It’s great to be back on the island after a busy few days of meetings in Orlando. The SanibelSusan Team also was busy while I was away last week with Dave showing homes last weekend which resulted in a nice sale that was finalized today. Way to go, Dave!
Elise and Lisa fielded inquiries and listing showing appointments. Surprisingly for it being the first week of school here, there was a fair amount of action. Island traffic is expected to change significantly tomorrow though, when only a handful of check-ins are expected.
Here are a couple of news items followed by the action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service since last Friday.
Songwriters Bringing Tunes to Captiva
The 1st Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will bring nationally-acclaimed singer-songwriters to Captiva and Fort Myers Beach this fall. The festival will take place over two weekends with dozens of free shows. The Captiva weekend will be Sept 26 to 28, it then will shift to Ft Myers Beach for Oct 3 to 6. The complete schedule will be released soon, but Captiva venues already confirmed include South Seas Island Resort, ‘Tween Waters Inn (Crows’ Nest, Old Captiva House and the Canoe & Kayak Club), Captiva Island Inn, Keylime Bistro, Cantina Captiva, RC Otter’s, The Mucky Duck, and Doc Ford’s Captiva.
Contest Deadline Approaching
Sept 15 is the deadline for the 27th Annual “Ding” Darling Days Amateur Nature Photography Contest. Sponsored by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society – Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) it is held in conjunction with “Ding” Darling Days, which runs from Oct 19 to 25. More info on www.ding-darlingdays.com.
The SanibelSusan Team always enjoys receiving photos taken on the island by clients and friends. So get out your best photos, folks, and give the contest a try. Here is a photo that an island friend emailed us a couple of weeks ago. We call it “up close and personal with a red-shouldered hawk” (hope our bird identification is correct).
There is a newly-formed club on Sanibel. Members of the community are invited to meet with other car enthusiasts on Monday, Sep 1 for a “Cruise In” in the front parking lot of Periwinkle Place Shopping Center. If you have a passion for automobiles – antique to muscle, class to hot rods – join the SanCap Motor Club. This is their inaugural event!
Spring Was Healthiest Market in 3 Years
Yesterday’s “Daily Real Estate News” posted the following positive news, sourced to realtor.com®:
“July housing data shows that price appreciation and inventory increases during the peak home-buying season helped the market to post the largest spring gains in three years, realtor.com® reports in its National Housing Trend Report. “In July 2012 and 2013, we saw external economic factors overwhelm the healthy gains established in the housing market during the spring home-buying season,” says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for realtor.com®. “This year, we’re ending the traditional season with high buyer and seller confidence demonstrated by price appreciation, increases in inventory, and quick home sales.”
“In July, housing inventories rose 2.3% year-over-year, as the median list price posted a 7.5% increase year-over-year, realtor.com® reports. The median list price was $214,900 nationwide in July. “Despite higher prices and more homes on the market, buyers are snatching up properties faster than last year,” realtor.com® reports. The median age of inventory in July was 82 days, three days less than 2013.
“This is the first time since the beginning of the recovery that we expect to see positive momentum throughout the second half of the year,” Smoke says. “While seasonal patterns are emerging in July month-to-month comparisons, all other metrics point to fundamental market health and a build-up of momentum.””
What About Sanibel & Captiva?
Looking at the sales on Sanibel and Captiva Islands January through July, there was not such a huge jump in the number of sales, but good steady progress.
Here is how those statistics stack up – unit sales year-to-year.
Closed
Sales Sanibel Captiva GRAND
1/1 to 7/31 Condos Homes Lots TOTAL Condos Homes Lots TOTAL TOTAL
2014 111 145 20 276 13 19 0 32 308
2013 109 142 14 265 23 14 1 38 303
2012 113 122 22 257 25 20 1 46 303
2011 106 113 12 231 19 15 0 34 265
Wondering how these sales compare to current inventory? We need listings – especially homes!
# for sale
8/22/14 126 149 88 364 43 34 4 81 445
Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity August 15-22
Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listings: Tennisplace #A26 2/1.5 $349,555; Sanibel Siesta #502 2/2 $595K.
2 price changes: Spanish Cay #A7 1/1 now $249.9K (our listing), Pointe Santo #B4 2/2 now $669K.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: Sanibel Arms #C1 2/2 $485K.
HOMES
5 new listings: 2615 Tamarind Rd 2/2 $425K, 4606 Brainard Bayou Rd 2/1 $434K, 3990 Coquina Dr 3/2 $599.9K, 169 Southwinds Dr 2/2 $798K, 1525 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/2 $2.175M.
1 price change: 1266 Isabel Dr now $1.795M.
5 new sales: 6451 Pine Ave 3/2 listed for $489K, 1364 Jamaica Dr 2/2 listed for $489K, 701 Durion Ct 3/2 listed for $549K, 667 Nerita St 3/2 listed for $739K, 4500 Waters Edge Ln 2/2 listed for $799K (our sale).
3 closed sales: 5841 Pine Tree Dr 3/2 $425K, 475 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 $715K, 4444 Waters Edge Ln 3/2 $925K.
LOTS
2 new listings: 5749 SanCap Rd $399K, 6486 Pine Ave $459.9K.
1 price change: 861 Birdie View Pt now $339K.
No new or closed sales.
Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Captiva Shores #7B 3/2 $1.249M.
1 price change: Beach Villas #2628 2/2 now $639K.
1 new sale: Captiva Shores #7B 3/2 listed for $1.249M.
No closed sales.
HOMES
Nothing to report.
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.
Enjoy your weekend! It’s gonna be another sunny warm one on the islands! SanibelSusan
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