Full Moon Rising Over Sanibel Island

Lots of people are “out and about” on the islands this week, but the weather has been so nice, we have not had a lot of real estate showings. The full moon rising was beautiful last night. I caught the above photos with my cell phone from the little park at the end of Dixie Beach Boulevard, overlooking San Carlos Bay to the mainland.

A hopefully short-lived cool front arrived last night, so it was breezy and only in the 50’s this morning. Temps are expected to be back in the 80’s by tomorrow though so it should be nice for weekend events. Here are a few of them, followed by the real estate action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service this week.

Bird Show at Periwinkle Park

Libby is back, so the Periwinkle Park bird show began again this week. Walk or bike to the aviary at the park to see a show, daily (except Wednesdays & Sundays) at 10 a.m.

Sanibel Farmers Market

If you did not make it to the Farmers Market last weekend, it is worth the trip, even if just for the wonderful smells. On the grounds of Sanibel City Hall every Sunday (except Christmas Day) from now until the end of April, the market features over 30 local vendors. One is Smoke Signals Ranch in Alva. They take special orders and will smoke your favorite meat (chicken, turkey, ham, bacon, porch chops, sausages, and ribs) in your flavor choice (hickory smoked, Cajun smoked, brown sugar, maple, honey, pineapple, and citrus). There probably still is time to order a smoked Thanksgiving turkey.

Taste of the Islands on Sunday

For over 30 years, the Taste of the Islands has been an anticipated annual fund-raising event for the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). This year, 20 island restaurants will be serving 48 dishes where a celebrity judge panel will award the Best of the Taste, while the People’s Choice award is chosen by attendees. CROW clinic is the only wildlife hospital in Southwest FL and draws 40+ students from universities around the world. It operates a wildlife hotline and educates adults and children through local schools, service organizations, and its Healing Winds Visitor Education Center. Here is the schedule of events for CROW’s “30th Annual Taste of the Islands” which is this Sunday, Nov 13th from 12:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Sanibel Community Park, right across the street from SanibelSusan Realty (I’ll be in the office with the front door wide open to enjoy the music). There is going to be a silent auction too. Admission is $5.00, with children 10 and under free.

12:30           Welcome from Emcee Robert Van Winkle, NBC 2 meteorologist

12:30-2:30    The Riverside Band (classic rock)

12:30           Judges area opens & Ikki Matsumoto signing artwork & t-shirts

2:45-5          The Captiva Band (with our fellow Realtor® Marty Stokes) (rhythm & blues)

3:15             Server competition (this is really fun to watch)

3:30             Iron Chef challenge

4:45             Awards announced

11/11/11 + 1 + 1 = Free Admission

Since J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge is closed today, Veterans Day, and since Wildlife Drive always closes on Fridays, they are celebrating 11/11/11 by expanding the celebration to two days – tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. All weekend, admission to Wildlife Drive is free plus the Refuge Nature Story is offering 11% off all purchases both days by mentioning “Ding” on the Wing. By Presidential decree, nationwide refuges will be open all weekend, free to the public.

Kids Fishing Derby Next Saturday

Children of all ages who are able to hold their own fishing pole are invited to participate in the free inaugural “Ding” Darling Kids Fishing Derby to be held on the Sanibel Causeway Islands Park (Island A) next Saturday, Nov 19. Registration on the causeway begins at 8 a.m. The first group of children, ages 9 and younger, will fish from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Ages 10 to 15 will start at 10:30 a.m. and finish at noon. Judges will record catches during both sessions and an awards ceremony will take place after each session. Based upon total inches of fish caught, the refuge will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, plus awards for the largest and smallest fish hooked, in both age categories. Participants should bring their own fishing poles, but a limited amount of loaner poles will be available. Tarpon Bay Explorers will supply the bait. At noon, participants can enjoy free hot dogs compliments of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. Throughout the day, volunteers from the Sanibel Island Fishing Club will teach fishing skills and safe, ethical fishing practices, and engage children in fish crafts. 

Sanibel Beach Parking Permits

Expire on Nov 30. Renew them at the Sanibel Recreation Center at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road. Be sure to bring a valid vehicle registration for each vehicle and a state-issued identification card or driver’s license.

Sanibel Dog Licenses

These renewals are coming up too. The 2012 licenses will be available at the Sanibel Recreation Center after Dec 5. Dogs must be registered before Jan 31, 2012 to avoid a late fee. Proof of rabies inoculation is required.

Backyard Games for All Ages at Sanibel Community Park

This is the park right across the street from SanibelSusan Realty. Games such as volleyball, shuffleboard, corn hole toss, ladder ball, and bocce ball are being held the first Saturday of every month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fun for all ages, weather permitting.

Changes Coming to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)

On Oct 24, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a series of changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). With input from lenders, mortgage insurers and other participants, these program changes, which will be finalized on Nov 15, are designed to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgage. A recent e-mail received from SunTrust Bank offered the following info: “What you can expect from these program enhancements? HARP is the only refinance program that enables clients who owe more than their home is worth to take advantage of low interest rates and other refinancing benefits. The HARP program will continue to be available to clients with loans sold to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae on or before May 31, 2009. The newly enhanced HARP program will address several key aspects of HARP including:

• Eliminating certain risk-based fees for clients who refinance into shorter-term mortgages and lowering fees for other clients
• Removing the current 125% LTV ceiling for fixed–rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Eliminating the need for a new property appraisal where there is a reliable automated valuation model (AVM) estimate provided by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
• Extending the end date for HARP until Dec 31, 2013 for loans originally sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or before May 31, 2009.”

Mark Your Calendar To Be Part of a Guinness Book Records Event

Friday, Feb 17 at 10 a.m., shell enthusiasts will gather on Sanibel Island’s Bowman’s Beach to set the world’s record for the most people doing the “Sanibel stoop” at the same time. This is one of the events planned by the Sanibel Community Association to draw attention to “Shellabration 2012”, celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Sanibel Shell Show. A recent article about the celebration was featured on the “Airlines and Destinations” website including a funny video featuring one of our local Realtors®.

Sanibel & Captiva MLS Activity November 4-11

Sanibel
CONDOS
4 new listings: Sealoft Village #103 2/2 $549K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #3 2/2 $575K, Pointe Santo #C32 2/2 $715K, Snug Harbor #113 2/2 $1.089M.
3 price changes: Mariner Pointe #1082 2/2 now $298.5K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #A201 2/2 now $385K, Sedgemoor #202 3/3.5 now $2.489M.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: Mariner Pointe #1073 2/2 $357K.
 
HOMES
9 new listings: 436 Glory Cir 3/3 $549.9K; 9440 Begonia Ct 3/2 $599.5K; 9454 Calla Ct 3/2 $639,936; 958 Cabbage Palm Ct 2/2 $650K; 1351 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 half-duplex (Moonshadows) $675K; 5742 Pine Tree Dr 4/2 $899K; 3239 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $899K; 2564 Wulfert Rd 5/5 $2.298.5M; 1237 Isabel Dr 6/6.5 $3.595M.
6 price changes: 555 Rabbit Rd 3/2 now $415K, 1433 Jamaica Dr 5/4 duplex now $469K, 673 East Rocks Dr 3/2 now $619K, 1511 Angel Dr 2/2 now $769K, 1817 Buckthorn Ln 4/3.5 now $1.1M, 2984 Wulfert Rd 4/3 now $2.498M.
3 new sales: 1436 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 half-duplex listed for $315K, 987 Black Skimmer Way 2/2 listed for $555K, 998 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 listed for $799K.
4 closed sales: 1212 Middle Gulf Dr 2/2 $315K, 1672 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/1 $305K, 1866 Ardsley Way 3/2.5 $515K, 1204 Harbour Cottage Ct 3/3 half-duplex $685K.
 
LOTS
No new listings.
4 price changes: 3001 Poinciana Cir now $139K; 4566 Buck Key Rd now $249,555; 1118 Sand Castle Rd now $299K (our listing), 5439 Osprey Ct now $379K (foreclosure). 
No new or closed sales.
 
Captiva

CONDOS
1 new listing: Marina Villas #801 2/2 $577K.
1 price change: Seabreeze #1253 3/3 now $1.749M.
1 new sale: Beach Villas #2613 1/1 listed for 450K.
No closed sales.
 
HOMES
Nothing to report.
 
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. If your property currently is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.

Happy Friday from SanibelSusan