Fall has arrived on sunny Sanibel & Captiva Islands. It was wonderful this week to wake up to bright blue breezy skies every day with temperatures ranging from high 60’s to low 80’s. Great weather for opening the sunroof and checking out recovery progress.

Island roads and the causeway are getting busier as more snowbirds return and construction continues. Additional repairs along Summerlin Rd coming up to and at the toll booths have added to morning delays for those coming on island. I usually wait until after 10 a.m. if I need to go off island, so I have a short return drive. Dave does the same coming on. A new traffic pattern may be opening soon as yesterday they also paved the new higher roadway on the causeway island closest to Sanibel. (Photos below taken this afternoon as I was driving back on island.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

There was no local Association of Realtors® meeting this week, but the deadline of the “Real Estate Guide” is today, so SanibelSusan has reupped and signed a new annual contract. Our full-page color ad will be in the next issue coming out in early Nov. Available free in many boxes around the island, it also is mailed to every island property owner.

Sanibel Planning Commission Special Meeting

I listened in at the Sanibel Planning Commission meeting held last night at BIG ARTS. On Sept 11, when Sanibel City Council discussed concerns related to current City code requirements that may limit the ability to rebuild/restore homes that were storm damaged, they directed Planning and staff to make this a priority and to schedule a meeting to consider if amendments to Land Development Code are needed.

This was that meeting with the purpose of discussing possible changes to the City Code of Ordinances to adjust maximum building heights and angle of light requirements. Recommendations and input were provided by Planning Director Paula McMichael, City Attorney John Agnew, the Commissioners, and the public.

It was mentioned several times that this is not the same as Captiva issues because Sanibel has both a build-back ordinance and the Sanibel Plan which provide direction and flexibility. Wanting to allow resiliency to prevent property damage in future storms, it was reported that it has been the angle of light requirements that have caused the most objections in the permitting process. No one spoke in favor of increasing building heights to allow more floors or to make buildings larger, but rather to ensure that living levels are safer with less potential for flooding damage.

Audios of the meeting are posted on www.MySanibel.com and the City Facebook page. Recommendations and voting will be during the next Planning Commission Meeting on Oct 24.

Re-openings & Island News

Hirdie Girdie Gallery – at 2490 Library Way (corner of Tarpon Bay Rd & Library Way) has reopened & announced a 3-day fall art sale (paintings, photography, woodburning, ceramics, glass, sculpture, jewelry), Oct 20-22. They are open Mon-Sat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.hirdiegirdiegallery.com.

Taste of the Islands – CROW (The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) will host its 42^nd Taste of the Islands on Nov 5-19. As the islands continue to rebuild from the effects of Hurricane Ian, “Taste of the Islands – Rebuilding” aims to aid in the recovery of CROW, Sanibel-Captiva restaurants, and the community. This year, participating off-island restaurants will support CROW for the first week, with the traditional on-island restaurants participating during the second week. On island, the Taste will be Nov 13-19 with the CROW “Crawl” on Nov 18, encouraging patrons to visit the CROW Ambassador Tent and get a “taste” of special dining opportunities on Sanibel and Captiva. CROW will offer physical and digital copies of their “Taste Passport” this year. A passport include lists of participating restaurants, advertising for local businesses, and a QR code linking to the People’s Choice Award voting page. They will be available at CROW Visitor and Education Center, Bank of the Islands on Sanibel, and participating off-island restaurants.

Wines in the Wild – Tickets are now on sale for SCCF’s 14^th annual welcome-back fall celebration which will be Fri, Nov 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. where a variety of outdoor stations around the grounds of the Bailey Homestead Preserve will feature specially selected wines to complement signature tastings from favorite local chefs. Tickets are available at www.SCCF.org.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

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

On the commercial side, the former real estate office building (damaged/ground-level across street from Tahitian Gardens) went under contract this week.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	63	1,076,969	146	80	1,684,161	100	32	1,011,340	157
Under contract	7	1,038,285	93	18	1,391,808	104	2	317,000	5
Sold 2023 to 10/20	82	941,013	61	235	1,253,462	69	23	940,021	78
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	22	1,531,340	98	12	6,825,250	133	2	7,247,500	43
Under contract	4	1,198.750	40	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 10/20	11	848,363	108	17	2,716,647	70	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 Oct 13‑20

 Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Mariner Pointe #733 2/2 $599K.

No price reductions.

2 new sales: Colonnades #17 1/1 listed at $299K, Mariner Pointe #711 3/2 listed at $895K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

8 new listings: 771 Rabbit Rd 2/2 $679K, 1426 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.2749M, 1241 Junonia St 4/3 $1.545M, 1322 Seaspray Ln 3/2.5 $1.6M, 549 East Rocks Dr 3/3.5 $1.649M, 6003 Clam Bayou Ln 5/3 $1.695M, 417 Bella Vista Way E 4/4 $2.9M, 4577 Waters Edge Ln 4/4 $4.895M.

2 back on market: 1986 Wild Lime Dr 3.2 $859M, 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $1.199M.

5 price changes: 1251 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $790K, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 now $935K, 1731 Serenity Ln 4/3 now $1.195M, 1450 & 1460 Court Pl 5/4.5 now $1.325M, 6129 Starling Way 3/2.5 now $1.748M.

4 new sales: 1754 Windward Way 2/2 listed at $829K, 1684 Bunting Ln 2/2 listed at $829K, 1160 Buttonwood Ln 3/2 listed at $850K, 2564 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 listed at $3.595M.

4 closed sales: 1932 Roseate Ln 3/2 $375K, 976 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $859K, 1605 Bunting Ln 3/2 $899K, 1003 Fish Crow Rd 4/4 $975K.

LOTS

3 new listings: 1999 Sanibel Bayous Rd $350K, 6217 Starling Way $1.65M, 4717 Rue Belle Mer $3.395M.

2 price changes: 355 Cowry Ct now $547K, 4501 Waters Edge Ln now $2.895M.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

3 new listings: Tennis Villas #3134 2/2 $730K, Marina Villas #805 2/2 $995K, Bayside Villas #4302 3/3 $1.78M.

1 price change: Bayside Villas #52261/2 now $689K.

1 new sale: Sunset Captiva #204 2/2 listed at $1.9M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11517 Wightman Ln 4/3 $3.275M.

No price changes, 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.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan