With Thanksgiving yesterday, the islands are now transitioning to holiday mode. Christmas décor is popping up everywhere. Many individual events are planned to replace the island-wide luminaries that traditionally are the first Friday (on Sanibel) and Saturday (on Captiva) in December. As hurricane recovery continues, the larger Chamber-organized luminary events are postponed until next year. Below are some of the mini-happenings to brighten holiday spirits.

Weather-wise, it’s time to get out the winter flip flops and an occasional sweater. Night temperatures are forecast to dip into the 50’s this week. Days have been and are forecast to often be partly cloudy but warming up into the 70’s/low 80’s. Great weather for an open sum-roof.

As I toured around the island yesterday, I was surprised to see so many workers on Thanksgiving morning – roofers, landscapers, construction workers. Videos taken then of East, Middle, and West Gulf Drive beachside are posted on my Facebook page.

Holiday Events

Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale – begins today at The Community House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After this weekend, they will be available Wed through Sat also from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while supplies last.

Sanibel Masters Art Festival – is indoors at The Community House today & tomorrow, Nov 24 & 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, Sun Nov 26 until 2 p.m.

Tween Waters Annual Tree Lighting Celebration – is tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. when more than 200,000 holidays lights are lit in musical synchronicity including on their 30’ tree. Live holiday music plus fireworks on the beach. Laser lights and real snow falling from palms trees too.

Deck The Shore – at Sanibel Historical Museum & Village on Fri Dec 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. with caroling, refreshments, and tree lighting.

Sanibel Lights – at Sanibel Community House & St Michael’s Church on Fri Dec 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. Stroll the tunnel of lights between locations and enjoy music, food, and activities.

Sanibel Rec Youth Holiday Event & Reindeer Run – at the Rec Center Sat Dec 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with pizza/BBQ, hot chocolate bar, pictures with Santa, and many activities for children plus the youth reindeer run following the FISH 10K/5K races.

Sound+Waves Music Festival – on the beach at Tween Waters Sat Dec 2 beginning at 5 p.m. Fireworks follow the concert. This is a ticketed event by F.I.S.H. https://FISHmusicfestival.rsvpify.com

Causeway Scoop

Florida Dept of Transportation has continued work on the causeway through the holiday, but there will be no lane closures the weekend.

Protect Captiva

SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) posted the following notice this week:

“We’re excited to announce the Protect Captiva Coalition’s new website and Facebook page! Now, there will be even more ways to access the latest information, engage, and get the word out about preventing increased building heights and density on Captiva.

“Check out our new website, www.ProtectCaptiva.org. Here, you will find the latest information and resources about our efforts to protect our beautiful island community.

“Please follow and like us on Facebook! This is where our community can join together and show why the Lee County Commissioners should stand with our near-universal opposition to the proposed amendments. You can help spread the word by sharing our posts, or by posting your own reasons for opposing the amendments. Please use the hashtag #ProtectCaptiva.

“Thank you to everyone who has joined our mission to protect the character and safety of our barrier island. We’re grateful for your support and look forward to continuing to work together to Protect Captiva!”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate News

Though the Association of Realtors® again didn’t meet this week, we look forward to our monthly membership meeting next Thurs when Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza and Chief Building Official Craig Mole will update us on island recovery. I’m doing their intros!

At SanibelSusan Realty, teammate Dave and I were both busy this week with buyers and sellers. The new and it-seems ever-changing post-hurricane challenges continue to complicate real estate transactions, so it’s always a good week when listings are successfully under contract and we make new sales.

Below, with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service), are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week. So far, our two Sanibel sales are the only ones on the island this week! We are thankful!

On the commercial side, a new listing was posted in MLS that includes four parcels in Tradewinds. Included are 4819 Tradewinds Dr, 4788 Tradewinds Dr (home), and duplexes on 1344 Jamaica Dr and 1350 Jamaca Dr. Asking price for the package is $6.7.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	74	1,091,638	150	107	1,709,493	89	36	968,191	173
Under contract	4	1,210,975	65	12	1,542,416	68	3	1,543,000	19
Sold 2023 to 11/24	91	949,841	65	251	1,266,233	73	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	24	1,513,354	112	17	6,509,176	113	2	7,247,500	78
Under contract	6	1,014,833	23	1	3,495,000	179	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 11/24	12	821,000	110	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 Nov 17‑24

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Ibis at The Sanctuary #B101 2/2, Mariner Pointe #223 2/2.5 $924.9K.

1 back on market: Gulfside Place #208 2/2 $1,365,555.

2 price changes: Sanibel Siesta #501 2/2 now $689K, Bandy Beach #E101 3/2 now $1.3M.

1 new sale: Blind Pass #C106 2/2 listed at $499K (SanibelSusan listing).

1 closed sale: By-the-Sea #C301 2/2 $1.5M.

HOMES

7 new listings: 857 Rabbit Rd 1/1 $650K, 2066 Wild Lime Dr 2/1 $699.9K, 465 Lake Murex Cir 2/2.5 $1.149M, 5422 Shearwater Dr 3/2.5 $1.447M, 4389 Gulf Pines Dr /3 $1.75M, 3526 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 $2.25M, 1052 Whisperwood Way 3/3 $2.65M.

4 price changes: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $699K, 4269 Gulf Pines Dr 2/2 now $744K, 555 Piedmont Rd 3/2 now $1.15M, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $2.999M.

1 new sale: 924 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 listed at $1.55M (SanibelSusan buyer).

4 closed sales: 1624 Bunting Ln 3/2 $640K, 1160 Buttonwood Ln 3/2 $780K, 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $799K, 4273 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 $6.575M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 859 Rabbit Rd $425K.

1 price change: 711 Cardium St now $599.9K.

1 new sale: 4171 West Gulf Dr listed at $3.995M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listing: Tennis Villas #3127 1/1 $475K, Captiva Beach Villas #3E 5/4.5 $4.75M.

No price reductions, new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16211 Captiva Dr 4/4.6 $4.75M.

No price reductions.

1 new sale: 1101 Tallow Tree Ct 4/4 listed at $3.495M.

No 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