It has been another quiet week on Sanibel and at SanibelSusan Realty. Island traffic last weekend was heavy, mostly from stir-crazy day-trippers wanting changes of scenery. With only Bowman’s Beach and the causeway islands open for parking, they were jammed both Saturday and Sunday with many vehicles and many people. Island locals also reported that Sanibel’s resident lots often were full of out-of-state vehicles without parking stickers. Those ticketing stayed busy.
On Tuesday, City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting, but delayed further discussion on beach parking and short-term vacation rentals/accommodations restrictions until a special meeting coming up on Tues, May 12 at 2 p.m. That is the day that Sanibel’s current State of Emergency Proclamation ends. City Council hopes that more data will be available by then, and more direction from Florida’s governor and the county.(If you want to listen during the upcoming meeting or hear the audio from a past one, go to MySanibel.com & look under Agendas & Minutes.)
A few island restaurants and retail shops have reopened following recommended guidelines. During the week, I have not seen many vehicles at these locations though, so it may be that the public remains wary. Probably rightfully, since testing here has been limited.
On Monday, free Covid-19 testing began on a first-come first-served basis at the Minnesota Twins Stadium. The site is performing 400 tests a day until they run out. The news reports that the wait is hours long. As of this morning, Sanibel’s confirmed cases are 11.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®
I got a call this week from our local Association of Realtors® President. He was querying our brokers to see how we are handling business through the pandemic. The Association office has been closed for weeks, but staff is working from home and meetings are happening through Zoom technology. He said the office likely will remain closed until the end of the month unless state guidelines are lessened. 
This week, the Communications and Public Relations Committee issued a challenge for members to donate food goods to F.I.S.H. of San-Cap. It kicked off with a committee member challenging three other Association members via Facebook with those challenged to challenge three others. Photos are posted as contributions are delivered.Yesterday, I was challenged by Affiliate Member Angie Roehl with Rosier Insurance. So, though Bailey’s home delivery has been bringing my groceries for weeks, my mask and I ventured out last night for “real” shopping. Teammate Elise and I delivered the resulting four bags of staples to the food pantry this morning, then I challenged three other Realtors®.
Regarding open houses and showings, safety is key. So many, like us, are using alternative marketing approaches like our streaming videos. Last Sunday I was contacted by an agent who Skyped our bayfront listing from the water (in her boat). 
Her prospect liked seeing the exterior, so asked to also see inside. So, I met her there later so she could Skype the interior. It was more time-consuming than an actual showing since the property is empty, so she had verbalize details – but it worked. Her prospects are coming to view in person in a couple of weeks.
Her prospect liked seeing the exterior, so asked to also see inside. So, I met her there later so she could Skype the interior. It was more time-consuming than an actual showing since the property is empty, so she had verbalize details – but it worked. Her prospects are coming to view in person in a couple of weeks.Florida’s Remote Notary Law
From FloridaRealtor® magazine, May 2020: “Social-distance closings.
“Remote notarizations became legal in Florida on January 1. That means buyers and sellers can close on a home without being in the same room. It’s also a powerful tool during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain the real estate market while also honoring orders for social distancing that keep people at least 6-feet apart.
“However, the details of a remote-notarization closing should be worked out beforehand, since not all notaries are authorized to conduct remote notarizations. In addition, lenders might refuse to accept remote notarizations, and buyers who secured a loan through one of those companies must still be present at closing.
“Under the remote-notarization law, Florida notaries must register with the state as an online notary before they’re authorized to do so. In addition to posting a $25,000 bond, they must also have $25,000 of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and complete a two-hour course.
“Once authorized by the state, they must also have the designation of a remote online notary provider, who acts as a digital liaison between remote buyers and sellers in the transaction. Not all notaries have done so and some may decide not to take these additional steps.
“How It Works: E-notaries electronically affix signatures and notary sales in an electronic document such as a PDF or Word document. The document is then instantly and securely transmittable. Remote notaries are authorized to provide a similar service to parties in separate locations via the internet, using digital tools and a live audio/video connection versus electronic notary, where physical presence is required by law.”
At SanibelSusan Realty
Teammates Dave and Lisa are at home, while I have been manning the office with Teammate Elise covering three mornings again this week. Our team communication continues by email and text, which is not unlike our normal work routine.Several SanibelSusan blog followers – some near and far – contributed recipes to my “SanibelSusan and Facebook Friends Social-Distancing Together Cookbook – April 2020”. It went to the printer on Wed and should be ready in about two weeks. It was a fun project amid the month’s uncertainty.
The action posted in the Sanibel/Captiva MLS since last Friday is below. There were a few sales!
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service 
Activity May 1-8, 2020
Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listings: Mariner Pointe #732 2/2 $565.9K, Kings Crown #306 2/2 $868.5K.
3 price changes: Colonnades #13 1/1 now $305K, Casa Blanca #6 1/1 now $353K; Mariner Pointe #952 1/1 now $388,990.
2 new sales: Sundial #D403 1/1 listed at $529K, Kings Crown #112 2/2 listed at $679K.
4 closed sales: Sanibel Arms West #B4 2/2 $535K, Sanibel Arms West #H5 2/2 $539K, By-The-Sea #C101 2/2 $1.1M, Gulfside Place #326 2/2 $1.2M.
HOMES
5 new listings: 2100 Sunset Cir 3/2 $729,555; 9484 Peaceful Dr 3/3 $835K; 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 $899K; 9441 Peaceful Dr 3/3.5 $1.05M; 4629 Rue Bayou 5/3 $1.295M.
1 price change: 9036 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $649,999.
3 new sales: 550 Leather Fern Pl 3/2 listed at $629K, 5419 Osprey Ct 3/3.5 listed at $1.095M, 769 Pyrula Ave 3/3.5 listed at $1.395M.
6 closed sales: 743 Windlass Way 3/2 $505K, 678 Durion Ct 3/2 $580K, 1717 Sand Pebble Way 3/2 $600K, 9057 Mockingbird Dr 4/2 $650K, 1085 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $686K, 500 Sawgrass Pl 8/8/3 $2M.
LOTS
No new listings.
4 price changes: 2372 Wulfert Rd now $147.5K, 5642 Baltusrol Ct now $327.5K, 5648 Baltusrol Ct now 328.5K, 1048 Fish Crow Rd now $375K.
No new or closed sales.
Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sale: Captiva Shores #8B 3/2.5 listed at $1.199M.
No closed sales.
HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
2 new sales: 15879 Captiva Dr 3/3 listed at $2.389M, 15843 Captiva Dr 3/3 listed at $7.489M.
No closed sales.
LOTS
No new listings, price changes, 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.
Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”, hoping to attract some Mothers’ Day buyers.
Sanibel is expecting some much-needed rain on Sunday!Enjoy your weekend!
Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
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