It’s another heavy traffic day on Sanibel Island, particularly on Periwinkle Way in front of SanibelSusan Realty Associates.

Today and tomorrow The Sanibel Community House is featuring the annual local Lions Club Arts and Crafts Fair.

The islands again have been extra busy all week with spring/winter break vacationers. Another big turnover is expected tomorrow, followed by another big change-over the day before Easter. Many rental organizations and accommodations report that they are booked to capacity. Next week also is a break for local schools so heavier roadway traffic is expected.

I had another sale this week, one of the 14 new Sanibel sales (10 homes and four condos) reported in weekly activity report from the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service below. There also were 23 price reductions and just seven new listings (one home & six condos), so inventory is changing.

Yesterday, Dave, Lisa, and I viewed two new listings that were open for our weekly Thursday Realtor® Caravan. One was a magnificent large home on four acres on Captiva Island. With dock and views of Roosevelt Channel, the main house has seven bedrooms and seven baths. There also is a lighted tennis court and a two-bedroom guest cottage, plus deeded beach access. When I tell my staff that “the best way to always be prepared is to know the inventory”, I don’t think they thought I meant, even a house with nine bedrooms. They haven’t sold one of those yet, but now they are ready. Here is a photo taken from an upper bedroom. The home is called “Sea Oats” if you are a fan of the Captiva named homes.

The other home also has a nice view, though not as many bedrooms. It’s on Sanibel Island, near the end of the Ladyfinger Lake cul-de-sac in Sanibel Bayous. Here’s the view from the back porch. So peaceful…

Emmy-Winning Producer Begins Local Project

Today, I enjoyed reading this article in the “Island Sun” and I thought you might like it too:

 “A seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer who lives on Sanibel full-time has announced that he has begun producing a film titled The Top 20 Things To Do On Sanibel-Captiva.

“David E. Carter, whose most recent film was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, began shooting on the new project last week, spending time in the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, at the Sanibel Lighthouse and on the Sanibel bicycle paths.

“Carter is actively soliciting suggestions for the “Top 20” list. The website www.TheSanibelDVD.com lets people email their suggestions for attractions for the film and also get frequent updates on the project. In addition, a Facebook page has been set up and linked to the website.

“Carter’s Emmy-winning work includes four documentaries that ran on PBS stations around the country. His most-viewed work, however, was numerous comedy sketches that he produced for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. The best of that work also appeared on one of Carson’s prime-time anniversary shows.

“A documentary he produced for CROW wildlife clinic in 2008, narrated by Nick Clooney (American Movie Classics host and father of George) was nominated for an Emmy Award.

“He expects to have the Sanibel-Captiva Top 20 video completed by early summer.”

Want to Attract Birds & Butterflies to Your Property?

The City of Sanibel Vegetation Committee offers guided native vegetation and landscaping tours of City Hall grounds, which have been planted solely with native plants. There is a tour tomorrow, Saturday, March 23, 2013, beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. The tour includes ideas for planting native vegetation that requires no fertilizer and how you can plant a garden that reseeds itself with very little maintenance, is good for the environment and will attract birds and butterflies. Vegetation Committee members will provide information on proper planting and care of native vegetation. The City of Sanibel encourages planting of vegetation that is indigenous to the area as it requires very little maintenance NO fertilizer and NO supplemental irrigation. Registration for the tour is not required. Attendees will meet at the main entrance to City Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, in front of the main staircase. The City of Sanibel is a “walkable and bikeable” community and features one of the most extensive shared use paths in the State of Florida. Attendees to these special events are encouraged to enjoy our good nature, bicycle to these events and stay FIT-4-LIFE!

Sanibel BIG ARTS Community Chorus

Our community chorus has put away its music for the summer after a busy week of performances. Sunday saw us at IrishFest 2013, Monday at the Minnesota Twins/Florida Marlins game (I missed that one due to real estate commitments), and Wednesday/Thursday sold-out Spring Concert performances. As one of the original chorus members in the early 90’s, it has been great fun as the group has grown to its 80-some members. In early years our spring concerts were performed with the Sanibel Band; but both groups have such large followings that we now have separate concerts. The band concert is tonight. This year was the first time that Chorus performed their spring concert twice, filling Schein Performance Hall each time.

Here are a couple of concert photos taken by my photographer and real estate pal, Roberta Schuldenfrei, whose work is often featured on the cover of the Sanibel/Captiva Real Estate Guide. (Can you find SanibelSusan in the 1st photo?) The other two photos are our soloists performing Master of the House from Les Miserables. They were terrific!

If you enjoy singing, no auditions are required for the general chorus. Rehearsals begin again in the fall, starting October 22, in the evening at BIG ARTS. Our next concert is the holiday event on December 10.

Florida’s Housing Market Continues Positive Trends in February

Yesterday, Florida Realtors® posted the following article on-line. I have inserted some statistics (in parentheses) as the real estate market relates to Sanibel and Captiva Island.

“Florida’s housing market reported more closed sales, rising median prices, increased pending sales, more new listings and a reduced inventory of homes for sale in February, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.

““Each month brings more positive signs for the state’s housing market,” says 2013 Florida Realtors® President Dean Asher, broker-owner with Don Asher & Associates Inc. in Orlando. “For example, February is the 14th month in a row that statewide median sales prices for both single-family homes and for townhouse-condo units increased year-over-year, according to Florida Realtors’ data. Properties are selling more quickly statewide, especially at certain price points – the median days a home is on the market dropped about 15% for single-family homes and 10% for townhouse-condo units in February. Plus, sellers are receiving more than 92% of their original listing price in both the single-family home and townhouse-condo markets.” (on Sanibel 93% for both homes and condos)

“Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 15,666 (16 on Sanibel) in February, up 10.3% (up 9.4% on Sanibel) compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors® Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor® boards/associations. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written. Meanwhile, pending sales – contracts that are signed but not yet completed or closed – for existing single-family homes last month rose 26.7% over the previous February. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $150,000 ($712,000 on Sanibel), up 12.8% (up 22% on Sanibel) from the previous year.

“According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the national median sales price for existing single-family homes in January 2013 was $174,100 ($712,000 on Sanibel), up 12.6% (up 22% on Sanibel) from the previous year. In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in January was $337,040; in Massachusetts, it was $282,500; in Maryland, it was $223,469; and in New York, it was $220,000. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. Housing industry analysts note that sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes.

“Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 8,028 units sold statewide (9 on Sanibel) last month, up 7% (down 8% on Sanibel) compared to February 2012. Meanwhile, pending sales for townhouse-condos in February increased 14.3% compared to the year-ago figure. The statewide median for townhouse-condo properties was $115,000 ($479,000 on Sanibel), up 21.1% (down 7% on Sanibel) over the previous year. NAR reported that the national median existing condo price in January 2013 was $169,600 ($579,000 on Sanibel). The inventory for single-family homes stood at a 5.5-months’ supply in February; inventory for townhouse-condos was at a 6.1-months’ supply, according to Florida Realtors®.

““Several things are particularly striking about the February data,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “First, we note the continuing growth of cash sales, which are now half of existing single-family closed sales statewide and more than three-quarters of townhouse-condo closed sales. Second, we’re seeing more new listings and that trend is turning positive. This is the first sign that low inventories are convincing sellers to come to the market. Third, and related to the last point, the lowest price tiers (for home listings) are just about wiped out and are moving in a direction counter to the state trend,” Tuccillo noted. “The biggest movements in listings as well as the other metrics are in the $300,000-$500,000 price tier.”

“According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.53% in February 2013, down from the 3.89% average during the same month a year earlier.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity March 15-22

Sanibel
CONDOS
6 new listings: Lake Palms #10 2/2.5 $259K (short sale); Sundial #G205 1/1 $325K; Blind Pass #E201 2/2 $399K; Compass Point #212 2/2 $599K; Kings Crown #111 3/2 $669,966; Gulfside Place #103 2/2 $939K.
9 price changes: Tennisplace #E33 2/1.5 now $249.9K, Mariner Pointe #1083 2/2 now $399K, Kimball Lodge #263 1/1.5 now $399K, Sundial #G201 2/2 now $449K, Sealoft Village #106 2/2 now $499K, Sundial #L202 2/2 now $526.8K (short sale), Sunset South #3B 2/2 now $595K, Nutmeg Village #202 2/2 now $599K, Sundial #E108 2/2 now $825K.
4 new sales: Tennisplace #B32 2/1 listed for $249K, Coquina Beach #2E 2/2 listed for $649K, Sundial #K203 2/2 listed for $744.9K, Compass Point #183 2/2 listed for $1.095M.
5 closed sales: Captains Walk #C4 2/2 $180K, Sundial #D305 1/1 $245K, Loggerhead Cay #581 2/2 $515K, Pointe Santo #B44 2/2 $647K, Compass Point #181 2/3 $875K.

HOMES
1 new listing: 2200 Camino Del Mar 4/4 $899K.
13 price changes: 3316 Saint Kilda Rd 2/1 now $429K; 9263 Kincaid Ct 3/2 now $439K; 630 Hideaway Ct 2/2 now $499K; 564 Hideaway Ct 3/2 now $589,555; 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 now $615K; 1511 Angel Dr 2/2 now $634K; 4570 Bowen Bayou Rd 2/2 now $649K; 9459 Begonia Ct 3/4 now $669K; 1339 Par View Dr 3/2 now $674.9K; 919 Almas Ct 3/2.5 now $1.049M; 261 Ferry Landing Dr 2/2 half-duplex 2/2 now $1.095M; 5115 Joewood Dr 4/3 now $1.45M; 1950 Woodring Rd 4/3.5 now $2.65M.
10 new sales: 1415 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 half-duplex listed for $339K, 2079 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 listed for $440K, 2560 Coconut Dr 3/3 listed for $495K, 1605 Bunting Ln 2/2 listed for $574.9K (our buyer), 4960 Joewood Dr 4/3 listed for $699K, 941 Cormorant Cir 4/2 listed for $725K, 4496 Waters Edge Ln 3/2 listed for $825K, 940 Victoria Way 3/3 listed for $999K, 985 Oyster Ct 4/4 listed for $1.249M, 3517 West Gulf Dr 4/5.5 listed for $5.495M.
2 closed sales: 5296 Umbrella Pool Rd 4/4 $530K, 3840 West Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $710K.

LOTS
No new listings.
1 price change: 3037 Poinciana Cir now $199,555.
No new or closed sales.

Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Lands End Village #1616 3/3 $1.99M.
No price changes.
3 new sales: Marina Villas #802 2/2 listed for $549K, Bayside Villas #5344 3/3 listed for $645K, Captiva Cove #2B 3/2 listed for $1.299M.
No closed sales.

HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
2 new sales: 17 Urchin Ct 2/2.5 listed for $779K, 16730 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 listed for $4.695M.
No closed sales.

LOTS
1 new listing: 956 South Seas Plantation Rd $1.975M.
No price changes, 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.

Wondering about the 5-day forecast for Sanibel? High of 77 degrees today, 82 expected tomorrow, 81 on Sunday. Cool front arrives on Monday. High only expected to be 72 degrees then, 70 on Tuesday, then back to 72 on Wednesday.

It’s a PURRRRFECT way to kick off Spring! Happy weekend from The SanibelSusan Team, Susan, Dave, Elise, & Lisa