Sunny southwest Florida weather continues with bright clear water still being enjoyed by island beachgoers and boaters. The rainy season has not begun, though the last couple of days some popcorn clouds have been spotted. Those usually are a warning that showers are coming, but I always joke that they must pay the island toll first. They often get stuck inland.

Daytime temperatures here remain in the mid- to high-80’s/low 90’s (degrees F) and hopefully good weather stays through the holiday weekend. Memorial Day usually brings more overnight visitors and day-trippers. Hopefully, some will be looking to buy real estate.

Restoration Continues

Again, this week, plenty of new landscaping was noticed during my island travels. A list below of just a few that I saw:

• Beachcomber – many new palms, plants, and sod. Looks completely new.
• Kings Crown has many new large palms. Project is ongoing.
• Seascape also looks to have completed their new plantings.
• Villa Sanibel also is sporting new vegetation. I heard they will be reopening for rentals on July 1.

Spring Nests

Least Tern Chicks – SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) reports that their staff & volunteers have been working hard to protect at least 70 least tern nests on the causeway islands. The first babies were spotted this week. These chicks usually can walk within days but stay in the nest for several days. Then, after about two weeks. they venture a little further. With the holiday weekend approaching, causeway visitors are asked to watch out for these tiny vulnerable chicks. Tern nesting season runs until August, when the colony will head off to winter in Central or South America. This is the third straight year that these birds have nested here after a 30-year absence.

Sea Turtles – This week SCCF also documented the first 2025 green sea turtle nest on the islands. It was laid by the same sea turtle that SCCF has encountered 12 times over the last seven years. Nearly all sea turtle nests laid here are from loggerhead turtles, but there could be as many as 30 green turtle nests. SCCF documented the first loggerhead nest on April 25. As of SCCF has recorded 132 sea turble nests on the island (the same number as last year at this time). Turtle nesting season goes through October.

To assist SCCF, volunteer or donate, please contact them at SCCF.org. With snowbirds leaving, particularly now, they are looking for more help.

Island Real Estate Scoop

The island Association of Realtors had no Caravan Meeting this week, as classes for the SCIS (Sanibel Captiva Islands Specialist) designation were underway. There was, however, listing activity posted in the MLS as detailed below.

Market conditions continue to favor buyers and likely will until inventory goes down. In the meantime, year-to-date, there are 119 closed residential Sanibel sales (that including condos, homes, and residential lots), and just four on Captiva.

With 492 active residential listings on Sanibel and 96 on Captiva, it does not take an economist to say that there are years of inventory. Buyers have more choices than in years. Also, many properties now are in “like-new” condition. As recovery continues, more will come on the market.

This market is like much of Florida and the nation, where sales overall are down compared to last year, inventory is up, with prices easing.

Will it take a summer without a hurricane for sales here to improve? Probably, as that is the biggest objection, we hear from prospective purchasers. Betcha though that those willing to jump before the upward swing returns will benefit. As unique as the islands are, the market will come back.

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 were five residential island sales this week, all on Sanibel (a condo and four homes). That is fewer than in many weeks, but typical for just after “season” when winter residents head north and before summer vacations begin.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	174	981,370	143	273	1,783,454	134	45	1,245,164	288
Under contract	11	795,545	112	24	1,376,481	120	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 5/23/25	47	796,095	122	68	1,408,238	112	4	1,095,000	79
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	1,224,419	188	42	6,120,761	170	3	9,916,666	287
Under contract	2	2,394,500	62	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 5/23/25	3	1,065,000	477	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 16-23

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sundial #H402 2/2 $725K.

8 price changes: Spanish Cay #F6 1/1 now $473K, Sanibel Moorings #212 1/1 now $485K, Lighthouse Point #319 2/2 now $599K, Sandy Bend #5 2/2 now $599K, Sanibel Moorings #232 2/2 now $685K, Sanibel Moorings #1541 3/2 now $849K, Heron at The Sanctuary #1-2B 3/3.5 now $1.095M.

1 new sale: Nutmeg Village #211 2/2 listed at $939K.

2 closed sales: Sundial #I207 1/1 $375K, Sandpiper Beach #505 2/2 $710K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 2612 Coconut Dr 3/2 $1.25M, 6180 Henderson Rd 2/2 $1.8M, 742 Nerita St 3/2 $1.8M, 4099 West Gulf Dr 5/5.5 $3.5M, 1581 San Carlos Bay Dr 4/3.5 $3.995M, 6401 Pine Ave 4/3.5 $4.995M.

2 back-on-market: 9439 Cotton Ct 4/4.5 $1.15M, 1590 Century Ct 3/3 $1.395M.

10 price changes: 1446 Sandpiper Cir (1/2 duplex) 2/2 now $589K, 3362 Barra Cir 2/2 now $725K, 1426 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $995K, 1270 Par View Dr 3/2 now $999.5K, 5753 Pine Tree Dr 3/4 now $1.395M, 1428 Albatross Rd 3/2.5 now $1.485M, 5230 Caloosa End Ln 4/3.5 now $2.194M, 6450 Pine Ave 3/3 now $2.34M, 628 Lighthouse Way 4/5.5 now $4,099,995, 5071 Joewood Dr 4/5.5.5 now $4.95M.

4 new sales: 554 East Rocks Dr 3/2 listed at $999K, 252 Daniel Dr 3/2 listed at $1.195M, 1441 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $1.599M, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 4/4.5 listed at $1.599M.

3 closed sales: 690 Purdy Dr 3/2 $399K, 1731 Serenity Ln 4/3 $725K, 811 Birdie View Pt 3/2.5 $1.01M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 4155, 4163, & 4171 West Gulf Dr $14M.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 1377 Jamaica Dr $330K.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

1 new listing: Captiva Hide-a-Way #2C 2/2 $1.395M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

5 price changes: 11525 Laika Ln 4/2.5.5 now $1.599M, 15155 Wiles Dr 3/2 now $1.979M, 16891 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $3.5M, 15153 Captiva Dr 3/3 now $5.25M, 16886 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 now $6.9M.

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.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan