I hope you had a safe happy July 4^th holiday. Sanibel festivities were terrific with the morning weather perfect – bright sunny, with slight breeze, when the parade passed by the office.

I was joined by regulars who like our shady location – which also is just before the judges’ reviewing area. I took plenty of photos which are posted on Facebook (if you are a social media follower).

If you also follow island restaurants, you may be interested in hearing that The Sandbar (Steak & Seafood) recently changed hands. New owner also is the new owner of The Green Flash on Captiva. I had dinner at The Sandbar this week and it was wonderful, busy as always with locals and visitors, so before you go, be sure and make a reservation.

A little more restaurant scoop is that I heard today that Café Italia (currently in the Publix shopping center across the street from the outlet malls) is moving to Sanibel in September. They will be in the location of former restaurants (Bamboo, Il Tesoro, & Twilight Café) at 751 Tarpon Bay Rd, Unit #2, behind the Art Gallery.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate News

I was busy meeting a contractor early yesterday so missed the Realtor® bi-weekly Caravan Meeting. Just one property was on tour for viewing after the meeting. The activity posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows some news below.

Now that the year is half over, and inventory is changing slightly, I thought it would be interesting to compare island sales status today to year-to-date sales during the same time last year and 2020. Usually, the most contracts occur and sales close during that “high season”. Though changes in interest rates do not have a huge bearing on island sales, the shift toward a more balanced market has begun (or so it looks to SanibelSusan). There was little new sales activity, this past week. Data below is from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands MLS today.

Status	SANIBEL
	Condos			Homes			Lots			Total
	#	Avg $	DOM	#	Avg $	DOM	#	Avg $	DOM	#	$ change over previous year
For sale	24	1,328,787	64	38	1,956,447	32	10	1,523,160	281	72
Under contract	17	1,055,752	33	16	1,513,625	20	1	145,000	6	34
Sold 1/1-7/8/2022	93	1,147,421	39	125	1,699,504	60	21	621,083	241	239	+31%
Sold 1/1-7/8/2021	187	862,247	144	237	1,299,038	100	53	706,783	462	477	+20%
Sold 1/1-7/8/2020	80	726,294	155	116	993,923	157	4	849,666	423	200

 

Status	CAPTIVA
	Condos			Homes			Lots			Total
	#	Avg $	DOM	#	Avg $	DOM	#	Avg $	DOM	#	% $ change over previous year
For sale	9	1,593,055	71	9	6,075,307	90	1	15,500,000	104	19
Under contract	0	N/A	N/A	2	5,622,500	45	0	N/A	N/A	2
Sold 1/1-7/8/2022	27	1,468,575	51	19	5,723,973	134	0	N/A	N/A	46	+73%
Sold 1/1-7/8/2021	39	1,006,830	184	34	2,846,629	278	1	2,000,000	129	74	-4%
Sold 1/1-7/8/2020	15	882,666	104	13	3,188,230	332	2	1,925,000	462	30

Is It OK to Self-Insure Our House?

Posted on-line at FloridaRealtors® in late June, this Question/Answer was reposted from the South Florida Sun Sentinel, by Gary M. Singer:

‘As property insurance grows more expensive, homeowners study other options. If an owner has paid off the mortgage, is self-insurance an option?

“FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Question: We own our home outright, without a mortgage. Because of the insurance crisis, what is the feasibility of self-insuring our house rather than renewing our policy at an ever-higher cost? –Thomas

“Answer: Under certain circumstances, it is feasible to go without homeowner’s casualty insurance. Even still, it is rarely, if ever, a good idea or a sound financial policy.

“Banks and other mortgage lenders are good at making money and protecting their investments.

“I often look at what mortgage lenders require of their customers to gauge the risk of a proposed action. For example, when asked whether a homeowner needs title insurance when purchasing a home, I respond that although they are not required by law to have this valuable coverage, every lender I have dealt with requires title insurance when lending money.

“If a bank thinks it is necessary to protect their investment in your asset, you should afford yourself the same protection. Lenders also require their borrowers to have a casualty insurance policy for many of the same reasons.

“Most people think of insurance as covering the small events – a fender bender, prescription drugs or a leaking water heater. While this is important, minor claims rarely exceed the cost of the policy, especially when considering the deductible.

“When insurance shines is when the rare severe event happens. Not having health insurance and developing a serious health condition bankrupts many people. A dented fender is easy enough to live with, but replacing a totaled car can cost decades of car insurance premiums.

“Similarly, if your house suffers a significant casualty – for example, a lost roof and flooding from severe weather, a fire, or even a guest hurting themselves on your lawn – the costs to the homeowner can be more than a lifetime of insurance premiums.

“While no one enjoys paying their insurance bills, especially when they seem to increase every year, it still makes sense to grit your teeth and write a check.”

Upcoming BIG ARTS Community Chorus Concerts

If you are a follower of the BIG ARTS Community Chorus, you may be interested in marking your calendar for their upcoming concert events. As a chorus alto since the beginning in 1992, the pandemic caused SanibelSusan to miss a couple of seasons. Here’s hoping that things are back to more normal this fall. If you are interested in singing with us, please let me know and I will get you on our message alerts.

The chorus Holiday Concert will be Wednesday December 7 at 7 p.m. in BIG ARTS Christensen Auditorium.

The spring concert also at 7 p.m. in BIG ARTS Christensen Auditorium is scheduled for Wednesday March 29, 2023.

Also in spring 2023, a new special concert is scheduled. This one, at the same BIG ARTS location, will be Tuesday April 4 at 6:30 p.m. and a combined effort with the singers of the Sanibel School Seahorse Chorale, under the direction of Joey Giangreco..

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 1‑8, 2022

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sundial #C310 1/1 $875K, Wedgewood #104 3/3.5 $3.695M.

No price changes.

3 new sales: Seashells #9 2/2 listed at $650K, Sandalfoot #2A2 2/2 listed at $850K, Sundial #N301 3/2 listed at $1.328M.

1 closed sale: Colonnades #10 1/1 $455K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 531 Birdsong Pl 3/2 $799K, 1289 Par View Dr 3/2 $1.1M, 1018 S Yachtsman Dr 3/3 $1.295M, 917 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 $1.692M, 9020 Mockingbird 3/2 $1.795M, 5855 San-Cap Rd 3/2 $2.275M.

3 price changes: 446 Lake Murex Cir 2/2 now $899K, 1382 Tahiti Dr 3/2 now $995K, 437 Lake Murex Cir 5/3 now $1.95M.

1 new sale: 1031 Bird Watch Way 3/2 listed at $950K.

3 closed sales: 1236 Sandcastle Rd 2/2 $932,111, 1710 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2 $2.195M, 2915 Wulfert Rd 5/5.5 $3.495M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3113 1/1 now $535K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 1114 Schefflera 4/3.5 $3.6M.

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.

Until next Friday,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan