First Days of Fall 2021 on Sunny Sanibel

Posted on September 24, 2021 by SanibelSusan

Susan here reporting another busy real estate week at SanibelSusan Realty with a home inspection last Saturday, a new listing, two new sales, and follow-up action items completed on other sales scheduled to close soon.

With inventory still soooo low, it remains challenging to find properties that match buyers wants/needs. That means new well-priced listings sell fast. We continue to sleuth out new ones as our list of potential buyers gets longer and longer.

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® had no Caravan Meeting yesterday, but below is an update of island inventory per their Multiple Listing Service (9/24/21).

SANIBEL	Condos		Homes		Lots
SANIBEL	#	Avg Price $	#	Avg Price $	#	Avg Price $
For sale	19	856,855	23	2,830,195	18	583,888
Under contract	20	739,435	33	1,672,374	7	475,776
Sold/closed thru 9/23	229	864,406	290	1,308,341	61	746,795
Sold/closed last year	192	733,876	290	954,718	23	606,233

CAPTIVA	Condos		Homes		Lots
CAPTIVA	#	Avg Price $	#	Avg Price $	#	Avg Price $
For sale	3	1,496,666	10	6,297,800	0	N/A
Under contract	6	2,040,333	2	2,347,499	0	N/A
Sold/closed thru 9/23	48	1,118,977	37	2,781,632	2	2,950,000
Sold/closed last year	47	821,713	27	2,923,148	4	2,537,500

Note: Prices of units “For sale” and “Under contract” are asking prices.

Next week is the Association monthly membership meeting with a presentation on the National Flood Insurance Program’s new Risk Rating 2.0. Expect to see an update next Friday on how this new risk rating methodology is expected to affect flood insurance. It will apply to any new policies written after Oct 1, plus renewals.

The complete action posted this week in the Sanibel/Captiva MLS follows a few news items.

National Public Lands Day at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

There will be no admission charge tomorrow (Saturday Sep 25) on Wildlife Drive (from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) in celebration of National Public Lands Day. The refuge staff also will be awarding a free one-day pass (good for a year) to any national wildlife refuge, national park, and other federal lands to visitors who collect a bag of trash at the refuge.

Tomorrow, visitors also are invited to the Welcome Table outside the Visitor & Education Center from 9.a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to tour the WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) mobile interactive experience and play fee games in the parking lot.

Interest Rates Rising? In November, Fed May Start Reversing Programs

Posted on-line yesterday at FloridaRealtors® and sourced to “Human Events”:

“The Federal Reserve hinted it may start reversing its pandemic stimulus programs come November – and it could raise interest rates next year. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Fed’s rate-setting committee revised its post meeting statement Wednesday to say that it may start to reduce or taper its $120 billion in monthly asset purchases as soon as its next meeting in early November.

““If progress continues broadly as expected the Committee judges that a moderation in the pace of asset purchases may soon be warranted,” the statement said. New estimates released at the end of the two-day meeting showed half of 18 officials expect to raise interest rates by the end of 2022.

“When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, the Fed cut its short-term benchmark rate to close to zero, and it has been purchasing at least $80 billion a month in Treasury and $40 billion a month in mortgage bonds since June of 2020 to provide additional stimulus.

“Per the Journal: Fed officials laid out a three-part test to raise interest rates one year ago that would require inflation to reach 2% and be on course to exceed that while the labor market returns to levels consistent with maximum employment.

“In December, they said they would buy bonds at the current pace until the economy had made “substantial further progress” toward their goals of reversing a shortfall, then of around 10 million jobs since the start of the pandemic and moving inflation back to their 2% goal over time. The Fed’s asset portfolio has doubled to $8.4 trillion from $4.2 trillion in February 2020.

“Rising vaccination rates and nearly $2.8 trillion in federal spending approved since December has produced a recovery like none in recent memory. Inflation has soared this year, with so-called core prices that exclude volatile food and energy categories up 3.6% in July from a year earlier, using the Fed’s preferred gauge. The gains largely reflect disrupted supply chains, shortages and a rebound in travel associated with the reopening of the economy.

“Wednesday’s projections show half of the officials expected interest rates would need to rise at least 1% from their current level by the end of 2023, and by another three-fourths of a percentage point in 2024.”

Florida-Owned Insurer: Losses and Policies Keep Growing

Also posted yesterday on FloridaRealtors® on-line and sourced to “News Service of Florida”: “Citizens Property Insurance expects to exceed more than 1M policies sometime in 2022 – and private insurers will rack up more than 1B in losses by the end of this year.

“TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s policy count will surpass 1 million next year as private market insurers continue to experience losses expected to reach nearly $1 billion by the end of 2021. Speaking to Citizens Board of Governors, Citizens President, CEO and Executive Director Barry Gilway on Wednesday warned that as Citizens’ policy count grows, so does the risk of assessments on all Florida insurance consumers. A fee could be added to all policies if a major storm or series of storms hits, and causes Citizens to exhaust its $6.4 billion surplus.

“Created as Florida’s insurer of last resort, Citizens is taking on more than 5,000 policies a week as private companies continue to shed policies in response to losses brought on by litigation, damage from Hurricanes Irma and Michael, more expensive reinsurance and other factors. “Citizens is considering all ideas to reduce exposure, and to continue to operate as efficiently as possible during this unprecedented growth period,” Gilway said.

“During committee meetings Tuesday, Citizens officials outlined a series of options to stem growth, including marketing and technology upgrades to the Florida Market Assistance Plan, which was created by the Florida Legislature to refer potential policyholders to private market coverages. Citizens officials are taking steps to reduce risk by increasing inspections on new business and exploring potential changes to Citizens Depopulation Choices and Property Insurance Clearinghouse programs. Such changes would require legislative consideration.

““At this point, everything is on the table as we try hard to support the development of a stronger private insurance market and stabilize the role of Citizens as the market of last resort,” said Gov. Nelson Telemaco, chairman of Citizens’ Exposure Reduction Committee.

“Since October 2019, Citizens has seen its policy count jump from 420,000 to more than 700,000. At this pace, company officials expect the policy count to exceed 760,000 by the end of 2021. Initial estimates call for Citizens’ policy count to reach 1.1 million to 1.3 million by year-end 2022.

Citizens’ policy count reached a peak of nearly 1.5 million in 2011 with nearly $520 billion in exposure. If the state was hit by a 1-in-a-100-year storm during that time, all Florida insurance consumers would have been on the hook for $24 billion in assessments, which would have been tacked onto their monthly premiums for years.”

Temporary Restaurant Closings

The list of temporary restaurant closings is getting shorter as some have reopened following annual vacations, deep cleans, fix-ups, etc. Most of the others reopen week. Below are the ones still closed.

Bleu Rendez-Vous Bistro – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
Island Pizza – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
Mad Hatter – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
The Sandbar Steak & Seafood – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
Traders – closed Sep 11 thru Oct 5, reopens Oct 6.
Traders 2 (T2) – closed thru Oct 4, reopens Oct 5.

Fall Weather on Sanibel

This week, with the first day of fall, there were plenty of social media jokes about how autumn weather on the Gulf Coast (Florida) is much the same as the rest of the year. That is not exactly true. Here the rainy season is letting up a little and the temperatures are dipping down a little lower at night. With a little luck, there will be a day in the not-too-distant future with daytime temperatures only in the 80’s, and nights into the 60’s. Meanwhile, the humidity is dropping a tad too. This afternoon, with plenty of sunshine, I stopped to get a couple of photos at the Nerita Street beach access.

The sky is blue with a few popcorn clouds, the water is clear (still no flows coming from Lake O, just run-off), but there was no one on the beach in either direction. That likely will change in the next few weeks as the early snowbirds start returning.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 17-24, 2021

Sanibel

View from Mariner Pointe #1061

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sundial #C305 1/1 $549,945; Sundial #D304 1/1 $595K; Donax Village #9 2/2 $699K; Mariner Pointe #1061 2/2 $724K (our listing).

No price changes.

3 new sales: Blind Pass #A206 2/2 listed at $565K, Sanibel Arms #F3 1/1 listed at $599K (our listing), Sanibel Arms West #F6 2/2 listed at $1.049M.

3 closed sales: Breakers West #C3 2/2 $775K, Sanibel Arms West #C6 2/2 $915K, Island Beach Club #330B 2/2 $990K.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

6 new sales: 1025 S. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 listed at $820K; 5298 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2.5 listed at $995K; 554 East Rocks Dr 3/2 listed at $999,995; 682 Pyrula Ave 5/4.5 listed at $1.995M; 375 East Gulf Dr 5/5 listed at $2.9M (our listing); 1237 Isabel Dr 6/6.5 listed at $2.995M

6 closed sales: 1444 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 half-duplex $479K; 1846 Ardsley Way 2/2 $701,498; 9032 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $740K; 4506 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 $819K; 5817 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 4/2 $1.09M; 2475 Tropical Way Ct 3/3.5 $2.34M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 554 Lake Murex Cir $699K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 470 Sawgrass Pl listed at $795K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Captiva Bay Villas #E 3/3.5 listed at $3.549M.

3 closed sales: Beach Villas #2414 2/2 $875K, Marina Villas #905 2/2 $875K, Seabreeze #1251 3/3 $1.9625M.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 11559 Laika Ln 4/3.5 now $6.9M.

1 new sale: 11520 Murmond Ln 5/5 listed at $1,999,999.

2 closed sales: 10 Sunset Captiva Ln 2/2.5 $1.395M, 1072 South Seas Plantation Rd 3/3.5 $3.25M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.

Until next Friday, enjoy your fall!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Hooray, The Sun is Out Again Today!

Posted on August 6, 2021 by SanibelSusan

Lee County Schools begin their fall session Tuesday (August 10), while the last day of the school year will be later than usual next spring, on Thursday, June 2. This week local families fitting in last-minute beach visits probably haven’t been happy about all the rain. It came down in torrents on Monday (over a foot measured in some parts of SW Florida) and again Tuesday. Both Wednesday and Thursday had off-&-on rain too. To say island vegetation is green and growing fast is an understatement. It definitely has been tropical.

Today, the weather is bright and sunny, though expected to revert later to the typical summer schedule of an afternoon/evening shower.

Island Real Estate

There has not been a lot of new real estate action this week, probably weather and summer-time related, but likely because inventory continues to be low. At the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® biweekly caravan meeting yesterday just two new listings were on tour. After a few news items below is the action posted in the local Multiple Listing Service since last Friday.

In summary, today on Sanibel there are 13 condos for sale, five on Captiva. With homes, 31 are available on Sanibel, 13 on Captiva. Just 17 residential lots for sale on Sanibel, none on Captiva.

The Sanibel School

The Sanibel School is accepting new students and does not require that they live on-island. With an “A” rating and designated a School of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education, the K-8 campus provides an exceptional learning environment for its students, and the array of programs available is comparable with even the largest schools in the district. For more about enrollment and the waiver process, or to set up a tour, call registrar Donna Marks at 239-472-1617 or email donnamm@leeschools.net.

Sanibel Causeway Toll Facility Maintenance Work

Sanibel received notice this week from Lee County of scheduled preventative maintenance work at the Sanibel Toll Facility. Work will be performed beginning Monday, August 23, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is expected to continue until September 3. No work will be done during Labor Day weekend.

The County urges motorists to use caution. Intermittent lane closures will be necessary in the work areas. At least two lanes will always remain open. (The Sanibel Causeway Toll Facility and Bridges are owned and operated by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.)

TRIM Notices Coming Soon

Usually, mid-August is when the Lee County Property Appraiser’s office mails out annual TRIM notices to property owners. TRIM stands for “Truth in Millage” and is the official notice, required by state law, of the proposed property taxes.

A TRIM Notice is not the tax bill, but an estimate of the expected taxes based on the proposed millage rates for that year. It considers the property value as of January 1 of the year and any applicable exemptions applicable to the property, such as a homestead exemption.

The TRIM notice is important as it is it provides a 25-day window for an owner to contest the taxable value of their property. Each year, the Property Appraiser’s Office uses available information to assess the value of the property. Here on the islands, the Appraiser’s Office has access to our Multiple Listing System information.

In a hot market, property values are destined to go up. When you get your TRIM notice, if you think you have grounds to contest the value, please let us know if we can provide comparable sales info.

City of Sanibel Budget

Sanibel’s draft budget for the next fiscal year – October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 was prepared with an operating millage rate of 1.8922 which is the same rate that was assessed to taxpayers last year. The City Finance Director recently advised City Council that the 2021 budget was prepared when the effects of the pandemic on economy were unknown. Since then, better-than-expected revenues and expense-saving initiatives in preceding years have put the City in a good economic position heading into this budget cycle. The 2022 draft budget is 12.1% higher than the adopted budget for fiscal year 2021.

According to an article posted in today’s “Island Sun”, the City’s taxable property value for fiscal year 2022 has been assessed by the Lee County Property Appraiser at $5,615,472,773 which is a 3.74% higher than last year which was an all-time historical high.

The City millage rate has decreased approximately 10% since 2013 to reach the 1.8922 rate proposed.

The first public hearing on the budget will be held Monday September 13 and the final hearing will be Monday, September 27, both at 5:01 p.m. in MacKenzie Hall at 800 Dunlop Rd.

Tarpon Bay Brings Back Breakfast Cruise & Touch Tank

As posted this week in “News from “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society: “For the first time since pandemic lockdown, Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge recreation concession, has resumed its Breakfast Cruises and Touch Tank sessions. The morning cruises which run Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., tour around Tarpon Bay in pursuit of wildlife such as birds, manatees, and dolphins. Participants enjoy a continental-style breakfast during the cruise, including freshly made doughnuts from Bailey’s General Store with coffee, tea, or orange juice. The last half hour is spent at the Touch Tank where guests get a hands-on experience to learn about the wildlife that lives beneath bay waters.”

Captiva Beach Renourishment Project Update

Those visiting Captiva might want to take note of the following parking lot closures from the island beach re-nourishment project underway. Designed to last about eight to ten years, the re-nourishment project is expected to provide the necessary maintenance to counteract long-term critical erosion of Captiva’s beaches, properties, and shorelines.

Alison Hagerup Beach Park – 14790 Captiva Dr

· Sep 3 to 10 – full closure

· Sep 11 to Oct 7 – partial closure

· Oct 8 to 22 – full closure

Turner Beach – 17200 Captiva Dr

· Aug 6 to 18 – full closure

· Aug 18 to Sep 2 – partial closure

· Sep 3 to 10 – full closure.

Sanibel Recreation Center

The Rec Center was closed this week and will remain closed through Sunday (August 8) to complete annual maintenance projects. It reopens Monday August 9.

Daily, weekly, semi-annual, and annual memberships are available. Beach parking permits are purchased at the Rec Center too.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 30 – August 6, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tantara #102 2/2 $1.139M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Oceans Reach #3A1 2/2 listed at $894.9K, Island Beach Club #330B 2/2 listed at $989K.

2 closed sales: Spanish Cay #F2 1/1 $325K, Nutmeg Village #313 2/2 $1.295M.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1846 Ardsley Way 2/2 $700K; 535 Birdsong Pl 3/2 $721,555; 556 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $1.075M; 743 Durion Ct 3/2 $1.299M; 509 Lagoon Dr 3/2 $1.795M; 1266 Par View Dr 4/4 $2.295M.

5 price changes: 1025 S. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $850K, 565 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $899K, 5817 San-Cap Rd 4/2 now $1.19M, 5379 Shearwater Dr 4/3 now $2.149M, 737 Periwinkle Way 3/3 now $2.2M.

6 new sales: 1444 Sandpiper Cir 2/2 listed at $489K, 5308 Ladyfinger Lake 3/3 listed at $779K, 4506 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 listed at $819K, 460 Sawgrass Pl 2/1 listed at $849K, 1866 Farm Tr 3/3 listed at $890K, 5786 San-Cap Rd 2/2 listed at $1.029M.

9 closed sales: 1717 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/2 $550K, 9431 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $850K, 540 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $975K, 221 Robinwood Cir 3/2 $980K, 633 Lake Murex Cir 3/3 $1M, 4516 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2.5 $1.005M, 539 N Yachtsman Dr 4/3.5 $1.3M, 5809 San-Cap Rd 3/2 $1.351M, 1001 Schooner Pl 3/2.5 $1.6M.

LOTS

3 new listings: 1272 Par View $459K, 845 Pyrula Ave $515K, 638 Lake Murex Cir $565K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 5116 Sea Bell Rd $210K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Captiva-Hideaway #D 2/2 listed at $1.075M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new sale: 10 Sunset Captiva Ln 2/2.5 $1.395M.

No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

BOGO With Gulf Of Mexico Tropical Storms

Posted on August 21, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Time for another Friday update from SanibelSusan Realty, where we are keeping a watchful eye on the weather. 2020 sure has been one for the record books. Today, adding that two tropical storms are expected to arrive simultaneously in the Gulf of Mexico adds to the unpredictability of the year.

Teammate Dave was out this morning checking our listings and we will continue to follow projections. The latest indicates that Tropical Storm Laura may be nearby, though maybe off shore, Monday into Tuesday.

Meanwhile, though the islands already have experienced plenty of summer showers this week, the surrounding gulf waters are clear and beautiful. Jim Sazbo, owner of SanCap Aerial photography, provider of drone views for the City, on Wednesday posted the below photo showing the Lighthouse end of the island. May the water stay looking like this!

Island Real Estate Action

Island sales action has slowed a little this week. Often fewer visitors are here late August through September, but it also is the time that those looking usually are serious – particularly those wanting to have a property in place to enjoy or rent this winter.

We got an inquiry this week about one of our condo listings that resulted in a showing and it was interesting to hear the same question from them that I heard last week from a buyer interested in another complex.

That question is “Why are so many properties for sale in that community?”. It certainly makes sense to ask why owners are selling and to be cautious if it looks like a community may have a problem. But in all my years here, it has been rare to have owners want to sell because of something negative about a neighborhood. More often, owners sell to move up to another property, or for investment, or because of a change in life situation.

What also is interesting is that some communities sell more one year than aother, often without a common explanation. Here are a few that have had noticeable jumps in sales this year:

Blind Pass condominiums: 5 units have sold/closed this year to-date, compared to just 2 in all of 2019.
Gulfside Place, 4 sold/closed, compared to 2 last year.
Sand Pointe, 5 sold, compared to 2 last year.
The Dunes, 20 homes have sold to-date, compared to the same number in all of 2019, but another 10 are under contract.
Sanibel Estates, where I live, 12 homes have sold, compared to 9 last year, 2 others under contract.
Sanibel Isles, 4 homes sold to-date & 2 under contract, just 1 sale in 2019.
Captiva in South Seas Plantation, Bayside Villas: 2 sales last year, 4 year-to-date, 7 more units under contract in last 2 weeks.
Captiva Beach homes also are ahead of last year: 3 homes sold then, 5 have sold this year, 3 others under contract.

The activity post since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below.

Here in the office, I am close to finishing my annual update of the Resort & 2^nd Home module that I teach for the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist Designation. It is challenging trying to convert it to a Zoom format without losing the fun associated with in-person classes. Hoping to learn some tips, I have signed up to take the 14-hours of Continuing Ed required of Realtors® every two years, by Zoom.

Openings/Closings/Rescheduling

City of Sanibel – On Tuesday, Mayor Ruane extended Sanibel’s declared State of Emergency in response to COVID-19, until August 25, 2020, unless further extended. (Per State Statute the maximum time for a Mayoral Declaration of Emergency is seven days, so it must be updated weekly while there are emergency conditions.)

Since March 26, a total of 41 COVID 19 cases have been reported on Sanibel by Florida Department of Health (DOH).

F.I.S.H. 12^th Annual 10K Race Will be Virtual – While the “official” date of the race was scheduled for October 24, runners may participate virtually and log their time at any point from when they register through October 31. Registration will open later this month through the Fort Myers Track Club. More info regarding incentives for runners who help register groups or raise funds for F.I.S.H. will be available on the F.I.S.H. and Fort Myers Track Club websites. Participants will receive a dri-fit shirt with this year’s Hortoon logo and matching face covering. (www.fishofsancap.org). (SanibelSusan will not be needed as a Sanibel Square race safety monitor this year, but fully supports all that this wonderful organization has done and continues to do for those needing a hand, particularly in these trying times. The Association of Realtors® Summer 2020 challenge continues with our members and affiliates donating bags of items with school supplies and non-perishables for the F.I.S.H. food pantry. Their needs this year are enormous.)

Library Reopens – Monday, the Sanibel Public Library’s building reopened to the public following a deep clean. Precautions are in place to help protect staff and visitors from COVID-19. Inside the building, social distancing and wearing of masks (except those under age 6) are required. Library cards are available at no charge to residents of Sanibel and Lee County. Visitor library cards are available for a $10 annual fee. The Library is open Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, call 239-472-2483 or visit online at www.sanlib.org. Contact-less curbside service is continuing, call or go online to place a hold.

Virus May Have Boosted the Housing Market

Locals recognize that the pandemic is boosting the island real estate market, but here is a more national glimpse, from an article posted August 11 on FloridaRealtors® by Kerry Smith.

“In earlier times, a pandemic + recession would have slowed the market, but today’s unique circumstances seem to have sparked an even stronger demand for homeownership.

“SEATTLE – Three-quarters of homebuyers who plan to buy a home within the next 12 months say the coronavirus pandemic has impacted their homebuying plans – and one in four (25%) says it caused them to move faster or speed up their timeline.

“However, one in five (20%) say they’ve postponed homeownership, and 17% are now looking at less expensive homes, according to a survey conducted by Redfin.

““Somewhat counterintuitively, the coronavirus-driven recession is propping up the housing market,” says Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. He says homebuyer demand surged in the second quarter of 2020 even though GDP took a nosedive.

““Americans value the home more than ever and are willing to prioritize housing even as they cut back on other expenses,” says Fairweather. “Additionally, the Fed is using low interest rates to stimulate the economy, which is giving buyers more purchasing power and boosting home sales. But even with low rates, widespread unemployment and financial uncertainty mean not everyone who wants to buy a home is able to” do so.

“The pandemic’s most common homebuyer impact is a desire for more space: 21% of respondents want a designated area to work from home and 21% want more outdoor space; in addition, 10% of respondents now want a bigger home, and 7% want a designated space for children to learn from home.

““When the pandemic first hit, a few buyers canceled contracts due to economic uncertainty and concerns about potential layoffs,” says Phoenix Redfin agent Thomas Wiederstein. “I’ve also had some clients take breaks from searching because they don’t know how the economic situation is going to play out.

“But then there’s the other side,” says Wiederstein, “those who are encouraged by low mortgage rates, sitting around in their tiny apartment dreaming of the space a single-family home can offer.””

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 14-21, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sanctuary Golf Villages I #1-5 2/2.5 $999K.

No price changes.

4 new sales: Ibis at The Sanctuary #102 2/2 listed at $479K, Island Beach Club #P1A 2/2 listed at $599K, Sunset South #2D 2/2 listed at $675K, Sundial #J107 2/2 listed at $729K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

3 new listings: 2001/2003 Mitzi Ln 6/6 duplex $999K, 3351 Barra Cir 3/2.5 $1.199M, 4992 Joewood Dr 3/3.5 $1.595K.

8 price changes: 981 Main St 4/2.5 now $675K, 4397 Gulf Pines Dr 3/3 now $745K, 543 Boulder Dr 3/2 now $799K, 215 Robinwood Cir 4/3 now $829K, 930 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 now $1.195M, 2739 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 now $1.25M, 5757 Baltusrol Ct 3/3 now $1.539M, 1520 Angel Dr 5/5.5 now $1.575M.

8 new sales: 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $549K, 1031 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 listed at $695K, 1114 Sabal St 2/2 listed at $795K, 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 listed at $875K, 545 Lake Murex Cir 3/3 listed at $1.075M, 930 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 listed at $1.195M, 1671 Hibiscus Dr 5/3 listed at $1.199M, 1558 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/3.5 listed at $2.989M.

3 closed sales: 6033 Dinkins Lake Rd 3/3.5 $685.9K, 938 Pecten Ct 3/2.5 $860K, 5419 Osprey Ct 3/3.5 $1.035M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 4995 Joewood Dr now $2.45M.

2 new sales: 0 Island Inn Rd listed at $599,555; 1226 Isabel Dr listed at $1.239M.

No closed sale.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: Bayside Villas #4216 1/2 listed at $374.9K, Bayside Villas #5218 1/2 listed at $399K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: 16525 Captiva Dr 3/4 listed at $1.459M, 16531 Captiva Dr 8/8 listed at $2.85M.

2 closed sales: 11525 Wightman Ln 3/2 $1.175M, 11514 Wightman Ln 5/5 $1.65M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 16151 Captiva Dr $8.95M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”.

Enjoy your weekend & watch out for those BOGO’s.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Another Summery Friday on Sanibel

Posted on August 7, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Happy Friday from the SanibelSusan Team. Typical sunny summer weather continues with occasional showers. Essentially no impact was felt here from Tropical Storm (later Hurricane) Isaias passing by the East Coast last weekend. With Atlantic and Gulf waters now very warm, even for summer, you can be sure we will continue to watch the weather channel right through hurricane season. Because of that warm water, more activity than normal is expected.

Yesterday afternoon while checking a couple of properties I snapped the following photos will my cell. From the bay to the gulf, even with recent occasional showers, waters are clear and bright.

Regarding COVID-19

On Monday, Mayor Ruane extended Sanibel’s declared State of Emergency in response to COVID-19, until August 11, 2020, unless further extended. (Per State Statute the maximum time for a Mayoral Declaration of Emergency is seven days, so it must be updated weekly while there are emergency conditions.)

Florida Department of Health (DOH) reports a total of 38 COVID-19 cases on Sanibel, five on Captiva.

On a positive note, DOH on-line reports that Lee County test results from Wednesday showed a lower percentage of positive test results. On August 5, it reports the county had 2,187 negative tests, 136 positive, or 5.9% positive. We all hope that downward trend continues.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

All of us are back at work this week, wearing masks and happy to say that office visitors are wearing them too. We had a few of those this week, some folks thinking of buying, others, Realtors® comparing notes on the market and picking up/returning keys.

Island inventory remains low as we roll into what are traditionally the slowest months of the year (Aug, Sep, Oct), but we know this year certainly is not like the norm. Since last Friday, the islands Multiple Listing Service reports 20 new Sanibel sales (8 condos/12 homes) and both a condo and a home sale on Captiva. The complete weekly update of the action posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service this week is after a couple of news items below.

The annual Association of Realtors SCIS designation classes (Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist) have been rescheduled for September 15-October 2, so I am updating the segment I teach on the Resort and 2^nd-Home Market. I have been teaching this class for eight years, but this will be my first using Zoom. Wish me luck.

Four Florida Beaches Make List of USA’s Most Charming Beach Towns

Posted Monday, August 3, by SouthFloridaReporter.com:

“The TravelMag results are out with Destin, Key West, Sanibel Island, and St Augustine, making the list of the Most Charming Beach Towns in the USA. Florida had more beaches on the list than any other state.

“Waves lap 88,633 miles (142,641 km) of United States shoreline from the Arctic Ocean in the northwest, and the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean from west to east (according to the US Census Bureau). And all along these twists and turns of land, around the bays and inlets, estuaries and peninsulas, there are signs of human existence, from mighty cities like New York and Los Angeles, to remote towns and peaceful beaches. In all, 23 of the 50 States meet an ocean at some point, while an additional seven states have shoreline beach towns along one of the Great Lakes.

“Therefore, we decided to ask a broad array of writers, travel bloggers, photographers and other in-the-know professionals to pick the five beach towns they consider to be the most charming in the United States. To be eligible for inclusion, a town or city had to have a population of fewer than 30,000 people. After totting up the votes, we now present to you, in alphabetical order, the 30 beach towns our survey deemed the USA’s most charming.… [See the entire list HERE]….”

Below is what it had to say about Sanibel:

“Sanibel Island, FL

Located off the southwest coast of Florida, the barrier island of Sanibel is known for its shells. Beachcombers can pick their way along the long expanses of coarse sand, like those at Bowman’s Beach, looking for their own specimens. Alternatively, see the grand collection at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Sanibel Island’s human story is largely one of first conquering the elements, by controlling the wetlands and building a causeway from the mainland. In recent decades however, the focus has shifted more towards long-term goals through conservation and protection of these delicate environments, with much of the island dedicated to wildlife refuges, particularly JN Ding Darling, where you might be lucky to see roseate spoonbills, mangrove cuckoos, pelicans, alligators, turtles and even a bobcat.”

‘Ding’ Darling Free Lecture Series Moving to Community House for 2021

From the August 6, “Santiva Chronicle” on-line :

“The upcoming season’s “Ding” Darling Friday Lecture Series will evolve with the times and persisting distance protocols by moving to the larger venue of the Sanibel Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way. The free lectures will occur on five select days throughout the season with one 10 a.m. lecture per day.

“The 17th annual “Ding” Darling Friday Lecture Series, which runs Jan.29 through March 19, 2021, features photographers Clyde and Niki Butcher, Feather Thief author Kirk W. Johnson, and eminent authorities on water conservation, eagles, owls, and woodpeckers.

““The uncertainties of COVID-19 challenged us to experiment with a new lecture series format so we could accommodate high-quality lecturers but still abide by new distancing guidelines,” said Ann-Marie Wildman, “Ding” Darling’s Nature Store manager and lecture series organizer. “We would be very limited on how many we could seat at our usual venue in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center auditorium, but the Community House gives us more latitude. So, we’ve decided on fewer lectures with topnotch speakers.”

“…Visit dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/lecture-and-film-series for further information on lecturers. Seating for the free lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. About 200 seats will be available. Face masks will be required. DDWS will be filming most lectures and broadcasting them on Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/dingdarling….”

Salt Pulping on Wood Pilings

Teammate Dave had to put me in my place last week when we were discussing some piling damage at a home we viewed. From the archives he pulled out a summary provided January 12, 1996 by Max Anderson, Sanibel’s Building Official at the time. If you need a reminder too, here is that info:

“There have been several instances of a strange looking fuzzy decay and deterioration on wood pilings on Sanibel. There seemed to be no answer as to why this was happening and what to do to correct the problem.

“Samples were taken from some pilings where this occurred and sent to Dr. Terry Amburgey at Mississippi State University. He is a recognized expert on wood products. He indicates this problem is called salt water pulping and caused by salt water being absorbed up into the piling. This happens because, in his opinion, the piling is not dried or aged properly prior to use.

“To stop the action of the salt water, the water column in the piling must be blocked, some important facts and best possible suggestions to correct the problem are as follows:

The chromated copper arsenate (C.C.A.) pressure treatment is the most common method used. This is a waterborne treatment and drying prior to use of the wood piling is critical.
When driven into a salt water environment the natural air drying above grade causes the salty water to be sucked or drawn up into the wood.
It is necessary to block this water column action to stop this salt water pulping.
A suggested method to break this water column is to drill a ½-inch diameter hold in one face of the piling near the base at an angle downward into the center. Move to each of the other 3 faces of the piling moving up about 12” and drill similar holes. Pour these holes full of a water preservative generally available at a hardware store. Go back several times over a couple of weeks refilling the drilled holes. The preservative will be drawn into and absorbed by the piling. Then seal the hole.
Brush off existing fuzz and deteriorating wood from the face of the piling and coat with the water preservative.
This treatment as suggested should break the water column drawing the salt water into the column.

“This is a treatment which is recommended by Dr. Amburgey and has not been tested, but in his opinion should correct the problem of salt water pulping. The Sanibel Building Department would like for people using this system to report back in approximately one year as a test program.”

Salt Damage to Wood

Since I wondered if there were more recent articles on the subject, here is an interesting one I found from the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (#06-2011-001):

“Many types of deterioration can affect wood in service. One potential problem facing dock owners is the occasional development of “fuzzy wood” caused by salt uptake into the wood. This salt damage – also referred to as “salt kill” or salt defibration – is sometimes seen in wood that is chronically exposed to salt, such as marine pilings, bridge decks where salt is used as a de-icer, utility poles that are splashed with road salt, or wood associated with salt storage.

Wood in this instance acts like a bundle of straws, wicking salt water into the wood structure. As the wood surface is exposed to heat and drying (as from direct sunlight), the water evaporates and salt crystals form in the wood cells. Over time, the physical forces exerted by the salt crystals push the fibers of the wood apart, causing the “fuzzy” appearance. This phenomenon is often seen in extreme environments, both hot and cold. Past research at FPL has shown that salt damage can accumulate in as little as 5 years of repeated wetting and drying cycles. Salt damage can be observed on untreated wood or wood treated with waterborne preservatives, such as CCA (copper chromated arsenate) and ACQ (alkaline copper quat). It does not usually occur on wood treated with oily preservatives, such as creosote, because the oil forms a barrier to the sale movement.

“Although salt damage may be unsightly, the fuzzy wood need not be cause for alarm. The gradual sloughing off of the wood surface proceeds slowly, and the wood beneath the affected area remains sound. Salt damage has been observed on poles and pilings that are still in service after 25-30 years. Paints, coatings, or barriers have been suggested to prevent the movement of water from the wood surface, but it’s not clear how effective these treatments might be….”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 31-August 7, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

4 price changes: Sanibel Arms #C7 1/1 now $356K, Sandalfoot #3C1 2/2 now $639.9K, Heron at The Sanctuary II #2B 3/3.5 now $759K, Heron at The Sanctuary II #3A 3/2.5 now $799K.

8 new sales: Casa Blanca #4 1/1 listed at $357K, Blind Pass #E205 2/2.5 listed at $405K, Sunset South #A11 2/2 listed at $549K, Cottage Colony West #134 1/1 listed at $614.5K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #5-4 3/3 listed at $790K, Sanibel Surfside #126 2/2 listed at $799K, Seawind II #2 2/2.5 listed at $799.9K, Sundial #K402 2/2 listed at $1,149,900.

3 closed sales: Sanibel Arms #A7 1/1 $338K, Sanibel Shores #A2 2/2 $459K, Sandalfoot #1C1 2/2 $775K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 537 Lake Murex Cir 3/3 $1.095M.

6 price changes: 9247 Dimmick Dr 3/2 now $580K, 9128 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $699K, 1296 Par View Dr 3/3 now $749K, 1777 Serenity Ln 5/4.5 now $919K, 4629 Rue Bayou 5/3 now $1.195M, 2411 Blue Crab Ct 4/4.5 now $2,494,900.

12 new sales: 454 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $630K, 4339 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 listed at $695K, 9106 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $749K, 3117 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 listed at $793K, 5422 Shearwater Dr 3/2.5 listed at $799K, 1752 Jewel Box Dr 2/2 listed at $859K, 1406 Causey Ct 3/2.5 listed at $895K, 401 Lagoon Dr 4/4 listed at $899K, 776 Conch Ct 3/2 listed at $899K, 1437 Causey Ct 3/2.5 listed at $925K, 940 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 listed at $948K, 5089 Joewood Dr 6/5 listed at $3.495M.

7 closed sales: 1356 Jamaica Dr 2/1.5 $515K, 1973 Wild Lime Dr 4/3 $554K, 5834 Pine Tree Dr 2/2 $675K, 701 Nerita St 3/2 $675K, 2100 Sunset Cir 3/2 $698K, 2284 Troon Ct 4/4.5 $1.7M, 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/3 $2.895M.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 5847 Pine Tree Dr $300K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5114 1/2 listed at $380K.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #5104 1/2 $385K.

HOMES

No new listings

1 price change: 11555 Wightman Ln 3/2 now $3.695M.

1 new sale: 11514 Wightman Ln 5/5 listed at $1.895M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

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

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”. Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Almost Mothers’ Day Weekend on Sunny Sanibel

Posted on May 8, 2020 by SanibelSusan

It has been another quiet week on Sanibel and at SanibelSusan Realty. Island traffic last weekend was heavy, mostly from stir-crazy day-trippers wanting changes of scenery. With only Bowman’s Beach and the causeway islands open for parking, they were jammed both Saturday and Sunday with many vehicles and many people. Island locals also reported that Sanibel’s resident lots often were full of out-of-state vehicles without parking stickers. Those ticketing stayed busy.

On Tuesday, City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting, but delayed further discussion on beach parking and short-term vacation rentals/accommodations restrictions until a special meeting coming up on Tues, May 12 at 2 p.m. That is the day that Sanibel’s current State of Emergency Proclamation ends. City Council hopes that more data will be available by then, and more direction from Florida’s governor and the county.

(If you want to listen during the upcoming meeting or hear the audio from a past one, go to MySanibel.com & look under Agendas & Minutes.)

A few island restaurants and retail shops have reopened following recommended guidelines. During the week, I have not seen many vehicles at these locations though, so it may be that the public remains wary. Probably rightfully, since testing here has been limited.

On Monday, free Covid-19 testing began on a first-come first-served basis at the Minnesota Twins Stadium. The site is performing 400 tests a day until they run out. The news reports that the wait is hours long. As of this morning, Sanibel’s confirmed cases are 11.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

I got a call this week from our local Association of Realtors® President. He was querying our brokers to see how we are handling business through the pandemic. The Association office has been closed for weeks, but staff is working from home and meetings are happening through Zoom technology. He said the office likely will remain closed until the end of the month unless state guidelines are lessened.

This week, the Communications and Public Relations Committee issued a challenge for members to donate food goods to F.I.S.H. of San-Cap. It kicked off with a committee member challenging three other Association members via Facebook with those challenged to challenge three others. Photos are posted as contributions are delivered.

Yesterday, I was challenged by Affiliate Member Angie Roehl with Rosier Insurance. So, though Bailey’s home delivery has been bringing my groceries for weeks, my mask and I ventured out last night for “real” shopping. Teammate Elise and I delivered the resulting four bags of staples to the food pantry this morning, then I challenged three other Realtors®.

Regarding open houses and showings, safety is key. So many, like us, are using alternative marketing approaches like our streaming videos. Last Sunday I was contacted by an agent who Skyped our bayfront listing from the water (in her boat).

Her prospect liked seeing the exterior, so asked to also see inside. So, I met her there later so she could Skype the interior. It was more time-consuming than an actual showing since the property is empty, so she had verbalize details – but it worked. Her prospects are coming to view in person in a couple of weeks.

Florida’s Remote Notary Law

From FloridaRealtor® magazine, May 2020:

“Social-distance closings.

“Remote notarizations became legal in Florida on January 1. That means buyers and sellers can close on a home without being in the same room. It’s also a powerful tool during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain the real estate market while also honoring orders for social distancing that keep people at least 6-feet apart.

“However, the details of a remote-notarization closing should be worked out beforehand, since not all notaries are authorized to conduct remote notarizations. In addition, lenders might refuse to accept remote notarizations, and buyers who secured a loan through one of those companies must still be present at closing.

“Under the remote-notarization law, Florida notaries must register with the state as an online notary before they’re authorized to do so. In addition to posting a $25,000 bond, they must also have $25,000 of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and complete a two-hour course.

“Once authorized by the state, they must also have the designation of a remote online notary provider, who acts as a digital liaison between remote buyers and sellers in the transaction. Not all notaries have done so and some may decide not to take these additional steps.

“How It Works: E-notaries electronically affix signatures and notary sales in an electronic document such as a PDF or Word document. The document is then instantly and securely transmittable. Remote notaries are authorized to provide a similar service to parties in separate locations via the internet, using digital tools and a live audio/video connection versus electronic notary, where physical presence is required by law.”

At SanibelSusan Realty

Teammates Dave and Lisa are at home, while I have been manning the office with Teammate Elise covering three mornings again this week. Our team communication continues by email and text, which is not unlike our normal work routine.

Several SanibelSusan blog followers – some near and far – contributed recipes to my “SanibelSusan and Facebook Friends Social-Distancing Together Cookbook – April 2020”. It went to the printer on Wed and should be ready in about two weeks. It was a fun project amid the month’s uncertainty.

The action posted in the Sanibel/Captiva MLS since last Friday is below. There were a few sales!

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity May 1-8, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Mariner Pointe #732 2/2 $565.9K, Kings Crown #306 2/2 $868.5K.

3 price changes: Colonnades #13 1/1 now $305K, Casa Blanca #6 1/1 now $353K; Mariner Pointe #952 1/1 now $388,990.

2 new sales: Sundial #D403 1/1 listed at $529K, Kings Crown #112 2/2 listed at $679K.

4 closed sales: Sanibel Arms West #B4 2/2 $535K, Sanibel Arms West #H5 2/2 $539K, By-The-Sea #C101 2/2 $1.1M, Gulfside Place #326 2/2 $1.2M.

HOMES

5 new listings: 2100 Sunset Cir 3/2 $729,555; 9484 Peaceful Dr 3/3 $835K; 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 $899K; 9441 Peaceful Dr 3/3.5 $1.05M; 4629 Rue Bayou 5/3 $1.295M.

1 price change: 9036 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $649,999.

3 new sales: 550 Leather Fern Pl 3/2 listed at $629K, 5419 Osprey Ct 3/3.5 listed at $1.095M, 769 Pyrula Ave 3/3.5 listed at $1.395M.

6 closed sales: 743 Windlass Way 3/2 $505K, 678 Durion Ct 3/2 $580K, 1717 Sand Pebble Way 3/2 $600K, 9057 Mockingbird Dr 4/2 $650K, 1085 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $686K, 500 Sawgrass Pl 8/8/3 $2M.

LOTS

No new listings.

4 price changes: 2372 Wulfert Rd now $147.5K, 5642 Baltusrol Ct now $327.5K, 5648 Baltusrol Ct now 328.5K, 1048 Fish Crow Rd now $375K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Captiva Shores #8B 3/2.5 listed at $1.199M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: 15879 Captiva Dr 3/3 listed at $2.389M, 15843 Captiva Dr 3/3 listed at $7.489M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

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

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”, hoping to attract some Mothers’ Day buyers.

Sanibel is expecting some much-needed rain on Sunday!

Enjoy your weekend!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel’s Social Distancing Continues… Carefully… Safely

Posted on May 1, 2020 by SanibelSusan

It is another happy Friday at SanibelSusan Realty. Happier than last week because the sun is shining, the humidity is down, more showers have vegetation greening up, and best-of-all, a phased reopening of the island is underway. Periwinkle Way even had more vehicles this morning. Hooray!

Gulf waters are beautiful too and the local wildlife seem to be enjoying less human interaction. On the east-end, I have noticed more bunnies, while snowy plover hatchings in the area of Olde Sanibel, also are ahead of schedule. A large area of nests is roped off with itty bitty babies already running around.

Trasi from Over Easy Café recently posted a cool Facebook photo of a large bobcat crossing West Gulf Drive while Bridgit from The Pecking Order is forever capturing amazing animal close-ups during her dog-walking adventures. As mentioned last week, island sea turtle nests also are ahead of schedule with 13 nests now documented, including two rare leatherback nests (one on each island).

Sanibel City Proclamation Re: Covid-19

I listened live to both the Monday and Wednesday City Council meetings. Wednesday’s was a long one from 4 to 9 p.m. including almost two hours of public comments. The City’s earlier “State of Local Emergency” order was expiring. It closed public beach parking areas and most businesses (other than those deemed essential) and stopped occupancy by incoming vacation rental and hotel guests.

The Wednesday meeting resulted in the following proclamation changes.

City-owned beach parking areas will remain closed until May 15.
Restrictions on residential accommodations/lodging remains in effect until May 15.
The Governor’s Executive Order for Phase 1 for Re-Opening Florida was adopted.

To clarify reopening of restaurants and outdoor seating, today the City issued guidance and is temporarily permitting Sanibel restaurants and food establishments up to 1,800 sq. ft. for outdoor dining, with social distancing and other required criteria. Go to www.MySanibel.com for all the details.

City Council has a regularly-scheduled meeting coming up on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Their agenda and link to the audio also are posted on the City website. Listen in, if you have time. Our councilors and City staff really are working many extra hours for all of us.

In other Covid-19 news, this afternoon, Mayor Ruane posted the following message on his Facebook page: “Today Lee County Commission in coordination with the state of Florida announced the new Covid 19 testing site at the Twins Stadium starting on Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm drive thru testing, no prescription is requested and free to all people. Another location will also be at the Walmart in Lehigh through private labs with a cost to the patient. Lee County is looking out for our residents!”

Real Estate Happenings

I have been in the office most afternoons with teammate Elise and I crossed paths today for the first time in six weeks. Where have the weeks gone?

The details of all the action posted this week in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below. The good news is, there were five new island sales, four on Sanibel and one on Captiva.

Since some island listings expired the end of April and a few others were withdrawn, below are inventory summaries with sales to-date as of today, May 1.

	Condos		Homes		Lots
	#	Price $*	#	Price $*	#	Price $*
Sanibel
For sale	115	775,591	164	1,400,585	70	794,631
Under contract	12	821,416	17	980,058	0	N/A
Sold/closed thru 5/1/2020	59	731,060	81	1,113,106	4	849,666
Sold/closed in 2019	127	694,392	211	949,790	15	372,200
Sold/closed in 2018	155	720,617	218	1,112,748	21	602,095
Captiva
For sale	44	1,067,769	42	3,231,880	3	3,563,000
Under contract	1	1,795,000	2	2,847,500	0	N/A
Sold/closed thru 5/1/2020	9	803,111	7	3,331,142	2	1,925,000
Sold/closed in 2019	29	1,037,077	17	2,737,503	1	1,375,000
Sold closed in 2018	27	797,532	25	2,127,352	0	N/A

Note: “For sale” & “Under contract” prices are asking prices.

Though the last few weeks saw few sales, I remain optimistic. The islands will bounce back, better than ever. Many stranded in less desirable locations, certainly will view it as more of an island paradise. If one must be stranded at home, it really is a wonderful place to be.

Social-Distancing Together in April 2020

If you are on social media where I advertise to attract those followers, you may have noticed my Facebook postings about a cookbook called “Social-Distancing Together in April 2020”. With recipes from SanibelSusan and Facebook friends, everyone that contributes recipe(s) gets a freebie cookbook which I hope will be a positive remembrance of the last month.

If you want to be included, please become a Facebook friend (I have both personal and business pages) and email me your recipe(s) this weekend, as it will go to the printer soon. It already has nearly 250 recipes!

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 24-May 1, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sundial #B406 2/2 $799K.

3 price changes: Sundial #F205 1/1 now $419K, White Caps #8 1/1 now $799K, Pointe Santo #A1 2/2 now $925K.

2 new sales: Loggerhead Cay #461 2/2 listed at $539K, Sand Pointe #111 2/2 listed at $679K.

3 closed sale: Casa Blanca #5 2/1 $425K, Sand Pointe #132 2/2 $690K, Tigua Cay #485 3/3.5 $1.95M.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 401 Lagoon Dr 4/4 now $899K.

2 new sales: 836 Donax St 3/2 listed at $549K, 1345 Eagle Run Dr listed at $1.049M.

7 closed sales: 1856 Ardsley Way 3/2 $470K, 1573 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $503K; 500 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $680K; 261 Ferry Landing 2/2 half-duplex $900K; 457 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $900,050; 4739 Ruelle 4/3 $985K; 500 Sawgrass Pl 8/8/3 $2M.

LOTS

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

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #3220 1/1 $309K.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 11542 Wightman Ln 5/5 listed at $3.2M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

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

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sure Doesn’t Feel Like January on Sunny Sanibel

Posted on January 17, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Another Friday has arrived. Since last week, the weather on Sanibel and Captiva Islands has continued to be summer-like. Days have been in the mid-to-high 70’s and low 80’s with plenty of sunshine and a few intermittent clouds. That is expected to change on Monday when a cool front arrives. Being originally from Maine, it still cracks me up when they say a cool-front is daytime temperatures in the 60’s – in January. That coolness may be short-lived though. Temperatures are expected to be back into the 70’s by Thursday.

Most years, island business picks up after January 15^th, particularly when the snow is flying somewhere. This year there already has been good real estate action here. The changes reported since last Friday in the Sanibel/Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service are after a couple of news items below. (First a picture from our friend, Scott, who shares his wonderful island photos.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Installation of 2020 Officers & Awards Breakfast

Yesterday was the annual Islands Association of Realtors® installation of officers and awards breakfast at The Sanctuary. Florida Realtors® Director of Local Association Services, Anne Cockayne was the installing officer. Past-President Joel Goodman emceed, and I presented pal Mary Lou Bailey with her Realtor® Emeritus pin (She’s our third island Realtor® to reach this status – 40 years and an active leader.)

Our local Honor Society recognized 25 members for their professionalism through education, participation, and community service (my 27^th year), while six members completed the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist program, earning their SCIS designation. Congratulations to all.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

This week, SanibelSusan teammate Dave held several Open Houses and saw a noticeable increase in visitors. We also had some good listing inquiries and have future showings scheduled. Elise got a big post card mailing out and will process two more next week. I showed property last weekend, Dave is showing this weekend, and we also had a nice 2-sided closing Tuesday, which was the last island sale in 2019. Big thanks to Simmons Law for getting the needed court motion processed in time for the 14-day closing.

Outside-the-Box Mortgage Solutions

One of our long-time Association of Realtors® Affiliate Members, Dan Royal, sent an e-mail this week that caught my eye. Dan is a Mortgage Loan Originator with American Momentum Bank. He has been financing island real estate for as long as I can remember. Did a loan for my husband and I when we first moved to Sanibel – long before our first sale here. Here are excerpts from Dan’s email:

“$860,000 Sundial Resort Condo mortgage just funded! Non-warrantable condos welcome here. Fannie Mae has “in the box” strict guidelines. Our Portfolio Loans are “outside the box”:

5% down to $1 million primary home purchase
Non-warrantable/resort condo 15% down
0% down new professionals
Construction loans to $5 million
Foreign borrower loans to $3 million
Investor loans to $3 million.

“Please contact me if you need some out of the box mortgage solutions.”

Reach Dan at DRoyal@AmericanMomentum.Bank or toll free at 866-530-2265.

Joanna Gaines: Keep These Tacky Items Out Of The House

I saw this article on-line a few weeks ago but saved it for sharing after the holidays. It is long but has some interesting, sometimes funny, points. Written by JJ Foster, posted 11/26/19 on www.BridesBlush.com:

“The Fixer Upper Has Spoken – If there’s one person who knows what it takes to put together an awesome living room, then it’s Joanna Gaines. The reality TV personality has spent the last few years hosting the show Fixer Upper with her husband Chip. Together, they renovate and redecorate people’s homes and have helped take “Farmhouse-chic” to another level of popularity. However, with an eye for great decoration, Gaines also knows what interior designers should avoid doing. The living room is a place for play, relaxation and family time, and Gaines has shared some of the tackiest things that homeowners should keep out of their living rooms.

“Fake Plants – Sure, real plants might attract a few creepy crawlies here and there, but there’s something about them that adds a whole lot of life to the living room. More often than not though, fake plants can stick out like a sore thumb and it’s clear that they are definitely not real. As far as Joanna Gaines is concerned, you’re better off having a living room without plants than one with fake ones. She thinks they are lifeless and extremely tacky.

“Chintz Wallpaper – Chintz is a form of textiles that can trace its origins all the way back to India. However, the design, which consists of flowery patterns, is recognized these days for being used in the rooms of many bed and breakfasts, especially in the New England area. Joanna Gaines certainly doesn’t want people making their living rooms resemble anything like this. In fact, it’s more likely to look like the kind of building that contains a tomb from the 1500s.

“Ruffled Furniture Skirts – While skirts are a perfectly acceptable clothing item for certain individuals to wear, furniture isn’t one of them. Anything that doesn’t have a heartbeat and is designed to be sat on in a living room shouldn’t be wearing a skirt. We’re looking at you, sofa, table, chairs and armchair. Ruffled skirts make a modern living room feel like it’s stuck in a much older era. Either expose those furniture legs or at the very least, give them a straight skirt instead.

“Plastic Storage – So many families use plastic storage as a more affordable option of putting away stationary appliances, clothes and virtually anything else. However, there is something about seeing these structures in a living room that screams out, “I shouldn’t be here.” If it’s a child’s living room, then it might make a bit more sense. But if your kids are fully grown and you want a living room that blends luxury with sophistication, then this is not the way to go.

“Bold-Colored Walls – Joanna Gaines can’t stand it when she walks into a living room and the walls have been painted in a really bold color. As a child, she remembered that the home her family moved into had the worst-looking walls imaginable and they needed to give them a completely new coat. Not only was the living room a disgusting lime-green color, but the dining room was in her words, “cherry-red.” If you’re living room looks like Sonic’s drive-thru menu, you know you’ve got problems.

“Bookcase Wallpaper – Joanna Gaines has lost count of the number of homes she has walked into and seen this kind of decoration plastered all over the back wall of the living room. Seriously, who are these people trying to fool? It is obviously not a real bookcase. If you want to show the world that you’re educated, get some shelves and put some books on them! The irony is that those who have this wallpaper probably don’t read that many books.

“Matching the Couch With Curtains – Joanna Gaines is a firm believer that curtains and couches shouldn’t be made from the same fabric – it just shouldn’t happen. However, this will be forgiven as long as they don’t share the exact same color or pattern. It’s important to diversify the living room, finding a balance between furniture that compliments each other, while also serving its own unique, aesthetic purpose. As far as the Fixer Upper is concerned, the living room should have a motif, not a uniform.

“Mandala Tapestries – While many young people decorate their homes with mandalas, they don’t necessarily know the spiritual symbolism of this Eastern pattern. Then, there are people who discover the pattern later on in life and decide it’s a nice thing to display on one of the walls in their living room. Joanna Gaines thinks that if you don’t share the philosophy that the mandala is connected to, then it’s best to move on and decorate your living room with something a bit more understated.

“White Rooms – While a white motif can be pleasant, you should never decorate your living room in just white. Fine, white walls can work, but think of it as a canvas in which you can add various other colors to it. At the end of the day, purely white rooms remind us too much of sterile hospitals, a place where people are often struggling to stay alive. Let’s not try to remind people of that in our living room. Also, it makes un-cleanable stains look so much more obvious.

“Weird Lamps – If your living room lamp has more arms than your fake plant has branches, then you need to watch some episodes of Fixer Upper as soon as possible! It is very easy to get carried away with the design of a lamp. If your lamp resembles the Burj al-Arab or some other uniquely designed skyscraper, then something’s seriously wrong. Definitely avoid the lamps that have multiple bulbs with different colored light filters. Just go with a traditional lamp with a shade.

“Cliché Art – While it’s perfectly normal to hang up art in the living room, Joanna Gaines hates it when people go for one of the most famous paintings and treats it like some sort of cool ornamental idea. If you are planning on hanging up a copy of Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in your living room, then that’s a bad omen for the room in general. Why not go for a more obscure work of art by a famous artist? Stay original, folks.

“Mounted Animal Heads – While many hunters hang animal skulls on their walls like some sort of bragging rights, many people who are not hunters buy them and hang them too. However, Joanna Gaines has her own thoughts on the matter. Whoever’s hanging these in the living room obviously has no idea what they are doing. If you are responsible for that skull, at least put it somewhere where it is not going to upset anyone. The Fixer Upper has spoken!

“Futons – Unless you are between the age of 13 and 18 and frequently having friends over for slumber parties, a futon is no longer the way to go. By the time you have graduated from college and are out there in the real world, you should have enough funds to afford something a bit more elaborate than a futon. As we get older, it is our duty to outgrow certain things and futons should be, at the very least, the top five in that list.

“Temporary Furniture – While the aim of temporary furniture is to make it look like something that is cool but also a work in progress, Joanna Gaines has zero-tolerance for the concept. As far as she’s concerned, this kind of furniture has no place in the living room and homeowners should just go with traditional furniture instead. She believes that temporary furniture only looks cool for a couple of days, that’s until it breaks for one reason or another – it’s too fragile!

“Cluttered Cables – In the age of technology in which we live, it makes perfect sense to have a plethora of devices that have wires and cables hanging from them. This takes nothing away from the fact though that a pile of cluttered cables looks ugly on the eyes. A perfectionist like Joanna Gaines would never stand for such chaos in her living room, let alone anyone else’s. At the very least, hide those cables behind the TV table, away from visitors’ eyes.

“Cheesy Photo & Picture Frames – There are so many accessories out there that people use to display family photos on. More often than not, the frame itself can distract the person away from what matters the most – the photo. With tons of cheesy imagery and buzz words on either side of the photo, these tend to just get in the way. At the end of the day, a photo needs a frame, not a dramatic canvas that might be telling a completely different story. Stick to a frame – plain and simple.

“Plastic Couch Covers – People put plastic covers on their couches for a variety of reasons. While some apply them to prevent pets from causing damage to them, others use them so that they don’t spill something on them. Either way, a plastic couch cover is always for practical reasons, not aesthetic ones. It’s less to do with the fact that it looks tacky – it just looks terrible in any situation. At the very best, it looks like the scene of a crime.

“Shot Glass Collections – Whether it be stamps, coins or Coca-Cola cans, everyone seems to have something they love to collect. However, we’d never advise hanging your collection up in the living room. Joanna Gaines especially detests it when people decide to show off their shot glass collection as some sort of living room ornament. While it may have impressed your friends back during the college years, it just looks kind of sad by the time you reach your mid-30s. Collect something new and hide it somewhere!

“Gold Fixtures – There was a time that gold fixtures were a standard “fixture” in pretty much every other house, and that was back in the ’80s. For some reason, there are families who have hung onto those gold fixtures for the last 30 years and, unsurprisingly, they have weathered and no longer look as shiny and glorious as they used to. Maybe one piece of gold furniture here and there is acceptable, but gold motif for the living room is unacceptable unless you are a Saudi prince.

“Pallet Coffee Tables – A trend that has been floating around the world of interior design is DIY pallet furniture. Better known for being used to transport large objects on forklifts, interior designs are now making pieces of furniture out of these wooden structures. One of the examples is the coffee tables which is made out of pallet. While some families might like their living rooms looking like a pile of lumber, Joanna Gaines wouldn’t be seen dead with this type of coffee table in her home.

“Shag Carpeting – While some people might like the cosy feel that shag carpeting provides, Joanna Gaines is certainly not a fan. She believes that this design trend should have stayed in the ’70s where it belongs. She compared the texture and the appearance of shag carpeting to that of wigs. Moreover, she believes it would have the same effect if you laid some hairpieces on the living room floor instead. While it might be a matter of taste, this is not Gaines’ “cup of tea.”

“Wood Paneling – There is something about wood paneling that just screams out a 1980s thriller, with the likelihood of someone in the family going on a violent rampage at some stage. Joanna Gaines believes that this style goes against what a living room represents – relaxation, fun and family time. Unless you actually live in a cabin in the woods, wood paneling is extremely dated and should have no place in any part of your home whatsoever, never mind your living room!

“Curtain-less Windows – Seeing that we are encouraged to avoid using so much electricity and resort to natural lighting, you’d think that it would be recommended to refrain from applying curtains to your living room windows. A bit of natural lighting could do your home the world of good, right? Well, gone are the days that you can kick back with a tub of ice cream in private, people are always going to see what you’re doing as they walk past.

“Blanket Ladders – If you want to have a living room that looks rustic, at least don’t make it look as if you’re trying so hard to be. One tacky design choice that is indicative of this is a blanket ladder. While these were more commonplace back in the 1800s or in one of the stories from Little House on the Prairie, some have decided to bring a ladder back and use it to hang blankets on in their living room. What’s wrong with just leaving them on the sofa?

“Barn Doors – Our only theory for this one is that someone who was having way too much fun one night ended up trespassing on someone’s farm, stole a couple of barn doors and then woke up the next day with them leaning on the wall of their living room. While Pinterest has undoubtedly built up the hype of having barn doors in our homes, and Joanna Gaines is a farmhouse chic specialist, we have no interest. If it’s not being used in a barn, it shouldn’t be used.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity January 10-17, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sanibel Arms #A7 1/1 $359K, Sanibel Moorings #1512 2/2 $549K, Loggerhead Cay #514 2/2 $1.045M, Sanddollar #C201 2/2 $1.199M.

6 price changes: Sanibel Inn #3514 2/2 now $725K, Sand Pointe #227 2/2 now $739K, Pointe Santo #D32 2/2 now $749K, Oceans Reach #3A1 2/2 now $894.9K, Sundial #E108 3/2 now $1.225M, La Playa #B1 3/2 now $1.299M.

4 new sales: Sandpebble #1A 2/2 listed at $439K, Blind Pass #F204 2/2.5 listed at $445K, Sanibel Shores #A2 2/2 listed at $459K, Sand Pointe #227 2/2 listed at $739K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

7 new listings: 1667 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/2.5 $439K, 1339 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $540K, 1774 Bunting Ln 3/2 $659K, 1068 White Ibis Dr 3/3 $759K, 940 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 $948K, 5633 Baltusrol Ct 4/4.5 $1.949M, 1314 Seaspray Ln 5/5.5 $6.995M.

13 price changes: 1684 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $489.5K; 430 Old Trail Rd 3/2.5 now $547K; 1536 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $588,595; 433 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $629K; 678 Durion Ct 3/2 now $649K; 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $799K; 5659 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 now $800K; 1010 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 now $997K; 2857 Wulfert Rd 4/5 now $1.199M; 1671 Hibiscus Dr 5/3 now $1.249M; 1133 Golden Olive Ct 3/3.5 now $2.269M; 3009 Turtle Gait Ln 4/4.5 now $2.595M; 5145 Joewood Dr 5/4.5 now $2.75M.

6 new sales: 1458 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex listed at $489.9K, 4619 Brainard Bayou Rd 3/2 listed at $595K, 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 listed at $958.5K, 2739 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 listed at $1.375M, 228 Violet Dr 4/2/2 listed at $1.749M, 5618 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/2 listed at $2.195M.

7 closed sales: 401 Raintree Pl 3/1.5 412.5K; 1558 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $565K (our listing & sale); 238 Daniel Dr 3/2 $747,126; 245 Christofer Ct 3/2 $750K; 1121 Skiff Pl 3/3 $985K; 526 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $995K; 572 Kinzie Island Ct 5/5 $2.15M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1331 Par View Dr $349K.

1 price change: 1837 Buckthorn Ln now $599K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Lands End Village #1667 2/2 now $1.189M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #4212 1/2 $345K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 15000 Binder Dr 3/2 $1.325M, 16801 Captiva Dr 5/5 $2.295M, 16531 Captiva Dr 8/8 $2.85M.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: 11509 Chapin Ln 4/4 $1.325M, 11559 Laika Ln 2/2/2 $4.25M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, enjoy your weekend!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Pre-Halloween Happenings & Good Real Estate Action at SanibelSusan Realty

Posted on October 25, 2019 by SanibelSusan

It’s SanibelSusan with another report about island real estate and happenings. Another sunny blue-sky Friday it is with local temperatures again expected to be record setting (low 90’s). The calendar says fall, but it still sure feels like summer.

Upcoming Events

As the roadways continue to fill up, the island events calendar also is in full swing. Below are some happenings scheduled this weekend, but first a photo taken this morning at Sanibel’s Pond Apple Park. Thanks to Yves-Pascal and Susanna for sharing. Look closely, they said they saw about 12 baby gators. They are cute when they are this size!

Island Paw’s 15^th Annual Howl-O-Ween – Today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Over Easy Café Patio with pet costume contest & fundraiser to benefit Flying Fur Animal Rescue.

11^th Annual F.I.S.H. 10K Race – tomorrow, Saturday, Oct 26, race starts at 7:30 a.m. & finishes at The Community House. Sign-ups begin at 6:30 a.m. (SanibelSusan again is the volunteer guard for any vehicles entering/exiting Sanibel Square. Other Realtors® & Rotary volunteers will be on safety patrol at other driveway intersections along the route.) During the 10K Road Race, a Kids Race (up to age 10) will take place at the Sanibel Community Park (across the street from our office). The Kids Race is just for fun with all participating children to receive a ribbon and treat from Joey’s Custard.

34^th Annual Bailey Fest – Sunday, Oct 27 from noon until 4 p.m. at Bailey’s Center. Free & open to the public, this is the Center’s annual thank you to their patrons. Festivities include parade featuring the king and queen from the Sanibel School (winners of the essay contest, “What Sanibel Means To Me”) & stage performances by the school’s steel drum band & elementary choir performing. Free food, pony rides, water slide, giveaways, games, & more.

Red Tide Update

The red tide reported in last week’s blog was short-lived, thank goodness. When I received two offers Sunday afternoon about the same time that social media was posting reports of bad smells and photos of fish washing up on the beach, I thought we might be in trouble. But, by Monday the worst of it was gone and most beaches were back to normal. Those darn red tide occurrences can be as unpredictable as shelling. Whenever there is a change in the weather or wind direction, it can affect what comes ashore. Some of what came ashore last week was red drift algae which as mentioned in earlier updates, is not the same as red tide. Last week’s red tide event was likely from an upwelling of nutrients from the ocean floor from recent gulf storms that triggered the algae blooms – a natural event that sometimes comes at the most inopportune time.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission website posts the last eight days of their test results on their on-line map. Yesterday, that map showed just three spots of high red tide readings in Florida. Those were in the middle of Pine Island Sound between Captiva/North Captiva and St. James City. Today, Lighthouse Beach was also tagged as an area with high readings. Some medium readings were shown sporadically in a few areas from North Captiva to Marco Island Beach. Most Florida areas showed low to no evidence.

At West Wind Inn

This afternoon, I stopped at West Wind Inn’s Normandie Seaside Café for a quick lunch and to check the beach there. Though the wind was blowing on shore, I did not notice any smell or have any eye or throat irritation. The gulf was a little stirred up from the breeze, but there were swimmers in the water and pelicans diving.

West Wind’s café and bar manager, Kim who faithfully posts the best pictures from the Upper Deck poolside was working inside the restaurant, training up a new employee. Got smiles out of them both. West Wind is a long-time favorite of both locals and visitors. Music most nights at the Upper Deck for sunset and consistent reasonable meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Photo below by Kim at the Upper Deck on Wednesday.

Smiling gals at Normandie Seaside Café. Kim on right, with new employee Marlaina on left.

Lee County Property Fraud Alert Service

It sure is scary to hear about the fraud occurring these days. The below article was posted on-line in August by attorney Kaylee Tuck with Henderson-Franklin.

“Did you know that liens can be filed on your real property without your knowledge or consent, even if they’re not valid? Did you know those liens can affect title to your property? Did you also know someone can create a fraudulent deed that gives your real property to someone else? It’s all very scary and, unfortunately, happens frequently. That’s why the Lee County Clerk of Courts recently launched a new Property Fraud Alert program.

“The Property Fraud Alert program is completely free and allows subscribers to register their name (or any name) into the fraud alert system, and the system will alert registered users within 48 hours if a document has been recorded with the name of a registered user. This system will allow early detection of potentially fraudulent activity, which allows property owners to act fast and avoid issues down the road.

“Why is the system so important? Property owners will never know if an official record has been recorded in their name or on their property if they are not consistently monitoring Lee County’s official records. The Property Fraud Alert system does the work for you. If you are a registered user, the system will email you if a document has been recorded with your name on it. The email will also give you a link to review the recorded document. If the document is fraudulent or a mistake has been made, you have the opportunity to take immediate action to fix the potentially fraudulent activity

“Are you ready to subscribe yet? If so, just go to this link: https://or.leeclerk.org/LandMarkWeb/FraudAlert.

Enter the name of the person or business you want to monitor and the email address where you would like to receive the alerts. You can monitor as many names as you wish.

“Tips for subscribing: Use a personal email address that you check regularly. This system can’t help if alerts aren’t received. Register your name as follows:

First and Last
First, Middle, and Last
First, Middle Initial, and Last

“The system will only notify the registered user if the name on the recorded document exactly matches the registered name. Make sure to register multiple variations of your name.

“Register yourself and other family members. There is no limit for how many names you choose to monitor, so keep an eye on yourself and your family.

“If you think you are a victim of a fraudulently recorded document, contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office fraud line at 239-258-3292 or by email at fraudline@sheriffleefl.org. You may also wish to contact an attorney to determine whether you should take legal action to undo the fraudulent recording.”

Sanibel’s Leaders Working for All of Us

Yesterday, City councilor and friend Holly Smith returned from her trip this week to the Capitol. She was there as part of the Florida League of Cities for an event called FAST (Federal Action Strike Team) Federal Fly-in to Washington DC. Sanibel’s City leaders sure work hard for us. Thank you, Holly!

Below is some info from her Facebook post:

Port St Lucie Councilor Jolien Caraballo Congressman Brian Mast

Florida water warriors. East coast & west coast working together. Holly on the right, with Port St Lucie Councilor Jolien Caraballo & Florida Congressman Brian Mast in the center.

“I am part of the FAST Committee for the Florida League of Cities. About 55 Elected Officials from around the State work together in unified and diverse voices – we don’t wear our political affiliations on our sleeves -speaking to our outlined 2020 legislative priorities. This is a non-partisan advocacy trip to meet with various White House Departments, FL Congresswomen, FL Congressmen and our esteemed FL Senators Rubio and Scott to discuss and bring to attention these vital Federally-regulated issues.”

In addition to Holly, other Lee County municipally-elected officials participating included City of Fort Myers Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, Village of Estero Mayor Bill Ribble, and Bonita Springs Councilman Fred Forbes, joined by a group of elected advocates. Here posting continued with:

“Our 2020 priorities (not in particular order) included:

“1. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) – We Floridians basically pay 3:1 or 4:1 Nationally. You all see your premiums increase. The Citizens of Florida should not bear the financial weight of National disasters. Our Ask – A long-term reauthorization NFIP package which provides affordability for existing and future policy holders, accurate flood mapping, resiliency incentives.

“2. Cyber Security – We have all seen the number of municipalities and private sector hit by Cyberattacks and held for ransom. This can and has been crippling and/or expensive to those compromised. We support Federal funding for technical assistance, threat assessments, employee training, infrastructure improvements and data protection to help cities be better prepared for the next cyberattack.

“3. ADA Compliance for Municipal Websites – I was the spokesperson to this issue for my group. There is a cottage industry of litigation throughout Florida stemming from unclear accessibility standards for Website ADA Compliance. I can speak from personal experience to this matter. Public and private sector entity websites across the state have seen a steady increase in legal claims. It’s a racket – settle for a specified amount – then no follow up. We need the DOJ to clarify the rules on Website Accessibility Standards. It was initiated – then halted. Let’s get this vague language eliminated and have rules of specificity we can all comply with. Also allow for a period to cure rather than awarding these unscrupulous attorneys to benefit unjustly. Some municipalities have literally had to shut down their public websites as they are unable to afford the cost of litigation

“4. Investing in Infrastructure, Water Supply and Water Quality – through grants, low-interest loans and technical Assistance. An estimated 48.71 Billion is needed over the next 30 years to meet the needs for drinking water, wastewater, flood control, nutrient pollution, Everglades Restoration and beach/inlet erosion. I don’t have to tell you how proactive Sanibel is in this priority. Mayor Kevin Ruane, Director James Evans, and I return to DC on Sunday to directly advocate for our Cities priorities.

“Other priorities included transportation infrastructure, broadband infrastructure funding opportunities, federal preemption of small wireless infrastructure deployment (meaning providers can now put up a structure in local rights of way without much, if any restrictions- so not right), advance refunding on municipal bonds, and Risk Rating 2.0 (urging FEMA to provide more details to better comprehend the impacts to Floridians).

“We also can claim victory as President Trump just approved one of our priorities: To approve a Category B reimbursement to offset the costs to local Governments incurred for emergency protective measures!

“Very grateful to all of our Federal Partners and Federal Elected Officials who were generous with their time and look forward to their efforts in helping us move these priorities forward. STAY TUNED!”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 18-25, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Sundial #F205 1/1 $429K, Loggerhead Cay #332 2/2 $549K, Loggerhead Cay #263 2/2 $665K, Villa Sanibel #3A 2/2 $689K, Sand Pointe #212 2/2 $739K.

3 price changes: Sanibel Arms #D7 1/1 now $389K, Mariner Pointe #1052 2/2 now $519.9K, Cyprina Beach #1 3/3 now $1.395M.

2 new sales: Sanibel Arms West #E2 2/2 listed at $849K (our listing), White Pelican #114 2/2 listed at $850K.

3 closed sales: Sanibel Arms West #I1 2/2 $529K, Sunset South #6B 2/2 $538.6K, Gulfside Place #305 2/2 $1.15M.

HOMES

5 new listings: 1027 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $499K, 1925 Roseate Ln 2/2 $669K, 5672 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $715K, 979 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 $995K, 2268 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 $1.995M.

11 price changes: 1401 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex now $499.9K; 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $575K; 707 Cardium St 3/2 now $729K; 788 Nerita St 3/3 now $887K; 1244 Par View Dr 4/3 now $899K; 829 Birdie View Pt 4/3.5 now $1.08M; 815 Limpet Dr 3/3 now $1.699M; 4809 Tradewinds Dr 3/3.5 now $1.875M; 2391 Shop Rd 3/2.5 now $1.997M; 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/6/3 now $2,999,999; 4709 Rue belle Mer 3/2 now $3.225M.

1 new sale: 572 Kinzie Island Ct 5/5 listed at $2.15M.

3 closed sales: 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 $485K, 1119 Seagrape Ln 2/1 $689K, 4080 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $955K (our buyer).

LOTS

1 new listing: 6008 White Heron Ln $899K.

No price change or new sales.

1 closed sale: 5737 Baltusrol Ct $280K (our listing).

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listing.

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3220 1/1 now $335K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

Happy Halloween next week! SanibelSusan still is trying to come up with an outfit for the Realtors® Thursday Morning Caravan Meeting (& costume contest). Wish me luck!

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

It’s a Colorful Time… Vivid Rosy Bougainvillea, “Pink Out”, & …

Posted on October 18, 2019 by SanibelSusan

Happy Friday, everyone! Following another sunny week on Sanibel Island, rain is expected to begin here soon. The tropical storm passing in the northern Gulf of Mexico is forecast to produce scattered showers over SW Florida into tomorrow afternoon. We need the rain.

Dry late fall weather usually gets bougainvillea trees and bushes blooming. Below are some that I noticed on my ride home last night. They are at the Pointe Santo entrance.

Mine at home are starting to pop out too. This photo from Nov 2018.

Red Tide

The news that I don’t like reporting is that locals and visitors are in a tizzy about red tide. The City’s panoramic aerials posted Tuesday afternoon (link here), show such a huge difference in how the water looks now compared to last year at this time, that was it heartbreaking to read that the Marine Lab had done local testing and found presence of the red tide organism in some areas. Below is the message posted Tuesday night on social media by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation:

“Research scientists from SCCF’s Marine Lab took water samples on a short cruise today on the lower Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico. They found Karenia brevis, the organism that blooms into red tide, present at all sites sampled. The maximum concentration they found was 880,000 cells/liter two miles offshore of Tarpon Bay Rd Beach on Sanibel. Levels higher than 100,000 can result in fish kills and respiratory irritation in humans. Next week, they will do a more expansive cruise into the Gulf from North Captiva Island to Sanibel. Stay tuned for ongoing updates.”

That posting sparked some questions, so they further clarified saying: “Our Marine Lab’s testing is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant to study harmful algal blooms (HABs). The NSF grant is intended to investigate how the intensity of red tide blooms is “related to nutrients in freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee, a large inland lake in south-central Florida that is managed for flood prevention.” The research will contribute to the lack of “strong scientific evidence to support the connection between the red tide and Lake Okeechobee water releases.” The objective of the project is to provide water quality data prior to and throughout major freshwater releases. These data will provide insight into cause-and-effect relationships between freshwater releases, and algal blooms.”

With SCCF reporting the highest number of organisms around the island off the beach at the end of Tarpon Bay Road, it is not surprising that this same area produced complaints, both yesterday and today, from beachgoers experiencing respiratory irritations. Some marine life also has washed ashore. Teammate Dave reported a noticeable smell on his drive over the causeway last night.

As a reminder, there had been no releases from Lake O all summer until just over a week ago when small releases were sent this direction to dilute the salinity in the estuary. This was to help the health of seagrasses in areas that had not received rain in recent weeks.

Prior to these reports, recent red tide incidents were mostly further south in the Naples/Marco Island area. Not a good omen for things to get better soon is the forecast for winds from the south all weekend.

Annual Meeting Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Yesterday was the annual meeting of the islands’ Association of Realtors®. Congratulations to newly elected board members, Realtors® Greg Demaras, Mike McMurray, and Janka Varmusa. With over 250 Realtor® members and nearly 150 Affiliate members, the Sanibel & Captiva Association is vibrant healthy and ready for “season”.

Caravan meetings will continue Thursday mornings biweekly until the end of the month, when we celebrate Halloween (costume contest) and revert to the “season” weekly schedule rotating from East End to West End. All winter you can expect to see Open Houses on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon. City rules allow only two open houses a month, up to 4-hours each, while Association MLS rules allow only one Caravan Open House every six months. You can be sure that we follow the rules and also try to schedule these events when they produce the most results.

Between now and the end of the year, the Association will continue to collect non-perishable food for the F.I.S.H. food pantry. Since Hurricane Irma and the water quality issues last year, local food needs have increased with supplies depleting quickly. Members and friends are encouraged to bring donations to either the Association of Realtors® Office at 2353 Periwinkle Way, Suite 201 (over Finnimore’s Cycle) or at F.I.S.H. at 2430-B Periwinkle Way (behind Bleu Rendez-Vous Bistro). The F.I.S.H. Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

After work on November 14, the Association will hold its annual “Fall Into Christmas” fundraiser for local charity “Friends Who Care”.

At SanibelSusan Realty Associates

The Association’s new Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provider offers a variety of new reports and advertising opportunities. Yesterday, Elise mailed our team’s monthly summary progress report letters which included the Islands’ 3^rd Quarter Market Report. Lingering evidence of the market downturn from the water problems last year remains.

Below is an update of Sanibel’s inventory today. As the island gets busier, likewise, more listings come on the market every day. Both number of sales and average sale prices are off, even when compared to last year. That could change last quarter which is when we see the most sales to those wanting to winter in paradise or benefit from owning in 2020. For arriving buyers, there is plenty of good well-priced inventory for them.

Sanibel Inventory
	Condos			Homes			Lots
Status	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM
For sale	108	839,859	196	142	1,338,771	171	67	730,723	442
Under contract	9	861,322	128	23	886,254	106	3	321,333	74
Sold 2019 thru 10/18	101	667,163	151	172	972,271	173	12	392,333	816
Sold 2018	155	720,617	172	218	1,112,748	162	21	602,095	240
Sold 2017	140	728,793	188	186	1,004,237	163	32	327,229	504

Event Reminders

31^st Annual “Ding” Darling Day – Free Family Fun Day – Sunday, Oct 20, all day beginning at 8 a.m. More info at www.DingDarlingDays.com

8^th Annual “Let’s Pink Out” – Thursday, Oct 24, Breast Cancer Awareness Celebration & Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sanibel Fire & Rescue District Station #1 on Palm Ridge Road. Saturdays, all month, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Pink Out” volunteers are bagging groceries at Bailey’s for tips. Donations collected go to F.I.S.H. to help those in the community with cancer-related needs.

Rising Financial Wealth Boosts Demand for Vacation Homes

As the instructor for the local class on the Resort & 2^nd Home Market, I carefully follow the statistics published by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and their newsletter from the RSPS (Resort & 2^nd-Home Property Specialist) group. Here are some excerpts from an article they published on Oct 10, 2019:

“Increased financial wealth and low mortgage rates boosted the demand for and price of vacation homes, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2019 U.S. Vacation Home Counties Report, https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/us-vacation-home-counties.

“Between 2013 to 2018, the median sales price in vacation home counties increased at a slightly higher pace of 36% compared to the pace of increase of all existing and new homes sold,1 at 31%. Median price increases occurred across both expensive and inexpensive areas. The counties with the highest price increases during this five-year span were in three states: Pennsylvania, which includes Pike and Monroe counties; Wisconsin, which contains Price and Washburn counties; and Massachusetts, which includes Nantucket.

“Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, says the present figures are telling, especially when compared to data from 10 years prior. “As of 2018, household net worth reached an all-time high of $100.3 trillion – that’s nearly double from a decade ago when wealth declined during the recession. Some of this tremendous growth in wealth, although concentrated, increased demand for vacation homes.”

“Although most homebuyers purchase their residence with an intent to use the property as a primary home, that is not the case for all buyers. In fact, a portion of homeowners purchase a second home expecting to use it as a general family vacation spot, as a tenant rental, a means to gain equity, or – upon retirement – a future primary residence….”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 11 – 18, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

7 new listings: Blind Pass #F204 2/2.5 $455K; Sanibel Arms West #I7 2/2 $579K; Cottage Colony West #102 1/1 $609,906; Sanibel Surfside #132 2/2 $925K; Sundial #K402 2/2 $1.1899M; Compass Point #181 2/3 $1.195M, Pointe Santo #E24 3/2 $1.425M.

4 price changes: Compass Point #221 2/2 now $695K, Loggerhead Cay #553 2/2 now $699K, Yacht Haven #4 3/2 now $869K, Gulfside Place #222 2/2 now $1.395M (our listing, photos below).

1 new sale: Wedgewood #305 3/3.5 listed at $1.495M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

4 new listings: 1356 Jamaica Dr 2/1.5 $587K, 6033 Dinkins Lake Rd 3/3.5 $799K, 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $897K, 261 Ferry Landing 2/2 half-duplex $1.095M.

7 price changes: 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $575K, 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 now $669K, 1559 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $715K, 707 Cardium St 3/2 now $729K, 1667 Venus Dr 3/2 now $1.1M, 1307 Par View Dr 3/3 now $1.149M, 2964 Wulfert Rd 5/5.5 now $3.699M.

3 new sales: 335 Cowry Ct 4/3.5 listed at $799.9K, 9094 Mockingbird Dr 4/3.5 listed at $895K, 836 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2/2 listed at $1.295M.

5 closed sales: 970 Greenwood Ct 3/2.5 half-duplex $398.5K, 1441 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $639K, 2719 Wulfert Rd 4/4/2 $1.2M, 1136 Golden Olive Ct 4/4.5 $2.51M, 2915 Wulfert Rd 5/6.5 $2.7225M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 4538 Bowen Bayou Rd now $220K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5234 1/2 $415K.

1 price change: Beach Homes #2 3/2 now $1.899M.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11515 Gore Ln 5/4.5 $2.45M.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 14981 Binder Dr 3/3 $957K.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

A Sunny Warm Grateful Friday on Sanibel Island

Posted on September 6, 2019 by SanibelSusan

It is SusanSusan reporting that all is well on Sanibel after a fearful few days of Dorian-watching. It certainly was heart-breaking to see the devastation in the Bahamas. The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® has teamed with the Over Easy Café and is a drop-off point for Bahamas donations. The first two days of contributions at Over Easy have already been delivered to their next destination, with collections continuing for at least another week.

As probably expected, the holiday weekend here turned into a bust with many visitors/vacationers opting to cancel their plans. There has been very little traffic on Periwinkle all week. Some pretty spectacular sunrises and sunsets, though.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Though a quiet week, the team and I were happy to get a new listing in Sanibel Bayous over the weekend. Then, on Tuesday, teammate Dave got all of our listing “for sale” signs back in place.

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® transition to their new Multiple Listing Service continues for the second week with kinks continuing to be worked out as the system and its reports are fine-tuned to our geographic areas. If you previously received automatic email updates about a particular property type, those databases did not convert with the transition, but I am s-l-o-w-l-y setting up new searches so that you will begin receiving listings again.

The new system offers a Collaboration Center where both prospective buyers and sellers may access the system, make changes to their search criteria, save favorite listings, delete others, and request additional information. If you would like your email address to be set up for a search followed by automatic notifications, just let us know.

Mid-week, Dave and I visited a couple of condos at Sundial Resort. It was surprising to see so few vehicles there, but like at other complexes in September, associations are making good use of the downtime. At Sundial West, the building walkways and stairs were being pressure washed.

At our listing at Sanibel Arms West, the building is being painted this month, with no rental bookings allowed until Oct 5. Showings still will be permitted, however, so we are trying to drum some up. It gets tough with income-producing properties to get access “in season”, so now is a good time for those investors to be looking.

View from Sanibel Arms West #E2

At the Caravan Meeting yesterday at the islands’ Association of Realtors®, there were few announcements, and no new listings were open for viewings. That break in the usual program provided a nice opportunity for me to pass along a couple of the “giving keys” that I purchased recently at the Florida Realtors® RPAC Jamboree. “Giving keys” are typical-looking house keys, but each is stamped with an inspirational word. Worn on a chain around your neck. “Giving keys” are to be enjoyed, then shared, by passing them along to someone else who also may be inspired by their message. I passed along three keys, “hope”, “trust”, and “strong” to Association members Kasey Albright, Megan Rose, and Mary Lou Bailey, encouraging them to also “pay them forward”.

After a couple of news items below, you will find an update of the activity posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service since last Friday.

Temporary Closings

The Chamber of Commerce has posted the below list of island temporary restaurant closures. As in past years, many take staff vacations now, do annual deep cleans, and fix-ups before “season”.

Restaurants	Closed
Blue Rendezvous French Bistro	Now through Oct
Blue Giraffe	Sep 2-16
Gramma Dot’s	Sep 3-26
Il Cielo	Now through Oct
Joey’s Custard	Sep 20-Oct 3
Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant	Month of Sep
Over Easy Café	Sep 9-19
Pecking Order	Closed Sundays thru Sep
Sand Dollar (Sanibel Island Beach Resort)	Breakfast only Dinner only Fri & Sat
Schnapper’s	Sep 3-16
Sweet Melissa’s	Sep 8-30
Traders	Sep 16-30
T2	Sep 16-30
Traditions	Closed Sundays thru Oct 20 Closed Sep 1-22, & Nov 16

Island Cinema – Also closed temporarily for annual maintenance is Island Cinema in the Bailey’s Shopping Center. It is closed all month and expects to reopen in early Oct.

Rosie’s Café & Grill is back. After a year-long absence Rosie’s reopened recently in its former location in Palm Ridge Place. The restaurant dates back a few decades when it went by the name Rosie’s Deli & Market and was on Sanibel’s east end. The 4^th generation of owners, Joanne Fitzgerald and Irving Gavin, bought the restaurant in 2009 when it was still on the east end. (Gavin is the son of Eugene, of the well-known Gavin family that settled on Sanibel in 1914.) The restaurant relocated to its current location, reopening in 2012 under the name Rosie’s Café & Grill. Currently serving breakfast and lunch; dinner will be available in-season starting in Nov. In addition to their former menu and Royal Scoop ice cream, Rosie’s now serves barbeque and soon will expand with a new bakery. Hours now are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tues through Sat.

Upcoming Events

Captiva Triathlon – is this weekend, Sat and Sun Sep 7 and 8. As a reminder, Captiva Drive will be closed tomorrow at 6:45 a.m. and remain closed until the bike segment of the race is complete. The USAT-sanctioned adult sprint triathlon is a ¼-mile swim, 10-mile bike, and 3.1-mile (5K) run on Captiva. The swim will be in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the bike will cover the length of Captiva on closed roads, and the run will be on the golf course path along the Gulf and Redfish Pass at South Seas Island Resort. On Sunday, there will be three age groups for the USAT National Splash n’ Dash race:

Ages 6-8: 100-yard swim, 0.5-mile run
Ages 9 & 10: 100-yard swim, 1-mile run
Ages 11-15: 200-yard swim, 1-mile run

The race is to benefit Community Cooperative’s Growing Healthy Kids and Mobile Food Pantry programs. More info at https://www.gearedup.biz/.

2^nd Annual Flip-Flop Family Scavenger Hunt – This Sanibel Sea School fundraiser will kick-off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct 5, at Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church at 2304 Periwinkle Way. At check-in, each scavenger team (up to eight individuals) will be given a book of clues and challenges, each worth a set number of points. Included are clues that could be easily solved by younger children. Through the hunt, participants will use their knowledge of the island, marine biology, and local folklore to earn points. Along the way, teams will visit several Sanibel locations, where they may be asked to take a photo or bring back a specific shell or artifact to prove the visit. The Sea School says, “The key to hosting a successful scavenger hunt is creating clues that can be solved by anyone in the family, no matter their age.” The event is expected to be completed by 3 p.m. At the finish line check-in station, staff will tally all points collected by each team. Those teams will be able to “buy” letters with their points earned in order to solve the final puzzle. The team that solves the final puzzle correctly first will determine the winner, but that might not necessarily be the team that tallies the most points. Cost to participate is $25 per person. Participants must provide their own transportation. All proceeds will support the nonprofit’s scholarship fund which provides ocean experiences to thousands of area children each year. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.sanibelseaschool.org/flipflopfundraiser or by calling 239-472-8585.

Annual CROW Classic Golf Tournament – Also on Saturday, Oct 5 at The Sanctuary is the annual CROW Classic Golf Tournament. Shotgun starts at 12:30 p.m. with check-in at 11 a.m. and lunch at 11:30. Player registration is open to 100 golfers. It features 18 holes, a helicopter ball drop, and chances to score prizes. Players may sign up as a foursome, or as individuals and will be matched up as a team. All of the proceeds from the tournament will benefit the animals at CROW, their care, public education, training, etc. The community is encouraged to sign up to play or purchase some helicopter balls. Players can register to play (through Sep 16) and players/non-players can purchase balls (through Oct 3) at www.CROWClinic.org.

Positive Trends for Florida Real Estate

Posted yesterday on LinkedIn by local Realtor® colleague Wendy Humphrey with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty:

“SALT, the cap on state and local tax deductions, is likely to lead to a Florida population boom according to estimates from Demographic Estimating Conference.

“The controversial $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions encourages moving cash from high tax northern states to lower-tax states like Florida while it remains in effect. It is due to expire in 2025.

“Then there’s actually some relatively good news for Florida and other southern states regarding global warming.

“Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which examines annual temperatures for the U.S. indicates warming is very uneven with some states barely warming at all.

“Northeastern states and Utah, Colorado and Wyoming have experienced extreme warming while many southern states have experience little change. Some have even cooled slightly. Florida has seen slight to moderate change. For the full report go to The Washington Post of August 13, 2019.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 30 – September 6, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Ibis at The Sanctuary #B102 2/2 $489K, Sanddollar #A101 2/2 $1.25M, Sundial #E108 3/2 $1.3M, Cyprina Beach #1 3/3 $1.45M.

No price changes or new sales.

2 closed sales: Seashells #42 2/2 $375K, Bandy Beach #B101 3/2 $1.185M.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1203 Kittiwake Cir 3/2.5 $539K, 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 $599K.

3 price changes: 9195 Dimmick Dr 2/2 now $424K, 430 Old Trail Rd 3/2.5 now $599K, 743 Windlass way 3/2 now $669K.

2 new sales: 1305 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 listed at $998.5K, 2915 Wulfert Rd 5/.5 listed at $2.875M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Lot at 4566 Buck Key Rd in Sanibel Bayous

1 new listing: 4566 Buck Key Rd $149K (our listing).

2 price changes: 1219 Par View Dr now $299K, 1305 Seaspray Ln now $599K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 11530 Laika Ln 4/4 $1.797M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, wishing everyone a great weekend & week,

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

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Temporary Restaurant Closings

Fall Weather on Sanibel

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 17-24, 2021

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Island Real Estate

The Sanibel School

Sanibel Causeway Toll Facility Maintenance Work

TRIM Notices Coming Soon

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Tarpon Bay Brings Back Breakfast Cruise & Touch Tank

Captiva Beach Renourishment Project Update

Sanibel Recreation Center

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 30 – August 6, 2021

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Regarding COVID-19

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Four Florida Beaches Make List of USA’s Most Charming Beach Towns

‘Ding’ Darling Free Lecture Series Moving to Community House for 2021

Salt Pulping on Wood Pilings

Salt Damage to Wood

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 31-August 7, 2020

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Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Florida’s Remote Notary Law

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Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity May 1-8, 2020

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Sanibel City Proclamation Re: Covid-19

Real Estate Happenings

Social-Distancing Together in April 2020

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 24-May 1, 2020

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Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® Installation of 2020 Officers & Awards Breakfast

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Outside-the-Box Mortgage Solutions

Joanna Gaines: Keep These Tacky Items Out Of The House

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity January 10-17, 2020

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Upcoming Events

Red Tide Update

At West Wind Inn

Lee County Property Fraud Alert Service

Sanibel’s Leaders Working for All of Us

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 18-25, 2019

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Red Tide

Annual Meeting Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

At SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Event Reminders

Rising Financial Wealth Boosts Demand for Vacation Homes

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 11 – 18, 2019

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SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Temporary Closings

Upcoming Events

Positive Trends for Florida Real Estate

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 30 – September 6, 2019

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