It is another sunny summer afternoon on Sanibel Island. Here are a few news items, followed by the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service activity for the past seven days.

Monthly Realtor Membership Meeting

Yesterday, our June Sanibel and Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Membership Meeting was well attended, but only a handful of new listings and sales were announced. There also were few properties on the morning caravan – definitely more indications that we are now in what is usually called the “off season”.  (In fact, with the Independence Day festivities now less than two weeks away, there will not be another Realtor® Caravan until our next membership meeting the middle of July. There just are not enough new listings this time of the year.)

In keeping with the 2013 Professional Development Committee’s program to learn from our affiliate business partners, the educational session portion of yesterday’s meeting covered “Red Flags” in the title company business. Thanks to Nanci Berlin with Barrier Island Title Services, Amanda Curran with Superior Title Services, Doug Stevens with Stewart Title Company, and Cathy Mann-Seiple with Fidelity National Title of Florida for participating.

Teammates Dave and Lisa viewed caravan properties and while out-&-about snapped a couple of beach pictures in the Blind Pass area.

SanibelSusan Team Action

I was out showing property twice this week to long-time clients and then after having a good walk-in, also met several times with some folks considering moving here. These prospective buyers both were disappointed that there is not much inventory that meets their requirements (gulf-front homes for one couple and entry-level homes near the beach for the other).

Those are the two of the products that have seen the most action this year. For example on the beach on West Gulf Drive, where homes can be in the $2‑ to 10‑million range, there are just three currently for sale, while five already have sold and closed this year. At the other end of the price spectrum, considering near-beach Sanibel pool homes under $550K, those choices are limited too. Six homes like that have already have sold with just three remaining for sale. Sure wish we could get the same interest in the mid-price range properties, particularly condos, a lot of that inventory remains.

We received a new condo listing this week that it is not the typical gulf-side 2 bedroom/2 bath, but rather a fully remodeled and expanded ground-level 3 bedroom with bay views at Mariner Pointe. Mariner Pointe, near the causeway and adjacent to the Sanibel Marina, is the island’s only peninsula complex and great spot for boaters, fishermen, outdoorsmen, and other water lovers. Owners there include use full-time residents, 2nd-home owners, snowbirds, vacationers, and some investors too, as weekly rentals are permitted. With on-site manager, long-time grounds staff, and multiple amenities (deeded beach access on East Gulf Dr, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard, private fishing pier, bbq areas, and boat dockage (by annual lease)), it also offers some of the most affordable condo living on the island.

Sanibel Lighthouse – Summer Rehab Project

This past Monday, June 17, the City of Sanibel began a rehabilitation project to the Sanibel Lighthouse and construction will continue through September 2013. The road leading to the Lighthouse starting just beyond the fishing pier parking lot will be closed for use during this construction project. The fishing pier and adjacent parking lot will remain open.

Mark Your Calendars for the 1st Upcycle Art Fest on Sanibel

Ding Darling Wildlife Society has announced a new event to benefit the J.N. “Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. To be held at the Sanibel Community House April 26-27, 2014, in the spirit of “Ding” Darling, this inaugural event will provide an artistic venue and marketplace to showcase fine art and craft of the highest quality made from recycled and repurposed material. It also will educate and entertain the public on the importance of recycling and protecting wildlife.

Should Boomers Worry About Millennials’ Housing Shift?

RealtorMag on-line in their Daily Real Estate News on Monday reposted an interesting article from “The New York Times” about home loans for millennnials. If you missed it, in part, it says:

“The Millennial generation is showing different housing preferences than previous generations, and some analysts say that Baby Boomers may be growing concerned that they will have a tough time selling their suburban, larger homes due to the Millennials’ differing tastes. The Millennial generation has been called a key to the housing recovery, and housing experts are taking careful note of how the younger group’s housing preferences differ from previous generations.

“A new survey by the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center for Housing shows that about 60% of the millennial generation say they prefer a mix of housing choices and prefer to be near shops, restaurants, offices, and transit. Seventy-five percent of Millennials say they value walkability. Of the 63% of Millennials who say they plan to move within the next five years, about 40% say they expect to move to multifamily housing.

““I do think their preferences are going to result in sustained change,” says Lynn Ross, the executive director of the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing. “This group is so different from previous generations.”

One of the biggest obstacles facing this generation is student loan debt. Fifty-four percent of those aged 22 to 32 said that debt is their biggest financial concern. Forty-two percent referred to their debt as “overwhelming.” “This generation has been through an incredibly difficult time, and I think it is ultimately going to operate very similarly to the generation that went through the Great Depression,” Ross says.”

Florida Realtors Take Part in Florida Governor Scott’s Business Mission to France

I read a Paris posting this week by our Sanibel pal and Florida Realtors® 2013 President Dean Asher and our Association’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, John Sebree.

“Representing Florida’s Realtors® and the interests of the state’s real estate industry, Florida Realtors® President Dean Asher and Senior Vice President of Public Policy John Sebree are in France this week with Gov. Rick Scott and other key business leaders to show French companies and individuals that “Florida is a great place to do business.” The trade mission is at the 50th International Paris Air Show.

Representatives from about 80 Florida-based aviation, aerospace and defense companies, educational institutions and economic development agencies are participating in the bi-annual Paris Air Show, which is recognized as one of the world’s top aviation and space industry events, according to Enterprise Florida…

“The Sunshine State is home to one of the largest aerospace and aviation industries in the U.S. – Florida has more than 2,000 companies related to the industry, 12 aviation military bases, three spaceports and dozens of colleges and academic programs that offer aerospace and aviation training. The industry employs more than 87,000 workers across the state.

“During the event, Asher and Sebree met with members of the French national real estate federation, known as FNAIM, to discuss expanding the ties between the two associations, and developing more real estate opportunities. FNAIM is the largest professional real estate organization in Europe. The organization represents about 8,000 agencies and 37,000 real estate experts specializing in over 12 different professions in the property sale, management expertise and consultancy sector.

““French buyers see Florida as a great destination for a second home,” says Asher. “According to Florida Realtors’ latest research (the 2012 Profile of International Home Buyers in Florida), buyers from France are investing all over the state.” The 2012 report found that French nationals made up 5% of the international buyers purchasing homes in the Miami-Miami Beach area; 5% of the international home buyers in the Orlando-Kissimmee area; 6% of international home buyers in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area; and 10% of international home buyers in the Palm Beach area.”

SanibelSusan has worked with many European buyers through the years and too has recently noticed more visitors from France. Just last year, I sold a wonderful east-end near-beach lot listing to a wonderful couple who live in France for part of the year. Loving Florida and especially Sanibel is an international experience! They are building a vacation home here now.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 14-21

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Sanibel Siesta #501 2/2 $539K, Loggerhead Cay #252 2/2 $579K, Mariner Pointe #711 2/2 $599.9K (our listing), Sanddollar #A104 2/2 $879K, Bougainvillea #4 3/3 $1.125M.

2 price changes: Sundial #G205 now 1/1 $299,999, Tamarind #A101 2/2 now $1.505M.

1 new sale: Spanish Cay #C3 2/2 listed for $339K.

4 closed sales: Sundial #C201 1/1 $225K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #3 2/2.5 $500K, Pointe Santo #C32 2/2 $575K, Pelicans Roost #206 2/2 $780K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1709 Sand Pebble Way 4/3 $449K, 5753 Pine Tree Dr 3/4 $895K.

4 price changes: 1409 Sandpiper Circle (1/2 duplex) 2/2 now $299K, 3168 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $629K, 1251 Anhinga Ln 3/3 now $1.995M, 428 Bella Vista Way 4/4 now $1.996M.

2 new sales: 1076 Captains Walk St 2/2 listed for $575K, 1241 Junonia St 3/3 listed for $719K.

2 closed sales: 916 Beach Rd 3/3 $800K, 1694 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2 $950K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 4405 West Gulf Dr $7.998M.

2 price changes: 1307 Par View Dr now $245.5K, 1837 Buckthorn Ln now $379K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End Village #1660 3/3 $1.595M.

No price changes.
2 new sales: Sunset Beach Villas #2222 1/1 listed for $529K, Lands End Village #1611 2/2 listed for $1.215M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16785 Captiva Dr 3/3.5 $2.35M.

No price changes.
1 new sale: 15166 Wiles Dr 3/2.5 listed for $2.995M.

No closed sales.

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.

Wishing you a weekend of sunny summer days & bright moonlit nights!