Florida Realtors® Mid-Winter Business Meetings

Today it is a chilly but occasionally sunny day in Orlando where Florida Realtors® meetings are in full swing.

Yesterday a whopping nine Audition Panels met (a total of 49 panelists) to evaluate nearly 90 prospective instructors looking to teach state-approved classes. That is the most ever processed in a single day. We began at 7:30 a.m., but finished by 5 p.m., in time to hustle to a 6 p.m. event.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but since the pandemic, with so many buyers flocking to Florida, the Realtor® population likewise has exploded, often requiring more instructors throughout the state to teach classes for license renewals, designations, and advancement. The process to be approved to teach requires training, experience, interviews, and this final step – being recommended by a state Audition Panel. That approval is needed to teach each individual class, so subjects vary, with new instructors trying out as well as seasoned ones looking to expand their class schedules. Auditions are offered every Jan at these Mid-Winter Meetings and in Aug during the Annual Meeting/Convention.

My panel heard nine auditions. Each takes 45 minutes. Evaluations are based on communication and podium presence, presentation, subject knowledge, plus time and class management. A bonus benefit as a panelist is learning new things, as classes change with technology, state and national laws, etc. I enjoy doing it and always come away with new knowledge.

Pals from all corners of Florida have complained about the unusual extended cold-fronts and overcast days in their area. Yesterday a Realtor auditioning said it was 23 degrees F when she left the Panhandle. Another, an Orlando gal, told me this morning that she doesn’t ever remember this many continual overcast days.

Though I’ve been in the hotel since Wed, today the outdoor temperature at sunup was a sunny 43 degrees F and hit 75 this afternoon while dreary and overcast. What a swing! The hotel pool was emptied as a precaution as even colder weather is expected over the weekend.

Last night, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors was a 4-time winner at the annual RPAC Award Event. The same five awards are given based on association membership size, i.e. small, medium, large, and mega boards. Of course, Sanibel and Captiva Islands are a small board.

We set some new state records, showing that even with a hurricane, island Realtors® are pro-RPAC. Included was a Triple Crown award from national!

This morning was the Program Development Subcommittee meeting where I am one of 25 members. Tonight is the state Inaugural banquet followed by final committee meetings tomorrow. My last meeting is tomorrow (Professional Development Committee) followed by the Legal and Professional Standards Update.

It’s great to be back at these meetings in person, renewing friendships and networking. We often share common problems and solutions. Changes in the expanding short-term rental market remains a hot topic.

Lighthouse Beach News

A Sanibel City notice was issued this morning advising that Lighthouse Beach parking lots will be temporarily closed Mon Jan 22 through Fri Jan 26 for beach re-nourishment work and lighthouse repairs. It said contractors will be replacing the temporary wooden support at the lighthouse with a permanent cast-iron replica of the original support column with repairs also to be made to the ladder and window stops.

Regarding the ongoing beach re-nourishment project, contractors are expected to complete work near the Tradewinds neighborhood ahead of schedule and moving operations from the west end to Lighthouse Beach on Tues Jan 23.

Though I haven’t been on the island for a couple of days, I have heard that traffic exiting the island has again been backed up with long delays. This is probably to be expected now that more owners are back, “season” is here, and so many contractors are working on restorations. I must say again though that the sand trucks traveling to and from the island for the re-nourishment project are doing an amazing job. I often follow them on Sanibel roads but also followed five all the way to LaBelle on Wed. They are well organized, keep moving and have never caused a delay in any of my travels. Great to hear they are also ahead of schedule. If you haven’t checked out the beaches where the gullies have been filled you will be happy to see them. Those beaches are bigger and better than ever.

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate News

The local Association of Realtors® did not have a caravan this week, but have one planned for next Thurs Jan 25 which also is our monthly membership meeting.

Below, with data from the islands MLS are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	81	1,076,655	158	147	1,825,272	85	45	1,061,464	159
Under contract	9	820,855	80	20	1,695,095	70	1	1,500,000	275
Sold 2024 to 1/19	1	865,000	181	4	1,571,260	98	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023	98	955,261	65	263	1,267,390	73	24	920,645	76
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	28	1,556,875	134	17	6,954,588	157	3	9,998,333	90
Under contract	4	1,118,250	71	1	4,750,000	18	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2024 to 1/19	0	N/A	N/A	1	3,275,000	207	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023	17	834,176	98	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 Jan 12-19

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Beach Rd Villas #104 2/2 $610K, Sanibel Arms #F2 1/1 $659K, Sanibel Moorings #1342 2/2 $929K, Mariner Pointe #321 3/2 $999K, LaPlaya #2A 3/2 $1.095M, Sanibel Moorings #121 2/2 $1.1M.

1 price change: Kings Crown #217 2/2 now $1.6M.

2 new sales: Sanibel Arms #E3 1/1 listed at $419.9K, Oceans Reach #2A2 2/2 listed at $850K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

12 new listings; 749 Martha’s Ln 3/2 $759K, 1719 Serenity Ln 3/2 $829K, 3343 Saint Kilda 3/2 $1.175M, 2441 Shop Rd 4/3.5 $1.249M, 1018 S Yachtsman Dr 3/3 $1.349M, 1112 Skiff Pl 3/2 $1.35M, 3822 Coquina Dr 4/3.5 $1.595M, 2239 Starfish 3/3 $1.75M, 479 Lagoon Dr 4/3 $2.3M, 2402 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 $2.348M, 837 Sanddollar Dr 4/3.5 $3.15M, 2960 Wulfert Rd 5/5.5 $3.975M.

2 back on market: 1105 Skiff Pl 3/2 $749K, 2058 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $985K.

8 price changes: 9428 Moonlight Dr 3/2 now $879,999; 465 Lake Murex Cir 2/2.5 now $1.129M, 1011 S Yachtsman Dr 5/2.5 now $1.325M, 1428 Albatross Rd 3/2.5 now $1.799M, 836 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 now $2.25M, 1318 Seaspray Ln 5/3.5 now $2.695M, 2287 Starfish Ln 4/4 now $2,799,999; 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $2.94M.

3 new sales: 2066 Wild Lime Dr 2/1 listed at $699.9K, 998 Greenwood Ct N 3/2.5 listed at $719K, 9393 Peaceful Dr 3/2 listed at $1.25M.

2 closed sales: 1835 Ardsley Way 2/2 $370K, 1603 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $765K.

LOTS

No new listings.

2 price changes: 2761 West Gulf Dr now $1.795M, 4171 West Gulf Dr now $3.895M.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Gulf Beach Villas #2126 2/2 $1.395M, Captiva Beach Villas #1-B 3/2.5 $3.295M.

No price changes, new. or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 57 Sandpiper Ct 3/2 now $1.595M, 16321 Captiva Dr 5/4 now $3.495M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 15819 Captiva Dr now $15.5M.

No new or closed sales.

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