What a difference seven days can make. Sanibel and Captiva Islands have quieted down this week, even with many Lee County families enjoying island activities while our local schools are out. Snowbirds continue to head north, as more tarpon fisherman arrive, thinking about catching the big one. Did you know that the Florida record-size tarpon weighed in at 243 pounds? It was caught in 1975, just off Key West, with that record still holding. April, May, and June are usually the best months for catching those big ones.  Here is one Dave caught & released back in 2007.

The summer golf scrambles have begun on the island too. First one at Beachview was last Friday night. Dave and his buddies garnered third. We expect him to be sneaking out of the office on Fridays through the summer to take a few practice shots before the 5 p.m. tee-off. Lots of good networking going on there.

Nest Found Before Turtle Nesting Season Begins

A Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, a species rarely found on Florida beaches, nested on Sanibel last Friday, a full eight days before the official start of sea turtle nesting season, which is May 1, and she did it during the day. Sea turtles usually nest at night. Kemp Ridleys are the smallest and rarest sea turtle in the world. They weigh about 100 pounds and are 2 to 2-1/2 feet long at maturity. They nest from April to July with it common for them to nest several times during that time. The last Kemp’s Ridley nest recorded on Sanibel was in 1996. Most of their nesting occurs in Mexico and Padre Island, TX, with only eight nests in FL in 2010. Most Sanibel sea turtle nests are loggerhead turtles with an occasional green turtle. The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) monitors sea turtle nesting, with over 100 volunteers patrolling the beach every morning from May through August.

Snowy Plover Nesting Season

Not to be outdone by the nesting turtles, snowy plover nesting season began in February and Sanibel Island now has five nests with three chicks. This year the Conservation Foundation (SCCF) also is monitoring one Wilson’s plover nest. Plover nesting season continues until mid-August. Next time you visit our SanibelSusan Realty Associates office be sure and check out our wonderful “big” canvas-mounted chick photo taken by our Realtor® pal and island photographer Rob Pailes.

Sanibel Historical Museum and Village

The Spring/Summer 2011 issue of “The ‘Old’ Village Voice”, the Museum and Village newsletter, was e-mailed last week. It advises that they will go to “summer hours” on May 4. The Village will then be open on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. until August 6 when it closes until November 2, when winter hours begin again.

Worth-the-Price Fix-Ups

Nice article in the April/May 2011 Realtor® Magazine describing “six simple and affordable do-it-yourself projects that can increase a home’s resale value, according to HomeGain’s annual home improvement and staging survey.

• Cleaning and De-cluttering – Remove any personal items, un-clutter countertops, organize closets, and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean. Estimated cost $290/estimated return $1,190.
• Brightening – Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows. Estimated cost $375/estimated return $1,550.
• Smart Staging – Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, incorporate artwork, and play soft music in the background. Estimated cost $550/estimated returned $2,194.
• Landscaping Enhancements – Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and back yards by adding mulch, bushes, and flowers and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured. Estimated costs $540/estimated return $1,932.
• Repairing electrical or plumbing – Fix leaks under the sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety features. Estimated cost $535/estimate return $1,505.
• Replacing or Shampooing Dirty Carpets – Steam clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks. Estimated cost $647/estimated return $1,739.” 

Buyers Rush to Beat Jumbo Mortgage Deadline

Florida Realtors® posted this MSNBC article this week: “More buyers in high-cost areas may be motivated to purchase a home before an October 1 deadline when the government plans to scale back the size of “jumbo” mortgages it guarantees in costly real estate markets. On October 1, the maximum loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accept is set to decrease from $729,750 to $625,500. This might make mortgages more expensive or more difficult to get for buyers in high-cost areas, MSNBC.com reports. For example, after October 1, a borrower who seeks a government-backed mortgage for a $1-million property may have to come up with a $370,000 down-payment instead of $270,000, Rob Chrisman, a mortgage banking consultant from San Rafael, CA, told MSNBC. Up until 2008, any loan more than $418,000 was considered a jumbo loan, but that later swelled to $625,500 and then was temporarily set at $729,750 (which expires at the end of September). Once the current jumbo loan limit expires, lenders who want to make loans over $625,500 either will have to hold the mortgage themselves or find a private investor to purchase it. Guy Cecala of Inside Mortgage Finance is confident that private lenders will step in to make up any of the downfall from the GSEs change. He’s already pointing to the signs: In the last quarter of 2010, private lenders originated more loans over $417,000 – which is considered the traditional jumbo market – than did government agencies.”

 
 
Sanibel & Captiva MLS Activity April 22 – 29

 
Sanibel
CONDOS
3 new listings: Beach Road Villa #106 2/2 $329K, Sanibel Moorings #1622 2/2 $395K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #A102 2/2 $440K.
8 price changes: Sanibel Moorings #241 1/1 now $389K, Spanish Cay #A1 2/2 now $319.9K, Mariner Pointe #1083 2/2 now $379K, Lighthouse Point #217 3/2 now $450K, Loggerhead Cay #232 2/2 now $595K, Gulfside Place #117 2/2 now $1.045M, Gulfside Place #318 2/2 now $1.1M, Gulfside Place #128 3/2.5 now $1.895M.
8 new sales: Blind Pass #A105 2/2 listed for $379K, Sanibel Siesta #101 2/2 listed for $379K, Sanibel Arms West #B4 2/2 listed for $419K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #301 2/2 listed for $460K, Sanibel Siesta #603 2/2 listed for $560K, Compass Point #181 2/2 listed for $960K, Villas of Sanibel #A202 3/3 listed for $995K, Janthina #3A 3/2 listed for $1.295M.
3 closed sales: Blind Pass #B208 2/2.5 $380K, Sanibel Arms West #L7 2/2 $425K, Lighthouse Point #211 2/2 $558.5K.
 
HOMES
5 new listings: 293 Palm Lake 3/2 $499K, 223 Southwinds Dr 3/2 $569K, 697 Birdie View Pt 3/2 $595K, 673 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $629K, 4628 Rue Belle Mer 3/3 $839K.
13 price changes:  1458 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex now $299K, 1012 East Gulf Dr 4/2 duplex now $315K (short sale), 978 Greenwood Ct S 3/2.5 half-duplex now $369K, 1133 Schooner Pl 5/3 duplex now $395K, 1525 Wilton Ln 3/3 now $488K, 474 Surf Sound Ct 3/2 now $490K (short sale), 4210 Old Banyan Way 3/2 now $619K, 1234 Seagrape Ln 2/2 now $695K, 310 East Gulf Dr 3/2 now $699K, 4215 Gulf Pines Dr 5/3.5 now $735K, 190 Violet Dr 3/2.5 now $899K, 618 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $995K, 5230 Caloosa End Ln 4/3 now $1.179M.
7 new sales: 849 Beach Rd 4/4 duplex listed for $449K; 9417 Sage Ct 2/2 listed for $450K, 728 Anchor Dr 4/3 listed for $699,999; 1241 Par View Dr 3/2 listed for $798.5K, 1320 Eagle Run Dr 4/3.5 listed for $799.9K; 1255 Par View Dr 4/4 listed for $1.175M; 1310 Seaspray Ln 4/4 listed for $3.25M.
2 closed sales:  230 Palm Lake Dr 2/2 $475K, 3952 West Gulf Dr 4/3 $840K.
 
LOTS
1 new listing: 5633 Baltusrol Ct $390K.
1 price change: 2285 Wulfert Rd now $174K (short sale).
1 new sale: 4333 West Gulf Dr listed for $2.799M.
1 closed sale: 5896 Dinkins Lake Rd $155K.
 
Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings.
1 price change: Marina Villas #803 2/2 now $585K.
3 new sales: Bayside Villas #4212 1/2 listed for $285.9K, Captiva Hide-A-Way #1C 2/2 listed for $499K, Bayside Villas #4322 3/3 listed for $579K (short sale).
No closed sales.
 
HOMES
No new listings.
No price changes.
2 new sales:  16171 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 listed for $1.595M, 1073 South Seas Plantation 3/3 listed for $1.85M.
2 closed sales:  11536 Andy Rosse Ln 3/3 $1.5M, 16778 Captiva Dr 4/3 $3.1M.
 
LOTS
Nothing to report.