It is time for another Friday update. This one with more positive news about island restoration efforts. Photo above taken this afternoon at the park at the end of Dixie Beach Blvd. The osprey on the platform is probably watching for lunch!

Hurricane hero teammate Dave and I continue to monitor our listings, make progress at my home, and meet with owners, while yesterday at the Annual Meeting of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®, I was happy to make both new listing and price change announcements. More details about those are below.

 Dave also reminded me to watch the YouTube video that was featured on PBS this week. If you haven’t seen it, please take the time. It is about an hour and titled “Sanibel Island’s Store – Untold Stores”, it offers an excellent history of the island and Bailey’s, including future plans.

https://youtu.be/MdVpDSk-iJ8?si=_4uRK7uSNv1GecJr

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate News

At The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® – At the annual meeting of the local Association of Realtors® yesterday, two new 3-year directors were elected: Melanie Holaway and Janka Varmuza. The slate of officers for 2025 also was announced: Incoming-President Becky Mulka, President-Elect Tina DiCharia, Secretary Kelly Huguenin, and Treasurer Bob Berning. The remaining directors are Past-President Brendan Albright, Bryan Hall, and George Kohlbrenner.

In addition to reports from the officers, committee chairs offered activity summaries. As 2024 Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, I was happy to announce that although we have well-trained committee members, there have been “zero” cases that have required our action this year. The island Association takes pride in the professionalism of its members and works hard to keep them all well-equipped for ongoing changes in the industry. As an example, members were encouraged to attend the next monthly Membership Meeting on Nov 21 when the new Buyer Broker forms will be covered.

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors©, our headquarters building, and The Real Estate Guide are all healthy, financially strong, and ready to sail into 2025 with positive leaders. It is the many Realtor© and affiliate members that volunteer that time and the dedicated staff that make these organizations so successful. Thanks to all of them!

Vacation Rental Scoop – Local vacation rental managers advise that they already are getting bookings from new winter visitors. Many who usually stay further north in Florida and elsewhere have had their reservations cancelled due to storm damage and are looking instead to come to Sanibel and Captiva. I bet when those newcomers discover what a wonderful place the islands are, they will not want to go back to more congested areas. Fingers crossed that they love it here and also decide to purchase!

At SanibelSusan Realty – We posted a new commercial condo listing this week, Lime Tree Center #2 which is 1200 sq. ft. and all new inside. Conveniently located at 1640 Periwinkle Way, this unit offers great office space in a handy central island location, wiith parking just outside the front door. (Priced at $424K)

Nearby Lime Tree Center #4 which we too have listed is a bit smaller at 987 sq. ft., but also all new inside. Neither have been occupied since they were restored after Ian.  #4 is now priced at $349K. Both are great opportunities for island professionals looking for new office spaces. It is easy to view them too.

Both before and after the storms, Dave and I have met and continue to meet with owners thinking of selling. We aren’t alone. The chatter yesterday at the Realtors® meeting was that many colleagues also have new listings coming on the market soon. Last quarter typically is when the islands see the most new listings and it looks like 2024 will produce more than usual. Some properties are just now restored following Ian, others are casualties from Helene and Milton.

Bear in mind that the storms this year were nothing like two years ago. Clean-up is happening swiftly and islanders are getting smarter and more resilient in this hurricane business. Nearly all the restaurants and businesses that had reopened after Ian have already reopened again. (Some exceptions are on Captiva where they had less damage than Sanibel from Ian, but received a significant amount from Milton.

My crystal ball predicts that this will be a great winter for buyers. Once we get beyond the election, more inventory will be available. We encourage those thinking of selling to list now because last quarter often is when buyers come to view property that they can enjoy themselves or benefit from this winter.

Sure some owners may be suffering from post-hurricane blues, but true island lovers know that Sanibel and Captiva will be back better and stronger than ever. They love not only what they own, but where it is. Living in the most laid-back, caring, kind, eco-friendly community makes it hard to beat.

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

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	75	1,025,185	146	90	2,260,624	129	26	1,131,226	266
Under contract	7	1,092,428	155	9	1,139,544	123	1	3,300,000	499
Sold to 10/25/24	64	816,961	125	149	1,460,046	115	13	1,319,461	175
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:	30	1,338,900	161	16	7,222,375	286	1	12M	421
Under contract	0	N/A	N/A	1	10M	47	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 10/25/24	13	1,728,846	185	6	4,453,750	150	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 Oct 18-25:

Sanibel

CONDOS

9 new listings: Captains Walk #A2 1/1 $329K, Captains Walk #B5 2/1 $365K, Seashells #26 2/2 $445K, Sundial #I207 1/1 $475K, Sanibel Moorings #342 2/2 $779K, Sandalfoot #1C2 2/2 $795K, Loggerhead Cay #472 2/2 $875K, Sandy Bend #5 2/2 $899K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 $899K.

2 price changes: Beachcomber #C201 2/2 now $1.249M, Beachcomber #C301 2/2 now $1.395M,

1 new sale: Heron at The Sanctuary #2-3B 3/2.5 listed at $1.398M.

1 closed sale: Sundial #R305 2/2 $1.365M.

HOMES

6 new listings: 530 Leather Fern Pl 2/2 $350K, 1674 Bunting Ln 3/2 $949K, 887 Casa Ybel Rd (multi-family) 5/3 $1.05M, 2755 Wulfert Rd 3/3.5 $1.398M, 218 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $1.4M, 811 Birdie View Pt 3/2.5 $1.725M.

6 price changes: 1125 Captains Walk St 3/2 now $700K, 2604 Coconut Dr 3/2 now $850K, 838 & 840 Rabbit Rd (multi-family) 4/2 now $979K, 9247 Dimmick Dr 3/2 now $989K, 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 now $1.499M (SanibelSusan listing), 1321 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 now $2.249M.

1 new sale: 1215 Periwinkle Way 1/1.5 listed at $249.9K.

2 closed sales: 1719 Serenity Ln 3/2 $720K, 9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 $956K.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 1653 Bunting Ln $327K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Captiva Shores #6C 2/2 $1.375M.

1 price change: Bayside Villas #4222 1/2 now $525K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11527 Wightman Ln 3/2 $1.249M.

1 price change: 15160 Captiva Dr 6/6.5 now $4.99M

No new or 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, more blue skies and mid-80-degree days are expected here,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan