It was another week of mostly blue skies on Sanibel and Captiva, while hearing about high temperatures in other areas way further north. Even had a pal that summers on Prince Edward Island post a picture of their thermometer reading at 6 p.m. midweek at 102 degrees F. Wow! They sure are happy to have air conditioning.

Highs at my home this week, occasionally hit 90 degrees. There have been a few sporadic showers too, but nothing like the thunder buster I got caught in midweek when coming out of an appointment in Fort Myers where the parking lot was ankle-deep in seconds.  Sunshine welcomed me back on the islands.

In reading the Sanibel Recreation Center newsletter, I noticed that the 2026 beach parking stickers will be available in October. Whenever thinking about parking, it reminds me of the cute little access in Sanibel Harbours. I took a drive there this afternoon (pix below). It is still a wee favorite!

Florida’s Islands Are Among Nation’s Best

Posted this week on Florida Realtors, credited to Vinod Sreeharsha. 2025 Miami Herald: “Five Florida islands made Travel + Leisure’s 2025 top 15 U.S. islands list, highlighting their charm and resilience after multiple hurricanes.

“MIAMI — The Sunshine State is home to several of the best islands to visit in the entire continental United States, according to a newly published survey that includes two locales hit hard by three hurricanes in four years – a tribute to Floridians’ resilience.

“The bragging rights stem from the results of the publication Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, out in July. The annual issue, in its 30th year, asked readers all over the globe to vote on their favorite top destinations, hotels, and a host of other categories. While several of Florida’s islands dominated in that category, cities and hotels across the state didn’t perform quite as competitively. The winning islands were:

• Amelia Island in second
• Marco Island in sixth
• Florida Keys in eighth
• Sanibel Island in 11th
• Captiva Island in 15th.

“Florida dominated that category, providing five of the top 15. That was more than any other state in the continental U.S. It was also one more than it had in the 2024 World’s Best Awards – Marco Island joined the other four for the first time this year…

“Even as the island category was where Florida shined, the results also reflected the increasing pull of the world…. The big winner was Paros in Greece, chosen as the top island in the world. Mount Desert Island in Maine was the best in the U.S….”

The Sanibel School 2025 Rankings

The results are in. The Sanibel School which serves grades PK-8 continues to be the #1 school in the Lee County District for both Elementary and Middle Schools. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school.

Out of a total of 2,193 Elementary and 1,057 Middle Schools in Florida, The Sanibel School ranked #4 in Elementary Schools and #28 in Middle Schools.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The islands Association of Realtors did not meet this week, but a Lunch & Learn, hosted by Affiliates with Noack & Company, provided their insight into the new “one big, beautiful bill”, foreign clients, and Hurricane Ian tax update. Their Senior Accountant Carol McCarley, through the years, has helped many foreign clients. She is a FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) expert. More details about that presentation next week.

Also next week is the July Membership Meeting with insurance updates from Affiliates Dave Arter with Private Client Insurance Services and Chris Heidrick with Heidrick & Company.

The slow summer season continues with just three new sales posted this week in the island MLS, all Sanibel homes. 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.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	160	928,890	168	201	1,607,121	149	42	1,272,009	297
Under contract	7	762,714	183	15	1,627,493	175	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 7/18/25	60	787,216	117	102	1,394,961	125	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:	47	1,276,882	211	33	5,819,333	198	3	9,916,666	343
Under contract	1	295,000	154	3	2,518,333	74	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 7/18/25	9	1,075,555	256	2	1,255,000	138	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 July 11-18

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Pointe Santo #C41 2/2 $925K.

5 price changes: Cottage Colony West #102 1/1 now $469.5K, Blind Pass #G206 2/2 now $625K, Sanibel Moorings #331 2/2 now $739K, Kings Crown #212 2/2 now $895K, Sanibel Sunset #102 3/2 now $949K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: By-the-Sea #B101 3/2 $600K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 6447 Pine Ave 3/2.5 $799K, 3366 Barra Cir 3/2.5 $1.195M, 9056 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $1.679M.

6 price changes: 1657 Atlanta Plaza Dr 3/2 now $674K, 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 now $749,999; 69298 Kincaid Ct 3/2 now $750K, 771 Rabbit Rd (1/2 duplex) 2/2 now $799K, 1105 Skiff Pl 4/3 now $899K, 213 Daniel Dr 4/3 now $1.399M.

3 new sales: 1846 Farm Tr 3/2 listed at $699K, 654 Sea Oats Dr 4/2 listed at $985K, 2402 Wulfert Rd 4/3.5 listed at $1.595M.

1 closed sale: 461 Lake Murex Cir 4/3.5 $2.15M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 2090 Wild Lime Dr now $330K.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Lands End Village #1666 3/3 now $1.55M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Gulf Beach Villas #2011 1/1 $590K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 1124 Longifolia Ct 5/5 $3.995M.

No price changes, 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 weekend,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan