It’s great to be back on sunny Sanibel Island. After complaining last week about Florida’s cold weather, it has been delightful to again experience daytime temps in the 70’s and traveling with sunroof open. My car registered the outside temperature at 80 degrees F during my travels this morning.

Forecasters say another cold front may arrive here over the weekend so there could be a few more days in the 60’s next week, but it too will pass, as spring is in just 53 days.

Traffic seems to have picked up this week, but not unlike a typical January in “high season”. There may be fewer visitors and vacationers here this year, but the number of contractors more than makes up for them. Many construction jobs start early, so traffic leaving the island in the afternoon starts getting heavy at 2 p.m., so it is important to plan your travels if you need to go off or come on the island.

Lighthouse Update

The Lighthouse replacement leg has been installed and beach re-nourishment is underway at Lighthouse Beach. With the re-nourishment project already complete in some areas, it is proving to be a great step forward in recovery. Though the Lighthouse parking areas have been closed this week, they will be open for the weekend (tomorrow and Sunday), before closing again Mon-Fri (Jan 29 thru Feb 2) so the renourishment project may continue.

Sanibel Recycling Center

The Recycling Center began their new hours this week. Now open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., it is for residential use only, ID’s are checked. All items must be put inside the dumpsters which are for household trash (in sealed bags), cardboard (broken down), recycling (no plastic bags). NOT allowed are bulk items like appliances, electronics, construction material; vegetative waste; or hazardous waste of any kind (paint, oil, car batteries, etc.).

Island Re-Openings

Periwinkle Place – There are noticeably more cars at Periwinkle Place as more businesses have reopened there, including the original Chico’s, Everything But Water, One Island Sanibel, Sanibel Flip Flops, and Tiki Jims. Sanibel Day Spa also is open by appointment. Blue Giraffe food truck also is open.

Tahitian Gardens – The businesses open there include Adventures in Paradise Outfitters, Sanibel Café, Sanibel Sole, Shiney Objects, and Wilford & Lee. Maybe Cheeburger Cheeburger will be next.

SanCap Resilience Community Event

The next SanCap Resilience community event in collaboration with the City will be Thurs Feb 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at BIG ARTS. It also will be streamed live on the City’s Facebook page.

The event, “Emerging from Hurricane Ian Stronger and More Resilient – Part 4: Lessons Learned in Essential Services,” will explore key lessons learned, actions taken, and plans related to the resiliency of our power grid, water supply, and wastewater management. The program will feature a panel of experts including Tricia Dorn and Allan Ruth (LCEC), Diane Wilson (Island Water), and Scott Krawczuk (Sanibel Public Works).

Panelists will each provide a short presentation, followed by time for questions. The event is free with no registration required.

Florida Realtors® Mid-Winter Business Meetings Wrap-Up

Florida Realtors® leadership team wrapped up their winter meetings in Orlando last weekend. As a member of the Professional Development Committee, Saturday morning, we approved a whopping number of new instructors, classes, and training offerings that will help local associations keep their members up-to-date and motivated in educational advancement.

I sat with pals who also have been on this committee for years. One is the Education Director for the Miami Association which has over 55K members. That’s a far cry from the 195 Realtors members of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association, but we have common needs so it’s always great to share ideas and learn about others’ successes.

Before heading home, I also attended the Legal and Professional Standards Update provided by the Florida Realtors® legal team.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® News

Yesterday, our local Association of Realtors® had a meeting at The Community House. Info was provided by both CHR (Community Housing & Resources Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale) and Planning Dept (Craig Chandler) on the status of Sanibel’s low-rent housing program, and future City plans.

No new sales were announced but 14 Sanibel homes were open for Caravan viewing after the meeting. That’s the highest number “open” during Caravan since before the storm.

Next week is our annual Installation and Awards event. It will be at The Dunes restaurant and a first visit there for many since before the storm.

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

On the commercial side, the Lazy Flamingo Plaza in Santiva was reduced to $8.5M.

The SanibelSusan Team is thankful to have one of the four closings on Sanibel this week. It is a first-floor condo selling before the “white box” work funded by the Association’s insurance is complete.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	79	1,097,033	161	156	1,785.053	83	41	908,168	166
Under contract	12	876,733	72	20	1,675,395	56	4	2,571.250	154
Sold 2024 to 1/26	4	633,000	158	6	1,397,500	105	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	29	1,511,637	132	16	7,170,812	157	3	9,998,333	97
Under contract	3	1,166,000	57	1	3,495,000	272	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2024 to 1/26	1	834,176	98	2	4,062,500	112	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 19-26

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sanibel Arms #C8 2/2 $534.5K, Oceans Reach #3D1 2/2 $839K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #1-2 3/3 $1.275M, Somerset #B101 3/3.5 $1.996M.

4 price changes: Captains Walk #B5 2/1 now $499K, Oceans Reach #4B4 1/1 now $689K, Sanibel Arms #F4 2/2 now $949,995; Gulfside Place #204 2/2 now $1.325M.

6 new sales: Sanibel Arms #D7 1/1 listed at $439K, Island Beach Club #220A 2/2 listed at $560K, Sundial #G206 1/1 listed at $599.9K, Sunset South #1A 2/2 listed at $659K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #B101 2/2 listed at $729K, West Shore #5 3/3 listed at $1.595M.

3 closed sales: Blind Pass #C106 2/2 $403K (SanibelSusan listing), Sundial #D203 1/1 $450K, Sanibel Moorings #612 2/2 $810K.

HOMES

9 new listings; 863 Rabbit Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/2 $678.5K, 9254 Kincaid Ct 2/2 $769.9K, 315 Periwinkle Way 3/2 $850K, 211 Southwinds Dr 3/3 $1.095M, 4279 Gulf Pines Dr 4/3 $1.249M, 5398 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2.5 $1.495M, 4171 Dingman Dr 3/2.5 $1.499M, 1199 Par View Dr 3/4 $2.495M, 542 Kinzie Island Ct 3/4.5 $3.795M.

2 back on market: 455 Peachtree Rd 2/2 $795K, 812 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $799K.

10 price changes: 3312 Saint Kilda 3/2 now $777K, 1615 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $889K, 1578 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $895K, 421 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $1.175M, 220 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 now $1.199M, 1306 Par View Dr 3/3.5 now $1.449M, 969 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 now $1.549M, 815 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 now $1.949M, Moon Shadows #1C 3/3 now $1.999M, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $2.9M.

4 new sales: 5151 San-Cap Rd 2/2 listed at $399K, 744 Marthas Ln 3/2 listed at $759K, 1658 Sabal Palm Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.095M, 957 Cabbage Palm Ct 3/3 listed at $1.295M.

1 closed sale: 549 East Rocks Dr 3/3.5 $1.6M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 2438 Wulfert Rd $449K.

1 price change: 4646 Rue Bayou now $995K.

3 new sales: 4640 Rue Belle Mer listed at $1.495M, 4717 Rue Belle Mer listed at $3,395M, 4171 West Gulf Dr listed at $3.895M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Tennis Villas #3235 1/1 $595K, Beach Homes #25 3/2 $2,899,500.

1 price change: Beach Homes #24 3/2 now $3.25M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Marina Villas #804 2/2 $900K.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 16321 Captiva Dr 5/4 listed at $3.495M.

1 closed sale: 16211 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 $4.85M.

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