Another Friday is here as the islands have made it through another week of mostly 60-degree daytime weather with sunshine and a few cloudy days too. With what is happening in other areas, we should not complain about Florida weather, but many look forward to those more-loved moderate days in the 70’s when it also stays light longer.
The warmest days in the upcoming forecast are tomorrow and Sunday when it may reach 73 degrees F, but with an 80% chance of rain Sunday. After that, next week is expected to be back to 60-degree days, 50-degree nights. More winter in paradise!
News on Island Openings
City pix of Blind Pass beach access.
Blind Pass Parking Lot reopened today. Only two public beach access lots still are closed: bayside of Lighthouse Beach and the Turner Beach lot on Captiva. All other public access parking areas have reopened.
Lazy Flamingo 2 on Periwinkle still has their food truck. The restaurant itself is expected to reopen in late Feb/early Mar.
Oceans Reach ribbon cutting 2025.
Oceans Reach condos had their grand opening with ribbon-cutting this week.
With The Sanibel Inn to reopen soon, Dante’s Coal-Fired Pizza, their on-site restaurant, has been looking for staff for their Feb 1 reopening.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors
Plenty of past Presidents had a hand in the program and I was happy to lead the pledge, first honoring military veterans, those serving, and their families.
It also was a surprise to be added to the Association’s Hall of Fame, which usually is reserved for those who have retired. Maybe that is a subtle message, but I love what I do and hope to continue.
2024 Affiliate Honor Society: Attorney Gus Simmons, Dave Arter with Private Client Insurance Services, Amanda Curran owner of Superior Title, & CPA Carol McCarley with Noack & Co (she speaks FIRPTA).
Those recognized for achieving 2024 Honor Society included four affiliate members and 21 Realtors (my 32nd year). Also winning Affiliate of the Year was Amanda Curran with Superior Title. (Her company holds SanibelSusan Realty escrow deposits and is recommended for our closings.)
2024 Honor Society Realtors: Valerie Tutor, Becky Mulka, George Kohlbrenner, Kelly Huguenin, Melanie Holaway, Eric Pfeifer, Jim Hall, Bryan Hall, Milissa Sprecher, Tina DiCharia, Brendan Albright, Greg Demaras, Cathie Lewis, Marvell Bradley, Ted Benjamin, & Susan Andrews
Our new Prez Becky Mulka with her daughter Audrey, husband Wally, & our CEO Bill Robinson.
Big congratulations to all award winners & the 2025 officers and Board of Directors.
Incoming President Becky Mulka’s speech likened our organization to mangroves as a symbol of who we are – strong, flexible, and deeply rooted, able to withstand storms and nurture life in countless ways. Like our Realtors, mangroves also thrive best when they grow together in a group, so we each were gifted with a baby mangrove plant to take home to grow so we can donate them to SCCF later in the year, as we work collectively to create a brighter future for the islands.
The next Realtor Caravan Meeting is Thurs Jan 23.
More Island Real Estate Scoop
Like at other recent meetings, the big topic behind the scenes last night was the real estate market. In speaking with our Florida District V (SW FL) leadership team, including several from the Royal Palm Coast (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, & Fort Myers Beach), Bonita Springs, and Naples, comments were that inventory is up everywhere, and sales are down. Only Naples is not struggling.
Below, with data from the islands MLS are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the MLS action reported this week.
| SANIBEL
RESIDENTIAL |
CONDOS | HOMES | LOTS | ||||||
| # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | |
| For sale: | 125 | 992,183 | 127 | 211 | 2,011,522 | 99 | 37 | 1,034,724 | 23 |
| Under contract | 10 | 874,700 | 116 | 19 | 1,929,526 | 61 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold to 1/17/25 | 1 | 1,967,665 | 397 | 7 | 1,154,428 | 37 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2024 | 75 | 818,493 | 117 | 164 | 1,471,981 | 115 | 15 | 1,403,533 | 192 |
| 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: | 40 | 1,275,250 | 172 | 24 | 6,197,721 | 144 | 1 | 12,000,000 | 505 |
| Under contract | 0 | N/A | N/A | 1 | 999,999 | 34 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold to 1/17/25 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 0 | N/A | N/A | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2024 | 13 | 1,728,846 | 185 | 8 | 4,887,187 | 182 | 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 10-17:
Sanibel
CONDOS
4 new listings: Spanish Cay #F2 1/1 $399K, Spanish Cay #B2 2/2 $575K, Sanibel Moorings #3331 2/2 $749K, Sundial West #K103 2/2 $1.05M.
2 back-on-market: Blind Pass #B211 2/2 $579K, Sanibel Moorings #1441 1/1 $625K.
3 price changes: Lighthouse Point #317 3/2 now $599K, Lighthouse Point #215 3/2 now $998K, Sanibel Surfside #135 2/3 now $999K.
5 new sales: Captains Walk #A2 1/1 listed at $250K, Blind Pass #C101 2/2 listed at $450K, Sanibel Moorings #1541 3/2 listed at $859K, Gulfside Place #209 2/2 listed at $1.195M, Beachcomber #C201 2/2 listed at $1.249M.
No closed sales.
HOMES
15 new listings: 1971 Roseate Ln 2/2 $648K, 966 Greenwood Ct S (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 $739K, 4596 Buck Key Rd 3/2 $849K, 713 Durion Ct 3/2 $949,995: 1521 Wilton Ln 3/2 $1.05M, 5901 San-Cap Rd 3/2 $1.075M, 254 Daniel Dr 3/2 $1.196M, 720 Elinor Way 3/2 $1.295M, 672 Durion Ct 3/2 $1.495M, 954 Whelk Dr 3/3 $2.15M, 865 Birdie View Pt 4/4.5 $2.195M, 5435 Osprey Ct 4/3.5 $2.299M, 4090 West Gulf Dr 5/3 $2.6M, 5045 Joewood Dr 3/3 $3.995M, 5105 Joewood Dr 5/4 $4.35M.
18 price changes: 209 Robinwood Cir 3/2 now $599K, 1225 Captains Walk St 3/3 now $625K, 231 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 now $645K, 1390 Middle Gulf Dr (1/2 duplex) 3/3 now $799K, 4560 Brainard Bayou Rd 3/2 now $799K, 5307 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/3 now $879.9K, 4372 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 now $898K, 9228 Belding Dr 2/2.5 now $950K, 754-756 Donax St 4/2 now $995.5K, 218 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 now $1.395M, 2276 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 now $1.4M, 3711 Agate Ct 3/2.5 now $1.434M, 9439 Cotten Ct 3/2.4 now $1.475M, 941 Pecten Ct 3/2 now $1.595M, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 now $1.645M, 815 Birdie View Pt 3/3 now $1.699M, 829 Pyrula Ave 3/3 now $1.775M, 5250 Caloosa End Ln 3/2.5 now $1.849M.
4 new sales: 1322 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $699K, 436 Glory Cir 3/3 listed at $1.22M, 837 Sand Dollar Rd 4/3.5 listed at $2.995M, 4039 West Gulf Dr 3/4 listed at $4.975M.
3 closed sales: 706 Nerita St 3/2.5 $1.149M, 345 East Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $1.27M, 2688 Coconut Dr 3/2 $2.348M.
LOTS
2 new listings; 2090 Wild Lime Dr $365K, 5085 Joewood Dr $3.495M.
No price changes, new or closed sales.
CAPTIVA
CONDOS
2 new listings: Gulf Beach Villas #2117 1/1 $675K, Beach Cottages #1408 2/2 $1.65M.
1 back-on-market: Bayside Villas #5112 1/2 $385K.
No price changes, new or closed sales.
HOMES
3 new listings: 27 Urchin Ct 2/2.5 $1.25M, 17181 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 $6.975M, 15735 Captiva Dr 5/5 $13.995M.
1 price change: 16979 Captiva Dr 7/7.5 now $7.5M.
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,
Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan