Anyone on Sanibel and Captiva Islands on Monday night got a good example of why SW Florida is the lightening capital of the world. There were so many strikes from about 11 p.m. until just after 2 a.m., that it would be surprising if anyone could sleep through it. Thousands were recorded.

Both Tuesday/Wednesday nights and late day yesterday (and again now) were/are more storms, though not as severe. This time of the year, they often begin inland or on the other coast, slowly traveling west out into the gulf. Their storm clouds create some terrific sunsets, and the rain has been contributing to many rainbows and keeping vegetation green.

Thankfully, though Florida temperatures in August may reach into the 90’s, there haven’t been a lot of those, or at least not yet. It was a breezy 76 degrees F when I left the house early yesterday heading to our Association of Realtors® Thursday caravan meeting. It warmed up to 89 as the day progressed but cooled right back to 80 following the afternoon shower. Forecasters say we could get some 90-degree days over the weekend and early next week with more sporadic showers expected.

Attendance was light and only one property was open for viewing at the Caravan Meeting yesterday. No new sales were announced and just one price reduction, plus one listing coming back on the market.

Back-on-market listings have been more frequent this year. It happens most when a property sells using the “as is” contract and the buyer comes to view it and/or inspects during the cancellation period. An “as is” sale may be canceled for any reason – or no reason – provided it is within the agreed time period.

Yesterday, I spoke to several Realtors® at the Caravan Meeting. Those working with buyers, say their customers are expecting better “deals” now that the real estate market is shifting. Many, they say, are waiting to see what happens with prices in the weeks/months to come. However, we Realtors® agreed that they shouldn’t always believe what they hear on the news and read on the internet. Talking to a professional local to the area being considered is an important step for any prospective buyer.

The details of the action since last Friday – both with our listings and posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service – follows a couple of news items below. First a summary of the island inventory and sales year-to-date (from San-Cap MLS August 5, 2022), including sales during the same time period last year.

If you are wondering what Sanibel properties are available for sale today in the San-Cap MLS, below is a list of the 65 properties available (by property type, then in ascending price order). It illustrates the huge spread between lowest and highest priced in each property type. Inventory is increasing, albeit slowly.

Captains Walk #A6 – 2^nd floor 1 bedrm with washer/dryer – $449K

Colonnades #8 – 1^st floor 1 bedrm in on-site daily rental program – $489K

Blind Pass #D102 – ground floor 2 bedrm in on-site weekly rental program – $685K

Lake Palms #3 – 2 bedrm  townhome condo – $699K

Blind Pass #D201 -2^nd floor 2 bedrm in on-site weekly rental program – $699,007

Sundial #D203 – 2^nd floor 1 bedrm in off-site weekly rental program – $850K

Sundial #I-103 – 1^st floor 1 bedrm in on-site daily rental program – $850K

Loggerhead Cay #323 – 3^rd floor 2 bedrm in weekly rental program – $860K

Sundial #C310 – 3^rd floor 1 bedrm in on-site daily rental program – $875K

Sanibel Arms West #K8 – 2^nd floor 2 bedrm in on-site rental program – $889K

Loggerhead Cay #331 – ground floor 2 bedrm on weekly rental program – $899K

Loggerhead Cay #271 -ground floor 2 bedrm in weekly rental program – $900K

Sundial #D305 – 3^rd floor 1 bedrm with washer/dryer & owner rentals – $950K

2661 Wulfert Rd, Sanctuary Golf Villages #2 – ground floor 3 bedrm – $1.198M

2633 Wulfert Rd, Sanctuary Golf Villages #5 – 3^rd floor 2 bedrm – $1.299M

Pointe Santo #E21 – 2^nd floor 2 bedrm with weekly rentals – $1.325M

Sundial #F403 – 4^th floor 2 bedrm in on-site daily rental program – $1.325M

Pointe Santo #D41 – 4^th floor 2 bedrm with roof-top deck & weekly rentals – $1.399M

Pointe Santo #B44 – 4^th floor 2 bedrm with roof-top deck & weekly rentals – $1.4M

Pointe Santo #A25 – 2^nd floor gulf-front 2 bedrm with weekly rentals – $1.4M

Sanibel Surfside #116 – 1^st floor gulf-front 2 bedrm with weekly rentals & cabana – $1.495M

Sanibel Surfside #122 – 2^nd floor gulf-front 2 bedrm with weekly rentals – $1,54M

Sanddollar #A302 – gulf-front 3 bedrm in weekly rental program – $1,85M

Seascape #302 – 1^st floor 3 bedrm – $2.495M

Somerset #D101 – 1^st floor 3 bedrm – $2.499M

Wedgewood #104 – 2^nd floor gulf-front 3 bedrm – $3.495M

1835 Farm Tr, Island Woods – 3 bedrm 2 ba inland – $899K

1046 Sand Castle Rd, The Dunes – 2 bedrm 2 ba – $942K

1447 Albatross Rd, The Dunes – 3 bedrm 2 ba with pool – $980K

1382 Tahiti Dr, Tradewinds – 3 bedrm 2 ba near-beach – $995K

671 Durion Ct, East Rocks – 3 bedrm 2 ba near-beach with pool – $1.095M

9476 Balsa Ct, Gumbo Limbo – 3 bedrm 2 ba inland with pool – $1.135M

542 Boulder Dr, East Rocks – 2 bedrm 2 ba near-beach with pool – $1.150M

749 Cardium St, Sanibel Shores – 3 bedrm 2 ba near-beach with pool & owner rentals – $1.179M

1283 Par View Dr, Beachview Country Club Estates – 2 bedrm 2 ba with pool & rentals – $1.199M

1018 S Yachtsman Dr, Sanibel Estates – 3 bedrm 3 ba canal-side with pool – $1.295M

9448 Begonia Ct, Gumbo Limbo – 3 bedrm 2.5 bath lakeside inland – $1.35M

4677 Rue Bayou, Chateaux Sur Mer – 3 bedrm 3 ba near-beach with pool – $1,495M

1224 Kittiwake Cir, The Dunes – 3 bedrm 2 ba lakeside with pool – $1.625M

917 Lindgren Blvd, Shell Harbor – 3 bedrm 2 bath canal-side with pool – $1.692M

1270 Par View Dr, Beachview Country Club Estates – 3 bedrm 2 ba with pool – $1.699M

9020 Mockingbird Dr, The Dunes – 3 bedrm 2 bath lakeside with pool – $1,795M

6136 Henderson Rd, Betts – 3 bedrm 2 ba with on direct access canal – $1.795M

931 S Yachtsman Dr, Sanibel Estates – 4 bedrm 3.5 ba canal-side with pool & rentals – $1.895M

9027 Mockingbird Dr, The Dunes – 4 bedrm 3 ba lakeside with pool – $1.895M

1433 Sanderling Cir, The Dunes – 4 bedrm 3 ba lakeside with pool – $1.975M

2474 Wulfert Rd, The Sanctuary – 4 bedrm 4.5 ba with pool – $1.995M

896 Angel Wing Dr, Shell Harbor – 3 bedrm 2.5 ba canal-side with pool – $1.995M

2729 Wulfert Rd, The Sanctuary – 4-bedrm 4.5 ba with pool – $1.998M.

5855 Sanibel-Captiva Rd, Metes & Bounds – 3 bedrm 2 ba with pool on bayou – $2.275M

424 East Gulf Dr, Sanibel Estates – near-beach duplex with pool, 2 bedrm 1 ba each side – $2.599M

4353 Gulf Pines Dr, Gulf Pines – 3 bedrm 2.5 ba near beach – $2.85M

1543 San Carlos Bay Dr, Sanibel Isles – 4 bedrm 4 ba with pool on deep-water canal – $2.995M

1690 Sabal Palm Dr, Water Shadows – 5 bedrm 3 ba with pool on deep-water canal – $3.177M

543 East Gulf Dr, Sanibel Estates – beach-front 2 bedrm 2 ba “Summer of 42” – $3.5M

1520 Angel Dr, Sanibel Isles – 4 bedrm 4.5 ba with pool on deep-water canal – $3.655M

2969 Wulfert Rd, The Sanctuary – 6-bedrm 6.5.5 ba with pool – $3.695M

1318 Seaspray Ln, Seaspray – 5-bedrm 3.5 ba gulf-front – $4.295M

1558 & 1545 San Carlos Bay Dr, Sanibel Isles – bayfront 3 bedrm 3.5 ba with pool & dock lot – $4.35M

1191 Bird Ln, Richardsons – bayfront 5 bedrm 4.5 ba with pool & 2 boat lifts – $11.25M.

2462 Wulfert Rd, The Sanctuary – golf course – $348K

1994 Wild Lime Dr, Sanibel Bayous – near-beach – $350K

1084 S Yachtsman Dr, Sanibel Estates – canal – $699K

3005 Turtle Gait Ln, Cardinal Ridge – acre plus near-beach – $995K

West Gulf Dr parcel 1, Metes & Bounds – gulf-front – $5.995M

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.

Posted Tuesday morning on FB by an island volunteer: “Things were slow on the beach this morning after some heavy storms last night. I checked the condition of 18 nests in the zone I cover. While loggerhead sea turtle nesting is starting to wind down, hatching season is ramping up. 773 nests have hatched on Sanibel and Captiva beaches so far, with many of those reported hatches occurring last week. Thanks to the hard work from our volunteers and staff, 15,548 hatchlings have already emerged this season. Currently, there are 483 nests incubating on the islands, and more are expected to trickle in throughout August. (All sea turtle monitoring and research activities are conducted by trained individuals operating under Marine Turtle Permit #047)”

The CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) Connection received this week advises that for the month of August there will be just ONE daily presentation at 11 a.m. (Mondays-Fridays) with ONE wildlife walk guided hospital tour each day after that presentation. Also, the Visitor Education Center will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Back in June, Island Vacations of Sanibel & Captiva sold to Gulf Coast Vacation Rentals which is a division of Gulf Coast Property Management, which has expanded beyond the Florida panhandle. Island Vacations will continue to operate under the same name.

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sundial #D203 1/1 $850K, Sundial #I103 1/1 $850K, Loggerhead Cay #331 2/2 $899K.

2 price changes: Somerset #D101 3/2.5 now $2.499M, Wedgewood #104 now $3.495M.

2 new sales: Seawind #105 2/2.5 listed at $899K, Pointe Santo #D44 2/2 listed at $1.399M.

4 closed sales: Spanish Cay #A4 2/2 $638.5K, Sandalfoot #2A2 $860K, Gulfside Place #210 2/2 $1.33M, Atrium #301 $1.959M.

HOMES

1 new listing:  9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 $1.35M.

No price changes.

4 new sales: 531 Birdsong 3/2 listed at $799K, 446 Lake Murex 2/2 listed at $820K, 1289 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $999K, 488 Lighthouse Way 4/4 listed at $5.195M.

2 closed sales: 3947 Coquina Dr 2/2 $1.125M, 2658 Coconut Dr 3/2 $2.489M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

CONDOS

No new listings, price reductions, or closed sales.

1 new sale: Marina Villas #902 2/2 listed at $1.375M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16512 Captiva Dr 7/5.5 $11.995M.

No price reductions or new sales.

1 closed sale: 11524 Andy Rosse Ln 5/5.5 $3.995M.

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.