After what I hope was a nice Thanksgiving for everyone, it is SanibelSusan reporting that it has been a busy few days at SanibelSusan Realty. Two listings are under contract, one my sale, plus another sale, and another offer or two in the pipeline. Teammate Dave is busy with the closing action items, while our pals at Barrier Island Title likewise are busy, working on getting some of them closed by the end of the year. Last night, I posted a new listing on MLS too, so Teammate Elise is busy this morning with that one.

We are thankful for the nice, yet unexpected, spurt of activity!

Tonight is Sanibel Luminary, the 32^nd year. For those here, below is a summary.

Sanibel Historical Museum & Village from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with a 50’s theme, will have holiday tunes performed by the Sanibel Ensemble (good practice for our upcoming concert), followed by a brass ensemble.

Flash mob inside Bailey’s General Store 5 to 5:30-ish (more of those chorus singers).

Then 5:30 to 9 p.m., lit paths marking the Luminary Trail will lead the way to merry landmarks from one end of Periwinkle Way to the other.

There will be lots of events at shopping centers and businesses along the way; but no trolleys this year, it really will be a stroll. Mid-island, thousands of lights are sparkling at the Sanibel Community Church where there will be food, drink, live music, a petting zoo and kid’s tent, plus a presentation of “A Walk Through Bethlehem”. Next door, Santa will be at Jerry’s Center. At the East end, Sanibel Sea School and the San-Cap chapter of Solutions to Avoid Red Tide have lots of luminary fun planned in the school parking area.

Tomorrow evening is the Captiva Luminary event, also from 5:30 to 9 p.m., on Captiva Drive and Andy Rosse Lane, with plenty of treats at various businesses and with several bands performing in the Village.

Adding another event, if you are on-island, is the BIG ARTS Community Chorus Holiday Concert Tuesday evening (12/6) at Schein Performance Hall at 7 p.m. Tickets available at the box office. (Come to hear my first solo, it’s three words!)

Below after a couple of additional news items is the action posted this week in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

There was a big turn-out yesterday at the islands’ Thursday morning Association of Realtors® Caravan Meeting. I was happy to announce our new sales and new listings. During the following 9 a.m. to noon, Realtor® Caravan our Open House at Hight Tide was successful and Dave/Elise worked on the inventory too. Next week is West-End Caravan, followed by the monthly membership meeting and East-End Caravan on 12/15, when we will have another new listing open.

Water Improves on Sanibel

Nice to read this article in the December issue of “The Junonia” by The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, Inc.:

“If you were on the beach during Thanksgiving week you may have noticed how clear the water was in comparison to earlier in the season…Just west of Lighthouse Beach…people were in waist deep water and bending over to pick up shells they saw on the sandbars. Many live shells and sand dollars were observed. Likewise, live animals could be seen on the beach and in the shallow waters. It was satisfying to watch people turning shells over and then returning them to the sand or water when they discovered they were alive.”

SanibelSusan’s 2-cents worth:

The clear water likely is weather and rain-related. After setting rain records early in the year (wettest January ever), it is obvious from the yellow grass along island roadways, that it is very dry here now. News reports say that since Hurricane Matthew in mid-October, which was Florida’s first hurricane in more than a decade, the rainy season essentially stopped, though it had been an unprecedented 53+” of rain in ten months. Since they, we have seen little if any precipitation in some areas of the island.

This lack of rain has allowed the Army Corps of Engineers to get the water level under control on Lake Okeechobee, which has meant fewer and lower-volume water releases coming down the Caloosahatchee.

Mother Nature has treated Southwest Florida well this year. Let’s hope the clear water stays!

2017 Sanibel Beach Parking Permits

2017 Sanibel Beach Parking Permits may be purchased at the Sanibel Recreation Center seven days a week during operating hours (Mon through Thurs 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m; Fri 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., & Sun 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. To qualify for any Beach Parking Permit, bring a valid vehicle registration for each vehicle AND a valid government-issued identification. Permits are valid through 11/30/2017. The permit decals and fees are:

“A” Resident/Property Owner $12 – A driver’s license showing a Sanibel address or proof of Sanibel property ownership is required to purchase a resident/property owner “A” sticker. Beach Access Lots 1 through 7 on West Gulf Dr require “A” permits.

“B” Non-Resident Permit $99

“C” Restricted Permit $90 (resident & non-resident) – “C” permits are required at Gulfside City Park (Algier’s), Boat Ramp & Causeway Parking Lot (or general parking at $4/hour).

“A/C” Resident/Property Owner Permit $102

“B/C” Non-Resident Permit $198

Time to File For Florida Homestead Exemption

The time to file new Florida Homestead Exemptions is coming up. It’s January 1 to March 1. Wondering what the Homestead Exemption is? From www.Leepa.org:

“Homestead Exemption is a constitutional benefit of up to a $50,000 exemption removed from the assessed value of your property. It is granted to those applicants who possess title to real property and are bona fide Florida residents living in the dwelling and making it their permanent home on January 1. Documentation that proves you were a resident at the homestead property is required.

“Rental of the homestead property (exclusive use by a tenant on a temporary, seasonal or annual basis) constitutes abandonment of the homestead – if you plan to rent, contact the Appraiser’s Office to determine your exempt status.

“Properties granted Homestead Exemption automatically receive the “Save Our Homes” benefit. This is a constitutional benefit approved by the Florida voters in 1992. It places a limitation of 3% on annual assessment increase on Homestead properties beginning with the 1995 tax year.

“For properties granted Homestead Exemption in the prior years, that assessed value will be the base value for the implementation of “Save Our Homes”. Thereafter, the assessed value will not increase more than 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less. Exceptions to that limitation include new additions or construction that escaped taxation in the past. Another exception would occur when a homestead property sells: the assessed value returns to fair market value in the year following the sale. That fair market value assessment then becomes the base value for “Save Our Homes” purpose for the new owner/homestead applicant.

“You may file for your homestead exemption by mail, in person or on-line at www.leepa.org…”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity Nov 25-Dec 2, 2016

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Mariner Pointe #322 2/2.5 $529K, Sunset South #11C 2/2 $599K (our listing), Sundial East #L402 2/2 $749K.

2 price changes: Mariner Pointe #1412 1/1 now $385K, Sand Pointe #113 2/2 now $749K.

5 new sales: Mariner Pointe #522 2/2 listed at $449K (our listing & sale), Sandpiper Beach #504 2/2 listed at $789K, Sundial East #P401 2/2 listed at $899K (our listing), Sanibel Surfside #127 2/2 listed at $1.15M, Gulfside Place #115 2/2 listed at $1.595M (our buyer).

1 closed sale: Sundial #P205 2/2 $745K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 5308 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2 $625K, 9436 Yucca Ct 3/2 $649K, 1561 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/4 $2.895M.

2 price changes: 9209 Kincaid Ct 3/2 now $479K, 1842 Woodring Rd 3/3.5 now $1.95M.

7 new sales: 671 Rabbit Rd 3/2 listed at $649K, 750 Nerita St 3/2 listed at $699K, 2549 Harbour Ln 3/2 listed at $749.5K, 1559 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $799K, 1146 Buttonwood Ln 3/3 listed at $975K, 5751 Baltusrol Ct 3/4 listed at $1.05M, 1717 Jewel Box Dr 3/3.5 listed at $2.1M.

4 closed sales: 970 Palm St 3/2 $519K, 1076 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $575K, 588 Hideaway Ct 3/2 $670K, 3675 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $2.8M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 2998 Singing Wind Dr $199K, 978 Main St $210K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

2 closed sales: Lands End Village #1639 2/2 $1.35M, Seabreeze at South Seas #1253 3/3 $1.497M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11505 Gore Ln 5/5 $1.895M.

3 price changes: 11537 Laika Ln 4/3 now $1.549M, 11526 4/4 duplex now $1.799M, 14860 Mango Ct 5/4 now $2.34396M.

No new or closed sales.

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. 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, hope your Luminary Trails are as bright as on the island!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan