Wrapping Up the June 2014 Real Estate Action on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Florida Realtors® “Believe”

It is SanibelSusan reporting that Elise and I enjoyed being part of the FloridaRealtors® “Believe” event last Friday afternoon. This event which encouraged Realtor® work toward helping the homeless was part of a state-wide tour where the FloridaRealtors® leadership team visited every Florida district.

Elise and I were part of the Sanibel & Captiva group who, along with other local association members, packaged meals. It was an inspiring cooperation, where 100+ local association members and the leadership team were arranged in assembly-line fashion under the direction of Meals of Hope.

In just one hour, we assembled 21,760 meals (each will feed a family of five) which will be distributed to families of homeless children in Lee and Collier counties. Astoundingly, our state leaders told us that there are more than 63,000 children here that qualify for free breakfast and lunch during the school year. Often, those were their only meals of the day. Since these children don’t get the meals now that schools are out for the summer, Meals of Hope will distribute the packaged meals to the same families.

Island Weather & More

 

It has been another week of wonderful summer weather on Sanibel with a few afternoon showers that resulted in fabulous sunsets.

Unfortunately the later thunder-buster last night, just after sunset, resulted in a lightning strike in Bldg 8 at Sunset South condominiums. That is one of the riverside buildings. Sanibel’s finest extinguished the fire quickly but several units were damaged. Thankfully, there were no occupants at the time.

We saw the early arrival of some July 4th holiday vacationers this week. Tomorrow many check-ins are expected with the Sanibel and South Seas expected to be near-capacity next week.

The activity from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service this week follows a few more news items below.

Association of Realtors® June Membership Meeting

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® June breakfast membership meeting was yesterday.

During the educational segment of the agenda, Jim Jordan, Sanibel’s Director of Planning, updated members on recent happenings at City Hall. He also reminded attendees about Sanibel permit requirements. Here is some of that info:

• Development Permits are required whenever the appearance or use of a structure is changed, a structure will be demolished or impermeable coverage or developed area is going to be added.

• Building Permits are required when a structure is constructed, enlarged, altered, remodeled or repaired if the labor and materials exceeds $750 in market value. A building permit also is required when a building is moved, demolished, or when replacing windows or doors. Non-permanent improvements like painting, carpeting, and appliances are not included in the calculation.

• Sometimes a development permit is required but no building permit is needed, like when building a fence not related to a swimming pool.

• In other situations, a building permit may be required, but no development permit is necessary, i.e. for work such as interior repairs or remodeling, exterior siding replacement, or adding a concrete slab under an existing structure. See more details, forms, and a list of approved contractors on www.MySanibel.com.

During “questions & answers”, Realtors® quizzed Jim about some issues recently affecting island sales and closings, i.e. improvements to non-conforming structures and the 50% rule, and open permits discovered before a closing,

Jim reminded members that the 50% rule covers a 5-year time period, so at the end of that time the process may begin again.

Jim also advised that the City is adding software to their computer system this summer/fall which will improve tracking of permits. He said that permit information including history on all properties will eventually be on-line and accessible to the public. Since closing open permits is a requirement of some Florida sales contracts and permit information currently is not readily available on-line to property owners (and Realtors®), that news was well received.

Florida Realtors® Honor Society

At the same meeting, four Sanibel/Captiva Realtors® were recognized for earning Florida Realtors® Honor Society membership for their recent work for the state association; their activity locally and nationally in the Realtor® organization, in national institutes, societies, and councils; for designations earned; educational activities; and political involvement.

SanibelSusan was awarded her 15th-year Florida Honor Society pin, while three VIP colleagues also were recognized: Jim Hall (19 yrs), Dave Schuldenfrei (9 yrs), and Shane Spring (1 yr).

Caloosahatchee Water Project To Begin

A construction project that should improve water quality in Southwest Florida area has been approved. The Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Project which is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is slated to begin in October. This is a cost-shared project between the federal government and the state of Florida. The President officially signed off on the project June 10.

This project is just one step toward improving water quality on both coasts of Florida by reducing polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to local waterways. The idea is to pull water out of the Caloosahatchee River during the rainy season when there is too much water flowing. Stored water in a newly constructed reservoir would then be released during the dry season to provide sufficient fresh water to keep the salinities at healthy level within the estuary.

This project is just a small part of the many solutions needed to improve water supply and water quality in the estuary, but definitely a move in the right direction!

Sundial Resort Announces Phase II Renovations

The 2nd phase of the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa’s multi-million dollar renovation program is scheduled to begin in August, with completion expected in early November. It will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, pizza kitchen, on-site market and deli, and new soft tennis courts. The Sundial Buddies Kid’s Camp and Sanibel’s Sea Camp for Kids also will be launched. The pool bar and main pool deck area will be upgraded too. During the renovation period, Sundial’s four other condo association pools will be available, Sea Breeze Cafe will be open with live entertainment and full bar offerings, and resort amenities will be available to guests including the activities center, bikes, kayaks, and the new spa and boutique. The meeting rooms and reception areas also will be operational. More details at www.sundialresort.com.

Certified Master Chef at The Sanctuary

This posting came from the June 2014 issue of the “Sanctuary Sound”. No wonder there are so many raves about the great food at The Sanctuary.

“This past March, Daniel Scannell, Certified Master Chef (CMC) one of 66 in the country that successfully obtained the Certified Master Chefs examination joined the Management Team at The Sanctuary Golf Club. Administered by the American Culinary Federation and the Culinary Institute of America, the title Certified Master Chef (CMC) represents the most rigorous culinary test for a professional chef. “Chef Daniel is coming from Oak Hill where the 2013 PGA Championship was held with over 200,000 people attending the event. His education is impeccable, the awards and accolades numerous, and his passion for food is contagious. In Ireland he won The Jean Conil Perpetual Trophy for International Chefs, has been inducted into The Epicurean World Master Chefs’ Society in London, and been a member of the Culinary Olympic Team USA 2000, 2004, and 2008, to name a few achievements. We are very excited to have him on the team,” stated Ken Kouril, General Manager of The Sanctuary Golf Club.”

If you are interested in a property at The Sanctuary, whether it be a condo, home, or lot, please give SanibelSusan a call, she can arrange for you to try out the golf course/tennis courts and dine in the restaurant as part of your due diligence.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity June 20-27

Sanibel
CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

5 new sales: Tennisplace #E31 2/1 $325K, Sundial #D304 1/1 listed for $339K, Coquina Beach #5G 2/2 listed for $415K, Sandpiper Beach #302 2/2 listed for $599K, Sundial #O307 2/2 listed for $975K.

3 closed sales: Sundial #I304 1/1 $360K, Blind Pass #G204 3/2 $485K, Sundial #L202 2/2 $629.5K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $499K, 981 Main St 4/2.5 $599K, 1426 Causey Ct 3/2 $729K, 667 Nerita St 3/2 $739K, 8987 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $849K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5 $1.695M.

8 price changes: 5141 SanCap Rd 2/2 now $299K, 490 Christine Rd 2/2 now $599K, 4279 Gulf Pines Dr 4/3 now $699.95K, 6001 Clam Bayou Ln 3/2 now $789K, 676 Anchor Dr 3/3 now $949K, 3400 West Gulf Dr 4/3 now $1.149M, 6440 Pine Ave 3/3 now $1.395M, 3744 West Gulf Dr 4/4 now $1.695M.

5 new sales: 702 Donax St 2/2 listed for $449K, 1644 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/2 listed for $459.5K, 236 Hurricane Ln 3/3 listed for $549K, 283 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2 listed for $1.695M, 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 listed for $2.85M.

3 closed sales: 966 Fitzhugh St 2/1 $290K, 966 Greenwood Ct 3/2.5 half-duplex $385K, 2552 Harbour Ln 3/2 $800K.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1304 Eagle Run Dr now $249K.

1 new sale: 5407 Osprey Ct listed for $499,555.

No closed sales.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5230 1/2 $309K.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas 3229 1/1 $215K, Beach Homes #6 3/3 $1.7M

HOMES
No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 16645 Captiva Dr 8/9/2 $3.45M.

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.

Until SanibelSusan’s next blog posting on July 4th, happy summer to all…& remember it’s a great time to buy property on the islands! It is always easier to view during the summer.