Another Friday is already here with summer showers continuing occasionally, but mostly sunshine and blue skies. Eyes have been on forecasts with Erin barreling up the East Coast and hurricane season heating up. So far, it looks like nothing is on the horizon for Florida. During my drive-arounds Sanibel and Captiva this week, it continues to be great to see clear bright blue water surrounding the islands.

In the real estate world, now is probably the best time to purchase in all my years here. However, it is important for buyers to recognize that when storms are swirling, they should apply for insurance early as new policies are not written when an area is within a storm cone. We don’t want those to be anywhere nearby this year, but it always pays to be prepared.

A tidbit of good real estate news this week is that I heard from several colleagues that they think business is picking up a little. As slow as it has been, it doesn’t take much to get us excited. Granted more new listings and price reductions are frequently posted, but agents say they are getting more inquiries as summer ends. They haven’t converted to actual buyers yet, but hopefully more interest is a prelude to a busier fall/winter.

Off-Season Announcements

Remember before the pandemic when September was when many businesses and restaurants took a pre-season break for staff vacations, annual cleanings, building improvements, updates, repairs, etc.? It looks like this year will return to that trend. Some announcements this week include:

At The Village Shops – Over Easy Café & On Island – will both be closed September 8-18 to give their amazing teams a well-deserved break after a challenging year (or three).

Sanibel Boat Ramp – The Sanibel Boat Ramp Replacement Project is scheduled to begin on September 8 with the boat ramp expected to be closed for up to 60 days. During that time, the ramp and adjoining dock structures will be unavailable for public use. The project involves the replacement of the existing wooden dock structures, which have reached the end of their service life. To ensure safety and accessibility for boaters, the deteriorating docks will be removed and replaced with new, more durable materials. The concrete boat ramp and walkways will remain in place. While the boat ramp is closed, boaters are encouraged to use the Lee County Punta Rassa Boat Ramp on the mainland adjacent to the Causeway Toll Booth.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The island Association of Realtors had their August membership meeting yesterday. Guest speaker Tamara Pigott, Executive Director of the Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau updated attendees on the purpose of that organization and their expectations into 2026.

Like us, the thought is a year without a hurricane will bring back more visitors and increase business. Even so, the tourism industry in Florida is strong now. Second quarter statistics show that a record 34.4 million travelers visited Florida then. Domestic visitors made up 91.5% of the total, overseas visitors 6.7% and Canadians 1.9%. That overseas visitation was up more than 10% over second quarter last year. Indeed, the future looks bright.

Following the membership meeting, a caravan of open houses followed, with three Sanibel homes and a Sanibel condo open for easy viewing. The next Caravan Meeting is September 4.

Six sales have been posted in the SanCap MLS since last Friday: four Sanibel condos, one Captiva condo, and a Sanibel 1/2 duplex. 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.

On the commercial side, late last Friday, we put our condo listing at Lime Tree Center #2, 1640 Periwinkle Way, under contract, listed at $399K.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	135	948,338	193	157	1,513,628	165	43	1,246,267	271
Under contract	13	787,569	198	15	1,195,170	144	2	589,450	429
Sold to 8/22/25	66	772,545	122	112	1,395,474	131	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:	46	1,168,597	216	28	5,981,714	240	2	12,000,000	460
Under contract	1	545,000	71	2	1,547,000	106	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 8/22/25	11	926,727	270	5	1,835,400	115	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 Aug 15-22

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sanibel Siesta #207 2/2 $675K.

2 back-on-market: Sundial #J404 2/2 $729K, Sandalfoot #1A2 2/2 $849K.

3 price changes: Cottage Colony West #110 1/1 now $460K, Cottage Colony West #112 1/1 now $499K, Sundial #K103 2/2 now $899K.

4 new sales: Sundial #D206 1/1 listed at $499K, Cottage Colony West #132 1/1 listed at $499K, Pointe Santo #E7 3/2 listed at $1.195M, Sanddollar #B302 3/2 listed at $1.195M.

2 closed sales: Sundial #I202 1/1 $515K, Sundial #A308 2/2 $740K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 $699K, 658 Donax St 3/2 $1.095M, 1739 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 $1.1M, 330 Cowry Ct 5/4.5.5 $3,999,999.

4 price changes: 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 now $675K, 1615 Serenity Ln 3/2 now $769K, 2441 Shop Rd 4/3.5 now $869K, 5770 Pine Tree Dr 3/2.5 $1.15M.

1 new sale: Sea Pines #E (1/2 duplex) 3/3 listed at $729K.

1 closed sale: 595 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $759K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5706 San-Cap Rd $995K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

2 new listings: Beach Villas #2523 1/1 $615K, Beach Villas #2623 1/1 $615K.

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3124 1/1 now $330K.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5144 1/2 listed at $545K.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #4110 1/2 $259K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 17030 Captiva Dr 7/7.5 $11.5M.

1 price change 15060 Captiva Dr 6/6.5 now $4.8M.

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 weekend,

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan