Another Friday already is here, seems like the weeks are flying by. It has been one with chilly weather – night temperatures sometimes into the 40’s (degrees F) and rarely out of the 60’s during the day. As we hear of folks up north struggling with snow and frigid weather, we are thankful that even when island temperatures are low, our daytime skies remain sunny and bright. Makes me smile whenever the sky is blue! For locals, it also is a nice change to wear long sleeves, sweaters, and jackets. Bike paths, of course, still are full of riders and joggers in shorts and tee-shirts, and visitors making the most of their tropical vacations.

I took a ride out to South Seas Resort on Captiva this afternoon. Temperature had reached 70 degrees when I left Sanibel about 1 p.m. There didn’t seem to be a lot of visitors at the resort, but the ones I did see were enjoying the day. Redfish Pass was busy with boats and fishermen with clear skies and gulf/bay waters a vivid Caribbean blue. With my sunroof open, I heard birds chirping & kiddos giggling. By the time, I turned around, heading back to my Sanibel office, the temperature was up to 74 degrees F. Gotta love winter on a tropical island in SW Florida.

The weekly reports of the activity posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below.

It’s a Sellers’ Market

With only a month on the books, the Sanibel/Captiva real estate market started with a bang. As inventory disappears, Realtor® colleagues, like us, are worried about what we will sell once inventory is gone. We are out beating the bushes looking for listings. If someone you know is thinking of selling, please refer them to The SanibelSusan Team.

Below is a snapshot of the islands’ statistics today (2/5/2021 from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands MLS), followed by a rundown of inventory of most popular property types. Due to the pandemic, those are mostly residential.

SANIBEL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price $	DOM	#	Avg Price $	DOM	#	Avg Price $	DOM
Available	78	816,674	172	64	2,398,092	156	39	814,427	461
Under contract	45	805,193	140	58	1,091,601	165	21	751,926	443
Sold 2021 to-date	16	654,931	170	30	1,667,923	122	6	647,333	581
Sold 2020	192	733,876	174	288	951,487	162	23	606,233	393
Sold 2019	127	694,392	152	211	949,790	166	15	372,200	684

 

CAPTIVA	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price $	DOM	#	Avg Price $	DOM	#	Avg Price $	DOM
Available	16	1,776,906	247	28	3,508,035	252	3	5,131,666	458
Under contract	11	770,772	253	10	4,700,599	205	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2021 to-date	4	1,446,250	47	6	2,432,950	334	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2020	47	821,713	134	27	2,923,148	315	4	2,537,500	248
Sold 2019	29	1,037,077	315	17	2,727,503	300	1	1,375,000	0

Homes on gulf: 15 for sale, seven on Captiva, eight on Sanibel. In last six months, ten sold (five on each island), average sale price $4,340,433.

Homes on bay: 10 for sale, five on each island. In last six months, six sold (two on Captiva, four on Sanibel), average sale price $3,328,750.

Homes with docks:        35 for sale, nine on Captiva, 26 on Sanibel. In last six months, 42 sold (seven on Captiva, 35 on Sanibel), average sale price $1,540,898.

Homes near-beach:       34 sale, 14 on Captiva, 20 on Sanibel. In last six months, 80 sold (eight on Captiva, 72 on Sanibel), average sale price $913,146.

Residential condos:       17 for sale, eight on Captiva, nine on Sanibel. In last six months, 26 sold (two on Captiva, 24 on Sanibel), average sale price $1,286,874.

Sanibel – COVID-19

The City declared State of Emergency, issued in response to COVID-19, has been extended by Mayor Mick Denham until February 9, 2021, unless further extended. Per State Statute, the maximum duration for a Mayoral Declaration of Emergency is seven (7) days and thus must be updated weekly as long as the emergency conditions are present.

Additionally, the City of Sanibel face covering mandate is reaffirmed to be consistent with the Governor’s Order 20-244 and shall remain in force and effect through the duration of the 7-day state of local emergency. Social distancing encouraged and group gatherings are to be avoided.

From Florida Department of Health, Sanibel’s total accumulative number of COVID-19 cases since March 26 through February 2 is 210 cases. This is the number of cases for zip code residents. It does not include Captiva and the many workers and visitors that come and go. MORE THAN HALF OF THESE CASES WERE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. January was the highest with 69 cases. December had 50. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY VIGILANT.

Flood Insurance – When to Assume

Good article in today’s “Island Sun” by Angela Larson Roehl, with Rosier Insurance on Sanibel (info@rosierinsurance.com):

“The National Flood Insurance Program currently allows its flood policies to be assumed by new property owners if the current owner grants permission. The reason for a buyer to assume a seller’s flood insurance policy is to retain the current rated flood zone and void being rated from a higher rated flood zone. However, a buyer may choose to assume a flood policy in order to avoid the mandatory 30-day wait for flood insurance if there is not a lender requirement.

“The other reason a buyer may want to assume a flood policy is to avoid having a new flood elevation certificate done on the property should a flood elevation certificate not be available for a new flood policy to be rated.

“If a seller allows their flood insurance to be assumed, then they understand that any unearned premium they would have received via a refund will be paid to them by the buyer. Usually, the title company handling the closing will arrange the collection from the buyer.

“The flood policy being assumed keeps the original effective and expiration date.”

“Ding” Darling Starts Free Seasonal Tours

This week’s ““Ding” on the Wing” by the “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Society says “The Refuge has received the greenlight on offering socially distanced tours of 10 people or less. There’s no set schedule, so monitor the Eventbrite page to see what staff and volunteers are currently offering and to sign up for tours such as Birding the Refuge car caravan tour, Bailey Tract Tour, Bike Tour, and Beach Walk. Please bring your own binoculars and scopes. The next tour is a Beach Walk at Perry Tract/Gulfside City Park on Sunday, February 7, starting at 9 a.m.

Come on Down! Florida Attracts Retirees & Many More

This article was posted on-line Wed on FloridaRealtors®: By Erica Plemmons, economist & Director of Housing Statistics

“ORLANDO, Fla. – Americans from the Northeast and Midwest continued to go south and west in 2020, excluding an exodus from California where residents moved to less expensive neighboring states. Typically, Florida advertises its warmer climate, lack of state income tax and job opportunities. But other Southern states have some, if not all, of those qualities too.

“So, what draws movers to the Sunshine State? The United Van Lines 2020 Movers Study allows us to analyze who relocated to Florida, their reason for moving, and how Florida’s appeal compares to its peers. From an income standpoint, the study finds over two-thirds of movers to Florida answered that they earn over $100,000 per year, with 41.5% earning more than $150,000. Southern states (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas) show a similar trend.

“Likewise, outbound movers tend to indicate higher incomes. This finding likely comes from selection bias. Think about it: Not all relocators can afford to use moving services, or maybe they prefer to do-it-themselves. With that in mind, we can’t reliably infer flocks of wealth are entering or leaving states based on the income breakouts provided in the study.

“Of movers to Florida, 39% indicate retirement as their reason for moving. The state is the second highest for retirement (as a percentage) following Delaware, and South Carolina attracts a similar percentage of retirees to its state. But the other southern states diverge, with the main appeal of Texas, Tennessee and Georgia being job opportunities. North Carolina and Alabama fall somewhere in between; more people indicate relocating for a job, but a share is also moving for retirement.

“In the United Van Lines moving analysis, most movement between states is tied to jobs. But since retirees account for many of the moves, just 23% of new Floridians cite “a job” as their reason for coming to the Sunshine State, though that doesn’t mean Florida lacks employment opportunities. Texas surpassed Florida in both percentage and volume of inbound shipments from jobs in 2020. The rest of its southern peers have a larger percent of movement from jobs, yet only North Carolina and Georgia have a similar volume, with Tennessee trailing slightly.

“Florida also attracts people for lifestyle (21%) and family (17%). The age range of movers reflects what we would expect based on the reasons for changing location. Nearly 70% of those relocating to Florida are older than 55; 37% are 65 or older.

“The highest proportion of retirees moving out is from the northeastern states, like New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine and New York, as well as some Midwest areas.

“Allied Van Lines gives a peek at its migration trends between cities. These relocation trends aren’t limited to retirees. Coming into Florida, there’s movement from New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta….”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity January 29-February 5, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sundial #J102 1/1 $499K, Loggerhead Cay #223 2/2 $594.5K, Lighthouse Point #221 2/2 $719K, Loggerhead Cay #523 2/2 $945K.

5 price changes: Sandalfoot #3C1 2/2 now $639.9K; Sunset South #10C 2/2 now $710K; Island Beach Club #210A 2/2 now $739K; Sanibel Arms West #D2 2/2 now $924,999; Pointe Santo #C3 3/2 now $1,099,999.

12 new sales: Spanish Cay #F2 1/1 listed at $325K, Casa Blanca #8 2/1 listed at $349K, Sundial #G406 1/1 listed at $519K, Mariner Pointe #732 2/2 listed at $559K, Sandpebble #2B 2/2 listed at $575K, Heron at The Sanctuary #2B 3/3.5 listed at $749.9K, Sandpiper Beach #303 2/2 listed at $825K, Kings Crown #104 2/2 listed at $999K (our listing), Sundial #P402 2/2 listed at $1.189M, Island Beach Club #230D 2/2 listed at $1.335M, Island Beach Club #220D 2/2 listed at $1.34M, Kings Crown #302 2/2 listed at $1.499M.

1 closed sale: Sanibel Surfside #124 2/2 $970K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 1657 Sabal Sands Rd 3/2 $805K, 3570 Bunny Ln 3/3 $869K, 1312 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $979K, 542 N. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $1.229M, 9445 Beverly Ln 4/3 $1.495M.

6 price changes: 9254 Kincaid Ct 2/2 now $491.5K, 2441 Shop Rd 4/3.5 now $954K, 3910 Coquina Dr 6/4 now $1.75M, 775 Conch Ct 4/3 now $1.895M, 1680 Hibiscus Dr 3/3.5 now $1.975M, 6111 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 5/4/3 now $18.395M.

11 new sales: 9254 Kincaid Ct 2/2 listed at $491.5K, 3040 West Gulf Dr 3/2 listed at $679K, 223 Southwinds Dr 3/2 listed at $719K, 1430 Sanderling Cir 4/3.5 listed at $799K, 4202 Old Banyan Way 3/2 listed at $899.5K, 2313 Wulfert Rd 4/3 listed at $1.099M, 709 Pyrula Ave 3/3 listed at $1.125M, 3019 Poinciana Cir 5/3.5 listed at $1.195M, 1133 Buttonwood Ln 3/2.5 listed at $1.395M, 2479 Harbour Ln 4/3 listed at $1.795M, 4166 Dingman Dr 4/4 listed at $2.2M.

7 closed sales: 660 Oliva St 3/3 $805K; 5835 Pine Tree Dr 3/2 $834.5K; 1743 Venus Dr 4/3.5 $1.556M; 5771 Baltusrol Ct 3/4 $1,700,197; 5391 Shearwater Dr 3/3.5 $1.725M; 677 Anchor Dr 5/5.5 $1.895M; 1069 Bird Ln 4/3.5 $4.25M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 2310 Wulfert Rd $299K.

No price changes.

5 new sales: 2515 Wulfert Rd listed at $239.5K, 1313 Par View Dr listed at $324.9K, 2933 Wulfert Rd listed at $349K, 1292 Par View Dr listed at $349.9K, 1837 Buckthorn Ln listed at $499K.

2 closed sales: 2307 Wulfert Rd $160K, 2319 Wulfert Rd $160K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

3 new sales: Bayside Villas #4116 1/2 listed at $380K, Bayside Villas #4124 1/2 listed at $410K, Lands End #1637 2/2 listed at $1.495M.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas #3125 1/1 $345K, Beach Homes #2 3/2 $1.7M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11541 Laika Ln 4/4 $2.15M.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: 11431 Dickey Ln 3/2 $1.111M, 1119 Schefflera Ct 4/3.5 $5.8M.

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.

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”. First another photo taken today of a peek at the marina at South Seas Resort. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan