Though Sanibel and Captiva Islands were fairly busy this week with holiday vacationers, we did not see much real estate action. The weather has been mostly sunny, though cooler than much of the nation, with our day-time highs in the upper 80’s most days, hitting 90 on occasion. It has not been unusual to see an afternoon shower, just before sunset – typical of island summers.
Update on the Sanibel Bear
What a surprise to read the following article in the Fort Myers News Press on Tuesday:
“TAMPA — A black bear spotted in a tree at Busch Gardens early this morning along Busch Boulevard is heading back to the forest. The chase began around 1 this morning when a USF student reported seeing the bear wandering outside of the Argos Hall dormitory. The bear was tracked for about three miles through the campus and ultimately, up a tree in Busch Gardens.
“This Florida black bear has been on one incredible journey over the last year. This morning, he’s on his way to the Apalachicola National Forest where he’ll be released back into his natural habitat…again.
“The adventure for the 2-1/2 year old, 270-pound bear likely began in the Southwest Florida area where it’s believed he may be part of a black bear population there. About a year ago, FWC says he took a swim to Sanibel Island where he’d been spotted multiple times until he was finally caught on June 21st. FWC moved the bear to Citrus County’s Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge, but the bear wasn’t willing to stay put. He’s been on the go since, likely looking for a mate while trying to make his way back home. Florida Fish and Wildlife says the bear was spotted last week in Spring Hill and then on Friday, in the area of Land O’Lakes in Pasco County. All was quiet until this morning when the bear was seen roaming the campus of USF.
“The Florida black bear has made news in recent weeks because as part of the Black Bear Management Plan put together by FWC, it will be removed from the state threatened list because the population has rebounded over the years from about 300 in the 1970s to about 3,000 today.”
Where There’s a Bear, There’s a T-Shirt
I had to laugh when I saw this posted on the City website this week. But what fun, a chance to preserve the memory of the once-in-a-lifetime presence of the Florida Black bear on Sanibel. Purchase a limited edition “Florida Black Bear, Sanibel Tour 2012” t-shirt, available exclusively at the City of Sanibel Rec Center, 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Rd. $15.00 for adult sizes available in white or sky blue. All proceeds support City of Sanibel youth recreation programming. They accept phone orders and credit cards….and they ship! For more info call the Rec Center at (239) 472-0345 or visit their website at www.mysanibel.com.
There were many entries in the July 4th Parade developed around the Sanibel bear too. Many especially enjoyed the walking bear carrying the white flag (show below).
Victory on Flood Insurance
Late last week, Congress finally acted on a legislative priority key to the Realtor® community, a five-year reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The President is expected to sign it into law today. Yesterday, an article posted on-line to our Realtor® membership, by our National Association of Realtors® (NAR) President, Moe Veissi, says “All the D.C. pundits said nothing would be accomplished in an election year! You just proved them wrong because you didn’t give up, and now you have the victory to confirm it! The reason I’m writing this today is to reinforce the commitment of your National Association to you and every other member who expects us to persevere on issues of importance to our members and your clients – the consumers, homeowners, and potential home owners of the future. NAR, with your help and influence, stayed the course to give lenders and home owners more certainty in the mortgage and real estate market place with available flood insurance for existing home owners and those buying and selling. This has been a long, arduous battle. The National Flood Insurance Program suffered through over 18 short-term extensions and hobbled along for the last four years without a long-term reauthorization forthcoming from D.C. It was your charge to us not to give up, not to accept anything less than a long-term reauthorization of the Flood Insurance Program. So, we battled to get every inch along those short-term extensions until now when a full five-year reauthorization has been approved. This fight traveled over several administrations and more than a few presidents of NAR….”
After Tropical Storm Debby
When I was out showing bay and canal-front property this morning, I noticed that some of the vegetation along the sides of Dixie Beach Boulevard has yellowed, following the tidal surge after Tropical Storm Debby last week. Water covered part of that roadway for a short time during the peak of the rain bands and high tides during the storm last week.
There has been island chatter this week about wildlife being misplaced after the storm too. Out at Blind Pass Condos, residents reported seeing many animals out with their young. One report said a mother armadillo and her baby had a hard time crossing Bowman’s Beach Road where multiple cars and bikes waited for them. Baby alligators and families of raccoons were also reported trying to cross the roadways. (One island reporter posted that “animals tend to take their young everywhere in times of stress rather than leaving them in the nest.”) I stopped for two turtle crossings within a short distance of each other on Tarpon Bay Road on the way into work one morning.
CROW received many calls about abandoned baby birds and advised Blind Pass condo personnel who found a misplaced baby dove to try to build the bird another nest. Their staff handyman did just that, building one and attaching it to a wall near the earlier dove nest. After adding some twigs, the doves now have taken up residence..
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 22 – July 6:
Sanibel
CONDOS – No new listings & no price changes. 2 new sales: Sanctuary Ibis #A201 2/2 listed for $385K, Beachcomber #A101 2/2 listed for $1.495M. 5 closed sales: Sanctuary Golf Villages #3-2 3/3 $410K, Cyprina Beach #9 3/2.5 565K, Loggerhead Cay #152 2/2 $620K, Sundial #K208 2/2 $827.5K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #1-4 3/3 $840K.
HOMES – 1 new listing: 3960 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $749.9K. 3 price changes: 940 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2.5 now $499K, 1207 Par View Dr 3/2 now $759K, 919 Almas Ct 3/2.5 now $1.149M. 3 new sales: 2210 Camino del Mar $3/2 listed for $539K, 585 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed for $575K, 1120 Junonia St 3/2 listed for $629K. 6 closed sales: 1415 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 $290K, 1574 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $520K, 740 Durion Ct 3/2 $560K, 5727 SanCap Rd 3/2 $754K (stats only, closed in March), 2308 Troon Ct 4/4 $1.45M, 2564 Wulfert Rd 5/5 $2.03M.
LOTS – 1 new sale: 925 Whelk Dr listed for $875K. No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.
Captiva
CONDOS – No new listings. 1 price change: Marina Villas #803 2/2 now $578.5K. No new sales or closed sales.
HOMES – No new listings or price changes. 1 new sale: 11490 Dickey Ln 3/2 listed for $849K. 1 closed sale: 11523 Wightman Ln 4/4 $1.45M.
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 weekend to all!
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