It is SanibelSusan reporting that the holiday weekend was soooo quiet that we did not expect to see much real estate action this week either, but surprise-surprise, we had several listings shown – some multiple times – as well as several email inquiries about listings.

At the local Realtor® bi-weekly Caravan Meeting yesterday, attendance was low. There were only two properties on tour (including our new listing at Pointe Santo #D45 – see photos below). Only one new sale was announced. It was our home sale last week in Gulf Shores (a cooperative effort between Dave and me). The SanibelSusan Team is happy to have our business well represented.

Below is the activity posted in our Multiple Listing Service over the last week. First, a few news items:

SCCF Annual International Coastal Cleanup

Saturday, September 20, SCCF (Sanibe-Captiva Conservation Foundation) invites residents and visitors to participate in an international volunteer effort to rid coastlines and waterways of marine litter, pollution, and debris. SCCF’s partner in the Ocean Conservancy’s 28th Annual Coastal Cleanup is Keep Lee County Beautiful. To participate go to SCCF (3333 Sanibel-Captiva Rd) between 9 a.m. and noon on the 20th to check in and pick up Coastal Cleanup data cards and trash bags. Bring water and work gloves. Lunch and snacks on the Nature Center porch will be available from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be a dumpster for all trash. Worldwide last year, volunteers picked up 12.3 million pounds of trash on 12,000 miles of coast. If you have questions, want to reserve a favorite cleanup spot, or get data cards early, call SCCF at 239-472-2329.

Millennials and Boomers Trading Places

Sourced to “The Wall Street Journal”, “Daily Real Estate News” posted this on Tuesday. More good news for Florida!

“As the economy improves, Millennials and Baby Boomers are on the move, but they’re heading in opposite directions, according to a new analysis by real estate data firm RealtyTrac. Each year, 17 million Americans (or about 6% of the population) move into a different county, according to Census Bureau data. RealtyTrac’s analysis found Millennials (considered born between 1977 to 1992, in this survey) to be the most mobile generation, moving away from counties with populations of 178,000 or fewer and moving into counties with larger populations (500,000-plus).

““The Millennial generation is generally moving from lower-priced to higher-priced markets for both buying and renting, with the tradeoff being more jobs (lower unemployment) and higher median incomes in the markets they are moving to,” the report revealed.

“On the other hand, Baby Boomers (defined as being born between 1945 to 1964) are moving away from higher-priced markets with large populations to lower-priced markets in smaller counties. Baby Boomers are gearing up for retirement and are less concerned about the job market and more concerned with living in an affordable place, the report says.

“According to RealtyTrac’s analysis, here’s where Millennials are heading:

• Fayette, Ga. (Atlanta)
• Citrus, Fla. (Homosassa Springs)
• El Dorado, Calif. (Sacramento)
• Yavapai, Ariz. (Prescott)
• Clair, Mich. (Detroit)
• Livingston, Mich. (Detroit)
• DeKalb, Ill. (Chicago)

“RealtyTrac’s analysis shows Baby Boomers are moving away from at the fastest rates:

• Fulton, Ga. (Atlanta)
• Arlington, Va. (Washington, D.C.)
• DeKalb, Ga. (Atlanta)
• Wayne, Mich. (Detroit)
• Clayton, Ga. (Atlanta)
• Alexandria, Va. (Washington, D.C.)
• Milwaukee, Wis. (Milwaukee)

“Where are the Boomers heading then? The highest percentage of Baby Boomers are moving to Florida, near Punta Gorda, Orlando, and Cape Coral, according to the report. Also, a high percentage of Boomers are heading to counties near Prescott and Phoenix, Ariz., and Hilton Head, S.C., according to the report.”

REALTORS® Expect Modest Price Growth in Next 12 Months

Here is a positive post about Florida real estate from the National Association of REALTORS® Economists’ Blog on Tuesday. The actual post includes the map of the United States below, with each state marked to show their median price change expected in the next year. Though most of the increases are modest, Florida, Texas, and Hawaii are projected to have the highest increases – greater than 5% to 6%.

“REALTORS® expect home prices to increase modestly in the next 12 months, with the median expected price increase at 3.4% [1]. The expected price change is modest compared to the strong price growth in 2012-2013. Local conditions vary, but concerns about how borrowers are finding it difficult to obtain a mortgage and weak job recovery appear to be underpinning the modest price expectation.

“[1] The median expected price change is the value such that 50% of respondents expect prices to change above this value and 50% of respondents expect prices to change below this value. A median expected price change is computed for each state based on the respondents for that state.”

More About Where to Dine

In addition to the restaurant temporary closings (for staff vacations and physical improvements) mentioned in last week’s blog, a couple of others were announced. Here is a summary:

• Blue Coyote Supper Club at Sanibel Golf Club/Beachview is closed until September 16. Then, it will be closed Sundays and Mondays through the rest of the month.
• Cip’s Place will be open for dinner only (4 to 9:30 p.m.) until October 1.
• Over Easy Cafe will be closed September 8-18.
• Traders Cafe & Store is closed all of September.
• Traditions on the Beach at Island Inn is closed until September 18.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity August 29-September 5

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sundial #D407 1/1 $230K, Sundial #J203 1/1 $425K.

1 price change: Poinciana #2C 3/2 now $1.1M

2 new sales: Tarpon Beach #203 2/2 listed for $668K, Seascape #204 3/3.5 listed for $1.895M.

2 closed sales: Breakers West #B1 2/2 $418.5K, Loggerhead Cay #373 2/2 $510K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1717 Windward Way 3/2 $689K, 1056 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $899K.

6 price changes: 2098 Wild Lime Dr 2/2 now $280K, 2615 Tamarind Rd 2/2 now $379K, 701 Durion Ct 3/2 now $530K, 1674 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $549K, 739 Elinor Way 3/3 now $579K, 8987 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 now $799K.

6 new sales: 3965 Coquina Dr 2/2 listed for $399K, 169 Southwinds Dr 2/2 listed for $798K, 940 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 listed for $898K, 529 Lighthouse Way 3/3 listed for $985K, 785 Birdie View Pt 3/2.5 listed for $1.099M, 1203 Isabel Dr 2/3 listed for $1.495M.

3 closed sales: 490 Elizabeth Dr 2/2 $350K, 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $469K, 1225 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $760K.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 1504 Angel Dr listed for $745K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Captiva Shores #C 2/2 $898K.

No price changes, new, or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 15133 Captiva Dr 2/3 $3.695M.

No price changes, new, or closed sales.

LOTS

1 new listings: 926 South Seas Plantation Rd $5M.

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.

Here’s to another fabulous weekend!