As we finish up another week on Sanibel, local kids are back in school and there have been some high temperatures (mid-90’s a couple of afternoons), also a few typical short summer showers. Though green growth with new vegetation is popping out pretty much everywhere, it also has been reported that since the hurricane washed so much salt water over the islands that natural fresh water sources are now limited.

More is needed to support the usual flora/fauna and wildlife, so the sporadic rain hopefully will continue. We got some again today and it didn’t seem to deter the beachgoers at Lighthouse Beach!

On my way to the beach, i noticed these workers rejuggling the HVAC equipment cages going atop the roadside building at Lighthouse Point condos.

Restoration efforts continue all over the island. It is great to see improvement with every ride-around.

Association of Realtors

Tuesday, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Professional Development Committee met with details discussed for the annual license-renewal classes which are being offered Sept 13-15. Speakers for monthly membership meetings for the remainder of the calendar year were also organized.

The SCIS (Sanibel Captiva Islands Specialist) designation classes planned for the last week in Sept and first week in Oct are yet to be finalized pending class locations (as Association Office building post-hurricane repairs are behind schedule). Updating the Resort & Second-Home Market class before then is on my “do list” so I am ready to teach that one for the 11^th year.

Yesterday morning a local Association of Realtors Caravan Meeting was held in BIG ARTS Performance Hall. Three new home listings were open for viewing following brief announcements. No new listings, price reductions, or sales were announced though a few were posted this week in the island MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Those details are after a few news items below.

Monday, I am off to Orlando for Florida Realtors annual legislative meetings, 2023 convention and trade show. Between the pandemic and storms, it has been a few years since some events have been in-person, so I am looking forward to again seeing and networking with colleagues from around the state and doing my part with the leadership team.

Tuesday, I will sit on an Audition Panel where we will evaluate instructors looking for approval to teach state classes. That is always a long, tiring, yet productive day. After that, other days are filled with speakers, classes, and a variety of events including Florida Realtors Annual Awards Luncheon. Tim Tebow is the speaker at the General Session.

Next Friday, I will prepare this weekly update after meetings of the state Faculty Development Subcommittee and Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee where upcoming changes to the state sales contract will be discussed. Teammate Dave is covering SanibelSusan Team business at home while I’m away. Business using the internet sure makes being away easier than when I started going to these meetings 25 years ago. Here’s hoping we get some action next week.

Island Scoop

Below are some recently announced post-storm updates and re-openings:

Hirdie Girdie Art Gallery – This local artist cooperative (at 2490 Library Way) posted that its grand opening reception will be Oct 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. with sculptor John Beall as their Oct guest artist. Each month the gallery features a guest artist.

Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort & Marina – With accommodations in short supply on both islands, many have asked about the status at Jensen’s cottages on Captiva. Posted yesterday on their social media: The cottages are under construction with new roofs complete and work now being done on individual interiors. No word yet on when they will reopen. Note: Jensen’s on the Gulf is open. Today, I saw visitor cars today.

Lighthouse Café – Following up on the post last week that Lighthouse Café has signed a lease to move to the former Sanibel Fresh building at 1020 Periwinkle Way, this week a notice said that they hope to be open in that new location by Dec 1 (or Jan 1 latest).

Sanibel Arms West – Recently driving by, I have seen many roofers at work. Below are some highlights from their community blog. It discusses the work accomplished in June/July and suggests that they will be welcoming guests back by next summer.

• More than half the condo roofs are restored, or in the process of restoration.
• Almost all unit interiors have been cleared of debris, framing & insulation with work already begun on new state-of-the-industry steel interior framing.
• Hurricane glass is going in – both windows and sliders are beginning to be installed, with truckloads of material standing at the ready.
• Patio framing is being installed as units are cleared and ready for this next step.
• Native & surviving trees have been significantly (and legally) trimmed to facilitate regrowth.

Tarpon Bay Explorers – Tarpon Bay Explorers, the concession for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, will close the month of Sep, reopening Mon, Oct. 2. During that time, the entire Tarpon Bay recreational area will be closed to the public, including the boat ramp. Tarpon Bay Explorers opened Feb. 1, four months after Hurricane Ian made landfall, but the Explorers family went from 35 employees to three and opened with limited days and hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat, rentals stop at 3 p.m.). The concession anticipates those same days/hours of operation when it reopens Oct. 2 with the same rental and tour opportunities available, along with nature-themed gift shop. Their kayak tours will still be held at 10 a.m. Wed and Sat (reservations recommended) and Tram Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thurs (reservations also recommended). Direct questions for the Explorers crew before their one-month hiatus, to the gift shop at 239-472-8900. For further info or reservations, go to their website at www.tarponbayexplorers.com. Note: Wildlife Drive will remain open throughout Sept with the current days and hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat through Thurs (i.e. Wildlife Drive, Visitor’s Center & Indigo Trail are closed Fridays).

The Green Flash – From a recent “Fort Myers News-Press” article:  The Green Flash will reopen Sep 22 according to owner Tim McGowan. The history of the restaurant goes back to 1994 when Andreas Biery built it on the former Timmy’s Nook site. In 1950, T.M. Wiles opened his “Nook”, which was a popular watering hole on the island for more than 40 years. The McGowans bought the restaurant in early 2021. The timing of their Sep 22 reopening coincides with the start of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest allowing the Green Flash to be a hot spot for the 3^rd consecutive year. The docks at The Green Flash will be back open and seating will be available at dockside tables or inside overlooking Roosevelt Channel and Pine Island Sound. Most of the Green Flash staff has been working at Rosalita’s Cantina, the Mexican restaurant on Rabbit Rd (Sanibel) that McGowan opened with his brothers in March.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

If you want an updated island inventory list, please email me at Susan@SanibelSusan.com. My team usually updates it over the weekend, but got it done early this week so I could turn it around before I head to Orlando.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	56	1,141,834	143	80	1,600,440	97	27	957,162	140
Under contract	10	1,111,200	103	27	1,365,385	125	5	1,069,000	82
Sold 2023 to 8/11	68	919,824	53	200	1,247,149	62	19	874,236	71
Sold 2022	123	1,136,199	44	185	1,602,745	52	26	779,528	223
Sold 2021	287	875,127	113	355	1,341,881	89	69	698,862	442

 

CAPTIVA RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	19	1,687,052	77	11	7,561,636	110	0	N/A	N/A
Under contract	2	438,500	27	2	3,322,500	68	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 8/11	9	941,333	117	13	2,791,000	73	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 August 4-11

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Sanibel Siesta #501 2/2 now $729K.

2 new sales: Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 listed at $734K, Sundial #F203 2/2 listed at $789K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1018 Demere Ln 4/3 $1.089M, 1428 Albatross Rd 3/2.5 $1.899M.

7 price changes: 922 Main St 3/1 now $499K, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 now $992K, 5685 San-Cap Rd 3/2 now $1.165M, 1207 Par View Dr 3/2 now $1,194,800; 595 Piedmont Rd 3/2 now $1.559M, 1511 Angel Dr 4/3 now $2.899M, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $3.375M.

1 back on market: 1143 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $899K.

6 new sales: 1122 Captains Walk St 3/2.5 listed at $798,897; 242 Christofer Ct 3/2 listed at $1.095M, 2479 Blind Pass Ct 3/2 listed at $1.15M, 896 Angel Wing Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.55M, 1352 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.699M, 1558 & 1545 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/3.5 & dock lot listed at $3.999M.

3 closed sales: 450 Birdsong Pl 2/2 $574K. 1811 Ibis Ln 2/2 $625K, 915 Pecten Ct 4/5 $2.15M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5633 Baltusrol Ct $499K.

No price changes or new sales.

3 closed sales: 2562 Coconut Dr 550K, 1105 Shell Basket Ln $649K, 725 Donax St $650K.

Captiva

CONDOS

3 new listings: Bayside Villas #5226 1/2 $699K, Captiva Shores #3B 3/2.5 $1.698M, Captiva Shores #6C 2/2 $1.7M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 11516 Wightman Ln 5/4.5 now $3.599M.

1 new sale: 11461 Old Lodge Ln 4/3 listed at $3.15M.

1 closed sale: 11511 Laika Ln 3/2 $1.9M.

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.

Enjoy your weekend!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan