Photo courtesy of Jim Anderson, JMA Photography

Good news with several gulf-front high-end Sanibel sales announced at our Sanibel and Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Caravan meeting yesterday. We finally are “in season” with a noticeable increase in real estate activity. Now we begin dealing with the obstacles of selling real estate when the islands are busy: i.e. making appointments and convincing renters to allow showings when properties are occupied, competing with the weather when it is a beautiful day (and prospective buyers are out having fun rather than looking at real estate), jockeying for keys with other Realtors®, and the like. Makes the job fun! Today, we have bright blue sunny skies with temps expected to reach 79 degrees, followed by the low 80’s every day right into next week. Truly a terrific time to be here, looking at property, and usually when properties show best!

Florida Realtors® Posts Housing Market Indicators

As someone who reads nearly every real estate article that I can get my hands on, I have found it especially useful to watch the statistics that Florida Realtors® posts on line every week. These are not specific to the islands but the overall trend has been good. 

Florida existing home sales: (month-to-previous-year comparison) +11%

Florida existing condo sales: (month-to-previous-year comparison) +2%

Florida existing home median price: $130,100

Florida existing condo median price: $86,700

National existing home sales: (month-to-previous-month comparison; all housing types) +4%

National existing home median price: $164,200

National (Freddie Mac) mortgage rate: (all housing types) 3.89%

The SCCF Signs Are Clean

Here are a couple of photos taken yesterday of Dave and Lisa when they represented The SanibelSusan Team in helping perform a community service chore. Thanks to our islands Realtor® Association, all of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) signs, which designate the many island conservation areas, are now spiffed up.

Dave and Lisa were tasked to cleaned both the main SCCF entrance sign on Sanibel-Captiva Road and the nearby Habitat Management sign. Nice job!

The plan is for specific Realtors to adopt individual signs so that they will attend to their clearing year-round so that they will always be sparkling. Yet another good cooperative effort that makes island ambience so special. Sanibel and Captiva residents, visitors, and business folks are known for being down-to-earth and helping-each-other. Love that community spirit!

If You Are Lucky Enough to Be Here

Be sure to click the “upcoming events” tab above for the schedule of island happenings. There are many new events this year. SCCF, BIG ARTS, CROW, and others have expanded their programs. Almost makes a girl wish that she wasn’t working; but there are plenty of evening events too.  Community chorus is back in full swing and practicing hard for our upcoming spring concert March 22. There already is talk that it will be a sell-out so a second performance is being considered. Tickets go on sale soon.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity January 6-13

Sanibel
CONDOS
5 new listings: Sundial #D305 1/1 $269K (short sale), Heron at The Sanctuary II #3B 2/2.5 $609K, Pine Cove #102 3/2 $879K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #4 3/3 $948K, Pine Cove #104 3/2 $1.35M.
8 price changes: Seashells #26 2/2 now $274K, Beach Road Villa #106 2/2 now $295K, Sanibel Arms West #K3 2/2 now $399K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #3-2 3/3 now $499K, Sand Pointe #211 2/2 now $619K, Pointe Santo #A21 2/2 now $769K, Signal Inn #18 2/2 now $889K, Gulfside Place #319 2/2 now $974K (our listing).
6 new sales: Sanibel Moorings #1512 2/2 listed for $429K, Sanibel Arms West #I8 2/2 listed for $449K, Seawind II #5 2/2.5 listed for $599K, Gulf Beach #207 2/2 listed for $719K, Gulfside Place #318 2/2 listed for $1.1M, Wedgewood #203 3/3.5 listed for $1.95M. 
3 closed sales: Sundial #G206 1/1 $260K; Sand Pointe #133 2/2 $534,285 (short sale); Gulfside Place #104 3/2 $1.129.5M.
 
HOMES
8 new listings: 1430 Sandpiper Cir 2/3 half-duplex $446,225; 1750 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2.5 $629K (short sale); 1308 Tahiti Dr 3/3 $789K; 667 Anchor Dr 4/3.5 $995K; 960 Victoria Way 3/3 $1.095M; 2279 Troon Ct 3/4 $1.495M; 547 Kinzie Island Ct 5/5.5 $1.775M; 4203 Dingman Dr 4/3 $2.595M.
7 price changes:  293 Palm Lake 3/2 now $479K, 220 Southwinds Dr 2/2 now $499K (our listing), 569 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $1.05M, 1765 Venus Dr 3/3 now $1.199M, 568 Lighthouse Way 2/2 now $1.4M, 4781 Tradewinds Dr 3/2 now $1.839M, 1918 Woodring Rd 4/4 now $2.799M.
12 new sales: 1133 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed for $499K, 5657 SanCap Rd 3/2 listed for $545K, 480 Peachtree Rd 3/3 listed for $549K, 210 Daniel Dr 3/3 listed for $549K (our listing), 947 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 listed for $749K, 1537 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 listed for $774K, 1360 Eagle Run Dr 5/3.5 listed for $900K (short sale), 913 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 listed for $995K, 730 Birdie View Pt 3/2.5 listed for $1.35M, 5029 Joewood Dr 3/2 listed for $1.985M, 5045 Joewood Dr 3/3.5 listed for $2.295M, 3805 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 listed for $4.495M.
4 closed sales: 683 Emeril Ct 2/2 $440K, 3145 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 $444K, 1057 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $625K, 784 Birdie View Pt 4/4 $1.5M.
 
LOTS
No new listings.
1 price change: 1114 Seagrape Ln now $475K.
1 new sale: 2285 Wulfert Rd listed for $139K (short sale).
1 closed sale: 1912 Ibis Ln $225K.
 
Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Lands End Village #1664 3/3 $1.597.9M.
No price changes.
1 new sale: Lands End Village #1651 2/2 listed for $975K.
No closed sales.
 
HOMES
2 new listings: 15879 Captiva Dr 3/3 $2.498M, 15867 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 $3.498M.
1 price change: 16730 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 now $4.95M.
1 new sale: 16205 Captiva Dr 4/4 listed for $1.975M (foreclosure).
2 closed sales:  51 Oster Ct 2/2.4 $685K, 16891 Captiva Dr 3/2 $1.3M.
 
LOTS
No new listings.
2 price changes: 1114 Schefflera Ct now $498K, 13470 Palmflower Ln now $869K.
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. If your property currently is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.

Until next Friday, here’s hoping your days are as bright as our forecast on sunny Sanibel Island, :-) SanibelSusan