Another Friday has arrived. With the first of the week mostly overcast, islanders since yesterday have enjoyed more blue sky and sunshine. Again seeing record high hazardous temperatures in many northern states, it has been nice to have highs here just occasionally hit 90, but mostly high-80’s (degrees F).

Overlooking Blind Pass just before the bridge from the Captiva side toward Sanibel. 07-25-2025

With island sea turtle nesting season well underway, SCCF staff and volunteers who survey 18 miles of island beaches from April through October are already reporting more nests and hatchlings. Last year 843 sea turtle nests were laid on the islands and 16,722 hatchlings successfully emerged. This week SCCF posted that so far 2025 recordings include 836 nests (820 loggerhead and 16 green turtles) and 4,880 loggerhead hatchlings.

Sanibel City Council Caps Tax Rate

On July 15, City Council voted unanimously on a resolution to advise the Lee County Tax Appraiser of a proposed operating millage rate of 2.5 mills for fiscal year 2025/2026– the same as the current fiscal year. This millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but cannot be raised. A budget workshop is scheduled for August 12 and budget hearings for September 8 and 25.

Sanibel Finance Director Steve Chaipel who presented the draft budget to Council also reported that the property appraiser’s preliminary valuation for Sanibel is a decrease of 11.4% from its pre-Hurricane Ian value and an increase of 20.2% from the current year.

Are Ground-Level Properties Selling?

One of the most asked real estate questions since the recent storms is if ground-level properties are selling – or those with ground-level living space. As an owner recognizing the convenience of easy-access 1-level living, below is the scoop on the 2025 Sanibel sales to-date.

62 condos have sold/closed. Of those, ten are ground-level (four at Captains Walk, three at Blind Pass, and one each at Sundial West, Oceans Reach, and Heron at The Sanctuary).

102 homes have sold/closed. Of those, 17 are ground-level (one each in Castaway Estates, Gulf Shores, Lagoon Estates, Shell Harbor, The Sanctuary, and Water Shadows; two each in Gumbo Limbo, Rocks East, Rocks West, and Sanibel Lake Estates; three in Sanibel Estates).

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The island Association of Realtors had their July Membership meeting yesterday, followed by Caravan of four Sanibel properties open for easy viewing – a condo and three homes.

As summer season continues, there were six new sales posted this week in the SanCap MLS, four Sanibel homes, plus a Sanibel condo and a Captiva condo. 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 & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 18-25

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Captains Walk #A3 1/1 $275K, Villa Sanibel #1B 2/2 $699K, Atrium #207 2/2 $1.75M.

1 back-on-market: Oceans Reach #3B2 1/1 $575K.

7 price changes: Captains Walk #D5 2/1 now $425K, Sandpebble #4A 2/2 now $495K, Cottage Colony West #132 1/1 now $499K, Sandalfoot #4D1 2/2 now $595K, Coquina Beach #4A 2/2 now $695K, Sundial #A308 2/2 now $799K, Sundial #O303 2/2 now $1.025M.

1 new sale: Sundial #I202 1/1 listed at $568.5K.

2 closed sales: Captains Walk #F1 2/1.5 $315K, Sundial #L404 2/2 $1.375M.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 $989K, 3191 Twin Lakes Ln 4/2.5 $1.899M.

1 back-on-market: 1846 Farm Tr 3/2 $699K.

8 price changes: 5115 San-Cap Rd 3/2 now $729K, 1421 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $890K, 1169 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $950K, 686 Spartina Ct 3/2 now $1.099M, 1825 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2 now $1.1M, 3008 Turtle Gait Ln 3/2 now $1.320M, 1286 Par View Dr 3/3 now $1.325M, 706 Gopher Walk Way 3/4 now $1,855,706.

4 new sales: 1043 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $899K, 3314 Saint Kilda Rd 3/2 listed at $899K, 5770 Pine Tree Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.2M, 1002 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 listed at $1.295M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 355 Cowry Ct now $475K.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Sunset Beach Villas #2323 1/1 now $625K, Lands End #1606 3/3 now $2.7M.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5340 3/3 listed at $995K.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #5112 1/2 $255K.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 15009 Binder Dr 5/6.5 now $7.999M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 11547 Laika Ln 4/4 $2.512M.

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