It’s been another fun week with real estate on Sanibel Island. Between showings, offers, and inspections, The SanibelSusan Team is enjoying the end-of-season rush!

In typical late-March fashion, many island soon-departing snowbirds, visitors, and owners are scurrying to take care of local real estate needs before heading home.

The action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a few news items below. Many new sales are reported, with fingers crossed for even more to report next week.

Congress’ Budget Extends Flood Insurance to July

As posted today on FloridaRealtors® and sourced to The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., Bryn Stole. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

“WASHINGTON – March 23, 2018 – The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) got a four-month reprieve as part of a massive $1.3 trillion federal spending deal unveiled late Wednesday evening and signed by President Trump on Friday – the fourth temporary extension of the program since September.

“But lawmakers on Capitol Hill now face a July deadline to either overhaul the NFIP, extend it again – or let it lapse in the midst of hurricane season. That could put added pressure on Congress to hammer out a deal on how to shore up the debt-laden federally run insurance program. A compromise on the program has so far been elusive.

“Negotiations between budget hardliners and coastal lawmakers have yielded little in the way of progress over the past few months and legislation to overhaul the program has languished in the U.S. Senate.

“Budget hawks have pushed changes to the NFIP that would dramatically raise rates on many high-risk homeowners who currently pay below-market premiums and shrink the program by booting some properties that have repeatedly flooded.

“Lawmakers from flood-prone areas – including Louisiana’s congressional delegation – have fought furiously against most of those proposals, concerned about how those kinds of abrupt reforms could wipe out homeowner equity and put flood coverage out of reach of many constituents.

“The proposed July extension for the National Flood Insurance Program left at least some Louisiana members of Congress worried that it would give critics of the program – led by retiring House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas – a chance to push through changes to the program that would hurt south Louisiana policyholders.

“But others were more hopeful that the looming deadline and Senate resistance to some of Hensarling’s proposals could result in a more favorable long-term deal on the program.

“The NFIP was initially set to expire at the end of September. But Congress has repeatedly punted on the issue with a series of short-term extensions tied to so-called “continuing resolutions” – or short-term deals to keep the federal government running.

“Tying the NFIP’s fate to government funding has given congressional leaders leverage to force through extensions of the program because derailing the broader package would result in a broader federal government shutdown.

“But the July proposed extension would split the NFIP from must-pass budget bills, leaving less power for leadership to push rank-and-file lawmakers to back an extension or potential changes.”

Upcoming Events

• Southern Comfort on Sanibel – tonight, March 23, Friday, doors open a 6 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House – to benefit CROW – register online at www.CROWClinic.org
• Youth Fishing Derby – March 31, Saturday, on Island A of Sanibel Causeway (1^st island next to high span), registration at 8:30 a.m., fishing begins at 9 a.m. Hosted by The Sanibel Island Fishing Club in cooperation with Lee County Parks & Recreation Department, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society and several other local organizations. Age groups are 9 and under, and ages 10 to 15. More info at 847-456-4650.
• SanCap Cares 18^th Annual lsland Celebration – April 8, Sunday at 6 p.m. at The Sanctuary Golf Club – to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida – details at SanibelCaptivaCares@gmail.com, 239-984-0381, http://www.SanCapCares.org

Florida Governor Scott Signs Real Estate-Related Bills Into Law

Posted today on-line on FloridaRealtors®:

“TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 23, 2018 – Gov. Scott signed a number of bills into law within the past week including a few that could impact Fla. Homeowners:

“CS/HB 935: Mortgage regulation

“The new law revises Ch. 494, Florida Statutes, governing non-depository loan originators, mortgage brokers and mortgage lender businesses subject to regulation by the Office of Financial Regulation to provide greater consumer protections. In some cases, the changes could impact the way home flippers finance repairs using a short-term loan before re-selling a property.

“The new law defines the term “business purpose loan” and says that it’s unlawful for anyone to misrepresent a residential mortgage loan as a business purpose loan. It also defines the term “hold himself or herself out to the public as being in the mortgage lending business.” It’s currently acceptable for an individual investor to make or acquire a mortgage loan with their funds, or to sell a mortgage loan, without being licensed as a mortgage lender, providing they don’t “hold himself or herself out to the public as being in the mortgage lending business.”

“The law is the Florida Legislature’s response to alleged unlicensed mortgage lending activity in South Florida. According to reports, some lending entities provided residential loans with usurious interest rates and high fees made under the guise of business purpose loans in order to avoid licensure and disclosure requirements under Ch. 494, F.S., as a mortgage lender. In some cases, they allegedly forced the borrower to form a limited liability company if they wanted the money. Effective date: July 1, 2019.

“CS/CS/HB 1011: Homeowner’s insurance policy disclosures

“This law requires homeowner insurance policies to disclose in bold, 18-point font that the policy does not cover flood damage. It expands the current required notice regarding flood insurance to include notice that the purchase of homeowner’s insurance does not cover floods, even if hurricane winds and rain caused the flood to occur. The notice will appear upon initial issuance and in each policy renewal. Effective date: Jan 1, 2019.

“HB 617: Covenants and restrictions

“This 28-page bill expands and modifies laws related to association covenants and restrictions. Effective date: Oct. 1, 2018”

“HB 193: Mortgage brokering

“This law reduces certain mortgage business regulations on securities dealers, investment advisors, and associated persons under certain conditions. Effective date: July 1, 2018”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 16-23, 2018

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Loggerhead Cay #422 2/2 $535K, Sunset South #6D 2/2 $695K, Lighthouse Point #212 2/2 $769K, Seawind II #5 2/2.5 $825K, Compass Point #183 2/2 $1.295M, Poinciana #2B 3/2 $1.45M.

6 price changes: Blind Pass #B211 2/2 now $449K, Cottage Colony West #116 1/1 now $625K, Cottage Colony West #108 1/1 now $644.9K, By-The-Sea #C102 2/2 now $1.299M, Island Beach Club #230D 2/2 now $1.395M, White Pelican #133 now $1.989M.

6 new sales: Mariner Pointe #521 2/2 listed at $475K, Kimball Lodge #303 1/2 listed at $595K, Lighthouse Point #321 3/2 listed at $679K, High Tide #C101 2/2 listed at $899K, Gulfside Place #222 2/2 listed at $1.15M (our sale), High Tide #B102 2/2 listed at $1.795M.

2 closed sales: Sand Pointe #215 2/2 $690K, By-The-Sea #B202 2/2 $1.15M.

HOMES

9 new listings: 956 Dixie Beach Blvd 2/1 $449K, 9477 Peaceful Dr now $519K, 1643 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $549K, 1338 Tahiti Dr 2/2 $565K, 1805 Ibis Ln 2/2 $569K, 721 Cardium St 2/2 $849K, 1244 Par View Dr 4/3 $1.149M, 2622 Coconut Dr 5/3.5 $2.799M, 1069 Bird Ln 4/3.5 $5.495M.

12 price changes: 9477 Peaceful Dr 3/2 now $519K, 958 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $595K, 1190 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $625K, 225 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 now $699K, 1183 Kittiwake Cir 3/2 now 768.9K, 1807 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $789K, 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 now $799K, 239 Daniel Dr 3/2 now $998K (our listing – photos below), 1304 Eagle Run Dr 3/3 now $1.1M, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 3/2 now $1.159M, 519 Kinzie Island Ct 3/2.5 now $1.195M, 2479 Blind Pass Ct 3/2 now $1.25M.

11 new sales: 1040 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $549K, 958 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $595K, 601 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 listed at $659.9K, 474 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $674.9K, 5280 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/3 listed at $675K, 9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 listed at $699K (our listing), 5410 Osprey Ct 3/2.5 listed at $799K, 1120 Shell Basket Ln 4/2 listed at $895K, 536 Lighthouse Way 4/4.5 listed at $2.995M, 4171 West Gulf Dr 3/2 listed at $3.248M, 1008 Bayview Dr 4/4.5 listed at $3.595M.

5 closed sales: 1029 Dixie Beach Blvd 2/2 $410K, 2005 Mitzi Ln 2/2 $525K, 5301 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 $625K, 3323 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 $730K, 3010 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $745K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1305 Seaspray Ln $795K.

2 price changes: 5821 Pine Tree Dr now $499K, 976 Whelk Dr now $689K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sunset Captiva #103 2/2/2 $999K.

No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11534 Laika Ln 4/3.5 $1.799M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 9 Sunset Captiva 3/2 listed at $1.299M.

1 closed sale: 13550 Palmflower Ln 4/3.5 listed at $3.75M

LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® 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 the 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,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan