Another week has flown by with so many events happening on the islands, it is hard to decide which one to attend next. Between annual community meetings, offerings at The Community House, BIG ARTS, the Conservation Foundation, the Rec Center, “Ding” Darling, volunteering opportunities, and more, there is a lot going on right through Easter and spring.

Temperature-wise, it has been high 70’s/low 80’s (degrees F) all week, with plenty of sunshine. Looking ahead, the forecasters say there is an 80% chance of rain on Tuesday. We need it and it seems as though every shower washes away more hurricane salt.

The nibbling white birds (all varieties) gathering in roadside swales have increased recently. Maybe more things birds like are in those waterways now that there is less salt. I often see bird groups in the conservation buffers along Bay Dr. Lately, they also were spotted on the north side of West Gulf Dr at the Tarpon Bay Rd intersection and in The Bailey Tract. Fun to see them!

Community Happenings

Donax Village – If you have driven by this condo community lately, you have probably noticed that the nine duplexes and two cottages there are looking well restored. Though elevated ~3 feet above ground, they were extensively damaged during Hurricane Ian when nearly 9’ of water flooded them. It was a 2-year rebuild project to bring them back – and then came Hurricanes Helene and Milton which were just close calls, but eye-opening to owners (like for many). So to prevent future devastation, the Association has decided to elevate the entire community 15’. There will be more to watch there as that project progresses.

White Pelican Villas – last week, Tony Lapi and his team from Sanibel-Captiva Beach Resorts held the ground-breaking for the new White Pelican Villas which are being built by Stevens Construction on the former West Gulf Dr site of Beachview Cottages. This community will feature 22 sustainably-built units all with gulf views.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

During the local Association of Realtors Caravan meeting yesterday, only one new sale was announced, along with plenty of new listings and price reductions. After the meeting a West End Caravan followed with four Sanibel homes, two Captiva homes, and a Sanibel condo open for easy viewing.

As I was heading out, I snapped a few pix and got a chuckle out of hearing Affiliate attorney Gus Simmons say, “Buy real estate now, it is one of the few things that doesn’t have a tariff.”

Affiliate members, like Gus, are so important to our organization. His office (Simmons & Cook) is sponsoring an upcoming Realtor continuing education class at the Association Office on April 16. Titled “A Real Estate Agent’s Guide to Florida’s Condominium Law Post-Surfside”, it covers the recent law changes that came about after the condo building collapse on the East Coast. With the Florida Condo Rider now requiring identification of those properties that are required to have a milestone inspection performed, a turnover inspection report prepared, and a structural integrity reserve study done, it is important for condo owners, their prospective buyers, and Realtors to know which communities must do these. (Yes, I’m registered.)

Another announcement by our Association CEO was that the island MLS soon will be offering a feature called “Listing Trac”. Listing Trac provides online activity metrics for listings including from Realtor.com, Zillow, our MLS, and broker sites, all in one location in a report that we can send to Sellers. Our MLS hopes to roll it out within the next 60 days.

Real Estate Scoop

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

Though teammate Dave and I were out showing property this week, it was another slow one island-wide for sales. Since last Friday, MLS has posted no new sales on Captiva and on Sanibel, no lot sales, but five Sanibel homes and a condo went under contract. With a whopping 633 residential properties now for sale on Sanibel and Captiva, so few sales during a week that is traditionally “high season” is a bit discouraging. It is not entirely surprising, however, given the national news this week. Even open houses are getting few, if any, lookers.

Probably the most often-asked question from sellers is “when is the market going to get better for us?” Will that be after “season”, not until fall, or next winter? The real answer is “when there are more buyers.” We sure wish we knew when that would happen. Fingers crossed that it is soon!

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	191	974,478	117	305	1,770,413	109	42	910,938	261
Under contract	16	901,299	114	22	1,520,422	133	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 4/4/25	27	810,684	107	41	1,478,213	75	3	1,350,000	66
Sold 2024	75	818,493	117	165	1,472,757	114	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:	57	1,280,456	154	35	6,254,368	151	3	9,916,666	238
Under contract	4	1,449,750	344	2	7,072,500	62	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 4/4/25	0	N/A	N/A	1	910,000	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

Economist Lawrence Yun on Jobs Report

Posted today (April 4, 2026): here is NAR Economist Lawrence Yun’s “instant reaction” to the new “jobs report”:

“Wall Street is struggling but Main Street is managing to hold on so far. Job gains were solid in March with 228,000 net additions. More Americans also chose to look for jobs, which caused the unemployment rate to tick up to 4.2%. The wage growth of 3.8% is outpacing consumer price inflation at 2.8%. However, keep in mind that the jobs data tends to be a lagging indicator of the economy.

“Despite the second consecutive month of reduction in federal government jobs, overall government staffing increased due to local government hiring, primarily in the education sector. Expect further declines in federal jobs in the coming months. Construction jobs rose in the non-residential sector, while there was a pullback among general contractors in the residential sector.

“The future direction of the economy remains uncertain due to tariff wars and potential negotiations. In the meantime, interest rates on FHA and VA loans could soon drop below 6% in a matter of days. Rates on conventional and jumbo loans are also declining as money shifts from stocks to bonds. The current job additions and decreasing rates are likely to lead to more home sales. In states with faster job additions, particularly in the Rocky Mountain time zone and the southern states, home sales could increase significantly. Be prepared.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Mar 28-Apr 4

Sanibel

CONDO

9 new listings: Captains Walk #F1 2/1.5 $364,999; Sandpebble #3E 2/2 438.5K, Sundial #I101 1/1 $524.9K, Blind Pass #B110 2/2 $549K, Oceans Reach 3X1 1/1 $719K, Sandalfoot #5D2 2/2 $899K, Sandalfoot #5D3 2/2 $949K, Sundial #K103 2/2 $995K, Pointe Santo #E7 2/2 $1.195M.

9 price changes: Sanibel Arms #H2 1/1 now $340K, Sanibel Moorings #212 1/1 now $525K, Sundial C3071/1 now $525K, Blind Pass #B211 2/2 now $539K, Oceans Reach #3X3 1/1 now $670K, Sanibel Moorings #822 2/2 now $698K, Sanibel Moorings #1112 2/2 now $860K, Sandalfoot #1A2 2/2 now $899K, Sanddollar #A302 3/2 now $1.795M.

1 new sale: Somerset #D201 3/2.5 listed at $1.725M.

5 closed sales: Captains Walk #C6 1/1 $200K, Cottage Colony West #139 2/2 $575K, Lighthouse Point #323 3/2 $905K, Loggerhead Cay #142 2/2 $962,813; Sundial #K403 2/2 $975K.

HOMES

9 new listings: 5773 San-Cap Rd 2/2 $1.349M, 1590 Century Ct 3/3 $1.395M, 5425 Shearwater Dr (1/2 duplex) 3/2 $1.549M, 1234 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 $1.595M, 848 Limpet Dr 3/2 $2.15M, 2391 Shop Rd 3/2.5 $2.195M, 6047 San-Cap Rd 3/2.5 $2.4M, 6450 Pine Ave 3/3 $2.4M, 2617 Coconut Dr 3/3.5 $3.695M.

1 back-on-market: 479 Lagoon Dr 3/3 listed at $1.998M.

18 price changes: 575 Hideaway Ct 3/2 now $699K, 551 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 now $719,555; 1684 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $775K, 1978 Roseate Ln 3/2 now $779K, 1315 Par View Dr 3/2 now $950K, 1113 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $999K, 1985 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $1.295M, 716 Rabbit Rd 3/2.5 now $1.299M, 736 Windlass Way 3/2 now $1.399M, 2449 Harbour Ln 2/2 now $1.4M, 2450 Wulfert Rd 4/3 now $1.495M, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 now $1.548M, 2312 Wulfert Rd 4/3 now $1.55M, 1543 San Carlos Bay Dr 5/4 now $2.899M. 1258 Anhinga Ln 4/4 now $3.95M, 628 Lighthouse Way 4/5.5 now $4.85M, 4513 Waters Edge Ln 3/2.5 now $4.925M, 592 Lighthouse Way 3/2 now $5.9M.

5 new sales: 4596 Buck Key Rd 3/2 listed at $699K, 499 Leather Fern Pl 3/2 listed at $875K, 1521 Wilton Ln 3/2 listed at $975K, 1646 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 listed at $1.099M, 2276 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 listed at $1.3M.

3 closed sales: 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $520K, 1677 Sabal Sands Rd 3/2 $775K, 436 Glory Cir 3/2 $1.15M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 2349 Wulfert Rd $398K

2 price changes: 5085 Joewood Dr now $3.1M, 1801 Olde Middle Gulf Dr now $5.999M.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Captiva Beach Villas #E 5/4.5 now $3.589M.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16585 Captiva Dr 5/4.5,5 $5.75M.

4 price changes:15155 Wiles Dr 3/2 now $2.149M, 16813 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $3.25M, 15899 Captiva Dr 4/3 now $5.25M, 16979 Captiva Dr 7/7.5 now $5,694,900.

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 in or participated in these transactions.