It is another Sanibel Friday and The SanibelSusan Team and I hope that you all had a nice holiday yesterday. Here the beaches, bike paths, and roadways are busy with families enjoying the continued almost-summer-like weather, while Christmas decorations already are popping up in some locations as the islands quickly jump from one holiday to the next.

First a couple of pix of the cute mailboxes across the street from each other on Sanibel’s east end. Remember how cute they were for Valentines’ Day? Here they are: the pilgrim dolphin & the Indian manatee. I’ll be watching for their Christmas look next.

 

A report of the action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below. Though a day-short workweek, it was a good one for The SanibelSusan Team. We had an unexpected “big” sale on Monday and on Wednesday received a beautiful new listing (just off-island in Gulf Harbour). Good wishes from all of us for a continued weekend of thankfulness.

Christmas Trees For Sale on Sanibel

Starting today, the Sanibel-Captiva Lion Club again is selling Christmas trees from in front of the old gas station at Bailey’s Shopping Center, 2477 Periwinkle Way. This annual holiday tradition fundraiser features premium Frasier firms freshly-cut and shipped on refrigerated trucks from Michigan. About 210 trees from 5’ to 10’ high are being delivered and available for purchase seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Christmas Eve or until all are sold. Proceeds from the sales go to Lions Club charities. The local Lions Club meets the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of every month at The Community House, where the club was charted in 1967. More info at www.sanibelcaptivalions.com .

Holiday Shopping at The Refuge on Nov 27

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society will keep the Refuge Nature Store open two extra hours after the Center closes on November 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. Enjoy free refreshments, holiday cheer, and visit their Giving Tree, which is an easy way to contribute in the name of a loved one for education, land acquisition, and Refuge research projects. Plenty of other great gift items and holiday ornaments are available too with a free gift for purchases of $25 or more.

Noah’s Ark Christmas Open House on Dec. 3

Noah’s Ark, the popular island thrift shop on the grounds of St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church (just west of SanibelSusan Realty), is redecorating and holding its first annual Christmas Open House, on Monday December 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the shop will sparkle with Christmas items and good cheer.

Called, NOAH’S NOËL, this new event features complimentary refreshments, photo-ops with Santa Claus, and fun raffle giveaways from the shop’s Christmas stock, plus many items for holiday shoppers. Decorated with twinkling lights from a forest of trees and ornaments from all over the world–many with beach theme, shelves will be lined with toys, Christmas books and gifts, and holiday decorations, while a special kitchen section will feature holiday cookbooks, cookie cutters and more.

For more than 50 years, Noah’s Ark has been run by the women (80+ volunteers) of St. Michaels. Proceeds from their sales, coupled with monies from the parish budget, go to more than 25 local, regional and global charities.

Noah’s Ark accepts donations (clean items in good condition), any time at the shop’s loading dock. Furniture items must be approved by the furniture chair. (Call 239-472- 3356). It is open weekdays and the 1st Saturday of each month, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will be closed on Saturday, December 1, to prepare for the Open House.

Why A Housing Market Slump If The Economy Is Booming?

Posted on FloridaRealtors© on-line on Wednesday, the below article is sourced to the “New York Times” (11/15/18), before the stock market tumble.

“Economists note the relationship between home sales and the incomes of the people who live there – or want to live there – has come undone over the last six years.

“Nationally, personal income per capita has risen 25% since the end of 2011, while the S&P/Case-Shiller national home price index is up 48%. Although demographics are favorable for housing demand as millennials enter the prime years for home buying, that won’t help if prices are out of reach relative to incomes.

“Moreover, lending standards have remained more rigorous than they were during the last housing boom, so it’s been harder for people to stretch to buy a home.

“Industry observers say sellers appear to be trying to cling to the spring 2018 prices that their neighbors received, while there aren’t enough buyers in late 2018 willing or able to pay those prices.

“Economists say a strong economy makes it more likely that this housing slump will end without a steep 2008-style downturn. But in the meantime, it could be a soft few months or even years of standoffs between buyers and sellers.”

Sales of Existing-Homes Increases for 1st Time in 6 Months

Also posted on-line at FloridaRealtors© on Wednesday, November 21, 2018:

“Existing-home sales increased in October after six straight months of decreases, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), and three of the four major U.S. regions tracked saw gains in sales activity last month.

“Total existing-home sales – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 1.4% from September to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.22 million in October. Sales are now down 5.1% year-to-year.

“Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says increasing housing inventory has brought more buyers to the market. “After six consecutive months of decline, buyers are finally stepping back into the housing market,” Yun says. “Gains in the Northeast, South and West – a reversal from last month’s steep decline or plateau in all regions – helped overall sales activity rise for the first time since March 2018.”

“The median existing-home price for all housing types in October was $255,400, up 3.8% from October 2017 ($246,000). October’s price increase marks the 80th straight month of year-over-year gains.

“Total housing inventory at the end of October decreased from 1.88 million in September to 1.85 million existing homes available for sale, but that represents an increase from 1.80 million a year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 4.3-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.4 last month and up from 3.9 months a year ago.

“Properties typically stayed on the market for 33 days in October, an increase from 32 days in September but down from 34 days a year ago.

“Overall, 46% of homes sold in October were on the market for less than a month. “As more inventory enters the market and we head into the winter season, home price growth has begun to slow more meaningfully,” says Yun. “This allows for much more manageable, less frenzied buying conditions.”

“Realtor.com’s Market Hotness Index, measuring time-on-the-market data and listings views per property, revealed that the hottest metro areas in October were Midland, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Odessa, Texas; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.; and Columbus, Ohio.

“According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 4.83% in October from 4.63% in September. The average commitment rate for all of 2017 was 3.99%.

“”Rising interest rates and increasing home prices continue to suppress the rate of first-time homebuyers,” says Yun. “Home sales could further decline before stabilizing. The Federal Reserve should, therefore, re-evaluate its monetary policy of tightening credit, especially in light of softening inflationary pressures, to help ease the financial burden on potential first-time buyers and assure a slump in the market causes no lasting damage to the economy.”

“First-time buyers made up 31% of October sales, down month-to-month and year-to-year. In NAR’s 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the annual share of first-time buyers was 33%.

“”Despite this much-welcomed month-over-month gain, sales are still down from a year ago; a large reason for this is affordability challenges from higher interest rates,” says NAR President John Smaby. “Prospective buyers looking for their dream home in this market should contact a Realtor as a first step in the buying process to help them navigate this more challenging environment.”

“All-cash sales accounted for 23% of October’s transactions, up from September (21%) and a year ago (20%). Individual investors, who account for many cash sales, purchased 15% of homes in October, up from September and a year ago (both 13%).

“Distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – represented 3% of sales in October – the lowest percentage since NAR began tracking in October 2008. That rate is unchanged from last month and down from 4% year-to-year. Two percent of October sales were foreclosures and 1% were short sales.

“Single-family and condo/co-op sales

“Single-family home sales sit at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million in October, up from 4.58 million in September. They’re 5.3% below the 4.88 million sales pace from a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $257,900 in October, up 4.3% from October 2017.

“Existing condominium and co-op sales were recorded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 600,000 units in October, up 5.3% from last month but down 3.2% from a year ago. The median existing condo price was $236,200 in October, which is down 0.2% from a year ago.

“Regional breakdown

“October existing-home sales in the Northeast increased 1.5% to an annual rate of 690,000, 6.8% below a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $280,900, which is up 3.0% from October 2017.

“In the Midwest, existing-home sales declined 0.8% from last month to an annual rate of 1.27 million in October, down 3.1% overall from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $197,000, up 2.4% from last year.

“Existing-home sales in the South rose 1.9% to an annual rate of 2.15 million in October, down 2.3% from last year. The median price in the South was $221,600, up 3.8% from a year ago.

“Existing-home sales in the West grew 2.8% to an annual rate of 1.11 million in October, 11.2% below a year ago. The median price in the West was $382,900, up 1.9% from October 2017.”

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Sundial #H309 1/1 $455K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #3-1 2/2.5 $675K, Pointe Santo #D21 2/2 $695K, Sundial #A306 1/1 $724.5K, Kings Crown #213 2/2 $829K, Sundial #A201 2/2 $949K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Blind Pass #C201 2/2 listed at $440K.

1 closed sale: Sunset South #6B 2/2 $569K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 984 Black Skimmer Way 3/2 $575K, 4290 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $595K, 9248 Dimmick Dr 3/3 $640K, 198 Southwinds Dr 3/2 $750K, 2502 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 $1.849M.

7 price changes: 5306 Umbrella Pool Rd 4/3 now $749K, 1225 Seagrape Ln 3/3 now $875K, 501 Lagoon Dr 3/2 now $969K, 4787 Rue Helene 4/3 now $979.5K, 6123 Starling Way 3/2.5 now $1.129M, 2857 Wulfert Rd 4/5 now $1.348M, 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 now $3.524M.

2 new sales: 746 Nerita St 3/2 listed at $749K, 1238 Isabel Dr 5/3.5.5 listed at $2.59M (our sale).

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Lands End Village #1662 3/3 now $1.99M, Sunset Captiva #302 4/3 now $2.248M.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11547 Laika Ln 4/4 $2.495M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

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.

This sunset pix was taken this week by teammate Dave’s cell phone. Southwest Florida sure gets some beautiful evening skies when there are clouds!

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan