Time for another Friday report from sunny Sanibel where it’s still nearly 80 degrees F at 4 p.m. in the afternoon. More of the same is expected through next week.

Sanibel Update

The City had another post-Ian update Tues and announced these updates will continue, in abbreviated form, at City Council meetings and on the 2-week off-schedule as progress continues and there are things to announce. Next City Council Meeting is 3/7 at BIG ARTS Performance Hall. Update highlights included:

• Election – to fill two City Council seats is 3/7 with in-person voting at Rec Center 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Until 2/25, voters may request absentee ballots which may be forwarded per Executive Order of FL Gov Ron DeSantis.
• Building & Planning Depts – still in temporary location at 6200 Whiskey Creek Dr, Ft Myers.
• Debris Removal – FDEM (who is paying for removal) has extended time for debris to go to right-of-way to 3/1. Then 3/31 is last day Crowder Gulf may pick up debris (FEMA deadline).

Regular pick up of vegetation debris, may be 3/13. (Remember that his restrictions on bundling/size,

Still need help getting residential/commercial debris out? www.IanDebrisCleanUp.com

• Community Park & Playground – reopened 2/22.
• Beach Parking Facilities – Tarpon Beach & Blind Pass lots reopened 2/4. Others still being restored. Buy permits at Rec Center Mon-Sat 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting 3/6 will open Tues & Thurs at 7 a.m.
• New Releases – City is issuing many. Subscribe at MySanibel.com.
• Building Permits – As of 2/20 City has issued 2,527 permits this year (compared to 2,300 in all of 2022).
• Causeway Traffic – Steady increase, many contractors. ~5,500 vehicles coming across daily.
• Landscape Restoration – News release coming soon covering this subject. Some things include that permits are required for any mangrove work, or in beach dune area, or on vacant parcels.

Also 75% native vegetation is required (that means 75% trees, shrubs, ground cover). Also planting not allowed in City right-of-way & sod is limited to 20% of total area or 4,000 sq. ft. whichever is less.

Mulch not acceptable as a long-term solution to ground cover. Also be aware that shell, rock, & gravel may be considered developed area so watch out for coverage limits.

SCCF’s Beach Planting Guide is recommended and has info on plants that did well after storm. Get it at www.SCCF.org.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Assoc of Realtors

Yesterday was the February General Membership Meeting of the local Association. We continue to meet monthly at the Midland Trust building on San Carlos Blvd in Ft Myers while island office spaces are repaired. There was a good turn-out, both in person and via Zoom, as affiliate members Dave Arter with Private Client Insurance Services, Cameron Govreau with Heidrick & Company Insurance, and John Trebilcock with Attorneys Goede, DeBoest & Cross provided post-Ian insurance information.

Meeting sponsor Dan Royal with American Momentum Bank announced a product for condos/homes needing renovation. Condo loans are for interior work only and function like traditional construction to perm loan with interest-only payments for 12 months. Loan is modified to perm when renovation is complete. With just one closing, just one set of closing costs. Draws are paid to builder as construction is progresses. Home renovation loans are similar but may be for both interior and exterior work.

During the insurance panel presentation, it was stressed that the information provided applies TODAY. Insurance requirements have changed and continue to change as storm recovery continues. For island property, there are limited available insurance markets. Citizens (admitted carrier operated by the State of Florida) is the only one now writing wind policies. Surplus Lines (non-admitted carriers) like Lloyds, QVE, Scottsdale, must be accessed through a broker. They do not use standardized forms or comply with state requirements. These carriers are writing Builders Risk policies WITHOUT wind insurance on Sanibel & Captiva. With condos, current carriers must provide coverage through repairs, but can increase premiums 50-100%.

Citizens will NOT write a policy on damaged homes but is available to non-damaged or repaired properties. Effective 4/1/23, a flood policy must be written along with a new Citizens policy. Maximum building value (per FL Senate Bill 1770) is $699,999. There are strict underwriting and administrative guidelines, limited endorsement availability, and only $100K of liability coverage. Originally designed as the “carrier of last resort”, Citizens’ policies could be subject to a “surcharge” if the company sustains a deficit from a hurricane or other reason (up to 45%).

Information needed to get insurance:

• Wind Mitigation Inspection (for Citizens & future Builders Risk)
• 4-Point Inspection
• Builders Risk – scope of work, length of projects, estimate project cost, general contractor contact info
• Copy of current flood policy & elevation certificate
• MLS info, current address, birth dates.

Underwriting requirements:

• Wind/flood claims need to be closed for new policies to be written
• Builders risk policies are underwritten on case-by-case basis
• Licensed general contractor required on Builders Risks
• NFIP/FEMA flood policy may be assumed
• Citizens policies located in “A” or “V” flood zone (essentially the island) must show proof of flood policy.

Note, condo association master flood policies limit coverage per unit to $250K,

During the announcements section of the meeting, several new listings and sales were announced. More details about those and the action this week posted in the island Multiple Listing Service are after more news below. Land Use Info Now Available Thru Online GIS Maps The City (Sanibel) Future Land Use Map Series (FLUMS) now is available online through this link. There are multiple map layers that may be selected to help determine the development standards and uses allowed on a parcel. The Layer List can be accessed through the icon in the top right corner of the screen. Properties are searchable by address when the Lee County – Parcels layer is checked. The following info may be chosen to display over an aerial photo: ·        Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL). ·        1974 CCCL delineates the City construction limit setback & landward limit of Gulf Beach Zone. ·        1991 CCCL is where a permit from FL Dept of Environmental Protection is required for construction waterward of line. ·        Local Drainage Areas known to hold water after storms & in rainy season. ·        Special Use Districts, click on property with this layer checked to see Ordinance. ·        Commercial Zoning Map – delineates General Commercial District, Town Center General Commercial District, & Town Center Limited Commercial District. ·        Resort Housing District – identifies properties within district classified by either allowing resort units with unlimited rental or “Prohibited from Resort Housing Use) where rental is limited to minimum 28 consecutive days. “Nonconform Resort Housing Use” identifies lawfully existing nonconforming resort housing use properties with unlimited rental. ·        Interior Wetlands Conservation District with strict development regulations to protect freshwater aquifer. ·        Environmentally Sensitive Lands Conservation District with strictly limited uses allowed. ·        Ecological Zones Map 1989 – City development regulations for residential districts are based on ecological sensitivity which is classified by zone. Environmental Performance Standards also are established for each zone.

Island Real Estate

Below is another update of island inventory today from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

SANIBEL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	56	1,121,605	56	113	1,594,117	47	17	1,283,176	63
Under contract	17	878,700	18	53	1,234,027	41	4	596,998	105
Sold 2023 to 2/24	21	1,125,333	40	46	1,082,810	39	4	1,318,500	80
Sold 2022	123	1,136,199	44	184	1,597,868	52	26	779,528	223
Sold 2021	287	875,127	113	355	1,341,881	89	69	698,862	442

 

CAPTIVA	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	6	1,127,333	201	8	6,867,631	176	1	15,500,000	335
Under contract	3	1,038,000	89	2	1,824,500	9	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 2/24	0	N/A	N/A	4	3,612,500	58	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2022	28	1,458,983	52	22	5,636,386	133	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2021	64	1,150,373	145	44	2,988,520	261	2	2,950,000	731

Personal Stuff

New metal roof all installed at Dave and Lisa’s house, while at my home the new walls are painted and new HVAC going in. Baby steps, but progress.

It also is great to again be singing with pals from the Community Chorus. (SanibelSusan was an original member when the group began in 1992.) Many members haven’t been back since the pandemic, so it’s been great fun tuning up together. We will be singing in the Performance Hall at the BIG ARTS Open House on Wed 3/15. The Sanibel Bank is performing too. As a special treat, our professional real estate photographer Jim Anderson has created an island video that will be played on the big screen when we sing the song “Sanibel”.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Feb 17-24

Sanibel

CONDOS

9 new listings: Seashells #3 2/2 $474K, Lighthouse Point #219 2/2 $650K, Sunset South #11A 2/2 $699K, Sunset South #12B 2/2 $779K, Oceans Reach #2D4 2/2 $1M, Mariner Pointe #711 2/2 $1.15M, Gulfside Place #219 2/2 $1.495M, Sandpiper West #4 3/2.5 $2.4M, Seascape #204 3/3.5 $3.41M.

4 price changes: Captains Walk #A6 1/1 now $399K (SanibelSusan listing), Beach Road Villas #101 2/2 now $599,999; Sundial #F403 2/2 now $795K; Sundial #A303 1/1 now $799K.

5 new sales: Seashells #26 2/2 listed at $449K, Lighthouse Point #217 2/2 listed at $699K, Snug Harbor #221 2/2 listed at $1.199M, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #4-1 3/3 listed at $1.369M, Gulfside Place #213 3/3 listed at $2.6M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

15 new listings: 994 Greenwood Ct N (1/2 duplex) 3/3 $530K, 470 Birdsong Pl 2/2 $550K, 996 Greenwood Ct N (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 $669K, 951 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $719K, 1477 Albatross Rd 4/3 $735K, 9114 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $755K, 1046 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $847K, 1125 Captains Walk St 3/3 $949K, 540 East Lake Rd 3/2 $1.1M, 3311 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 $1.22M, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 $1.35M, 9048 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $1.475M, 864 Limpet Dr 3/2 5/2 $1.75M, 940 Beach Rd 3/4.5.5 $3.3M, 3611 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $3.895M.

17 price changes: 450 Birdsong Pl 2/2 now $595K, 1859 Farm Tr 3/2 now $674.9K, 4208 West Gulf Dr 2/2 now 799K, 591 Boulder Dr 4/3 now $799K, 3760 West Gulf Dr 3/2 now $829K, 1046 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $847K, 1145 Sabal St 5/4 now $879K, 4144 West Gulf Dr 2/2 now $949K, 1578 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $1.08M, 1018 Demere Ln 4/3 now $1.195M, 241 Violet Dr 3/2.5 now $1.199M, 750 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2 now $1.258M, 5294 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2.5 now $1.448M, 979 Whelk Dr 3/3 now $1.484M, 1036 Whisperwood Way 3/3 now $1.599M, 851 Angel Wing Dr 5/4 now $1.995M, 4171 Dingman Dr 3/3 now $2.249M,

2 back on market: 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $1.1M, 918 Kings Crown Dr 3/2.5 $1.499M.

2 new sales: 1140 Junonia St 3/2 listed at $995K, 3191 Twin Lakes Ln 4/2.5 listed at $1.749M.

9 closed sales: 214 Hurricane Ln 3/2 $625K, 671 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $650K, 686 Spartina Ct 3/2 $651K, 214 Palm Lake Dr 3/2.5 $760K, 458 Casa Ybel Rd 1/1.5 $799K, 440 Lighthouse Way 3/3 $850K, 775 Pen Shell Dr 3/2 $900K, 2450 Wulfert Rd 3/3 $1.3M, 1800 Woodring Rd 4/4.5 $7.25M.

LOTS

2 new listings:  2761 West Gulf Dr (site of Sandbar Restaurant) $2.195M, 4501 Waters Edge Ln $3.199M.

1 price change: 3255 Cowry Ct now $639K.

1 new sale: 328 Palm Lake Dr listed at $695K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS, 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