It’s SanibelSusan reporting at the end of another quiet week on Sanibel & Captiva Islands. The rainy season has begun with a few puffy pop-corn-like clouds rolling in some afternoons followed by short, sometimes heavy, evening showers. Here are a couple of photos taken yesterday at the new garden area at The West Wind Inn. Those white clouds sure pop against the bright blue sky!
It sure has been a funny week with weather – not here, but certainly elsewhere. Yesterday, I heard from a friend in Colorado where it was snowing, then another in Maine where it was a stifling 90-some degrees with no ocean breeze. Then last night on the news, there were severe weather alerts issued for the Midwest.
Amazing that spring weather can make it a good time to vacation in Florida. Even before moving to the island 25 years ago, May was one of my favorite months here – with summer-like weather, the rainy season just beginning, traffic light, and occupancy and hotel rates down.
SanibelSusan Realty Associates & Real Estate Happenings
Attendance was light yesterday at the early Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Caravan Meeting. Some of our leadership team is in Washington DC for the 2017 REALTORS Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo which wraps up tomorrow. Thanks to Association President Joel Goodman, President-Elect Dustyn Corace, & Association COO Bill Robinson who made the trip.
Though I did not go, I was one of the 18 Realtors® from Florida inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame on Wednesday night.
So, if you get to DC and go to the top of the National Association of Realtors® headquarters building at 500 New Jersey Ave (just 3 blocks from the U.S. Capitol), the roof-top terrace holds the recognition plaques for the now 773 members of the Realtors® Hall of Fame.
Mine, shown at right, says “SanibelSusan Andrews”.
The Realtors® recognized come from 50 states and now include a total of 64 members from Florida. Nationwide, 106 Realtors® were inducted this year for their contributions through 2016. That is the largest annual group yet. Congratulations all!
The action posted in the Sanibel/Captiva Multiple Listing Service (MLS) since last Friday follows a couple of news items below. We had another nice closing! We got a couple of calls this week about listing properties too, so don’t be surprised to soon see some nice new offerings.
What’s Happening With the Island Real Estate Market
There is no denying that selling business here is seasonal. Of course, property can be sold at any time of the year, it is just that there always are more sales during the months when the island has the most occupants. The snapshot of statistics below compares sales this year to last. It also shows the comparison of sales in the summer compared to the winter months. (Data from the Sanibel/Captiva MLS.)
SANIBEL CONDOS
# Average Price Days-on-Market
Currently available 97 $723,879 205
Under contract 22 $805,286 184
Sold/closed in winter:
1/1-5/18/2017 62 $767,193 193
1/1-5/18/2016 76 $770,610 194
Sold/closed in summer:
5/18-9/1/2016 29 $635,540 287
5/18-9/1/2015 46 $619,095 193
SANIBEL HOMES
# Average Price Days-on-Market
Currently available 168 $1,552,326 181
Under contract 40 $1,110,892 155
Sold/closed in winter:
1/1-5/18/2017 89 $1,016,615 149
1/1-5/18/2016 85 $1,065,610 164
Sold/closed in summer:
5/18-9/1/2016 68 $870,219 168
5/18-9/1/2015 81 $927,123 199
SANIBEL LOTS
# Average Price Days-on-Market
Currently available 65 $536,158 384
Under contract 2 $236,278 524
Sold/closed in winter:
1/1-5/18/2017 19 $373,385 471
1/1-5/18/2016 13 $569,615 604
Sold/closed in summer:
5/18-9/1/2016 4 $631,062 617
5/18-9/1/2015 11 $529,818 341
The Best Vacation Spot in Every U.S. State
Looking forward to summer … once again, “Sanibel” has made a list. This one for the best vacation travel spot in each U.S. State. This article is posted on-line at “TheActiveTimes.com”:
“The number of international travel for vacation purposes has dropped and half of trips abroad are to Canada and Mexico. Part of the reason is that the U.S. is a big country with plenty to see. Exotic journeys, peculiar quick escapes, and seaside paradises will inspire a year filled with irreplaceable experiences. Visit unique attractions and see majestic landscapes, visit vibrant cities, view iconic landmarks, and explore national parks.
“From possible solo trips to a beach, exciting couple’s getaways and week-long escapades with the entire family to a secluded island, the vacation spots on the following list were picked due to their recreational and adventurous potential. No two locations are the same.
“There is a state on this list that has everything you wish to experience during a holiday, whether it’s old-school charm, history, serenity, adrenaline-pumping activities, or extreme sports.
“Alabama – The Gulf Shores
Alaska – Anchorage
Arizona – Grand Canyon
Arkansas – Hot Springs National Park
California – Santa Barbara
Colorado – Aspen
Connecticut – Mystic
Delaware – Dewey Beach
Florida – Sanibel Island
Georgia – Jekyll Island
Hawaii – Kauai
Idaho – Idaho Falls
Illinois – Chicago
Indiana – Indiana Dunes State Park
Iowa – Dubuque
Kansas – Wichita
Kentucky – Cities Along the Bourbon Trail
Louisiana – New Orleans
Maine – Bar Harbor
Maryland – Ocean City
Massachusetts – Cape Cod
Michigan – Grand Haven
Minnesota – Voyagers National Park
Mississippi – Biloxi
Missouri – Branson
Montana – Glacier National Park
Nebraska – Lincoln
Nevada – Las Vegas
New Hampshire – Bretton Woods
New Jersey – Ocean City
New Mexico – Albuquerque
New York – Adirondacks
North Carolina – Asheville
North Dakota – Fargo
Ohio – Cleveland
Oklahoma – Tulsa
Oregon – Astoria
Pennsylvania – Skytop
Rhode Island – Providence
South Carolina – Myrtle Beach
South Dakota – Sioux Falls
Tennessee – Spencer
Texas – Austin
Utah – Salt Lake City
Vermont – Swanton
Virginia – Virginia Beach
Washington – Seattle
West Virginia – Berkeley Springs
Wisconsin – Madison
Wyoming – Jackson Hole”
Be Prepared
Next Friday May 26, the City of Sanibel is sponsoring their 2017 Hurricane Seminar at BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Rd from 1 to 3 p.m. It is free, no reservation needed.
New info will be provided including predictions for 2017, family hurricane planning, use of social media in emergencies, and Sanibel Building Codes. Featured speakers will be: City weather consultant Dave Roberts, Lee County Emergency Management Program Manager Jim Bjostad, F.I.S.H. Director of Operations Maggie Goldsmith, City of Sanibel building official Harold Law, Sanibel Emergency Management Director Lt. Buikema, and Sanibel Policy Chief William Dalton.
Residents, property owners, business owners, and island workers are encouraged to attend. If you cannot be there, the seminar video will be posted after the event on MySanibel.com.
Summer Happenings
BIG ARTS Summer Arts Camp – offers a program of visual and performing arts for 1st through 5th graders. Each week begins a new session with a new theme. There also is an apprentice program for 6th through 12 graders where middle and high schoolers spend half their day taking a more advanced art class and half their day days earning community service hours by assisting campers in their classes. Registration for both programs is now open. Registration forms are on-line at www.BIGARTS.org . The schedule includes:
Week 1 – June 5 – 9 – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Week 2 – June 12 – 16 – Life’s a Circus at Camp! Week 3 – June 19 – 23 – Under The Sea Week 4 – June 26 – 30 – Where the Wild Things Are Week 5 – July 3 – 7 (No camp on July 4) – Red, White, Blue and YOU!
Week 6 – July 10 – 14 – I’ve Got a Golden Ticket!
Week 7 – July 17 – 21 – When You Wish Upon a Star
Week 8 – July 24 – 28 – Say Yes to the Mess!
Captiva Island Yacht Club’s Junior Sailing Camp – For children ages 8 to 15, it teaches the ins and outs of operating their own sailboat in Roosevelt Channel behind the yacht club. The camp gets support from the City of Sanibel, F.I.S.H., and Sanibel CHR (Community Housing & Resources). Divided into two sessions: the 1st June 12-16 and June 19-23; the 2nd July 10-14 and July 17-21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $500 per session and includes sailing and kayak instruction. At the end of each session, students earn a Beginner Level I U.S. Sailing certificate. The Captiva Yacht Club has a fleet of 12 Optimist prams, six Sunfish, and three Laser sailboats.
Counselor in Training Program – This City-sponsored program at the Rec Center provides junior-level personal development and leadership opportunity for teens entering 9th and 10th grade that are interested in working with children in a recreational day camp setting. The program is designed to prepare teens to become a camp counselors. For more info, call the Sanibel Recreation Center at (239) 472-0345
Ocean Tribe Paddlers Club – A new club to bring the paddling community together is being offered by the Sanibel Sea School. The first club meeting is a free welcome group paddle on Tuesday, May 30, at 2 p.m. at Causeway Island A, north side. Those who do not have a kayak, paddleboard, or canoe should contact spencer@sanibelseaschool.org or call 239-472-8585, who will provide them.
Sea School Opening Retail Store – Called Ocean Tribe Outfitters, the ribbon-cutting for this new store at 455 Periwinkle Way is May 31 at 5 p.m. The store will specialize in paddling gear, including kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and related accessories, plus equipment and closing for ocean recreation. All profits from the store will fund the nonprofit Sanibel Sea School’s programs, including scholarships and ocean outreach programs for students in need. More info at www.sanibelseaschool.org
SWAT (Sanibel Water Attack Team) – For children ages 5 to 18, SWAT is the island’s competitive swim team. SWAT practices at the Rec Center Monday through Friday with the Blue Team (K through 8th grade) from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. and the Gold Team (high schoolers) from 2:30 to 4 p.m. To join SWAT, students must be able to swim the length of the pool and commit to attending four meetings a year – two at Florida Gulf Coast University and two in Sarasota. The next swim meet is June 17 and 18 at Florida Gulf Coast University with competition from teams throughout the state.
Good Tips from LCEC (Lee County Electric Co-op)
“Summer Saving Tips
- Install a programmable thermostat. When you aren’t home, turn it up. Work around your schedule and earn savings by adjusting the temperature.
- Lower your water-heating costs. Turn the water-heater temperature to the warm setting of 120 degrees F. It’s hot enough for showers and to clean dishes. Do laundry in cold water.
- Replace your air filter. It allows your system to work more efficiently. This is also the ideal time to have your annual AC system checkup.
- Seal cracks and gaps. Keep cooled air from leaking out and prevent warm air from getting in. Inspect door/window cracks and apply calking around cable lines and dryer vent openings.
- Save in the laundry room. Inspect the vent and clean the dryer lint trap after every use….
“Checklist for Vacating Your Home for The Summer
Use the following checklist to keep your home and all its electrical treasures in great shape!
- Avoid mildew damage by installing a timer on the air conditioner to cycle the air for two hours per day, or install a humidistat that will cycle when indoor humidity exceeds 65%.
- Fill jugs of tap water to put inside the refrigerator/freezer since a full unit will use less power than an empty one….
- Leave all interior doors open to promote airflow. Resist the temptation to leave your ceiling fans on low to circulate air. Fans should only be used when you are in the room since they only cool the body.
- Consider having a … house sitter keep an eye on your home while you are gone.
- Enroll in LCEC kiloWATCH at www.lcec.net so you can be alerted of unusual electricity usage.”
Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity May 12-19, 2017
Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listings: Loggerhead Cay #371 2/2 $549K, Blind Pass #F108 3/2 $594.9K.
3 price changes: Ibis at The Sanctuary #B302 2/2 now $489.5K, Loggerhead Cay #592 2/2 now $629K, Nutmeg Village #100 2/2 now $1.07M.
2 new sales: Seashells #6 2/2 listed at $395K, Pointe Santo #B23 2/2 listed at $799K.
6 closed sales: Lake Palms #8 2/2.5 $331,750, Sundial West #H209 1/1 $404K, Mariner Pointe #712 2/2.5 $450K, Coquina Beach #3G 2/2 $450K (our Seller), Loggerhead Cay #443 2/2 $538K, Loggerhead Cay #103 2/2 $962.5K.
HOMES
3 new listings: 986 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 half-duplex $529K, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 3/2 $1.35M, 2167 Starfish Ln 4/4.5 $2.395M.
11 price changes: 976 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 half-duplex now $489K; 1918 Ibis Ln 3/3 now $629K; 673 East Rocks Dr 3/2 now $789,555; 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 now $799K; 1470 Angel Dr 3/2 now $1.099M; 1234 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 now $1.149M; 519 Kinzie Island Ct 3/2.5 now $1.295M; 6494 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 now $1.795M; 4649 Rue Belle Mer 3/2.5 now $2,995,555; 3009 Turtle Gait Ln 4/4.5 now $3.5M; 3547 West Gulf Dr 4/4 now $4.25M.
3 new sales: 1596 Bunting Ln 2/2 listed at $499K, 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $534K, 6081 Henderson Rd 3/2 listed at $799.9K.
4 closed sales: 9436 Yucca Ct 3/2 $580K, 5126 Joewood Dr 3/2 $710K, 1030 Kings Crown Dr 2/2 $879.75K, 4117 West Gulf Dr 5/6 $5.35M.
LOTS
No new listings.
4 price changes: 2501 Wulfert Rd now $183.9K, 6159 Starling Way now $639K, 5251 Indian Ct now $759K, 0 Island Inn Rd now $1.099M.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: 0 Island Inn Rd $182K.
Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sale: Tennis Villas #3125 1/1 listed at $254K.
1 closed sale: Sunset Beach Villas #2324 2/2 $595K.
HOMES
No new listings.
3 price changes: 16167 Captiva Dr 4/3 now $1.595M, 16171 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 now $2.195M, 13550 Palmflower Ln 4/3.5 now $3.999M.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: 11515 Andy Rosse Ln 6/5.5 $2.725M.
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.)
Here’s hoping your weekend is rosy! I’ll be in the office… looking for business!
Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
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