Even with the Monday holiday, it has been a quiet September week on sunny Sanibel. The causeway was packed over the long weekend, but Sanibel beaches were not overly busy.

Though the great summer-like weather continues with little traffic, there are a few visitor rumblings about the many temporary restaurant closings. That list has been updated and provided below.

Meanwhile, like me, some of my local pals are not out socializing much, but instead limiting their travels to home, work, necessary shopping, and doctoring. We are anxious for COVID-19 numbers to get under control. It is sad that this week, Lee Health had their highest number of pandemic deaths, as many as 18 a day. The number of unvaccinated cases reported is staggering and hospitalizations now include many children. With the politics about mask wearing and CDC precautions all over the news, it is scary to realize that this pandemic is getting worse – not better. We hope that you and yours remain safe and healthy.

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate

In the world of island real estate, there was no Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting this week, At the late-August membership meeting, where two local rental managers spoke (Fran Peters with Island Vacations and Sharon Michie with Cottages to Castles), it was interesting to hear how 2021 has set records for both rental income and bookings. Even with cancellations and without foreign visitors, the islands have persevered as a much-desired vacation destination. Both companies were booked until late August. Rental prices continue to rise as the pent-up demand for island vacations goes up.

They also reported that accommodations are fully reserved for the upcoming winter season. Like we have seen in sales, many property owners now are using their condos and homes more themselves, further limiting rental availability. Those companies with accommodations have wait lists of vacationers wanting extended winter stays.

It will be interesting to see what happens with reservations over the next few weeks. There likely will be more COVID-related cancellations, but I bet those timeslots quickly will be scooped up by others anxious to come.

Regarding real estate sales, according to the Sanibel/Captiva Multiple Listing Service (MLS) today, there are just 15 Sanibel condos for sale, 5 on Captiva. Looking at homes, there are 26 on Sanibel and 12 on Captiva.

After a few news items below is the action posted in the MLS since last Friday.

Sanibel Causeway Toll Collection

Posted this week on the Lee Government website: Lee County has moved to an all-electronic process for toll collection. To avoid administrative fees that will be reinstated beginning October 1, 2021, they suggest residents sign up for a LeeWay transponder or use a compatible transponder such as SunPass or E-ZPass. Residents can sign-up to receive a transponder to avoid these extra fees being reinstated Motorists with compatible transponders will continue to pay the same prices. Motorists using pay-by-plate will be charged a $3 administrative fee per toll. This fee covers the manual costs of identifying motorists and billing them by mail. Visit leegov.com/tolls for more information.

Sanibel Farmers Market Beginning Soon

Get ready, the Sanibel Farmers Market opens for its 14^th season on Sunday October 3 at City Hall. Open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on every Sunday (including Easter) through May 29, please check their website at http://www.BuyLocalLee.com for info on all their markets in SW FL and their required COVID-19 precautions.

Revised List of Temporary Restaurant Closings

As in past Septembers, several restaurants are taking time off, some for vacations, some for deep-cleans and annual maintenance. Here is an updated list as of this week:

• Bleu Rendez-Vous Bistro – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
• Blue Giraffe at Periwinkle Place – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
• Blue Giraffe 2 at Beachview Estates – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
• Island Pizza – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
• Mad Hatter – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
• Paper Fig Kitchen – closed thru Sep 13, reopens Sep 14.
• Rosie’s Café & Grill – closed thru Sep 13, reopens Sep 14.
• The Sandbar Steak & Seafood – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
• Sweet Melissa’s Café – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
• Traders – closed Sep 11 thru Oct 5, reopens Oct 6.
• Traders 2 (T2) – closed thru Oct 4, reopens Oct 5.
• Traditions on the Beach – closed thru Sep 23, reopens Sep 24.

Scoop from SCCF

Nature lovers, be sure and check the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Wednesday reports for weekly updates. Here are a couple of tidbits from their report this week:

Nesting Turtles Update – SCCF sea turtle monitors last observed a new sea turtle nest on August 22, which turned out to be a rare green sea turtle nest. While this nest comes later than usual, green nests were documented at later dates in August in three previous years. Overall, while Hurricane Ida impacted 106 nests, 171 still are incubating on our beaches.

World Shorebirds Day – On September 7, SCCF staff and 10 volunteers divided into small groups to cover the East End of Sanibel for shorebird counts as part of World Shorebirds Day. A total of 1,532 individuals of 25 species of birds were counted. To see the detailed list of sightings, visit https://ebird.org/checklist/S94363237

SCCF Launches Weekly Water Conditions Update on Fridays – Have you checked out SCCF’s Weekly Water Conditions Update which can be emailed to you each Friday? (sign up at http://sccf.org/our-work/join-our-mailing-list). It provides a comprehensive understanding of the water quality surrounding the islands. A visual, virtual tour of the waters surrounding Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is included with a link to SCCF’s site https://aerialwq.sccf.org/lighthouse/virtualtour/ where beachgoers can see the water’s color and clarity. Also included in the e-newsletter are the status of flows from Lake Okeechobee, red tide and harmful algal blooms in the region, and a real-time look at water quality data throughout the Caloosahatchee estuary through SCCF”s River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) monitoring system at eight sites (http://recon.sccf.org/).

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 3-10, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sandalfoot #5B1 1/1 $769.5K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Beach Road Villas #101 2/2 listed at $495K, Blind Pass #A102 2/2 listed at $630K.

4 closed sales: Sundial #I202 1/1 $532K, Sundial #J301 1/1 $610.5K, Sanibel Arms West #K3 2/2 $680K, Sanibel Moorings #512 2/2 $1.15M (our listing).

HOMES

3 new listings: 1245 Par View Dr 3.2.5 $1.575M, 2030 Sunrise Cir 3/3 $1.625M, 1278 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 $1.65M.

2 price changes: 535 Birdsong Pl 3/2 now $695,555; 727 Periwinkle Way 3/3 now $2.1M.

1 new sale: 720 Elinor Way 3/2 listed at $939.9K.

2 closed sales: 1360 Jamaica Dr 3/3 $1.349M, 812 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 $1.55M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5642/5648 Baltusrol Ct $738K

1 price change: 3308 Saint Kilda Rd now $595K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 255 Hurricane Ln $370K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2638 3/2 $1.349M.

No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

HOMES & 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.

Stay well & be safe,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan