It is another SanibelSusan report, with the days of “high season” flying by at what seems like record speed. Compared to last week, it was another one of terrific bright sunny weather, more traffic, busy bike paths, and lots of real estate activity. Next week is expected to be even busier with local schools out for spring break.
I got a call last night from an island owner begging for help in finding transportation next week. She said there is not a rental car to be had in all of Florida, no island golf carts or bikes available for rent, and airport shuttles full. Thought her only option was to change her flight to Atlanta, where there are vehicles available, and drive to Sanibel. Yikes, that is a long drive!
At SanibelSusan Realty
Here at the office, we got access Saturday to our new listing at Mariner Pointe which had teammate Lisa scurrying to get keys made so that the Realtors® with prospective buyers could get in over the weekend. That unit had a flurry of showings, multiple offers, and was under contract by noon Tuesday.
During the week as Dave, Elise, and I got action items accomplished with both listings and sales, Elise also got another 2,500-piece postcard mailing done. We hope those get our remaining listings sold and drum up some new ones.
Listings that are seasonal rentals, with heavy bookings, continue to get showing requests that cannot always be accommodated because of occupancy or Covid precautions. Midday Saturdays continues to be the best, sometimes only, time those have showing opportunities. Our report of the action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a few news items.
First is a message that I borrowed from a Facebook posting Wednesday by Realtor® Mike McGraw who copied it from someone else. Mike is from the Orlando area and 2021 Vice President of Florida Realtors®. Though the message is a little blunt, it is interesting to read that real estate is “hot” in many areas. I have found the same to be true talking to clients and colleagues throughout the U.S. Except in major cities, the market is on fire in more rural and vacation-type areas. In Florida, the market is “hot” everywhere.
Here’s the borrowed post: “If you are a buyer in this market and you aren’t willing to pay over asking price & eliminate contingencies, please do yourself and your Realtor a favor and sit on the sideline for now. There is a market for you, it’s just not this one. It’s one with higher interest rates — which helps curb the amount of buyer competition we have right now. It’s like the Olympics of the housing industry. If you aren’t willing to go for gold, there’s no reason to compete. I showed a million-dollar home in Frisco last week. There were 130 showings in the first day. IN ONE DAY! 130 buyers vying for the same home & only one buyer can win!”
To put Sanibel and Captiva into this perspective. below is an update of inventory today, compared to sales last year. I know you are probably sick of seeing these statistics, but they really are mind blowing. Teammate Dave is out showing this afternoon, we both will be out showing tomorrow, and our listings have showings scheduled. Wish us luck!
| SANIBEL
CAPTIVA |
Condos | Homes | Lots | |||
| # | Avg Price | # | Avg Price | # | Avg Price | |
| For sale | 58
10 |
826,294
1,841,750 |
47
16 |
2,474,021
4,008,374 |
33
3 |
914,546
5,131,666 |
| Under contract | 58
14 |
886,578
1,177,285 |
80
15 |
1,392,648
2,898,933 |
21
0 |
588,931
N/A |
| Closed year-to-date | 55
13 |
773,643
875,538 |
69
11 |
1,337,138
3,434,263 |
19
0 |
647,473
N/A |
| Sold in 2020 | 192
47 |
733,876
821,713 |
288
27 |
951,487
2,923,148 |
23
4 |
606,233
2,537,500 |
Note: In the groupings above, the 1st line in each group provides Sanibel statistics, the 2nd line Captiva. This representation is based on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service 3/12/2021.
Sanibel – COVID-19
The City declared State of Emergency, issued in response to COVID-19, has been extended by Mayor Mick Denham until March 16, 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 so long as the emergency conditions are present.
Additionally, the City of Sanibel face covering mandate remains in effect through the duration of this time. Social distancing is 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 March 10 is 234 cases. That is five cases in seven days. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY VIGILANT.
Fannie, Freddie Tighten Rules for Condos in Vacation Locales
Dan Krispinsky with Lake Michigan Credit Union, who for years has been a local go-to lender for condotels, recently sent me the below “Wall Street Journal” article (January 9, 2021) which likely will affect those buyers needing financing. (FYI, a condotel is a condominium where units are individually owned but where there may be an on-site rental office where units are rented like a hotel. Several island non-residential complexes that allow short-term vacation rentals fall into that category.)
“Getting a mortgage for a resort-area condo might become more difficult after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac moved to tighten rules on buildings with many short-term rentals and hotel-like amenities, some Realtors® and bankers say.
“Fannie Mae last month changed its rules to make it clearer that it won’t back certain loans in high-rent vacation areas, with Freddie Mac taking similar steps that go into effect next month….
“The updated rules, which went into effect Dec 7 for Fannie, are starting to generate pushback from Realtors® and bankers who say entire buildings could be ineligible for financing even if only some
units are rented out on short-term basis.
“They also fault the process Fannie uses to determine the eligibility of a building, saying it is opaque and can’t be disputed by a building’s owners or its home-owners association.
“”We’re concerned that access to credit could be limited for whole projects or condo buildings, which could affect not just second-home buyers but some primary homebuyers across the country,” said Ken Fears, a senior policy adviser at the National Association of Realtors®.
“Fannie says its revamped rules are meant to clarify longstanding policies, which revolve around the eligibility of the entire condo project, not particular units. The focus is also more on “condotel” buildings organized centrally through management, rental, and realty companies than on individuals who offer their units on Airbnb or other hosting services….
“When a project as a whole functions more like a vacation rental resort, the building is ineligible for Fannie financing, and mortgages secured by units in that project are also ineligible, the company says.
“Fannie Mae’s charter is for residential lending,” the company spokesman said. “We provided clarity to lenders regarding what are acceptable residential condominium projects and what meets Fannie Mae Residential lending standards and practices.”
“Bankers say the tighter requirements are beginning to limit the number of lenders for second-home condos, driving up interest rates on new loans and limiting the availability of 30-year mortgages on such units. Bankers fear Fannie and Freddie may no longer buy loans on certain condos or force lenders to buy back mortgages on ineligible buildings.
“”Until there is more clarity from agencies, all mortgage bankers are shutting off the valve on condo loans right now,” said Rob Henger, director of mortgage banking at FirstBank Mortgage, a Nashville, Tenn-based bank.
“Fannie and Freddie don’t make loans. Instead, they buy mortgages and package them into securities that are sold to investors. The companies’ promise to make investors whole in case of default keeps down that price of home loans and underpins the popular 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
“Together, the companies backstop about half of the $11 trillion U.S. mortgage market. Condos make up between 7% and 10% of their business, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the firms’ federal regulator. It was unclear how many condos are located in beach towns and other resort areas affected by the tightened rules….”
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 5-12, 2021
Sanibel
CONDOS
4 new listings: Mariner Pointe #122 1/1 $485K, Blind Pass #G104 3/2 $699K, Compass Point #102 2/2 $1.375M, Somerset #D102 3/2.5 $1.849M.
1 price change: Pointe Santo #E26 2/2 now $1.269M.
8 new sales: Sanibel Moorings #1512 2/2 listed at $525K; Sanibel Arms West #J3 2/2 listed at $569K; Kimball Lodge #302 1/1 listed at $574K; Sanibel Moorings #842 2/2 listed at $619K; Mariner Pointe #112 2/2 listed at $699K (our listing, see slideshow below); Sanibel Surfside #234 2/2 listed at $819K; Tarpon Beach #206 2/2 listed at $998,899; Wedgewood #202 listed at $2.595M.
8 closed sales: Mariner Pointe #1043 2/2 $472.5K, Sundial #J102 1/1 $499K, Sanibel Arms West #A3 2/2 $520K, Pointe Santo #B5 2/2 $670K, Kings Crown #110 2/2 $765K, Pointe Santo #D35 2/2 $775K, Surfside 12 #A4 3/2 $830K, Pointe Santo #A31 2/2 $917K.
HOMES
5 new listings: 2015 Wild Lime Dr 3/3 $570K, 1717 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/2 $599K, 3781 Coquina Dr 3/2 $789K, 2480 Library Way 3/2.5 $829K, 2311 Starfish Ln 4/4 $1.995M.
5 price changes: 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $669K, 2464 Blind Pass Ct 3/2 now $1.2M, 837 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 now $1.895M, 848 Birdie View Pt 4/3.5 now $2.095M, 950 Victoria way 4/4 now $2.25M.
4 new sales: 1612 Serenity Ln 3/2 listed at $674.5K; 1965 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $739,55; 1560 Royal Poinciana Dr 3/2 listed at $899K; 4701 Rue Belle Mer 4/5 listed at $3.395M.
6 closed sales: 984 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 half-duplex $505K; 6041 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/1 $750K; 9277 Belding Dr 3/3 $830K; 3019 Poinciana Cir 5/3.5 $1,180,718; 519 Kinzie Island Ct 4/3.5 $1.95M; 488 Lighthouse Way 4/4 $3.445M.
LOTS
4 new listings: 2348 Wulfert Rd $329K, 5687 Baltusrol Ct $399K, 809 Pyrula Ave $424.9K, 1321 Seaspray Ln $899K.
No price changes.
2 new sales: 247 & 255 Robinwood Cir listed at $279K, 6008 White Heron Ln listed at $819K.
3 closed sales: 2372 Wulfert Rd $130K, 2933 Wulfert Rd $335K, 1825 Long Point Ln $362.5K.
Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings or price changes.
2 new sales: Gulf Beach Villas #2127 2/2 listed at $900K, Captiva Shores #1B 3/2.5 listed at $1.799M.
No closed sales.
HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
2 new sales: 15146 Wiles Dr 2/2 listed at $2.389M, 1105 Tallow Tree Ct 3/3 listed at $2.45M.
2 closed sales: 16163 Captiva Dr 3/2 $2,004,202; 16189 Captiva Dr 6/4 $3.3M.
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”.
Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
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