Almost Fall & Almost an Anniversary

With the fall equinox and first day of autumn arriving tomorrow, islanders look forward to cooler temperatures. This week most days again were warm, filled with blue skies and sunshine with occasional quick mid-to-late afternoon or evening showers. The welcomed rain continues to green up vegetation and wash away lingering storm yuck.

Crossing the causeway just a few minutes ago, the bridge crews were working hard. Lane patterns change frequently as more roadways are elevated, while concrete trucks continue to make it slow going in the morning. Here’s a picture showing how high the sheet piles are on the way up the big bridge. Amazing!

Teammate Dave and I showed homes a couple of days this week. Always fun to introduce prospective buyers to the hidden treasures here.

Over the course of their multiple visits, we have lunched at Traders, Doc Fords, Mucky Duck, and Mudbugs. All the meals were top-notch. The best view, of course, was at the duck when we sat at the window-side table next to the wall with this art and many law-enforcement patches.

The laid-back vibe everywhere and friendly encounters with both people and critters add to the fun. Fingers crossed that they get the home they want!

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

Our local Association of Realtors held their September breakfast membership meeting yesterday at The Community House. Our CEO, Bill Robinson, updated attendees on three issues that recently have come to the forefront nationally: workplace sexual harassment, compensation to buyer agents, and real estate fraud. It is amazing how many recent cases there have been, even here, where scammers have tried to sell property they don’t own. On both Sanibel and Captiva there has been an uptick in these. Bill alerted us of some red flags.

Following the meeting, only one home was scheduled to be on the Open House Caravan, but it went under contract so the open house was canceled. Home sales remain brisk, while condos and their restorations lag.

Association of Realtors accomplishments over the last month include completion of the annual 14-hour Continuing Education sessions required for license renewals and member participation in the International Coastal Cleanup last weekend. Restoration work at the Association of Realtors office building continues with no word yet on move-in, but it is getting closer.

Upcoming Association events include the 12-module SCIS (Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist) designation classes which begin next week and finish the following week. Those are also offered annually. Modules must be completed in two years. Renewal is also required with three modules needed for designation renewal. (I have already collected some props for the module I teach on the Resort and Second-Home Market. Those always make for a fun quiz photo op.) (Watch for our new logo too, this is the old one!)

October 11 is our 26th Annual RPAC (Realtor Political Action Committee) Golf Tournament and Auction at The Sanctuary. SanibelSusan Realty is a sponsor and again is contributing an auction item – this year, a gift certificate for seafood from The Lobster Net in Brewer, ME. Their fresh lobster and seafood dinners are always a hit.

Events & Re-openings

We had more calls this week from anxious winter visitors unable to find rentals. Our advice is to continually watch for new availability at local vacation management organizations. Most of those belong to the Sanibel Captiva Vacation Rental Managers Association. Their website is www.SCVRMA.org. The Chamber of Commerce also keeps a list of what is open. www.Sanibel-Captiva.org.

Below is info on a few other re-openings/events announced this week:

Gramma Dot’s – I noticed this week that their food truck is gone, but I heard the restaurant is opening Oct 1. The marina ship’s store, fuel dock, boat rentals, and boat tours remain closed, but their service department is open Mon-Fri from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hurricane Ian Community Events – The City’s Manager’s office sent an open invitation to attend any of the multiple events being held to acknowledge community resiliency over the past year and to commemorate the landfall of Hurricane Ian. Those include:

  • City of Sanibel Hurricane Ian Sunrise Remembrance at Lighthouse Beach gulf side Thurs Sep 28 at 7 a.m.

  • St Michael’s Community Service of Hope at The Gathering Place at St Michael’s (entrance off Dunlop Rd) Thurs Sep 28 at 3 p.m. (interfaith service of music, reflections by city leaders, prayers, hopeful images, and gratitude. Commemorative buttons will be distributed. Reception will follow.
  • Sanibel Community Church Hurricane Anniversary Service at 1740 Periwinkle Way Thurs Sep 28 at 6 to 7 p.m.
  • “Community Reunited” at Sanibel Community House Sat Sep 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. with ice cream social, cookie baking contest, live music by Sanibel School Steel Band, Eagle Scout project reveal, and fun community art project.

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest – begins today on Captiva. This event features 10 days of music across four locations: Captiva (Sep 22-24), Cape Coral (Sep 25 & 26), Downtown Fort Myers (Sep 27 & 28), Fort Myers Beach (Sep 29-Oct 1). In support of this event, causeway tolls here are waived both Sat & Sun. Many free performances are scheduled in multiple Captiva locations (Tween Waters, The Green Flash, Mucky Duck, Key Lime Bistro, RC Otters, and South Seas Resort). Below are the events at Tween Waters. Check the full schedule at www.island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com.

Sanibel Moorings – at 845 East Gulf Dr is accepting reservations for next summer (for stays beginning April 22, 2024). As the resort gets closer to completion, they also expect to open earlier times with their goal to be ready in January. www.SanibelMoorings.com

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

With data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service), below are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 55 1,091,030 147 73 1,593,719 111 30 931,280 153
Under contract 7 1,003,700 79 20 1,155,150 75 2 345,000 148
Sold 2023 to 9/22 77 910,390 62 222 1,260,665 69 22 958,431 68
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 23 1,543,413 95 9 7,597,555 146 2 7,247,500 15
Under contract 1 1,700,000 4 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 9/22 11 848,363 108 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 September 15‑22

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sand Pointe #122 2/2 $849K.

1 price change: Sundial #A303 1/1 now $719K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Seashells #33 2/2 $435K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 1090 My Tern Ct 3/2 $925K, 3990 Coquina Dr 3/2 $1.2M, 557 Lake Murex Cir 3/2.5 $1.75M.

2 price changes: 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 now $978K, 1297 Par View Dr 3/2 now $1.05M.

1 back on market: 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $1.199M.

7 new sales: 1605 Bunting Ln 3/2 listed at $899K, 9428 Moonlight Dr 3/2 listed at $899K, 1667 Sabal Sands Rd 3/3 listed at $982K, 3302 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2.5 listed at $1.299M, 721 Cardium St 3/2.5 listed at $1.4M, 567 N. Yachtsman Dr 3/3 listed at $1.495M, 896 Limpet Dr 3/3 listed at $1.7M.

3 closed sales: 1399 Albatross Rd 3/2 $650K, 1558 & 1545 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/3.5 $3.9M, 6401 Pine Ave 4/3.5 $4.069M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 back on market: 4501 Waters Edge Ln $2.995M.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

1 new listing: 33 Urchin Ct 3/3 $2M.

No price changes, 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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend!

’til next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Blue Skies & Popcorn Clouds on Sunny Sanibel

View from bay end of Buttonwood Ln 09-15-23

The islands Realtor Association didn’t meet this week, but it again was sunshine and summerlike with plenty of restoration work continuing – everywhere. From my home on Anchor Dr I can see across to a Kinzie Island home roof top where a crew was at it until 7 p.m. almost every day this week. That’s hard work!

Seems that more and more roof work is underway all the time which seems hard to believe with the storm being nearly a year ago. The good news is that it appears to this observer that construction is amping up. More businesses also are announcing their reopening. (More info on some of those below.)

During my Sanibel drive-around this afternoon, I spied workers on several roofs including Sundial West (where unit HVAC compressors are going up), Sandalfoot (where new rip-off is occurring on Building 3), and Sanddollar (where a new roof is being constructed on Building C). I also saw good progress at the Seagull Estates clubhouse! Yay!

Sundial West 09-15-23

Sandalfoot Bldg 3 09-15-23

Seagull Estates Clubhouse 09-15-23

Thinking of Selling?

We continue to get calls from owners thinking of selling and we welcome new listings, With some new challenges encountered after Hurricane Ian, there are some important things for sellers to consider.

To sell a property using the Florida sales contract, the Buyer must receive “clear title” and a title insurance policy for the full purchase price. That process involves a licensed title agent performing a title search and securing the policy.

For some associations needing or undergoing restoration, those repairs can result in open insurance claims, unpaid special assessments, contractor liens, and even lawsuits. Issues like these can make it difficult for association managers to issue an estoppel for the property or unit that is selling. Those things also can mean a title insurance provider doesn’t want to take the risk (or insure) that property or they will only insure with exceptions. These hiccups can be avoided by planning ahead.

So, if you are an owner thinking of selling, please ask for an advance copy of Florida Realtors “As Is Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase”. Pay special attention to the timeframe and requirements for title commitment and deed, and the releases required for any work that was recently done at the property. We welcome your inquiries and want to help, so closings go smoothly and without delay.
You’ll probably notice in the MLS postings this week, shown below, that we had the only condo closing! Hooray and thanks again to Superior Title of Sanibel for getting it done! The SanibelSusan Team and our clients are grateful for Amanda Curran and her team at Superior Title!

Reopenings Announced

As we continue to get inquiries about “what’s open”, below are a few postings noticed this week. The Chamber of Commerce website also updates frequently (www.Sanibel-Captiva.org).

Bleu Rendezvous French Bistro – following their summer vacation, Bleu Rendezvous French Bistro reopens for their 9th season on Friday Oct 6 at 751 Tarpon Bay Rd

Sanibel Farmers Market – reopens for its 16th season on Sunday Oct 1st. Located at City Hall every Sunday through May (including Easter) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market promises to return better than ever. Stop in for an array of fresh produce, delectable baked goods, exquisite flowers and plants, and a variety of local treats including healthy snacks, honey, ready-to-eat meals, and unique gifts.

Sanibel Island Beach Resort – at 1231 Middle Gulf Dr (formerly Holiday Inn) has been under renovation and recently announced that they are opening on Sept 20 and accepting on-line reservations at  www.oceanbreezeinns.com/sanibel-island.

Sanibel Siesta – at 1246 Fulgur St posted on social media that they are now accepting on-line reservations beginning Mar 2024. As the year winds down, they plan to announce it they also will have availability in Jan and Feb. www.SanibelSiesta.com.

Shiney Objects – will reopen on Sunday Sep 17 at their same location in Tahitian Gardens, 1999 Periwinkle Way.

Tuttles – Seahorse Shell Shop has reopened, moving back inside their shop at 362 Periwinkle Way.

Coming Soon

Two New Eateries – Wickie’s Lighthouse Restaurant & The Magic Bus Ice Cream and Caffeine – Wickie’s Lighthouse Restaurant is a new concept from longtime island restauranteurs Brian and Elke Podlasek (Island Cow) and Max and Bridget Kolshak (The Mad Hatter). Renovations are currently underway for it to open at 362 Periwinkle Way with the restaurant at the former site of Lighthouse Café and the ice cream/caffeine shop where Sanibel’s Ice Cream was. Wickie was the nickname given to lighthouse keepers from their task of trimming the wick of lighthouse lamps. The restaurant will feature breakfast, lunch, and dinner with full bar and signature drinks. More info at http://www.WickiesLighthouseRestaurant.com.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

With data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service), below are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS

HOMES

LOTS

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

For sale

57

1,078,800

148

75

1,618,609

106

29

860,117

143

Under contract

8

932,612

91

17

1,443,294

77

3

1,228,333

162

Sold 2023 to 9/15

76

918,645

60

219

1,238,578

68

22

958,431

68

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

23

1,543,413

88

9

7,597,555

139

2

7,247,500

8

Under contract

1

1,700,000

4

1

2,195,000

16

0

N/A

N/A

Sold 2023 to 9/15

11

848,363

108

16

2,761,437

73

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 September 8‑15

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Mariner Pointe #541 2/2 $650K, Villas of Sanibel #A201 3/3 $1.695M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Colonnades #15 1/1 $299K.

1 closed saleSandpiper Beach #206 2/2 $785K (SanibelSusan listing).

HOMES

3 new listings: 1835 Ardsley Way 2/2 $479K, 9428 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $899K, 721 Cardium St 3/2.5 $1.4M.

2 price changes: 485 Peachtree Rd 3/3 now $1.19M, 896 Limpet Dr 3/3 now $1.7M.

2 back on market: 4263 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $899K, 836 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 $2.395M.

6 new sales: 766 Donax St 4/2.5 listed at $699K, 976 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 listed at $859K, 803 Lindgren Blvd 4/3 listed at $1.1M, 5685 San-Cap Rd 3/2 listed at $1.165M, 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 listed at $1.199M, 976 Cardium St 4/2 listed at $1.349.

2 closed sales: 1122 Captains Walk St 3.2.5 $745,333; 963 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 $1.9M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 back on market: 5633 Baltursol Ct $499K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 3649 West Gulf Dr $3.85M.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Homes #25 3/2 $2,999,500.

1 price change: Marina Villas #603 2/2 now $1.15M.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

Nothing to report.

LOTS

1 new listing: 11539 Wightman Ln $2.495M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

Back to Life Today on Sanibel Island

As nice as it was to get away last week, learn new things, and renew friendships with colleagues at the Florida Realtors 2023 Convention and business meetings, it is always great to drive across the causeway and settle back in at “home sweet home”.

Anxious to see what progress occurred during my time in Orlando, I drove all over the island this week. Repairs continue and new landscaping has sprung up at many homes, but it is still a little discouraging to see so many condo complexes looking like they have for months.

There are exceptions, but overall, many condo owners now are recognizing that it will likely be months (if not years) before their community is back to a semblance of normalcy. (I did another drive-around this afternoon and took photos at some of the complexes where I saw workers. Kudos to those roofers that were atop buildings in 90+degree sunshine. See photos below taken 2-2:30 p.m. 8/25/23.)

Roof work underway at Sandpebble.

Roof work at Spanish Cay

Workers on roof at Seashells

Sundial Resort, workers on Sundial West roof

New roofs underway at Sunset South

Compass Point

Sanibel Siesta

Sanibel Surfside roofers atop several bldgs

Coquina Beach

Beachcomber

Kinzie Island condos

Colony Resort, aka Colonnades

Bridge/Causeway Update

Those traveling the causeway saw changes this week with a new temporary paved roadway open. Huge piles of enormous rock and materials keep appearing and bridge/causeway work continues overnight with lane shifts and flagging operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Elevation of the new road will be ~2’ higher than the existing roadway. Periodic delays are expected.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Yesterday at the August membership meeting of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors, sponsors were “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society and LMCU (Lake Michigan Credit Union).

Things to Do at “Ding” – AnnMarie Wildman with Wildlife Society promoted the Refuge describing the many upcoming events there including “Art in the Wild” Oct 21 and 22, Holiday Shopping Night Nov 29, Ice Cream Social Dec 13, Estate Planning Seminar Jan 30, Lecture Series Jan-Apr 2024, Sounds of the Sand Mar 23 and 24, Solar Eclipse Viewing Apr 8, and Tarpon Tournament May 9 and 10. Every week the refuge, Visitor and Education Center, Nature Store, and America’s Best Restroom are open six days a week (closed Fridays). Residents and visitors are encouraged to bike, drive, and walk on Wildlife Drive, Indigo Trail, and Bailey Tract.

LMCU Financing – Dan Krispinsky with Lake Michigan Credit Union assured attendees that they are financing island properties including some damaged non-warrantable condos. LMCU offers both conventional and jumbo construction mortgages, and renovation/repair loans.

Pools – Meeting speaker was Anthony Aracri with Hydro Leak Detection and Egret Pools. After summarizing examples of pool problems encountered from the hurricane, he described how material availability, costs, and permitting/scheduling delays are affecting pool repairs and construction today. The numbers he quoted for new pool construction were jaw dropping.

Caravan – Following the meeting, five properties were open for Caravan viewing. Those included three Sanibel homes and two condos at South Seas Resort.

Today’s Market – The consensus at the meeting was that business is slow now that it is peak hurricane season. Today all eyes are glued to the tropical disturbance south of us that is expected to strengthen over the weekend. We do not want bad weather here.

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 57 1,134,064 138 78 1,646,977 100 28 922,978 142
Under contract 11 1,072,090 129 25 1,541,075 96 5 1,603,000 120
Sold 2023 to 8/25 71 914,156 54 207 1,233,188 66 20 845,025 68
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 22 1,624,909 79 12 7,089,750 115 0 N/A N/A
Under contract 1 478,000 22 2 2,672,500 54 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 8/25 10 888,200 111 15 2,738,866 71 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

SanibelSusan Team

This week, teammate Dave continued working with buyers looking to take advantage of reduced condo prices, while we both have viewed properties for owners not wanting to wait for restoration to complete. We are thankful to have a couple of closings coming up and a new listing this week.

Every property is unique and the variety of insurance coverage, cost reimbursement, repairs covered, and timetables cause challenges for both listing and selling agents. Being detail-oriented is more important than ever, with flexibility also a key ingredient to success in these unusual times.

Teammate Lisa also continues to update our weekly inventory lists which we email to many interested owners and prospective buyers. Please let us know anytime you want a new one.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 18‑25

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Blind Pass #C106 2/2 $499.9K (SanibelSusan listing), Sundial #A303 1/1 $739K, Sanibel Siesta #401 2/2 $769K, Somerset #D201 3/2.5 $1.995M.

Blind Pass clubhouse, pool, tennis – pre-storm.

1 price change: Sundial #R406 2/2 now $1.799M.

2 new sales: Sundial #I-106 1/1 listed at $375K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #2-3 2/2.5 listed at $995K.

1 closed sale: Sunset South #11A 2/2 $598K. 

HOMES

3 new listings: 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $1.199M, 3898 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $1.389K, 830 Strangler Fig Ln 5/3.5 $1.65M.

3 price changes: 1683 Atlanta Plaza Dr 3/2 now $489K, 887 Casa Ybel Rd (duplex) 5/3 now $799K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $3.365M.

2 back on market: 1986 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $859K, 803 Lindgren Blvd 4/3 $1.1M.

5 new sales: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $724,999; 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 listed at $825K, 9008 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 listed at $1.149M, 774 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 listed at $1.999M, 836 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 listed at $2.395M.

5 closed sales: 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 $540K, 586 Boulder Dr 3/2 $600K, 540 East Lake Rd 3/2 $950K, 851 Angel Wing Dr 5/4 $1.15M, 895 Angel Wing Dr 3/2.5 $1.39M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 2490 Coconut Dr $1.5M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 4501 Waters Edge Ln listed at $2.995M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Bayside Villas #4306 3/3 $1.495M, Bayside Villas #5344 3/3 $1.7M.

No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 32 Urchin Ct 3/3 listed at $2.195M.

1 closed sale: 11407 Old Lodge Ln 3/2 $1.6M.

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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend. Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Friday With Florida Realtors & Island Happenings

Florida Realtors 2023 Convention/Expo & Business Meetings

As I finish up the week in Orlando, Florida Realtors 2023 Convention and Trade Expo are complete. Tim Tebow speaking on “Mission Possible” at the General Session Wednesday was awesome. What an inspiring man he is.
Yesterday, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors had good representation at the annual Awards Luncheon with 12 of us there. (next 4 pix)
The Florida Realtors leadership team is now holding their annual committee and business meetings. Those finish when the Board of Directors meets on Sunday. Tomorrow the state Professional Development Committee hopefully will approve the instructors recommended by our Audition Panels. This year the panels processed a record number of 64 live auditions and 15 written in a single day. It was special to sit on a panel again and see many colleagues for the first time in several years (that darn pandemic). The networking done during these events is also worthwhile.

Florida now has 235,000 Realtors so ensuring that there are instructors and classes available to cover their license renewals, continuing education, and designations is a big undertaking. Keeping up with fast moving technology is also required to keep curriculum current. Many new class topics are on tomorrow’s agenda including such subjects as Crypto, Bitcoin, Blockchain, and ChatG. (I am still shaking my head at an Artificial Intelligence class I attended while here.)

While I’ve been away, teammate Dave has been on the island every day including this morning with an update on our listings. Below is a photo that he took coming across the bridge, showing the new road paving he noticed on the causeway island closest to Sanibel.

When I mentioned last week that we hoped to get more action while I was out of town, we have. Dave has been working with buyers, while between meetings, I have chatted with several owners who likely will be listing soon. Though it still is hurricane season, island sales are occurring, and inventory is needed. An update of the real estate action this week is after a couple of news items below.

Island Scoop & Upcoming Events

Beach Sand Coming – A message issued yesterday by Sanibel’s Natural Resources Director says “Trucks will begin hauling sand to northwest Sanibel on Monday, Aug 21 to replace sand lost to erosion due to Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole last year. The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted in January to accept grant funds of $5 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Hurricane Ian and Nicole Emergency Recovery to replace sand on Lee County beaches. The sand on Sanibel will reinforce the shoreline south of Blind Pass and reduce the vulnerability of Sanibel-Captiva Road, an evacuation route. Engineering estimates from the City of Sanibel determined that approximately 70,000 tons of sand are needed. About 25 trucks will deliver sand each day which means fewer trucks on the road compared with other recent sand hauling operations in Southwest Florida. Sand will be obtained from the Stewart mine in Immokalee. The sand is approved as beach compatible by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The trucking route will be from Immokalee to Sanibel avoiding Corkscrew Road between Alico Road and Interstate 75. The work is expected to be complete in about 90 days. Public access at Blind Pass Beach Park and Turner Beach Park will remain open. Work hours will be from dawn to dusk on weekdays. The city and county ask that motorists and beach goers be aware and abide by all signs and instructions provided by traffic control personnel in the area….”

Community United Event Sep 30 – The Community House is hosting a social event on Sat Sep 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. celebrating coming together a year after the storm. It will feature free ice cream, cookie baking contest, live music by the Sanibel School steel drum band, an Eagle Scout project reveal, and a fun community art project.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS

HOMES

LOTS

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

For sale

57

1,162,855

143

78

1,636,093

99

28

976,371

142

Under contract

10

1,102,200

122

38

1,471,218

107

4

1,255,000

102

Sold 2023 to 8/18

70

918,672

52

201

1,244,328

63

20

845,025

68

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

20

1,627,650

80

13

6,713,230

100

0

N/A

N/A

Under contract

1

478,000

22

1

3,150,000

87

0

N/A

N/A

Sold 2023 to 8/18

10

888,200

111

14

2,820,214

71

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 August 11-18

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sand Pointe #124 2/2 $850K, White Sands #11 2/2 $950K, Gulfside Place #228 3/3 $2.2M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Seashells #33 2/2 listed at $435K, Sundial #N402 2/2 listed at $1.225M.

2 closed sales: White Sands #22 2/2 $800K, Sandals #B 3/3 $959K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 9226 Kincaid Ct 3/2 $1.039M, 501 Lagoon Dr 3/2 $1.248M, 676 Cardium St 4/2 $1.349M, 924 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 $1.695M.

4 price changes: 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $825K, 1067 Sand Castle Rd 4/2 $1.275M, 595 Piedmont Rd 3/2 $1.559, 2276 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 $1.6M.

3 new sales: 313 Palm Lake Dr 3/3 listed at $799K, 803 Lindgren Blvd 4/3 listed at $1.1M. 2228 Starfish Ln 3/2.5 listed at $1.495M.

1 closed sale: 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 $680K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 4640 Rue Belle Mer $1.495M.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 2356 Wulfert Rd $290K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Beach Cottages #1414 2/2 now $1.295M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #3129 1/1 $410K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 57 Sandpiper Ct 2/2 $1.899M, 32 Urchin Ct 3/3 $2.195M.

No price changes.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 11535 Murmond Ln 3/3.5 $3.2M.

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 or participated in these transactions.
Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

More Sunshine Than Raindrops on The Islands

Between the showers today at Lighthouse beach.

 

As we finish up another week on Sanibel, local kids are back in school and there have been some high temperatures (mid-90’s a couple of afternoons), also a few typical short summer showers. Though green growth with new vegetation is popping out pretty much everywhere, it also has been reported that since the hurricane washed so much salt water over the islands that natural fresh water sources are now limited.

More is needed to support the usual flora/fauna and wildlife, so the sporadic rain hopefully will continue. We got some again today and it didn’t seem to deter the beachgoers at Lighthouse Beach!

On my way to the beach, i noticed these workers rejuggling the HVAC equipment cages going atop the roadside building at Lighthouse Point condos.

Restoration efforts continue all over the island. It is great to see improvement with every ride-around.

Association of Realtors

Tuesday, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Professional Development Committee met with details discussed for the annual license-renewal classes which are being offered Sept 13-15. Speakers for monthly membership meetings for the remainder of the calendar year were also organized.

The SCIS (Sanibel Captiva Islands Specialist) designation classes planned for the last week in Sept and first week in Oct are yet to be finalized pending class locations (as Association Office building post-hurricane repairs are behind schedule). Updating the Resort & Second-Home Market class before then is on my “do list” so I am ready to teach that one for the 11th year.

Yesterday morning a local Association of Realtors Caravan Meeting was held in BIG ARTS Performance Hall. Three new home listings were open for viewing following brief announcements. No new listings, price reductions, or sales were announced though a few were posted this week in the island MLS (Multiple Listing Service). Those details are after a few news items below.

Monday, I am off to Orlando for Florida Realtors annual legislative meetings, 2023 convention and trade show. Between the pandemic and storms, it has been a few years since some events have been in-person, so I am looking forward to again seeing and networking with colleagues from around the state and doing my part with the leadership team.

Tuesday, I will sit on an Audition Panel where we will evaluate instructors looking for approval to teach state classes. That is always a long, tiring, yet productive day. After that, other days are filled with speakers, classes, and a variety of events including Florida Realtors Annual Awards Luncheon. Tim Tebow is the speaker at the General Session.

Next Friday, I will prepare this weekly update after meetings of the state Faculty Development Subcommittee and Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee where upcoming changes to the state sales contract will be discussed. Teammate Dave is covering SanibelSusan Team business at home while I’m away. Business using the internet sure makes being away easier than when I started going to these meetings 25 years ago. Here’s hoping we get some action next week.

Island Scoop

Below are some recently announced post-storm updates and re-openings:

Hirdie Girdie Art Gallery – This local artist cooperative (at 2490 Library Way) posted that its grand opening reception will be Oct 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. with sculptor John Beall as their Oct guest artist. Each month the gallery features a guest artist.

Jensen’s Twin Palm Resort & Marina – With accommodations in short supply on both islands, many have asked about the status at Jensen’s cottages on Captiva. Posted yesterday on their social media: The cottages are under construction with new roofs complete and work now being done on individual interiors. No word yet on when they will reopen. Note: Jensen’s on the Gulf is open. Today, I saw visitor cars today.

Lighthouse Café – Following up on the post last week that Lighthouse Café has signed a lease to move to the former Sanibel Fresh building at 1020 Periwinkle Way, this week a notice said that they hope to be open in that new location by Dec 1 (or Jan 1 latest).

Sanibel Arms West – Recently driving by, I have seen many roofers at work. Below are some highlights from their community blog. It discusses the work accomplished in June/July and suggests that they will be welcoming guests back by next summer.

  • More than half the condo roofs are restored, or in the process of restoration.
  • Almost all unit interiors have been cleared of debris, framing & insulation with work already begun on new state-of-the-industry steel interior framing.
  • Hurricane glass is going in – both windows and sliders are beginning to be installed, with truckloads of material standing at the ready.
  • Patio framing is being installed as units are cleared and ready for this next step.
  • Native & surviving trees have been significantly (and legally) trimmed to facilitate regrowth.

Tarpon Bay Explorers – Tarpon Bay Explorers, the concession for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, will close the month of Sep, reopening Mon, Oct. 2. During that time, the entire Tarpon Bay recreational area will be closed to the public, including the boat ramp. Tarpon Bay Explorers opened Feb. 1, four months after Hurricane Ian made landfall, but the Explorers family went from 35 employees to three and opened with limited days and hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat, rentals stop at 3 p.m.). The concession anticipates those same days/hours of operation when it reopens Oct. 2 with the same rental and tour opportunities available, along with nature-themed gift shop. Their kayak tours will still be held at 10 a.m. Wed and Sat (reservations recommended) and Tram Tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thurs (reservations also recommended). Direct questions for the Explorers crew before their one-month hiatus, to the gift shop at 239-472-8900. For further info or reservations, go to their website at www.tarponbayexplorers.com. Note: Wildlife Drive will remain open throughout Sept with the current days and hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat through Thurs (i.e. Wildlife Drive, Visitor’s Center & Indigo Trail are closed Fridays).

The Green Flash – From a recent “Fort Myers News-Press” article:  The Green Flash will reopen Sep 22 according to owner Tim McGowan. The history of the restaurant goes back to 1994 when Andreas Biery built it on the former Timmy’s Nook site. In 1950, T.M. Wiles opened his “Nook”, which was a popular watering hole on the island for more than 40 years. The McGowans bought the restaurant in early 2021. The timing of their Sep 22 reopening coincides with the start of the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest allowing the Green Flash to be a hot spot for the 3rd consecutive year. The docks at The Green Flash will be back open and seating will be available at dockside tables or inside overlooking Roosevelt Channel and Pine Island Sound. Most of the Green Flash staff has been working at Rosalita’s Cantina, the Mexican restaurant on Rabbit Rd (Sanibel) that McGowan opened with his brothers in March.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

If you want an updated island inventory list, please email me at Susan@SanibelSusan.com. My team usually updates it over the weekend, but got it done early this week so I could turn it around before I head to Orlando.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 56 1,141,834 143 80 1,600,440 97 27 957,162 140
Under contract 10 1,111,200 103 27 1,365,385 125 5 1,069,000 82
Sold 2023 to 8/11 68 919,824 53 200 1,247,149 62 19 874,236 71
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 19 1,687,052 77 11 7,561,636 110 0 N/A N/A
Under contract 2 438,500 27 2 3,322,500 68 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 8/11 9 941,333 117 13 2,791,000 73 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 August 4-11

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Sanibel Siesta #501 2/2 now $729K.

2 new sales: Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 listed at $734K, Sundial #F203 2/2 listed at $789K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1018 Demere Ln 4/3 $1.089M, 1428 Albatross Rd 3/2.5 $1.899M.

7 price changes: 922 Main St 3/1 now $499K, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 now $992K, 5685 San-Cap Rd 3/2 now $1.165M, 1207 Par View Dr 3/2 now $1,194,800; 595 Piedmont Rd 3/2 now $1.559M, 1511 Angel Dr 4/3 now $2.899M, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $3.375M.

1 back on market: 1143 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $899K.

6 new sales: 1122 Captains Walk St 3/2.5 listed at $798,897; 242 Christofer Ct 3/2 listed at $1.095M, 2479 Blind Pass Ct 3/2 listed at $1.15M, 896 Angel Wing Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.55M, 1352 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.699M, 1558 & 1545 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/3.5 & dock lot listed at $3.999M.

3 closed sales: 450 Birdsong Pl 2/2 $574K. 1811 Ibis Ln 2/2 $625K, 915 Pecten Ct 4/5 $2.15M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5633 Baltusrol Ct $499K.

No price changes or new sales.

3 closed sales: 2562 Coconut Dr 550K, 1105 Shell Basket Ln $649K, 725 Donax St $650K.

Captiva

CONDOS

3 new listings: Bayside Villas #5226 1/2 $699K, Captiva Shores #3B 3/2.5 $1.698M, Captiva Shores #6C 2/2 $1.7M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 11516 Wightman Ln 5/4.5 now $3.599M.

1 new sale: 11461 Old Lodge Ln 4/3 listed at $3.15M.

1 closed sale: 11511 Laika Ln 3/2 $1.9M.

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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Record Number of Sea Turtle Nests

Last week, we reported that the number of Sanibel home sale closings for 2023 already exceed the total number reported in all of 2022.

Record Number of Sea Turtle Nests

Loggerhead sea turtle

This week, the big record is with sea turtle nests. As of July 26, SCCF (Sanibel & Captiva Conservation Foundation) Turtle Patrol reports that 1,171 sea turtle nests have been laid on the islands this year, compared to 760 in 2022. Already, 8,482 hatchlings have emerged and made their way to the Gulf. Most of these nests are loggerhead turtles, but the islands usually also have a few green turtle nests, with higher green nest counts every other year. This year, 23 green sea turtle nests have been recorded so far.

Green sea turtle

Each species possesses unique characteristics. Here are some of the differences between loggerhead and green sea turtles (gleaned from “SCCF News” posted July 26):

Tracks – These differences can be distinct. Loggerheads crawl with an alternating gait, using their right and left front and rear flippers separately, which leaves asymmetrical marks in the sand. Alternatively, green turtles crawl using their left and right flippers simultaneously, producing a track with symmetrical flipper marks. Green turtles tails also typically cause a drag mark through the center of the crawl markings, while loggerhead tails usually don’t. Green turtles also tend to be larger than loggerheads, so their tracks are wider. A green turtle crawl markings may be 3 to 4.5’ wide, while a loggerhead crawl is usually less, around 2.5 to 4’ wide.

Nests – Compared to loggerheads, a green turtle nest is much larger and they disturb a larger area of sand during the nesting process and spend a long time covering and camouflaging the nest, throwing large amounts of sand and digging a secondary body pit after laying. Loggerhead nests, by comparison, are smaller.

Head Sizes – Loggerheads are aptly named with their large bulky heads equipped with powerful jaws. Green turtles have much smaller heads, especially in proportion to their body size. Green turtles are named because their fat tissue has a green tint due to their mostly herbivorous diet.

Nest Timing – In Florida, loggerhead nesting season starts in April and usually winds down by the end of August, while green turtle nesting season typically runs from June through September.

Please remember to turn off beachfront lights after 9 p.m., fill in holes, level sandcastles, pick up trash and furniture, and respect posted nesting areas. SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline is 978-728-3663.

City 50th Anniversary Plans, No Luminary This Year

Many have asked if the islands will be having their annual Luminary events this year which usually occur on the first Friday in December on Sanibel, and the first Saturday on Captiva. The short answer is “no”, but In partnership with the City and other island organizations, the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce has taken the lead in planning a 13-month celebration of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary. That anniversary is November 5, 2024.

With hurricane recovery efforts still underway, many businesses often open for Luminary events may not be ready this year.

So, with Sanibel’s 1974 incorporation falling in November, plans are in the works for a special 13-month celebration that will kick-off on that anniversary and continue until what would normally be Luminary 2025. To that end, the traditional Luminary for 2023 has been postponed.

The Chamber plan is that all island events between November 5, 2024, and December 6, 2025, will be co-branded with the 50th anniversary celebration. By then, more restoration and recovery will be complete, more businesses back open and more property owners will have returned. Stay tuned. I bet it will be special!

30-Year Mortgage Rates Head Back Up, Hit 6.81%

After hearing about the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates moving closer to 7%. I quizzed David Wright, Senior Vice President of Residential Mortgage Lending at the Sanibel & Captiva Community Bank. He was at our Association of Realtors membership meeting yesterday. With most island sales contracts being cash, it was a surprise to hear him say that this year is likely going to set records for them. He said they are doing plenty of mortgages, including for damaged property needing construction loans.

So even though the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked back up this week, you can bet if I have a client needing a loan, I will continue to suggest calling David or another of our Association Affiliate Members. I have done business with the SanCap Bank since they opened 20+years ago and they have always exceeded expectations. (It’s also great to have them back open on Sanibel, including the drive-thru.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

The July membership meeting of the islands Association of Realtors was held yesterday morning at the Midland Trust building in Fort Myers, where our Association offices have made their temporary home while their island office building is under restoration.

Speaker Theresa Knower who heads Midland’s 1031 division, provided a refresher overview of the 1031 tax-deferred exchange process. Following that was info on self-directed IRA’s.

The Caravan that followed the meeting included three Sanibel homes and one on Captiva within South Seas Resort. This gave teammate Dave and I a great opportunity to see the progress at the resort. It really is amazing how little damage some northern areas received from the hurricane.

At Lands End looking over Red Fish Pass to North Captiva Island

At Lands End (Captiva’s north end) some repairs and roof work were underway, but the landscaping was beautiful in many areas. As we crossed the long stretch of the resort that has mangroves on either side of the road, I remember thinking that the damage to those looked worse after Charley.

Golf course at South Seas Resort under construction.

The golf course at South Seas is under construction and many resort properties are undergoing restoration, but the damage, particularly at the condos and timeshares appears to be much less than on Sanibel.

Crossing the bridge at Blind Pass coming back onto Sanibel, we noticed the sandbar making its way across the channel which is nearly closed. It was a bit overcast, so the beach was not overly busy.

From Captiva side of the bridge overlooking Blind Pass to Sanibel

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

On the commercial side, the real estate at 2359 Periwinkle Way (formerly home of CJ’s Swimwear) was listed for $1.29M.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 60 1,118,980 126 89 1,587,345 98 27 972,755 136
Under contract 6 1,306,500 116 26 1,434,265 106 7 956,857 34
Sold 2023 to 7/28 68 919,824 53 190 1,228,062 61 16 922,593 79
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 17 1,650,647 93 12 7,206,583 95 0 N/A N/A
Under contract 2 438,500 27 2 2,795,000 72 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 7/28 9 941,333 117 12 2,865,250 71 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 July 21-28

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sandals #B 3/3 $900K.

3 price changes: Lighthouse Point #232 3/2 now $889K, Gulfside Place #204 2/2 now $1.35M, Gulfside Place #208 2/2 now $1,370,555.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listings: 313 Palm Lake Dr 3/3 $799K.

3 price changes: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $724,999; 1835 Farm Tr 3/2 now $799K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 $3.395M.

2 back on market: 1578 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $995K, 1297 Par View Dr 3/2 $1,249,900.

3 new sales: 530 Piedmont Rd 3/2 listed at $549K, 951 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $629K, 6401 Pine Ave 4/3.5 listed at $4.195M.

2 closed sales: 3205 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $1.1M, 913 Kings Crown Dr 4//3 $1.3M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 2505 Island Inn Rd now $345K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11517 Wightman Ln 4/3 $3.45M.

No price reductions, 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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Number of 2023 Sanibel Home Sales Already Exceed Last Year

It seems when we are busier the Fridays arrive quicker. Now that it is late July, temperatures and humidity are keeping the days toasty, while vegetation is growing like crazy, particularly after the quick showers which are more often. The East End had three humdingers this week, accompanied by plenty of lightning. As summer progresses, big clouds make it across the causeway, usually resulting in fabulous colorful sunsets.

I took a quick spin this morning to several of the public beach parking areas to see how busy they are. Only one spot available at Gulfside City Park, a couple free at Lighthouse Beach gulf-side, but no one parked then at the bayside parking areas.

Lighthouse beach this morning 7/21/23.

Sanibel lighthouse 7/21/23

Lighthouse bayside parking beach access 7/21/23.

Working from home much of yesterday, it was astounding to see a crew of workers on the 3rd story roof of the home across the street from me. They were at it from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. installing a metal roof in temperatures that knocked me over just walking from air-conditioned home to air-conditioned car. They were back again today also. Those roofers and the many workers helping with recovery sure deserve gratitude.

The SanibelSusan Team is also thankful for the two condo listings that went under contract this week. When checking out the islands’ Multiple Listing Service (MLS) statistics, after a couple of news items below, be sure and note that with this week’s home closings, the number of Sanibel home sales in 2023 surpassed the total number sold in all of 2022. The average sale price may be down because many of the sold properties had damage, but unit volume for homes is up. Now that condo complexes are showing improvement, maybe condo sales will pick up.

Bailey’s General Store

Bailey’s Center demo with Wink news interview 7/21/23

It was posted last night that demolition of Bailey’s Shopping Center began this morning and will take about a week. The historic service station is excluded but will be redeveloped along with the rest of the property. The Bailey family is excited for their future resilient plans to begin, but sad so see the buildings go that have served the islands well for over 60 years. Including earlier locations, Bailey’s has been on the island for over 100 years. (Viewing is only available from the shared-use path. The entire Center is a construction zone and not available for public access. Be cautious as large trucks and equipment will be moving in and out.)

Causeway Update

FL DOT photo of bridge damage post-Ian

More construction news was provided at the July Sanibel City Council Meeting during a presentation by Jennifer Dorning who is the Sanibel Causeway Community Liaison with Florida Dept of Transportation. She opened her talk with some background on the 12’ surge that topped with 8’ waves during the peak of Hurricane Ian. As she shared photos of damage, she highlighted that by Day 7 (Oct 11, 2022) the first convoy crossed and by Day 15 (Oct 19) the temporary roadway was open to traffic.

Today, the temporary roadway continues, and the speed limit remains 20 mph. Delays should be expected until construction is complete, but their goal is for 2-way traffic to continue during daytime hours.

Accomplishments to date include adding armor stone to stabilize sheet piles with 80% of the galvanized steel sheeting in.

An unexpected hiccup was the rare least tern nesting noticed a few weeks ago. DOT is working with SCCF to keep these nesting areas undisturbed.

What is happening now:

·        Armor stone is being delivered and could be as many as 30 trucks a day for the next year. These are the huge stones. They are being barged from Punta Rassa over the water to where they will be installed.

·        Installing buried island sheet piles.

·        Removing traffic railing.

·        Delivery of prep material.

·        Begin new road construction. (This has been delayed awaiting a permit from Army Corps for work that needs to be done in the water.) The new road will be raised 2’.  Hurricane Ian was defined by coastal engineers as a 300-year storm. The new construction will be built to withstand that.

·        Much of the work that is being done now, won’t be seen when the roadway is complete.

What’s next?

·        Continue installing sheet piles. Once Army Corps permit is received, installing piles in water begins.

·        Raise road 2’.

·        Protect sides with mattresses.

·        Bury toe protection.

County advises that the new causeway islands will have free parking and the same amenities as were there before, though some may be in different locations.

Total cost estimated at $285 million with Federal government hopefully to reimburse much of that (though it could take years).

Coming up phases of construction may require more night work and limit causeway traffic to one lane during some of those hours. Expect to see those areas well lit and with flagmen.

Public access to the causeway is prohibited during construction. Expect to see the new roadway approximately 3’ higher than before. It was also noted that the Punta Rassa boat ramp needs repair and probably won’t be open to the public until some time in 2024.

For more info, photos, her presentation, and to sign up for construction updates, go to www.SWFLroads.com/SanibelCauseway.
 

Sanibel City Council Post-Ian Update

At the Tuesday monthly City Council Meeting, City Manager Dana Souza announced what he said was the last formal monthly Post-Ian Update. He said finance updates will continue to be provided during the budget process which runs through the end of September. Below are highlights from his presentation:

Both Building & Planning Departments are settled at 2475 Library Way available to help owners and contractors looking for guidance.

All Sanibel public beach parking facilities have reopened with the last being Lighthouse Bayside Park on June 30. For the parking areas requiring a permit, only Access 4 on West Gulf Dr is still closed.

Parking permit revenues are up, while causeway counts are sluggish compared to 2022. Sunday traffic has been exceeding 4,000 vehicles indicating that more day-visitors are coming. The Chamber of Commerce is working with the County in hopes of convincing them to forgive weekend tolls for a period for those visitors coming to support restaurants/businesses. May be in August, stay tuned.

Debris removal total is up to 2,392,390 cubic yards. All removal registrations have ended, though waterway cleanup continues. Expected to finish by the end of the month. If you notice any water areas needing help, contact Public Works. Note: Waste management (weekly trash pickup) will not pick up construction debris.

Building permits – 5,500 have been issued. Code enforcement efforts are for compliance, but 234 stop work orders have been issued or construction stopped.

Huge thanks were offered to Public Works for their efforts in getting public areas and beach parking open.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

There was no Association of Realtors meeting this week, but our listings sure had action. Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics. After that are the activity with our listings this week and that posted in the MLS since last Friday.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS

HOMES

LOTS

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

#

Avg Price

DOM

For sale

60

1,145,788

123

93

1,616,589

93

29

1,000,600

127

Under contract

7

1,204,128

102

27

1,373,622

103

7

956,857

34

Sold 2023 to 7/21

68

919,824

53

188

1,228,361

61

16

922,593

79

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

18

1,584,494

83

11

7,520,818

79

0

N/A

N/A

Under contract

2

736,500

19

3

3,113,333

108

0

N/A

N/A

Sold 2023 to 7/21

8

934,625

130

12

2,865,250

71

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 July 14-21

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 now $734K.

3 new sales: Sunset South #11A 2/2 listed at $599K, Sandpiper Beach #206 2/2 (SanibelSusan listing) listed at $799K, Gulfside Place #318 2/2 (SanibelSusan listing) listed at $1.295M.

3 closed sales: Sundial #I105 1/1 $310,095; Sundial #I104 1/1 $450K, Snug Harbor #122 2/2 $1.575M.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1624 Bunting Ln 3/2 $724K, 5892 San-Cap Rd 3/3 $775K, 1986 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $859K, 1258 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $879,900; 5685 San-Cap Rd 3/2 $1.265M; 4355 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5.5 $5.75M.

5 price changes: 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 now $599K, 1535 Centre St 2/2 now $649,555; 1835 Farm Tr 3/2 now $845K, 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $849K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $3.495M.

3 back on market: 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $845K, 4797 Rue Helene 3/2 $1.348M, 1175 Bird Ln 4/3.5 $4.25M.

6 new sales: 1399 Albatross Rd 3/2 listed at $714K, 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 listed at $725K, 540 East Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $975K, 1171 Seagrape Ln 3/3 listed at $999K, 1297 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $1.2499M, 1036 Whisperwood Way 3/3 listed at $1.299M.

7 closed sales: 9421 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $625K, 228 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $850K, 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $950K, 3251 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $1.075M, 950 Cabbage Palm Ct 3/2 $1.225M, 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 $2.1M, 2963 Wulfert Rd 4/6 $3.3M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11517 Wightman Ln 4/3 $3.45M.

No price reductions

1 new sale: 11516 Wightman Ln 5/4.5 listed at $3.75M.

No 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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Almost July 4th 2023 on Sanibel

It is hard to believe that the July 4th holiday is in just a few days. It seemed to take forever for my home to be restored so I could move back on island, but now, a month later, days are flying by. Summer weather has arrived with most days in the low 90’s, evenings high 70’s, and 50% chance of showers each day. Photo here taken this afternoon at Tarpon Bay Explorers where leaves and new growth are busting out all over. Late afternoon shower arrived shortly after.

In my frequent drive-arounds, checking properties, I still am in awe of how many are being demolished or raised, while others have not been touched. Thankfully, most homes show evidence of restoration. There also was noticeably more activity at condo complexes this week. I also got my first call from a former owner looking for a 3-month home rental next winter. Those likely will be in-demand and hard to find, but the good news is that as more become available the rental organizations quickly are posting them on-line.

Last weekend, it was interesting to see that the public beach parking areas were mostly full, a good indication that day-trippers have returned to enjoy the gulf, shelling, and more. The few businesses open certainly appreciate their added business. I had another wonderful lunch with friends at Traders this week, while last week, a friend and I also enjoyed Doc Ford’s. Both of those spots are as friendly and consistent as ever. Outdoor gift markets also continue at the Rachel Pierce Gallery next door to Traders and in the east-end shopping center before the lighthouse. I also saw that She Sells SeaShells at 1157 Periwinkle reopened today.

Recent social media posts say that Tahitian Gardens shopping center may be opening soon. I think that means the new roof is almost done, as I saw many workers on the roof yesterday. Interior restorations probably come next.

Local rumor advises that more accommodations and businesses hope to reopen – some not until fall, most by winter. The SanibelSusan Team also continues to patiently await the completion of our office. Meanwhile, like many, we have become experts at working remotely.

All Sanibel Public-Access Beach Parking Lots Now Open

Yesterday, the city announced that the bayside lot at Lighthouse Beach Park (110-153 Periwinkle Way) and the Causeway Beach parking lot at 888 Sextant Dr (next to the boat ramp) were opening today. With these reopenings, all public-access beach park locations are now open. All require a beach parking permit or hourly paid parking. The fishing pier at Lighthouse Beach Park remains closed.

Click here for beach parking FAQ’s.

Click here for beach parking application.

Click here for information about the mobile beach parking system.

July 4th Happenings

Community Cookout Event – As recovery continues, no parade or fireworks are planned this year, but the Sanibel Rec Center is hosting a FREE community cookout event. Held at the Rec Center on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., it features games, magician, pool party, live music (11-1), stilt walker, facepainting, inflatable obstacle course, Hubbard Farm rescue animals, plus free hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and ice cream.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge – The Visitor, Education Center, and administrative offices will be closed on July 4. Wildlife Drive, its trails, restrooms, and Bailey Tract will be open.

43rd Annual Sanibel Road Rally – The tradition continues… now organized by the Friends of Randy of Sanibel, who took the event over from the Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club. Basically, a scavenger hunt in a vehicle, it kicks off at noon July 4th in The Timbers Restaurant parking lot on Tarpon Bay Rd.  Registration is open to 25 vehicles. Teams are given questions, then set off across the islands to find as many correct answers as possible. Proceeds this year will benefit storm recovery of Sanibel American Legion Post 123. This is not a speed race, rather participants are provided with instructions and driving directions, and must find clues along the way. Each vehicle is given a start time and must be at the starting line at least 20 minutes before. When the rally kicks off, the first vehicle goes. Others follow in 2-minute increments. If spaces are still available on the 4th, on-site registration will open at 10 a.m. At the finish, teams will be ranked on points received for the most correct answers based on sights seen along the route, for a finish-time closest to the organization’s calculated time, and for distance driven closest to pre-determined route distance, plus points on bonus questions. It will take under two hours and finishes back at Timbers, where an afterglow party will be at The Sanibel Grill. Prizes will go to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Teams also are encouraged to decorate their vehicles to receive the Best Decorated prize. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Entry fee is $50 and covers a vehicle, driver, navigator, unlimited crew and one event T-shirt. Additional shirts will be available for $20 each. To register, contact Randy Carson at rcarsonsan@gmail.com or 239-699-8739 or Allen Dunham at cougar3_33@yahoo.com or 239-699-9474. Registration forms are also available at Timbers. Residents and visitors are invited to participate. Don’t expect locals will win. SanibelSusan has participated in several of these rallies. The questions can be challenging and you don’t have to live here to know or find the answers.

More City Financial News

Governor DeSantis announced Tuesday that The City of Sanibel will receive a $13.1 million bridge loan for Hurricane Ian recovery. The funds will come from the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The money is intended to “bridge the gap” for local governments impacted by hurricanes Ian and Nicole. This award to Sanibel comes in addition to $25 million awarded to Lee County and $11.9 million awarded to the Town of Fort Myers Beach.

Island Critters

SCCF photo

Sea Turtles – On Wednesday, SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) posted that “the first sea turtle hatchlings have emerged on Sanibel and Captiva! The first nest hatched on June 21, and several other nests have hatched since, with 387 hatchlings starting their journey into the Gulf of Mexico. “Our volunteers have been incredibly busy this year, and we are so grateful for the long hours they’re spending on the beach to protect our sea turtles,” said Sea Turtle Biologist Jack Brzoza. We are on track for a record-breaking nesting season, with more than 855 nests on Sanibel and Captiva so far this season, including 18 green sea turtle nests!”

SCCF photo

Indigo Snakes – Earlier this month, SCCF confirmed the first known sighting of an eastern indigo snake on the islands since Hurricane Ian. These rare snakes have rapidly declined over the decades and are listed as threatened in Florida and under the federal Endangered Species Act. Please report any indigo snake sightings with photos, of possible, to indigo@sccf.org.

Beach Bird Chicks – SCCF also reports that with July on the horizon, shorebird and seabird nesting season is starting to wind down. Most of the final renesting attempts will be occurring this month. On Sanibel and Captiva, there are snowy plover and least tern chicks of varying ages. SCCF also posted some characteristics to identify the age of the chicks.

After hatching, least tern checks appear sand-colored, speckled, and without visible wings or tails – looking very similar to the eggs from which they hatched. They are able to walk within hours of hatching but will stay in their nest for a few days. After two weeks, their down fluff is replaced with light brown or gray, scaly feathers, and they are more mobile, often venturing outside of posted nesting areas. Three to four weeks after hatching, least tern chicks are able to fly in short bursts, and their body shape more closely resembles that of an adult. At more than four weeks, juveniles can be distinguished from younger fledglings by the black stripe running through their eyes and around the back of their head. These juveniles also are identifiable by being more adept flyers. When these non-reproducing adult birds that fledged the year prior enter their 2nd year, they look like fledglings, but have smooth back feathers, and the black feathers around the eye to not extend to the bill. More a more detailed guide to least tern chick aging, click here.

Snowy plover chicks also start out sand-colored and speckled, but unlike least tern checks, they waste no time staying in the nest. They may be running about on their disproportionately long legs hours after they hatch. “This notable difference is because snowy plover chicks are precocial; they’re born in an advanced stage of development and are able to forage for their own food,” said Shorebird Technician Aaron White. “Least tern chicks are altricial, which means they still rely on their parents for food until they are able to fly and feed themselves.” After two weeks, snowy plover chicks are less “fuzzy” and “scruffier” as their primary feathers start to come in. They become more adventurous, leaving the dune habitat to explore the shoreline. After four to six weeks of development, the chicks look like slightly smaller, skinnier versions of their parents, minus the bold breeding plumage exhibited by mature adults. At this point, they are flight-capable and may be seen flying with their parents or siblings before venturing out on their own. For a more detailed guide to snowy plover chick aging, click here.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics. After that is the action posted in the MLS since last Friday.

On the residential front, brisk home sales continue. On the commercial side, the property at 2365 Periwinkle Way, formerly Gene’s Books and before that MacIntosh, closed for $1,098,000.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 64 1,164,393 114 99 1,549,281 98 32 960,981 98
Under contract 8 1,100,975 63 33 1,413,630 74 6 1,149,500 33
Sold 2023 to 6/30 63 931,793 52 169 1,220,644 60 14 939,035 82
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 15 1,367,060 78 10 5,952,900 83 1 15,500,000 461
Under contract 1 995,000 17 3 3,046,666 116 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 6/30 8 934,625 130 11 2,843,909 50 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 June 23-30

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Spanish Cay #C4 2/2 $520K, Pointe Santo #E42 2/2 $1.4M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Loggerhead Cay #133 2/2 listed at $999K, Wedgewood #204 3/3.5 listed at $2.998M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1835 Farm Tr 3/2 $875K, 4263 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $899K, 485 Peachtree Rd 3/3 $1.2M, 1410 Albatross Rd 3/3 $1.295M, 803 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 $1.298M, 4797 Rue Helene 3/2 $1.348M.

6 back on market: 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 $699K, 586 Boulder Dr 3/2 $699K, 719 Nerita St 3/3 $735K, 9008 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $1.149M, 1003 Fish Crow Rd 4/4 $1.4M, 1306 Par View Dr 3/3.5 $1.55M.

3 price changes: 4852 Rue Helene 2/2 now $675K, 4269 Gulf Pines Dr 2/2 now $849K, 1813 Long Point Ln 3/2.5 now $1.075M.

5 new sales: 1032 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $545K, 658 Donax St 3/2 listed at $699K, 683 Durion Ct 3/2 listed at $799K, 1143 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 listed at $899K, 1550 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $1.499M.

5 closed sales: 1044 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $625K, 997 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $1.025M, 4565 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 $1.06M, 251 Christofer Ct 3/2.5 $1.1M, 1089 S. Yachtsman Dr 3/2.5 $1.135M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 6068 Dinkins Lake Rd $629K

4 price changes: 2356 Wulfert Rd now $325K, 809 Pyrula Ave now $545K, 945 Pyrula Ave now $549K, 2807 West Gulf Dr now $1.095M.

3 new sales: 5116 Sea Bell Rd listed at $334K, 3649 West Gulf Dr listed at $3.995M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tennis Villas #3123 1/1 $525K

1 price change: Bayside Villas #5208 1/2 now $610K

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #3113 1/1 $465K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16979 Captiva Dr (multi-family) 7/7.5 $9.5M.

1 price change: 1101 Tallow Tree (1/2 duplex) 4/4 now $3.995M.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: 14981 Binder Dr 3/3 $899K, 11401 Old Lodge Ln 2/3.5 $5.2M.

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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend & Happy 4th

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

First Summer 2023 Friday on Sunny Sanibel

Another Friday is here along with the arrival of summer and the longest day of the year. Often daily showers continue off-island while they have been only occasionally on the islands.

I have stopped at Lighthouse Beach several times since it reopened last Friday. It is nice to be able to go there again after the nearly 9-month closure. With many beachfront trees lost in the storm, it sure is easy now to see what is happening on the beach and in the gulf. Many are enjoying it.

Teammate Dave and I both worked with buyers this week, while he also checked our listings today. Challenges continue with few places for visitors to stay if they want to come and view property. Homes continue to sell well, while slow condominium recovery hampers those sales, but progress continues. Every day there is more.

This morning, I had roofers, electricians, and drywall installers at my home as punch list items got accomplished. Fingers crossed that I get some new landscaping next. I’m on a mission to find another bougainvillea tree like this.

When my yard was flourishing 2 years ago.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors

Yesterday, at the June Membership Meeting of the Association of Realtors, Mayor Richard Johnson provided attendees with a summary of the progress the City has made since Hurricane Ian, followed by a discussion of the upcoming budget.

One interesting tidbit is that in past years the City of Sanibel has asked the state for financial assistance usually to the tune of less than $1M, occasionally a little more. This year, Sanibel’s request for state funding was more than the entire City $83M+budget. The good news is that the full amount requested was included in the appropriations in the state budget that Governor DeSantis signed last week.

Though the Lee County Tax Appraiser has indicated a reduction in island property values which will affect those tax revenue dollars, Sanibel is in good financial shape with budget planning meetings underway. Credit given to City Council and City staff led by City Manager Dana Souza and Deputy Manager (& Chief Financial Officer) Steve Chaipel.

A caravan tour of five just-listed Sanibel homes followed the meeting. The next caravan is in two weeks.

Governor Signs 2023-2024 State Budget

Last Friday, Florida Realtors Vice President of Public Policy, Andy Gonzalez, posted a nice recap about Florida’s budget:

“Governor DeSantis signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2023–24 yesterday. He is calling it the Framework for Freedom Budget and it includes a variety of priorities advocated for this session by Florida Realtors. The Framework for Freedom Budget totals $116.5 billion. Florida maintains healthy reserves at the end of the fiscal year, totaling more than $15.3 billion. Florida has maintained record levels of reserves while continuing to make historic investments in education, public safety, infrastructure, and the environment. To maintain Florida’s sound fiscal standing in the face of continued economic headwinds, Governor DeSantis vetoed $510.9 million.

“Water Quality – The budget includes more than $694 million for Everglades restoration projects, including:

  • $356.5 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
  • $64 million for the EAA Reservoir to continue the momentum of this critical project to reduce harmful discharges and help send more clean water south of the Everglades.
  • $50 million is included for specific project components designed to achieve the greatest reductions in harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries as identified in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project Draft Integrated Project Implementation Report and Environmental Impact Statement dated August 2020.
  • $96.1 million is included for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program.

“The budget also includes $796 million for targeted water quality improvements to achieve significant, meaningful, and measurable nutrient reductions in key waterbodies across the state and to implement the initial recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force.

“On top of the investment in targeted water quality improvements, the budget includes $50 million to restore Florida’s world-renowned springs; $85 million for the continued stabilization, water treatment, and closure at Piney Point; and a $59 million investment to improve water quality and combat the effects and impacts of harmful algal blooms, including blue-green algae and red tide.

“Additionally, the budget funds $1 billion to protect our prized properties and waterways, including $850 million for lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and $100 million for the Florida Forever Program to support land conservation and recreation.

“Economic Development – The Framework for Freedom Budget invests $4 billion for a bold new initiative to address the challenge of congestion on Florida’s highways and roads that is the inevitable result of our state’s historic growth. The Moving Florida Forward Initiative will accelerate the development and completion of transportation projects to provide additional highway and road capacity to meet the needs of Florida’s ever-growing economy and population.

“The budget includes $14.8 billion for the Florida Department of Transportation to retain current employees and supports the creation of more than  254,000 jobs. Of this total, $13.9 billion is provided for the State Transportation Work Program, an ongoing five-year plan for the implementation and completion of transportation infrastructure projects, including the construction and maintenance of Florida’s roads, bridges, rails, seaports, and other public transportation systems that grow the state’s economy and improve the quality of life for our citizens.

“Additionally, budget includes $75 million to support the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which helps fund projects that support public infrastructure and expand workforce education opportunities.

To further support Florida’s rural communities, the budget includes $25 million for the Rural Infrastructure Fund to help rural communities expand necessary infrastructure. Additionally, the budget includes $100 million to help small and rural communities expand access to broadband Internet.

For budget highlights, click here.

To read the veto list, click here.

To read the veto messages, click here.”

Lee County Board of County Commissioners Meeting

Here is SCCF’s recent post: “Dear Friends of Captiva and Sanibel Islands:

“This morning, Tuesday, June 20, three senior staff from Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation delivered testimony to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regarding the proposed controversial amendments to Lee County’s Land Development Code that would benefit South Seas Island Resort (SSIR) on Captiva Island. These requested amendments would significantly increase building height and allow only SSIR to request increased density through a zoning change. These amendments have been proposed without stakeholder input from the Captiva or Sanibel communities.

“Following public comment on a motion for a 90-day continuance, the BOCC voted to hold a public hearing on the matter at the Sept. 5 board meeting. The continuance also applies to tomorrow’s public hearing, which will be held on Sept. 6. Chairman Brian Hamman also requested that the county attorney separate out components of the proposed changes to the Land Development Code that would achieve resilience across Lee County from those that would only benefit SSIR.

 “SCCF COMMENTS: CEO James Evans thanked the commissioners for taking more time to assess the proposed changes and noted, “We would really like to see a full staff analysis of the impacts of the Land Development Code changes on the communities affected that would include a traffic study, evacuation plans as it relates to hurricanes and impacts to the infrastructure.”

“SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., added that “there is so much at stake for these two very vulnerable barrier islands if we don’t do this right. We need to take the time to have proper stakeholder input, and to really pursue the correct resilience process that makes sense for both our islands.”

“Finally, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis explained that having time to look at this issue is highly important because the stakeholders that reside in these communities are the “people who understand how important our environment is to our way of life — that our natural environment protects us from these storms and drives our tourism-based economy, bringing people…to enjoy our beaches, our fisheries, and our waters.””

Seabirds

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported this week that least terns have nested on the Sanibel Causeway Islands for the first time since 1993! These state-threatened seabirds were likely attracted to the open, sandy areas created by Hurricane Ian reconstruction. Once SCCF noticed the terns, they worked with Lee County, the Florida Department of Transportation, and MyFWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife) to protect the area around the colony as essential bridge repairs continue.

While the birds haven’t been spotted recently, the fact they made an appearance shows they still come to this region and seek suitable nesting habitat.

Least terns nest in groups, which allows them to collaborate to find food and deter predators. Their historical attempts to nest on the Causeway often failed due to traffic and summer storms that washed away nests. In addition to their return to the Causeway, nesting least terns have been spotted on the west end of Sanibel and Captiva for the first time in over a decade.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

Below with data from the island MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics. After that is the activity posted in the MLS since last Friday.

As we get closer to wrapping up the first half of the year, it is astounding how many communities have had more homes sell in 2023 than in all of 2022 – which also experienced a hot market – at least until September 28. The following subdivisions already have had more homes sell than last year: Chateau Sur Mer, Dunes, Gulf Pines, Gulf Shores, Gumbo Limbo, Kinzie Island, Lake Murex, Palm Lake, Sanibel Estates, Sanibel Isles, Sanibel Lake Estates, Sanibel River Estates, Sanibel Shores, Sea Oats, Seagull Estates, Shell Harbor, and Tradewinds.

On the commercial side, the buildings known as ReMax Center of the Islands, formerly Palm Ridge Plaza at 2400 Palm Ridge Rd, listed for $2.6M, went under contract this week.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 66 1,179,336 113 96 1,650,603 98 33 1,121,860 96
Under contract 6 801,800 43 40 1,374,942 79 4 641,750 17
Sold 2023 to 6/23 63 931,793 52 164 1,227,706 58 14 939,035 82
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 14 1,427,385 77 9 5,614,888 85 1 15,500,000 454
Under contract 2 757,000 189 4 3,783,750 101 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 6/23 7 1,001,714 91 9 2,798,222 55 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 June 16-23

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sanibel Siiesta #501 2/2 $829K, Loggerhead Cay #174 2/2 $929K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Sundial #I105 1/1 listed at $374.9K, Sundial #I104 1/1 listed at $519K.

1 closed sale: Seashells #16 2/2 $423K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 220 Palm Lake Dr 3/3 $1.239M, 6460 Pine Ave 3/2 $1.25M, 1550 Sand Castle Rd 3/3.5 $1.499M, 3744 West Gulf Dr 4/4 $2.189M.

1 back on market: 2564 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 $3.595M.

8 price changes: 1448 Albatross Rd 3/2 now $849K, 1160 Buttonwood Ln 3/2 now $949K, 566 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $1.395M, 1517 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 now $1.895M, 963 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 now $1.995M, 1318 Seaspray Ln 5/3.5 now $2.995M, 2969 Wulfert Rd 6/6.5.5 now $3.499M, 1175 Bird Ln 4/3.5 now $4.25M.

10 new sales: 1859 Farm Tr 3/3 listed at $599.9K, 1811 Ibis Ln 2/2 listed at $630K, 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 listed at $699K, 586 Boulder Dr 3/2 listed at $699K, 3924 West Gulf Dr 3/2 listed at $949K, 209 Daniel Dr 3/2 listed at $1,199,900; 1003 Fish Crow Rd 4/4 listed at $1.4M, 913 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 listed at $1.595M, 915 Pecten Ct 4/5 listed at $2.389M,  3635 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 listed at $4.95M.

5 closed sales: 1937 Roseate Ln 2/2 $415K, 1046 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $800K, 1332 Sand Castle Rd 32 $850K, 940 Beach Rd 4/4.5.5 $2.8M, 3635 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $4.95M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1331 Par View Dr now $549K.

1 back on market: 5116 Sea Bell Rd $335K.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: 9268 Belding Dr $427.5K, 1872 Middle Gulf Dr $750K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tennis Villas #3129 1/1 $479.9K

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3119 1/1 now $478K

No new sales.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas #3138 2/2 $725K, Beach Villas #2417 1/1 $735K.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 16321 Captiva Dr 5/4 now $3.95M.

1 new sale: 11511 Laika Ln 3/2 listed at $2.095M.

No 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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Rainy Season Begins on Otherwise Sunny Sanibel

The Florida rainy season has begun. Last Friday, just after posting my weekly update, there was a brief shower on Sanibel’s East End and another longer downpour on Wednesday evening. Though vegetation and wildlife desperately needed water, the news reported inland flooding and continued damage to many properties still wearing blue tarps, awaiting roof repairs. That rain also unfortunately provided proof that my standing-seam metal roof, inspected and thought to be undamaged from Hurricane Ian, still needs maintenance. It has solar tubes which provide wonderful light in my little ground-level home, but one leaked, so resealing is ordered. Just another hiccup in the recovery process.

Following up on my island travels last week, I also again viewed a few more communities over the holiday weekend. It hardly seemed like a holiday with very few vehicles about, though public beach accesses were busy, and it was nice to see contractors working at several single-family homes. On Monday, I even saw workers at Tantara condos. Otherwise, condo build-back continues to be slow. We are thankful that our condo listings are in pro-active associations, but it has become evident that it will be a long time before many other complexes will be ready for occupancy.

My other observation was that many more homes have been demolished and those lots cleared of debris. Often in the same neighborhood there are other properties that haven’t been touched. Many new homes already are being constructed, an astounding number really and perhaps a sign that the new Sanibel Building Dept is quickly processing permits. There should be an update on that next week during the Tuesday, June 6, monthly City Council Meeting.

Hurricane Season

It’s here again! Yesterday, on June 1, the first day of 2023 Hurricane Season, Tropical Depression #2 got named at 5 p.m. From the northern area of the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters predicted today that it would not have a direct impact on Florida as it travels south and fizzles out.

Tropical Depression #1 was already taken by a storm discovered in post-season analysis, which formed in January.

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Update on Sea Turtles

SCCF photo of Sanibel’s first turtle nest 10 years ago, in 2013

“As of May 30, our nighttime sea turtle tagging team has encountered 86 unique sea turtles this nesting season. This includes turtles with existing tags that staff can identify and document, as well as turtles that were tagged for the first time this year. “Sea turtles without tags could be first-time nesters, returning turtles that weren’t encountered by the team in previous years, or turtles that have nested on other beaches that aren’t monitored by nighttime teams,” said SCCF Sea Turtle Biologist Savannah Weber. “We’ve been seeing an average of four or five sea turtles each night, which is nearly twice the average last year at this time.”

“After SCCF applies tags to these turtles — which allows staff and other scientists to see the individual’s nesting and movement patterns — our team also gets the pleasure of “naming” the turtle. Themes in past years have included shells, ice cream flavors, spices, and Pokémon. This year, the theme is female musical artists. “Some of the names we’ve given turtles include Tina Turner, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton,” Weber said.

“Previously tagged turtles seen this year have included frequent nesters such as Venus and Conch, who have been encountered every one-to-two years since 2016. Staff were also pleased to see the return of Junonia, a satellite-tagged loggerhead who has nested on Sanibel for six of the past seven years.

““Generally, sea turtles exhibit ‘natal homing,’ which means nesting females will lay nests near the same beach they hatched from,” Weber said. “Some turtles have very precise natal homing, where they lay nests within a few miles from the exact spot of beach from which they hatched. Others have more general homing, where they may lay anywhere within the general region of where they originally hatched.”

“Since SCCF’s tagging project began in 2016, staff have encountered over 950 unique individual sea turtles. Over 350 sea turtle nests have been laid on Sanibel and Captiva Islands this season.”

SCCF Also Reports Bald Eagle Chicks

“A total of nine bald eagle chicks fledged this year on Sanibel, Captiva, and North Captiva, despite Hurricane Ian wiping out all known nests. With the help of partners and volunteers, SCCF monitors bald eagle nests on the islands during the nesting season (Oct. 1 to May 15) and reports data to the Audubon Society’s Eagle Watch Program.

““It was a challenging season for bald eagles, but they wasted no time rebuilding their nests and laying eggs,” said SCCF Shorebird Technician Aaron White. “Rebuilding is a particular feat for bald eagles, which typically re-use and build upon the same nest year after year.”

“Among the 10 breeding pairs SCCF monitors, seven successfully nested and fledged chicks. Two pairs didn’t renest, while one nest failed due to an unknown cause. “The eagles really bounced back from Hurricane Ian, and we’re hopeful the rest of the nesting wildlife across the islands will do the same,” White said.”

Impacts of Ian Advance Restoration of Grasslands

Also in their recent update, SCCF posted: “The current clearing of dead vegetative debris that created a fire hazard on many SCCF preserve lands will have the long-term effect of accelerating the restoration of native habitats.

“”State contractors are doing their best to maneuver through the habitats with minimal disturbance to living native flora,” said Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz.  The dead trees and shrubs created a fuel load that increased the chance of wildfires. “Removing them will provide native grasses and ground cover plants an opportunity to take hold again from remaining seed sources in the ground and from any plantings we do to fill in the areas,” he added.

“Prior to development, Sanibel was mostly a vast open canopy grassland that was kept in that state by wildfires and a hydrology that limited freshwater to the center of the island along the Sanibel Slough during the long dry season. Historical aerial photographs show that buttonwood, a freshwater-loving tree in the white mangrove family, bordered the Sanibel Slough because it was the wettest part of the island. “Historically, natural wildfires would consume young buttonwoods that attempted to establish outside of this buffer of the river on higher land,” Lechowicz said.

“In the early 1990s, the City of Sanibel adopted a weir control policy to better manage surface water on the island. The objective of the policy is to attempt to retain as much fresh surface water as possible for the environmental benefit of the interior wetlands as long as developed areas are not adversely impacted.

“The weir system allows the water level to be kept higher on the west end of the island as opposed to the east end because there are more conservation lands and less developed areas west of Tarpon Bay Road.

“Post-Ian, saltwater inundation of the freshwater wetlands caused highly brackish water to stand for long periods of time. As a result, woody vegetation had higher mortality on the west end because the salty water inundated those root systems longer. “The storm surge seemed to ‘turn back the clock’ slightly by decreasing living hardwood densities that overtook the expansive grasslands we once had,” said Lechowicz.”

Floridians a Bit More Confident in May

Posted on Florida Realtors Wednesday, May 31 by Kerry Smith:

“UF: After a drop in April – the only one in 2023 so far – Floridians’ consumer outlook rose modestly again in May as the state bucks national trends.

“GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida continues to defy national trends. According to the monthly consumer sentiment study from the University of Florida’s (UF) Bureau of Economic and Business Research, consumer sentiment among Floridians inched up one-tenth of a point in May to 68.8 from a revised figure of 68.7 in April – the only month so far this year that saw a decline. Nationally, consumer sentiment fell 4.3 points.

““Despite the ups and downs in consumer sentiment observed over the last 12 months, Florida’s consumer confidence has trended upwards, with a notable increase of 8 points in May compared to a year ago,” says Hector H. Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “This positive trend is consistent with a strong labor market and aligns well with the general decline in inflation levels since its peak in June,” says. “Nonetheless, it is worth noting that consumer confidence continues to remain at historically low levels.”

“Among the five components that make up the full index, three increased and two decreased.

 “Current economic conditions: Floridians’ opinions about current economic conditions portrayed a slightly more optimistic outlook in May. Views of personal financial situations now compared with a year ago increased slightly by nine-tenths of a point from 62.6 to 63.5. Similarly, opinions as to whether it’s a good time to buy a big-ticket household item such as a refrigerator or furniture increased 1.7 points from 59.6 to 61.3.

 “Future expectations: The three components focusing on Floridians’ attitudes about the future were mixed. Expectations of personal finances a year from now decreased slightly, three-tenths of a point, from 83.6 to 83.3. On the other hand, expectations about U.S. economic conditions over the next year increased slightly – three-tenths of a point from 66.3 to 66.6 – but the outlook for U.S. economic conditions over the next five years dropped 2.6 points from 71.7 to 69.1.

“Florida’s labor market has remained robust, with strong demand for workers and a consistently low unemployment rate, according to the report. In April, the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 2.6% for the fourth consecutive month, which is lower than the national rate. Moreover, the leisure and hospitality industry showed the largest percent change in job gains over the year, experiencing an increase of 7.3%.

““Despite concerns about persistent inflation, the recent turmoil in the banking sector and the possibility of further interest rate hikes, we anticipate that consumer confidence among Floridians will continue to trend upward in the months ahead,” says Sandoval. “This is based on the expectation that Florida’s tourism industry will experience an increase in demand during the upcoming summer season.”

“Sandoval adds a caveat, however, saying that outlook “may change drastically if the debt-ceiling standoff fails to be resolved and payments on U.S. government debt are not made.”

“The index used by UF researchers is benchmarked to 1966, which means a value of 100 represents the same level of confidence for that year. The lowest index possible is a 2, the highest is 150.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

There was no Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors meeting this week, but next Thursday morning is a Caravan Meeting at BIG ARTS.

Below with data from the island MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics and the action posted since last Friday in the MLS.

SANIBEL

RESIDENTIAL

CONDOS HOMES LOTS
# Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM # Avg Price DOM
For sale 64 1,187,978 104 113 1,580,784 90 31 1,218,400 84
Under contract 9 806,100 73 36 1,399,442 81 4 507,000 35
Sold 2023 to 6/2 58 945,586 47 145 1,206,181 51 12 997,416 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 12 1,960,833 81 9 4,569,444 73 1 15,500,000 433
Under contract 4 753,500 99 2 4,772,500 153 0 N/A N/A
Sold 2023 to 6/2 5 1,110,400 109 8 2,960,500 60 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 May 26 – June 2

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 $759K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Seashells #33 2/2 listed at $435K.

2 closed sales: Blind Pass #F210 2/2 $560K, Loggerhead Cay #412 2/2 $740K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1446 Sandpiper Cir (1/2 duplex) 2/2 $679K. 766 Donax St (duplex) 4/2.5 $799K.

3 price changes: 658 Donax St 3/2 now $699K, 9114 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $999K, 540 East Lake Rd 3/2 now $1M.

6 new sales: 1044 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $724.9K, 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 listed at $998,995; 3311 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 listed at $1.143M, 425 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $1.19M, 3205 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 listed at $1.245M, 5750 San-Cap Rd 3/2 listed at $1.75M, 450 Sea Walk Ct 4/3.5 listed at $2.225M.

5 closed sales: 1720 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2 $810K, 1565 Bunting Ln 3/2 $890K, 3050 West Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $1.43M, 1057 Seahawk Ln 3/2.5 $1.5M, 1520 Angel Dr 4/4.5 $3.03M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 1872 Middle Gulf Dr listed at $799K.

1 closed sale: 2563 Coconut Dr $1.25M.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: Marina Villas #906 2/2 $1.15M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 1101 Tallow Tree Ct (1/2 duplex) 4/4 $4.95M.

No price changes, 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 or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy your weekend, Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan