With the rainy season just around the corner, there has been a noticeable increase in new landscaping going in around the island.  Since the summer showers have not begun yet (just a couple of quick sprinkles earlier this week), the gulf and bay waters remain a clear bright blue.

At Tarpon Beach condos, the new landscaping plan also includes a new entrance. Many owners and communities forward to getting free watering for their new vegetation and more greenery as the spring growing season continues. In addition to seeing new plants going in, there also has been a scurry of activity this week with swales and drainage areas being cleaned out along the Gulf Drives. I saw them today at Casa Ybel Resort.

There also has been serious tree trimming around East End utility lines and along the sides of roadways, including Tarpon Bay Rd. Anchor Drive took an entire day & then I saw them on Causeway Bldvd. Sanibel will be better prepared for rainy season this year!

Speaking of tarpon, many more fishing boats have been lined up next to the causeway bridges this week too. Today was the 13^th Annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, but no results have announced yet.

Florida Tops U.S. For Economy

Posted Wednesday on Florida Realtors: “Florida ranks No. 1 for economy, No. 2 in education, and No 6 overall in U.S. News’ Best States list – up three spots from last year…

“The ranking, which looks at eight categories (health care, education, natural environment, opportunity, economy, crime and corrections, infrastructure and fiscal stability) across 71 different metrics, also placed Florida as second in the nation for education.

“U.S. News & World report said the state’s dramatic growth bolstered the economy for the No. 1 spot. “With millions of visitors each year to its beaches, major amusement parks centered around Orlando and cruise ships departing from ports on both coasts, tourism is a major contributor to Florida’s gross domestic product.

The state’s agriculture industry is also robust, with Florida groves producing many of the country’s oranges and a winter vegetable industry that makes agriculture a year-round enterprise,” U.S. News’ analysts said.

“Tourism, which pays a sizable share of the state’s sales tax, also has enabled Florida to remain among the states without a personal income tax – adding to the allure of the nation’s leading retirement haven.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis lauded the state’s ranking, noting Florida climbed three spots in Best State rankings overall from last year. “Great momentum!”

Florida was the only state in the South to make the top 10 list:

1. Utah
2. New Hampshire
3. Idaho
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska
6. Florida
7. Vermont
8. South Dakota
9. Massachusetts
10. Washington

Causeway News

More folks also have been enjoying the causeway island beaches and this week the speed limit returned to 35, but just on the causeway. From the toll booth west, it remains 20 with construction continuing in that area.

Heading on/or off island, it still pays to drive cautiously as visitors are adjusting to the new causeway beach entrances. Bikers are back on the causeway too.

SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) also is monitoring least terns also have been observed nesting on the causeway again this year. This will be the third straight year with them there, after a 30-year absence. Last year, they successfully fledged chicks.

Sea Turtles

Daily monitoring of the 18 miles of Sanibel and Captiva beaches began on April 15 with SCCF documenting the first sea turtle nest of the year on April 25. Since then, their staff and volunteers, beginning each day at dawn, have reported ten loggerhead turtle nests and 28 false crawls. Nesting season will continue to pick up (particularly in June and July), so please remember to keep beach lights out after 9 p.m.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

It was an East-End Caravan meeting yesterday at the Islands Association of Realtors. The tour following the meeting had a Sanibel condo, a Sanibel home, and a Captiva home open for easy viewing. Next week is West-End Caravan, while at our monthly membership meeting on May 29, we look forward to hearing from guest speaker, Sanibel Mayor Mike Miller.

Real Estate Scoop

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

There have been seven new island sales this week: two Sanibel condos, four Sanibel homes, and a Captiva condo.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	179	979,662	130	285	1,792,484	126	45	943,631	277
Under contract	11	706,545	142	21	1,462,402	153	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 5/9/25	43	826,720	119	60	1,437,645	105	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:	51	1,166,321	180	41	6,214,463	160	3	9,916,666	273
Under contract	3	1,994,666	178	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 5/9/25	2	1,097,500	473	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

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity May 2-9

Sanibel

CONDO

4 new listings: Lighthouse Point #111 2/2 $548K, Sanibel Surfside #113 2/2 $930K, Sanddollar #302 3/2 $1.499M, Sundial #A210 2/2 $1.95M.

7 price changes: Cottage Colony West #132 1/1 now $503K, Sandalfoot #2C2 2/2 now $725,555; Sundial #A308 2/2 now $849K, Sandalfoot #1A2 2/2 now $849K, Sandalfoot #5D2 2/2 now $849K, Sandalfoot #5D3 2/2 now $879K, Sundial #J104 2/2 now $985K.

2 new sales: By-the-Sea #B101 3/2 listed at $699K, Heron at The Sanctuary #1-3A 3/2.5 listed at $1M.

3 closed sales: Sunset South #7D 2/2 $550K (SanibelSusan listing), Sanibel Inn #3511 2/2 $825K, Sundial #O406 2/2 $1.5M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 548 Chert Ct 3/2 $899K, 1202 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $1.299M, 2337 Wulfert Rd 4/3 $1.694M.

1 back-on-market: 1062 S Yachtsman Dr 3/3 $1.299M.

18 price changes: 9455 Beverly Ln 2/2 now $610K, 1651 Sand Castle Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 now $669K, 9338 Belding Dr 2/2.5 now $749K, 5309 Umbrella Pool Ct 3/3 now $835K, 249 Christofer Ct 3/2 now $1.025M, 272 Ferry Landing Dr 3/3 now $1.095M, 458 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $1.139M, 717 Gopher Walk Way 3/3.5 now $1.195M, 2525 Lands End Pl 4/3 now $1.375M, 702 Pyrula Ave 3/2 now $1.395M,  713 Durion Ct 3/2 now $1.4M, 829 Pyrula Ave 3/3 now $1.495M, 203 Daniel Dr 3/3 now $1.495M, 821 Lindgren Blvd 3/3 now $1.595M, 848 Limpet Dr 3/2 now $2.05M, 5435 Osprey Ct 4/3.5 now $2.099M, 4972 Joewood Dr 4/3.5 now $2.55M, 1146 Golden Olive Ct 4/4.5 now $2.9M.

4 new sales: 551 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 listed at $675,555; 736 Windlass Way 3/2 listed at $1.399M, 9439 Cotten Ct 4/4.5 listed at $1.15M, 9113 Mockingbird Dr 3/3.5 listed at $1.995M.

4 closed sales: 4596 Buck Key Rd 3/2 $645K, 588 Hideaway Ct 3/2 $685K, 284 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2.5 $1.095M, 906 Snowberry Ln 4/4.5 $3.95M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1746 Windward Way $495K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

No new listings.

3 price changes: Bayside Villas #4110 1/2 now $325K, Bayside Villas #5208 1/2 now $450K, Tennis Villas #3132 2/2 now $672.5K.

1 new sale: Beach Homes #29 4/4 listed at $2.999M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 54 Sandpiper Ct 2/2 $1.36M.

2 price changes:  16500 Captiva Dr 6/5.5 now $6.995M, 1127 Longifolia Ct 4/4 now $7.4M.

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.