Another Summer Sale by The SanibelSusan Team

Posted on August 22, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It’s great to be back on the island after a busy few days of meetings in Orlando. The SanibelSusan Team also was busy while I was away last week with Dave showing homes last weekend which resulted in a nice sale that was finalized today. Way to go, Dave!

Elise and Lisa fielded inquiries and listing showing appointments. Surprisingly for it being the first week of school here, there was a fair amount of action. Island traffic is expected to change significantly tomorrow though, when only a handful of check-ins are expected.

Here are a couple of news items followed by the action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service since last Friday.

Songwriters Bringing Tunes to Captiva

The 1st Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will bring nationally-acclaimed singer-songwriters to Captiva and Fort Myers Beach this fall. The festival will take place over two weekends with dozens of free shows. The Captiva weekend will be Sept 26 to 28, it then will shift to Ft Myers Beach for Oct 3 to 6. The complete schedule will be released soon, but Captiva venues already confirmed include South Seas Island Resort, ‘Tween Waters Inn (Crows’ Nest, Old Captiva House and the Canoe & Kayak Club), Captiva Island Inn, Keylime Bistro, Cantina Captiva, RC Otter’s, The Mucky Duck, and Doc Ford’s Captiva.

Contest Deadline Approaching

Sept 15 is the deadline for the 27th Annual “Ding” Darling Days Amateur Nature Photography Contest. Sponsored by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society – Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) it is held in conjunction with “Ding” Darling Days, which runs from Oct 19 to 25. More info on www.ding-darlingdays.com.

The SanibelSusan Team always enjoys receiving photos taken on the island by clients and friends. So get out your best photos, folks, and give the contest a try. Here is a photo that an island friend emailed us a couple of weeks ago. We call it “up close and personal with a red-shouldered hawk” (hope our bird identification is correct).

SanCap Motor Club, Inc.

There is a newly-formed club on Sanibel. Members of the community are invited to meet with other car enthusiasts on Monday, Sep 1 for a “Cruise In” in the front parking lot of Periwinkle Place Shopping Center. If you have a passion for automobiles – antique to muscle, class to hot rods – join the SanCap Motor Club. This is their inaugural event!

Spring Was Healthiest Market in 3 Years

Yesterday’s “Daily Real Estate News” posted the following positive news, sourced to realtor.com®:

“July housing data shows that price appreciation and inventory increases during the peak home-buying season helped the market to post the largest spring gains in three years, realtor.com® reports in its National Housing Trend Report. “In July 2012 and 2013, we saw external economic factors overwhelm the healthy gains established in the housing market during the spring home-buying season,” says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for realtor.com®. “This year, we’re ending the traditional season with high buyer and seller confidence demonstrated by price appreciation, increases in inventory, and quick home sales.”

“In July, housing inventories rose 2.3% year-over-year, as the median list price posted a 7.5% increase year-over-year, realtor.com® reports. The median list price was $214,900 nationwide in July. “Despite higher prices and more homes on the market, buyers are snatching up properties faster than last year,” realtor.com® reports. The median age of inventory in July was 82 days, three days less than 2013.

“This is the first time since the beginning of the recovery that we expect to see positive momentum throughout the second half of the year,” Smoke says. “While seasonal patterns are emerging in July month-to-month comparisons, all other metrics point to fundamental market health and a build-up of momentum.””

What About Sanibel & Captiva?

Looking at the sales on Sanibel and Captiva Islands January through July, there was not such a huge jump in the number of sales, but good steady progress.

Here is how those statistics stack up – unit sales year-to-year.

Closed

Sales Sanibel Captiva GRAND

1/1 to 7/31 Condos Homes Lots TOTAL Condos Homes Lots TOTAL TOTAL

2014 111 145 20 276 13 19 0 32 308

2013 109 142 14 265 23 14 1 38 303

2012 113 122 22 257 25 20 1 46 303

2011 106 113 12 231 19 15 0 34 265

Wondering how these sales compare to current inventory? We need listings – especially homes!

# for sale

8/22/14 126 149 88 364 43 34 4 81 445

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity August 15-22

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Tennisplace #A26 2/1.5 $349,555; Sanibel Siesta #502 2/2 $595K.

2 price changes: Spanish Cay #A7 1/1 now $249.9K (our listing), Pointe Santo #B4 2/2 now $669K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Sanibel Arms #C1 2/2 $485K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 2615 Tamarind Rd 2/2 $425K, 4606 Brainard Bayou Rd 2/1 $434K, 3990 Coquina Dr 3/2 $599.9K, 169 Southwinds Dr 2/2 $798K, 1525 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/2 $2.175M.

1 price change: 1266 Isabel Dr now $1.795M.

5 new sales: 6451 Pine Ave 3/2 listed for $489K, 1364 Jamaica Dr 2/2 listed for $489K, 701 Durion Ct 3/2 listed for $549K, 667 Nerita St 3/2 listed for $739K, 4500 Waters Edge Ln 2/2 listed for $799K (our sale).

3 closed sales: 5841 Pine Tree Dr 3/2 $425K, 475 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 $715K, 4444 Waters Edge Ln 3/2 $925K.

LOTS

2 new listings: 5749 SanCap Rd $399K, 6486 Pine Ave $459.9K.

1 price change: 861 Birdie View Pt now $339K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Captiva Shores #7B 3/2 $1.249M.

1 price change: Beach Villas #2628 2/2 now $639K.

1 new sale: Captiva Shores #7B 3/2 listed for $1.249M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

Nothing to report.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based, in whole, or in part, on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® or its Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.

Enjoy your weekend! It’s gonna be another sunny warm one on the islands! SanibelSusan

Summertime Happenings on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Posted on July 11, 2014 by SanibelSusan

I was merrily working on today’s blog when Comcast service went out on most of the island. With no office internet (except by cell phones/iPads) until this afternoon, I now realize how much we take technology for granted.

Years ago when offers were transmitted by snail mail or FedEx, we were thrilled when faxes became acceptable. That was back when those were printed on thermal paper (that shows my age). I remember needing signatures on an offer and running one of those faxes to some folks lounging around the pool at Sundial Resort. The words started disappearing in the bright sunlight. That made for an interesting obstacle to overcome!

What a difference a few years make! Even without internet service today, I was able to type an offer up on my iPad and with electronic signatures AOK, what now can be accomplished in minutes used to take days!

Here are just a couple of news items, followed by a report of the action posted in the Sanibel/Captiva Multiple Listing Service since last Friday. It was a pretty quiet week, aside from the disruptions from the weather. The late day showers make for some fabulous sunsets though!

New Business Neighbors at Sanibel Square

Here’s a little scoop from the shopping center here at Sanibel Square:

Nave Plumbing, serving the island for more than 65 years changed hands recently. Located in the building behind us on Periwinkle Way, it has been renamed Sanibel Plumbing. The first of their trucks with a new wrap was in the 4th of July parade last week.

Next door to Sanibel Plumbing, Jeff Molnar also recently advised that his company, Molnar Electric, has changed hands. This company name will remain as Jeff will continue with them during the transition.

Congratulations to both families for some well-deserved retirement fun and best wishes for continued success to our new neighbors at “the Square”.

New Signs on Sanibel This Week

Coming onto the island from the causeway and coming from Captiva onto Sanibel, two new signs went up this week advising “Stop Algae! No fertilizer July to Sept”. What great tools these signs are to educate the public and get all of us thinking about the devastating effects that excess fertilizer can have on local water quality.

The SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Marine Lab is working with the City of Sanibel to develop a nutrient management plan: http://marinelab.sccf.org/research/sanibel-nutrient/
To learn about local fertilizer ordinances visit: http://fertilizesmart.com/

Survey: Lenders Fear Another Housing Bubble Is Brewing

Here is an interesting posting from Realtor®Mag’s on-line “Daily Real Estate News”, on Wednesday:

“Mortgage bankers are fearful that another real estate bubble is on the horizon, according to a quarterly survey of 203 bank risk managers from the United States and Canada conducted by FICO. Fifty-six percent of respondents said that an “unsustainable real estate bubble is inflating.”

“”The home loan environment has bifurcated,” says Andrew Jennings, chief analytics officer at FICO and head of FICO Labs. “Six million home owners in the U.S. are still underwater on their mortgages, with the average negative equity a whopping 33%. Yet with home prices soaring in many cities, total home owner equity in the U.S. is at its highest level since late 2007. That doesn’t feel like a healthy, sustainable growth situation. No wonder many lenders in both Canada and the U.S. are concerned about the risk in residential mortgages.”

“But real estate experts mostly have downplayed housing bubble fears in recent months. In fact, a new report finds that home prices are still undervalued by 3% nationally. Trulia’s most recent Bubble Watch report found that at the current pace, home prices are expected to fall in line with long-term fundamentals – neither over- or undervalued – by the last quarter of 2014 or the first quarter of 2015. “Much of the recent house-price appreciation is a result of market correction for the significant undervaluation caused by the price declines,” Mark Fleming, chief economist at housing data provider CoreLogic noted in recent months. “There is no need to fear a bubble for at least a few years to come, if at all.”

“FICO’s survey also asked bankers about the most common concerns they have in the underwriting process on consumer loans. The most common concerns cited by bankers: “high debt-to-income ratio” in approving loans (59%); “multiple recent applications for credit” (13%); and “low FICO score” (10%). “As consumer confidence picks up and people increase their borrowing, lenders are understandably concerned about growing indebtedness,” says Mike Gordon, FICO’s executive vice president of sales, services and marketing. “For the last two quarters, around 65% of our respondents said they think credit card balances are headed higher. Those are the two highest figures we’ve ever seen in this survey. When I talk with bankers, they tell me they’re happy to see growing consumer optimism, but they’re wary of a return to reckless borrowing.””

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity July 4-11

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Captains Walk #D5 2/1 $299K, Spanish Cay #A4 2/2 $349K (our listing), Lighthouse Point #219 2/2 $488.8K.

2 price changes: Sundial #D307 1/1 now $259K, Loggerhead Cay #453 2/2 now $469K.

2 new sales: Sanibel Arms #C1 2/2 listed for $499K, Gulfside Place #322 2/2 listed for $1.15M.

1 closed sale: Sundial #D304 1/1 $310K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 547 Chert Ct 3/2 $739K.

1 price change: 5753 Pine Tree Dr 3/4 now $799K.

6 new sales: 5141 San-Cap Rd 2/2 listed for $299K, 490 Elizabeth Dr 2/2 listed for $379K, 5841 Pine Tree Dr 3/2 listed for $474.9K, 581 East Rocks Dr 3/2 listed for $495K (short sale), 917 Pepper Tree Pl 4/3 listed for $799,407; 3537 West Gulf Dr 3/3 listed for $3.9M.

1 closed sale: 949 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $740K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1820 Farm Trl $279K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

Captiva

No new activity for condos, homes, or lots.

Best weekend wishes to all. Here we hope the weather stays like this photo (taken during a home inspection on Captiva early-afternoon Tuesday). SanibelSusan

Wrapping Up the June 2014 Real Estate Action on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Posted on June 27, 2014 by SanibelSusan

Florida Realtors® “Believe”

It is SanibelSusan reporting that Elise and I enjoyed being part of the FloridaRealtors® “Believe” event last Friday afternoon. This event which encouraged Realtor® work toward helping the homeless was part of a state-wide tour where the FloridaRealtors® leadership team visited every Florida district.

Elise and I were part of the Sanibel & Captiva group who, along with other local association members, packaged meals. It was an inspiring cooperation, where 100+ local association members and the leadership team were arranged in assembly-line fashion under the direction of Meals of Hope.

In just one hour, we assembled 21,760 meals (each will feed a family of five) which will be distributed to families of homeless children in Lee and Collier counties. Astoundingly, our state leaders told us that there are more than 63,000 children here that qualify for free breakfast and lunch during the school year. Often, those were their only meals of the day. Since these children don’t get the meals now that schools are out for the summer, Meals of Hope will distribute the packaged meals to the same families.

Island Weather & More

It has been another week of wonderful summer weather on Sanibel with a few afternoon showers that resulted in fabulous sunsets.

Sunset South Bldg 8 at 8:30 a.m. 06-27-14

Unfortunately the later thunder-buster last night, just after sunset, resulted in a lightning strike in Bldg 8 at Sunset South condominiums. That is one of the riverside buildings. Sanibel’s finest extinguished the fire quickly but several units were damaged. Thankfully, there were no occupants at the time.

We saw the early arrival of some July 4th holiday vacationers this week. Tomorrow many check-ins are expected with the Sanibel and South Seas expected to be near-capacity next week.

The activity from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service this week follows a few more news items below.

Association of Realtors® June Membership Meeting

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® June breakfast membership meeting was yesterday.

During the educational segment of the agenda, Jim Jordan, Sanibel’s Director of Planning, updated members on recent happenings at City Hall. He also reminded attendees about Sanibel permit requirements. Here is some of that info:

Development Permits are required whenever the appearance or use of a structure is changed, a structure will be demolished or impermeable coverage or developed area is going to be added.

Building Permits are required when a structure is constructed, enlarged, altered, remodeled or repaired if the labor and materials exceeds $750 in market value. A building permit also is required when a building is moved, demolished, or when replacing windows or doors. Non-permanent improvements like painting, carpeting, and appliances are not included in the calculation.

Sometimes a development permit is required but no building permit is needed, like when building a fence not related to a swimming pool.

In other situations, a building permit may be required, but no development permit is necessary, i.e. for work such as interior repairs or remodeling, exterior siding replacement, or adding a concrete slab under an existing structure. See more details, forms, and a list of approved contractors on www.MySanibel.com.

During “questions & answers”, Realtors® quizzed Jim about some issues recently affecting island sales and closings, i.e. improvements to non-conforming structures and the 50% rule, and open permits discovered before a closing,

Jim reminded members that the 50% rule covers a 5-year time period, so at the end of that time the process may begin again.

Jim also advised that the City is adding software to their computer system this summer/fall which will improve tracking of permits. He said that permit information including history on all properties will eventually be on-line and accessible to the public. Since closing open permits is a requirement of some Florida sales contracts and permit information currently is not readily available on-line to property owners (and Realtors®), that news was well received.

Florida Realtors® Honor Society

At the same meeting, four Sanibel/Captiva Realtors® were recognized for earning Florida Realtors® Honor Society membership for their recent work for the state association; their activity locally and nationally in the Realtor® organization, in national institutes, societies, and councils; for designations earned; educational activities; and political involvement.

SanibelSusan was awarded her 15th-year Florida Honor Society pin, while three VIP colleagues also were recognized: Jim Hall (19 yrs), Dave Schuldenfrei (9 yrs), and Shane Spring (1 yr).

Caloosahatchee Water Project To Begin

A construction project that should improve water quality in Southwest Florida area has been approved. The Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Project which is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is slated to begin in October. This is a cost-shared project between the federal government and the state of Florida. The President officially signed off on the project June 10.

This project is just one step toward improving water quality on both coasts of Florida by reducing polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to local waterways. The idea is to pull water out of the Caloosahatchee River during the rainy season when there is too much water flowing. Stored water in a newly constructed reservoir would then be released during the dry season to provide sufficient fresh water to keep the salinities at healthy level within the estuary.

This project is just a small part of the many solutions needed to improve water supply and water quality in the estuary, but definitely a move in the right direction!

Sundial Resort Announces Phase II Renovations

The 2nd phase of the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa’s multi-million dollar renovation program is scheduled to begin in August, with completion expected in early November. It will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, pizza kitchen, on-site market and deli, and new soft tennis courts. The Sundial Buddies Kid’s Camp and Sanibel’s Sea Camp for Kids also will be launched. The pool bar and main pool deck area will be upgraded too. During the renovation period, Sundial’s four other condo association pools will be available, Sea Breeze Cafe will be open with live entertainment and full bar offerings, and resort amenities will be available to guests including the activities center, bikes, kayaks, and the new spa and boutique. The meeting rooms and reception areas also will be operational. More details at www.sundialresort.com.

Certified Master Chef at The Sanctuary

This posting came from the June 2014 issue of the “Sanctuary Sound”. No wonder there are so many raves about the great food at The Sanctuary.

“This past March, Daniel Scannell, Certified Master Chef (CMC) one of 66 in the country that successfully obtained the Certified Master Chefs examination joined the Management Team at The Sanctuary Golf Club. Administered by the American Culinary Federation and the Culinary Institute of America, the title Certified Master Chef (CMC) represents the most rigorous culinary test for a professional chef. “Chef Daniel is coming from Oak Hill where the 2013 PGA Championship was held with over 200,000 people attending the event. His education is impeccable, the awards and accolades numerous, and his passion for food is contagious. In Ireland he won The Jean Conil Perpetual Trophy for International Chefs, has been inducted into The Epicurean World Master Chefs’ Society in London, and been a member of the Culinary Olympic Team USA 2000, 2004, and 2008, to name a few achievements. We are very excited to have him on the team,” stated Ken Kouril, General Manager of The Sanctuary Golf Club.”

If you are interested in a property at The Sanctuary, whether it be a condo, home, or lot, please give SanibelSusan a call, she can arrange for you to try out the golf course/tennis courts and dine in the restaurant as part of your due diligence.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity June 20-27

Sanibel
CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

5 new sales: Tennisplace #E31 2/1 $325K, Sundial #D304 1/1 listed for $339K, Coquina Beach #5G 2/2 listed for $415K, Sandpiper Beach #302 2/2 listed for $599K, Sundial #O307 2/2 listed for $975K.

3 closed sales: Sundial #I304 1/1 $360K, Blind Pass #G204 3/2 $485K, Sundial #L202 2/2 $629.5K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1377 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $499K, 981 Main St 4/2.5 $599K, 1426 Causey Ct 3/2 $729K, 667 Nerita St 3/2 $739K, 8987 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $849K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5 $1.695M.

8 price changes: 5141 SanCap Rd 2/2 now $299K, 490 Christine Rd 2/2 now $599K, 4279 Gulf Pines Dr 4/3 now $699.95K, 6001 Clam Bayou Ln 3/2 now $789K, 676 Anchor Dr 3/3 now $949K, 3400 West Gulf Dr 4/3 now $1.149M, 6440 Pine Ave 3/3 now $1.395M, 3744 West Gulf Dr 4/4 now $1.695M.

5 new sales: 702 Donax St 2/2 listed for $449K, 1644 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/2 listed for $459.5K, 236 Hurricane Ln 3/3 listed for $549K, 283 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2 listed for $1.695M, 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 listed for $2.85M.

3 closed sales: 966 Fitzhugh St 2/1 $290K, 966 Greenwood Ct 3/2.5 half-duplex $385K, 2552 Harbour Ln 3/2 $800K.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1304 Eagle Run Dr now $249K.

1 new sale: 5407 Osprey Ct listed for $499,555.

No closed sales.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5230 1/2 $309K.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: Tennis Villas 3229 1/1 $215K, Beach Homes #6 3/3 $1.7M

HOMES
No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 16645 Captiva Dr 8/9/2 $3.45M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until SanibelSusan’s next blog posting on July 4th, happy summer to all…& remember it’s a great time to buy property on the islands! It is always easier to view during the summer.

A Peek at Dinkins Bayou on a Friday Afternoon

Posted on June 13, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It’s been yet another quiet yet sunny real estate week on Sanibel Island. There was a quick shower this morning and most evenings thunderstorms from the other coast as well as from the gulf side have tried to make their way to the islands, but it has rarely happened.

Here are a few snapshots that Dave took this afternoon while he was out checking our signs. This is Dinkins Bayou from the end of Henderson Road on the west end of Sanibel Island.

Now some news items from SanibelSusan followed by the activity posted this week in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

Realtor® Happenings

Our local Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting yesterday had as many affiliate members in attendance as sales associates, so another indication that it is a slow time for island sales. Occupancy is expected to pick up for the upcoming July holiday, but in the meantime, it is a good time to play catch up.

Rental managers are doing their yearly property evaluations, Realtors® are beating the bushes looking for new listings, and the push with annual projects has begun with many condo associations beginning their maintenance and remodeling work early this summer.

I was asked to Chair our Association of Realtors® Nominating Committee again this year so that will take a few hours of time later this summer. We have two board positions opening up this year. Sharing, like volunteering always comes back in business multifold, so I am happy to do it.

Next Friday Realtors® from our District will be in Naples with their sleeves rolled up teaming with Meals of Hope and the entire Florida leadership team to package meals and fill cases of food for distribution to food pantries in District 5 communities. 2014 Florida Realtors® President Sherri Meadows will be there to speak about the homelessness problem in Florida and how Realtors® can make a difference.

Another Best for Sanibel Island

U.S. News Travel ranks the best destinations in the USA. They combine expert opinions and user votes to determine the best travel spots in a variety of categories. Under “Best Beaches in Florida”, Sanibel Island is #2. The others rounding out the top seven include: Destin, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Miami Beach, and Key West.

Florida Treasurer Lauds State’s Economic Turnaround

Good news, posted yesterday in the “Northwest Florida Daily News” in Fort Walton Beach, FL:

“Florida’s treasurer has called the state’s recovery from the economic downturn a story of the human spirit and of people who do not give up and quit. Jeff Atwater, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, was the guest speaker for Wednesday’s Power of Business breakfasting meeting hosted by the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce. Atwater started his talk by thanking the business leaders for turning around Florida’s economy.

“You’re the ones who are building this economy,” Atwater said. “You’re the job creators of this state, you’re the innovators, you’re the ones that create the hospitality, the memories and experiences that people will talk about after they visit.”

“Atwater talked about Florida’s recovery by first talking about how far the economy fell during the recession. In 2006, Florida’s top line revenue from sales taxes, licenses and fees, corporate taxes and doc stamps was $27 billion. The average single family home price was $258,000 and 365,000 people moved into the state.

“Fast forward three years and top line revenue had dropped to $21 billion, the average home price plummeted to $119,000 and the number of people who moved to the state fell to 20,000. During this time, the state also received a letter from Standard & Poor’s downgrading the state’s credit rating from neutral to negative.

“”I don’t stare at the state books,” Atwater said. “I can’t change the state books by staring at them and I can’t make your life better by staring at my books. The choices this state made were not to stare at our books in that nightmare moment, but to instead look up and look outward and ask what can we do to create the conditions for the fastest possible recovery.”

Since that time, the state has reduced its spending and debt as well as corporate taxes for small business owners to improve the economy. Atwater said the state’s top line revenue was back up to $26.5 billion, despite the lower taxes and debt, average home prices have gone back up to $175,000 and 287,000 people are estimated to be moving to Florida this year. S&P also upgraded the state’s credit rating back to neutral. “You didn’t give up. You hung in there,” Atwater said.””

Brazilians Make Their Mark on Florida & Beyond

Yesterday, to mark the beginning of the World Cup, Florida Realtors® posted the article below, sourced to The Associated Press. The article got me thinking about how many Brazilians own real estate in Lee County, so I did a quick property search. Answer: just 32 according to the Lee Property Appraiser’s website, www.LeePA.org.

“As all eyes turn to Brazil for the World Cup, Brazilians in the U.S. are also gaining notice. According to the U.S. Census, more than 325,000 people of Brazilian ancestry now call the United States home, but experts put the numbers higher.

“Most have come since the late 1980s, first landing in the nation’s traditional Portuguese-speaking enclaves around Boston and more recently congregating in central and South Florida. Still others have settled in New York, California and New Jersey….”

Will Stainless Steel Lose Its Popularity?

The following article posted on-line on Monday from REALTOR® Magazine doesn’t exactly answer this question, but this is a subject that comes up often from owners looking to renovate kitchens. Interesting to read what the future holds for kitchen appliances.

“Appliance manufacturers are providing home owners with modern finishes to their kitchen appliances, and some of the offerings have even been touted as the “new stainless steel.”

“Appliance makers are in the search for a potential successor to stainless steel, which some designers say will eventually wear out its welcome. But so far, no introductions have touched upon the popularity of stainless steel, and stainless isn’t likely to be doomed to the same fate as 1970s avocado-colored appliances anytime soon.

“Still, some home owners have complained about the annoyance of fingerprint smudges and the upkeep in keeping their stainless polished. Eventually, that annoyance may tempt them to look more closely at some of the alternatives popping up in the last two years. Some appliance makers are choosing to still channel the stainless look in their alternatives so that home owners could even make a gradual switch. Other manufactures, however, are opting to offer more bold alternatives.

“Could any of these finishes have the potential to dethrone home owners’ love for stainless steel one day?

“Ice-Glazed – Whirlpool introduced last year its White Ice collection of appliances, and at the time called white “the new stainless.” The glossy white appliances feature silver accents. Whirlpool also offers a Black Ice version — black appliances with silver accents.

“Slate – General Electric is offering up slate as an alternative. The low-gloss gray finish is “inspired by the rich texture of stone” and “provides a warm, inviting alternative to stainless steel,” GE says on its website. GE also notes that the dark matte finish hides fingerprints, smudges, and dirt.

“Colorful Options – Viking Range offers several various colors of appliances, such as in cobalt blue. Viking Range Corp. which was a pioneer in stainless with its debut in 1987 of a stainless steel open-burner range is providing home owners a colorful array of options with appliances. It has 24 color alternatives, from cinnamon, wasabi, kettle black and Dijon to plum, sea grass, and cobalt blue. Or, the company’s graphite gray may be a little less bold for more home owners who are looking to make a switch from stainless.”

Builders to Widen Stock of Green Homes by 2018

As posted in the “Daily Real Estate News” yesterday, “An upswing in green building is expected over the next four years as more widespread adoption takes hold, according to survey respondents in McGraw Hill’s latest SmartMarket Report.

“More than one-third of single-family builders or 34% report that more than 60% of their projects are “green.” What’s more, 62% of builders say they expect that more than 60% of their single-family homes will be green by 2018.

“The multifamily market is also going green. The number of multifamily builders who say that 90% of their current projects are green is expected to triple by 2018, rising from 6% to 18%, according to the report. Forty-two percent of builders say that more than 60% of their projects will be green by 2018. (Currently, 23% are operating at that level.)

“Builders say that buyers are showing more willingness to pay for green features. In 2013, 73% of single-family builders and 79% of single-family remodelers said that buyers were willing to pay a 3% to 5% premium for green homes. For multifamily homes, 68% of builders said that buyers were willing to pay more.

“In the survey, builders identified the following main drivers to building more green homes: energy cost increases; code, ordinance, and regulation changes; and green-product availability and affordability.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity June 6-13

Sanibel
CONDOS

3 new listings: Captains Walk #C7 1/1 $249K, Blind Pass #D204 2/2 $445K, Mariner Pointe #813 2/2 $479K .

1 price change: Lighthouse Point #215 3/2 now $575K.

1 new sale: Sundial #D408 1/1 listed for $359K.

2 closed sales: Seashells #6 2/2 $340K, Pine Cove #302 2/2 $1M.
HOMES

3 new listings: 702 Donax St 2/2 $449K, 2596 Roosevelt Pl 3/2 $785K, 1545 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $1.295M.

4 price changes: 5141 San-Cap Rd 2/2 now $310K, 3001 Singing Wind Dr 3/2 now $539K, 395 Old Trail Rd 5/4 now $859K, 660 Anchor Dr 4/4 now $1.199M.

3 new sales: 2079 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 listed for $549K, 475 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 listed for $775K, 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/3 listed for $4.399M.

2 closed sales: 696 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $560K, 9007 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $960K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 643 E Rocks Dr $335K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS, HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, SanibelSusan hopes your weather is bright & sunny too!

It is Yet Another Gorgeous Friday Afternoon on Sanibel Island

Posted on June 6, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It is another sunny Friday on Sanibel with the locals again enjoying island offerings. The beaches have been just beautiful this week with visitors posting terrific sunset photos and folks talking of dolphins jumping near shore. I heard a couple of vacationers say that the shelling is light, but Lighthouse Beach continues to bring raves from those collecting miniatures. Traffic is essentially nil with no one needed to direct at the 4-way stops the last few days. The shops and restaurants mostly are being patronized by locals too.

We can always tell that “season” is really over when colleagues and I go into an island hangout for lunch and know nearly everyone there. That is when other business owners quiz us about the real estate market and we compare notes. Yesterday, I chatted with Trasi, co-owner of “The Over Easy Cafe” and “Island Paws”. We always joke with her that her restaurant is one of the few places where we can count on getting “in and out” in less than an hour, but only after the snowbirds depart. The restaurant was busy, but patrons included several other Realtors® and many island worker bees. Like the rest of us, she and her staff are enjoying a little less pressure after a super busy winter season.

We are all very thankful for the upswing in business this year. Dave Schuldenfrei, Manager of VIP Vacation Rentals, also told us that their bookings continue to be up, more than 20% over last year overall, including more visitors in June, July, and August. I sure hope prospective buyers are heeding that news. It still is a good time to buy an investment rental. That inventory has good opportunities including several of our listings!

Our last home listing closed on Monday. If you have island friends thinking of selling, please tell them about us, as plenty of home buyers remain.

Below are a couple of news items followed by a report action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service over the last seven days, but first a few photos that I snapped today on my way back to the office about noontime. The beach shots came from the boardwalk at Gulfside City Park. The bay views are from the park at end the end of Dixie Beach Blvd overlooking San Carlos Bay. The turtle crossing the road was in Lake Murex and the pretty arbor is the entrance to the butterfly garden at West Wind Inn.

Overlooking San Carlos Bay

Be sure to watch out for turtles crossing in Lake Murex.

Gulfside City Parking looking west

Gulfside City Park looking east

Entrance to butterfly garden at West Wind Inn.

Gulfside City Park

Another view of San Carlos Bay

Sanibel & Captiva 2014 Sales Stats

With more high-end sales posted this week, it is a good time to update the sales statistics for 2014. Here they are with the closed sales reported through noon today:

		Average Price $		Average Price $		Average Price $
SANIBEL	CONDOS		HOMES		LOTS
For Sale	138	697,768	174	1,332,100	86	521,561
Under Contract Awaiting Closing	15	790,420	34	820,838	4	411,500
Sold in 2014 thru 6/6	92	687,650	111	856,567	15	454,204
Sold in 2013	161	573,557	197	910,321	26	416,502
Sold in 2012	151	551,244	183	823,598	33	487,687
Sold in 2011	142	591,861	179	826,130	19	363,729
Sold in 2010	120	608,545	124	775,805	21	336,905
Sold in 2009	87	670,489	144	755,003	11	333,136
Sold in 2008	95	731,648	148	952,695	13	379,927
Sold in 2007	86	791,163	143	1,024,007	17	854,803
Sold in 2006	143	866,972	156	1,143,682	18	523,917

		Average Price $		Average Price $		Average Price $
CAPTIVA	CONDOS		HOMES		LOTS
For Sale	42	876,664	38	4,307,934	4	2,428,500
Under Contract Awaiting Closing	4	863,125	5	2,284,800	0	N/A
Sold in 2014 thru 6/6	7	526,611	16	2,796,344	0	N/A
Sold in 2013	36	659,185	18	2,522,056	2	675,000
Sold in 2012	35	836,129	26	1,536,019	3	1,221,667
Sold in 2011	24	737,754	22	1,782,059	1	485,000
Sold in 2010	25	696,159	10	2,258,250	2	2,850,000
Sold in 2009	22	804,818	16	2,573,016	3	2,241,667
Sold in 2008	21	894,536	13	3,465,385	4	3,251,250
Sold in 2007	12	906,042	19	3,270,300	1	3,575,000
Sold in 2006	21	1,362,476	10	2,307,375	4	2,218,750

This representation is based on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Assoc. 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 & does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in all of these transactions.

Resort & 2nd Home Property Specialist (RSPS)

Tuesday, at our Association office, SanibelSusan taught one of the modules needed for island Realtors® to earn their Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist (SCIS) designation. The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® offers this local education program annually. It is a good way for those working the island to learn what is different in selling real estate here. My 15 students included some brand-new Realtors®, some with many years of experience, some new here, and some that know the island well. It made for an interesting mix and good interaction.

As one of the 40 members of the 2014 Florida Realtors® Resort & 2nd-Home Specialists Forum and one of just six islands Realtors® holding the national RSPS certification, it always is fun to update my course material and get smarter myself, while sharing the knowledge. It goes without saying that the bulk of island sales are to buyers looking for vacation or 2nd-home property, rental income, or value appreciation.

Here is some info from my class. Some of the stats are based on the National Association of Realtors® “Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey 2014”.

The states with the largest number of vacation and second homes are Florida, California, Texas, and Michigan.

Nationally, 75% of these buyers get financing, here (Sanibel & Captiva) it is the reverse, with most buyers paying cash.

60% of today’s investment buyers are likely to buy another investment property.

55% of investment buyers are likely to buy a vacation property in the next two years.

Similarly in two years, 51% of all vacation property buyers are likely to purchase an investment property and 52% are likely to purchase another vacation property.

Among those buying primary residences, 37% are likely to buy an investment property and 40% a vacation property within the next two years.

By 2020, the number of second homes is expected to increase by about 200,000 units per year with the South projected to see about half of all the new 2nd-home growth.

Housing Market Reaching Equilibrium

A “Real Estate News” article posted on-line on Monday, says:

“Home prices have already begun moderating over the past year and appreciation likely will continue to gradually slow over the next two years, according to a forecast of 31 analysts recently surveyed by Reuters. Analysts predict home prices to rise 7.5% this year and then curtail to 4% by 2016.

“That marks a sharp slowdown from the double-digit increases reported last year. Analysts surveyed by Reuters say they expect prices to slow in the coming months due to tight lending standards, slow wage growth, and a lack of first-time buyers.

“”Growth would be more robust if we saw more first-time homebuyers in the market,” says David Nice, economist at Mesirow Financial. “That would put the housing market on a sustainable growth trajectory.” Analysts surveyed expect existing home sales to reach a 4.75 million annual rate in the second quarter of this year and rise to 5.10 million in the first quarter of 2015. “We are seeing a state of equilibrium,” says Mark Goldman, a real estate expert at San Diego State University in California. “I don’t see any symptoms that would cause housing prices to go up or down significantly.””

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity May 30-June 6

Sanibel
CONDOS

1 new listing: Nutmeg Village #209 2/2 $675K.

5 price changes: Sundial #I103 1/1 now $349.5K, Loggerhead Cay #411 2/2 now $523.9K, Nutmeg Village #308 2/2 now $769K, Sanddollar #A104 2/2 now $829K, Sedgemoor #206 3/3.5 now $2.875M.

4 new sales: Sundial #I304 1/1 listed for $389K, Loggerhead Cay #583 2/2 listed for $540K, Sundial #O302 2/2 listed for $699K, Tarpon Beach #305 2/2 listed for $750K.

5 closed sales: Sunset South #1B 2/2 $515K, Sandpiper Beach #505 $575K (short sale), Surfside 12 #B1 3/2 $854.5K, High Tide #A102 3/2.5 $1.2M, Anglers Key #201 3/3 $1.62M.

HOMES

4 new listings: 621 Lake Murex Cir 2/2 $509K, 2470 Harbour Ln 3/3 $999.9K, 5427 Osprey Ct 3/3.5 $1.2472M, 190 Violet Dr 3/2.5 $1.295M.

6 price changes: 3168 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $579.9K; 1291 Sand Castle Rd 5/3.5 now $799K; 3351 Barra Cir 3/2.5 now $869,999; 904 Almas Ct 3/2.5 now $1.095M; 660 Anchor Dr 4/4 now $1.299M (short sale); 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 now $2.85M.

6 new sales: 1841 Ibis Ln 2/2 listed for $458K, 553 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed for $579K, 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 listed for $649K, 949 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 listed for $775K, 2538 Blind Pass Ct 3/2 listed for $850K, 2279 Troon Ct 3/4 listed for $1.295M.

14 closed sales: 2007 Mitzi Ln 3/2 $399K, 9263 Kincaid Ct 3/2.5 $415K, 1890 Farm Trl 3/2 $427.5K, 3837 Coquina Dr 2/2 $415K, 1625 Serenity Ln 3/2 $480K, 706 Emeril Ct 3/2 $679.9K, 2550 Wulfert Rd 4/3.5 half-duplex $688K, 1300 Par View Dr 3/2 $726K, 1130 Seagrape Ln 4/3 $770K, 820 Angel Wing Dr 3/2 $910K (our listing), 1759 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 $917.5K, 5423 Osprey Ct 3/2.5 $1.337M, 4781 Tradewinds Dr 3/2 $1.485M, 1077 Bird Ln 4/4/2 $5M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1311 Par View Dr $295,555.

2 price changes: 9239 Dimmick Dr now $159.9K, 4636 Rue Royale now $429K.

1 new sale: 659 Anchor Dr listed for $549K.

1 closed sale: 1325 Eagle Run Dr $395K.

Captiva
CONDOS

2 new listings: Sunset Beach Villas #2313 1/1 $539K, Beach Cottages #1403 2/2 $1.085M.

2 price changes: Sunset Beach Villas #2337 2/2 now $699K, Sunset Beach Villas #2332 2/2 now $699K.

1 new sale: Sunset Beach Villas #2316 1/1 listed for $525K.

1 closed sale: Sunset Beach Villas #2338 3/3 $773.5K.

HOMES
No new listings.

1 price change: 16428 Captiva Dr 7/8/2 now $9.75M.

1 new sale: 11532 Wightman Ln 2/2 listed for $1.35M.

1 closed sale: 1129 Logifolia Ct 4/5 $5.3M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Best wishes to all for a terrific weekend!

It will be summer beach weather with those afternoon showers still likely here!

May Ends “Flamboyantly” on Sanibel Island

Posted on May 30, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It’s another beautiful Friday afternoon on Sanibel and Captiva. This week islanders have settled into a typical summer pattern. Traffic is light, the restaurants are being patronized by mostly “locals”, and the late afternoon white popcorn clouds are making their way across the causeway bringing quick, but often heavy, late-day showers. Lee County Schools ended their academic year at noon Wednesday so family vacations will begin soon.

Below is a photo that I shot today on my way back to the office after lunch. It is one of the last blooming royal poinciana trees, located near the entrance to Lake Murex. May is generally the month for those trees to bloom “flamboyant”ly (as the tree is called in the Caribbean). Most of the trees here have already leafed out, but this one is still in its glory!

If you didn’t receive a copy of my recent newsletter, “The Sanibel Scoop, with Captiva Chatter”, here is a link: SanibelScoop_05-12-14_Booklet.

At our bi-weekly Caravan Meeting yesterday at the Association of Realtors®, attendance was low and only a handful of new listings were announced. Following a few news items below is a report of all of the activity posted over the last seven days in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

35th Annual Road Rally Registration

If you will be here for the next holiday, it is always fun to participate in the Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club’s longest-running 4th of July event. With the proceeds going to local scholarships, this year marks the 35th year of the July 4th Road Rally. The rally begins in the Timbers Restaurant/Sanibel Grill parking lot at noon (after the parade) and ends at the Grill with an after-glow party. The $35 entry fee covers a car, the driver, navigator, and unlimited crew members plus one commemorative Road Rally T-shirt. Additional T-shirts are available for $15. It is not a race, but rather, teams puzzle out clues while following a prescribed driving course around the island. Prizes are awarded for finishing in the correct time, at the correct mileage, for the most correct answers to the quiz about things seen along the route, and for the best decorated vehicle. The number of entries is limited with forms available at Bailey’s General Store, Sanibel Cafe, Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank, “Island Sun” newspaper, and at the starting line. Staggered starting times are pre-assigned by the Rally Master. (As one who has participated in the Rally, rest assured that you do not need to know island geography to win.)

Permeable Paver Ordinance Passed from Planning to City Council

At the Sanibel Planning Commission Meeting on Tuesday, a draft ordinance which would amend the City Land Development Code allowing, under certain conditions, the use of permeable pavers within driveways and parking areas of single-family homes, and duplex/triplex residences was discussed. A recent study shows that the use of materials such as sand, shell and gravel can become more compacted and less pervious over a period of years. The draft ordinance about the use of permeable pavers has some provisions. City Council is expected to conduct a first reading of it on June 3.

Sea Turtles & Snowy Plovers & Tarpon

‘Tis the season for all three!

Most loggerhead sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in the sand, but twice last week on Sanibel two Sea Turtle volunteers reported seeing different females heading back into the gulf at sunrise (one east-end and the other at Bowman’s Beach). Nesting runs until October, so if you are a beach-walker, please be on the lookout for these wonderful creatures. Do not to disturb them or their nests. More than 60 nests already have been marked on Sanibel/Captiva. Track the nests at www.sccf.org.

The Conservation Foundation (SCCF) also reports that as of last week, 12 snowy plover nests have been spotted and marked. Three have already hatched chicks. These birds are so tiny that sometimes visitors miss them. SCCF has a Snowy Plover program coming up next Tues, Jun 3, at 1:30 p.m. It’s free to SCCF members and children. $5 for non-members. Definitely worth attending if you want to learn more about these fascinating little guys.

This week, local fishermen have been posting lots of Facebook photos of their catches, plus shots of plenty of tarpon rolling and jumping. With tarpon size varying from about 40 pounds to more than 150 pounds, the fish stories seem to be more plentiful this year than last May.

Lee Memorial Health System

A frequent question posed to real estate professionals in Southwest Florida, is “how is the medical care here?” Short of saying that there are lots of healthy old retirees in the Sunshine State and that HealthPark is just a few minutes off the causeway, here is some good info from the Spring 2014 Lee Memorial Health System Foundation booklet, “The Gift” (Helping Hands, Caring Hearts):

“Your generous donations make it possible for Lee Memorial Health System to:

Operate the only state-approved Level II Trauma Center between Tampa & Miami

Have more than 1 million patient contacts each year

Rank among the Top 50 hospitals in the nation

Maintain the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between Tampa & Miami at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.”

See foundation info at www.LeeMemorial.org/foundation.

Experts Say Home-Price Appreciation to Slow Down Through 2016

In an article posted by RISMedia and summarized in “Daily Real Estate News” on-line last week, “home values are expected to appreciate by 4.4% on average through the end of the year, but that rate will slow to 3.8% in 2015 and 3.4% in 2016, say 106 economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists surveyed by Pulsenomics LLC.

“After a sharp double-digit percentage increase in home values last year, the rollback in appreciation would put them more on par with historical norms. Prior to the housing bubble years of 1987 to 1999, home values averaged 3.6% growth per year.

“The majority of economists surveyed say they expect median home values to exceed their pre-recession peaks by the first quarter of 2018. They cited the following as the most common concerns for declining housing affordability: income growth (28%); abnormally high rates of home-price and rent appreciation (27%), and an abnormally low supply of homes for sale or rent (21%).

““Time will tell whether Washington’s unfolding plan to expand mortgage credit will have a durable, positive impact on home values, housing confidence, and market expectations,” says Terry Loebs, founder of Pulsenomics.”

Negative Equity Key to Housing Roller Coaster?

Florida Realtors® posted the following article on Wednesday. It makes sense.

“One reason for the sluggish housing recovery: homeowners can’t sell their homes because they don’t have enough equity to do so yet, The Wall Street Journal reports.Nearly 10 million U.S. households – about 18% of homeowners with a mortgage – are still underwater, meaning their home is worth less than their mortgage. Home prices are rising, and the number of underwater homeowners is declining, but some still feel stuck.

“”Most move-up homeowners typically use their home equity to cover broker fees, closing costs, and a down-payment for their next home,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “Without those funds, many homeowners can’t sell.”

“Some housing analysts say that understanding negative equity is key to understanding a lot of the distortions occurring in the current housing market.

“The picture has been gradually improving, however. While the number of underwater homeowners remains high, some reports show more homeowners regaining equity. About 4 million homes returned to positive equity in 2013, boosting the total number of non-underwater U.S. homes to about 42.7 million, according to a CoreLogic report.

“”The plight of the underwater borrower has improved dramatically since negative equity peaked in December 2009 when more than 12 million mortgaged homeowners were underwater,” says Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “Over the past four years, more than 5.5 million homeowners have regained equity, reducing their risk of foreclosure and unlocking pent-up supply in the housing market.”

Source: “Negative Home Equity Impedes Housing Recovery,” The Wall Street Journal (May 24, 2014) and “CoreLogic: 4 Million Homeowners Back Above Water in 2013,” HousingWire (March 6, 2014)

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity May 23-30

Sanibel
CONDOS

4 new listings: Colonnades #44 1/1 $207K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #201 2/2 $499K, Sandy Bend #5 2/2 $659K, Compass Point #112 2/2 $1.135M.

2 price changes: Island Beach Club #P2A 2/2 now $499.9K, Loggerhead Cay #373 2/2 now $539K.

No new sales.

3 closed sales: Tennisplace #B24 2/1 $282K, Cottage Colony West #119 1/1 $550K (our listing & buyer), Tarpon Beach #109 2/2 $750K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 1938 Roseate Ln 3/2 $389K, 701 Durion Ct 3/2 $549K, 620 Hideaway Ct 2/2.5 $575K, 1755 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 $712.5K.

8 price changes: 1835 Ardsley Way 2/1 now $329K, 732 Durion Ct 3/2 now $727.9K, 475 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 now $775K, 5753 Pine Tree Dr 3/4 now $825K, 1329 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 now $849K, 1528 Angel Dr 3/2 now $864K, 201 Violet Dr 3/2 now $869.5K, 428 Bella Vista Way 4/4 now $1.795M.

3 new sales: 925 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 listed for $698K, 1516 Angel Dr 3/2 listed for $890K, 466 Sea Oats Dr 4/3.5 listed for $995K.

3 closed sales: 1555 Bunting Ln 2/2 $420K, 340 E Gulf Dr 2/2 $479K, 1001 Kings Crown Dr 3/2.5 $822K.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 6081 Henderson Rd $195K.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5130 1/2 $275K.

5 price changes: Gulf Beach Villas #2031 2/2 now $699K, Sunset Beach Villas #2332 2/2 now $699K, Sunset Beach Villas #2337 2/2 now $715K, Ventura Captiva #5B 3/3.5 now $965K, Lands End Village #1667 2/2 now $1.025M.

2 new sales: Sunset Beach Villas #2316 2/2 listed for $525K, #6 Beach Homes 3/3 listed for $1.895M.

No closed sales.

HOMES
No new listings.

1 price change: 16785 Captiva Dr 4/3.5 now $1.749M.

1 new sale: 11411 Old Lodge Ln 4/2 listed for $929K.

1 closed sale: 16464 Captiva Dr 8/8.5 $7M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Here’s to a great weekend and a smooth transition into hurricane season which begins on Sunday!

Mother’s Day Weekend – Real Estate Happenings on Sanibel & Captiva Island

Posted on May 9, 2014 by SanibelSusan

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it was another week of fabulous weather on Sanibel and Captiva Islands – bright blue skies, gorgeous teal gulf waters, unobstructed sunrises and sunsets, and temperatures in the 60’s/70’s at night and 80’s/90’s almost every day.

Donax Street Beach Access Today 05-09-14 at 2 p.m.

This also was the first week of 2014’s real estate “off-season”, with no Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting yesterday and very few showings this week. It’s true what the locals say about May and October being some of the best months to be on the islands – nice weather, little traffic, no waits, and lower rental rates – just not a lot of real estate action then.

Our pals in the vacation accommodation business advise that Sanibel is at only about 45% occupancy now. May is expected to be quiet right up until Memorial Day weekend, but reservations pick up in June when schools are out and families begin their summer vacations.

Beach in front of West Wind Inn on Tues 05-06-14 at 1 p.m.

Below are a couple of new items followed by the action over the last seven days posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

Survey: More Owners Think It’s a Good Time To Sell

Here is some good news that FloridaRealtors® posted on line yesterday:

“Americans’ outlook toward the housing market continued to improve in April – and perhaps foreshadow an increase in housing activity in the coming months – according to results from Fannie Mae’s April 2014 National Housing Survey.

“The share of respondents who believe it’s a good time to sell a home increased for the third consecutive month to an all-time high of 42%, an encouraging sign since many potential homebuyers will need to sell a home before entering the purchase market.

“In addition, the share of respondents who say it’s a good time to buy a home remained steady at 69% following a gradual climb since the beginning of the year. Notably, although consumers remain generally split regarding their ability to get a mortgage, fewer respondents are concerned about losing their job – which may encourage potential homebuyers to enter the market.

“”Consumer attitudes about the current home selling environment have improved and now are at the most favorable level we’ve seen in the survey’s four-year history,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “These results are in line with our expectations for increased housing activity and gradual strengthening of the housing market going into the spring and summer selling season.””

Luxury Home Sales Soar Above Historical Average

When I read the following Realtor®Mag on-line article this week, it crossed my mind that Sanibel sales this year mirrored some of these findings.

“Affluent buyers are feeling bullish about housing, as luxury home sales skyrocket, Bloomberg reports. Million-dollar homes in the U.S. are selling at double their historical average, according to data released by the National Association of REALTORS®.

“Sales of homes that cost $1 million or more increased 7.8% in March compared to a year earlier. Meanwhile, sales of homes that cost $250,000 or less — which represent about two-thirds of the housing market — dropped 12% in March year-over-year. “The real estate market is the ultimate reflection of confidence, wealth, and income,” says Sam Khater, deputy chief economist at CoreLogic.

“Transactions for homes costing $2 million or more soared 33% in January and February compared to a year earlier, according to an analysis by DataQuick of 25 of the top U.S. metro areas. The transactions were the highest for a two-month period since DataQuick began its tracking in 1988.

““The luxury markets are on fire,” Christie’s International CEO Bonnie Stone Sellers told Bloomberg. “The trends in luxury housing are similar to trends in other luxury goods. Whether you’re buying a third home in Manhattan as a pied-a-terre or another Picasso, these are acquisitions of passion, of lifestyle, and of experience.”

“There have been some blockbuster sales recently. The latest to grab headlines was the $147 million sale of an East Hampton’s property, which now carries the title as the priciest home sale ever in the U.S. This came two weeks after the sale of a single-family home in Greenwich, Conn., known as Copper Beech Farm shattered home records at the time at $120 million.

““The stock market is very strong, and this is a way to monetize and concretize some gains,” says Gary Wasserman, CEO of Allied Metals Corp., who is looking to boost his personal real estate portfolio. “We had quite a shock to our collective confidence in 2008 and 2009. The resurgence of the economy has underscored for us that this country remains a very strong place, and that the future remains strong.”

Source: “Million-Dollar Home Sales Thrive While Low End Stumbles,” Bloomberg Businessweek (May 2, 2014).”

10 Energy-Saving Tips for a Hot Summer

While reading my on-line Eco-Broker® newsletter this month, I noticed the following timely article which they sourced to “freshome Design & Architecture”. Since the islands have already had some 90-degree temperatures, these ten energy saving tips may come in handy:

“While we all look forward to the summer months for warmer weather, and enjoying the great summer nights, higher energy bills are not welcomed. Whether you are running your air conditioning more often, using more water to take showers, or you’re using more electricity to run fans to get a cool breeze, energy saving tips can help your pocket and the Earth. This summer before you crank down the air conditioning another 10 degrees, look to these energy saving tips to help you through this hot summer, your pocket will thank you!

“1. Replace your outdated air conditioning unit: If you live in a home that is over 20 years old, it may be time to consider purchasing a new unit that is more energy efficient. Even if you have lived in your home for a shorter period, but live in extreme climate areas, such as desert communities, also consider replacing your unit. Look for units that cost less to run and have energy approved program standards. This can differ depending on your geographic location.

“2. Alternate methods of cooking: Instead of using your oven everyday, consider using your microwave or grilling outside this summer. Heating your oven up daily adds more heat to your interiors and therefore requires your air conditioning cooling system to work harder and longer. If you do need to use your oven, consider baking in the morning hours when your air conditioning may not need to be used and it’s cooler outside.

“3. Automate your thermostat: If you are still using a manual thermostat to adjust the air conditioning in your home, consider replacing with an automatic one that can be programmed to keep your home warmer when you are not home. Then in turn, you can program it to come on before the family gets home.

“4. Keep the hot sun out of your home: When leaving your home, or in times of the day when the sun is at its hottest, pull your window treatments closed to block out warm rays. Your interior spaces will feel cooler and your air conditioner won’t work as hard.

“5. Give your air conditioning a break: Using a ceiling fan to move air around in your home instead of air conditioning can give a much needed break to your air conditioning. Save energy and cool your space down for less money with the use of oscillating room and ceiling fans.

“6. Take cooler and shorter showers: When taking a shower in your home, turn down the temperature of the hot water to save energy. Decrease the duration of how long you stay in the shower to save on your hot water tank usage. Consider installing a tankless water heater to heat water only when needed, as opposed to an entire tank, which sits in your garage, basement or utility space.

“7. Install more energy-efficient light bulbs: Change out your current incandescent bulbs to more efficient ones, for example: compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy to use as well as emit a brighter light. They also last longer, and therefore need to be replaced less often, in turn saving you money.

“8. Have you air conditioning unit serviced regularly: Ensure that you keep your air filters changed regularly per the manufacturers directions, and have a professional HVAC maintenance person service your unit every year. This will help your investment keep working properly for years into the future, while saving you money now.

“9. Ensure your air conditioning pipes are sealed: Examine the pipes, and connections, as well as vents in your home to ensure proper sealing and caulking between the connections. What’s the point in cooling your home, if half of the cool air is cooling the attic? If you’re not familiar with how to do this, have the HVAC maintenance person help you.

“10. Spend more time outside of your home: Summertime is a perfect excuse to get out and enjoy it! From swimming in community pools to having a picnic or getting exercise outdoors, spending less time in your house will help your energy consumption bill. While you can’t spend every minute outdoors, the summer weather should push you to the outdoors.

“Saving energy this summer shouldn’t be a major challenge. Use these 10 helpful energy saving tips to protect your wallet, save the Earth and keep you and your family cool this summer. There are hundreds of ways to save energy, do your part in making this summer enjoyable for all, and by keeping your energy consumption to minimum levels to give your pocket a break too!”

U.S. Climate Report Says Global Warming Impact Already Severe

Here are some excerpts from an article by Darryl Fears published in the “Washington Post” on Tuesday. Though this topic is not complete real estate related, perhaps these snippets will be a wake-up call to some.

“Global warming is rapidly turning America the beautiful into America the stormy, sneezy and dangerous.”

“The government’s newest national assessment of climate change declares that increased global warming is affecting every part of the United States. The report released Tuesday cites wide and severe impacts: more sea-level rise, flooding, storm surges, precipitation and heat waves in the Northeast; frequent water shortages and hurricanes in the Southeast and the Caribbean; and more drought and wildfires in the Southwest.

“Temperatures at sea, on land and on ice all point to a warming trend over the past century, according to several indicators in the government’s National Climate Assessment. “For a long time, we have perceived climate change as an issue that’s distant, affecting just polar bears or something that matters to our kids,” said Katharine Hayhoe, a Texas Tech University professor and a co-author of the report. “This shows it’s not just in the future; it matters today. Many people are feeling the effects.”

“The federal climate assessment — the third since 2000 — brought together hundreds of experts in academia and government to guide U.S. policy based on the best available climate science. The authors of the more-than-800-page report said it aims to present “actionable science” and a road map for local leaders and average citizens to mitigate carbon and other gas emissions that warm the planet….Echoing the findings of a recent global report by climate scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, U.S. scientists said that the climate is changing in the United States and that the warming of the past 50 years was primarily caused by emissions of heat-trapping gases released by humans. Burning coal for electricity, using gasoline to fuel vehicles, clear-cutting forests and engaging in certain agricultural practices that remove carbon-trapping vegetation contribute to the problem, the assessment said.

“By the end of the century, temperatures could be up to 5 degrees higher, even if the nation acts aggressively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It could be up to 10 degrees hotter if emissions are high. The higher the temperature, the more dire the impact. Extreme weather in the United States caused by climate change has increased in recent decades, the report said.

“The decade starting in 2000 was the hottest on record, and 2012, the year Hurricane Sandy followed an epic summer drought, was the hottest ever recorded in the nation’s history, the report said. U.S. temperatures are 1.3 degrees to 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit higher now than they were in 1895, and most of that increase — 80% — occurred over the past 44 years, the assessment says.

“Alaska warmed twice as fast as the rest of the country in the past 60 years, leading to permafrost thaw that is causing highways and even airport runways to sink.

“The authors pointed to major concerns for the mid-Atlantic region, which includes the District, Maryland and Virginia. “As sea levels rise, the Chesapeake Bay region is expected to experience an increase in coastal flooding and drowning of wetlands” that protect against storm surge, the report said. That’s especially bad because the lower bay region is at higher risk as a result of sinking land. Water quality would decline and low-oxygen “dead zones” would increase.

“If there are higher greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of Maryland and Delaware, and parts of West Virginia and New Jersey, are projected to have 60 extra days per year of temperatures topping 90 degrees starting around the middle of the century, the report said.

“The effects sound alarming, but there are reasons to be optimistic that they can be mitigated, said David Wolfe of Cornell University, a lead co-author of the report’s chapter on change in the Northeast.

Business leaders are looking more toward investments in renewable energy, he said. This report, unlike the first two, has a Web site with interactive tools that show Americans how to reduce climate impacts.

“It will be a living document, a resource for people,” he said. “It’s a place to start….”

“The climate experts worked for several years, holding 70 workshops nationwide and revising the final drafts to reflect thousands of public comments. They were guided by a 60-member panel called the National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee.

“Climate change is leading to heat-stress events, forcing people with respiratory illnesses to turn to devices such as inhalers or to hospitals, the federal assessment said. It is resulting in more severe allergies and waterborne illnesses as pathogens increase. Minority communities are particularly vulnerable….

“Thirty percent of carbon released into the atmosphere ends up in the ocean, leading to acidification that’s killing coral and shell life. Coral protects young fish from predators, and tiny shellfish, at the bottom of the food chain, help feed entire ecosystems….”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity May 2-9, 2014

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Captains Walk #A2 1/1 $259K, Sundial #K105 2/2 $888K, Sanibel Seaview #C3 4/4 $2.2M.

4 price changes: Sundial #C301 1/1 now $325K, Sundial #I301 1/1 now $350K, Shell Island Beach Club #5D 2/2 now $759K, Sayana #202 2/2 now $859K.

1 new sale: Sunset South #1C 2/2 listed for $439K.

4 closed sales: Mariner Pointe #1091 2/2 $375K; Sanibel Moorings #422 2/2 $449,999; Lighthouse Point #130 2/2 $440K; Beachcomber #C302 2/2 $1.6225M.

HOMES
2 new listings: 705 Oliva St 3/2 $799K, 5076 Joewood Dr 3/2 $975K.

9 price changes: 966 Fitzhugh St 2/1 now $299.9K; 5289 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2 now $499,995; 2079 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $549K; 3001 Singing Wind Dr 3/2 now $559,555; 1744 Bunting Ln 4/2 now $599.7K; 497 Lake Murex Cir 4/3 now $715K; 987 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 now $729K; 4500 Waters Edge Ln 2/2 now $799K; 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 now $2.995M.

6 new sales: 2007 Mitzi Ln 3/2 listed for $399K, 736 Cardium St 3/2 listed for $439K, 1777 Serenity Ln 5/4.5 listed for $779K, 2667 Coconut Dr 3/3 listed for $825K, 4781 Tradewinds Dr 3/2 listed for 1.595M, 1077 Bird Ln 4/4/2 listed for $5.999M.

8 closed sales: 1846 Ardsley Way 2/2 $319.9K, 531 Birdsong Pl 3/2 $419K, 1121 Skiff Pl 3/2 $500K, 710 Pyrula Ave 2/2 $569.5K, 1356 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $645K, 4472 Waters Edge Ln 3/3 $700K, 1818 Buckthorn Ln 3/3 $850K, 5795 SanCap Rd 3/3 $990K.

LOTS

1 new listing: Beverly Ln, Lot 19 $196K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: 4309 Gulf Pines Dr listed for $299K, 1042 Blue Heron Dr listed for $449K.

2 closed sales: 3334 Saint Kilda Rd $280K, 1837 Buckthorn Ln $314.5K.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5316 3/3 $639K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: Marina Villas #708 2/2 $557.5K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11547 Captiva Dr 2/2 $1.375M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 16464 Captiva Dr 8/8.5 listed for $7.995M.

1 closed sale: 11541 Laika Ln 4/4 $1.65M.

LOTS

Nothing to report

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend to all

“Best Weather” Month Coming Up on Sanibel Island

Posted on April 25, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It is official. “high season” in Florida is over. Real estate inquiry calls have slowed down and I heard that even internet and foot traffic at the Chamber of Commerce suddenly has dropped off. After 22 years on Sanibel, it still is always amazing how fast the islands go from gridlock to quiet. Related mostly to school breaks ending and spring weather arriving elsewhere, I guess. Too bad, as the month of May often has some of the “best” weather!

Yesterday at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Thursday Caravan Meeting only one house was on tour, again indicative of the time of the year. Attendance was down too, with almost as many affiliate business partners there as real estate agents. Beginning May 1, these meetings will revert to the every-other-week off-season schedule. Between now and summer, the islands usually experience a return of prospective buyers who did not buy during the winter – often because they could not view all of the properties that interested them. SanibelSusan Realty associates are ready for them.

Below are a few news items, followed by an update of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service action over the last week. Of the two island condo closings this week, one was ours. We also had the only lot sale closing.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins May 1

Baby loggerhead

The 2013 sea turtle nesting season on Sanibel and Captiva was the 3rd highest season on record according to the May-June issue of SCCF’s (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) “Member Update”. Last summer 26,641 live hatchlings were produced from the islands’ two beaches. Of the 483 nests documented, 23 were by green sea turtles

SCCF also announced that Sanibel and Captiva now are using the online nesting and stranding databases found at www.seaturtle.org. This means that when the 2014 sea turtle season begins, the nesting data may be viewed in real-time throughout the season.

Sea turtles are among the world’s oldest creatures. On Sanibel and Captiva where the beaches provide subtropical nesting areas for threatened loggerhead and endangered green turtles, more than 100 island residents volunteer each summer as part of SCCF’s Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Program which operates under a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Each day during nesting season, May to October, the 18 miles of Gulf beaches from Sanibel Lighthouse to the tip of Captiva are checked beginning at dawn. Nests are identified and marked for monitoring and protection. Later in the season, new hatches are evaluated and recorded.

If your property is on the beach, remember sea turtles are threatened by light pollution. Bright lights can disorient nesting egg-laden female turtles. For hatchlings, instinct drives them from their nests on beaches towards the brightest horizon, ideally the waterline on an undeveloped coast. Lighting from buildings or even flashlights confuses nesting females and hatchlings, so please keep those lights out.

Sanibel’s city web site, www.mysanibel.com has an easy way to test if your property is in compliance with the City’s sea turtle protection ordinances:

“Stand on the beach on a moonless night and look seaward. If you can see your shadow cast towards the water, there is too much light behind you.” Check the web site for more info.

Americans Prefer Real Estate Over Stocks, Gold

Like my Dad always said, “Put your money into real estate!”

“RealtorMag” on-line posted the following article from a Gallup (Poll) article (Apr 17, 2014):

“Americans have renewed confidence in real estate as a great investment. In fact, Americans believe real estate is the “best” long-term investment, followed by gold, stocks, mutual funds, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds, according to a new Gallup Poll of … adults who were asked to choose the best option for long-term investments. Bonds were the least favorite investment among the options Gallup surveyed.

In 2011, Americans surveyed said the most popular long-term investment was gold. That also marked a time when gold was at its highest price and real estate and stock values were lower than today, Gallup notes.

““With housing prices improving across the country, Americans are regaining faith that real estate is the best choice for long-term investments,” according to Gallup. “Home ownership is also associated with views of real estate as an attractive investment opportunity.”

“Americans with higher incomes are the most likely to say real estate and stocks are the best investments – “possibly because of their experience with these type of investments,” according to the Gallup poll.

“Higher income Americans are most likely to say they own their home (at 87%), followed by middle-income earners (at 66%) and lower-income earners (36%).

“Home owners are slightly more likely than renters to say real estate is the best choice for long-term investments – 33% versus 24%, respectively, according to the Gallup poll.”

Earth Day & Your Diet

SanibelSusan’s EcoBroker certification requires renewal each year about the same time as Earth Day. With that renewal comes an educational update, so when I did that class work this week, I also read several of postings about Earth Day. Here is an extract from “National Geographics” with some of their Water Conservation Tips. These interesting facts were posted under their subheading, “Diet”:

“The water it takes to produce the average American diet alone—approximately 1,000 gallons per person per day—is more than the global average water footprint of 900 gallons per person per day for diet, household use, transportation, energy, and the consumption of material goods.

“That quarter pounder is worth more than 30 average American showers. One of the easiest ways to slim your water footprint is to eat less meat and dairy. Another way is to choose grass-fed, rather than grain-fed, since it can take a lot of water to grow corn and other feed crops.

“A serving of poultry costs about 90 gallons of water to produce. There are also water costs embedded in the transportation of food (gasoline costs water to make). So, consider how far your food has to travel, and buy local to cut your water footprint.

“Pork costs water to produce, and traditional pork production (to make your sausage, bacon, and chops) has also been the cause of some water pollution, as pig waste runs into local water sources.

“On average, a vegan, a person who doesn’t eat meat or dairy, indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water per day less than a person who eats the average American diet.

“A cup of coffee takes 55 gallons of water to make, with most of that H2O used to grow the coffee beans.”

Many HOAs Are Underfunded

A step in the home buying process should always include a review of the association documents including their financials. The following article posted on Apr 22, 2014 at on-line “Daily Real Estate News” and sourced to “Kiplinger’s Personal Finance” (April 2014) describes why:

“More homeowners’ groups may be operating with insufficient reserves, which could one day result in an unexpected increase in costs to home owners.

“An estimated 70% of association-governed communities are underfunded, a rise from 60% a decade ago, according to a new report from the consulting firm Association Reserves. Associations that lack adequate reserves may impose large special assessments for emergency repairs, says Robert Nordlund, Association Reserves’ founder. What’s more, home owners who don’t pay could then face liens against their property, or the association could even have the power to foreclose on them.

“Housing experts urge home buyers to ask for a copy of the homeowner group’s most recent reserve study and ask about the percentage of residents who are more than 60 days delinquent on their fees. It affects the association’s cash flow, and when “you’re buying into a nonprofit corporation, you need to find out if that corporation is stable,” Nordlund notes.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 18-25, 2014

Sanibel
CONDOS

2 new listings: Duggers Tropical Cottages #5 1/1 $324.9K, Nutmeg Village #308 2/2 $799.9K.

6 price changes: Spanish Cay #A6 1/1 now $268.5K, Tennisplace #B24 2/1 now $299.9K, Loggerhead Cay #453 2/2 now $499K, Sayana #103 2/2 now $715K, Shorewood #2B 3/3 now $1.395M, Seascape #104 3/3 now $2.2M.

2 new sales: Sanibel Inn #3535 2/2 listed for $699K, Compass Point #133 2/2 listed for $1.185M.

3 closed sales: Sundial #G305 1/1 $310K, Kings Crown #104 2/2 $850K (our buyer), Villa Sanibel #1G 2/2 $870K.

Beach in front of Kings Crown

HOMES

3 new listings: 2551 Sanibel Blvd 2/2 $489K, 1337 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 $1.25M, 283 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2 $1.695M.

7 price changes: 5141 SanCap Rd 2/2 now $320K; 989 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2 now $595K; 1744 Bunting Ln 4/2 now $609.9K; 420 East Gulf Dr 3/3 now $749K; 917 Pepper Tree Place 4/3 now $829,407; 419 Lighthouse Way 4/3 now $859K; 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/3 now $4.399M.

3 new sales: 9263 Kincaid Ct 3/2.5 listed for $449K, 3711 Agate Ct 3/2.5 listed for $799K, 4622 Rue Belle Mer 4/2 listed for $809K.

3 closed sales: 1344 Tahiti Dr 2/1 $410K, 542 Kinzie Island Ct 3/3.5 $1.8M, 4717 Rue Belle Mer 3/3 $1.94M (short sale).

LOTS

1 new listing: 3338 West Gulf Dr $429K.

2 price changes: 2988 Wulfert Rd now $399K, 2993 Wulfert Rd $599K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 1118 Sand Castle Rd $165K (our listing).

Lot just sold in The Dunes

Captiva
CONDOS

2 new listings: Lands End Village #1655 2/2 $1.095M, Lands End Village #1657 2/2 $1.095M.

3 new sales: Tennis Villas #3229 1/1 listed for $235K, Ventura Captiva #4B 3/3 listed for $797.5K, Sunset Beach Villas #2338 3/3 listed for $850K.

No new sale.

1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #310 1/1 $200K.

HOMES
No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: 11541 Laika Ln 4/4 listed for $1.65M, 16645 Captiva Dr 8/9/2 listed for $1.095M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

SanibelSusan is ready for May – best weather month on the island!

It’s Almost Easter 2014 on Sanibel Island

Posted on April 18, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It has been the pre-Easter hustle-bustle on Sanibel and Captiva this week, with nice weather and the bike paths often full with vacationing families on spring holidays. Though the islands appear busier, our pals in the accommodations business advise that they are booked at only 75% this week, with about the same occupancy expected next week, after Saturday turn-overs.

At our last end of “season” Association of Realtors® monthly membership meeting yesterday, it was obvious from the announcements that real estate sales have slowed down, price reductions are up, and the business population is looking forward to a little breather.

SanibelSusan put another condo listing under contract on Monday (love it when you can sell a listing yourself) and had a home listing close on Monday too. We held our new listing in Mariner Pointe open for Realtor caravan yesterday.

View from the Captiva house I showed today!

View from a house I showed today!

I was out showing Captiva homes again today. Season may be winding down but we still have buyers in town.

SanibelSusan listings had some showings this week too. None yet scheduled for the holiday weekend, but that can change once new visitors arrive tomorrow. I’ll be working tomorrow and ready for showing requests.

Here are a few news items, followed by the week’s update on the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service action.

Earth Day at the Refuge

Earthday2014 Tomorrow, Sat, April 19, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate the 44th anniversary of Earth Day in partnership with “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society – Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and Tarpon Bay Explorers. The first 200 visitors will get a free upcycled tee shirt bag, courtesy of DDWS. Throughout the day, visitors will meet and greet refuge educator Bagzilla, costumed in a year’s worth of an average person’s disposable bag consumption. There also are free bike rentals and Wildlife Drive admission for bikers and hikers to encourage visitors to get outdoors and get active. Events include:

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Wildlife Dr free to bikers/hikers, only $5 fee per vehicle. Plein-art artists will be painting along Wildlife Dr during the day.
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Free bike rentals from Tarpon Bay Explorers at 900 Tarpon Bay Dr (returns by 6 p.m.).
9 to 11 a.m. – Bike the Refuge Tour with a naturalist on the 4-mile drive to learn about bird life and ecology (meet at the flagpole).
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Ongoing Earth Crafts in the Education Center Classroom.
10 to 11 a.m. – Guided Hike Along Indigo Trail with a naturalist (meet at the flagpole).
10 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 1:30 p.m., 2:30 to 4 p.m. & 4 to 5:30 p.m. – Narrated refuge tram tours (regular tram fees apply, tickets in booth in parking lot).
11 to 11:30 a.m. – Reading in the Refuge, family story-time about sea turtles at the Education Center Auditorium.
Noon to 12:30 p.m. – Let’s Talk Trash Marine Timeline competition for kids at Education Center Auditorium.
1 to 1:30 p.m. – Reading in the Refuge, family story-time about manatees at the Education Center Auditorium.
2 to 2:30 p.m. – Upcycle Trash. Learn how to turn trash into yarn, jewelry, & other masterpieces at Education Center Auditorium.

Another Update on Flood Insurance

Chris Heidrick, owner of Heidrick & Company Insurance, www.SanibelInsurance.com, one of our Association of Realtors® affiliate business partners, yesterday gave our members a quick update on the national flood insurance program. When the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was signed into law on March 21 to repeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s authority to increase premium rates when a property is sold (& more), consumers were advised that it would take some time for the government to interpret these changes.

Chris advised us that “36 hours ago” they got that first interpretation (quoted during our 8 a.m. meeting). It is that starting immediately any new flood insurance policies and renewals on pre-FIRM properties (or those built before the initial flood insurance map was used in that community) will not require an elevation certificate and that the pre-FIRM insurance rates will apply. (Note: FIRM = Flood Insurance Rate Map).

That is great news! As an example, Chris described recent quotes he has made for island ground-level homes in the AE Zone (which is typically near beach but not gulf-front), where the flood cost will be $2K-$4K/year.

I expect that Chris will keep us further updated as more interpretations are received.

Lee County Watering Restrictions

To those heading home for the summer, remember that Lee County’s water restrictions remain in effect year-’round. Although the hot summer season is often called the rainy season too, unless you have an eco-friendly landscape, your lawns and vegetation may suffer without proper irrigation. The county rules are:

Odd numbered addresses (those ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9) may only water on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays.

Even numbered addresses (those ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, & 8, or no address #) may water only on Thursdays and/or Sundays.

Approved watering times are between midnight & 9 a.m. &/or between 5 p.m. & midnight. No irrigating is allowed between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. OR on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday at any time.

If you want to make your yard more environmentally friendly and less water dependent, contact the Native Plant Nursery at SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) at www.sccf.org. They are a wonderful and helpful resource with a “landscaping for wildlife program” too.

Sanibel Author Charlie Sobczak on C-SPAN

After being recommended by Margie Byers of the Lee County Library system, our real estate colleague and island author, Charlie Sobczak will appear on C-SPAN’s BookTV this Earth Day!

The segment, titled “Cities Tour” will focus on the unique literary stories and history of Ft. Myers, FL. Charlie’s book, “The Living Gulf Coast – A Nature Guide to Southwest Florida” will be mentioned, along with two of the destinations from the Lee County section of the book: J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Lover’s Key State Park.

C-SPAN is a private, nonprofit Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network based out of Washington, D.C. and serves an estimated 100 million homes nationwide. The program is scheduled to air tomorrow and Sunday (April 19th and 20th, 2014) at noon (EST) on C-SPAN2 (Comcast channels 29 and 104 in Ft. Myers but check your cable provider for your local channels). After the broadcast, the segment will be archived and available online from www.series.c-span.org To learn more about the book, go to www.amazon.com or www.indigopress.net.

In Collier County, Charlie also will be speaking at 10:30 a.m., April 19, 2014, at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Earth Day. The Conservancy is at 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. The topic of the presentation is: Florida’s Wildlife: Past, Present and Future.

SanibelSusan often includes an autographed copy of Charlie’s book “Living Sanibel” (a nature guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands) as one of their closing gifts. It is one of the best reference books about the area.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 11-18, 2014

Sanibel
CONDOS

2 new listings: Sandpiper Beach #202 2/2 $624.9K, Pointe Santo #B4 2/2 $699K.

3 price changes: Sundial #Q202 2/2 now $699K, Sanibel Surfside #133 2/2 now $869K, Seascape #104 3/3 now $2.22M.

6 new sales: Captains Walk #C1 2/1 listed for $310K, Seashells #6 2/2 listed for $369K, Lighthouse Point #130 2/2 listed for $530K, Cottage Colony West #119 1/1 listed for $599K (our listing), Pine Cove #302 2/2 listed for $1.15M, Sanibel Seaview #B1 3/3 listed for $1.395M.
8 closed sales: Sundial #G206 1/1 $280K, Beach Road Villas #103 2/2 $325K, Sundial #I402 1/1 $335K, Island Beach Club #240F 2/2 $515K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 $703K, Pine Cove #1A 2/2 $740K, Sanibel Seaview #B2 3/3 $1.325M, Somerset #A301 3/2.5 $1.75M.

HOMES
5 new listings: 1049 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $599,555; 1380 Jamiaca Dr 3/2 $619K; 1278 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 $749K; 1058 Fish Crow Rd 4/3 $849K; 821 Sand Dollar Dr 4/4 $1.589M.
10 price changes: 3168 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $599.9K; 1221 Par View Dr 3/2 now $790K; 5313 Punta Caloosa Ct 4/3 now $848K; 1001 Kings Crown Dr 3/2.5 now $899K; 395 Old Trail Rd 5/4 now $899K; 1048 Kings Crown Dr 4/4 now $1,299,999; 1520 Angel Dr 4/3/2 now $1.448M; 6015 Clam Bayou Ln 4/3.5 now $2.498M.
5 new sales: 2186 Egret Cir 3/2 listed for $439K, 950 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed for $499K, 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 listed for $599K, (short sale), 2550 Wulfert Rd 4/3.5 half-duplex listed for $698.5K, 2520 Harbour Ln 3/2.5 listed for $1.149M.
4 closed sales: 972 Fitzhugh St 3/2 $358K, 1960 Roseate Ln 3/2 $440K (our listing), 601 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $540K, 2498 Harbour Ln 4/3 $735K.LOTS
No new listings.
1 price change: 1325 Eagle Run Dr now $475,555.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: 5749 SanCap Rd $365K.

Captiva
CONDOS

1 new listing: Sunset Beach Villas #2325 2/2 $599K.

1 price change: Gulf Beach Villas #2012 2/2 now $662.5K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES
No new listings.
2 price changes: 43 Oster Ct 2/2.5 now $789.9K, 11490 Dickey Ln 3/2 now $829K.
No new or closed sales.LOTS
Nothing to report.

Happy Easter!

Another Friday with Gorgeous Weather & Hot Real Estate Activity on Sanibel Island

Posted on April 4, 2014 by SanibelSusan

It’s SanibelSusan reporting another week of good real estate activity on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Remember those four new condo listings that I mentioned in my blog last Friday? Well, one already is under contract. Another condo listing sold over the weekend and our only home listing now is under contract too. I also was out two days showing homes this week. We love being busy, especially when there are good results!

View from Kings Crown #302

“Season” is Winding Down

None of our new listings were vacant for Realtor Caravan this week, so we were not able to hold them open, but occupancy will be changing.

I heard at the Post Office yesterday that they already are fielding inquiries from snowbirds getting ready to forward their mail for the summer. Some may be ready to head north, meaning traffic will most likely be easing up in the upcoming weeks. Our rental company colleagues advise that some properties have already transitioned from their high “season” winter rates to shoulder rates and even summer rates.

Below are a few news items followed by the week’s Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service activity report which shows the islands real estate busy-ness. Sanibel inventory is now less than it has been in a long time. Until sales have closed, the general public does not know how the market has changed, but here is a little sampling:

Last year, Jan 1 to Apr 4, 34 Sanibel condos closed. This year during the same period, 37 have closed, BUT another 48 are under contract. That’s 84 condo sales already this year, compared to 161 in all of 2013 (compared to 86 in all of 2007). 140 Sanibel condos remain for sale.
Last year, Jan 1 to Apr 4, 51 Sanibel homes closed. This year during the same period, 54 have closed, BUT another 46 are under contract. That’s 100 home sales already this year, compared to 197 in all of 2013 (compared to 124 in all of 2010). 194 Sanibel homes remain for sale.
Last year, Jan 1 to Apr 4, 5 Sanibel lots closed. This year during the same period, 7 have closed, BUT another 7 are under contract. That’s 14 lot sales already this year, compared to 26 in all of 2013 (compared to 11 in all of 2009). 90 Sanibel lots remain for sale.

As follow-up to my blog posting last week about the good funding in Florida’s new budget for water quality improvement solutions, here is some more positive news on the same subject.

Pumping Polluted Water Into Lake Okeechobee Must Stop, Judge Rules

Posted on Earthjustice.org on Friday, March 28:

“A major decision in federal court today will put an end to government-sanctioned pollution that’s been fouling Lake Okeechobee for more than three decades. The case, first filed in 2002 by Earthjustice, challenged the practice of “back-pumping.” For years, South Florida sugar and vegetable growers have used the public’s waters, pumped out of giant Lake Okeechobee, to irrigate their fields. They wash the water over their industrial-sized crops, where it is contaminated with fertilizers and other pollutants. Then, they get taxpayers in the South Florida Water Management District to pay to pump the contaminated water back into Lake Okeechobee, where it pollutes public drinking water supplies. Lake Okeechobee provides drinking water for West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, and the entire Lower East Coast metropolitan area.

“Earthjustice contended that the South Florida Water Management District was violating the Clean Water Act by allowing the agricultural companies to send fertilizer-laden water into public water supplies, instead of cleaning it up first.

“U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in the Southern District of New York ruled today that the water transfer practice does, indeed, violate the Clean Water Act. The case ended up in New York because clean-water groups and several states also challenged the practice of allowing dirty water transfers into public water supplies without Clean Water Act protections. All the cases – including Earthjustice’s Florida case – on behalf of Friends of the Everglades, Florida Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club – were bundled together.

“”It’s well established by now that a city can’t just dump sewage into a river – they’ve got to clean it first,” said Earthjustice attorney David Guest. “The same principal applies here with water pumped from contaminated drainage canals.” “This victory has been a long time coming,” said Florida Wildlife Federation president Manley Fuller. “Stopping pollution at the source is the key to cleaning up South Florida’s water pollution problems – the toxic green slime in the rivers, the dead wildlife washing up in the shores, the contaminated drinking water — and this decision will make that happen at long last.” “Big sugar corporations have been illegally dumping dirty water into Lake Okeechobee for years. They won’t be able to do that anymore, thanks to this very important decision by the federal courts,” said Sierra Club’s Florida Staff Director, Frank Jackalone.

“Transfers of contaminated water have triggered numerous toxic algae outbreaks around the United States. The algae growths can make people sick and sometimes kill livestock or pets that drink the water. The drinking water supplies for millions of Americans across the country have been affected, including notable cases in Florida, Colorado, New Hampshire, and California. The dirty water is a health risk for pregnant women, and taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional treatment costs while polluters put more profits in their pockets.

““Instead of tightening protections and cleaning up the pollution, the EPA chose to legalize it,” said Albert Slap, attorney for Friends of the Everglades. “Now the courts have settled it – the South Florida Water Management District has to comply with the Clean Water Act.””

BIG ARTS 2nd Annual Photography Scavenger Hunt

SanibelSusan is the sponsor for this BIG ARTS scholarship program fundraiser next week (Tues April 8). At this 2nd Annual event, BIG ARTS invites all aspiring photography buffs to embark on a conceptual scavenger hunt. The adventure begins at 3 p.m. when teams pick up their clues at BIG ARTS. Each team will use one digital camera to capture images inspired by the given clues. Thinking “outside the box” is encouraged.

Teams must return by 5 p.m. and hand in their camera’s memory chip. While the teams are enjoying a gourmet boxed dinner, the collected images will be gathered together for judging and display.

Steve Greenstein will serve as the emcee. During a wine and desert reception at 6 p.m., the images will be showcased on the big screen at BIG ARTS and prizes will be awarded for the best images. Team member tickets are $45 which includes dinner and reception. Reception only tickets are $8.

Sanibel’s Civic Core Master Plan Updated

The latest version of the civic and cultural core plan was presented to Sanibel City Council this week. The architect creating the conceptual plan that would consolidate BIG ARTS, the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Center4Life, and The Community House onto a 25-acre site along with City Hall, the Sanibel Public Library, and the Public Works Department shared the most recent plans for the project which was earlier approved by all stakeholders.

The plan is both bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, plus provides a net gain of almost twice as many parking spaces. It has gone through 33 versions. Unanimously approved by Council to move forward, future work on the plan will continue a “village approach” relying upon stakeholder and public input, developing a budget which may include applying for grants.

It’s Snowy Plover Time Again

If you need education on the staked nests on the beach now or the families of little birds with tiny chicks running around, be sure to go to the SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) presentation on Tues Apr 8.

Learn more about their ongoing snowy plover research and the conservation efforts on Sanibel and around Florida.

Site Names Top 10 Best Downtowns in U.S.

Photo by Jeremy Harvey/Courtesy of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association

Having lived in Olde Town Alexandria, VA for many years before moving to Sanibel, I got a kick out of reading this article in “Daily Real Estate News”, sourced to www.Livability.com.

““The best downtowns instill a sense of pride in their cities,” according to Livability.com. The website recently ranked the top 10 best downtowns for 2014. Among the factors analyzed for the list, say the editors, were data on improvement in retail and office vacancy rates, the number of people moving to the area, income growth, unemployment, and the ratio of people who live and work in the downtown.

“Having a great downtown is about more than just having a great main street,” says Matt Carmichael, Livability.com editor. “A downtown should have a cultural and retail focal point, like a main street, but it has to expand beyond that, providing a solid core for the entire community.”

“Livability listed the following downtowns as tops in 2014:

Fort Worth, TX
Providence, RI
Indianapolis
Provo, UT
Alexandria, VA
Frederick, MD
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Bellingham, WA
Eugene, OR
Birmingham, AL.”

Vacation Home Tip Sheet

As the author and instructor for one of the segments required for Realtors® to earn the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Specialist designation, SanibelSusan is always on the lookout for information to share on the “Resort and Second-Home” market. I hold the Resort & Second Home Property Specialist designation.

Here’s a summary tip sheet posted on-line at “RealtorMag” by Barbara Ballinger with the six factors buyers need to consider when investing in a second home.

“1. Keep costs within the budget.

2. Determine the frequency of use.

3. Pick the right location.

4. Understand upkeep.

5. Research rental potential and costs.

6. Think about resale and changing needs.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity March 28-April 4, 2014

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Sanibel Shores #2 2/1 $299K, Seashells #6 2/2 $369K, Coquina Beach #3H 2/2 $2/2 $424K, Breakers West #B5 2/2 $459K, Beachcomber #C102 2/2 $1.575M.

4 price changes: Sanibel Arms West #3 2/2 now $493K, Pointe Santo #A2 2/2 now $849K, Seascape #104 3/3 now $2.27M, Plantation Village #B321 3/3 now $2.299M.

8 new sales: Seawind #A102 2/2.5 listed for $397.9K, Island Beach Club #310F 2/2 listed for $474K (our listing), Sunset South #1B 2/2 listed for $534K, Sandpiper Beach #302 2/2 listed for $599K, Pointe Santo #E21 2/2 listed for $715K, Pine Cove 31A 2/2 listed for $779K, Kings Crown #302 2/2 listed for $899K (our listing), High Tide #A102 3/2.5 listed for $1.299M.

7 closed sales: Duggers Tropical Cottages #5 1/1 $269K, Sundial #G105 1/1 $305K, Sundial #G401 2/2 $412K, Blind Pass #C203 3/2.5 $ 461K, Sunset South #6A 2/2 $490K, Lighthouse Point #324 3/2 $635K, Kings Crown #303 2/2 $930K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 340 East Gulf Dr 2/2 $489K, 3711 Agate Ct 3/2.5 $799K, 1818 Buckthorn Ln 3/3 $875K, 1237 Isabel Dr 6/6.5 $3.345M, 3911 West Gulf Dr 5/5.5 $5.295M.

15 price changes: 966 Fitzhugh St 2/1 now $315K, 2186 Egret Cir 3/2 now $439K, 1364 Jamaica Dr 2/2 now $489K, 950 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $499K, 778 Cardium St 3/3 now $499K, 1325 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $710K, 3131 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $725K, 475 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 now $799K, 1528 Angel Dr 3/2 now $889.5K, 1516 Angel Dr 3/2 now $890K, 1001 Kings Crown Dr 3/2.5 now $925K, 6433 Pine Ave 4/3 now $949K, 1740 Middle Gulf Dr 4/3 now $979K, 2729 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 now $1.098M, 660 Anchor Dr 4/4 now $1.35M (short sale).

8 new sales: 3837 Coquina Dr 2/2 listed for $449K, 1344 Tahiti Dr 2/1 listed for $450K, 1625 Serenity Ln 3/2 listed for $499K, 710 Pyrula Ave 2/2 listed for $598K, 1213 Par View Dr 3/2.5 listed for $770K, 1130 Seagrape Ln 4/3 listed for $799K, 820 Angel Wing Dr 3/2 listed for $999K (our listing), 5115 Joewood Dr 4/3 listed for $1M.

6 closed sales: 1565 Bunting Ln 3/2 $425K, 1787 Serenity Ln 3/2 $520K, 617 E Rocks Dr 3/2 $585K, 231 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $935K, 836 Birdie View Pt 3/3 $995K, 4992 Joewood Dr 3/3.5 $1.35M.

LOTS

No new listings.

2 price changes: 9239 Dimmick Dr now $165.9K, 2324 Starfish Ln now $495K.

1 new sale: 3334 Saint Kilda Rd listed for $315K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Ventura Captiva #5B 3/3.5 now $1.045M.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: Bayside Villas #5136 1/2 $258.5K, Tennis Villas #3139 2/2 $380K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 14860 Mango Ct 5/4 $2.394M.

2 price changes: 11411 Old Lodge Ln 4/2 now $929K, 16814 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 now $7.495M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

1 new listing: 16297 Captiva Dr $1.749M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

Happy weekend to all, from SanibelSusan…

More fantastic weather with temperatures in the 70’s is expected for the next week…island perfect!

Sanibel Scoop & Captiva Chatter

SanibelSusan's Blog About What's Happening on the Islands

Tag Archives: Captiva Island

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