C.R.O.W. – The Clinic for the Rehabilitation for Wildlife got a new sign this week. (Even little changes like this get a smile.) Check it out yourself when you visit their Visitor Education Center which is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CVS Reopening – Currently under construction and with new sea turtle mural painted outside (added by local artist Rachel Pierce), the CVS drug and convenience store on Palm Ridge Rd is expected to reopen September 1^st. (There also is new island coastal vibe at Lighthouse Cafe where Rachel recently painted a lighthouse mural.)

Daycations at Sundial – This new limited offering at the resort, previously advertised as becoming available this weekend, has been delayed until next weekend. The condos themselves are not yet open for vacation rentals, but the purchase of a Sundial Daycation pass is expected to provide single-day access from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to their beach, oversized central pool and slide, hot tub, beach chairs and umbrellas, volleyball, cornhole, foosball, ping pong, and poolside bingo plus a dining gift card. Cost is $75/adult (includes $30 dining card) and $45/children ages 3-12 (includes $15 dining card). Bike, watercraft, racquet sports, and cabana rentals may be available for additional fees. Reservations required.

Wildlife Dr Time Change – Beginning August 1, through the end of the month, Wildlife Dr will be open from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hours are shortened due to earlier sunsets. Note: Along with Wildlife Dr and the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center, Indigo Trail also is closed every Friday. Bailey Tract and Tarpon Bay Explorers are open that day during regular hours.

The Sanibel School

Growing up in New England where schools didn’t reopen until after Labor Day, it always surprises me when the local school year here begins. In Lee County, it is August 12, or in just a little over two weeks.

Yesterday. It was special to read the following post by The Sanibel School: “Sanibel School is #1. It has been awarded a state grade of “A” for the 24^th year in a row and is ranked the #1 elementary and middle school in the Lee County School District. We’re also proud to be one of the top-ranking schools in the entire state of Florida. If your child wants to attend the best school in Lee County, contact Donna Marks at 239-472-1617 to enroll for the upcoming school year. Let’s make this year amazing together!”

Sanibel & Captiva Association of Realtors®

NAR Changes – The Tuesday morning, Florida Realtors® Buyer/Broker webinar was informative and well attended. Our state association has generated several new forms (easily assessable through Form Simplicity) to ensure our members comply with NAR (National Association of Realtors®) settlement requirements that become effective August 17. These changes include that a Realtor® working with a buyer must enter a written agreement with them before touring a property.

Another change requires that broker offers of compensation be removed from Multiple Listing Services. The Sanibel and Captiva Islands MLS plans to remove those fields on August 16. Offers of compensation will continue, just not be advertised through the MLS. Compensation benefits sellers by expanding the potential buyer pool and helps make ownership and the benefits of professional representation more accessible to buyers.

Between now and mid-August, more forms with additional instruction are scheduled, including two webinars next week by Florida Realtors® VP of Law/Policy and General Counsel, Juana Watkins. I attended the Buyer/Broker class this week and am also registered for two with Juana next week. The first is for brokers, the second for sales associates.

These NAR-mandated changes also will require modification of existing listing agreements to provide notice to sellers that the broker compensation offered to those working with buyers will no longer be posted in the MLS’s. Not to worry, there are plenty of other ways we can promote it, including by talking to each other. (No significant changes in how business is done on the islands are expected, just more paperwork.)

July Membership Meeting – Yesterday at the monthly membership meeting of the islands Association of Realtors®, Sanibel Planning Commission Vice Chair and Realtor® Eric Pfeifer was the featured speaker. The meeting was well attended with many taking notes, as Eric described the relationship of the various City departments/employees and City Council/Planning Commissioners, how their work relates to our business (both residential and commercial), and the work they have accomplished, including recent Code/Ordinance changes, particularly since Hurricane Ian. Superior Title of Sanibel was the sponsor.

Following the membership meeting, a short caravan meeting followed. No new sales were announced and just a single Sanibel home was open for afternoon viewing.

Below, with data from the islands Multiple Listing Service (MLS) are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by all the Sanibel/Captiva MLS action reported this week.

On the commercial side, the site of the former Jean Paul’s French restaurant at 708 Tarpon Bay Rd came on the market this week while the gas station at 1067 Bailey Rd went under contract. That contract is contingent but could become the third commercial sale on Sanibel this year. The other two were The Driftwood Inn on Donax St and several offices with a long-term lease at 1049 Periwinkle Way. It sure will be great to again see activity at more of the commercial properties that have not reopened or been restored since the storm.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 19-26:

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Colonnades #1 1/1 $299K, Beachcomber #C201 2/2 $1.449M, Beachcomber #C301 2/2 $1.595M.

1 price change: Sundial #H303 2/2 now $745K.

2 new sales: Seashells #25 2/2 listed at $475K, Seashells #40 2/2 listed at $475K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1021 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $1.299M, 1870 Woodring Rd 3/3.5 $3.095M.

1 price change: 1018 S Yachtsman Dr 3/3 now $1.137M.

1 back-on-market: 490 & 460 Old Trail 3/2.5 $650K.

4 new sales: 2501 Key Lime Pl 2/2 listed at $719K, 1220 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $1.375M, 628 Lake Murex Cir 3/2.5 listed at $1.597M, 911 S Yachtsman Dr 3/3 listed at $1.785M.

3 closed sales: 902 Kings Crown Dr 5/4.5 $1.65M, 1690 Sabal Palm Dr 5/3 $2.277M, 1500 Angel Dr 4/3.5 $3.05M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price reduction: 717 Birdie View Pt now $580K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

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