Another Sunny Sanibel Friday

I hope you are not tired of hearing that it’s another sunny Friday in SW Florida, as progress continues toward recovery. Lee County Schools were out this week for spring break, and it was fun to hear that a group of Sanibel School students and parent chaperones are exploring Japan during their time off.

Sanibel City Council met on Tuesday with their agenda including a Post-Ian Update, while the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors held their March Membership Breakfast Meeting yesterday. More info on both of those below.

On the home front, my house restoration continues. I move into my last temporary apartment next Sat, April 1. Fingers crossed that it has better internet service than my present spot which has been in technology hell this week. Hence today’s delay. Thank goodness when computer and printers aren’t working, there are iPhones and iPads.

I made a surprise late day trip to the island today to show a home. When stopping at the Post Office for mail, I couldn’t help but notice that our office in Sanibel Square still hasn’t started restoration, but I did sadly see the demolition of the two neighboring commercial cottages there that ole Ian rocked off their foundations. Formerly rented by Sanibel Beauty Salon and Ding Darling Nature Store, those buildings now are demoed. (I guess this is progress.)

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate

The action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is after that news and an inventory summary below. As inventory continues to grow, more prices are adjusted. There certainly are plenty more choices for buyers who were sitting on the fence last year.

Another Sanibel commercial property was posted in MLS this week – Lazy Flamingo Plaza at 6520 Pine Ave (site of the former Santiva General Store, Sunset Grill, the original Lazy Flamingo, and their corporate office and apartments), approximately 1.8 acres, asking $15M.

Sanibel Update

At the Tuesday, March 21, City Council Meeting, reelected members Richard Johnson and Holly Smith were sworn in, followed by Council selection of new Mayor and Vice Mayor, which are Rickard Johnson and Mike Miller, respectively. This group works so well together and has accomplished so much especially over the last six months. We owe them all a big thank you, particularly former Mayor Holly Smith.

In the Post-Ian Progress report led by City Manager Souza, he reminded that Building and Planning Departments continue to operate out of 6200 Whiskey Creek (phone numbers on City website still apply).

Debris Cleanup – Continues by Crowder Gulf. Residents/businesses are reminded that the cut-off date for putting debris in the right-away for pickup was March 1. As Crowder Gulf finishes a street, a state monitor films the area confirming that the last pickup was made. Their last pickup is March 29, though waterway cleanup work will continue beyond then. Residents and businesses that still need assistance with debris removal still may contact IanDebrisCleanup.com, but their cut-off date to apply is March 29. Including removals by Crowder Gulf, over 2 million cubic yards have been removed on Sanibel.

Florida State of Emergency – Governor DeSantis extended another 60 days, to May 20.

Beach Access & Parking Permits – Work continues toward getting the remaining beach accesses open. Though the boat ramp is open, their beach access is not available to the public yet. Reminder that to launch a boat Mon-Fri without a permit costs $40. On weekends and holidays, a permit is needed. The following beach accesses are NOT yet open: Lighthouse Beach (which still requires significant work), Turner Beach (which is County owned, City managed) (City Manager meeting with County March 24 to determine steps forward), and Beach Accesses 3, 4, & 7. Beach parking permit sales are up and include: A resident beach ($14) 1,867; AC resident beach & boat ramp ($113) 123; B non-resident beach ($300) 150; and BC non-resident beach & boat ramp ($399) 20.

Causeway – Traffic counter problems, but though March 10 consistently seeing about 5K vehicles a day coming on island.

Finance – City Finance Director Steve Chaipel provided an update. Tax revenue is on track at 92%. Income, grants, and work in progress with more info to be provided at next meeting. Reminder that property owners have until April 3 to apply to the Property Appraiser (www.LeePa.org) for tax relief/refund. Approval or denial will be made by June 1.

Building Dept Permits – Many more permits processed, “surge is coming”. As of March 20, 3,329 permits have been approved (compared to just 2,900 in early March. Permit process taking about five days, resubmission reviews about three days. Permits to-date include: 128 demolition, 480 electrical, 537 mechanical, 1,138 roof, 105 windows/doors.

Events & Re-Openings

Sanibel Home Mail Delivery begins Monday March 27 provided there is a mailbox. When I picked up my mail this afternoon, they advised that though the Temporary Post Office will be open tomorrow (Sat), they encourage residents with boxes to just wait for their deliver at home on Monday as they have lots of things to get done to make those deliveries occur. (Big thanks to former Mayor Holly Smith for honchoing this task to completion.)

Sanibel Historical Village Reopening Celebration Tues March 28, from 3 to 5 p.m. Event is free, but please RSVP to info@sanibelmuseum.org.

“We’re Still Standing” celebrating the 96^th Anniversary of The Community House, Wed, March 29, 4 to 7 p.m. with music by The Marty Stokes Band, tickets available on-line and at 239-472-2155.

Native Plant Walks at City Hall offering ways to replant. Meet in front of main staircase at City Hall at 9 a.m. on Thursdays April 6 & 20, and Saturdays April 1, 15, and 29.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Assoc of Realtors

At the monthly membership meeting yesterday at Midland Trust building in Fort Myers, we heard from a panel of bankers about the status of lending on damaged property. Those speakers were Dan Krispinsky with Lake Michigan Credit Union, Dan Royal with American Momentum Bank, and David Wright with Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank. Like with island life, there are many lending changes, including community and insurance hurdles, but the good news is that these lenders continue to provide mortgages on the island. Most have the easiest offerings through their in-house products, though it may take longer than the typical 30 days to secure financing

I got good feedback during the Caravan part of the meeting from announcing our Captains Walk listing that went under contract last weekend and a price adjustment plus news about Gulfside Place. A short 3-property tour followed the meeting with just one property open on the island.

SANIBEL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	74	1,132,848	56	130	1,614,611	59	22	1,311,090	71
Under contract	14	775,564	50	37	1,306,513	34	4	565,000	40
Sold 2023 to 3/24	31	1,008,435	37	87	1,092,882	44	6	1,132,333	111
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	1,946,333	169	8	6,148,506	185	1	15,500,000	363
Under contract	4	1,153,500	79	2	3,197,000	39	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 3/24	1	675,000	66	5	3,130,000	55	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

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 17‑24

Sanibel

CONDOS

8 new listings: Sundial #I106 1/1 $375K, Tennisplace #A22 2/1 $450K, Sundial #I406 1/1 $495K, Lighthouse Point #319 2/2 $699K, Loggerhead Cay #412 2/2 $749K, Sunset South #12C 2/2 $819K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 $949K, Snug Harbor #122 2/2 $1.649M.

6 price changes: Sundial #D312 1/1 now $485K, Sundial #D203 1/1 now $599.9K, Sunset South #3C 2/2 now $799K, Lighthouse Point #232 3/2 now $989K, Gulfside Place #318 2/2 now $1.295M (SanibelSusan listing), Tigua Cay #487 3/3.5 now $2.249M.

1 back on market: Seashells #26 2/2 $399.9K.

3 new sales: Captains Walk #A6 1/1 listed at $399K (SanibelSusan listing), Seashells #3 2/2 listed at $474K, Blind Pass #F210 2/2 listed at $575K.

3 closed sales: Seashells #21 2/2 $440K, Beach Road Villas #101 2/2 $562K, Lighthouse Point #217 2/2 $599K.

HOMES

8 new listings: 3301 Twin Lakes Ln 2/2 $659K, 887 Casa Ybel Rd (duplex) 5/3 $795K, 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $969K, 951 Beach Rd 4/2 $1,149,187; 1015 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.275M, 3205 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $1.375M, 1202 Sand Castle Rd 4/2.5 $1.729M, 1365 Jamaica Dr 3/2.5 $1.995M,

15 price changes: 1672 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/1 now $449K, 1866 Ibis Ln 2/2 now $540K, 922 Main St 3/1 now $589K, 1859 Farm Tr 3/2 now $649.9K, 560 Boulder Dr 3/2 now $799K, 5892 San-Cap Rd 3/3  now $825K, 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 now $845K, 1752 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $900K, 1667 Sabal Sands Rd 3/3 now $1.05M, 3311 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 now $1.183M, 950 Cabbage Palm Ct 3/2 now $1.348M, 251 Christofer Ct 3/2.5 now $1.549M, 913 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 now $1.695M, 896 Limpet Dr 3/32 now $2.35M, 1318 Seaspray Ln 5/3.5 now $3.5M.

4 back on market: 9438 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $724K, 465 Lake Murex Cir 2/2.5 $725K, 1507 Angel Dr 3/2 $1.222M, 1224 Kittiwake Cir 3/2 $1.349M.

8 new sales: 1198 Junonia St 2/2 $647K, 1230 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $779K, 411 Lake Murex Blvd 3/2 $789K, 676 Cardium St 4/2 $789K, 1145 Sabal St 5/4 $790K, 9484 Peaceful Dr 3/3 $1.337M, 985 Oyster Ct 4/4 listed at $1.695M, 4697 Rue Belle Mer 4/5.5 listed at $3.8M.

6 closed sales: 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 $650K, 1834 Long Point Ln 3/2.5 $725K, 591 Boulder Dr 4/3 $745K, 1835 Farm Tr 3/2 $822.5K, 253 Daniel Dr 2/2.5 $1.127M, 215 Robinwood Cir 4/3 $1.275M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5398 Osprey Ct $419K.

1 price change: 5116 Sea Bell Rd now $325K.

No new sales or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End #1606 3/3 $3.3M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Bayside Villas #4204 1/2 listed at $650K, Beach Cottages #1411 3/2 listed at $1.55M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11505 Gore Ln 6/6 $3.99M.

1 price change: 1 Sunset Captiva 2/2.5 now $3.695M.

No new or closed sales.

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