Reporting another summer-like week on sunny Sanibel. Recent daytime temperatures have hit 80°F almost every day. Similar weather is expected to continue for the next week, probably much to the delight of vacationers and holiday visitors. The island is packed, so careful planning, dinner reservations, and patience are needed, but there certainly are no complaints from The SanibelSusan Team. Our listings are getting inquiries and showings.

The action posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a few news items below. You may have noticed from these weekly MLS reports that the number of new listings each week and the number of price reductions exceed the number of sales. Price reductions are common in February and March, even with Easter late this year (not until April 12). It is unusual though to have so many new listings this far into “high season”. The SanibelSusan Team is looking for listings though – so if you know of anyone thinking of selling, please let us be referral.

Presidents’ Weekend on Sanibel

Rotary Arts & Crafts Festival This Weekend – As mentioned last week, tomorrow begins the 37^th Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Arts & Crafts Festival which is held at The Community House and City Park across the street from our office. Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and again on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At the Wildlife Refuge on Monday – In honor of Presidents’ Day and by federal order, all motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians can enjoy Wildlife Drive and its trail fee-free on February 17. The Refuge Visitor & Education Center, Bailey Tract, and Tarpon Bay Explorers will remain open for normal operating hours, while all Refuge and Ding Darling Wildlife Society offices will be closed.

Green Iguanas May Be Prohibited Here

A guest commentary by Chris Lechowicz, SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Wildlife and Habitat Manager, was posted in this week’s “Island Reporter”. It says that SCCF urges islanders to support a bill currently making its way through Florida’s Legislature. Here are excerpts from the article:

“The exotic green iguana may join the Burmese python and Nile monitor lizard on Florida’s list of prohibited reptiles if a bill makes it through the Legislature this session.

“Approved unanimously by a Senate committee on Jan 21, the bill is awaiting discussion in committee in the House, and second committee discussion in the Senate. The bill would add green iguanas as well as black and white tegus – another invasive lizard – to the state’s prohibited list that bans the importation, possession, sale and breeding of those species in Florida. Some other species already on the list are Burmese pythons, both African python species and Nile monitors due to their threats to natural ecosystems.

“Introduced into Florida in 1964, the green iguana became established as a sustainable breeding population just a few years ago. The green iguana was first reported on Sanibel in 1970. These exotic lizards are native to most of Central America, over half of South America, and parts of Mexico. Wild-caught green iguanas have been imported as pets since well before that time and still are today. Currently, however, most are farmed for export.

“In several of their native countries, they are prized for their meat and can be scarce as a result.

“There are a few scattered Florida records from the central peninsula and the Panhandle but the majority of their range is the state is right along the coast from Lee County on the west coast and St. Lucie County on the east coast all the way through the Florida Keys to Key West.

“Their range in Florida is restricted by cold weather, hence most of their range is along the coast and throughout the Keys where temperatures stay higher than in inland areas. During extended cool weather snaps in the 30’s or low 40’s in South Florida, green iguanas, which are an arboreal species, become unable to hold on to their perches and often fall to the ground immobilized.

“They are relatively common on Sanibel where 4,915 green iguanas have been trapped and removed since 2015, at the annual cost of about $40,000 to the city. In October, Lee County approved $25,000 to trap and remove them from Captiva.

“The green iguanas prefer to live, although not exclusively, in developed areas around homes and businesses where exotic vegetation such as hibiscus, colorful exotic flowers and vegetable gardens are plentiful. If left unchecked, they can become very dense in these areas and are considered a nuisance, especially in March here on the islands when they dig multiple large burrows in order to lay their eggs in. Damage is primarily caused when iguanas dig their burrow under a sidewalk, along sea walls or canal banks.

“The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation urges islanders to support this bill. Sign up for Action Alerts at sccf.org to know when and who to contact on this and other important issues being considered in the current legislative session.”

Sanibel Gets Serious About Short-Term Rentals

Interesting article by Wendy McMullen in today’s “Island Sun”:

“Owners of rental properties beware. A new code enforcement officer has been hired to check that homes and condos are being rented in accordance with city rules.

“Concern has been growing among city council members about the possibility of the state banning cities from restricting rentals and the grown of multiple platforms for renting homes short term.

“There was a time when almost all rentals on the island were done through licensed rental agencies abiding by the rules. Now Airbnb (Air Bed and Breakfast), VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) and a myriad of other sites make it easy for homeowners to rent their properties for a day, a week or a month without necessarily following city regulations.

“The minimum rental period for single-family homes on Sanibel, with a few exceptions, is one month. The minimum rental period for condominiums varies according to the condo association rules….

“In order to counteract the growing number of private rentals, the city is hiring a code enforcement officer to focus specifically on rental violations and sending out advisory letters and applications to holders of business tax receipts for property rental on Sanibel.

“But there is concern about the application for a city license being overly intrusive, requiring owners to agree to things they could not possibly control. For example, owners could not agree to a demand that they ensure renters do not contravene city laws…. Several residents and organizations also had problems with the (application) fees charged…

“City council agreed to revise the application and to look at the fee structure.”

Stay tuned.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity February 7-14, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Casa Blanca #6 1/1 $363K, Sundial #D205 1/1 $465K, Mariner Pointe #542 2/2 $590K, Sanddollar #B104 2/2 $1.175M, Sundial #L404 2/2 $1.35M.

10 price changes: Captains Walk #B3 1/1 now $229.9K, Sanibel Arms #C7 1/1 now $368K, Sandalfoot #4B2 1/1 now $499K, Seawind #A107 2/2.5 now $559.9K, Mariner Pointe #421 2/2.5 now $599.9K, Yacht Haven #2 3/2 now $999K, Gulfside Place #221 2/2 now $1.179M, Seascape #304 3/3 now $1.2499M, High Tide #A101 2/2 now $1.295M, Sandals #A 3/3.5 now $1.937M.

5 new sales: Blind Pass #C204 2/2.5 listed at $489K, Mariner Pointe #1052 2/2 listed at $499.9K, Mariner Pointe #642 2/2 listed at $570K, Island Beach Club #220B 2/2 listed at $700K, Cyprina Beach #1 3/3 listed at $1.395M.

5 closed sales: Sundial #H210 1/1 $369K, Kimball Lodge #223 1/1.5 $395K, Blind Pass #F204 2/2.5 $427.5K, Snug Harbor #312 3/2 $580K, La Playa #B1 3/2 $1.15M.

HOMES

12 new listings: 968 Greenwood Ct S 3/2.5 half-duplex $414,999 (our listing); 9036 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $679K; 987 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $749K; 1296 Par View Dr 3/3 $779K; 1589 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $895K; 3751 Coquina Dr 3/2 $895K; 1430 Causey Ct 3/2 $972K; 776 Conch Ct 3/2 $995K; 2439 Harbour Ln 3/3 $1.295M; 3706 West Gulf Dr 4/3 $1.375M; 1175 Bird Ln 4/3/2 $3.395M, 4577 Waters Edge Ln 4/3 $3.395M.

17 price changes: 1027 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $469K, 1856 Ardsley Way 3/2 now $499K, 730 Cardium St 2/2 now $554K, 1717 Sand Pebble Way 3/2 now $609K, 718 Durion Ct 3/2 now $645K, 1559 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $690K, 1807 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $725K, 731 Durion Ct 3/2 now $737K, 1031 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $775K, 5422 Shearwater Dr 3/2.5 now $849K, 1501 Sand Castle Rd 5/3.5 now $889K, 1752 Jewel Box Dr 2/2 now $889K, 2385 Wulfert Rd 4/5 now $1.099M, 6101 Starling Way 3/3.5 now $1.149M, 1671 Hibiscus Dr 5/3 now $1.199M, 2477 Wulfert Rd 3/4 now $1.249M, 1460 Middle Gulf Dr 4/4.5 now $1.8M.

7 new sales: 1607 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex listed at $579K, 1800 Ardsley Way 3/2 listed at $679K, 9057 Mockingbird Dr 4/2 listed at $679K, 1740 Middle gulf Dr 4/3 listed at $799K, 1244 Par View Dr 4/3 listed at $849K, 675 Gopher Walk Way 3/2.5 listed at $1.195M, 872 Limpet Dr 3/3 listed at $1.395M.

5 closed sales: 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 $885,250; 5402 Osprey Ct 4/3 $955K; 1717 Venus Dr 3/2.5 $1.03M, 430 Glory Cir 4/5.5 $1.14M; 5250 Caloosa End Ln 3/2.5 $1.2M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1226 Isabel Dr now $1.239M.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Captiva Shores #7B 3/2.5 $1.55M.

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3120 1/1 now $312K.

1 new sale: Beach Homes #33 3/2 listed at $1.799M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 11540 Laika Ln 3/2.5 now $1.235M, 15879 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $2.389M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 11501 Laika Ln 3/3 $1.225M.

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.

Enjoy your Valentines’ Day!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan