It is another sunny Sanibel Friday, hopefully a lucky Friday the 13^th and happy start to the weekend, especially for those celebrating Fathers’ Day.

I admit I was wrong last week saying the gorgeous color of the water around the islands was done with the onset of the rainy season. After beautiful weather last Friday, more sunshine continued right through the weekend until late Wed on Sanibel with blue skies every day.

It was especially appreciated Tuesday when the SanibelSusan Team showed seven homes. We finished up in The Dunes stopping at their restaurant for a late lunch. It had been a couple of hurricanes ago since I had been there, so it was great to see that the décor, service, chow, and view still are wonderful. (A tropical chicken salad is a new menu addition and fabulous!)

Late Wednesday, after some off-island chores, I was on the causeway heading home about 5 p.m. when a huge black cloud followed. The ominous black sky to the east, bright turquoise bay water, and sunshine to the west were an unusual color-combination and so striking that it was almost eerie. The colors were amazing, and I made it home before a soft rain began.

Yesterday also was sunny, until mid-afternoon when the clouds again rolled across the causeway late afternoon and thunder boomed in the distance. The island has had just enough rain this week that there was no need to add pool water and vegetation is growing like crazy, while Dave reports they have had daily showers, sometimes heavy, just off-island

The Sanibel forecast shows only 15-20% chance of rain next week, so maybe the brilliant water will stay around a bit longer.

Captivaville Songwriters Weekend

The Seventh Annual Captivaville Songwriters Weekend begins today and runs through Sunday at ‘Tween Waters Inn and Marina. It is Captiva’s largest music festival and features local singer-songwriters. Performances are scheduled with kick-off party from 5:15 to 8 p.m. tonight, poolside tomorrow from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday brunch in The Shipyard restaurant beginning at 11 a.m. Attendees need to purchase either a day-pass or have a room reservation. Call 239-472-5161 Ext 1 for more info.

Star Spangled Sanibel

Things are getting back to normal with the best July 4^th planned this year to also celebrate the City’s 50^th Anniversary. Below is a line-up of events to far:

• 4^th of July Pancake Breakfast – 7 to 9 a.m. at Sanibel Community Church.
• Independence Day Parade – begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tarpon Bay Rd where Island Inn Rd intersects, then up Periwinkle Way to Casa Ybel Rd.
• July 4^th Celebration at Jerry’s – at the shopping center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Red, White, & 50-Years Bright Community Celebration – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sanibel Recreation Center.
• 45^th Annual Friends-of-Randy Road Rally – vehicle scavenger hunt begins at noon at The Timbers parking lot. This year it benefits C.R.O.W. (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife).
• 4^th of July Dinner at The Dunes With Danny Morgan – 6 to 10 p.m.
• Fireworks – 9 p.m. weather permitting from north end of Bailey Rd into bay.

Sanibel Vegetation Trimming

This Sunday, June 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sanibel Public Works advises that the vegetation from Periwinkle Way will be trimmed from Casa Ybel Rd to Tarpon Bay Rd. Traffic may sometimes be reduced to one-lane. Roadsides then will be parade ready!

Condo-Tel Rates

Loan rates often are not the greatest for investors looking to purchase a condo-tel. Those units are in a building that is legally a condominium but operated as a hotel, offering short-term rentals, and maintaining a front desk. There are several of those on Sanibel including Sundial, Oceans Reach, Sandalfoot, etc. and many at South Seas Resort on Captiva.

I heard from one of our long-time local bankers this week. He handled the loan for the first property I purchased on Sanibel. He is with a portfolio mortgage lender which is funding non-warrantable condo-tel loans with just a 15% down payment and no PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). They offer a 7-year ARM at 7.5% (3.375 points) and 10-year ARM at 7.625% with no points. These are available for both foreign and domestic 2^nd home buyers and investors, up to $3M loan amount for a purchase or re-finance.

Island Real Estate Scoop

Yesterday, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors had their first Caravan meeting in several weeks. It was open to any location, either island. Only seven Sanibel homes were open for viewing after the meeting. The next meeting is in two weeks on June 26. That is also our monthly membership meeting with guest speaker from CEPD (Captiva Erosion Protection District).

Below, with data from the island MLS are the details of the MLS action reported this week.

There were just four new residential sales posted in MLS this week, all on Sanibel: a gulf-front condo and three homes.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	160	978,734	155	242	1,634,270	139	43	1,297,776	279
Under contract	9	836,166	140	21	1,311,078	159	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 6/13/25	55	798,599	120	79	1,432,284	113	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:	49	1,237,232	189	41	6,334,585	183	3	9,916,666	308
Under contract	1	680,000	304	2	2,487,000	159	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 6/13/25	6	1,313,333	269	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 Jun 6-13

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sand Pointe #122 2/2 $699K, Sundial #J304 2/2 $899K.

1 price change: Sanibel Arms #A7 1/1 now $369K.

1 new sale: Sundial #L404 2/2 listed at $1.6M.

2 closed sales: Beach Road Villas #103 2/2 $549K, Loggerhead Cay #184 2/2 $845K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1839 Farm Tr 3/2 $799K, 771 Rabbit Rd 2/2 (1/2 duplex) $849K, 1448 Albatross Rd 3/2 $879K, 1550 Center St 3/2 $900K, 1226 Par View Dr 3/2 $995K, 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 $2.699M.

2 back-on-market: 654 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $985K, 4513 Waters Edge Ln 3/2.5 $4.9M.

9 price changes: 220 Hurricane Ln 2/2 now $499K, 2126 Egret Cir 3/2 now $799K, 3314 Saint Kilda Rd 3/2 now $899K, 9439 Cotton Ct 4/4.5 now $1.089M, 1202 Sand Castle Rd 4/2.5 now $1.199M, 3008 Turtle Gait Ln 3/2 now $1.399M, 6101 Starling Way 4/3.5 now $1.746M, 2287 Starfish Ln 4/4 now $2,199,999; 461 Lake Murex Cir 4/3.5 now $2.225M.

3 new sales: 586 Boulder Dr 3/2 listed at $499,999; 5089 San-Cap Rd 3/2 listed at $798K, 1158 Golden Olive Ct 5/5.5 listed at $2.995M.

5 closed sales: 1660 Bunting Ln 4/3.5 $1.1M, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 4/4.5 $1.25M, 1870 Woodring Rd 3/3.5 $2.35M, 4352 West Gulf Dr 5/3.5 $2.675M, 2307 Wulfert Rd 4/4 $3M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1030 White Ibis Dr $629K.

1 price change: 2438 Wulfert Rd now $399K.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5144 1/2 $545K.

4 price changes: Bayside Villas #4116 1/2 now $495K, Bayside Villas #4118 1/2 now $495K, Beach Villas #2323 1/1 now $645K, Gulf Beach Villas #2122 2/2 now $1.85M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #5124 1/2 $285K.

HOMES & 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 weekend,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan