Below is an update from the leadership team meetings I attended this week at Florida Realtors®, followed by an article with info about seniors, and then the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service activity since last Friday.

SanibelSusan’s Report from Florida Realtors®

It has been a busy three days in Orlando with the Florida Realtors® leadership team at the Renaissance at Sea World.

Wednesday was the all-day instructor auditions where 57 prospective instructors tried out before seven rooms of panelists. First a teacher must be approved to become a member of Florida Realtors® faculty. Then, they must audition again for each class they want to instruct. With this many, it was a long, but productive day. Serving as a panelist is rewarding, in many ways.

That night, Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors won three state RPAC awards.

Yesterday, at the 2020 Florida Real Estate Trends presentation, I heard Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr Brad O’Connor and Dr Sean Snaith who is Director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. If you are thinking that these statistical guys were boring, think again. Not only did they make looking at numbers fun, their outlooks for Florida are bright.

Dr Snaith’s big concern is the $23+trillion national debt. 27% of that debt is in intra government holdings including Social Security’s trust fund and the Federal Reserve Bank. The Social Security fund has surplus right now because so many baby boomers are still working and paying in. This surplus will go away, likely meaning that $5 trillion in debt will need to be absorbed by the government.

Comparing U.S. debt to other countries, remember the Greek crisis in 2010, that is still felt there today? Their total debt was $380 billion. (Ours in a single quarter is greater than that.)

Now for the good news. Business stimulus from the Trump administration has boosted investment, which boosts productivity, which boosts wages and salaries. Regulation relief also has reduced GDP an average of 2% a year. The regulations in the 70’s doubled GDP then. We all know regulations are needed, but consideration is needed on how they affect the economy and their unintended consequences. Dr Snaith said, “the secret sauce to economic growth is productivity” which increases with less regulation.

Regarding trade, he said, “though it had been the longest recovery in U.S. economic history, any way you look at it, our labor market is strong.” He expects no Federal rate change in 2020, while U.S. economy continues to grow. The momentum is strong with Florida’s economy better than the national average since 2012.

Unemployment here is just 3.3% with Florida business expected to continue to grow, particularly in areas of professional and business, hospitality, and health services.

Fastest growing area in the nation is The Villages (in Florida). The Ft Myers area is 7th fastest growing in the country. Naples/Marco Island area is 19th.

Nation wide, real estate sales to foreign buyers is down 30%, but domestic buyers are picking up the slack. Overall, the economists expect 2020 to be very good to Florida.

Last night was the installation of 2020 officers and inaugural banquet.

At Florida Realtors, so far today, I attended the Professional Development Committee meeting (where our new instructors and classes were officially approved) and the Legal & Professional Update by Florida Realtors attorneys.

Next up are our District meeting and RPAC Jamboree. 

No Place Like Home

Seniors have lots of options to adapt their homes without a major remodel. The following was extracted from the January-February 2020 issue of “Realtor®” magazine:

“A lot of older adults aren’t going anywhere. Even the pools, gyms, coffee bars, and cooking classes at many senior living communities can’t persuade some to sell the house where they raised their families and accumulated a lifetime of memories and possessions. A full 76% of Americans age 50 and older say they want to remain at home throughout their golden years according to an AARP survey. So what are the smartest decisions people can make in pursuit of that goal?

“Most experts say anyone 55 years and older should plan their future living situation long before they have difficulty climbing stairs or stepping into a bathtub. Too often, people make changes in where they live only after a crisis like a serious fall or stroke – which compounds the stress on them and their family. A new category of home auditors can help clients analyze which modifications can be the most helpful. Daniel Edwards, owner of the Handyman Connection in Hanover, Pass., is developing a program to train people to conduct an aging-in-place analysis that includes a checklist of options.

“The movement to age is place is gaining attention from real estate practitioners and a bevy of other professionals, from designers and architects to health care advisors schooled in accessible design…. There are now “living laboratory” homes that allow people to see possibilities first-hand…. 

“Design Modifications – Better Living design in Asheville, NC, and architect Jeffrey DeMure, author of Livable Design, recommend four steps to improve existing homes: putting essential spaces on a main level, including a first-floor bedroom; creating a zero-step entry; ensuring good interior air circulation; and improving kitchens and bathrooms….

“Home Products – Apart from architectural and design changes, new products can make most facets of life easier for older homeowners. A stair or chair lift provides a relatively easy, affordable way to get to a 2^nd or 3^rd floor in a multilevel home or apartment…. And although remodeling a bathroom can become expensive… switching out a tub for a curbless shower with a bench is affordable and helps “avoid an accident waiting to happen”…. A heat lamp in a bathroom helps older adults cope with the common problem of feeling cold…. The latest technology – robotic vacuums and lawnmowers, security systems, and smart-home devices that control lighting and temperature – are also assets for coping with aging’s challenges….”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity January 17-24, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Spanish Cay #H6 2/2 $549K, Loggerhead Cay 2/2 #542 $739K, Loggerhead Cay #191 2/2 $770K, Tarpon Beach #207 2/2 $1.099M (our listing).

5 price changes: Spanish Cay #F8 2/2 now $379K, Sandpebble #2F 2/2 now $439K, Loggerhead Cay #351 2/2 now $537K, Loggerhead Cay #223 2/2 now $597K, Pointe Santo #A1 2/2 now $875K.

4 new sales: Sanibel Moorings #311 2/2 listed at $599K, Loggerhead Cay #553 2/2 listed at $679K, Sundial #K103 2/2 listed are $889K, Plantation Village #312 3/2.5 listed at $1.44M.

4 closed sales: Sundial #H211 1/1 $360K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #B102 2/2 $468.5K, Sanibel Moorings #821 2/2 $575K, Compass Point #181 2/3 $1.175M.

HOMES

9 new listings: 560 Piedmont Rd 3/2 $460K, 1764 Bunting Ln 2/2 $489K, 9426 Beverly Ln 3/2 $599K, 6141 Henderson Rd 3/2 $675K, 4455 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $738K, 201 Violet Dr 3/2 $949K, 1437 Causey Ct 3/2.5 $1.05M, 790 Beach Rd 4/3.5 $1.449M, 6014 White Heron Ln 3/3.5 $1.749M.

13 price changes: 1027 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $474K, 730 Cardium St 2/2 now $569K, 1717 Sand Pebble way 3/2 now $629K, 4245 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 now $675K, 701 Nerita St 3/2 now $724K, 1223 Par View Dr 3/2 now $755K, 822 Beach Rd 4/4 duplex now $819K, 1244 Par View Dr 4/3 now $849K, 215 Robinwood Cir 4/3 now $859K, 1285 Par View Dr 4/2.5 now $865.5K, 938 Pecten Ct 3/2.5 now $949K, 1081 Captains Walk St 4/2.5 now $1.185M, 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 now $3.424M.

4 new sales: 1851 Farm Trl 3/2 listed at $559K, 1348 Eagle Run Dr 3/3 listed at $998K, 911 Almas Ct 3/2.5 listed at $1.25M, 5250 Caloosa End Ln 3/2.5 listed at $1.389M.

2 closed sales: 932 Whelk Dr 3/3 $970K, 707 Anchor Dr 3/2.5 $1.15M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 486 Ponce De Leon Rd $223K, 6095 Dinkins Lake Rd $267,555.

3 price changes: 5847 Pine Tree Dr now $339K, 602 Boulder Dr now $399K, 4995 Joewood Dr now $2.6M.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Marina Villas #606 2/2 now $736K, Lands End Village #1629 2/2 now $1.3945M.

1 new sale: Captiva Shores #9 3/2 listed at $1.795M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 15200 Captiva Dr 2/2 $1.1M.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 16596 Captiva Dr 6/8.5 $5.15M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 16151/16155 Captiva Dr now $5.9M.

No new or closed sales.

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