Time to “Fall Back” to Temperatures Under the 80’s

Posted on November 5, 2021 by SanibelSusan

Today is one of those rare cloudy rain days on otherwise sunny Sanibel. Forecasters say that rain bands are bringing a cold front. I can attest to that, as my car showed a temperature drop from 83 degrees F to 73 degrees F in the few minutes that it took me to drive home from the office last night. Clearing is expected tomorrow with weekend temperatures to remain in the low 70’s and below. By early next week, it will be back to sunny and warmer.

At SanibelSusan Realty, it has been busy this week. After our Mariner Pointe condo listing was open for Realtor® Caravan last week, we got two offers, then yesterday, we had our new listing at Sealoft Village open for Caravan. The action since last Friday posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below.

First, another good article by my favorite economist, Lawrence Yun. It came from the Fall 2021 “Realtor®” magazine. What he says is in-line with what I hear from clients across the country where renters now also are in multiple offer situations and bidding wars.

“Serious Squeeze on Renters

“U.S. needs to put attention on rental, first-time buyer markets.

“Just as the for-sale market is starting to moderate, the rental market is heating up, which will put added pressure on people trying to save for their first home. Rental listings are attracting multiple offers, and apartment vacancy rates are approaching record lows. Consequently, rents are set to soar.

“The reason is twofold. First, the jobs market is improving. Despite a disappointing August employment report, 85% of the 21 million jobs slashed during the first month of the pandemic lockdown have been recovered. Job openings have reached an all-time high of 10 million, and those who might have been sleeping in the basement of their parents’ house are emerging in search of housing.

“The second reason for strong rental demand is that many potential first-time buyers are priced out. The median existing-home sales price was up 25% year-over-year in June, though this is partly because high-end sales are up. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, a constant quality home price index, was up 18% over the same period. The gain has been a boon for owners but is causing serious anxiety for nonowners. Even near-record-low interest rates can’t compensate. It’s no surprise, then, that the number of mortgage applications to buy a home has been falling, along with the share of sales to first-time home buyers.

“Mortgage rates may further squeeze renters next year. The Federal Reserve will soon slow the pace of buying mortgage-backed securities and will certainly raise its benchmark interest rate next year, which may drive rates up to near 4% by the end of 2022. One bit of good news: Fannie Mae will soon consider rental payment history in qualifying borrowers. That will enlarge the pool of eligible buyers. But to ensure that housing costs remain manageable, America needs more homes, both for ownership and for rent. New construction alone won’t fill the need. Rehabbing dilapidated homes and repurposing commercial buildings into residential units – is essential. There is a massive housing shortage. All hands must be on deck to get the supply up.”

Veterans Day – Fee-Free on Wildlife Drive

In observance of Veterans Day, “Ding” Darling will waive entrance fees to Wildlife Dr on Thursday, Nov 11. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians all enter free-of-charge that day from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Check out the new entrance sign to “Ding” Darling too. It features those favored Roseate Spoonbills.

More Restaurant News

As a foodie, it’s always good to get the correct scoop on what’s happening on Sanibel. Here’s the article posted Nov 1 on “Gulfshore Business” by David Dorsey:

“Iconic Sanibel Restaurant, Matzaluna Closing, Rebranding Under New Ownership

“Two restaurant owners who are in different stages of their lives are connected as one expands and the other contracts their offerings on Sanibel Island. Matzaluna, an iconic restaurant on Sanibel Island, will be closing mid-November, ending a 27-year run.

“Local legendary restaurant owner Matt Asen is looking to downsize. And, a younger couple, Jeramie Campana and his wife, Debra Campana, transplanted from Chicago, is looking to boost its offerings of Sanibel restaurants.

”Asen, 69, has been feeding islands and tourists at the Timbers for 43 years. He also owns the Sanibel Grill and the Prawnbroker and the University Grill in Fort Myers. He opened Matzaluna at 1200 Periwinkle Way in 1994.

“Photographs of Asen with hundreds of celebrities adorn the walls at the Timbers. They range from presidents George W. and George H.W. Bush to basketball stars like Larry Bird and Reggie Miller to musicians, like Asen’s look-a-like, former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar.

“Asen will continue co-owning the Matzaluna building and property with three business partners while leasing it for the new concept.

“Retaining restaurant workers, supply-chain issues and aging and health issues combined for Asen to take a step back.

“Jeramie Campana plans to open an Italian-themed restaurant in the space currently occupied by iconic Sanibel restaurant Matzaluna, which will close after 27 years in mid-November.

““We had 27 years which in dog years is like 249, and restaurant years, it’s like a million,” Asen says. “At 27 years at Matzaluna, it’s successful. We’re going to get out while we’re still making money. And enjoy life a little more. I don’t want to be the richest man in the cemetery.”

Asen had spinal fusion surgery seven months ago. He’s back to walking without a cane. But at age 69, and his three partners ages 69, 76, and 79, Asen said the time was right. “It’s sort of sad,” Asen says. “But it’s time to move on and enjoy more than I do, and I enjoy life very much.”

“Asen said he was happy to lease the building to the Campanas, who grew up visiting Sanibel Island with her parents, who owned a timeshare. In 2017, they sold their catering business in the northern suburbs of Chicago and moved to Sanibel.

“It sort of reminds me when we were younger and full of energy and great hopes,” Asen said.

“The Campanas opened their first Sanibel restaurant, the Paper Fig Kitchen, in 2018 at 2003 Periwinkle Way. Since then, they have added 400 Rabbits, a Mexican-themed restaurant that opened last New Year’s Eve at 975 Rabbit Rd.

“Over the weekend, the Campanas opened Fig East End, a deli and convenience store at 359 Periwinkle Way. It has been an abandoned deli, and it’s the only place near the lighthouse and the east end of the island for beachgoers to buy ice.

“The former East End Deli,” Jeramie Campana says, “it’s been closed for a number of years now. We are revamping it. We opened two days ago. We’re bringing some stuff back to the east end that’s desperately needed.”

“Up next: Bamboo, a Pan-Asian-themed restaurant that will be at the former Il Tesoro location at 751 Tarpon Bay Road. It will be the only Asian-themed restaurant on the island. After that, the Campanas can turn their attention to the reopening Matzaluna under a new name yet to be revealed

“It will stay Italian,” Campana says. “It will stay family friendly, it will be place where locals can come and hang out around the bar, meet new people, meet locals and meet tourists. It really is a great spot continuing on that Matzaluna tradition for great Italian food for the island.”

“Campana has plans to revamp and upgrade the pizza offerings there. He and a business partner traveled to Chicago and met with some Italian pizza gurus. “We learned the proper way to do wood-fired pizzas,” Campana says. “Eventually, we’re going to offer Chicago-style pizzas as well. We’re going to make our own dough.”

“There wasn’t much of a debate in changing the Matzaluna name, Campana said. “Change it,” he says. “We need to make it our own. We’re just taking advantage of those opportunities.”

(Note: I confirmed yesterday with Jeramie Campana that it will be called Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, expected to open sometime in January.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 29 – November 5, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sanibel Arms West #J1 2/2 $679K.

1 price change: Sanctuary Golf Villages I #5-2 3/3 now $950K.

7 new sales: Captains Walk #B4 2/2 listed at $489.9K, Seashells #43 2/2 listed at $585K, Blind Pass #C207 2/2.5 listed at $618K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #A201 2/2 listed at $625K, Mariner Pointe #1061 2/2 listed at $724K (our listing), Lighthouse Point #325 2/2 listed at $1.1M, Pointe Santo #B46 2/2 listed at $1.395M.

View from Mariner Pointe #1061

6 closed sales: Blind Pass #C110 2/2 $539K, Blind Pass #A206 2/2 $565K, Lighthouse Point #214 2/2 $786K, Sandpiper Beach #404 2/2 $929K, Sanibel Arms West #F6 2/2 $1.007M, Sand Pointe #111 2/2 $1.121M.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

7 new sales: 696 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 listed at $868K, 4239 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 listed at $949K, 700 Birdie View Pt 3/2 listed at $985K, 4619 Bowen bayou Rd 3/2 listed at $996K, 5418 Osprey Ct 4/3.5 listed at $1.399M, 966 Whelk Dr 3/2 listed at $1.399M, 927 Kings Crown Dr 3/3.5 listed at $2.295M.

4 closed sales: 535 Birdsong Pl 3/2 $660K, 647 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $701.5K, 1294 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1M, 941 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 $1.361M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1084 S. Yachtsman Dr $699K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 4767 Tradewinds Dr listed at $2.295M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End Village #1659 2/2 $1.395M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Lands End Village #1663 2/2listed at $1.395M.

1 closed sale: Beach Homes #17 4/3 $3.45M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11529 Andy Rosse Ln 4/4 $2.55M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 16280 Captive Dr 6/6 listed at $8.9M.

1 closed sale: 11559 Laika Ln 4/3.5 $6,324,500.

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.

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

Don’t forget to “fall back” on Sunday!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Happy Halloween from The SanibelSusan Team

Posted on October 29, 2021 by SanibelSusan

It is Susan with another island weather and real estate update. It might be Friday, but the team is looking forward to another busy weekend.

At SanibelSusan Realty

Here in the office, we have had plenty of action. Through a team effort, that has taken a couple of years to come to fruition, Dave, Lisa, and I put a waterfront home under contract last weekend. That sale was chugging along when mid-week, there was an interesting twist. During that contract right-to-inspect/ cancellation period, the buyer decided to go after a different home that became available and better suits their family.

Situations like that can be challenging as a contract release/cancellation form should be completed for property #1, before a buyer commits to property #2 – otherwise they could be liable to buy both properties. Wed night, we got that done, so their new purchase is shown in the summary of Multiple Listing Service action posted after a couple of other items below. Though thankful for every sale, it is a special treat to have another big one. Dave will accompany those inspections tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed that they go well.

We also received a new condo listing on Tuesday. This transaction also has an interesting twist. Here, the existing community owners have a right-of-first-refusal to purchase any units that become available. These condos are the nine single-family free-standing homes in Sealoft Village. This community really feels more like a homeowner association, but with amenities like a condo association. I announced the new listing and explained the details on the right-of-first-refusal during the Realtor® Caravan that followed our island Association of Realtors® annual meeting yesterday morning.

(On a side note, it was great to see Association of Realtors® meeting room nearing capacity again. It has been a lot of months since we had that many of our members together. Congratulations to the incoming officers and board of directors for 2022. Three Realtors®, Kelly Huguenin, Becky Mulka, and Connie Walters, were elected to 3-year BOD terms. Our Association is financially sound and super healthy – even after the woes of the pandemic. Hooray!)

Following the annual meeting, our listing at Mariner Pointe #1061 was the only property open for viewing during the morning Caravan. We received good feedback and interest from several Realtors® that visited. Several showings already have resulted.
Being busy is just how we like it – so please contact The SanibelSusan Team if we may assist you.

Island Weather

While much of the U.S. has experienced some unusual weather this week, Sanibel and Captiva Islands have also. Most of the week was a continuation of beautiful fall sunshine with daytime temperatures mid- to low-80’s, until yesterday when we were surprised to received phone and internet alerts about several Florida counties – including this one – having tornado watches until 5 p.m. Thankfully, we didn’t receive any, but the arriving cool front brought high winds and lower temperatures.

There were a few serious showers late yesterday as the band passed through. Now there are warnings that we may need both long pants and long sleeves over the weekend. High temperatures tomorrow through Monday are expected to be only in the 70’s, with nights in the 60’s. It could be perfect Halloween weather!

The Fig East-End Is Open

Sanibel east-enders were happy this morning when Paper Fig Kitchen opened their new location at the former site of East End Deli across the street from Lighthouse Cafe. It is called The Fig East-End and is offering “beach eats, market, & take-along”.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 22-29, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Blind Pass #C207 2/2.5 $618K, Sealoft Village #109 2/2 $899K (our listing), Pointe Santo #B46 2/2 $1.395M.

1 price change: Donax Village #9 2/2 now $750K.

8 new sales: Spanish Cay #F4 2/2 listed at $575K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #B301 2/2 listed at $595K, Coquina Beach #3E 2/2 listed at $852K, Sanibel Surfside #213 2/2 listed at $899K, Pointe Santo #A21 2/2 listed at $1.15M, Sundial #R402 2/2 listed at $1.249M, Compass Point #133 3/2 listed at $1.595M, Pointe Santo #E37 3/2 listed at $1.699M.

5 closed sales: Blind Pass #C201 2/2 $565K, Blind Pass #A102 2/2 $602.5K, Seashells #16 2/2 $610K, Pointe Santo #D1 2/2 $815K, Nutmeg Village #109 2/2 $1.4M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 966 Whelk Dr 3/2 $1.399M.

1 price change: 2138 Egret Cir 3/2 half-duplex now $749.9K.

5 new sales: 773 Cardium St 2/2 listed at $685K, 1278 Sand Castle Rd 4/3 listed at $1.65M, 5633 Baltusrol Ct 4/4.5 listed at $2.1M, 737 Periwinkle way 3/3 listed at $2.1M, 2379 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 listed at $2.495M (our buyer).

4 closed sales: 1025 S. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $800K, 554 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $975K, 5880 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $1.31M, 1761 Venus Dr 4/3.5 $1.849M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 4767 Tradewinds Dr now $2.295M.

1 new sale: 5850 Sanibel-Captiva Rd listed at $499K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

3 new sales: Tennis Villas #3217 1/1 listed at $450K, Bayside Villas #4220 1/2 listed at $535K, Gulf Beach Villas #2122.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 15867 Captiva Dr 7/6 now $10.75M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Happy Halloween! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Raising Sanibel RPAC Dollars & Reporting on Turtles, Restaurants, Events, & More…

Posted on October 15, 2021 by SanibelSusan

SanibelSusan here reporting more blue skies and rain-free island weather this week. Daytime temperatures now are mostly in the mid-80’s, followed by nights dipping into the low 70’s. Roadways are getting busier as more snowbirds return.

As summer projects finish up, fall projects are underway in a few locations. At Pointe Santo, new roofs are going on, while at Mariner Pointe, their project is wrapping. On Captiva, their beach renourishment project is ahead of schedule, expected to complete later this month, while on the Sanibel causeway, work continues both on bridge repairs and the multi-year causeway improvement project.

In the world of real estate, there were a few more island listings this week. Sanibel now is up to 29 homes and 21 condos for sale. On Captiva, eight homes and three condos are available. There also were a few new sales and several closed sales.

After a couple of news items below are the details on the action since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

What’s Up With Sanibel-Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Wednesday after work was the 25^th Annual Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® End of Season Party and RPAC Auction. Usually held in the spring after the busy winter season, this year, the event again was delayed because of the pandemic. Though, it probably is accurate to say that “season” never really ended this year, it was great to socialize again in-person with colleagues. It had been almost two years since some of us had been together. Held at The Sanctuary, the event began with an afternoon golf tournament followed by the party with auction.

The final tally of RPAC dollars raised has yet to be announced, but the islands Association of Realtors® usually is the recipient of state awards for the goals they surpass and level of organization participation. (Awards from last year shown here.) Hopefully enough was received this year to garner a few more.

RPAC (Realtor® Political Action Committee) has been around since 1969 and promotes candidates who will protect and promote the real estate industry and individual property rights. From each dollar raised, 30% goes toward national issues through the National Association of Realtors®, 35% to Florida Realtors® for state issues, and 35% to local associations. Funds here have been used for such environmental issues as to improve water quality, prevent over development, ensure redevelopment, and beach renourishment.

Looking to Tallahassee, each year the Florida legislature introduces more than 4,000 bills. Florida Realtors® monitors each one and, when appropriate, works to influence the bill’s direction. RPAC isn’t Republican, isn’t Democrat, but provides an independent voice, fighting for homeowners and Realtors®.

This year for the auction, SanibelSusan again donated a Jumbo Lobster Dinner for 4 (or gift certificate) from the Lobster Net in Brewer, Maine. If you ever want fresh Maine seafood, delivered right to your door, check them out at www.TheLobsterNet.com.

The donation is always a hit. Thanks to affiliate Attorney Nikki Naumann for buying this year and introducing attendees to the youngest at the event, her adorable new daughter Blake Savannah, just two months old.

Sanibel/Captiva Sea Turtle Update

SCCF photo

The 2021 island sea turtle season is finishing up. Nesting ended September 30 and nearly all nests have hatched. This year, there were 931 nests on the islands. That number ties the record set last year. So far, 46,726 hatchlings have made it to the Gulf with just a few nests still incubating.

SCCF’s (Sanibel & Captiva Conservation Foundation) team of 100 trained and experienced volunteers survey the 18 miles of island beach (from Sanibel Lighthouse to Blind Pass). Each week from April 15 through October, they start their surveys around 6:30 a.m. and walk their assigned stretch of beach (approximately one mile) to look for tracks that the sea turtle left behind the previous night. Becoming a sea turtle volunteer requires committing for the entire nesting season and completing training in early April. For more info, go to http://www.sccf.org/our-work/sea-turtles.

Matzaluna Restaurant

Island restaurant news is always big news. This week on their Facebook page, Matzaluna posted: “So the rumors are true. After 26 wonderful years, we are closing shop and leasing the premises to another group. Will be business as usual until mid-November. Stop by, see the crew and get your fill of our Italian specialties and wood-fired pizza.”

According to the gossip mill at the Realtor® event Wednesday, I heard that 400 Rabbits owners are opening a restaurant at the Matzaluna location. Also, that their owners (from Paper Fig Kitchen) in addition to opening their 2^nd take out at The Fig East End also are opening a new restaurant at the former site of Il Tesoro on Tarpon Bay Rd. Scheduled to open mid-November, the new one will feature a Pan Asian Kitchen and be called “Bamboo”. Stay tuned for more restaurant news.

Reopenings & Upcoming Events

Sanibel Historical Museum & Village Reopening – Both the museum and village are reopening next week for season on October 19. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with masks required inside the buildings. Their new pavilion also is scheduled to open in December. Full guided tours will be available only if reserved in advance for groups of no more than six and depending on docent availability. Upcoming season highlights include two Twilight Talks (March 15 and April 5) and their annual gala fundraiser which this year will be a movie premier at The Community House on Sanibel on February 22. More info at http://www.SanibelMuseum.org.

The Seahorse Social – School PTA Fundraiser – Tickets are on sale for the Sanibel School’s first large-scale fundraiser in over a year. The Seahorse Social is scheduled for October 22 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at The Community House and will feature Spanish- and Latin-inspired food and drinks, live music by the Heat Latin Jazz Band, a performance by school Steel Drum Band, and live and silent auctions. To buy tickets, visit http://www.TheSanibelSchoolPTA.com.

29^th Annual SCCF Tennis Tournament – To register for the upcoming annual Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) tennis tournament on November 13 and 14 at Beachview Tennis Club, contact Club owner/pro Toni Halski at 239-472-9099.

Tween Waters 2021 Tree Lighting Celebration – Once fall arrives and pumpkins are out, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not far behind. If planing ahead, the Tween Waters 2021 Tree Light Celebration is Friday, November 26 at 4:30 p.m. This annual event is when their 30’ Christmas tree is lit and 200,000+ holiday lights start dancing in synchronicity at Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva. The celebration includes holiday music, fireworks show on the beach, laser lights, and even real snow falling for palm trees. Though viewable by some public areas (like the beach and gulf), the resort itself has limited parking, open to guests of Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts (which include Tween Waters, West Wind Inn Island Resort, Beachview Cottages, and Castaways Cottages) and those with dinner reservations at Old Captiva House and Crow’s Nest Bar & Grille. More info at http://www.tween-waters.com/tree-lighting-celebration.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 8-15, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Pointe Santo #A21 2/2 $1.15M, Sand Pointe #111 2/2 $1.2M.

No price changes.

7 new sales: Sundial #F407 1/1 listed at $569K, Villa Sanibel #1D 2/2 listed at $799K, Villa Sanibel #3A 2/2 listed at $810K, Mariner Pointe #622 2/2.5 listed at $849K, Oceans Reach #4C1 2/2 listed at $899K, Sanibel Arms West #E3 2/2 listed at $965K, Nutmeg Village #109 2/2 listed at $1.299M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

4 new listings: 2138 Egret Cir 3/2 half-duplex $769K, 4619 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 $996K, 1665 Sabal Palm Dr 3/2 $2.25M, 2391 Wulfert Rd 4/5 $2.395M.

1 price change: 719 Durion Ct 3/2 now $995K.

1 new sale: 2030 Sunrise Cir 3/3 listed at $1.625M.

5 closed sales: 720 Elinor Way 3/2 $939.9K, 556 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $995K, 5786 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 $1M, 4954 Joewood Dr 3/2 $1.599M, 4771 Tradewinds Dr 3/3 $2.99M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 0 Bowmans Beach Rd $145K, 5850 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 499K.

No price changes.

3 new sales: 1219 Par View Dr listed at $449K, Rue Bayou lot 17 listed at $699K, 3938 West Gulf Dr listed at $899K.

2 closed sales: 1272 Par View Dr $449K, 2133 Starfish Ln $475K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings

1 price change: Beach Homes #2 3/3 now $3.395M.

1 new sale: Lands End Village #1649 2/2 listed at $1.395M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 11530 Paige Ct 4/4.2 listed at $4.799M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Below is our ad from the “Island Sun” this week.

Enjoy your weekend & next week too!

See ya next Friday, Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

HOT HOT Real Estate & Other Island Scoop

Posted on October 8, 2021 by SanibelSusan

SanibelSusan reporting another nice week for The SanibelSusan Team with terrific weather too – bright blue skies, no rain (saving that for this weekend), and lower temperatures. Fall weather in Florida certainly differs from that in my home state of Maine, but is especially nice, particularly this week.

Here in the office, our gulf-front listing at Sanibel Arms closed Tuesday, we completed some action items with other closings, and another big bulk postcard mailing went out advertising our new Lindgren Blvd canal-front listing.

Though there was no island Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting this week, this morning I attended a Brokers’ Roundtable where Association Officers and Board Members received input from local company leaders on two issues: “Coming Soon” listings and recent delays in Sanibel’s permitting process and Planning Department.

After a couple of news items below, are the details on the action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

First a summary of the island residential inventory today (also from the Sanibel/Captiva MLS). Note that sales this year are in record numbers. It is the first time in my 30 years here that more properties have sold in nine months than in any other year (counting all 12 months). The first table shows both islands, followed by the individual island details. Included are units for sale today, those under contract, those sold/closed through today, total sales in all of 2020, total sales in all of 2005 (the most recent high sales year). Note: Residential properties include condos, homes (single-family & half-duplex), and vacant lots.

Status	SANIBEL & CAPTIVA
	All residential properties
	#	Avg $
For sale	82	1,939,593
Under contract	59	1,460,247
Sold 2021 to 10/8	679	1,160,251
Sold 2020	578	959,903
Year Most Sold 2005	636	923,976

Status	SANIBEL						CAPTIVA
	Condos		Homes		Lots		Condos		Homes		Lots
	#	Avg $	#	Avg $	#	Avg $	#	Avg $	#	Avg $	#	Avg $
For sale	25	917,565	25	2,518,139	21	704,238	3	1,496,666	8	6,734,375	0	N/A
Under contract	13	751,100	30	1,592,948	5	476,376	7	1,846,571	4	3,323,499	0	N/A
Sold 2021 to 10/8	238	862,475	295	1,327,359	62	734,346	48	1,118,977	34	2,524,434	2	2,950,000
Sold 2020	192	733,876	290	954,718	23	606,233	47	821,713	27	2,923,148	4	2,537,500
Yr Most Sold 2005	232	758,507	260	1,028,584	68	496,726	45	863,642	31	2,309,758	0	N/A

South Seas Island Resort Sells for $50.38 Million

South Seas Island Resort on the northern tip of Captiva Island recently sold for $50.38 million. The Timbers Company, Wheelock Street Capital and the Ronto Group teamed together to purchase the property from BRE/South Seas Resort Owner LLC, which is part of Blackstone investment management company. Blackstone had purchased the resort in 2006 for $23.4 million.

The 330-acre South Seas resort takes up about a third of the northern tip of Captiva. With over 430 units ranging from hotel guestrooms and suites, to condos, homes and cottages, there are ~20 swimming pools, a pool complex, beachfront golf, tennis, a full-service spa, and restaurants.

The new owner efforts begin with property spruce-ups including painting and landscaping. Over the next six months, the workforce that has been living on the property will be relocated to off-island housing. The new owners are expected to eventually tear down and redevelop the existing workforce housing. Resort workforce also is projected to grow by about 20% from the current number of about 220 employees.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Terminal Expansion Project Begins

A recent news release from Lee County Port Authority announced that the Lee County Board of Port Commissioners authorized the construction and total budget for the Terminal Expansion Project at RSW. The $331-million project focuses on improving the airport’s efficiency by consolidating and streamlining security checkpoints, adding concession space, and providing passengers more amenities and options.

The project begins this month and construction is planned for three years. This expansion is the second largest public works project in Lee County history, only surpassed by the airport Midfield Terminal Complex construction completed in 2005.

Plans for the project include consolidating the Transportation Security Administration checkpoints into a new 16-lane configuration and providing additional seating, concession spaces and a business lounge. In total, more than 164,000 sq. ft. of space will be remodeled, and 117,000 sq. ft. of new walkways and concession space added.

RSW is an award-winning medium-hub airport that served nearly 6 million passengers in 2020 and had record-breaking traffic this summer. For more info, visit httP://www.flyclcpa.com/RSWTerminalExpansion.

Lee County COVID-19 Update

Posted on-line today: “A statement from Lee Health President & CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci on current COVID-19 trends: “For the first time since July 16, Lee Health is treating fewer than 100 COVID-19 patients in our hospitals, down from a peak of 690 on August 25. The previous peak was 372 in July of 2020….”

Protect Yourself from Wire Fraud

Florida Realtor® October magazine had some advice about protecting yourself from wire fraud. As it mentions, “Criminals comb through sites looking for pending property sales. Once identified they will find contact information for the parties involved in the transaction. It is easy to do through public websites and online searches. Then, they hack into an agent or title company email system, monitor communications, and when the time is right, send a fraudulent email that looks like it’s from a trusted advisor. That email will offer falsified wire transfer instructions to steal mortgage payoff funds, a down payment or closing costs.

“How Can You Avoid Being a Victim?

“1. Be Skeptical – Beware of any changes in wiring instructions like those that have you wire money to a company that is not the same name as the title company you’re using.

“2. Ask for Phone Calls – Ask for all wire transfer instructions to be delivered to you via phone with the number listed on the title company’s website. If you receive an email that details changes in the wire transfer instructions and that email contains a phone number, don’t call it.

“3. Verify All Communications – Call the title company immediately after you send any funds via wire transfer to verify it right away. This check-in will give you the confirmation that you sent the funds to the appropriate account and the confidence and peace of mind that the transaction wasn’t real estate fraud.

“4. Confirm the Details – Ask your bank to confirm the account number as well as the name listed on the account before sending a wire transfer.

“5. Lean to Spot a Fraudulent Email – There are telltale signs that an email is a fraud. Look for misspellings, poor grammar and mistakes in the content. Many times, the property address is spelled incorrectly, dollar figures are missing dollar signs, and the return email address doesn’t match, or the company name is spelled incorrectly.

“If you are a victim of a wire fraud crime in Florida, call the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at (866) 966-7226. You also should file a complaint with the FBI. FBI Field Office locations are listed at fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices.”

Seller Property Disclosure

Good reminder in the October 2021 issue of “Florida Realtor®” magazine under the column “Advice from the Florida Realtors® Legal Hotline:

“Question: I represent an investor who is selling a home. He tells me that since he’s never lived in the property, he isn’t required to provide the buyer with a seller property disclosure statement. Is this true?

“Yes and no. A seller isn’t required to fill out a seller’s disclosure statement regardless of whether the seller occupied the property or not. However, pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court case Johnson vs. Davis, a seller is required to disclose know facts that materially affect the value of the property that are not known and readily observable to the buyer. That disclosure requirement exists whether the seller occupied the property or not.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 1-8, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Spanish Cay #F8 2/2 $479K, Villa Sanibel #1D 2/2 $799K, Oceans Reach #4C1 2/2 $899K, Nutmeg Village #109 2/2 $1.299M, Tarpon Beach #110 2/2 $1.4999M, Pointe Santo #E37 3/3 $1.699M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Sundial #D304 1/1 listed at $579K, Sandpiper Beach #404 2/2 $929K.

4 closed sales: Captains Walk #B5 2/1 $390K, Beach Road Villas #101 2/2 $515K, Sanibel Arms #F3 1/1 $605K (our listing), Gulf Beach #207 2/2 $1.085M.

HOMES

2 new listings: 696 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $868K, 4239 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 $949K.

No price changes.

5 new sales: 2539 Coconut Dr 2/2 $1.1M, 4221 Old banyan Way 3/2 $1.279M, 941 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 $1.35M, 5880 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $1.35M, 547 N. Yachtsman Dr 4/3 $1.399M.

5 closed sales: 754 Donax St 4/2 duplex $599K, 4760 Rue Helene 3/2 $1.35M, 528 Kinzie Island Ct 4/4 $1.88M, 5379 Shearwater Dr 4/3 $2.1M, 4601 Rue Belle Mer 3/2 $3.5M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 4767 Tradewinds Dr $2.395M.

1 price change: 845 Pyrula Ave now $500K.

1 new sale: Rue Bayou, lot 17 listed at $699K.

1 closed sale: 5398 Osprey Ct $280K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Beach Villas #2626 1/1 listed at $684K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 15261 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 now $10.995M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Fall Brings Farmers Market, Cooler Weather, & Real Estate Action With Vacation Homes HOT

Posted on October 1, 2021 by SanibelSusan

Susan here, reporting another week of nice sunny island weather with lower humidity and little rain. On my street, the first snowbirds have returned, a predictor of what usually occurs in October as weather starts to turn up north too.

Teammate Dave who wears many hats including handling our off-island listings and sales, had a nice Estero listing close on Monday. We also received a new Sanibel listing Thursday. It’s a unique one – the last vacant near-beach canal-front lot in Shell Harbor. With long water view down the widest east-end canal toward sunrises, our professional photographer just filmed it, including aerial pictures.(View picture below.)

Last night, I attended the City Council meeting where the candidate who will be offered the City Manager position was selected to replace long-time Manager Judie Zimomra who retired this week. It always is inspiring to personally hear the results of the hard work done by these caring elected volunteers. They are a fine example of how islanders live in harmony, with smart citizens making thoughtful unanimous decisions to benefit all. Islanders are very lucky in so many ways.

Sanibel Farmers Market Begins Again

Going into its 14^th season, Sanibel Farmers Market reopens this Sunday, October 3 and runs every Sunday through May 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering goodies from fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and cut flowers, to meats, seafood, prepared meals, cupcakes, bagels, fresh guacamole, native plants, and more.

New Sanibel vendors this year include Mangia Meatballs, Pickles & Olive Garden, Sage & Indigo Juices, Key Lime Pies, Simply Savory Dips, Ackermann Syrups, Courageous Seeds with kava chai, herbal teas, honey elixirs and cedar burning bundles, and Karina’s Kitchen with German food, plus Divine Tea for the month of October.

Local Roots, founded in 2008 by islanders Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura, started on Sanibel and is the owner of the ten most well-known farmers markets in Southwest Florida. It began here at Tahitian Gardens when it was open for just five weeks and with just 15 vendors. Now on the grounds of City Hall, it has about 50 vendors with parking nearby, at the Library, and at BIG ARTS. More info at http://BuyLocalLee.com

Other Openings/Re-openings

Now that October has rolled around, restaurants that took short breaks in September have reopened and ready for “season”. Exceptions are Traders 2 (T2) and Traders. They respectively re-open October 5 and 6.

The Fig East End – mid-October watch for the grand opening of The Fig East End in the former location of the East End Deli, across the street from Lighthouse Café. Owned by The Paper Fig (in Tahitian Gardens) and 400 Rabbits (on Rabbit Rd) folks, The Fig East End will offer “beach eats, market, and take along.” East-enders look forward to their opening.

Permitted Schedule for Irrigation

With the rainy season wrapping up, Island Water in their recent fall newsletter “IWA Pipeline” posted a reminder of the irrigation days/times allowed on the islands. On the allowed days, irrigation is permitted from 12 a.m. – 9 a.m. and/or 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. No watering is allowed any day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The days permitted are:

Sanibel: Addresses ending in even number: Tuesdays & Fridays.
Sanibel: Addresses ending in odd number: Mondays & Thursdays.
Captiva: Addresses ending in even number: Thursdays & Sundays.
Captiva: Addresses ending in odd number: Wednesdays & Saturdays.

Please check your sprinkling system and help conserve water.

Vacation Homes Will Defy Any Market Slowdown

Posted Monday Sep 28 on FloridaRealtors® on-line: “While overall home sales show signs of cooling as prices rise and buyers step back, NAR Economist Yun doesn’t see that reflected in sales of vacation homes.

“CHICAGO – The vacation-home market has boomed over the past year and is not likely to slow any time soon, even as the rest of the housing market starts to cool, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), in an interview for The Escape Home, a newsletter for second-home owners.

“Even as companies bring employees back to the office, vacation homes will remain in demand, Yun said, though part of vacation homes’ rise in popularity has been attributed to the growth in remote work.

“Overall, home sales show some signs of cooling, with many first-time homebuyers getting priced out of the market, Yun says. The median existing-home price for all housing types was $359,900 in July, nearly an 18% increase from a year ago. Mortgage rates are also likely to increase, which could make buying even more expensive. NAR predicts that mortgage rates will rise to 3.5% by mid-2022, as the Federal Reserve likely begins to reduce its bond purchases before the end of 2021.

“But vacation homes will remain a hot commodity. Rental prices for vacation homes will likely continue to rise too, Yun says. “One near-certain aspect of the post-pandemic economy, when it comes, is the flexible work schedule,” Yun told The Escape Home. “It is very hard to envision five days a week in the office. Therefore, vacation-home sales will continue to move higher this year, next year and for the foreseeable future.””

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® September Membership Meeting

NFIP Risk Rating 2.0 Affecting Flood Insurance – Yesterday, at the Association’s September membership meeting, affiliate business members David Arter with Private Client Insurance Services and Chris Heidrick with Heidrick & Company spoke about the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) changes that become effective today with the introduction of their new Risk Rating 2.0 system. Government reauthorization yesterday, means that NFIP is funded until December 3.

The new Risk Rating 2.0 methodology was created so FEMA could deliver flood insurance rates that are actuarially sound, more equitable, easier to understand, and better reflect a property flood risk. As the speakers described this new rating process, under it, each structure is rated individually, rather than having those side-by-side structures in a particular flood zone having the same rating/cost.

With Risk Rating 2.0, flood maps are not a major factor used for rating. Elevation certificates are no longer required because base flood elevation also is no longer a factor. Grandfathering goes away. Policies are easier to assume. The bad news is that premiums for Sanibel/Captiva properties will be significantly higher. Limits on premium increases, however, require that most rates not increase more than 18% per year.

New policies beginning today (October 1, 2021) will be subject to the new rating methodology. Also beginning today, existing policy holders eligible for renewal will be able to take advantage of immediate decreases in their premiums. All remaining policies renewing on or after April 1, 2022 will be subject to the new rating methodology.

As background, since the flood insurance program began, rates have largely been based on a property elevation within a flood map. Those flood maps have changed through the years. Under the new rating system consideration is taken into what it costs to rebuild a particular structure, more equitably premium costs now will be based on a home value and its unique flood risk.

In general terms, on Sanibel, pre-FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) properties are those constructed before 1980. On Captiva, it is those built before 1985. The speakers recommended that with new listings, Realtors® get the Flood Declaration Page if that seller has flood insurance. With pre-FIRM properties, occupancy no longer matters, but premiums likely will be in the $4K-$5K range. They recommended continuing to ask for Elevation Certificates too, though the info those provide will only be helpful in rating piling homes.

Caravan Listing Announcements – Interestingly during the Caravan portion of the meeting, no new listings were open for viewing. I was happy to announce our two new listings and gladly thanked the agents who recently put two of our listings under contract.

All the action posted since last Friday in the island MLS is below.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 24 – October 1, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sandpiper Beach #404 2/2 $929K.

1 price change: Sundial #D304 1/1 now $579K.

1 new sale: Junonia #101 listed at $1.579M.

5 closed sales: Sanibel Inn #3532 2/2 $750K, Pointe Santo #B33 2/2 $841K, Oceans Reach #3A1 2/2 $870K, Tantara #102 2/2 $1.039M, Island Beach Club #330E 2/2 $1.225M.

HOMES

5 new listings: 4221 Old Banyan Way 3/2 $1.279M, 941 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 $1.35M, 1437 Causey Ct 3/2.5 $1.395M, 1585 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $1.5M, 2379 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 2.495M.

3 price changes: 1294 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $975K, 930 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 now $1.795M, 1349 Bay Dr 4/4 now $6.395M.

4 new sales: 328 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 listed at $899K, 1434 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $899K, 1294 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $949K, 4601 Rue Belle Mer 3/2 listed at $3.65M.

6 closed sales: 5802 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/3.5 $981K, 3010 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $1.25M, 9464 Calla Ct 3/2.5 $1.45M, 5747 Pine Tree Dr 3/3 $1.475M, 509 Lagoon Dr 3/2 $1.65M, 518 N. Yachtsman Dr 3/3 $2.795M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 860 Lindgren Blvd $1.2M (our listing).

860 Lindgren Blvd & Shell Harbor beach access with parking

1 price change: 0 Rue Bayou now $699K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2626 1/1 $684K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: 14865 Captiva Dr 4/4 listed at $1.699M, 11559 Laika Ln 4/3.5 listed at $6.9M.

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

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, be well, safe, & enjoy your fall!

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

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.

Until next Friday, enjoy your fall!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel September Snapshots

Posted on September 17, 2021 by SanibelSusan

Susan here reporting another week of little island traffic-wise though over the weekend near Lighthouse Beach, there were lots of boaters just offshore and plenty of beachgoers. Likewise, the causeway beaches were packed Saturday and Sunday. The pent-up demand to “get out” and enjoy post-summer weather continues here even though September usually is the “quiet” month. During the week, the beaches have been super empty probably also related to the area getting plenty of off-and-on showers.

My friend Kim, a manager at the West Wind Inn, occasionally posts a photo on social media when she’s working their pool bar. When I asked if I could use the one she posted Tues (Sep 14), she said “sure”. Enjoy.

(If you haven’t enjoyed a meal yet there or at the Inn’s Normandie Cafe, be sure and do it. Favored by many locals, as well as the late Willard Scott, many will miss seeing him there. Normadie is open daily from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., and again from 5 to 9 p.m.)

Island Real Estate

At the Sanibel & Captiva Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting yesterday which I attended via Zoom, only one property was open for viewing, no new sales or price reductions were announced, and just one “coming soon” listing was mentioned.

Our weekly report of the action posted with the island Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below. Like the last few weeks, with low inventory, there have not been many sales. I worked both last weekend and will again tomorrow on a home that we hope to post next week as “under contract”. In this “hot market”, sometimes it takes working behind the scenes to create an ideal situation for buyers/sellers. We continue to sleuth for buyers waiting for a particular area or property. We heard from a couple of island owners this week, so some new listings are in the works.

State of the Southwest Florida Real Estate Market

An annual real estate event called Market Trends was held last Thursday at the Caloosa Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. Attorneys Henderson Franklin were sponsors and posted the following recap of the presentation which focused on the 2021 real estate market in Southwest Florida in three major areas: the residential real estate market, new residential construction, and commercial real estate.

“Continuing the trend from the 2^nd half of 2020, both the residential and commercial markets in Southwest Florida sustained their momentum. New homebuyers continue to flock to the region and developers are trying to keep up with demand.

“Residential resale market – While we thought the market in 2020 was hot, the resale market in Southwest Florida in 2021 set unprecedented numbers we may never see again. The numbers for existing single-family homes sales continued to rise from 2020 to 2021. Charlotte County saw a 42% increase, Lee County a 44% increase, and Collier County a 65% increase in existing homes sold. The same goes for median sale prices, with Charlotte County seeing a 31% increase, Lee County a 29% increase, and Collier County a 38% increase compared to the previous year.

“With increases in sales and prices, some may begin to fear another market crash. However, the presenters believe we are on track for the market to correct itself rather than seeing a repeat of the previous market crash. The “irrational market” will be replaced by a rational one and we will likely be passing the peak of buyer frenzy that we saw through the height of the pandemic and the early parts of the year.

“New construction market – The total number of new building permits for single-family and multi-family in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties has continued to increase. 2020 saw a total of 18,418 residential permits issued. The year-to-date total for residential permits issued in 2021 currently sits at 14,272, with the projected total by year’s end estimated to be 23,400 permits issued. The past 12 months have seen a double-digit percentage increase in new permits in all three counties. Lee County saw an 11% increase, Collier a 22% increase, and Charlotte with an astounding 50% increase.

“As was the case in 2020, individual communities continued to see astounding growth. The top three communities were Ave Maria, Babcock Ranch and Isles of Collier Preserve. To showcase that the residential market continues to grow, look no further than Babcock Ranch, which in 2020 saw 533 new building permits issued to various builders. It currently stands at 691 residential permits issued to various builders in 2021.

“While the big builders like Lennar, DR Horton, and Pulte continue to dominate the market, we have seen a comeback for the small builders, with over 6,000 permits issued to these builders. An interesting new trend taking place in Southwest Florida is the build-for-rent model. This model appears to be aimed at a younger generation looking for homes but wanting more financial flexibility. It will be interesting to see how this trend continues over the coming years.

“While at some stage the market will likely level off, demand in the residential market looks set to continue in 2021 and the foreseeable future in Southwest Florida. As homebuyers continue to move into the region, developers look to continue buying up land and building single-family and multi-family units.

“Commercial real estate – While certain sectors continue to be affected by the pandemic, especially with the emergence of the delta variant, the Southwest Florida commercial real estate market as a whole continues to thrive in 2021. Through the height of the lockdown in 2020, commercial sale volume still hit $150 million. Through Q2 of 2021, commercial sales have hit upwards of $560 million, with an astounding 275% increase over 2020. The retail market makes up nearly 50% of the total sales volume in 2021, at approximately $259 million in sales.

“The industrial market has seen an increase in rent and occupancies, with over 2.2 million square feet of industrial space coming into the market. So why such large quantities of space? This increase is due in large part to large-scale distribution centers moving into the region. With e-commerce taking over, fulfillment centers for companies like Uline and Amazon are becoming ever-present in Southwest Florida.

“As we experience a consumer spending rebound, Lee, Charlotte and Collier County all saw increases in rent and occupancy over the last year in the retail market, with goods and services driving the market forward. However, labor shortages due to the pandemic will impact how well this market performs.

“The office market over the last year is stable but an odd one. Rents and occupancies are all up but at times space is economically occupied but physically vacant. This is in large part due to the pandemic and employees working from home, as well as tenants waiting to see how things play out before renewing leases. We have not seen the “great migration” back to the office that we thought. Most new deliveries in the market are now including amenities to try and entice the workforce back into the office. So with these issues, what sector has caused the increase in rent and occupancies? The medical office sector has led the way in this regard. Regional medical groups have taken advantage of the market and have grabbed good land positions in the region.

“Take-Away – The Market Trends report this fall showcased how the real estate market in Southwest Florida has continued to thrive thus far in 2021. Both residential and commercial sectors have seen exponential growth. It will be interesting to see how both finish out the year, what their outlook will be heading into 2022, and what impact the pandemic will have on the market going forward.”

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

Marking its seventh year, the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest begins today and runs through Sept 26. This free 10-day festival – except for a few ticketed events – features singer-songwriters. Today through Sunday (Sept 17) it will be on Captiva, then moves to historic downtown Fort Meyers (Sept 20-23), followed by Fort Myers Beach (Sept 24-26). During the first three days on Captiva, venues include poolside at “Tween Waters, Keylime Bistro, RC Otter’s, Doc Ford’s, Mucky Duck, Sunset Beach (at South Seas), and Green Flash.

The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is the largest in Southwest FL. This year, over 60 singer-songwriters will preform more than 100 shows. For more info, go to https://www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com.

Events Postponed & Temporary Closings

‘Ding’ Darling Day – Due to federal restrictions regarding the coronavirus, the 33^rd Annual ‘Ding’ Darling Day at Lakes Park in Fort Myers scheduled on Sunday, Oct 10, has been postponed until spring 2022. Watch www.dingdarlingday.com for the new date and more details. The ‘Ding’ Darling Day Amateur Nature Photography Contest has been extended to Oct 15. Winners will be announced Nov 15. For more info on that, contact Sierra at 239-472-1100 Ext 4.

Restaurants – Below is an updated list of the island restaurants that are closed temporarily for annual vacations, deep cleans and fix-ups, etc. Lighthouse Cafe & Schnapper’s were added to the list this week.

Bleu Rendez-Vous Bistro – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
Blue Giraffe at Periwinkle Place – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
Blue Giraffe 2 at Beachview Estates – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
Island Pizza – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
Lighthouse Café – closed thru Sep 23, reopens Sep 24.
Mad Hatter – closed thru Sep 30, reopens Oct 1.
Over Easy Café – closed thru Sep 23, reopens Sep 24.
The Sandbar Steak & Seafood – closed thru Sep 29, reopens Sep 30.
Schnapper’s Hots – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
Sweet Melissa’s Café – closed thru Sep 20, reopens Sep 21.
Traders – closed Sep 11 thru Oct 5, reopens Oct 6.
Traders 2 (T2) – closed thru Oct 4, reopens Oct 5.
Traditions on the Beach – closed thru Sep 23, reopens Sep 24.

Sanibel Vaccinations

An article in today’s “Island Sun” by Wendy McMullen describes how Sanibel City Council has been walking on a tightrope trying to get City staff vaccinated. It says,

“Now, it’s attempting to sweeten the pill by offering a $500 incentive for all city staff who have a vaccination certificate.

“Florida businesses and governments that require proof of vaccinations face a $5,000 fine. The federal government has required vaccination or weekly testing. Vaccine passports are banned by the state.

“Sanibel City Council got around the various mandates and restrictions by offering a substantial inducement to city staff who voluntarily provide proof of vaccination before Oct 30 of this year. The $500 incentive has been ratified by the Association of Municipal Employees.

“City Manager Judie Zimomra reported that 78 city employees had been fully vaccinated, six had one vaccination, 43 were unvaccinated and 38 did not respond.

“Those figures are much lower than vaccinations among Sanibel residents, which are around 97%, but similar to those in Lee County. Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater said that the number of people vaccinated in Lee County is lower than in the neighboring counties of Charlotte and Collier, and lower than in Broward County on the east coast. Lee County was averaging 10 deaths a day from COVID-19.

“Dr. Crater provided information about the 10 vaccinations that children must have before they attend school and the diseases that have been all but eradicated as a result.

“Planning Commission Chairman Roger Grogman said that employers can require drug tests for safety reasons and COVID presents the same safety issues. “Safety, safety, safety. Not safety for you, but safety for everyone around,” he said, speaking in public comment.

“Applicants for city jobs are required to be tested at the time they are hired but vaccination is not required. Zimomra estimated that it would reduce the pool of applicants by between 25 and 30%.

“A suggestion from Councilmember Mike Miller that unvaccinated city employees get tested weekly was considered impractical. City council decided that it would encourage city staff to get vaccinated, track vaccinations, require K95 or N95 masks for the unvaccinated and reward those that are vaccinated now or who get vaccinated. The decision was unanimous.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 10-17, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sundial #R402 2/2 $1.249M.

No price changes.

3 new sales: Blind Pass #C201 2/2 listed at $590K, Seashells #16 2/2 listed at $599.9K, Mariner Pointe #231 2/2 listed at $674.9K.

7 closed sales: Sanibel Moorings #211 1/1 $525K, Mariner Pointe #323 2/2.5 $533K, Sanibel Inn #3514 2/2 $665K, Sanibel Inn #3513 2/2 $690K, Breakers West #A5 2/2 $725K, Loggerhead Cay #282 $685K, Sundial #E104 2/2 $1.299M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 700 Birdie View Pt 3/2 $985K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: 535 Birdsong Pl 3/2 listed at $695,555; 4771 Tradewinds Dr 3/3 listed at $2.99M.

7 closed sales: 1536 Bunting Ln 3/2 $775K, 1270 Par View Dr 3/2 $859K, 5268 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 $950K, 1319 Par View Dr 3/2.5 $1.15M, 1350 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.199M, 743 Durion Ct 3/2 $1.31M, 4949 Joewood Dr 5/5 $4.075M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 1219 Par View Dr $449K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 6141 Starling Way $800K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

3 new sales: Tennis Villas #3210 1/1 listed at $499,999; Beach Villas #2638 3/3 listed at $1.349M, Captiva Shores #8A 3/2.5 listed at $1.795M.

2 closed sales: Beach Homes #25 3/2 $1.881M, Beach Homes #33 4/3 $3.1M.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday! Happy weekend!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Photo below taken Sep 2018, during our Realtor Continuing Education class on the water. These are the fish houses of North Captiva. September clouds always great!

Late Summertime Happenings on Sanibel & Captiva

Posted on August 20, 2021 by SanibelSusan

It is finally that time of the year when things slow down on the islands, though it was a long-time coming this year. Even during the “off” season, the islands have been busier than usual this summer. But now that schools are back in session and COVID cases are at record-highs, it makes sense that traffic and occupancy have eased up.

I took a quick spin through the islands early this afternoon, drove all the way through Captiva’s South Seas Plantation, out to tip at Lands End. I was surprised to see very few people or vehicles, though passed quite a few contractor vehicles doing deliveries and updates at properties. Below are some Captiva photos taken during that ride.

Boat launch at South Seas Harbor looking toward the Lady Chadwick.

Looking toward Harborside Bar & Grill.

At Lands End looking across Redfish Pass to North Captiva Island

From the road into Lands End looking back toward South Seas amenity area (rain in the distance on the mainland)

Island Real Estate Happenings

Real estate inventory on both islands remains at record lows. It will be interesting when fall arrives to see what happens to the market as snowbirds and prospective buyers start thinking about spending their winter in the sun. Few rental companies have vacancies then and most Realtors® have anxious visitors looking to come. Thanks to supply and demand, prices in the foreseeable future, for both buying and renting real estate here, will continue to go up.

Meanwhile, at SanibelSusan Realty, we are finishing up action items on closings scheduled to occur in a few weeks, continuing to market our new listing that is not under contract yet, and beating the bushes looking for owners wanting to take advantage of this unique sellers’ opportunity.

After a few news items below is the real estate action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

Today (August 20, 2021) on Sanibel, there are 13 condos, 27 homes, and 17 lots for sale.

On Captiva, there are three condos and 12 homes.

Causeway Island Update

Plenty of social media postings about the changes on the causeway islands have not been positive, mostly because the public is not aware of what is happening there. Here is an update:

The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to award engineering contracts for engineering services for enhancements to both Islands A and B and construction services for the stabilization of Island B. (Island A is the one closest to the high bridge and the mainland. Island B is closest to Sanibel.)

These contracts are part of a larger project on the causeway islands. Plans approved by the Board in December call for the shoring-up of erosion-prone areas of Islands A and B which are part of the Sanibel Causeway. Beach sand also will be added along parts of these islands. In addition, enhancements will be made to upland portions of both islands, including the creation of structured parking, new restrooms on Island A, additional picnic pavilions, pathways, and landscaping, and other park amenities.

In July, in preparation for the project, Lee County Crews removed Australian pines, an invasive exotic species. They will be replaced with native trees.

Local COVID News

Unfortunately, Lee Health Hospitals posted yesterday that it was their highest day of COVID fatalities. Traveling nurses arrived this week to assist in their patient overload.

Sanibel remains proactive regarding COVID. It makes me feel better just to drive by the signage by the Chamber that continues to flash “Welcome to Sanibel”, “Please Wear Mask”, Please Get Vaxxed”.

This morning the City Manager posted the following message on the City website: “City of Sanibel Recreation Center to Remain Closed Saturday, August 21, 2021 All Programs Cancelled. Last evening, Thursday, August 19, the City of Sanibel was advised that a participant who utilized the Sanibel Recreation Center yesterday had tested positive for COVID. Today, Friday, August 20, the City of Sanibel Recreation Center, 3380 Sanibel-Captiva Rd, is closed for all programs and services while the facility is disinfected. Currently City staff continue to contact trace all persons who were at the facility yesterday. The City of Sanibel Recreation Center will remain closed tomorrow, Saturday, August 21. The sole program scheduled for the Recreation Tomorrow, Tiny Tots Basketball, is also cancelled.”

Temporary Closure of Ding Darling Visitor & Education Center

From this week’s, “Ding on The Wing”: “Starting this week and running through September, the Refuge Visitor and Education Center will be closed both Friday and Sunday each week, due to volunteer dropout over COVID-19 concerns. The Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Saturday.

37^th Sanibel & Captiva Luminaries Scheduled

As posted in the “Island Sun”, the island Chamber of Commerce has received approval from The City to celebrate Luminary 2021 in traditional fashion on December 3 and 4. The Sanibel celebration will be Friday and the Captiva Saturday. Besides candle-lined walkways and shared-use paths, the festivities bring live music, decorations, sidewalk sales, and complimentary refreshments.

The golf-cart parade also will return to Captiva’s celebration (time to be announced). If you haven’t attended an island luminary, plan to do it this year. It is special.

I couldn’t help but think about Captiva’s luminary as I drove along the Tween Waters stretch this afternoon. Those who have been here for the holidays likely remember that a Santa will be climbing that tall palm tree for Christmas. My photo from today is shown above, while below it, a photo of Santa from years.

Sanibel Household Chemical Waste Collection Event

A City notice received this week says, Sanibel residents may dispose of household chemical waste such as left-over paint, cleaners, herbicides, pesticides, auto fluids, and pool chemicals on Wed, Sept 1. The collection event hosted in partnership with Lee County Solid Waste will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sanibel Library at 770 Dunlop Rd with drop-off an easy drive-through at no charge. This event is for residents only, businesses that need disposal should call for an appointment for the monthly business collection held at the county’s permanent Household Chemical Waste drop-off location at 6441 Topaz Ct which is off Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.

The following items are NOT chemical waste but may be set out with your regular household garbage: small-engine equipment such as pressure washers, lawnmowers, weed eaters; small electronic parts such as routers, mice, keypads; tires; small appliances; empty paint cans/dried paint; empty auto fluid containers.

Hot Housing Market Drives Home Fix-Ups

Posted August 13, 2021, on FloridaRealtors®:

“Remodeling hit a high during lockdowns when homeowners had time and an increased frustration with their living space. Now, rising home equity entices them.

“NEW YORK – More homeowners plan to renovate their homes this year. The remodel trend took off during pandemic lockdowns when homeowners had little else to do and a general frustration with a home when they had to spend 24 hours a day within it.

“Now, owners are spiffing up their home because they can afford to do so, thanks to higher home prices and their home’s increased equity, according to Bank of America’s “2021 Homebuyer Insights Report: Home Improvement and Equity Spotlight.”

“As home prices surge, more homeowners are tapping HELOCs (Home Equity Lines of Credit) to make significant home improvements. Gen X homeowners (ages 44 to 56) are the most likely to report using HELOCs for home improvements. “Greater reliance on the home as both a workspace and a family center has led many owners to tailor their homes to their needs,” the report says.

“Most respondents don’t focus too heavily on increasing their home’s value, however. The majority said they’re viewing home improvements as a way to bring greater enjoyment to their living space (67%). Only 33% said they’re undertaking updates to increase their home’s value (33%). “Traditionally, home improvement projects have been measured through the lens of return on investment (ROI), but we’re seeing that the emotional connection to one’s home is just as important,” says Ann Thompson, specialty lending executive at Bank of America.

“Remodeling trends

“Greater modernization: Many homeowners want to bring their homes up to date, or they need to replace dated areas of the homes. The median age of the U.S. owner-occupied housing stock is 39 years, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

“Fixer-uppers are OK again: About 42% of younger homebuyers say they would prefer to buy a fixer-upper and improve it over time than to purchase a home that’s move-in ready.

“DIY is trending: Many homeowners are taking a do-it-yourself approach to some of their smaller house projects, such as painting or upgrading hardware and fixtures, with 50% saying they learned how from watching videos. Nearly 40% say they’re inspired by TV shows such as HGTV to do more DIY projects in their home. Younger adults are the most likely to do DIY, with almost 75% of younger homeowners (ages 18 to 43) say they’ve completed DIY work around their house.

“Sustainability is important: Younger generations tend to value sustainability features more than older generations. Half of younger generations want to add solar panels (51%) and energy-efficient appliances (48%) – only one-third of older generations want to add solar panels (33%) and energy-efficient appliances (36%).”

To Market or Not, Should Not Be the Question

With Florida real estate in increased demand from domestic buyers, sale prices high, and inventory limited, some agents have had success with “pocket listings”, a process that allows an agent to quietly market a property on a one-to-one basis to individual buyers and colleagues, before (or without) posting it on the Multiple Listing Service.

Some sellers and agents think pocket listings offer advantages in certain situations, like giving a seller time to prepare for marketing and the agent to perform some limited targeted outreach before notifying the masses. I have found that this can influence price, time on market, and the best deal for a seller/buyer.

Some sellers with concerns about privacy and COVID, have preferred this process even if it results in a less profitable sale. Many agents, like me, however, view pocket listings as a disservice to sellers.

For example, prospective pocket-listing buyers know they are the only ones submitting an offer, making them not as motivated to make one that is competitive. By limiting the pool of prospective buyers, sellers can be losing money.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) recently took a clearer stance on the gray area of pocket listings. Realtors® now are required to list a property in the applicable MLS within 24 hours of launching any mass marketing. This puts the selling agent in a difficult position with only limited marketing allowed. The minute that marketing is expanded, by social media post or group email, that agent is “on the clock” and has only 24 hours to get it posted in the MLS.

What seller doesn’t want his property exposed to the most potential purchasers? Not to mention making the entire transaction transparent with everyone held accountable. According to Redfin, pocket listings increased from 2.4% to 4% of the market from November 2019 to March 2021. Maybe that jump is strictly COVID related, but I doubt it.

Pocket listings should be limited to exceptional unique cases. In my experience, the most exposure brings the best offers – which is what most sellers want. That means a traditional listing – not a pocket listing. The SanibelSusan Team does not take pocket listings.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 13-20, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sanibel Arms West #F6 2/2 $1.049M, Gulf Beach #207 2/2 $1.1M.

No price changes.

7 new sales: Sundial #H410 1/1 listed at $429K, Cottage Colony West #101 1/1 listed at $575K, Sanibel Inn #3514 2/2 listed at $699K, Sandalfoot #2D3 2/2 listed at $789.5K, Pointe Santo #B33 2/2 listed at $839K, Tantara #102 2/2 listed at $1.139M, Sundial #E104 2/2 listed at $1.299M.

3 closed sales: Coquina Beach #2B 2/2 $585K; Sanibel Arms West #D2 2/2 $915,799; Tarpon Beach #305 2/2 $1M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 4954 Joewood Dr 3/2 $1.599M, 2475 Tropical Way Ct 3/3.5 $2.295M, 885 Limpet Dr 3/3 $2.395M.

1 price change: 535 Birdsong Pl 3/2 now $711,555.

5 new sales: 754 Donax St 4/2 duplex listed at $599K, 5817 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 4/2 listed at $1.19M, 1360 Jamaica Dr 3/3 listed at $1.349M, 518 N. Yachtsman Dr 3/3 listed at $2.795M, 544 Lighthouse Way 4/5.5 listed at $4.25M.

5 closed sales: 486 Surf Sound Ct 3/3.5 $1.19M, 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 $1.55M, 6418 Pine Ave 3/3 $1.7M, 5270 Indian Ct 6/6.5 $2.05M, 545 Lighthouse Way 3/3.5 $3.25M.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

2 closed sales: 0 Dixie Beach Blvd $150K, 000 West Gulf Dr $3.5M.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

2 new sales: Lands End Village #1633 2/2 listed at $1.599M, Seabreeze #1251 3/3 listed at $2.05M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 15867 Captiva Dr 7/6 now $11.7M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

It’s even quiet at the beach. This is in front of Kings Crown on Sanibel.

Until next Friday,

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

Island Beaches Are Busy & The Real Estate Market Stays HOT!

Posted on July 23, 2021 by SanibelSusan

It was another busy real estate week at SanibelSusan Realty. We got another new gulf-front condo listing, had a nice gulf-front condo closing, and showings and offers at our only two listings. One now is under contract while the other in negotiations. So, if you are wondering, the market still is HOT and the SanibelSusan team continues to look for more listings – since as soon as we get them, they sell!

The full details on the real estate activity here and the action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service are after a couple of news items below.

Island Weather

Teammate Dave took this one Wed near West Rocks

Weather-wise, it has been another week of beautiful bright summer days, followed by some evening showers in inland Lee County.

I took a spin at noon today to check out beach parking since social media lately has been full of comments about lots often being full. That certainly was the case at Lighthouse Beach where the gulf was busy with swimmers, beachgoers, shellers, fishermen, and boaters. There were nine vehicles lined up looking for spots at their main parking lot with the fishing pier lot also full.

Check out the water photo below. It continues to sparkle in those Caribbean-blue-tones. Fingers crossed that it continues!

Taken at noon today near the Lighthouse

Lee County Begins Causeway Islands Project

There was lots of social media chatter this week about the Australian pines coming down on the causeway islands. Here’s the full report by Wendy McMullen that was posted on the front page of today’s “Island Sun”:

“Trees are already coming down on the Sanibel Causeway islands in preparation for an $8.5 million plan to enhance the amenities and control erosion on the islands. The trees being removed – such as the Australian pines – are non-native and considered exotic and invasive. They will be replaced eventually with native trees.

“Among the improvements envisioned for the islands are structured parking (it is not known if this will involve paid parking of some sort), pavilions, pathways, additional restrooms, landscaping, T-groins and erosion control structures.

“On Island A, the furthest from Sanibel, picnic and recreational vehicle parking areas will be added at the northern end along a more formalized event space. There will also be a paddle-craft loading and unloading area, restrooms and an equipment storage area, along with parking for 83 vehicles on the southern end. Island B will have parking for another 213 vehicles.

“Both islands will have erosion control structures designed to keep bay waters from covering the road in storm conditions. This will include two rock groins and renourishment of the beaches. The causeway road itself will not be elevated.

“Work is already starting on erosion control structures and the design of the upland structures. Building the amenities will begin in spring 2022 and continue until the summer of 2024.

“The project will be funded using tourist development taxes and state funds. Lee County plans a public meeting later this summer or fall. Announcements about its time, date, location and how to participate will be forthcoming.”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® July Membership Meeting

Yesterday at the July Membership Meeting of the local association of Realtors®, the speaker was Tim Moore, from Sanibel’s Planning Department Code Enforcement. He provided handouts and info on the island’s Dwelling Rental License and Registration process. This is required for every Sanibel property that rents.

Begun in October 2019, the forms for this process are on-line at www.MySanibel.com (under Planning Dept forms). Approximately 2,200 properties already are licensed. Form completion is required for an initial license and registration, annual license and registration renewal, and for any revision to the license and registration.

The first step in the process is applying for a Business Tax Receipt (formerly occupational license) at the City Finance Department. The 2^nd step is completing and submitting the Dwelling Rental License and Registration form.

The type of rental dwelling could be:

Limited Rental, for properties rented via written lease for longer than 6 months (so exempt from Florida Sales Tax), this includes annual rentals;
Limited Rental, or those limited by City Code to 28 consecutive days per occupancy;
Unlimited Rental, rentals not limited by City Code to a minimum number of days.

Once a Dwelling Rental License (DRL) number is issued, it must appear in all advertising, as must the minimum rental period if not in a resort district.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 16-23, 2021

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sanibel Moorings #512 2/2 $1.195M (our listing), Island Beach Club #330E 2/2 $1.295M.

Sanibel Moorings #512

1 price change: Tarpon Beach #305 2/2 now $1.1M.

6 new sales: Sundial #I103 1/1 listed at $499K, Sundial #J301 1/1 listed at $605K, Mariner Pointe #631 2/2 listed at $695K, Breakers West #A5 2/2 listed at $749K, Gulf Beach #106 2/2 listed at $899K (our listing), Sanddollar #C101 2/2 listed at $1.21M.

View from Gulf Beach #106

3 closed sales: Tarpon Beach #102 2/2 $1.125M, Gulfside Place #124 2/2 $1.385M, Gulfside Place #115 2/2 $1.995M (our listing).

Gulfside Place #115

HOMES

6 new listings: 9032 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $799K, 460 Sawgrass Pl 2/1 $849K, 565 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $939K, 5817 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 4/2 $1.25M, 9464 Calla Ct 3/2.5 $1.45M, 1304 Seaspray Ln 3/2.5 $4.695M.

No price changes.

4 new sales: 754 Donax St 4/2 duplex listed at $599K, 1702 Bunting Ln 4/3 listed at $749K, 1270 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $859K, 5268 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $999K.

5 closed sales: 1612 Serenity Ln 3/2 $672K, 4505 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/3 $675K, 1376 Jamaica Dr 2/2 $750K, 1426 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $1.15M, 1218 Ferry Rd 3/2 $1.231M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 3308 Saint Kilda Rd $582K, 470 Sawgrass Pl $795K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 2133 Starfish Ln listed at $529K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Lands End Village #1633 2/2 $1.599M, Beach Homes #33 4/3 $3.2M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Beach Villas #2414 2/2 listed at $875K.

No closed sales.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

(a couple more photos below taken today on way to the Lighthouse)

“Serious Squeeze on Renters

Veterans Day – Fee-Free on Wildlife Drive

More Restaurant News

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At SanibelSusan Realty

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The Fig East-End Is Open

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 22-29, 2021

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What’s Up With Sanibel-Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

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Matzaluna Restaurant

Reopenings & Upcoming Events

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 8-15, 2021

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South Seas Island Resort Sells for $50.38 Million

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) Terminal Expansion Project Begins

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Protect Yourself from Wire Fraud

Seller Property Disclosure

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 1-8, 2021

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Sanibel Farmers Market Begins Again

Other Openings/Re-openings

Permitted Schedule for Irrigation

Vacation Homes Will Defy Any Market Slowdown

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® September Membership Meeting

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

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

Florida-Owned Insurer: Losses and Policies Keep Growing

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

State of the Southwest Florida Real Estate Market

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

Events Postponed & Temporary Closings

Sanibel Vaccinations

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 10-17, 2021

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Island Real Estate Happenings

Causeway Island Update

Local COVID News

Temporary Closure of Ding Darling Visitor & Education Center

37th Sanibel & Captiva Luminaries Scheduled

Sanibel Household Chemical Waste Collection Event

Hot Housing Market Drives Home Fix-Ups

To Market or Not, Should Not Be the Question

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 13-20, 2021

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The Sanibel School

Sanibel Causeway Toll Facility Maintenance Work

TRIM Notices Coming Soon

City of Sanibel Budget

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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37^th Sanibel & Captiva Luminaries Scheduled