Florida REALTORS Mid-Year Business Meetings

At our Florida REALTORS Mid-Year Business Meetings in Orlando. Our entire state leadership meets formally twice a year, now and again in August at our annual meeting. Today I attended a terrific training session – first time offered to Florida Brokers – for our new state-wide paperless forms application. More than 60,000 Florida REALTORS have already logged into the system, creating more than 250,000 real estate transactions.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates have been using the system since it was launched, but today I signed up for the new beta Broker version and am already working on setting up the forms file structure for my company. With the most up-to-date approved forms, strict “check and balance” systems, Broker oversight, automatic faxing, and internet document signing, “Forms Simplicity” is truly the way of the future. So exciting to be part of this new endeavor and it was great to have the actual programmers in the room eager for our feedback. Gotta love it – it’s faster, mobile, more accurate and accountable, plus saves trees all at the same time.

Hooray to the Florida REALTORS organization for listening to its members, developing the system, and making this available to them.

Signs of Economic Stability Grow Stronger

Good article in our January/February issue of “FloridaRealtor” that says “as the foreclosure crisis continues to push prices lower, there are signs of stability on the horizon.”

“At a glance: Luxury housing sales may pick up in 2011. Florida’s economy will grow slightly. The state’s population will increase. Foreclosures and distressed sales will remain a large segment of the market.”

“In the super-affluent Town of Palm Beach, wealthy buyers are snapping up waterfront mansions at prices of $10 million and up. Luxury home sales are also on the rise in Sarasota, Naples, and other high-end markets around the state – a trend likely to continue in 2011, according to brokers and analysts interviewed by the magazine…That would be good news for Florida’s other markets, creating a positive climate for homes listed at more modest prices. After all, if corporate CEO’s and global tycoons are investing in Florida real state, that’s a sign they believe the market is turning. While the luxury segment may lead the state in 2011, other strong market segments are likely to include first-time buyers, international buyers, and investors. However, demand for primary, retirement and move-up homes is expected to be flat until the national economic recovery shifts into higher gear…

“Why is the luxury home segment poised for a rebound? Brokers say many owners have grown tired of waiting and are ready to sell their homes at a lower price to move on with their lives…

“Along the Gulf Coast, luxury homes are also moving more quickly, particularly those built in the last five years that are now priced below the cost of new construction…

“From a statistical standpoint, 2011 is expected to be a growth year for Florida’s economy. But from a practical standpoint, flat is probably a better description…

“A more optimistic forecast from Moody’s Economy.com, a national consulting firm, projects that Florida will achieve 3 percent job growth in 2011, more than any other state…

“But there are still plenty of issues facing the Florida housing market. A high rate of foreclosures is likely to prevent any significant rise in sale prices. In fact, Fiserv, a market analytics company, projects a nationwide 7.1 percent drop in prices between June 2010 and June 2011.”

Interesting Facts About Florida

· 1,000 people move to Florida every day

· 12 international airports

· 1,200 miles of sand beaches

· 19 commercial airports

· 1,250 golf courses (more than any other state)

· 1,800 miles of coastline

· 14 deepwater ports

· 370,000 hotel rooms.

Sanibel & Captiva MLS Activity January 14-21

Sanibel

CONDOS

9 new listings: Colonnades #9 1/1 $179K, Donax Village #9 2/2 $258.5K Tennisplace #C35 2/1.5 $274K, Seashells #15 2/2 $307K, Sundial #D412 1/1 $335K, Coquina Beach #2H 2/2 $409K, Seawind #104 2/2.5 $525K, Sundial #K308 2/2 $919K, Villas of Sanibel #A301 3/3 $1.359M.

10 price changes: Sundial #H303 2/2 now $399K; Loggerhead Cay #432 2/2 now $425K; Lighthouse Point #211 2/2 now $579K; Sand Pointe #132 2/2 now $615K; Sandpiper Beach #303 2/2 now $645K; Loggerhead Cay #101 2/2 now $729K; Nutmeg Village #214 2/2 now $945K; Shorewood #1D 3/2 now $999,999; White Pelican #111 2/2 now $1.149M; Wedgewood #303 3/3.5 now $1.475M.

3 new sales: Sanibel Siesta #203 2/2 listed for $319K, Oceans Reach #4B1 1/1 listed for $499.9K, Nutmeg Village #308 2/2 listed for $679.9K.

4 closed sales: Sandpebble #4A 2/2 $330K, Sanibel Moorings #621 2/2 $414.7K, Lighthouse Point #313 2/2 $475K, By The Sea #C301 2/2 $1.29M.

HOMES

4 new listings: 743 Martha’s Ln 2/2 $379K, 317 Palm Lake Dr 3/3 $725K, 998 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 $924K, 1191 Bird Ln 4/3 $3.649M.

10 price changes: 1212 Middle Gulf Dr 2/2 now $398K; 1148 Seagrape Ln 2/2 now $529K; 799 Conch Ct 3/2.5 now $725K (short sale); 486 Surf Sound Ct 3/3.5 now $749K; 6101 Castaways Ln 4/2 now $750K (short sale); 1208 Harbour Cottage Ct 3/3 half duplex now $779K; 1339 Par View Dr 3/2 now $799,997; 963 Kings Crown Ct 3/3 now $899K; 2332 Troon Ct 4/5 now $1.47M; 2367 Wulfert Rd 3/3.5 now $1.475M.

7 new sales: 962 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed for $377K, 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed for $449K, 1302 Par View Dr 3/3 listed for $619K, 1241 Junonia St 3/3 listed for $779K, 1237 Seagrape Ln 2/2 listed for $835K, 2311 Starfish Ln 4/3 listed for $1.049M, 1304 Seaspray Ln 2/2.5 listed for $3.149M (short sale).

2 closed sales: 1311 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $630K (our buyer), 800 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 $1.475M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1717 Jewel Box Dr $825K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Old Trail listed for $399K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5326 3/3 $639.5K.

6 price changes: Tennis Villas #3111 1/1 now $282.5K, Tennis Villas #3110 1/1 now $350K, Tennis Villas #3230 2/2 now $418K, Bayside Villas #5330 3/3 now $629.5K, Captiva Hide-A-Way #2A 2/2 now $639K, Captiva Hide-A-Way #2B 2/2 now $899K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

3 price changes: 17061 Captiva Dr 4/2.5 now $1.949M, 16171 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 now $1.975M, 15699 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 now $6.95M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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.