It’s SanibelSusan reporting that though our physical office has been closed since last Friday, I could stand it at home no longer and am in the office today (locked in alone) playing catch-up and preparing this update on my comfy office computer.

As you may have already heard, most island businesses are closed. Sanibel’s two grocery stores and two pharmacies remain open, some with reduced hours. County-regulated beaches like the causeway and Bowman’s have been closed for some time, with Sanibel’s “pay” parking lots also closed, as well as the fishing pier.

Yesterday, Sanibel City Council posted that island events and City meetings have been canceled through the end of April. Businesses providing accommodations and short-term rentals (for periods of less than 7 days) have been directed to cancel those short reservations through April. Restaurants also are closed, with some still open limited hours for take-out. However, selling alcohol for on-site consumption is prohibited.

So, though I always try to make the best of any situation and always be “kind”, it made me angry to drive down Periwinkle this morning and see the bike path packed and several businesses still open with lots of cars in their parking lots. I could see people congregating in groups.

As a small business owner, I certainly can understand that any income may be better than none, but we all need to be practicing social distancing and staying home (or locked in a closed office).

As of the latest report (5 p.m. last night) from the Florida Department of Health, there are 61 cases of the virus in Lee County, including two on Sanibel.

The SanibelSusan Team can work from home. Dave and Elise also have plenty of sick leave which they may take as they want. Dave has an off-island closing scheduled next week that is expected to close on time, while on Monday Elise will become the principal at her home school with her kiddos. In the meantime, we all will do our best to get our listings sold and keep our contracted sales on track.

The activity since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is below. No new sales in the last seven days on either island.

I have received a few emails about what I think with happen with our market and regarding listing property now. Then, this afternoon I got a call from some folks who have been here all month and are heading home on Monday. Sure, I can show them a condo today at 5 p.m. It is a unit that hasn’t be occupied for more than two weeks (so should be safe), and we will stay at least six feet apart and with sanitizing wipes in hand. Wish me luck! (It’s not one of our listings, but proves our open houses followed up by post card mailings work.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 20-27, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Colonnades #13 1/1 $315K, Sandy Bend #7 2/2 $815K.

2 price changes: Sanibel Arms #B1 1/1 now $432K, Tantara #203 3/2 now $1.179M.

No new sales.

4 closed sales: Spanish Cay #F8 2/2 $360K; Blind Pass C204 2/2 $469K; Sand Pointe #137 2/2 $1,062,500; Seascape #304 3/3 $1.2M.

HOMES

4 new listings:  1677 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/1.5,1329 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 $1.375M, 815 Birdie View Pt 3/3 $1.395M, 1245 Isabel Dr 3/3.5 $2.149M.

6 price changes: 730 Cardium St 2/2 now $534K; 1573 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $549.5K; 1076 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $670K; 987 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 now $695K; 5834 Pine Tree Dr 2/2 now $739,555; 4014 W Gulf Dr 4/3 now $3.699M.

No new sales.

4 closed sales: 1925 Roseate Ln 2/2 $585K, 1800 Ardsley Way 3/2 $655K, 975 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $781K, 532 Sea Oats Dr 3/4 $1,167,500.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tennis Villas A209 1/1 $309K, Seabreeze #1251 3/3 $2.25M.

No price changes.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: Lands End Village #1619 2/2 $1.48M, Beach Homes #33 3/2 $1.5M.

HOMES

No new listings, price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 15295 Captiva Dr $850K.

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.

I also was interviewed last weekend about our office precautions with the virus. Here’s a link to the paper if you want to read the whole article. It begins on the front page.

https://islandsun.suncoastpress.com/scp/isn-032720/flipbook/0/

Stay well,

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan