Hooray, we finally got a couple of spring showers, after sunsets midweek. Island vegetation is greening up. Inland showers are expected later today and over the weekend as record temperatures are reported all over the state. The rainy season is beginning.

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported on Wednesday (June 5) that maximum recorded temperatures had topped 90 degrees F in the prior ten days at multiple River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing (RECON) sites in the Caloosahatchee Estuary and Gulf of Mexico.

Following those first on-island showers, I have also heard reports of several Gumbo Limbo trees unexpectedly toppling over. This is the time of the year when those trees leaf out, but some are showing signs of rot. Be sure and check yours. When I checked mine, I found a big one with leaves, but also falling over.

2024 Independence Day Celebration

With July 4 right around the corner, the City has posted about two events. The Independence Day Parade will be back this year. This is its 31^st year, following the usual route beginning at 9 a.m. after forming on Island Inn Road, then traveling from Tarpon Bay Rd to Periwinkle Way east to Casa Ybel Rd. Both commercial and non-commercial entries will be lined up in order of registration, so participants are encouraged to sign up early. Entry forms and 2024 parade tee-shirts are available at Bank of the Islands.

Then, after the parade, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sanibel Recreation Center is hosting a free event at the Rec Center with hot dogs, gym games, open pools, stilt walker, bounce house, face painting, and Kona shaved ice truck.

(Note: No City fireworks this year.)

4^th of July Road Rally

Presented by the Friends of Randy of Sanibel (FOROS), the 4^th of July Road Rally also is back. It will start at noon at The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market on Sanibel, Registration is open. Marking its 44^th year, this year proceeds will benefit F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva. A donation also will be made to CHR (Community Housing & Resources) families to help with back-to-school supplies.

This event is an in-vehicle visual scavenger hunt for answers to questions. Participants are provided instructions, questions, and driving directions, finding clues along the way. It is not a speed race – it is scored on correct answers, time, and mileage. It takes under two hours, finishing back at Timbers where a party will be held. (FOROS is an all-volunteer island non-profit.)

More Openings & Re-Openings

Blind Pass Condominiums – They reopened and starting taking reservations in March, but just had their official celebration with ribbon cutting last weekend, with special thanks to contractors and returning guests.

CHR (Community Housing & Resources) – Their offices just reopened and also had a ribbon-cutting this week. Their new location is in The Village Shops, 2340 Periwinkle Way, Suite K2.

Sanibel Fire Station #172 – This morning was the ground-breaking ceremony for the new fire station being built at 5171 Sanibel-Captiva Rd. It replaces the one that was removed after damage by Ian.

Tarpon Bay Explorers – June 1^st marked the first day of Tarpon Bay Explorers’ new contract as the concessionaire to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The contract is for ten years with a five-year renewal option. Tarpon Bay Explorers first earned a Refuge contract in 2002, offering tram tours of Wildlife Drive, plus canoes, kayaks, and electric pontoons. They also added a Sea Life and Nature Cruise and built the Aquarium and Touch Tank Exhibit. After Hurricane Charley in 2004, their old building was demolished and in 2008 a new one was built. Now that this new contract is signed, they are expected to replenish equipment lost from Hurricane Ian and rebuild their operation. By the end of the year, they plan to have pontoons for rent, fishing charters, bike rentals, and a new kayak and paddleboard fleet. The Nature Cruise is expected to follow including the Touch Tank and Aquarium experience, more bike and boat rentals, live bait tank, and more. Tarpon Bay Explorers currently operates on a limited schedule. At 900 Tarpon Bay Rd, including the nature gift store, they are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for kayak and paddleboard rentals, Kayak tours of Commodore Creek and tram tours of Wildlife Dr are on a limited basis. More details and reservations are at http://www.tarponbayexplorers.com.

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate Scoop

There was no caravan meeting at the local Association of Realtors this week, but instead the annual SCIS (Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist) classes continued plus a day with instructions covering the new app offered by our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provider, Paragon.

Next week, there is a Professional Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday and Caravan on Thursday.

Below, with data from the islands Multiple Listing Service (MLS) are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the Sanibel/Captiva MLS action reported this week. It was another slow week with sales, no new ones on Captiva, while a condo, a lot, and three homes went under contract on Sanibel. Also, a surprisingly low sale price on the one Sanibel condo closing.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	93	1,079,243	167	133	2,220,889	127	31	831,996	241
Under contract	6	1,239,816	160	15	1,427,799	110	4	1,922,000	75
Sold 2024 to 6/7	41	831,498	125	99	1,425,267	96	8	1,869,500	174
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	32	1,516,906	183	19	7,271,842	215	2	13,750,000	211
Under contract	2	2,087,500	189	1	2,850,000	57	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2024 to 6/7	9	1,736,111	148	5	4,944,500	146	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 May 31 – Jun 7

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Donax Village #10 2/2 $600K, Spanish Cay #E4 2/2 $649K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #A302 2/2 $815K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Sunset South #9B listed at $599.9K.

1 closed sale: Spanish Cay #C6 2/2 $385K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 567 Rabbit Rd 2/2 $875K, 1846 Farm Tr 3/2 $929K, 9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 $1.095M, 2525 Lands End Pl 4/3 $2M, 592 & 629 Lighthouse Way 3/2 $6.836M.

10 price changes: 1196 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $750K, 9126 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $799,999; 5305 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 now $995K, 248 Christofer Ct 2/2.5 now $1.044M, 3343 Saint Kilda Rd 3/2 now $1.087M, 1270 Par View Dr 3/2 now $1.325M, 742 Nerita St 3/2 now $1.45M, 836 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 now $1.949M, 1507 Angel Dr 3/2.5 now $1.995M, 5435 Osprey Ct 4/3.5 now $2.550M.

3 new sales: 1454 Sandpiper Cir 4/3 listed at $699,999; 315 Periwinkle Way 3/2 listed at $850K, 4340 West Gulf Dr 5/3.5 listed at $1.85M.

4 closed sales: 560 Piedmont Rd 3/2 $600K, 863 Rabbit Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/2 $652K, 235 Daniel Dr 3/3 $1,343,750; 1511 Angel Dr 4/3 $2M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Bowen Bayou Rd 25 listed at $145K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: Beach Cottages #1414 2/2 $1M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 1072 South Seas Plantation Rd 3/3.5 $6.75M.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 11516 Wightman Ln 5/4.5 $3.25M.

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