I apologize for this arriving so late tonight. The SanibelSusan Team has been busy including today when I worked with buyers making their first visit to the island. That turned into a long day, visiting essentially every community and covering what I call my geography tour of Sanibel. Of course, that includes info about lifestyle, utilities, amenities, shopping, health, insurance, living costs, etc.

I was worried not having driven buyers around for some time – with that not happening much during the pandemic – coupled with the island being in such a state of devastation. There was no need to worry, these folks knew about hurricanes and were wonderful. They have not yet decided between homes and condos, plus like many couples, they have some different preferences.

My day began with an early delivery to Superior Title with a closing checklist and contract for a new listing that sold quickly. After that began the geography tour which didn’t finish until dark (6:30-ish, now that the days are getting longer). My spiel on island weather including how most days are warm with bright blue sky sure didn’t fit the forecast today as it was overcast most of the day, barely getting in the 60’s. (I had to wear a jacket with my winter flip flops. That’s twice this winter.)

We stopped at Trader’s for lunch, where it was like old home week. Former Sanibel Mayor & Doc Ford’s owner, Marty Harrity, gave me a thumbs up and a pitch to these folks on how wonderful life is here. One of my BIG ARTs singing pals with her husband and family were at a nearby table and offered info on how great the fishing has been this week. Turns out they also cheer for the same football teams. Then at the table behind us was another Realtor pal who worked on the island for decades before moving north to be closer to grandchildren. It sure was a plus for these prospects to experience how warm and welcoming islanders are. Our small-town appeals to them!

At SanibelSusan Realty

Still no action on our office rebuild, but at my home, son Dave reported that drywall went up today. You can bet that I will be there checking it tomorrow. Hopefully progress will be quicker from here forward, as I moved into what I hope is my last Fort Myers rental this week. Please let it be the last stop before I am back living on island.

Dave spent time yesterday and today with appraisers and inspectors, while I put a condo under contract (in record time) on Tuesday, then on Wednesday posted the home in MLS, that sold Thursday. Those details are after a couple of news items below, plus the action since last Friday in the islands Multiple Listing Service.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Our 2023 local association Installation and Awards Event yesterday included a luncheon at Cielo. It was great to see so many smiling Realtors® again, including leaders from other Associations in our district, including Bonita and Naples. SanibelSusan earned Honor Society status for the 30^th year and though I don’t want to admit to being old, I was the most senior Past President (1999) in the line-up when we performed the “passing of the gavel” ceremony to the 2023 President.

Congratulations to Amanda Curran, owner at Superior Title of Sanibel. (Her company holds our escrow deposits and handles most of our closings.) They are excited to be back on the island in their office in Tree Tops Shopping Center. She received the Association 2022 Affiliate of the Year award.

Sanibel Update

There was no City post-Ian update meeting this week, but Mayor Smith is great about posting news on Facebook. Thanks to her hard work regarding Sanibel mail, two mobile units were transported to the Post Office parking lot midweek. It will take some time for them to become operational, but that delivery in itself is progress in the right direction.

Food

This week it was announced that Island Pizza is teaming up with Sweet Melissa’s chef for special meals on Thursdays and Fridays beginning next week Feb 2. Sweet Melissa’s Café building, next door to Island Pizza was taken down last week and will eventually be rebuilt.

Bleu Rendezvous French Bistro also announced yesterday that they hope to reopen in 30 days in a new location, at 751 Tarpon Bay Rd, adjacent to Tower Gallery. Their post said they will be open for lunch and dinner starting at noon, with non-stop Happy Hour, on Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Out on Captiva, Mucky Duck has reopened, while on Sanibel the Steeler’s flag is a wavin’ at The Great White Grill which also is open.

Island Real Estate

Below is another update of island inventory today from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service. There were 23 homes listed on Sanibel this week, several including our listing in Lake Murex already are under contract. During the same time five homes came back on the market, and five had price reductions, with some of those selling too. Seventeen Sanibel homes sold and seven home closings occurred.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Jan 20‑27

Sanibel

CONDOS

12 new listings: Seashells #42 2/2 $374K, Sanibel Arms #B7 1/1 $399K, Donax Village #10 2/2 $499K, Sundial #C206 1/1 $599K, Lighthouse Point #217 2/2 $699K, Sunset South #1A 2/2 $714K, Island Beach Club #220F 2/2 $795K, Mariner Pointe #642 2/2 $795K, Sanibel Surfside #122 2/2 $995K, Heron at The Sanctuary III-2A 3/3.5 $1.149M, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #4-1 3/3 $1.369M, Seascape #106 3/3 $2.975M.

2 price changes: Beach Road Villas #101 2/2 now $624K, Tigua Cay #487 3/3.5 now $2.75M.

5 new sales: Sunset South #10B 2/2 listed at $650K, Sunset South #3D 2/2 listed at $749.9K, Her on The Sanctuary #III-2A 3/3.5 listed at $1.148M, Gulfside Place #121 2/2 listed at $1.425M, Gulfside Place #102 3/3 listed at $2.198M (our sale).

3 closed sales: Lake Palms #3 2/2.5 $525K, Pointe Santo #D3 2/2 $675K, Pine Cove #A 2/2 $1.06M.

HOMES

16 new listings: 3181 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $679.9K, 1859 Farm Trail 3/2 $719.9K, 4752 Rue Helene 2/2 $799K, 1341 Par View Dr 3/2 $799K, 526 Bunting Ln 5/3 $800K, 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 $800K, 591 Boulder Dr 4/3 $879K, 1145 Sabal St 3/4 $995K, 9248 Kincaid Ct 3/2 $1.025M, 1043 Blue Heron Dr 3/3 $1.195M, 1578 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.199M, 1018 Demere Ln 4/3 $1.295M, 4628 Rue Belle Mer 3/3 $1.695M, 5271 Indian Ct 4/4 $2.599M, 3615 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $4.25M, 3941 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $4.25M.

3 price changes: 2623 Tamarind Rd 2/2 now $375K, 1679 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $847K, 1224 Buttonwood Ln 3/2.5 now $1.45M.

5 back on market: Moonshadows #1A 3/3 $949K, 557 East Rocks Dr 4/3 $999K, 241 Violet Dr 3/2.5 $1.295M, 2885 Wulfert Rd 7/6 $2.499M, 3699 West Gulf Dr 6/4.5.5 $5.695M.

17 new sales: 1413 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 1/2-duplex listed at $649K, 9126 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $650K, 3285 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2.5 listed at $699K (our listing), 458 Casa Ybel Rd 1/1.5 listed at $799K, 702 Durion Ct 3/2 listed at $829K, 4208 West Gulf Dr 2/2 listed at $849K, 214 Palm Lake Dr 3/2.5 listed at $849K, 1230 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $859K, 720 Durion Ct 4/3 listed at $899K, 1040 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 listed at $995K, 747 Birdie View Pt 3/3 listed at $999K, 729 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2 listed at $999,999, 1002 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 listed at $1.1M, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 listed at $1.125M, 454 Surf Sound Ct 3/2 listed at $1.289M, 1120 Olga Ave 3/2 listed at $1.395M, 2450 Wulfert Rd 3/3 listed at $1.65M.

7 closed sales: 860 Rabbit Rd 2/1 $375K, 1282 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $559K, 4214 Old Banyan Way 3/2.5 $595K, 293 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 $662.5K, 954 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $700K, 921 Strangler Fig Ln 3/2.5 $750K, 9094 Mockingbird Dr 4/3.5 $850K.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 new sale: Beach Villas #2235 4/3 listed at $1.899M.

No price changes, new 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.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan