It’s SanibelSusan wondering where March has gone? The last high season days are flying by, as the islands remain busy, with the bike paths and beaches as active as the restaurants, shops, and roadways.

Teammate Dave and I have both been out showing this week and he also hosted two busy Open Houses. Below are a few news items, followed by the activity posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

First here’s a photo taken from the Sanibel Harbour Princess last Sunday night during their sunset dinner cruise of the Sanibel Lighthouse and fishing pier.

Island Weather – We Need Rain

Recent summer-like weather, makes for happy visitors/vacationers. More sunny days with temperatures in the high 70’s forecast through next week (screen shot from my cell phone last night at right).

There may be no prescribed burns on Sanibel this year. Since last fall, when Southwest Florida typically receives 10 to 11 inches of rain, only two have been recorded.

An article in this week’s “Islander” quoted the area’s Fire Zone Management Officer as saying, “We already are at a deficit since the beginning of November. We haven’t been this dry since 1958. This year is kind of lining up right now like it did in ’98 when Florida was on fire from one end to the other… If we find an opportunity when we can conduct a burn like this (a controlled burn) we will get it taken care of, but at the same time we are not going to make any decision to risk safety of our firefighters or the community just to get it done.”

Yesterday, right after I typed the above paragraph, the lightning alarm went off at Sanibel Community Park across the street from the office and a short afternoon shower followed. It probably was not enough to change what was reported above, but it was interesting today to read the “Island Sun” where it says “Four Locations Targeted for Prescribed Burns”. It further describes that ‘given the excessively dry conditions, …the prescribed burns for 2017 may never happen.”

This is a topic worth following. The good news is plenty of notice is given before a prescribed burn (which is a method for reducing the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires and to help preserve the natural ecology of an area). The four areas identified for the possible burns this year are listed below. They were looking to start the week after Easter, but that will be revaluated based on conditions.

• Botanical Site (in J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge)
• Frannie’s Preserve/Johnson Tract (SCCF)
• Sanibel Gardens Preserve (City of Sanibel/SCCF)
• North Center Tract (SCCF).

Thursday Caravan Meeting – Sanibel/Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

It was another heavily attended Caravan Meeting yesterday at the local Association of Realtors®. A little surprising that not more sales were announced. Also, unusual that many new listings continue to come on the market. That is not the norm this time of the year. Many are related to owners making life changes – some to retirement communities, others scaling-up or scaling-down – some snowbirds enjoying their last winter here.

Here is a quick inventory summary. Don’t let anyone tell you inventory is down. It continually fluctuates and is up again, with better than a year’s worth of inventory in most property types.

SANIBEL

Condos – 110 for sale – 26 under contract – 25 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24 – 143 sold/closed last year

Homes – 196 for sale – 39 under contract – 49 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24 – 181 sold/closed last year

Lots – 66 for sale – 7 under contract – 10 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24 – 25 sold/closed last year

CAPTIVA

Condos – 33 for sale – 6 under contract – 7 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24 – 22 sold/closed last year

Homes – 38 for sale – 8 under contract – 5 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24– 27 sold/closed last year

Lots – 1 for sale – 1 under contract – 1 sold/closed in 2017 thru 3/24 – 2 sold/closed last year

Upcoming Events

Sanibel Fire Dept Open House – Tomorrow, Sat, March 25 – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station #171, 2351 Palm Ridge Rd. Free station and equipment tours, plus games and food. Also participating are: Lee County EMS, Lee County Sheriff Office, “Ding” Darling, CROW, Sanibel Serats, U.S. Coast Guard, Lee Flight, and a special appearance from Star Wars R2D2. Parking available at the Center 4 Life.

Seahorse Festival – Tomorrow, Sat, March 25 – from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanibel School. This annual PTA fundraiser will feature inflatable rides, rock climbing wall, bungee jump, games, face painting, entertainment by students, silent auction, plus food and beverages.

BIG ARTS Community Chorus Spring Concerts – Tues and Thurs, March 28 and 30 at 7 p.m. at Schein Performance Hall. The Community Chorus is celebrating 10 years of leadership under the direction of Steve Cramer who is retiring this year. The concert includes a collection of excerpts from favorite pieces and a few new numbers too.

SanibelSusan sings with the altos in the general chorus and in the smaller ensemble too. Concerts usually sell-out, so be sure to get tickets in advance at the BIG ARTS Box Office open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on-line at www.bigarts.org .

Historical Village Twilight Talk – Sanibel Heritage Trail – Mon, April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House. This event will reveal details about the new Sanibel Heritage Trail which is expected to be completed this spring. It will have 21 outdoor reader panels along the mixed-use path, a free map-guide, a web page, and a cell phone app. (See map showing trail at right.) The evening program will include a presentation by the Sanibel Planning Department, followed by the Heritage Trail Coordinator, then a panel of long-time islanders will share their personal behind-the-scenes experiences from decades of living Sanibel’s history. Make reservations by calling the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village at 472-4648 or email info@sanibelmuseum.com.

Commissioners Approve $1.4M for Wulfert Land Purchase

As reported today in the “Santiva-Chronicle”:

“By unanimous vote, Lee County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 21, gave final approval to funding $1.4 million toward the purchase of 8.15 acres on Wulfert Road, a crucial wildlife corridor for the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.

“As part of a unique partnership and collaboration, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge raised the remaining $600,000 of the $2 million needed to purchase the parcel, which lies between Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) land and the refuge.

“The refuge, by agreement with the county, will maintain the property, which provides habitat for 80 different land and marine species that live or feed on or near this property. The county funding comes from its Conservation 20/20 program, which voters helped create to preserve sensitive environmental lands locally.

“… If not preserved by the refuge, the land could have been developed with as many as five dwellings and one major boat dock with direct access into Pine Island Sound, as already approved by the City of Sanibel.

Species that would have been seriously threatened by development of the uplands, mangrove, and estuarine habitat include the gopher tortoise, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Little Blue Heron, Reddish Egret, Mangrove Cuckoo, Florida Manatee, Small-tooth Sawfish, and Green and Loggerhead sea turtles.

“In 2013, DDWS successfully completed a $1.4 million land acquisition campaign for the historical Woodring Homestead, which protected the water entrance to the Refuge on Tarpon Bay. In late 2015, it accepted a land donation of 9.1 acres near Clam Bayou…” To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 17-24, 2017

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Lighthouse Point #220 2/2 $495K, Mariner Pointe #811 2/2 $499K, Sunset South #10C 2/2 $789K, Shell Island Beach Club #7B 2/2 $820K, Sundial East #T202 2/2 $849K.

9 price changes: Sunset South #1C 2/2 now $699K; Pointe Santo #B6 2/2 now $720K; Sundial West #A308 2/2 now $794K; Surfside 12 #A4 3/2 now $819K; Island Beach Club #220E 2/2 now $999,999; Signal Inn #19 3/2 now $1.149M; By-The-Sea #C302 2/2 now $1.595M; High Tide #A102 3/2.5 now $1.595M; Royal Tern #103 3/3.5 now $1.995M.

4 new sales: Sundial West #C406 1/1 listed at $424.9K, Loggerhead Cay #252 2/2 listed at $569K, Loggerhead Cay #174 2/2 listed at $790K, Tigua Cay #487 3/3.5 listed at $1.695M.

4 closed sales: Seawind #A108 2/2.5 $485K, Sunset South #4A 2/2 $759K, Sundial East #S404 3/2 $850K, Sundial East #O407 2/2 $1.16M.

HOMES

8 new listings: 1596 Bunting Ln 2/2 $499K, 6471 Pine Ave 2/2 $529K, 1114 Sabal St 2/2 $675K, 625 Lake Murex Cir 3/2.5 $699K (our listing, a few photos below), 1030 Kings Crown Dr 2/2 $929K, 1470 Angel Dr 3/2 $1.149M, 2388 Wulfert Rd 3/4 $1.299M, 390 Old Trail Rd 4/4.5 $2.195M.

12 price changes: 1602 Serenity Ln 4/2 now $477K, 376 Lake Murex Blvd 3/2 now $579K, 1040 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $609K, 644 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $679K, 215 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 now $769.9K, 1396 Tahiti Dr 4/3 now $899K, 3354 Barra Cir 3/2 now $975K, 1195 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $1.145M, 6101 Starling Way 3/4 now $1.249M, 518 N Yachtsman Dr 3/3 now $1.345M, 615 Lighthouse Way 3/3.5 now $2.345M, 3547 West Gulf Dr 4/4 now $4.75M.

7 new sales: 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $534K, 1772 Serenity Ln 3/2 listed at $649K, 186 Southwinds Dr 2/2 listed at $699K, 1807 Buckthorn Ln 3/2.5 listed at $699K, 1028 Demere Ln 3/2 listed at $899K. Without contingencies: 970 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $537K, 243 Southwinds Dr 3/2.5 listed at $855K.

5 closed sales: 1631 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex $495K, 1714 Bunting Ln 3/2 $480K, 1410 Albatross Rd 3/3 $733K, 525 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $685K, 407 Bella Vista Way 4/4 $2.7M.

LOTS

No new listings.

2 price changes: 2401 Blue Crab Ct now $774K, 5251 Indian Ct now $774K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tennis Villas #3125 1/1.5 $299K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

4 new listings: 11535 Wightman Ln 5/4 $2.149M, 16171 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 $2.22M, 16163 Captiva Dr 3/2 $2.695M, 15867 Captiva Dr 3/3.5 $4.995M.

1 price change: 11520 Murmond Ln 5/5 now $1,999,999.

1 new sales: 11411 Old Lodge Ln 4/3 listed at $1.775M.

No 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 – enjoy the weather – wherever you are! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan