Sunshine continued to abound on Sanibel and Captiva this week with temperatures still often in the mid-to-high 70’s when early sunset arrived (about 5:45 p.m.).

Another sure sign of this time of the year are reports of the return of the white pelicans. I have heard from several birders that they have seen as many as five, so far. Many usually migrate here for the winter. They are always fun to spot as they are big, some of the largest birds in North America.

The chilly predictions follow reports of snow already in some northern areas. Hopefully that will generate more visitor reservations. The holidays and winter are always special times to be on the islands, but especially this year with so many places reopened and events again scheduled.

Early November Island News

·        Accommodations Available – The local Chamber of Commerce announced this week that there are plenty of rooms available for those wanting to come back for vacation. Compared to last year at this time when only 31% of the pre-Hurricane Ian hotel rooms were available, now there are more than double that – or 72%. They also said about 80% of the vacation rentals are restored and 75% of restaurants and retail stores have returned.

·        Colonnades (aka Colony Inn Sanibel) – Announced that their on-line reservations are ready to schedule stays in 2026. Check them out at www.ColonyInnSanibel.com.

·       Sanibel Arms West – Reported this week that their Fitness Center has reopened. With on-site rental office, the island’s only screened community condo pool, and handy East End location, Sanibel Arms West has 97 units ready for vacation bookings.

·        Sundial West – An agent reported at our Association of Realtors meeting yesterday that the Sundial West lawsuit continues. Resolution now is not expected until at least May 2026.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The local of Association Realtors had their first weekly “in-season” Caravan Meeting yesterday with former Sanibel Mayor, current City Councilman, and Bailey’s General Store owner, Richard Johnson on-hand to update members on their progress in rebuilding at the former store location. Here are some highlights and the answers to some questions that followed.

·        Showing renderings by landscape company Coastal Vista, Richard said that their reconstruct plan is to make the site more like a park than a shopping center. Vegetation will be native.

·        Construction includes three new buildings. A large, elevated building in the center with a portico facing the corner of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Rd. will house the new Bailey’s General Store.

·        The store will include a hardware section.

·        Buildings on either side of the center store building will be available for tenants The building on the Tarpon Bay side will be called Tarpon, The one on the Periwinkle side, Periwinkle. Open areas between where these side buildings meet the new Bailey’s store will provide restful common areas and contribute to the relaxed setting.

·        The building plans are pretty much through permitting, now in the financing stage. Costs could be in the $20M-30M range.

·        Listeners asked if the movie theater and drycleaner are coming back. Answer was “no” to both.

·        Asked when the new store will be open, Richard said, likely 24-26 months after the first shovel breaks ground, it could begin in January. (That puts the store opening in 2028).

·        Bailey’s celebrated their 125^th anniversary last year and is committed to continuing this family business.

·        Attendees were positive in providing feedback about the new Bit of Bailey’s on Rabbit Rd which recently opened to fill the gap while the new store is being built and more consumers return.

During the general Caravan Meeting, in addition to real estate announcements, several affiliate members answered questions about the effect of the government shutdown on sales. Though there are lenders that are still offering good financing options, there are no providers for new flood insurance policies on island, not even private carriers. Some policies are being written off-island by private carriers, but not on the islands now. With a flood policy required with a new mortgage, this limits potential purchasers to self-insuring cash buyers. Yikes!

Following the meeting, four East-End Sanibel homes were open for easy viewing. Next week is West-End Caravan.

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate Update

Since last Friday, just three new island sales have been posted in the SanCap MLS, a Sanibel condo and two Sanibel homes. During the same time, there were 11 new listings and 30 price changes.

Many listings are coming back on the market that were taken off for some of the summer. Most are at the same price. With as much inventory as there is today, it may take a long time for some of these properties to sell.

Today, there are 349 residential properties for sale on Sanibel, with 227 closed sales year-to-date. On Captiva, there are 71 for sale, with 23 sold/closed year-to-date.

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, the former Norris Furniture condo building at 1025 Periwinkle Way in the Priscilla Murphy Center, is back on the market at a new price of $795K.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES				LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	137	996,235	180	170	1,741,943	129	42	1,325,676	282
Under contract	12	719,075	181	17	1,177,274	153	1	5,999,000	491
Sold to 11/7/25	86	766,546	148	135	1,334,400	138		6	911,666	199
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	1,213,150	244	22	6,640,363	267	3	10,166,666	359
Under contract	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 11/7/25	15	936,600	228	8	1,578,375	136	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 Oct 31-Nov 7

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Pointe Santo #B45 2/2 $960K, Seascape #201 3/3 $2.995M.

9 price changes: Tennisplace #B24 2/1 now $450K, Blind Pass #G206 2/2 now $599K, Sanibel Moorings #331 2/2 now $749K, Lighthouse Point #231 2/2 now $750K, Loggerhead Cay #331 2/2 now $773K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #6-PH6 2/2.5 now $948K, Nutmeg Village #104 2/2 now $950K, Gulfside Place #105 2/2 now $1.189M, Sanibel Surfside #111 2/2 now $1.295M.

1 new sale: Colonnades #18 1/1 listed at $249K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

6 new listings: 2011 Mitzi Ln 2/2 $850K, 1417 Causey Ct 3/2 $985K, 9127 Mockingbird Dr 4/3 now $1.295M, 2179 Starfish Ln 3/3.5 $1.65M, 859 Limpet Dr 4/4.5 $3.495M, 1220 Morningside Pl (multi-family) 6/5 $3.1M.

1 back-on-market: 865 Birdie View Pt 4/4.5 now $1.849M.

19 price changes: 1444 Sandpiper Cir (1/2 duplex) 2/2 now $499K, 910 Fitzhugh St 4/2 now $499K, 5892 San-Cap Rd 3/3 now $599K, 1643 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $725K, 1607 Sand Castle Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 now $749K, 5307 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 now $750K, 9247 Dimmick Dr 3/2 now $799K, 1426 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $879K, 3311 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 now $929K, 731 Nerita St 3/2 now $979K, 716 Rabbit Rd 3/2.5 now $1.099M, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 now $1.45M, 821 Lindgren Blvd 3/3 now $1.495M, 918 Kings Crown Dr 3/2.5 now $1.594M, 706 Gopher Walk Way 3/4 now $1,755,706; 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $2.27M, 915 Pecten Ct 6/5 now $2.275M, 2287 Starfish Ln 4/4 now $2.5M, 812 Angel Wing Dr 3/3.5 now $2.65M.

2 new sales: 2681 Coconut Dr 3/3.5 listed at $2.195M, 628 Lighthouse Way 4/5.5 listed at $3.69M

6 closed sales: 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 $600K, 730 Cardium St 2/2 $624K, 1874 Farm Trl 3/2 $800K, 1421 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $815K, 534 Pyrula Ave 3/2.5 $1.15M, 640 Periwinkle Way 3/2 $1.35M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 845 Pyrula Ave $575K.

1 price change: 4722 Rue Belle Mer now $750K.

No new or closed sales.

CAPTIVA

CONDOS

2 new listings: Bayside Villas #5238 1/2 $250K, Tennis Villas #3212 1/1 $325K.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas #3126 1/1 $270K, Lands End Village #1618 3/2 $2.45M.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 15009 Binder Dr 5/6.5 now $6.96M.

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