This probably is not the week to be boasting about Florida weather. Though we did not see freezing temperatures here, in many Florida Panhandle locations, not only were single-day and event snowfall records broken, but the state record also was broken. The system this week brought 8-9” of snow in Milton, FL. That more than doubles the 4” state record in 1954.

Here on Sanibel and Captiva, where we are used to balmy winters, anything under 60 degrees F can feel frigid. I chuckle about the comments received when wearing a jacket with flip flops. It’s the Sanibel way!

Yesterday, it was drizzly and didn’t get out of the 40’s, but it is warming up today with the sun out. Has already crept up to 60 but expected to be another cold morning tomorrow. (I haven’t seen any iguanas lately but got a kick of this image posted by Wink news.)

Starting Sunday, forecasters say it will be back into the 70’s right through next week. Hooray!

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The island Realtor Meeting yesterday was well attended and a full caravan (15 properties are allowed).

During announcements, members were asked to update their residential listings. A new Multiple Listing Service (MLS) field now is required and provides another search criteria. It identifies if a property is elevated (yes or no).

During the community discussion, I advised that the 2025 budget package for Sanibel Arms West is now posted with our listing, as well as details about the change in their on-site rental program condo commission (now 15.75%, which still is less than the traditional off-site programs at 20%).

After the meeting, 10 Sanibel homes, three Sanibel condos, and one Captiva condo were open for easy viewing. One condo was cancelled due to the weather.

The next Sanibel/Captiva Caravan meeting is Feb 6, but between now and then are the Florida Realtors Md-Winter Business Meetings in Orlando. I will be listening next Friday to their 14^th Real Estate Trends presentation when Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr Brad O’Connor will share his insights into where Florida’s economy and the real estate market are heading over the coming year.

At SanibelSusan Realty

Again, this week, teammate Dave and I met with more owners considering selling. It is not fun describing how the market has sifted in favor of buyers, but they appreciate our honesty.

I also again heard from Realtors wondering if we are getting showings at our ground-level listings. It still seems that many properties are not getting showings whether they are elevated or not. It seems unanimous that round-levels particularly are not being shown. Hopefully that improves as the islands get busier.

It also was a pleasure to refer several owners to businesses that have provided good service to us and our clients through the years. Getting thank-you calls and messages from those colleagues after contacts are made are further signs of their professionalism.

This week, we acknowledge and appreciate relationships with Amanda Curran at Superior Title, Carol McCarley at Noack & Co CPA’s, Attorney Gus Simmons, Rob Pailes with SBL Vacation Rentals, and Patience Rodriguez with Select Vacation Properties.

I also should mention a couple of companies with accomplishments this week at my home. John Grey Painting has done work for me for years, but who knew they would have a crew working through the weekend (Fri, Sat, and Sun). Then midweek, during the chill, a duo from Sliderman quickly removed and serviced my sliders, so they now work smoothly!

Please let us know if you also have service providers/vendors that you are happy with. We often are asked for recommendations, update our hand-out list periodically, and are always looking for additions.

Restoration News

Though restoration progress sometimes seems slow, it is always positive to hear about and see changes.

At the 2^nd annual “State of the Islands” event this week hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and SCCF, it was announced that though the percentage of accommodations ready for occupancy still is low, it is expected to increase to 48% by April.

(Unfortunately, I also heard that one complex that has been open for many months, has only 30% of their available units booked now. Visitor traffic is way down.)

More new landscaping is going in at several complexes and new signage at others. Several are expected to reopen for rentals in Feb. while Sanibel Arms West hopes to partially open this weekend.

Beach renourishment also continues. It has been a steady stream of sand trucks on the East End and Middle Gulf Dr.

More Island Real Estate Scoop

Again, this week on Sanibel and Captiva, our MLS hot sheets included more new and back-on-market listings, and price changes, with a whopping 70 in total,

During the same seven days, there were seven new sales posted (five Sanibel condos and two homes).

Also, since last Friday, four island closings were recorded, three Sanibel homes, one on Captiva.

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

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	131	1,019,059	124	232	1,950,651	96	38	1,020,494	239
Under contract	15	795,100	102	19	2,074,315	37	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 1/24/25	1	1,967,665	397	10	1,185,600	77	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:	44	1,230,761	163	24	6,938,625	137	2	8,875,000	257
Under contract	0	N/A	N/A	1	999,999	34	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 1/24/25	0	N/A	N/A	1	910,100	86	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 17-24:

Sanibel

CONDOS

13 new listings: Sanibel Arms #A7 1/1 $420K, Tennisplace #B32 2/1 $449K, Captains Walk #D4 2/1 $469K, Spanish Cay #F7 1/1 $549K, Blind Pass #D201 2/2 $669.9K, Sanibel Arms West #L1 2/2 $749K, 2/2.5 $1.175M, Heron at The Sanctuary #1-2B 3/3.5 $1.275M, Nutmeg Village #309 2/2 $1.275M, Sanibel Surfside #111 2/2 $1.625M, Chelsea Place #2 4/4.5 $3.695M.

3 price changes: Sandalfoot #5B2 1/1 now $599K, Sanibel Moorings #1422 2/2 now $729K, Gulfside Place #108 2/2 now $1.599M.

5 new sales: Captains Walk #F2 2/1.5 listed at $315K, Captains Walk #A4 2/2 listed at $379K, Lighthouse Point #317 3/2 listed at $599K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 listed at $899K, Loggerhead Cay #142 2/2 listed at $987.5K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

21 new listings: 1651 Sand Castle Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 $715K, 455 Peachtree Rd 2/2 $855K, 9436 Sage Ct 3/2 $995K, 3362 Barra Cir 2/2 $999K, 555 Piedmont Rd 3/2 $1.075M, 1105 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.095M, 284 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2.5 $1.095M, 4739 Rue Belle Mer 3/2.5 $1.150M, 1825 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2 $1.249M, 1154 Harbor Cottage Ct (1/2 duplex) 3/2 $1.25M, 1062 S Yachtsman Dr 4/3 $1.349M, 736 Durion Ct 3/3 $1.395M, 702 Pyrula Ave 3/2 $1.559M, 1250 Christofer Ct 4/3.5 $1.599M, 1441 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.649M, 4353 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2.5 $1.75M, 6440 Pine Ave 3/3.5.5 $1.995M, 479 Lagoon Dr 3/3 $1.998M, 4166 Dingman Dr 4/4 $2.149M, 1543 San Carlos Bay Dr 5/4 $3.199M, 2319 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 $3.247M.

1 back-on-market: 5243 Indian Ct 2/2 $1.689M.

22 price changes: 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 now $595K, 1806 Ibis Ln 3/2 now $699K, 1950 Periwinkle Way (1/2 duplex) 3/2 now $699.9K, 1636 Jamaica Dr 2/2 now $729K, 575 Hideaway Ct 3/2 now $849K, 235 Palm Lake Dr 2/2 now $874K, 1625 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $880K, 9003 Mockingbird Dr 5/4 $899.9K, 754-756 Donax St 4/2 now $995.5K, 1426 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $1,074,999; 1646 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 now $1.149M, 3711 Agate Ct 3/2.5 now $1.394M, 592 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 now $1.399M, 1985 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $1.589M, 941 Pecten Ct 3/2 now $1.595M, 2450 Wulfert Rd 4/3 now $1.845M, 939 Beach Rd 4/3.5 now $1.95M, 1052 Whisperwood Way 3/3 now $2M, 2667 Coconut Dr 3/3 now $2.195M, 1044 Whisperwood Way 4/4.5 now $2.289M, 589 Kinzie Island Ct 4/3.5 now $2.489M, 1730 Jewel Box Dr 4/3 now $3.495M.

2 new sales: 485 Peachtree Rd 3/3 listed at $1.05M, 5045 Joewood Dr 3/3 listed at $3.995M.

3 closed sales: 812 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $625K, 746 Nerita St 4/2 $1.55M, 6153 Starling Way 3/2 $1.6M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 651 Donax St $569K.

1 price change: 2453 Wulfert Rd now $450K.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

3 new listings: Tennis Villas #3221 1/1 $414.5K, Bayside Villas #4112 1/2 $579K, Gulf Beach Villas #2121 3/3 $1.475M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

2 new listings: 11547 Laika Ln 4/4 $2.995M, 16950 Captiva Dr 7/7 $23M.

1 price change: 15155 Wiles Dr 3/2 now $2.249M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 11527 Wightman Ln 3/2 $910K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 16970 Captiva Dr $5.75M.

No price changes, new, or closed sales.

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 & come to Sanibel & Captiva to get warm,

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan