of the island getting into the holiday spirit. Tonight is Sanibel Luminary & Captiva’s is tomorrow night. Storefronts and Periwinkle Way are already aglow with lights and festive decorations. An early cool front that arrived yesterday will contribute to it feeling like Christmas tonight. This unseasonably cold weather is expected to remain for at least the next week with daily temperatures in the low 70’s and nights down into the low 40’s. We’re all decked out in our long sleeves with our flip flops.

Economy Appears Headed for Strong Finish for 2010

Good news reported today by The Associated Press with the economy showing new life. Factories are busier, construction spending is up, and auto sales are rising. On Wednesday, the stock market had its best day since September after a report that the private sector hired the most workers in three years. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 2 percent, enough to erase nearly two weeks of losses. Analysts said investors concluded that a stronger job market would support higher stock prices. The positive economic news comes on top of other signs that Americans are increasingly willing to spend money, raising hopes for the holiday shopping season. Measures of spending, consumer confidence and personal incomes are all up. We hope that brings them to the islands and puts them in the mood to buy.

How Sanibel & Captiva Sales Measure Up

Today, there are 642 Sanibel properties for sale and 152 on Captiva. Though these seem like big numbers compared to actual closed sales this year (248 on Sanibel and 32 on Captiva), there actually are fewer properties for sale here today than there were at the same time last year. Market improvement cannot be measured in higher prices, however, but rather a greater number of sales – movement in the right direction.
 

Fun Holiday Happenings on the Islands

There are plenty of island activities the next few weeks, here is a short schedule for the next few days:
Friday, Dec 3, Sanibel Luminary; BIG BIG ARTS Holiday Art Show & Sale; Captiva Village Seafood & Wine Festival
Saturday, Dec 4, Captiva Luminary & golf cart parade; Gulf Coast Symphony at BIG ARTS
Sunday, Dec 5, Messiah & More, Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers at BIG ARTS
Thursday, Dec  9, Community Chorus Concert at BIG ARTS (Your favorite REALTOR is singing with the altos)
Friday, Dec 10, Welcome Back Sanibel Pig Roast & Dance at Sanibel Community House; Captiva Village Sunset Arias, Fire Dancing, & Holiday Marketplace
Saturday, Dec 11, Gulfshore Ballet Presents the Nutcracker Suites at BIG ARTS; Captiva Village Skim Board Contest, Art Show & Stage Performance, Boat Parade, & Ribs & Blues Award Party

 
Sanibel & Captiva MLS Activity November 26 – December 3, 2010:

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sealoft Village #103 2/2 $549K, Heron at The Sanctuary III #2B 2/2.5 $634.9K, Sand Pointe #212 2/2 $649K.

5 price changes: Captains Walk #B8 2/2 now $299K, Sundial #H303 2/2 now $410K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #301 2/2 now $460K, Loggerhead Cay #401 2/2 now $629K, Wedgewood #102 3/3.5 now $2.495M.

2 new sales: Sunset South #5B 2/2 listed for $999K, Chelsea Place #2 4/4 listed for $3.495M.

4 closed sales: Sanibel Siesta #703 2/2 $440K, Mariner Pointe #232 2/2 $550K, Sundial #M303 2/2 $635K, Sanibel Sunset #201 3/2 $1.45M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 1581 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $725K, 1236 Par View Dr 3/2.5 $798K, 1570 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $1.15M (short sale).

11 price changes: 4109 San Cap Rd 2/1 now $249K, 1651 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half duplex now $499.5K, 673 East Rocks Dr 3/2 now $639K, 2548 Wulfert Rd 4/3.5 half duplex now $899K, 4640 Rue Belle Mer 4/4 now $985K, 600 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2.5 now $1.189M (short sale), 569 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $1.299M, 572 Kinzie Island Ct 5/5 now $1.4M, 2332 Troon Ct 4/5 now $1.65M, 4443 Waters Edge Ln 3/2.5 now $2.994.5M, 2963 Wulfert Rd 4/6.5 now $3.495M.

No new sales.

5 closed sales: 721 Cardium St 2/1 $200K, 997 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $580K, 3751 Coquina 3/2 $612.5K, 561 Kinzie Island Ct 5/4.5 $1.05M (foreclosure), 2885 Wulfert Rd 5/5 $1.35M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1226 Isabel Dr $1.9M.

1 price change: 5439 Osprey Ct now $381.5K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 3324 Saint Kilda Rd $225K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Lands End Village #1629 2/2 listed for $1.195M.

2 closed sales: Captiva Shores #5A 2/2 $685K, Lands End Village #1732 2/2 $1.043M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11536 Andy Rosse Ln 3/3 $1.95M.

6 price changes: 11540 Gore Ln 3/3 now $995K, 16167 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $1.389M, 11523 Wightman Ln 4/4 now $1.725M, 16171 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 now $2.325M, 16585 Captiva Dr 5/4/2 now $2.495M, 15867 Captiva Dr 7/7.5 now $7.395M.

1 new sale: 11410 Dickey Ln 5/6.5 listed for $8.995M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 16297 Captiva Dr now $1.999M.

No new or closed sales.

(This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors or its Multiple Listing Service.  Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.)