Following a multi-day chill earlier this week, island weather is back to mostly sunshine with daytime temperatures in the high 70’s/low 80’s. That is right on time for the first day of spring or the Spring Equinox which is today! As ususal in March, the bougainvillea next to my walkway are pushing “pink”.

During my noon-time travels, the share-use paths were busy with bikers though there was not a lot of roadway traffic except on Periwinkle heading off-island.

Continued warm bright weather is expected through all of next week. Hooray!

More Restoration/Reopening News

Blind Pass – The Blind Pass waterway that separates Sanibel and Captiva was recently sealed off by a sandbar. This pass, which usually allows water to flow from the gulf to the bay, is blocked by sand that moved after the recent beach renourishment project. That project was intended to protect and strengthen island shoreline. Lee County officials say this pass closure highlights how dynamic coastal systems can be after major storms and large restorations. They believe it is smart to allow the shore to become more stable before performing additional dredging. That may not be until next year.

The Ibis Grill – is the name of the newly opened restaurant at Sanibel Island Golf Club in Beachview Country Club Estates located at 1100 Par View Dr. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For golfers, both locals and visitors, the Club also has some special March madness pricing.

The Mucky Duck – This local favorite on Captiva reopened this week. Still right on the beach and restored following the storms of 2024, it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. I think I went to the Duck for the first time nearly 40 years ago. Lotsa great memories there, including when Willard Scott used to play tricks with a movable window when walk-ins asked for a window table and all of the tables next to the real windows were already occupied.

Southwest Florida Housing Market Correction

The theme of the 2026 Market Trends outlook on March 12 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Ft Myers was “Data Over Drama”. With about 1,300 real estate professionals in attendance, three business experts said the region market downturn is far from a crash.

Realtor Denny Grimes explained it best when he criticized media coverage, saying, “They are focused on the wrong issue, …focusing on timing. Some people bought at the wrong time. Real estate has no expiration date, but if you don’t buy at the right time, or you try to sell at the wrong time, it’s going to give you a little bit of whiplash.”

He further described how the current market adjustment is far milder than the housing crash of 2006 to 2009 when home prices plunged sharply after rapid growth earlier in the decade. During the pandemic boom from 2020 to 2022, median sales prices rose by 12%, 25%, and 20%. Over the past three years, prices declined by 3%, 2%, and 5% last year.

Grimes said data suggests that the steepest part of the downturn may have already passed, though he expects buyer’s market conditions to remain for several years. He further explained that homeowners who purchased before the 2020-2022 peak are better off selling sooner rather than later. “Don’t wait for it come back. because I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

He predicted continued downward prices, a rise in distressed properties, and increased in-migration to SWFL in 2026. Sellers, he said, are likely to net more money by selling sooner.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

Yesterday, the monthly Membership Meeting of the islands Association of Realtors featured a panel of speakers from the Sanibel Captiva Vacation Management Association (SCVMA), including reps from Cottages to Castles, Royal Shell Vacation Rentals, SBL Vacations, and Select Vacations. Following was an East-End Caravan with six Sanibel homes and two Sanibel condos open for easy viewing.

Island Real Estate Scoop

Looking at the residential real estate activity posted in the SanCap MLS, since last Friday, there have been eight new sales, all on Sanibel: six homes, a condo, and a lot.

During the same time, there were eight new residential listings and 20 price changes.

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	181	1,006,426	186	230	1,664,003	134		55	1,667,743	260
Under contract	23	1,027,152	226	43	1,322,996	159		2	899,000	168
Sold to 3/20/2026	20	689,950	167	56	1,953,165	136		6	409,000	237
Sold 2025	104	755,564	153	159	1,291,016	140		7	952,857	252
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

 

CAPTIVA Residential	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	49	1,532,100	203	28	6,592,285	247	3	10,166,666	492
Under contract	2	974,500	14	2	4,825,000	375	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 3/20/2026	10	966,000	181	2	4,275,000	241	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2025	16	931,187	214	12	2,480,375	90	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

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Mar 13-20

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sandpiper Beach #401 2/2 $875K.

8 price changes: Captains Walk #E2 2/1.5 now $315K, Sanibel Moorings #1422 2/2 now $615K, Lighthouse Point #216 2/2 now $649.7K, Sanibel Siesta #112 2/2 now $725K, Bayview Village #1A 3/3 now $995K, Sundial #R401 (SanibelSusan listing) 2/2 now $999K, Seascape #201 3/3 now $2.499M, Sedgemoor #206 3/3.5 now $4.5M.

1 new sale: Gulfside Place #310 2/2 listed for $1.299M.

2 closed sales: Colonnades #17 1/1 $278K, Sandalfoot #1B3 1/1 $500K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 887 Casa Ybel Rd (multi-family) 5/4 $749K, 4339 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $949K, 1155 Seagrape Ln (multi-family) 4/2 $975K, 1238 Par View Dr 3/3 $1.299M, 1272 Par View Dr 4/3.5 $2.25M, 750 Periwinkle Way 5/4 $3.599M.

11 price changes: 1105 Skiff Pl 4/3 now $750K, 1377 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 now $765K, Moonshadows #1A 3/3 now $874.9K, 3284 Twin Lakes Ln 4/4 now $995K, 2999 Twin Ponds Dr 4/3.5 now $1.1M, 1987 My Tern Ct 3/2.5 now $1.225M, 6101 Starling Way 4/3.5 now $1.389M, 941 Pecten Ct 3/2 now $1.449M, 460 East Gulf Dr 3/2.5 now $1.995M, 1460 Middle Gulf Dr 4/4.5 now $2.345M, 3767 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 now $8.995M.

6 new sales: 984 Greenwood Ct S (1/2 duplex) 3/2 listed at $599.9K, 1103 Captains Walk St 3/2 listed for $1.049M, 1293 Par View Dr 3/3 listed for $1.195M, 742 Nerita St 3/2 liste for $1.55M, 5750 San-Cap Rd 3/2 listed for $1.775M, 1332 Eagle Run Dr 5/5 listed for $2.7M.

11 closed sales: 251 Southwinds Dr 4/3 $680K, 2441 Shop Rd 4/3.5 $799K, 4245 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $844K, 1490 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $999K, 1564 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $1.075M, 811 Birdie View Pt 3/2.5 $1.4M, 734 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 $1.52M, 1731 Venus Dr 3/3 $1.65M, 1160 Buttonwood Ln 4/3.5 $1.825M, 6450 Pine Ave 3/3 $1.925M, 4257 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $9.5M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1757 Serenity Ln $349K.

2 price changes: 5398 Osprey Ct now $280K, 224 Daniel Dr now $495K.

1 new sale: 1253 Par View Dr listed for $449K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas #3135 1/1 $280K, Seabreeze #1255 3/3 $2.6M.

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