SanibelSusan here reporting more beautiful weather on sunny Sanibel Island. The beaches, bike paths, roadways, shops and restaurants continue to be filled with happy visitors and vacationers. Families on spring break are on the island this week, with more to arrive over the weekend as other states begin their school vacations. There are a few weary business folks looking forward to Easter being early this year, but at SanibelSusan Realty, we have our second wind and look forward to more “season” action.
The beach looks great and many were out enjoying it today. On my way back to the office this afternoon I stopped to take these photos at the Fulgur Street beach access. It was a breezy 81 degrees at 1 p.m.
Where Is the Great White Pelican Now?
As follow-up to last week’s blog, this week it was reported that The Great White Pelican spotted at “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge from Feb 28 to Mar 1 has not been seen since. It may still be there, or moved on.
Congratulations to the birders and photographers that did capture sight of what they say is the “rarest” bird ever spotted at the refuge. It was ~4000 miles away from its native range.
Sanibel – The Smartest City in Florida
I almost hesitate to write that the island made it to the “top” of another list, but why not. Sanibel Land Development Code only allows so much building and the infra-structure can only support so many vehicles, so why not toot Sanibel’s horn again?
Sanibel not only tops international and national lists for best family vacations, shelling, beaches, biking, healthy living, and schools, but now it also is Florida’s smartest city – or so says an article posted on Zippia 
which is a career oriented web site (https://www.zippia.com/advice/smartest-cities-in-florida/). According to their recent article:
“These Are The 10 Smartest Cities In Florida…
- Sanibel
- Neptune Beach
- Gulf Breeze
- Key Biscayne
- Palm Beach
- Longboat Key
- Islamorada
- Cocoa Beach
- Parkland
- Maitland”
Robots Can’t Replace REALTORS®
Good article posted on line at Realtor®Mag on Tuesday – sums my thoughts about the new wave in this real estate business.
“New technological advancements will never supply the human factor consumers need in the transaction.
“Every day, there’s a new threat to the way real estate professionals do business. There’s always a startup looking to rope in a chunk of the home-buying market by promising to undercut standard agent commission rates or even offering an online transaction platform that bypasses the need for an agent altogether….
“And there’s the advent of virtual reality in the real estate space, which has designs on offering consumers a fuller home-shopping experience with a virtual guide online.
“We’re only at the beginning of this transformative age where new technology and business models seek to reform the traditional real estate industry, hoping to gain the first mover advantage that comes with being the latest innovative brand. The rise of Redfin and even newer startups boasting other revolutionary models is an indication that the ranks of disruptors aiming to be game changers in the real estate space is only increasing.
“Despite their strong efforts, a total reboot of how real estate is done won’t happen quickly, and today’s top real estate companies won’t lose their command of market share anytime soon. But these newer “Walmart brokerages” — which grab attention with low prices and buyer kickbacks and operate with the advantage of a monstrous scale of resources — are putting change in the air and luring market share. How long can individual agents and brokers compete? Will they eventually have to throw in the towel? … New technology will only be able to make limited inroads into gaining consumer trust in managing the most important transaction of their lives.
“That’s where REALTORS® have won the game for years.
“Real estate continues to be — and will always be — a relationship-centric business. So practitioners must never underestimate the importance of the human factor in the transaction, and that’s where we need to master our skills the most. That cannot be replaced by algorithms and technology platforms, and drastic discounts on commissions aren’t enough to maintain a high quality of service. The professionals who will adapt most successfully to the changing landscape will be the ones who fulfill their role as a trusted guide and fierce guardian of their clients’ interests, not simply as a salesperson who just happens to be administering a transaction. These are some of the most crucial skills we need to master right now:
“High ethical standards: The Code of Ethics is the most powerful tool we have to differentiate ourselves from the competition today. Purchasing real estate will continue to be the most important transaction in the lives of consumers, so convincing to them to work with you requires demonstrating a strong sense of integrity and loyalty. You must fulfill a crucial role acting as both an honest professional to the public as well as a trusted guardian of your clients’ core interests. Now is an important time to live by the Code more than ever.
“Beyond fact and figures: Consumers are better informed about the real estate process than ever before because of the availability of information online. So while it’s even more necessary for you to know market statistics like the back of your hand in order to compete, you also have to focus on the skills that a computer can’t perform for a consumer: negotiating, understanding the nuances of sensitive situations, and conflict resolution. We have to be better at the relationship-building part to show our clients that a positive transaction requires some with social intuition, which cannot be replaces by technology.
“Understanding the technology that threatens us: Technology is changing the way everyone lives, and we can’t continue operating our businesses like it’s not. We must understand that the magnitude of change that we have seen in the industry is only beginning. So we need to be better prepared for it by continually updating our knowledge of new technologies and concepts, and finding the piece of the puzzle these advancements can’t perform better than a human. By understanding the methods and incentives which are driving these new challenges, we can adapt our business models to address new demands and survive in the industry of tomorrow.
“None of this is to say that a portion of us won’t lose to new technology. Part-time agents who don’t commit themselves to education and keeping their business up-to-date will likely fall to the wayside and be unable to sustain a business. Those who lack a strong work ethic or fail to focus on self-improvement will face increasing difficulties in earning a living as the traditional industry model faces an increasing barrage of threats.
Those of you who manage to survive and thrive in the real estate industry of the future will be the ones who have earned it.”
Sea School’s Octifest Celebrates 10 Years of Ocean Education
The “Santiva Chronicle” recently posted the below article about Sanibel Sea School. That was a fast 10 years!
“Octifest on the Beach, Sanibel Sea School’s annual ocean celebration and fundraiser, will once again be held bayside on Causeway Island A on Saturday, March 19.
“This year’s celebration marks 10 years of ocean education and outreach on Sanibel by the nonprofit marine conservation foundation.
““It’s really incredible to look back at the past decade and consider how much our organization has grown,” says Dr. Bruce Neill, who opened Sanibel Sea School in 2006 with his wife, Evelyn Monroe Neill.
“What started as a tiny school offering ocean-themed day classes for kids now also offers summer camps, boat trips, adult programs, and more – and all outings are field-based, so students build meaningful connections with the marine environment while getting their feet wet, and leave feeling inspired to be better stewards of our seas.
“Sanibel Sea School has also forged strong partnerships with local organizations including the Heights Foundation, Pine Manor Improvement Association, and Gladiolus Center for Learning and Development, bringing hundreds of at-risk kids to experience the wonders of the ocean and its inhabitants each year.
““We call them our landlocked kids,” says Neill, “they live just a few miles from the coast, but some have never set foot on the beach. Showing these kids a seahorse or a manatee for the first time is pure magic – it opens their minds to a whole new world.”
“It is thanks to support from the local community that Sanibel Sea School is able to provide these outreach programs, which are fully funded by donors. Octifest is the largest source of funds for the organization each year.
““We hope you will come out to enjoy the sunset, eat a delicious meal, and help us continue to do great things for our oceans and our kids,” Neill says.
“Sanibel Sea School is a marine conservation nonprofit whose mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time. To learn more about Octifest or to purchase tickets, visit octifest.org or call 239-472-8585.”
Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity March 4-11, 2016
Sanibel
CONDOS
3 new listings: Sundial West #G404 2/2 $559K, Sundial West $A205 2/2 $829K, Tanglewood #1A 3/2 $1.299M.
8 price changes: Sanibel Arms #F2 1/1 now $559K, Sanibel Siesta #402 2/2 now $559K, Coquina Beach #2C 2/2 now $659.9K, Heron at The Sanctuary II #2B 3/3.5 now $665K, Sanddollar #A104 2/2 now $779K, Pointe Santo #C41 2/2 now $815K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 now $819K, Sanibel Seaview #A1 3/3 now $1.199M.
3 new sales: Sanibel Arms West #J4 2/2 listed at $429K, Sunset South #4C 2/2 listed at $784K, West Shore #3 3/3 listed at $1.699M.
3 closed sales: Sandpiper Beach 3101 2/2 $765K (our listing), Heron at The Sanctuary II #3B 3/2.5 $825K, Island Beach Club #350D 2/2 $1.025M.
HOMES
10 new listings: 1631 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex $479K, 693 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $589.9K, 5306 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 $635K, 1858 Farm Trail 3/2.5 $649K, 1478 Albatross Rd 3/2 $689K, 5279 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2 $695K, 526 N Yachtsman Dr 2/2 $1.079M, 169 Southwinds Dr 3/2 $1.249M, 2311 Starfish Ln 4/3 $1.395M, 6192 Henderson Rd 4/4 $2.05M.
13 price changes: 848 Rabbit Rd 3/2 now $379.9K; 9292 Belding Dr 3/2.5 now $464K; 1322 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $539K; 4452 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 now $639,999; 887 Casa Ybel Rd 5/3 duplex now $675K; 5303 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 now $699K; 1258 Par View Dr 3/2 now $749K; 1429 Jamaica Dr 3/3 now $799K; 1121 Skiff Pl 3/3 now $995K; 1740 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/3.5 now $1.16M; 830 Limpet Dr 4/4.5 now $1.545M; 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $2.297M; 5125 Joewood Dr 3/4 now $2.95M.
7 new sales: 3870 Coquina Dr 3/2 listed at $585K, 1216 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $779K, 5267 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $794K, 249 Daniel Dr 2/2.5 listed at $814.9K, 1270 Bay Dr 3/2 listed at $1.35M, 6011 Clam Bayou Ln 3/3 listed at $1.395M, 1688 Hibiscus Dr 3/4 listed at $1.849M.
7 closed sales: 9455 Calla Ct 3/3 $750K, 1525 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $755K, 979 Oyster Ct 2/2 $800K, 437 Lake Murex Cir 4/3 $852.5K, 3724 Agate Ct 3/3 $922K, 1555 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/2.5 $862.5K, 1503 San Carlos Bay Dr 4/4.5 $3.4M.
LOTS
2 new listings: 5847 Pine Tree Dr $379K, 6159 Starling Way $619K.
1 price change: 2626 Coconut Dr now $297K.
2 new sales: 255 Hurricane Ln listed at $339K, 3723 West Gulf Dr listed at $2.775M.
No closed sales.
Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Bayside Villas #4102 1/2 $305K.
1 price change: Gulf Beach Villas #2127 2/2 now $720K.
No new or closed sales.
HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sale: 11535 Wightman Ln 3/3 listed at $1.175M.
No closed sales.
LOTS
Nothing to report.
(This representation is based, in whole, or in part, on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® or its Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. The information provided represents general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.)
Here’s to another weekend of great beach weather!
Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan