With Easter next weekend, “high season” on the islands is nearly over. Steady real estate sales were posted again this week making some Realtors® wonder what inventory will be left to sell through the summer. Yes, plenty of inventory remains in many complexes and subdivisions, but the in-demand water-view and near-beach homes are moving, as are large high-end condos.

After a few news items below is a summary of the activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service this week. First a summary of the Sanibel sales activity this year, compared to 2014 and the current inventory.

Prospective sellers, usually those who bought in the “peak” (i.e. 2006), often ask how the market has rebounded as compared to when they purchased. Price-wise, the market is back to somewhere between 2004 and 2005 (when the market was rising) or about 2008 (as it was declining). In a nutshell, property values are coming back nicely. Volume-wise on Sanibel, the 73 condo, 128 home, and 21 lot sales posted this year are huge increases in units sold. That’s what has some Realtors® worried.

Captiva’s smaller inventory has not seen the same increased level of activity, but I bet it comes later in the year.

SANIBEL           CONDOS                       HOMES                            LOTS

                          No.   Price          DOM    No.   Price            DOM    No. Price         DOM

For sale             111  $729,019   364     139   $1,445,729   227     78   $476,635   765

Sales pending    32    $791,600   352      65     $903,405      195      12   $513,038   449

Sold & closed:

1/1-3/27/2015    41    $726,982    373       63     $904,342     309      9     $314,433   356

1/1-3/27/2014    32    $717,964    208       50     $771,469     299       6    $386,592   633

NOTE: Prices & DOM (days on market) are averages.

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 general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.

Upcoming Sanibel Capital Improvements Projects

With the on-site of “off-season”, at Sanibel’s Capital Improvements Review subcommittee meeting this week, several ongoing and upcoming projects were discussed and approved. Here are just three of the several that were mentioned in the “Island Sun” today:

•  Lighthouse Beach restroom construction is under way.
• Bowman’s Beach shared-use path project will install a pathway from San-Cap Road to the beach park. Expected completion just after July 4.
• Two intersection improvements (Periwinkle Way/Casa Ybel Road and Tarpon Bay Road/Island Inn Road) are in the planning design phase. Construction to be completed by end of November.

Why Age 61 Is Important to Real Estate

This was posted on Realtor®Mag on-line last Saturday:

“By age 61, the majority of people feel free to choose where they most want to live, according to a new study by Merrill Lynch, “Home in Retirement: More Freedom, New Choices.” “Throughout most of people’s lives, where they live is determined by their responsibilities,” according to the report. “Most careers demand that people live within a reasonable commuting distance from where they and/or their spouse work. However, as people enter their 50s and 60s, they begin to cross what this study reveals to be the ‘Freedom Threshold.'” That’s the age when people say they can finally choose where they want to live, according to the survey of more than 3,600 retirees.

“Indeed, two-thirds of the retirees surveyed say they are now living in the best home of their lives. Most retirees move at least once during retirement. But surprisingly, only half choose to downsize into a smaller home. Three in ten of retirees decide to upsize into a larger home.  The top reason to upsize: They want to have a home that’s comfortable enough for family members to visit and stay with them, according to the survey. “Retirees often find their homes become places for family to come together and reconnect, particularly during holidays or summer vacations,” according to the report. Some choose to upsize so that family members can live with them too.

“Retirees say the ideal place allows spending time with others their own age yet they also seek to be around those of diverse ages. Compared to younger people, older Americans are far more likely to want diversity in age and generation among their communities and neighbors. As such, just 7% of retirees surveyed have opted to move into age-restricted retirement communities.”

NAR Takes the Global Stage at Cannes

Posted in Broker Issues, Commercial Real Estate, by Wendy Cole on March 12, 2015, this article talks about how Realtors® are expanding into the international market. Cynthia Shelton, Florida Realtors® 2009 President, and others from Florida were in attendance.

“The improving U.S. economy and strengthening dollar provided a welcoming backdrop for the National Association of REALTORS®’ first foray to the major global real estate exposition known as MIPIM held this week in Cannes, Frances. More than 21,000 attendees from 93 countries have gathered to explore global investment opportunities at the trade show.

“The eye-catching 1,200 square-foot NAR-U.S. Pavilion highlighted the association’s commitment to global commercial interests while raising awareness about top markets for foreign investment in the United States. The pavilion showcased three robust U.S. markets that are internationally-recognized for their success in attracting foreign investment: Miami, Chicago, and Birmingham, AL. “There are quite a lot of connections to be made here at MIPIM,” said NAR Treasurer Mike McGrew, who is part of NAR’s delegation at the show.

“Attendee Cynthia Shelton, a commercial practitioner with Colliers International from Orlando, FL and current  Committee Liaison to the NAR Leadership Team was energized about the NAR’s presence at the show. “This is going to make the U.S.A. the place to be, to invest in even more than it is now,” she said, in an interview from a MIPIM broadcast on YouTube. “REALTORS® represent the boots on the ground. We’re hoping to bring more investors to the U.S. to invest in things like office buildings, residential developments, and retail.  When investments happen, cities give credits, get more taxes, and allow us to develop better projects which helps our schools and employers.”

“The wide range of countries at the show— from Belgium to Brazil— is generating considerable buzz. “Governments have invested large sums to attract attention from buyers, developers, and interested parties,” said Christopher Zoller, CRS, and 2015 residential president of the Miami Association of REALTORS®. “We are getting lots of inquiries here from people looking for investors or investments, developers or developments, small personal purchases or large scale opportunities. It is exciting to see the global scale of real estate excitement.”… NAR’s presence at the show has broadened awareness of the role of REALTORS® in commercial and global real estate. Approximately 70,000 NAR members offer commercial brokerage and related services. An additional 283,000 members are involved in a combination of residential and commercial work.”

Foreclosure Rates Near a ‘Significant Milestone’

Realtor®Mag on-line Tuesday posted this article which is sourced to “RealtyTrac”. Florida continues to have a significant number of foreclosures, but has seen a 35% decrease since last year.

“Foreclosures continue to fall across the country and the return to normal levels may be on the horizon for many places, according to a new report. Foreclosure filings fell 4% in February, reaching the lowest level since July 2006, according to RealtyTrac’s U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. Foreclosure filings reflect the number of default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. The U.S. foreclosure rate now stands at one in every 1,295 homes that received a foreclosure filing in February.

“”Given that August 2006 was the peak of the housing bubble, this eight-and-a-half year low in foreclosure activity is a significant milestone and a sign that nationwide foreclosure activity is on track to return to historic norms this year — and is possibly even headed below historic norms given the skinny-jeans-tight lending standards over the past five years,” says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “In markets where foreclosures were processed more efficiently we are seeing foreclosure numbers now below pre-crisis levels in some cases. Conversely, the cleanup of deferred distress is continuing in markets where a logjam of in-limbo foreclosures is still lingering from the housing crisis — as evidenced by rebounding foreclosure activity in those markets.”

“24 states posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity. Activity was most elevated in Massachusetts (up 53% year-over-year) and New York, up 19%.

“The following states posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rates:

1. Maryland: 1 in every 564 housing units received a foreclosure filing in February (foreclosure activity has fallen 1 percent compared to a year ago there, however)
2. Nevada: 1 in every 569 homes received a foreclosure filing (a 12% rise from a year ago mostly from a rise in foreclosure starts)
3. Florida: 1 in every 570 housing units (despite a 35% decrease in foreclosure activity compared to a year ago)
4. Indiana: 1 in every 871 housing units
5. Idaho: 1 in every 877 housing units
6. New Jersey: 1 in every 895 housing units
7. Illinois: 1 in every 906 housing units
8. Delaware: 1 in every 957 housing units
9. Ohio: 1 in every 1,000 housing units
10. North Carolina: 1 in every 1,088 housing units”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity Mar 20-27 

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Dugger’s Tropical Cottages #2 1/1 $329K, Sundial #C207 1/1 $429K, Seawind #A106 2/2.5 $479K, Mariner Pointe #842 2/2 $499K (our listing), Sanibel Arms #F2 1/1 $639K, Sundial #K102 2/2 $839K.

(A few photos from Mariner Pointe below. 1st one is the view toward bay from #842, 2nd one is the view toward the canal. Others are some of the water-front amenities. There is a 2nd pool, on-site manager, & deeded beach access too.)

1 price change: Tigua Cay #489 3/3.5 now $2.495M.

7 new sales: Sunset South #9D 2/2 listed for $399K, Sanibel Moorings #1622 2/2 listed for $439K, Lighthouse Point #132 2/2 listed for $497K, Sanibel Siesta #308 2/2 listed for $500K, Sealoft Village #105 2/2 listed for $529K, Blind Pass #G105 3/3 listed for $769K, Sanibel Surfside #211 2/2 listed for $798K.

5 closed sales: Donax Village #8 2/2 $449K, Loggerhead Cay #411 2/2 $475K, Sanibel Arms West #B5 2/2 $492K, Lighthouse Point #215 3/2 $522.5K, Atrium #204 2/2 $1.3M.

HOMES

4 new listings: 3364 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $819K, 5402 Osprey Ct 4/3 $985K, 1245 Isabel Dr 3/3.5 $1.749M, 5125 Joewood Dr 3/3 $3.195M.

8 price changes: 3724 Agate Ct 2/2 now $549K, 9012 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $599K, 1409 Causey Ct 3/3 now $599K, 4648 Buck Key Rd 3/2 now $679K, 1173 Kittiwake Cir 4/2 now $699.9K, 428 Bella Vista Way E 4/4 now $1.695M, 6017/6019 Clam Bayou Ln 4/3 now $1.775M, 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/3 now $4.25M.

13 new sales: 1452 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 half-duplex listed for $330K, 744 Martha’s Ln 2/2 listed for $479K (our listing), 1825 Ardsley Way 3/2 listed for $515K, 475 Sea Walk Ct 3/2 lissted for $524.9K, 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 listed for $595K (short sale), 1228 Anhinga Ln 3/2 listed for $598.5K, 963 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed for $599.9K, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 listed for $629K, 543 Chert Ct 3/2 listed for $639K, 547 Chert Ct 3/2.5 listed for $695K, 603 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 listed for $670K, 3968 Coquina Dr 3/2 listed for $699K, 1173 Kittiwake Cir 4/2 listed for $699.9K, 5402 Osprey Ct 4/3 listed for $985K, 2980 Wulfert Rd 4/6.5 listed for $2.995M.

9 closed sales: 317 East Gulf Dr 2/2 half-duplex $415K, 315 East Gulf Dr 3/2 half-duplex $425K, 1294 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $480K, 590 Lake Murex Cir 2/1.5 $635K, 297 Ferry Landing Dr 3/3 $1.2M, 600 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2.5 $1.275M, 960 Whelk Dr 3/3 $1.83M, 4204 Dingman Dr 5/4.5 $1.85M, 461 Lighthouse Way 4/4 $1.995M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1310 Par View Dr now $369,555.

1 new sale: 6419 Pine Ave listed for $799K.

1 closed sale: 2380 Wulfert Rd $190K.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Bayside Villas #5106 1/2 $289K, Marina Villas #902 2/2 $650K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Lands End Village #1606 3/3 listed for $1.85M.

2 closed sales: Lands End Village #1610 3/3 $1.785M, Lands End Village #1606 3/3/3 $2M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 15843 Captiva Dr 3/3 $6.45M.

3 price changes: 16785 Captiva Dr 4/3.5 now $1.55M, 11523 Wightman Ln 4/4 now $1.999M, 16910 Captiva Dr 4/4 now $4.72M.

No new sales.

3 closed sales: 16585 Captiva Dr 5/4/2 $2.5M, 15747 Captiva Dr 6/6.5 $5.575M, 17020 Captiva Dr 7/8/2 $5.9M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 856 S Seas Plantation Rd now $2.48M.

No 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 general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.

Until next Friday, best wishes for a great weekend! Susan Andrews/aka SanibelSusan