Another Friday has arrived and teammate Dave has completed his rounds. We appreciate that temperatures are “fall-ing”. It was low 70’s when I got up today, plus the dewpoint in Florida is down, meaning lower humidity. Both good signs that summer is wrapping up.

It also has been another sunshiny week with a few late day showers. More of the same is expected in the upcoming days. With the first snowbirds already returning, we look forward to a productive season.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

The island Association of Realtors did not meet this week but will participate tomorrow with SCCF in the International Coastal Clean-Up. Our assigned area is around the Shell Harbor Beach access.

Next Thursday is the Association September Membership Meeting followed by an Open Caravan. Guest speakers will be from United Way.

Island News

Though a few restaurants and businesses are closed briefly this month for their annual spruce-ups, vacations, etc., several have already had short breaks and reopened. There is plenty to visit on both Sanibel and Captiva.

• Captiva Songwriters Weekend beginning today is part of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, a 10-day music festival taking place through September 27 across SW Florida including on Captiva, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers, and Fort Myers Beach. More info at islandhopperfest.com. On Captiva, the fest runs through Sunday with free performances by nationally-acclaimed singer-songwriters at popular island spots including ‘Tween Waters Crow’s Nest, Key Lime Bistro, and Mucky Duck. (The reconstructed Captiva Island Inn on Andy Rosse Ln also has the first of its new rooms open for festival attendees.)
• Sanibel Captiva Island Beach Resorts – It was reported in the “Island Reporter” this week that at a recent Captiva Community Panel meeting, Tony Lapi (Chairman of Sanibel Captiva Island Beach Resorts) announced that in addition to Beachview Villas and West Wind Inn being for sale, on October 4, ‘Tween Waters also will formally be available. Tony first purchased ‘Tween Waters in 1976. Next month, it celebrates 50 years of operation with many special activities planned. Huge thanks to Tony Lapi for all he has done for the islands and at these resorts, which also include Castaways.

Scoop at SanibelSusan Realty

The market is slow, but with low inventory and a positive storm season, schools reopened, and fall weather setting in, it should be a better last quarter than last year.

Sanibel homes continue to move best, condos not-so-much, but that market is improving too. I have mentioned before that the mix of inventory is expansive. It really is huge and ranges from storm-damaged (needing repairs and maintenance) to all new never-occupied construction. What has been moving best are high-end properties and those in tip-top condition.

Buyers concerns usually are elevation, age and type of roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and mechanicals. They ask for surveys, permits, and inquire about insurance costs and if there is impact protection, i.e. new windows/doors.

It is the time of the year when Dave and I meet with more homeowners thinking of selling. Most recognize that the market is not yet back to pre-Ian conditions but heading in the right direction.

Condos have a different rebound story but that market is showing improvement too. With more visitors expected this winter and more complexes now open with amenities, there should be more activity. There also is a mix of condo inventory with those prospective buyers having the same concerns as home buyers. Their added concerns are the financial condition of the community, condo fees, and expected future special assessments.

We tell owners wanting to sell to list now. Early fall is the best time of the year for that to ensure optimum exposure with Realtors and their prospects.

Buyers should be jumping in now too before prices get back to where they were in 2022.

Congratulations to Dave who also successfully put a commercial condo in Fort Myers (owned by islanders) under contract on Monday. It was not officially listed for sale, but he sleuthed it out when working with local business owners wanting for more space.

Island Real Estate Scoop

Looking at the residential real estate activity posted in the SanCap MLS since last Friday, there have been seven new residential sales: five Sanibel homes, a Sanibel condo, and a Captiva condo.

During the same time, there have been six new residential listings and 10 price changes.

Below with data from the island MS 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	105	874,169	286	93	1,652,505,	197	48	1,238,134	381
Under contract	4	1,703,750	350	20	1,444,300	169	2	369,000	203
Sold to 9/18/26	97	829,072	186	184	1,508,326	151	12	1,698,666	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	24	1,767,267	267	27	5,731,444	339	4	10,662,500	523
Under contract	2	642,500	126	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold to 9/18/26	28	986,482	121	9	4,022,222	244	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 September 11-18

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Seashells #25 2/2 $485K, Sandpiper Beach #102 2/2 $849K.

4 price changes: Blind Pass #A201 2/2 now $400K, Mariner Pointe #733 2/2 now $479K, Sanibel Moorings #632 2/2 now $549K, Pointe Santo #B22 2/2 now $885K.

1 new sale: Pointe Santo #E6 3/2 listed at $1.095M.

3 closed sales: Sanibel Moorings #811 2/2 $569K, Loggerhead Cay #303 2/2 $740K, Seascape #205 3/3 $1.75M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 534 Piedmont Rd 3/2.5 $639K, 9421 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $1.095M, 6425 Pine Ave 4/3 $1.75M.

4 price changes: 1264 Par View Dr 3/2 now $995K, 1286 Par View Dr 3/3 now $1.05M, 824 Birdie View Pt 3/3 now $1.325M, 1272 Par View Dr 4/3.5 now $2.095M.

5 new sales: 1142 Shell Basket Ln 3/2 listed at $595K, 6082 Dinkins Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $1.089M, 6007 Clam Bayou Ln 4/4.5 listed at $1.475M, 6153 Starling Way 3/2 listed at $1.549M, 1114 Seagrape Ln 3/2 listed at $2.695M.

3 closed sales: 6476 Pine Ave 3/3 $1M, 253 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $1.09M, 791 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2.5 $1.33M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2638 3/3 $1.75M.

1 back-on-market: Lands End Village #1602 3/3 $2.259M.

1 price change: Bayside Villas #24 3/3 now $825K.

1 new sale: Captiva Resort Villas (fka Tennis Villas) #3233 2/2 listed at $550K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 11523 Andy Rosse Ln 6/6.5 now $3.199M.

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 in any way responsible for the accuracy. Data maintained by the association, or its MLS, may now 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