It has been a surprisingly quiet week on the islands. Though we had two nice closings, a handful of showings, and a successful Caravan Open House, our phones have not been ringing much. We heard similar complaints yesterday at the Thursday Realtor® meeting and again this morning at another event at the Association Office.

Traffic eased up this week too and rental organizations are reporting a few cancellations, while some of the overnight accommodations now have vacancies. Likely this was caused by a combination of rainy weather for a few consecutive weekends, the chilly weather now, and media reports of the water releases from Lake “O” and red tide. Maybe too many of these things happened at once – but even so – bright blue skies and sweater weather must be better than freezing temperatures with snow and ice.

The good news is the weather here is warming up. Bright sunshine with a few clouds and temperatures in the low seventies are expected over the long holiday weekend. That should make for a successful annual Rotary Arts & Crafts Fair across the street from SanibelSusan Realty at The Community House tomorrow and Sunday.

After a few news items below is the activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service this week.

First a summary of the islands real estate action year-to-date, this year compared to last:

• On Sanibel, both in 2015 and 2016, from January 1 to February 12, 39 properties sold. The mix varied a little with 18 condos, 18 homes, & 3 lots selling in 2015. While this year, 21 condos, 14 homes, and four lots have sold/closed.
• On Captiva, it was different. In 2015, during the same time frame, only one condo sold, while this year, five homes and three condos sold.

Sanibel Applauds Scott’s Call to Move Water South

A good follow-up article on the water situation was published on-line this morning at www.SantivaChronicle.com

“Gov. Rick Scott has called for action from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday, Feb. 12, asked for higher water levels in Lake Okeechobee and to move water south of the lake to help alleviate flooding as a result of January’s record rainfall. Scott’s action was applauded on Sanibel Island.

“Scott’s request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was accompanied by orders from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to alter the current management practices in order to meet Scott’s request.

“”We applaud Gov. Scott’s request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for immediate action,” Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane said Thursday evening. “The solutions we are pursuing require action by all levels of government, local, state, and federal. The engagement by Gov. Scott is a positive step we appreciate.”

“The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, whose Director of Natural Resource Policy Rae Anne Wessel testified at the mayors’ meeting, also released a statement Thursday evening, It backed the governor’s request and the follow-up by the DEP and FWC. SCCF thanked all who have taken action and said “our voices are being heard.”

“Scott’s letter asked the Corps of Engineers to raise the water level of the L-29 canal to 8.5 feet so that “substantial volumes” of water can be moved from Water Conservation Area 3 to the Everglades National Park through the Shark River Slough.

““Moving water south out of the Water Conservation Areas will prevent the die off of wildlife whose habitat is currently flooded due to the heavy rainfall and also allow us to move more water from Lake Okeechobee south, relieving pressure from discharges to the Estuaries,” Scott wrote. “The wildlife in the Water Conservation Area cannot sustain prolonged flooding and the economies that rely on the estuaries need immediate relief.”

“The massive rainfall in January pushed Lake Okeechobee to record levels and caused the Corps to release maximum flows of water. The water is brown and murky and its presence is causing environmental and economic damage along the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, their estuaries and both coastlines.

“Scott’s action came two days after an emergency meeting of Lee County’s six mayors in Bonita Springs. The mayors called for a stop to back pumping into Lake Okeechobee and better communication between all parties when it comes to why water is being released. The mayors also called for both short- and long-term storage of water.

“Ruane chaired that meeting on Tuesday. “We are all stewards of the environment,” Ruane told the Santiva Chronicle after the meeting. “It’s all hands on deck. We’ve heard from every significant person – our local representatives, the Lee County Commissioners, Sen. (Lizbeth) Benacquisto, who has been a great friend in this, and from Rep. (Curt) Clawson, who is very much involved.”

“Ruane and the other mayors questioned whether the lake, which has seen significant improvements to the Herbert Hoover Dike, really needs to be held at its current level or if it could hold more water.

“That is the approach the governor took in his request to the Corps of Engineers to move water south. The Corps releases water to prevent breeches in the dike.

““No one wants to put anyone’s life in danger, but if no one’s life is being put in danger, then the releases need to be evaluated and the reasoning for doing so needs to be fully explained well in advance,” Ruane said.

“The Corps said it would start pumping water south next week, but it will be some time before the effect of that will be realized in Lee County.”

Free Wildlife Drive Admission

Celebrate President’s Day weekend with free admission to Wildlife Drive and its trails on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

The Refuge offices will be closed on Monday, the free Visitor & Education Center, Wildlife Drive, Tarpon Bay Explorers, and Bailey Tract will be Open and fully operational.

Sanibel Shelling Bonanza Continues

The aftermath of the stormy weekends and wind the last few days and has created some interesting shelling experiences. There have been days reported when the beaches have been strewn with huge piles of shells of Florida conch, others when they have been many large horse conch then a day later shellers report seeing very little on the beach in exactly the same spot.

Particularly after a strong wind, there have been days when the beaches have been littered with live shells and sea urchins. It’s always good shelling during the winter months, especially after stormy days.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity February 5-12, 2016

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Lake Palms #8 2/2.5 $349.5K, Sundial West #I303 1/1 $475K, Sandpiper Beach #203 2/2 $739K, Sunset South #15B 2/2 $1.095M, High Tide #A301 2/2 $1.895M.

2 price changes: Mariner Pointe #1073 2/2 now $454.5K, Sanibel Moorings #822 2/2 now $474K (our listing).

5 new sales: Sundial West #H408 1/1 listed at $439K, Sunset South #6B 2/2 listed at $535K, Sundial West #E205 2/2 listed at $859K, Sanddollar #B204 2/2 listed at $920K, Sanibel Seaview #C3 4/4 listed at $1.749M.

4 closed listings: Sundial West #F308 1/1 $365K, Mariner Pointe #811 2/2 $450K (our listing), Nutmeg Village #307 2/2 $550K, Kings Crown #118 3/2 $1.175M.

 

HOMES

9 new listings: 1602 Serenity Ln 4/2 $545K, 1130 Junonia St 3/2 $679K, 4452 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $680K, 2549 Harbour Ln 3/2 $799K, 3354 Barra Cir 3/2 $879K, 1111 Schooner Pl 3/3 $949.5K, 232 Robinwood Cir 4/3 $1.479M, 4014 West Gulf Dr 3/2/2 $1.795M, 4731 Rue Belle Mer 3/3 $2.995M.

15 price changes: 9292 Belding Dr 3/2.5 now $479K, 3870 Coquina Dr 3/2 now $585K, 9106 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $630K, 1410 Causey Ct 3/2 now $679K, 5303 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 now $735K, 5267 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 now $799K, 249 Daniel Dr 2/2.5 now $814.9K, 923 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $867K, 1321 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $905K, 1224 Par View Dr 3/3 now $995K, 941 Pecten Ct 3/2 now $999K, 1126 Harbour Cottage Ct 3/2 now $1.595M, 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $2.297M, 2518 Tropical Way Ct 3/3.5 now $2.495M, 3675 West Gulf Dr 3/2 now $3.3M.

4 new sales: 847 Casa Ybel Rd 2/2 listed at $410K, 1460 Court Pl 6/5.5 multi-family listed at $649K, 2499 Harbour Ln 3/3 listed at $795K, 904 Almas Ct 3/2.5 listed at $1.045M.

2 closed sales: 597 Lake Murex Cir 3/2.5 $700K (our listing), 1405 Jamaica Dr 3/2.5 $808K.

 

LOTS

1 new listing: 1817 Long Point Ln $409K.

3 price changes: 9211 Dimmick Dr now $164.5K, 2501 Wulfert Rd now $209K, 2379 Wulfert Rd now $289K.

2 new sales: 2933 Wulfert Rd listed at $399K, 5407 Osprey Ct listed at $489K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or closed sales.

1 closed sale: Marina Villas #904 2/2 $635K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 15161 Captiva Dr 3/3 $2.695M.

1 price change: 15843 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $5.5M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale:16950 Captiva Dr listed at $2.995M.

No 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.)

Til next Friday, may the shelling stay great & the sky sunny!

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan