Another super-duper quiet week on the islands, but it was back to mostly blue skies, with eyes keeping watch on the storms in the Atlantic. Just two more months to go to reach the end of hurricane season 2025. Most afternoons, the big popcorn clouds try to come onto the islands. Against the bright blue sky, they are always a fun summer surprise.

At end of Dixie Beach Blvd 09-26-2025

End of Dixie Beach Blvd 09-26-2025

A few more clouds from San Carlos Bay Dr 09-26-2025
Every time I do another island drive-around, I am surprised at the evidence of more restoration – new homes are going up, some brand-new construction, others being raised. Seriously damaged homes also continue to be demolished. During a spin through Gulf Shores yesterday, I saw three more homes removed/totally gone, three others under new construction, and another ground-level being elevated. Amazing that almost three years after Ian so much recovery continues.
National Public Lands Day
In celebration of National Public Lands Day tomorrow, Saturday, September 27, admission is free to Wildlife Drive at the Refuge. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Looking To October
As September wraps up and islanders look forward to more occupancy, below are some reopenings:
Bleu Rendezvous French Bistro – reopens for its 11th season on October 9. Call for reservations at 239-565-1608.- J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge – Wildlife Drive hours change on October 1. For the month of October they are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Tarpon Bay Explorers – reopens October 1. Rentals (bikes, kayaks, paddleboards) are available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nature gift shop will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors
The local Association of Realtors did not meet this week but has their next Caravan in two weeks, on October 9.
Since last Friday, four new sales have been posted in the SanCap MLS: two Captiva condos, a Sanibel condo, and a Sanibel home.
Below, with data from the island MLS are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the details of the MLS action reported this week.
| SANIBEL
RESIDENTIAL |
CONDOS | HOMES | LOTS | ||||||
| # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | |
| For sale: | 116 | 968,991 | 210 | 133 | 1,529,734 | 174 | 37 | 1,365,067 | 276 |
| Under contract | 13 | 719,769 | 185 | 12 | 1,033,666 | 214 | 1 | 5,999,000 | 491 |
| Sold to 9/26/25 | 77 | 770,798 | 140 | 122 | 1,380,369 | 131 | 6 | 911,666 | 199 |
| Sold 2024 | 75 | 818,493 | 117 | 165 | 1,472,757 | 114 | 15 | 1,403,533 | 192 |
| Sold 2023 | 98 | 955,261 | 65 | 263 | 1,267,390 | 73 | 24 | 920,645 | 76 |
| Sold 2022 | 123 | 1,136,199 | 44 | 185 | 1,602,745 | 52 | 26 | 779,528 | 223 |
| Sold 2021 | 287 | 875,127 | 113 | 355 | 1,341,881 | 89 | 69 | 698,862 | 442 |
| CAPTIVA
RESIDENTIAL |
CONDOS | HOMES | LOTS | ||||||
| # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | # | Avg Price | DOM | |
| For sale: | 45 | 1,146,722 | 243 | 26 | 6,013,019 | 273 | 2 | 12,000,000 | 495 |
| Under contract | 2 | 492,000 | 151 | 1 | 1,599,000 | 179 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold to 9/26/25 | 12 | 891,166 | 255 | 7 | 1,625,285 | 119 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2024 | 13 | 1,728,846 | 185 | 8 | 4,887,187 | 182 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2023 | 17 | 834,176 | 98 | 17 | 2,716,647 | 70 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2022 | 28 | 1,458,983 | 52 | 22 | 5,636,386 | 133 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Sold 2021 | 64 | 1,150,373 | 145 | 44 | 2,988,520 | 261 | 2 | 2,950,000 | 731 |
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Sep 19-26
Sanibel
CONDOS
1 new listing: Tennisplace #B34 2/1 $440K.
No price changes.
1 new sale: Cottage Colony West #112 1/1 listed at $499K.
1 closed sale: Sanddollar #C302 3/2 $1.45M.
HOMES
4 new listings: 1643 Bunting Ln 2/2 $750K, 700 Nerita St 3/2 $1.05M, 6101 Starling Way 3/3.5 $1.595M, 2324 Starfish Ln 3/2.5 $1.899M.
5 price changes: 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 now $624,999, 730 Cardium St 2/2 now $650K, 653 Oliva St 3/2 $699,950; 9439 Cotten Ct 4/4.5 now $1.049M; 848 Limpet Dr 3/2 now $1.7M.
1 new sale: 734 Pyrula Ave 3/2.5 listed at $1.229M.
1 closed sale: 526 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $1.2M.
LOTS
No new listings.
1 price change: 2463 Wulfert Rd now $375K.
No new or closed sales.
CAPTIVA
CONDOS
2 new listings: Bayside Villas #5132 1/2 $475K, Bayside Villas #4220 1/2 $542K.
No price changes.
2 new sales: Tennis Villas #3126 1/1 listed at $289K, Marina Villas #603 2/2 listed at $695K..
No closed sales.
HOMES
No new listings.
2 price changes: 1124 Longifolia Ct 5/5 now $3.7M, 15009 Binder Dr 5/6.5 now $7.55M.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: 33 Urchin Ct 2/2 $1.35M.
LOTS
Nothing to report.
This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association, or its MLS, may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating in or participated in these transactions.
Enjoy your weekend,
Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan




Also, we brought the buyer for our commercial condo listing at Lime Tree Center #2, 1640 Periwinkle Way. It closed on Monday.
Sanibel


Sanibel Public Works Department announced that the Periwinkle Way Milling and Resurfacing Project is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 15. The stretch of Periwinkle included is from 500’ west of Casa Ybel Rd to approximately 1/3 mile east of Donax St. The work will begin with drainage repairs along the north side of Periwinkle including the installation of swales and concrete pipes on Main St, Fitzhugh St, Palm St, and Center St. Work hours for the drainage repair work will be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The local Association of Realtors did not meet this week but hosted their annual three days of continuing education classes required for Florida Realtor license renewals.
Since last Friday, eight new sales have been posted in the SanCap MLS: all on Sanibel, three condos, four homes, and a lot.

Several island businesses have announced they will be briefly closed this month. It is a positive sign that “season” is right around the corner when facilities schedule their annual deep cleans, repairs, and maintenance, with their employees often getting breaks too.
The City also announced yesterday that vegetation trimming on Periwinkle Way will begin Monday and is scheduled to complete (weather permitting) by Wednesday, September 17. It will be on both sides of the road, including the shared use path with work to be performed between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Travel with caution.
The Captiva Erosion Protection District advises that Turner Beach Park will be closed to the public, beginning today September 5, for staging equipment and material for the upcoming Captiva Beach Renourishment Project. Soon to begin, construction is scheduled to run continuously 24 hours a day over an estimated 56-day period.
Sanibel Farmers’ Market will reopen for its 18th season on Sunday, October 5 at 9 a.m. with a celebration of cultures from around the world. Vendors and shoppers are invited to show off their heritage with flags, shirts, and attire. Enjoy global flavors, handmade crafts, their colorful flag ceremony, fresh produce, and more. Located on the City Hall back parking lot, Sanibel Farmers Market is every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May.
In Lee County TRIM notices were mailed on August 18, making September 12 the deadline for filing a tax appeal. That process is quasi-judicial – meaning hiring an attorney is not required. The process involves the following steps:
With two-thirds of the year over already, below is a summary of closed Sanibel sales year-to-date by primary location, as reported in the Sanibel-Captiva MLS.


The Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce is hosting an inaugural holiday event to promote islands businesses. The Sanibel-Captiva Sunrise Sale will take place tomorrow, Saturday, August 30, from 7.07 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advertised as where the early bird will be most successful, over 45 island businesses are participating. Some will feature exclusive deals, tiered sales, discounts up to 50%, BOGOs, gifts with purchases, giveaways, in-store perks, plus a grand-prize drawing.
Participants are: A Bit of Bailey’s, A Little Adventure, Adventures in Paradise, Adventures in Paradise Outfitters, Beach Daisy, Billy’s Rentals, Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill, Bubbly Latitude, Captiva Curio Cottage, Charlie’s Island Gifts, Coast Clothing, Congress Jewelers, Finnimore’s Cycle Shop, Her Sports Closet, Home by Rachel Pierce, Island Pearl, The Island Store; JRod’s Surf, Fish, & Style; MacIntosh Books & Paper, Nanny’s of Sanibel, On Island, One Island Sanibel, Pierce’s Paw Paradise, Rachel Pierce Art Gallery, Sandy Toes & Bottoms, Sanibel Café, Sanibel Day Spa, Sanibel Pilates & Spa, Sanibel Sole, Sanybel’s Finest, Sea Glass Lane, Shiny Objects, South Seas Outfitters, Stoked Flamingo, Suncatchers Dream, Synergy, Tarpon Bay Explorers, The Bait Box, The Dunes, The Moke & Cabana Club, The Sanibel Sprout, Tiki Jim’s, Tuttles Seahorse Shell Shop, Vero Drapes, Wilford & Lee, Yara’s Shoes & Boutique.
The island Association of Realtors did not meet this week as it was the annual Florida Realtors Convention and Business Meetings in Orlando. I attended several sessions remotely including the summary yesterday by our state CEO Margy Grant, General Counsel, Juana Watkins, & COO Dave Garrison. Florida Realtors is strong in members, financially healthy, leads the industry with a bright strategic plan, and continues to offer outstanding training/education and member benefits.
Locally, a Sanibel-Captiva Caravan Meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, September 4, at 9 a.m. with guest speaker. Matt Simmons, appraiser with Maxwell, Hendry, & Simmons. He will discuss the tax appeal process and contesting property valuation on a TRIM notice.
Sanibel
Enjoy the long weekend, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
At The Village Shops – Over Easy Café & On Island – will both be closed September 8-18 to give their amazing teams a well-deserved break after a challenging year (or three).
To ensure safety and accessibility for boaters, the deteriorating docks will be removed and replaced with new, more durable materials. The concrete boat ramp and walkways will remain in place. While the boat ramp is closed, boaters are encouraged to use the Lee County Punta Rassa Boat Ramp on the mainland adjacent to the Causeway Toll Booth.
On the commercial side, late last Friday, we put our condo listing at Lime Tree Center #2, 1640 Periwinkle Way, under contract, listed at $399K.
Enjoy your weekend,
Lee County notices of proposed property taxes are usually mailed mid-August so be on the lookout for yours if you own one of the 530,000 parcels the county is required to evaluate every year. The Tax Appraiser’s website is easy to maneuver and describes how the process tax works and how market value is determined each January 1.
Lee County announced the ribbon-cutting for the soft opening of the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp and conclusion of FDOT’s causeway project will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 21, followed by the ramp reopening at noon. The limited amenities then available include the ramp, partial docks, parking, and rest rooms. Work will continue for several months with future improvements to include completed dock access, fish cleaning station, landscaping, and additional lighting.
The island Association of Realtors did not meet this week, but next Thursday is our August membership meeting with guest speaker Tamara Pigott, Executive Director of the Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau. A caravan of open houses will follow.
Below, with data from the island MLS are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the details of the MLS action reported this week.
Sanibel
Enjoy your weekend, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
Roadways and bike paths had little traffic this week, as recovery continues albeit slowly. As Realtors, we often are asked what is happening with repairs or reconstruction at a specific property. Though the island grape vine can be good, it is not always accurate. When I get that question – or a call from a property owner, I look the property up on the City website,
The County Tax Appraiser website,
A Bit of Bailey’s – When Week #12 2025 special events as part of “Love Sanibel Back” were posted, it was great to see that A Bit of Bailey’s in the Rabbit Rd commercial center will be open Saturday August 16 at 9 a.m. The new construction of the big store at the corner of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Rd still is expected to begin this fall. In the meantime, A Bit of Bailey’s and their Island Store on Captiva will offer many of the same goodies enjoyed at the former big grocery.
Kona Kai of Sanibel – This charming motel at 1539 Periwinkle Way reopened this week. Offering special rooms rates until the end of September, their business hours are 9;30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 239-472-1001. Having sold this property to the Rodenburg Family in 2010, there was never a doubt in my mind that they would restore and reopen. Nestled in a tropical Hawaiian-style setting with pool, it also borders the Sanibel River.
Michael Saunders & Company on Sanibel – This has been in the works for weeks but finally official with new real estate signs popping up all over the islands. Michael Saunders & Company, out of Sarasota, and with branch offices throughout the Florida Gulf Coast, purchased the former VIP building and business at 1560 Periwinkle Way. Many VIP friends have transitioned to Michael Sanders and we look forward to doing more sales with them soon. (By the way, Michael Sanders is female with a decades-long great reputation.) Welcome to the islands!
Sanibel


Sanibel
Enjoy your weekend,
With island sea turtle nesting season well underway, SCCF staff and volunteers who survey 18 miles of island beaches from April through October are already reporting more nests and hatchlings. Last year 843 sea turtle nests were laid on the islands and 16,722 hatchlings successfully emerged. This week SCCF posted that so far 2025 recordings include 836 nests (820 loggerhead and 16 green turtles) and 4,880 loggerhead hatchlings.
One of the most asked real estate questions since the recent storms is if ground-level properties are selling – or those with ground-level living space. As an owner recognizing the convenience of easy-access 1-level living, below is the scoop on the 2025 Sanibel sales to-date.
Sanibel
Enjoy your weekend, Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan