BOGO With Gulf Of Mexico Tropical Storms

Posted on August 21, 2020 by SanibelSusan

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

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

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

Island Real Estate Action

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Openings/Closings/Rescheduling

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

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

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

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

Virus May Have Boosted the Housing Market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

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

No price changes.

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

No closed sales.

HOMES

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

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

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

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

LOTS

No new listings.

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

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

No closed sale.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

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

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings or price changes.

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

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

LOTS

1 new listing: 16151 Captiva Dr $8.95M.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

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”.

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

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Island Real Estate Selling During the Pandemic

Posted on August 14, 2020 by SanibelSusan

SanibelSusan reporting that it has been another quiet week on Sanibel. Some of the local private schools reopened (Canterbury School this week, Bishop Verot next week). On-island, late vacationers are here enjoying the beaches while dodging seasonal showers and business has settled into the dog days of summer.

August/September often is when island lovers start thinking about the upcoming winter and planning their upcoming escapes from cold weather. We are working with buyers from afar as they await Florida’s full reopening.

Redfish Pass at the tip of Captiva earlier this week.

The action posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service since last Friday follows a few items, including the status of the local real estate market and latest COVID-19 info.

Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate Scoop

Buyers are asking what the repercussions have been from the pandemic on real estate sales. That question is heard almost as often as “what happened following Hurricane Irma in 2017” and the later water woes.

Below is a comparison of island real estate closings during COVID for the six months of 2020, from Valentines’ Day through August 14, and the same time frame before Irma in 2017 and the years with red tide 2018/2019.

Island Sales from February 14 to August 14

Year	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS			ALL RESIDENTIAL
Year	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM
SANIBEL
2020	78	725,852	157	135	964,248	165	6	471,166	364	217	865,647	167
2019	80	668,828	146	143	910,134	168	10	419,900	725	233	806,242	184
2018	104	728,529	183	142	1,161,457	155	13	815,538	288	259	970,255	173
2017	82	742,847	193	120	1,036,917	166	21	334,738	600	223	862,659	217
CAPTIVA
2020	14	944,000	107	9	3,561,555	171	2	1,925,000	462	25	1,964,800	158
2019	13	1,023,230	401	11	3,216,686	258	0	N/A	N/A	24	2,028,564	335
2018	12	769,354	115	12	2,225,942	197	0	N/A	N/A	24	1,487,648	156
2017	20	681,512	265	15	2,611,466	410	2	2,312,500	1,005	37	1,552,087	364

(Info from Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service, disclosure at bottom applies.)

What I glean from these statistics is that regardless of what happens in the world, with the weather, the water, the economy, or the year. Sanibel and Captiva have been and continue to be desirable. Even during the recession, island real estate continued to sell and sell well. Prices fluctuate with inventory and seller motivation. Island inventory is low, but from the pandemic, demand is increasing.

Florida’s Single-Family For-Sale Inventory Hit Record Low in 2Q

The following article by Kerry Smith was posted yesterday online at FloridaRealtors®: “ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida homeowners: There’s never been higher demand for your home. Economists generally consider a six-month supply of for-sale homes (inventory) to be balanced between buyers and sellers. An inventory greater than six months is a buyer’s market; an inventory less than six months is a seller’s market. In the second quarter of 2020, Florida’s inventory of homes was 2.8 months.

““Apart from the condo-townhouse category, we are at record lows right now,” says Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor.

“Florida Realtors records sales of condominiums and townhouses separately, and at 5.7-months’ supply in the 2Q, the condo-townhouse market remains in seller territory, but it’s closer to a balanced market.

The coronavirus-related shutdown impacted Florida’s single-family inventory, but more homes now appear to be coming into the market.

“Still, demand from buyers, thanks in part to record-low mortgage rates, has not subsided. Selling prices have continued to trend upward as buyers find too-few available homes for sale. In the second quarter, the median price for a Florida single-family home was $277,500 – 4.7% higher year-to-year.

““All indications are that Florida will continue to see home sales surge through the end of the summer, with our biggest near-term issue being a severe lack of single-family inventory,” O’Connor said in the report. “With mid-year inventory levels down over 27% compared to last year, the scarcity of homes on the market will continue to propel prices upward. Price growth has remained so strong throughout the pandemic that at the mid-point of the year, Florida has already seen close to $50 billion worth of closed single-family home sales – less than 2% off last year’s pace.”

“The inventory problem isn’t just in Florida. Fannie Mae’s latest U.S. market report found similar conditions nationwide, with a few buyers pulling back as home prices continue to rise.

““Supply constraints appear to be applying upward pressure to consumers’ home price expectations, which in turn has contributed to both a sharp reversal in optimism about whether it is a good time to buy a home and further improvement in home-selling sentiment,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. © 2020 Florida Realtors®”

To bring this closer to home, the sold info below is extracted from my table above and compares those island sales over the last six months (during the pandemic) to today’s inventory:

Status	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
Status	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM	#	Price $	DOM
SANIBEL
Sold 2/14-8/14/20	78	725,852	157	135	964,248	165	6	471,166	364
Under contract	22	713,968	151	48	973,223	150	7	349,193	386
Available today	115	826,994	224	111	1,654,230	189	58	824,531	461
CAPTIVA
Sold 2/14-8/14/20	14	944,000	107	9	3,561,555	171	2	1,925,000	462
Under contract	10	759,145	144	4	1,876,000	264	0	N/A	N/A
Available today	34	1,162,582	231	41	2,873,024	249	3	3,563,000	555

(Info from Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service, disclosure at bottom applies.)

Applying the economist definition about six months of inventory, it remains a buyer’s market for condos and vacant lots on both islands, as well as Captiva homes. But it now is a seller’s market for Sanibel homes.

This could change as recovery from the pandemic continues and winter approaches. Coming up are the months when the most island listings usually come on the market. I wonder if it will be different this year. Being safe may be as important to some as the islands being eco-friendly, natural, and laid-back. That could mean sellers will hold tight and it also could mean there will be more buyers. An interesting period is ahead. 2020 may continue to be a year for the record books in more ways than one.

Tidbits from NAR Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun

Yesterday was the first monthly membership meeting of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® since the pandemic began.

Granted it was by Zoom, but it featured one of my favorite economists, Dr. Lawrence Yun.

Here are a few of my notes from his presentation.

2^nd quarter was softer from the government-imposed economic lockdown.
Migration into Florida continues with about two-thirds of those here wanting a comfortable life with no income tax.
A surge in spending is coming (pent-up).
Today mortgage applications are 20% higher than a year ago.
Real estate is always a good hedge against inflation.
Today’s massive federal deficit will result in inflation.
The long-term real estate outlook in Sanibel/Captiva is bright with more companies offering flexibility on working from home and more retirees looking to come to the sunshine state.
The Federal Reserve likely will be accommodating for the next two years. Expect 3% rates to remain for the next 18 months, then slowly rising in 2022.
Encourage buyers to lock into the low rates before inflation appears.

Openings/Closings/Rescheduling

On Tuesday, Mayor Ruane extended Sanibel’s declared State of Emergency in response to COVID-19, until August 18, 2020, unless further extended. (Per State Statute the maximum time for a Mayoral Declaration of Emergency is seven days, so it must be updated weekly while there are emergency conditions.)

Since March 26, a total of 40 COVID 19 cases have been reported on Sanibel by Florida Department of Health (DOH), five on Captiva.

2021 Shell Show Cancelled – As a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, I received the following email notice on Wednesday: “On August 10, 2020, the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club Board of Directors held a Zoom meeting to discuss the merits of having the 2021 Sanibel Shell Show vs. the health risks. As the number of positive Corona Virus cases continue to escalate in Florida and throughout the country, and because of the inability to predict the status of the virus in the early months of 2021, the Board erred on the side of caution and voted to cancel the show. Our major concern with having a Shell Show like we have had in the past is the safety, health, and welfare of everyone involved. However, there will be a Shell Festival and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club will support the Sanibel Community Assn. and work with them to make it a success. We are investigating the possibility of having an educationally oriented virtual Shell Show event that would begin on the opening day of the festival. The bottom line is that we hope to have a Shell Show, but it will be different from the competitive show that we have had in the past. The October issue of The Junonia will have updated information about the Board’s plans.”

Sanibel Library – Temporarily closed for sanitization, but open for digital borrowing. Phone and email support available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library’s eShelf and all online services remain available 24/7. All user fees waived during the closure. For more info, call 239-472-2483 or visit http://www.SanLib.org.

SanCap Cares – Posted this week on SanCap Cares Facebook page: “Given the current state of the pandemic, and after much discussion among the SanCap Cares committee members, we have made the decision to cancel the rescheduled 20th Anniversary Celebration that was slated for November 22, 2020…. The 2021 annual event is still on for March 28, 2021 at the Sanctuary Golf Club. Lee Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital needs us now more than ever! See you in 2021”

Sanibel Recreation Center & Playgrounds – Community Park (across from our office) and Bowman’s Beach playgrounds are open. At the Rec Center, registration for the After-School Youth Program is open. A new on-line reservation system also has been set up for members using the lap pool, tennis courts, and weight room. To comply with social distancing protocols, use of the Rec Center is by appointment only with reservations. Go to www.MySanibel for more info.

Travel Restrictions Removed by Governor – On August 6, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-192, which addresses short-term vacation rentals and rescinds the travel restrictions for the tri-state area: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. People from those areas had been advised to self-quarantine for two weeks. The executive order also rescinds the previous employee screening requirements for restaurant employees. This means employees who have previously tested positive do not need to receive two negative tests before they can come back to work. Employers are required only to implement screening protocols pursuant to CDC guidance. The executive order also removes the requirement that employees who have traveled through an airport in the last 14 days be prohibited from working in a restaurant.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 7-14, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Ibis at The Sanctuary #102 2/2 $479K; Seawind #108 2/2.5 $529K; Lighthouse Point #121 3/2 $609,906; Blind Pass #G105 4/3 $969K.

3 price changes: Gulf Beach #106 2/2 now $849K, Somerset #A101 3/2.5 now $1.7M, Plantation Village #322 3/3 now $2.55M.

2 new sales: Spanish Cay #A3 1/1 listed at $293K, Sandpebble #4E 2/2 listed at $475K.

4 closed sales: Sundial #B406 2/2 $732.5K, Sundial #T301 2/2 $805K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #4-3 3/3 $900K, Loggerhead Cay #514 2/2 $965K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 1797 Serenity Ln 2/2 $445K, 600 Boulder Dr 3/2 $599K, 9240 Belding Dr 3/2.5 $620K, 1001 East Gulf Dr 2/2 $649K, 545 Lake Murex Cir 3/3 $1.075M.

2 price changes: 718 Durion Ct 3/2 now $599K, 4345 Gulf Pines Dr 4/4 now $855K.

5 new sales: 4606 Brainard Bayou Rd 2/2 listed at $469.9K, 9240 Belding Dr 3/2.5 listed at $620K, 1350 Middle Gulf Dr #1F (Moonshadows) 3/3 half-duplex listed at $729K, 1724 Bunting Ln 3/3.5 listed at $949.5K, 1121 Skiff Ln 3/3 listed at $999K.

3 closed sales: 1010 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 $980K, 3706 West Gulf Dr 4/3 $1.2M, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 $1.499M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1048 Fish Crow Rd now $350K.

1 new sale: 978 Main St listed at $169.9K.

No closed sale.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

5 new sales: Tennis Villas #3120 1/1 listed at $308K, Bayside Villas #4112 1/2 listed at $375K, Bayside Villas #5114 1/2 listed at $380K, Bayside Villas #5234 1/2 listed at $399K, Beach Villas #2418 2/2 listed at $759K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings

1 price change: 1124 Longifolia Ct 4/5 now $2.649M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

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

Until next Friday, stay safe, enjoy your weekend & this recent sunset photo shared by our photographers, Jim and Jimmy Anderson with JMA Photography. Their photo was taken recently from one of their drones overlooking the same area of South Seas Plantation as my photo above (Lands End Village overlooking Redfish Pass). Summer sunsets are the best!

Susan Andrews aka Sanibel Susan

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

Another Summery Friday on Sanibel

Posted on August 7, 2020 by SanibelSusan

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

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

Regarding COVID-19

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

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

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

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

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

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

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

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

Posted Monday, August 3, by SouthFloridaReporter.com:

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

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

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

Below is what it had to say about Sanibel:

“Sanibel Island, FL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salt Pulping on Wood Pilings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salt Damage to Wood

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

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

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

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

HOMES

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

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

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

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

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

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

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

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

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

HOMES

No new listings

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

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

No closed sales.

LOTS

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

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

Wrapping Up July on Sunny Sanibel Island

Posted on July 31, 2020 by SanibelSusan

It has been another quiet week on sunny Sanibel. One with beautiful summer weather – typical for the days before a tropical event. Teammate Dave remarked this morning about how bright sunset was last night. Saharan dust is orange and red, so sunsets through the dust haze are often bright and brilliant.

Something else that is pretty spectacular this time of the year is the night-blooming cereus. These desert-type cactus bloom once a year in the summer when the temperature drops at night. Their large flowers are showy and a contrast to their typically unexciting appearance.

There is a large group of them on trees on the north side of Periwinkle Way. I have enjoyed them for many years, just catching the tail-end of their blooms as I head to the office in the morning.

The action posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing service is after a couple of news items below.

Watching the Weather

You can bet that many have been doing plenty of weather watching this week. The early afternoon forecast looks like Hurricane Isaias will skim past the east coast of Florida, so that is a relief. Southwest Florida looks to be totally out of the cone. But, we also know that it pays to stay tuned. Hurricanes have changed path before. On a more positive note, several east coast residents are coming here to enjoy the weekend. Their business will be welcome.

Island Openings/Closings

Sanibel Mayor Ruane has extended the declared state of emergency in response to COVID-19 until August 4. As of yesterday, the Florida Department of Health announced one new confirmed COVID-19 positive tests on Sanibel bringing the total cases since March 26 to 35. The City’s home page (www.MySanibel.com) has direct access to these daily reports.

Re-openings:

Sanibel Community House has announced August events (with masks and social distancing required): Thursdays at 1 p.m. open forum on “Leading Life Currently”; Kids Cooking Camp M-F August 3 to 7 from 10 a.m. until noon (private lessons also available); Camp to Go Shell Critter Kits & Camp to Go Art Kits available for purchase or to ship; Lee Health Blood Mobile Thurs August 20 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Community House Rib Night Social Fri August 21 beginning at 6 p.m. More info at www.sanibelcommunityhouse.net and 239-472-2155.
Sanibel Historical Village already has been closed for four months and usually is closed during the off-season August 1 through mid-October. They updated their membership this week and advise that current plans are to reopen with new safety precautions on October 20.
Beginning Mon, August 3, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will resume charging Wildlife Drive admission fees which have been waived since March 23 to avoid unsafe interaction during the pandemic. Now with safety protocols, the daily vehicular fees will return to $5 and entry fees for pedestrians and cyclists over age 15 again is $1. Although the Visitor & Education Center will remain closed until announced, its “America’s Best Restroom” will reopen to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. also starting August 3. The Nature Store inside the visitor center is offering free curbside delivery for orders placed on www.ShopDingDarling.com during the physical store closure. Call 239-472-1100 Ext 241 or visit the website to lean more.
Tarpon Bay Explorers’ narrated tram tours of Wildlife Drive will resume on August 4 and will run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. until further notice. Visitors also may purchase annual and federal passes from the Wildlife Drive fee booth Saturday through Thursday and at the Tarpon Bay Explorers’ gift store on Fridays. Call 239-472-1351 or 239-472-8900 for latest info.

Taken about noon today at Tarpon Bay Explorers

A couple of long-time island retail establishments are closing:

Owners of The Sporty Seahorse Shop at 362 Periwinkle Way are retiring, after 30 years on Sanibel’s east end. According to their ad in today’s “Island Sun”, starting August 1 all merchandise is 40% off.
C. Turtles Hip Boutique at 1985 Periwinkle in Tahitian Gardens closed yesterday after 24 years in business. We still miss Susie as our neighbor at her former location in Sanibel Square.

The Return of McMansions? They Answer Pandemic Buyers’ Needs

Posted yesterday on-line at FloridaRealtors® and sourced to Realty Biz News (07/27/2020) Wheatley, Mike

“NEW YORK – As the pandemic compels people to spend more time indoors, experts say home buyers are increasingly searching for larger spaces with so-called McMansions apparently back in fashion, says Sonia Hirt, dean of the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design. “The suburban home that was so stereotypical and boring suddenly proved itself to have benefits we’ve completely forgotten about,” Hirt says.

“A recent report by the National Association of Realtors® found that the median size of an existing home was 2,060 square feet prior to the coronavirus pandemic. For new homes, however, the median size was 2,291 feet, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Architects say they expect those medians to increase in the next year.

““It’s being driven by people looking for the right combination of functionality and price,” says Ken Perlman, managing principal at John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Families want more room to accommodate adult relatives who might have moved in due to the pandemic. College students and young adults also opted to move back home due to stay-at-home measures and the economic situation.

““We’re going to see another bump in multigenerational living,” says Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United. “By combining resources, they can afford a bigger house or a more comfortable lifestyle.””

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 24-31, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sundial #J107 2/2 $729K, Pointe Santo #A31 2/2 $949K.

2 price changes: Mariner Pointe #522 2/2 now $484.9K (our listing), Seawind II #2 2/2.5 now $799.9K, Sanddollar #B104 2/2 now $1.05M.

1 new sale: Shell Island Beach Club #7C listed at $799K.

4 closed sales: Sanibel Arms West #B2 2/2 $490K, Mariner Pointe #542 2/2 $565K, Sanibel Surfside #132 2/2 $840K, Island Beach Club #340E 2/2 $1.06M.

View from Mariner Pointe #522

HOMES

2 new listings: 981 Main St 4/2.5 $699.9K, 1035 S Yachtsman Dr 5/4.5 $1.099M.

2 price changes: 1752 Jewel Box Dr 2/2 now $859K; 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 now $875K.

2 new sales: 9036 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $624,999; 1271 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 listed at $925K.

9 closed sales: 9465 Calla Ct 3/2 $475K; 1361 Tahiti Dr 2/2 $509,600; 954 Donax St 3/3 $510K; 433 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $550K; 5056 Joewood Dr 3/2 $800K; 1199 Par View Dr 3/2.5 $950K; 2385 Wulfert Rd 4/5 $1M; 2477 Wulfert 3/4 $1.1M; 2154 Starfish Ln 3/3 $1.31M..

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 2297 Wulfert Rd now $187K.

2 new sales: 2462 Wulfert Rd listed at $229K, 1912 Par View Dr listed at $284,999.

1 closed sale: 6419 Pine Ave $785K.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Beach Villas #2418 2/2 $759K, Lands End Village #1659 2/2 $975K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Bayside Villas #5304 3/3 listed at $667.5K, Captiva Shores #C6 2/2 listed at $1.019M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

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

LOTS

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

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

Here’s hoping your weekend weather also is storm free. Until next week…

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

It’s A Tropical Kinda Friday!

Posted on July 24, 2020 by SanibelSusan

SanibelSusan here reporting another happy Friday! (Those are especially nice on weeks with closings.) There have been bright blue skies here so-far today, after a soggy Thursday afternoon. Now that the rainy season has settled in and the first of the tropical storms have developed in the gulf, showers have become more frequent and sometimes heavy.

Sanibel Square lost electricity for a short time yesterday. (A notice from the City said that 2000 island customers were affected.) Lee County Electric Coop (LCEC) continues to respond quickly. Go to http://www.lcec.net to download their “Smart Hub” app to report outages and to access your account. LCEC’s outage management map is a good resource too.

A plus with these showers is the islands are back to their lush tropical summer look, vegetation is a brilliant green and growing like crazy. Here are a few photos of the things blooming in my yard today. The gardenia bush is flowering for the third time this year – that’s a first.

These recent rains also have resulted in a lot of skeeters! There are almost enough to help carry in the mail. Though Lee County Mosquito Control (LCMC) has been working hard to keep them in check, population now is expanding faster than the island marsh bunnies – and that is booming. (Seriously, LCMC does a great job keeping those pesky biters in check during “mosquito season”, May through October. Mosquito activity increases, particularly after heavy rains that produce large areas of standing water. With the islands, mangroves, wetlands, and salt marshes, Sanibel is a prime breeding ground, so contact LCMC if you have a large number in your island neighborhood.)

At SanibelSusan Realty

Once again, our listings got some action this week. No offers, but some inquiries and showings. The activity posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below. Plenty of real estate sales are occurring here. If you are interested in an updated Sanibel/Captiva inventory list, contact The SanibelSusan Team. We are happy to mail or email you one anytime.

Much of the local news, probably like where you are, is about COVID-19 and when schools will begin. Lee County’s School Board met yesterday and have decided to delay the opening here from August 10 to August 31.

The “Real Estate” State of the State

Below is the June 2020 – Florida Housing Report from Dr. Brad O’Connor, Florida Realtors Chief Economist:

“The June 2020 statistics from Florida Realtors have just been released, and they erase any remaining doubts that Florida’s housing market is in the midst of a large-scale recovery. This isn’t to say that every segment of the market is performing well, but on the whole, things are looking better than they have in several months.

“Let’s start by looking at the statewide statistics for existing single-family home sales. For the first time since March, closed sales were up year-over-year, rising by 1.3%. Remember in April and May, closings were down about 21 and 36%, respectively. But thanks to this nice recovery in June, plus the unusually strong sales growth we had ahead of the pandemic in January and February, here at the mid-point of 2020, closings are only down a little over 7% for the year compared to the first half of 2019. At our current trajectory, in fact, it’s possible that we may end the year with more closed single-family home sales statewide than we had last year.

“Of course, if you’ve been following the numbers with us over the past couple of months, you likely saw all of this coming. After all, new pending sales of single-family homes were up 2.3% in May. And if we assume new pending sales trends will continue to provide reliable forecasts of closings in the months to come, then based on the latest numbers from June, we can expect a very good summer. Why? Because in June, statewide new pending sales of single-family homes were up over 23%, year-over-year.

“Several factors are playing into this renewed demand for housing, but by far, the most important factors are record-low mortgage interest rates and the release of all the pent-up demand from our derailed spring buying season. Of course, we can’t expect this supercharged level of sales growth to last forever, since at some point, we will burn through all of this pent-up demand. But interest rates are not expected to rise any time soon, and they still have some room to go lower, so we have every reason to be optimistic about sales over the coming months, barring additional negative shocks to the economy.

“Over in the condo and townhouse category, existing home sales continue to lag those from the single-family category, but they still show significant improvement. Closed sales in this category were down nearly 11% year-over-year in June, but keep in mind, they were down over 50% in May. Still, the best signal that condos and townhouses are making a comeback comes from probably the most surprising number we saw this month, which is the nearly 20% increase in new contracts compared to the same month last year.

“Over on the supply side of the market, inventory remains scarce and one of our most immediate areas of concern, particularly in the single-family home category. As of the end of June, there were over 27 percent fewer single-family homes listed for sale in Florida’s MLSs than at this time a year ago. Looking at it another way, in three months’ time, we have gone from nearly 84,000 statewide single-family listings at the end of March to under 66,000 listings here at the mid-point of 2020. Fortunately, the condo and townhouse category has fared better, with inventory being down only about 6% compared to a year ago.

“The one positive aspect of this reduction in the supply of available housing is that it counteracted the temporary drop in home sales activity we saw in the first couple months in the pandemic, thereby keeping home values relatively stable. But now that demand has come roaring back, we are starting to see rising prices again. The median sale price for closed single-family home sales in June was $282,000, a 4.4% increase from a year ago. Over in the condo and townhouse category, the median sale price was up 7.7%, to $210,000. As we continue on through 2020, our biggest concern remains the inventory shortage, which could eventually put a cap on the number of possible transactions. But home values should remain stable.

“Now, I’ve covered the state as a whole, but every local market has its own trends….”

The Market on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Looking more specifically at the island market, the below graphic provides the statistics through 2020’s 2^nd quarter, provided by the islands Association of Realtors®.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

The local Association of Realtors® office remains closed for meetings including caravans, but members are looking forward to our first “virtual” membership meeting on August 13 where the guest speaker is Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice president of Research at the National Association of Realtors®.

He will discuss today’s economic climate, current housing trends, the outlook on resort and 2^nd home markets like ours, and his projections for the end of 2020 and beyond. (You may remember from my past blogs that I am a huge fan of his conservative outlooks. If anyone has a question that you would like me to pose to him, just let me know.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 17-24, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sunset South #2D 2/2 $675K, Villas of Sanibel #B202 3/2 $1.895M.

4 price changes: Casa Blanca #4 1/1 now $357K, Signal Inn #14 2/2 now $699K, Atrium #103 2/2 now $1.225M, Sunward #201 3/2 now $1.259M.

5 new sales: Colonnades #C3 1/1 listed at $245K, Pointe Santo #D21 2/2 listed at $549K, Kings Crown #306 2/2 listed at $838K, Somerset #C302 3/2 listed at $1.65M, High Tide #A301 3/2 listed at $1.989M.

3 closed sales: Captains Walk #C3 1/1 $250K, Island Beach Club #320B 2/2 $649K, Heron at The Sanctuary #3B 3/2.5 $775K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 315 East Gulf Dr 3/2 half-duplex $599K, 756 Windlass Way 4/3 $869K, 1351 Middle Gulf Dr #1A (Moonshadows) 3/3 half-duplex $889K, 1259 Par View Dr 3/4 $1.175M, 1306 Seaspray Ln 4/4 $4.65M.

3 price changes: 799 Casa Ybel Rd 5/3 duplex now $580K, 690 Durion Ct 3/2 now $695K, 1081 Captains Walk St 4/2.5 now $995K.

10 new sales: 560 Piedmont Rd 3/2 listed at $460K, 1890 Farm Trl 3/2 listed at $549.4K, 9247 Dimmick Dr 3/2 listed at $590K, 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 listed at $595K, 1559 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $677K, 5304 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/3 listed at $770K, 9024 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $819K, 2439 Harbour Ln 3/3 listed at $1.089M, 1329 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.375M, 4577 Waters Edge Ln 4/3 listed at $2.995M.

9 closed sales: 1593 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex $583.5K, 1021 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $658K, 1807 Serenity Ln 3/2 $700K, 1755 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 $725K, 5659 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 $750K, 901 S.Yachtsman Dr 2/2 $760K (our listing), 1430 Causey Ct 3/2 $865K, 5855 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $900K, 6071 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 5/4.5 $1.4M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: 6411 Pine Ave $290K, 6053 Sanibel-Captiva Rd $922K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2522 1/1 $529K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Tennis Villas #3213 1/1 listed at $354.9K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 11515 Gore Ln 5/4.5 now $2.395M, 1124 Longifolia Ct 4/5 now $2.938M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

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

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

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

When It Rains on The Islands, Just Wait a Few Minutes

Posted on July 17, 2020 by SanibelSusan

It has been another week of typical July weather on Sanibel and Captiva Islands – bright blue skies with big white puffy popcorn clouds often rolling in, bringing along a quick shower and resulting in some terrific sunsets. I took a quick detour on my way back to the office about 1 p.m. this afternoon trying to capture a photo of those clouds. My quick trip up Bailey Road was not fast enough, so I tried Dixie Beach Blvd. You can see from the photos below that it was already raining off island with waves forming on San Carlos Bay and Pine Island Sound. Now the rains have stopped, with both islands first getting a good dousing.

From the lot at the end of Dixie Beach looking toward Woodring Rd

Already raining across Pine Island Sound.

A few little white caps on San Carlos Bay

New real estate action was down a little this week following the departure of holiday visitors, but overall, closed sales are doing well. Below is a summary comparison of island sales (from January through today) over the last three years. Current inventory also is shown.

For those who can work from home or want to spend more time here, there is plenty of inventory and lenders are offering some of the best programs in decades. Prudent buyers also will note that prices again are creeping up.

Residential Property – Condos, Homes, & Lots
	Sanibel		Captiva		Total Both Islands
Sold/Closed from 1/1 to 7/17	#	Avg Price	#	Avg Price	#	Avg Price
2020	214	879,346	32	2,024,593	246	1,028,321
2019	227	841,871	22	1,856,533	249	931,522
2018	272	1,011,547	29	1,430,385	301	1,051,900
For Sale Now	316	1,156,219	86	2,610,933	401	1,469,652

Looking more carefully at sales to-date this year, here are answers to some questions often posed to Realtors®. (My answers are based on the island Multiple Listing Service.)

What is the cost of a 2-bedroom condo on the gulf? On Sanibel, today there are 55 for sale, average asking price $815,576. On Captiva, seven are for sale, average asking price $1,285,214.

What if I need 3 bedrooms? Expect to pay a lot more. On Sanibel, 16 are for sale, average asking price $1,634,125. On Captiva, six are for sale, average asking price $2,456,500.

How much do properties sell off their asking price? Looking at those same property types and sales this year, 33 Sanibel 2-bedroom gulf condos sold in prices ranging from $508,000 to $1,200,000 (a huge spread). Average sale price compared to average list price = 94%. On Captiva, there were just four gulf-side 2-bedroom condo sales. Prices ranged from $674,500 to $1,480,000. There, average sale price compared to list price is 96%.

What is the cost of a single-family 3-bedroom home with pool near-the-beach? That is the most popular island property. On Sanibel, 14 are for sale, average asking price $855,278. Year-to-date, 13 have sold at prices ranging from $447,000 to $1,167,500. Average sale price $875,657 is 94% of the average asking price. On Captiva, four are available, average asking price $1,818,500. Year-to-date, just two have sold. Average sale price of $1,862,500 is 94% of average list price.

Below are a few news items followed by the activity this week in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service. You will notice that there was just one new Sanibel condo sale, while there were eight home sales. Closings were similarly split this week with no Sanibel condo closings, but 11 Sanibel homes closed. Usually condo buyers are here now… hopefully they are coming soon!

City of Sanibel

On Tuesday, Sanibel City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting. One item discussed was the City budget and the expected 2020 millage rate.

As reported in today’s “Island Sun”: “Despite COVID-19, island property values are projected to have risen this year, although by less than one percent, and the City is projected to have the lowest tax rate since 2007.”

There was no change in the Mayor’s State of Emergency Proclamation Due to COVID-19, other than extending it until July 21.

Great News from Turtle Patrol

Posted Wed on SCCF’s (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) FaceBook page:

“Captiva has broken its record for the most loggerhead sea turtle nests ever documented! With 231 nests, the island is well ahead of last year’s record of 193 loggerhead nests.

“On Sanibel, we are up to 585 loggerhead nests with a couple weeks of nesting still to go. The previous record on Sanibel was set in 2017 for loggerheads, with 649 nests.

“We are now tracking three loggerheads that nested on our beaches this summer. Last week, our team tagged a loggerhead named Periwinkle…. Pepper, Junonia, and Periwinkle received satellite transmitters this nesting season to learn more about the inter-nesting movements, migratory pathways, and foraging grounds of loggerheads nesting on our beaches. Click here to track these turtles! https://www.trackturtles.com/”

Why We Love It Here

Here are a few reminders of why so many love Sanibel and Captiva:

Tops in Nation – Widely recognized & consistently ranged as one of the country’s top destinations for beach combing, shelling, kayaking, bird watching, and biking. Family Fun magazine has rated Sanibel a top overall family attraction.

Popular Winter Destination – The American Society of Travel Agents has ranked the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva in their top ten most popular winter destinations. The Weather Channel also has ranked the islands in its top five winter escapes, along with Key West, Kahului (in Maui), Honolulu, and Miami.

Sanibel Shell Festival – Beaches are ranked some of the best in the world for shelling. More varieties can be found here than anywhere else in North America. Shelling posture is so common, that it has a name – The Sanibel Stoop. It also is no wonder that the Sanibel Shell Festival will celebrate its 84th year in 2021. Among the rare shells collected here are the brown speckled junonia, sculpted lion’s paw, coveted golden olive, golden tulip, and Scotch bonnet. Live shelling is banned, but shell seekers are encouraged to pick up abandoned treasures that wash up on shore.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge – Occupying more than half of Sanibel, the national wildlife refuge was named for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jay Norwood Darling, who also was the first environmentalist to hold a presidential cabinet post (Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration).

Boating – There are plenty of opportunities on the islands and surrounding waterways for water enthusiasts, from easy kayaking to serious tarpon fishing. Boat straight across the state from Fort Myers/Sanibel to Palm Beach via the Caloosahatchee River and Okeechobee Waterway, both part of the intra-coastal waterway.

Creativity Abounds Here – From authors to artists to musicians & more – Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the wife of America’s famous aviator, wrote her best-selling book, “A Gift from the Sea,” without identifying it as Captiva Island.

Gladiolus Capital – Some of Lee County’s original settlers were flower growers from the Benelux region of Europe. At one time their horticultural efforts made nearby Fort Myers the “Gladiolus Capital of the World.”

Update on The Wildlife Refuge

From the July 16, 2020, “’Ding’ on The Wing”, News from the ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society:

“Tarpon Bay Explorers has restructured its Sealife and Nature Cruises schedule. Currently, the tours depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 11, 1:30, and 6. Keep current on developments via our COVID-19 web page. In the meantime, we urge you to #StayHome as much as possible, get out in nature when you can, and maintain social distance and mask guidelines when you must go out.”

At the Refuge store, their special edition Sanibel Shells masks are in stock and more Roseate Spoonbill masks are expected to arrive soon. Easy to order at ShopDingDarling.com.

Realtor.com’s Website Has ‘Record-Level’ Buyer Interest

Posted July 10 on FloridaRealtors® on line:

“The site created a Housing Market Recovery Index just a few weeks ago to gauge the market’s return to “normal,” and real estate is already close to pre-pandemic levels.

“Realtor.com says its monthly website traffic hit an all-time high of 86 million unique users in June 2020, breaking May’s record of 85 million unique users. It also broke its daily record on June 25 when 7 million unique users visited the site.

“Realtor.com created a new Housing Market Recovery Index in early June to gauge how fast the pandemic-slowed real estate market returned to “normal.” The index considers a score of 100 to represent the real estate market on Feb. 1, 2020 – before the pandemic hit – and any current metro score below 100 represents its relative weakness compared to the pre-pandemic market.

“In many metro areas, however, the index has returned to something close to normal; in some areas, it’s even improved.

“In the four Florida metro areas realtor.com includes in its Index, one has already passed the Feb. 1 baseline – Jacksonville with an index of 100.4 – and the other three are only slightly below for the week ending July 4.

Nationwide, the index number reached 97.8, which is the largest weekly increase since the index was introduced. The week’s 2.1-point increase week-to-week brings the index just 2.2 points below the pre-COVID baseline. However, supply remains the biggest factor that will slow a recovery, realtor.com analysts say. Total listings on realtor.com are down 31% year-to-year.

“All-time low mortgage rates and easing job losses have boosted buyer confidence back to pre-pandemic levels,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com. “With supply at record lows, the backlog of demand portends increased competition and a seller’s market in the weeks ahead. While buyers are back, growth in home sales this summer will be constrained by the slow return of sellers and the limited amount of homes hitting the market.

“Nationwide, listings spent three days less on the market year-to-year the week of July 4. Asking prices on realtor.com were up 6.2%, and the number of new listings were down 4%. Out of the 50 metros included in the Index, the Boston area ranked first with a score of 119.9; the Milwaukee metro area ranked last with a score of 85.8.”

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Spanish Cay #F4 2/2 listed at $399,999; Kimball Lodge #263 1/1.5 $525K; Loggerhead Cay #542 2/2 $699K; Sundial #T201 2/2 $830K; Surfside 12 #A4 3/2 $849K.

4 price changes: Sanibel Arms #B1 1/1 now $419K, Sundial #C301 1/1 now $460K, Mariner Pointe #421 2/2 now $589K, Kings Crown #306 2/2 now $838K.

1 new sale: Sanibel Surfside #126 2/2 listed at $799K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 1304 Par View Dr 3/3 $775K.

1 price change: 1720 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/3 now $995K.

8 new sales: 9426 Beverly Ln 3/2 listed at $575K, 1827 Middle Gulf Dr 2/2 listed at $589K; 6033 Dinkins Lake Rd 3/3.5 listed at $698.5K; 1515 Angel Dr 3/2 listed at $849,948; 1358 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 listed at $995K; 1010 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 listed at $997K; 3706 West Gulf Dr 4/3 listed at $1.325M; 3615 West Gulf Dr 3/2 listed at $2.995M.

11 closed sales: 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 $514K, 3947 Coquina Dr 2/2 $550K, 990/992 Greenwood Ct N 3/2.5 duplex $640K, 9418 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $655K, 1978 Roseate Ln 3/2 $680K, 1285 Par View Dr 4/2.5 $700K, 1220 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $775K, 676 Emeril Ct 3/2 $830K, 847 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 $850K, 1230 Bay Dr 3/2 $1.45M, 2460 Harbour Ln 3/3 $1.75M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 0 Island Inn Rd now $599,555.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Bayside Villas #5234 1/2 now $399K, Beach Homes #30 4/4.5 now $3.65M.

2 new sales: Tennis Villas #3114 1/1 listed at $329K, Beach Homes #21 3/3 listed at $3,000,050.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11520 Wightman Ln 3/2 $2.589M.

1 price change: 16500 Captiva Dr 6/6/2 now $6.389M.

1 new sale: 11547 Laika Ln 4/4 listed at $1.995M.

2 closed sales: 11520 Wightman Ln 3/2 $2.5M, 16221-16217 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 $3.6M.

LOTS

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

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

Until next week, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Wear a Mask, Wash Your Hands, Stay Well… Please!

Posted on July 10, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Another Friday – time for another update from SanibelSusan. As the holiday week wraps up on Sanibel, the island vibe seems to have settled into an odd combination. Islanders, particularly older ones, are sticking close to home. Visitors and vacationers, on the other hand, are “out and about”, though carefully selecting where they go and what they do. Mostly, simply enjoying the best of Sanibel – the beach and nature.

Photo at right taken this week by JMA photography showing the foot bridge over Clam Bayou to Bowman’s Beach.

Second photo is of a sunset this week, also at Bowman’s Beach. It’s the site of many of the best sunsets. Super shelling too!

Thankfully, island appeal continues to be up while we all adjust to new ways of life and business, while staying safe.

Below is a summary of the status of the City of Sanibel proclamation (as of July 7) followed by a couple of news items that may be helpful in this new world. After that, is our weekly update of the activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service.

City of Sanibel Status as of July 7, 2020

State of Emergency Proclamation Due to COVID-19 extended through July 14, 2020 (which is when the next City Council meeting is scheduled). Listen to that audio or read the latest proclamation in full at www.MySanibel.com.

Face coverings – required while inside public places and outdoors in public places when social distancing is not possible. (exceptions listed in Proclamation 20-040). Minimum age for children to wear coverings is six.

Beach parking – is open, illegal parking fines are $200. Possession & consumption of alcohol from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all City operated beaches, parks, picnic areas is prohibited.

Public lodging – occupancy caps removed, but reservations including vacation rentals, motels & timeshares with guests from areas identified by Governor as high risk (NY, NJ, CT) must be for periods longer than quarantine period established by Governor (14 days). International travelers prohibited.

Retail – may operate at full capacity with social distancing and sanitization.

Museums, movie theaters, auditoriums, playhouses, concert houses – may operate at 50% capacity with social distancing & sanitization.

Huge Spike in Internet Viewings in June

Every month, I get a report showing the number of viewings our listings receive through ListHub. ListHub is a real estate syndication service that synchronizes listings from hundreds of Multiple Listing Services with 150+publisher websites. How it works is, ListHub connects to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The broker in charge of company listings sets up their desired distribution for their listings. Then, LisHub pulls the listing info and synchronizes to each website selected. As new listings are added or existing listings are updated, ListHub automatically distributes the new info. Then, monthly, ListHub collects the traffic metrics from the publisher websites and compiles them into reports provided to the brokers.

Through ListHub, I syndicate SanibelSusan Realty’s listings to 68 of the sites available to our MLS. Some of those are HomeFinder.com, Homes.com, The Real Estate Book, Homes & Land, HomeSpotter, HomeWinks, Homes.net, HousesForSale, HousingNow, IdealEstate, International Property Network, Juwai, LuxuryRealEstate.com, Point2 Homes, Properties Online, PropertyPath, and PropertySimple.

Our listings get hits from this additional exposure, as they do through the Internet Data Exchange network that is offered by Florida Realtors®. In reviewing our last report, I noticed a marked increase in searches during the pandemic, in April and May when so many viewers were “at home”. More surprising is that in June our listings were viewed a whopping eight times more frequently than in May. Here’s hoping those lookers turn into buyers.

Protect Your Meetings from Unwanted Visitors

Good article in the July issue of Florida Realtor®: “As large numbers of people turn to video-teleconferencing (VTC) platforms to stay connected in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, reports of VTC hijacking (also called Zoom-bombing”) are emerging nationwide. The FBI has received multiple reports of conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.

“As individuals continue the transition to online lessons and meetings, the FBI recommends exercising due diligence and caution in your cybersecurity efforts. The following steps can be taken to mitigate teleconference hijacking threats.

“Do not make meetings or classrooms public. In Zoom, there are two options to make a meeting private: require a meeting password or use the waiting room feature and control the admittance of guests.
“Do not share a link to a teleconference or classroom on an unrestricted publicly available social media post. Provide the link directly to specific people.
“Manage screensharing options. In Zoom, change screensharing to “Host Only”.
“Ensure users are using the updated version of remote access/meeting applications. In January 2020, Zoom updated their software. In their security update, the teleconference software provided added passwords by default for meetings and disabled the ability to randomly scan for meetings to join.
“Lastly, ensure that your organization’s telework policy or guide addresses requirements for physical and information security.

“If you were a victim of a teleconference hijacking or any cybercrime, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”

9 Ways to Prepare for a Virtual Showing

Viewing real estate likely will continue to be a mix of in-person and virtual showings. Below are suggestions from Florida Realtors® for the best of virtual showings:

“Declutter. Clutter is a major distraction when buyers are viewing a home. You want them to focus on all the great features of the house not look at the stack of mail cluttering the kitchen counter.
“Depersonalize. Remove items like framed family photos and memorabilia. It’s hard for a buyer to picture living in the home if they see photos of you everywhere.
“Remove all signs of your pet. In the same way that you should depersonalize, tuck away your pet’s toys, bowl, and bed. Not everyone is a pet person.
“Turn on lights & open doors. To minimize the surfaces your Realtor® is touching, turn on all the lights and open all doors before your Realtor® walks through to livestream or film your home.
“Open blinds. Natural light is an essential when filming a home. Open the blinds and let as much light in as possible so the camera picks up all the beautiful details of each room.
“Plan the route around the house. If you’re showing the home without a Realtor® present, be sure to work with your agent to plan a clear route around the home that shows off each room and is clear of trip hazards.
“Think about your prospective buyer. If your Realtor® is doing the showing, be sure to tell them some personal stories or unique details about the home so they can relay it in the livestream or video.
“Tackle outdoor spaces. Prune any overgrown landscaping, cut back tree branches and mow the lawn.
“Clean up the front entrance. The walkway to your property and the front entrance are your home’s first impression. Power wash outside, touch up paint in the entryway and clear out any dirt and grime that has collected around the edges.”

Openings/Closings/Reopenings

It is getting hard to keep track of what is open, closed, and reopened, but here is scoop on a few that I noticed this week.

Cielo – As a precautionary measure for guests and staff, closed their dining room beginning Tuesday July 7. They now are open for take-out/curbside pick-up only, until such time as they feel they can safely reopen. Check their website for updates at https://cielo-sanibel.com/

The Sanibel Sprout – The sign went up this week at their new location in Islander Center at 2407 Periwinkle Way (former site of Sanibel Baked), but their Facebook page says they are remodeling, expecting to reopen in August.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 3-10, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Spanish Cay #A3 1/1 $293K, Sundial #D305 1/1 $539K.

4 price changes: Colonnades #C3 1/1 now $249K, Sanibel Arms #B7 1/1 now $356.5K, Mariner Pointe #1083 2/2 now #490K, Sanibel Siesta #302 2/2 now $676K.

4 new sales: Colonnades #C13 1/1 listed at $299K, Villa Sanibel #3A 2/2 listed at $669K, Sand Pointe #227 2/2 listed at $729K, Sand Pointe #116 2/2 listed at $899K.

3 closed sales: Sundial #H208 1/1 $470K, Blind Pass #B209 2/2 $470K, Seawind #A107 2/2.5 $500K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 9247 Dimmick Dr 3/2 $590K, 9106 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 $749K, 5672 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $879K.

6 price changes: 5151 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 now $467K, 718 Durion Ct 3/2 now $619K, 9421 Moonlight Dr 3/2 now $775K, 1777 Serenity Ln 5/4.5 now $930K, 1358 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 now $995K, 4577 Waters Edge Ln 4/3 now $2.995M.

4 new sales: 1476 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $695K, 660 Durion Ct 3/2 listed at $849K, 345 Cowry Ct 3/4.5 listed at $875K, 2477 Wulfert Rd 3/4 listed at $1.249M.

5 closed sales: 1401 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex $460K, 970 Palm St 3/2 $535K, 1056 S. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $840K, 1606 Sabal Sands Rd 3/2 $875K, 792 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 $983,750.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 4767 Tradewinds Dr listed at $1.595M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

4 new listings: Tennis Villas #3114 1/1 $329K, Bayside Villas #5114 1/2 $380K, Beach Villas #2418 2/2 $749K, Captiva Hide-A-Way #1C 2/2 $889K.

2 price changes: Tennis Villas #3213 1/1 now $354.9K, Bayside Villas #4220 1/2 now $415K.

No new sales.

1 close sale: Seabreeze #1253 3/3 $1.325M.

HOMES

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 6 Sunset Captiva Ln 2/2 $2.55M.

LOTS

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

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

Until next Friday, please heed the precautions, wear a mast, wash your hands, & stay well!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Happy Birthday, America!

Posted on July 3, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Happy birthday, America, and best wishes from SanibelSusan for a safe and happy July 4th. My team is off today for the long weekend, but I am in the office doing what I like best. I’ll be here tomorrow too, working with buyers.

Undoubtedly you have heard the news that COVID-19 cases in Florida, Lee County, and on Sanibel have increased. Reports are so conflicting, and the news so biased that it is hard to know what to believe. Unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had this illness and though the majority seem to be following recommended precautions, we keep hearing that it only takes “one” unknowing person to pass it on.

My Realtor® friend from Cape Coral who was hospitalized with it for many days, acknowledging she had simply let her guard down. Thankfully she came home this week but is struggling through a tough recovery. Hearing from her was enough to keep me from attending the special Sanibel City Council meeting on Tuesday. The state of emergency proclamation was expiring that day, so the meeting was called to discuss what further steps might be necessary to combat the virus.

At that meeting, the City extended the proclamation through the holiday weekend and voted to make face coverings mandatory in public places where social distancing is not possible. There are some exceptions, but masks are required inside businesses (except when eating). Read the full explanation on www.MySanibel.com.

The other emergency measure that passed was to reclose the City “pay” public beach parking lots from today through Monday. The goal here is to stop congestion on the beaches. Since the parking lots reopened a few weeks ago, particularly on weekends, the beaches have been packed. With the holiday weekend, many beaches in Florida closed, and island accommodations reporting reservations at capacity, it was considered a smart precaution to try to limit the number of beachgoers.

Yesterday, Traders restaurant (a personal favorite) posted this message: “Due to the escalation of COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, beginning today, Traders is closed for the July 4th holiday week. We will reopen Tuesday, July 14th. We apologize for an inconvenience. Stay safe + stay healthy!”

At SanibelSusan Realty

In the office, while wearing masks and practicing social distancing, we again had good action this week. Unusually busy for this time of year and we are grateful. The months certainly are flying by. Hard to believe 2020 is half over.

With no Sanibel parade or fireworks tomorrow, I did a little sleuthing today through old photos. Dick and I helped with the very first July 4th parade back in the early 90’s. That was when a picnic on the grounds of City Hall followed the parade. Who remembers the Quarterdeck Restaurant? One of the first parade organizational meetings was there. When we were at VIP and later, we marched in the parade and had our own SanibelSusan Team parade entry for many years. We still decorate the office – though not so much this year.

After moving to Sanibel Square, we found our location to be the perfect spot for parade watching. We have enjoyed hosting family, friends, and clients here on the morning of July 4th for many years. Will miss that tomorrow. But, if you are a Facebook follower, I plan to post some “through-the-years” parade photos. Fun times.

To wrap up the first half of the year, below is a quick summary from the Sanibel-Captiva Multiple Listing Service of island inventory today and the sales action in 2020 as compared to the same time frame the last few years. These years have been unusual. The after effects of Hurricane Irma in 2017 affected early 2018, then Florida’s red tide in late 2018 affected 2019. Then to top things off, there is the pandemic this year. It still looks like it is helping our market, but those affects may not be fully realized until later. In the meantime, we continue to welcome new business and look forward to more sales.

	Sanibel
	Condos		Homes		Lots
	#	Price	#	Price	#	Price
For sale	121	820,687	140	1,622,010	62	807,230
Under contract	17	645,905	53	912,249	4	688,000
Sold 1/1-7/3/2020	79	729,538	112	1,003,973	4	849,666
Sold 1/1-7/3/2019	79	679,753	126	979,358	9	451,222
Sold 1/1-7/3/2018	96	743,571	158	1,214,613	9	478,555
Sold 1/1-7/3/2017	84	761,089	125	982,513	21	331,158

	Captiva
	Condos		Homes		Lots
	#	Price	#	Price	#	Price
For sale	38	1,168,509	42	3,990.285	3	3,563,000
Under contract	3	770,000	5	2,678,600	0	N/A
Sold 1/1-7/3/2020	15	882,666	11	3,429,272	2	1,925,000
Sold 1/1-7/3/2019	14	1,201,857	8	3,002,187	0	N/A
Sold 1/1-7/3/2018	17	912,933	12	2,163,442	0	N/A
Sold 1/1-7/3/2017	20	698,450	15	2,668,466	2	2,312,500

The activity posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is shown below, followed by our ad from today’s “Island Sun”.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 26-July 3, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Loggerhead Cay #212 2/2 $589,985; Sand Pointe #116 2/2 $899K.

2 price changes: Mariner Pointe #813 2/2 now $579K, Sand Pointe #227 2/2 now $729K.

4 new sales: Sanibel Arms #A7 1/1 listed at $359K, Seashells #36 2/2 listed at $380K, Sundial #T301 2/2 listed at $845K, Loggerhead Cay #514 2/2 listed at $995K.

3 closed sales: Casa Blanca #6 1/1 $325K, Seawind #107 2/2.5 $500K, Loggerhead Cay #191 2/2 $740K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 2985 Island Inn Rd 2/2 $599K (our listing), 721 Durion Ct 3/3 $649K, 1610 Sabal Sands Rd 3/2 $724.9K, 5439 Osprey Ct 4/3 $1.789M.

2985 Island Inn Rd

7 price changes: 4044 Coquina Dr 2/2 now $529K; 9455 Beverly Ln 2/2 now $529.9K; 3131 Twin Lakes Ln 2/2 now $789,031; 3751 Coquina Dr 3/2 now $859K; 1430 Sanderling Cir 4/3.5 now $899K; 790 Beach Rd 4/3.5 now $1.399M; 4577 Waters Edge Ln 4/3 now $3.049M.

9 new sales: 9465 Calla Ct 3/2 listed at $499K, 1361 Tahiti Dr 2/2 listed at $535K, 433 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $569K, 1813 Farm Tr 3/2 listed at $629K, 5659 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 listed at $790K, 2417 Wulfert Rd 3/3 listed at $944.5K, 3850 Coquina Dr 3/3 listed at $1.048M, 5419 Osprey Ct 3/3.5 listed at $1.095M, 2284 Troon Ct 4/4.5 listed at $1.799M.

8 closed sales: 499 Peachtree Rd 2/2 $450K, 1774 Bunting Ln 3/2 $626K, 1826 Ardsley Way 4/3 $626.5K, 987 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $650K, 3323 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 $760K, 5757 Pine Tree Dr 3/2.5 $775K, 1271 Par View Dr 3/3 $860K, 5044 Joewood Dr 4/4.5 $1.85M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 2486 Wulfert Rd now $129K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2422 1/1 $545K.

No price changes:

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5234 1/2 listed at $510K.

2 closed sales: Sunset Beach Villas #2227 1/1 $510K, Lands End Village #1651 2/2 $1.14M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16596 Captiva Dr 7/8.5 $10.5M.

2 price changes: 16163 Captiva Dr 3/2 now $2.395M, 17101 Captiva Dr 7/6.5 now $2.695M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 13500 Palmflower Ln 4/4 $2.4M.

LOTS

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

Enjoy your holiday! Stay safe & be well!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

The Last June Friday & It’s HOT!

Posted on June 26, 2020 by SanibelSusan

It’s time for another Friday update about Sanibel & Captiva real estate. Island weather has been mostly hot and sunny this week. A good time for our photographer to capture blue skies – always a plus in listing photos.

Our listings are getting more inquiries and showings. We are handling showings cautiously, wearing masks whenever social distancing is not possible, and requesting that prospective buyers do the same.

Obviously, this is not the case everywhere as the number of COVID cases in Florida is increasing, including in Lee County. This week, again during my (at least) two daily passes up and down Periwinkle Way, it has been disheartening to see crowds and lines of patrons at restaurants along the way. Only once did I see a family wearing masks. Grrr! (Yes, they were outside, but they were squeezed together, young and old alike.)

No wonder Sanibel City Council has called another special meeting. It will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. which is when the current city Emergency Declaration expires. (I will be at the meeting.) You can listen to the audio through a link on mySanibel.com (click agendas & meetings and follow the link).

Though both the Sanibel July 4^th parade and fireworks are cancelled, the number of holiday visitors arriving tomorrow and next week will increase. We hope they respect the situation and those around them.

The Luxury Housing Market Is Back & Vacation Destinations Are Hot

The below article by Clare Trapasso was posted yesterday (Jun 25, 2020) on Realtor.com. Though not mentioning Sanibel and Captiva specifically, much of what she writes applies here. Though there were several weeks on Sanibel/Captiva with little to no sales (late March and April), island popularity has grown. As we follow our listing hits on Realtor.com, the MLS systems, and other real estate sites, the numbers have increased dramatically over the last few weeks. It is more than just folks being stranded at home and having more time to search the internet. Sales are occurring. Read about that after the Realtor.com article below:

“The middle of a pandemic-induced recession, with millions of people out of work and the future uncertain, does not seem like the best time to drop big bucks on a home. That is, unless you’re a wealthy city dweller and that home is a luxury property with an in-ground pool and plenty of acreage, far from the potentially infected urban hordes.

“Interest and prices in the luxury housing market rose sharply in May, according to a recent realtor.com® report. (Realtor.com defines luxury as the top 5% of the most expensive homes in a given market.) And demand in that sector has shifted from sleek, urban high-rises to popular vacation destinations where buyers can score larger, more private residences in less populated areas.

“”COVID-19 and the recession have not affected everyone equally,” says Javier Vivas, realtor.com’s director of economic research. “We’re coming off a great economic boom … and home buyers in the luxury tier have accumulated wealth for these types of purchases. This is not atypical, as high net worth individuals are traditionally less affected by recessionary blips, and some see it as an opportunity to invest or offload cash into real estate.”

“This increase in demand for high-end homes is driving prices up. The entry point for luxury homes rose to a median $2.97 million in May. That’s up 0.5% from April and 6.1% from the previous May, when no one had even heard of COVID-19.

“In addition, views of luxury home listings on realtor.com shot up 7.3% year over year in May. That was a departure from April, when views of such listings plummeted 9.5% compared with the previous year.

“In the New York City region, an early U.S. epicenter of the pandemic, members of the richest 1% focus their home searches on the Hamptons, a string of exclusive beach communities on the eastern end of Long Island; in upscale parts of New Jersey; and the New York City suburbs. (Prices for luxury properties in the city itself remained steady though, a slight improvement over the mild declines they were seeing before the pandemic.)

Views per property on luxury listings rose 72% annually in the Hamptons in May. They also shot up 40% in Union County, NJ; 30% in Bergen County, NJ; and 28% in Somerset County, NJ. Before the pandemic, listing views were up only 10% to 21% in these areas.

“”COVID-19 hit these regions hard and early compared to the rest of the country, prompting potential buyers to reassess their needs and priorities,” says Vivas.

“”With the lockdowns and lingering health concerns, buyers of all ages are placing more value on extra space and privacy, with more opting for safer and larger spaces at the expense of [the] urban living lifestyle,” he adds. “That’s made the suburbs and exurbs more attractive, particularly for households who can afford the price tag and those who can work virtually.”

“Other popular destinations were the desert getaway of Palm Springs, CA and Greenwich, CT, a wealthy enclave just outside of New York City. Luxury listing views rose 28% and 24% in those locations, respectively.

“However, not all high-end markets fared as well. Interest has waned in Honolulu, Key West, FL; Pebble Beach, CA; and Colorado ski towns in Eagle and Summit counties.

“There was also still a shortage of luxury listings. The number of $1 million-plus homes on the market dropped 15.6% year over year in May. These homes also took a bit longer to sell—a median 89 days on the market in May compared with 71 days a year earlier.

“Clare Trapasso is the senior news editor of realtor.com and an adjunct journalism professor at the College of Mount Saint VIncent. She previously wrote for a Financial Times publication, the New York Daily News, and the Associated Press. She is also a licensed real estate agent. Contact her at clare.trapasso@realtor.com.”

At SanibelSusan Realty

In the office, our listings got good action this week. We had several inquiries and showings (including with our new listings). We also got another new condo listing and have a new home listing that begins tomorrow, plus we received a price reduction on a lot listing. I was out showing homes this afternoon and will be showing condos on Monday.

The action posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is below.

On Sanibel, there were another seven home sales and two condo sales. Homes sales continue to prevail, but the summer months often are when more condo buyers are here, particularly those looking for a weekly rental. We have some listings that are priced well and should move. The low interest rates will help.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 19-26, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Blind Pass #E101 2/2 $499K (our listing).

Blind Pass clubhouse, pool, tennis…

4 price changes: Colonnades #C3 1/1 now $259K, Sanibel Moorings #1512 2/2 now $534K, Sanibel Arms West #M2 2/2 now $546K, Pine Cove #202 3/2 now $1.395M.

2 new sales: Heron at The Sanctuary #3B 3/2.5 listed at $799K, Island Beach Club #340E 2/2 listed at $1.149M.

2 closed sales: Sand Pointe #131 2/2 $709K, Tantara #203 3/2 $1.095M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 799 Casa Ybel Rd 5/3 duplex $585K, 1114 Sabal St 2/2 $795K, 3850 Coquina Dr 3/3 $1.048M.

12 price changes: 1684 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $459.9K, 9465 Calla Ct 3/2 now $499K, 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 now $549K, 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $595K, 1031 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $695K, 934 Cormorant Cir 3/2 now $729K, 9128 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $739K, 5304 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/3 now $770K, 5659 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 now $790K, 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 now $889K, 6176 Henderson Rd 3/2 now $998K, 1081 Captains Walk St 4/2.5 now $1.04M.

7 new sales: 3947 Coquina Dr 2/2 listed at $569K, 1593 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex listed at $589K, 701 Nerita St 3/2 listed at $698K, 1220 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 listed at $795K, 5056 Joewood Dr 3/2 listed at $824.5K, 660 Durion Ct 3/2 listed at $849K, 5615 Baltusrol Ct 4/6/3 listed at $2,999,999.

2 closed sales: 2065 Wild Lime Dr 3/2.5 $582,950; 1828 Farm Trl 3/2 $675K.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1894 Farm Trl now $199K (our listing).

1894 Farm Trail lot

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Tennis Villas #3120 1/1 now $308K, Lands End Village #1667 2/2 now $1.098M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Beach Villas #2414 2/2 $674.5K.

HOMES & LOTS

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

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

Enjoy your weekend! Stay safe & well!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Gearing Up For Fathers’ Day Weekend 2020

Posted on June 19, 2020 by SanibelSusan

Though today is not a bright and sunny Friday, it again is a welcomed weekend on Sanibel.

With off-&-on summer showers yesterday too, our long-time photographer, Jim Anderson, had a challenge filming our two new listings.

Though he prepares his streaming videos using aerials captured by drone (rather than from plane or helicopter, like years ago), for him to feature a property at its best, he sometimes must return to photograph the outside after weather clears.

As they say on the islands, from June through September, “if it starts to rain, just wait a few minutes, and it likely will change.” That is just way of life in a tropical paradise.

Sea Turtle Nest Update

Following up on my post last week about the island sea turtle nests lost from high tides and surf from Tropical Storm Cristobal, this week, SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) volunteers report the first hatchlings of the season and that the islands now have over 460 recorded turtle nests.

I also saw on social media a posting by Periwinkle Park where they are following the leatherback turtle, named Juniper. Already this season, she has made three nests on Sanibel and Captiva. It is amazing how far these turtles swim.

You can see Juniper’s recent route from south of Naples to north of Sarasota and all the stops in between on the map here, from www.trackturtles.com. It is fun to follow her.

At SanibelSusan Realty

In the office, we had a busy week including some positive inquiries/showings. In addition to the two new listings, we got a nice price reduction on another listing and managed follow-up events for listings that are under contract progressing toward closings, i.e. inspections, repairs, appraiser visits, insurance info, etc.

All-in-all, I think it is safe to say that island real estate business is busier than it typically is in June – making up for those weeks that were lost during the pandemic – and likely because of the pandemic and other recent events.

The report below, with the islands Multiple Listing activity since last Friday, shows that two Sanibel condos, 12 Sanibel homes, and a Captiva condo have gone under contract over the last seven days. That is a lot for mid-June.

Comparing that number of sales to the same time last year, just one island condo and one home sold then.

Covid-19 Precautions

If you have followed the news, you undoubtedly have noticed that the number of virus cases in Florida has increased dramatically over the last week. Today, the state total is close to 90,000, the Lee County total is 3,475, and the Sanibel total is up to 13. The percentage of Florida positive tests has increased to 10% in just two weeks, after many weeks holding steady at 3%.

Honestly, it is no surprise. I drove home at noon to grab a quick lunch and Periwinkle Place shopping center is as packed with cars as I have ever seen it. The bike paths likewise had many riders, big and small, with people coming and going in both directions. There was a crowd outside Whitney’s Bait & Tackle too, but I didn’t see a single mask driving either direction.

Though our office practices social distancing and we wear masks in public places, not everyone is doing that. (We have a basket of new masks for anyone coming in that needs one, thanks to my sewing sister.)

At Sanibel Square, next door at Island Therapy, patients and staff must wear masks, while across the parking lot at Sanibel Beauty Salon, their staff is wearing masks and they keep their entry door locked to be sure patrons are protected.

The island continues to get busier and busier, with more businesses reopening, more vacationers arriving. Of course, businesses need the business and we want vacationers to enjoy their visit. We just hope they are careful. These words from a social media post today are worth repeating:

“I wear my mask while in public for three reasons:

Humility: I don’t know if I have COVID as it is clear that people can spread the disease before they have symptoms.
Kindness: I don’t know if the person I am near has a kid battling cancer, or cares for their elderly Mom. While I might be fine, they might not.
Community: I want my community to thrive, businesses to stay open, employees to stay healthy. Keeping a lid on COVID helps us all!”

Please, let’s flatten the curve!

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 12-19, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sundial #F106 1/1 $440K, Lighthouse Point #117 3/2 $549K (our listing), Island Beach Club #340E 2/2 $1.149M, Junonia #103 3/2 $1.295M.

Patio at Lighthouse Point 117

5 price changes: Coquina Beach #2B 2/2 now $499K, Sunset South #A11 2/2 now $549K, Sandalfoot #2D2 2/2 now $659K (our listing), Sandpiper Beach #205 2/2 now $835K, Sandals #A 3/3.5 now $1.85M.

View at Sandalfoot #2D2

3 new sales: Blind Pass #E202 2/2 listed at $429K, Sundial #B406 2/2 listed at $799K, By-The-Sea #B301 2/2 listed at $1.595M.

2 closed sales: Blind Pass #B205 2/2.5 $415K, Villas Sanibel #2H 2/2 $684K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 9465 Calla Ct 3/2 $545K; 4044 Coquina Dr 2/2 $549K; 1593 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex $589K; 1142 Shell Basket Ln 3/2 $644,444; 1015 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $674K (our listing); 6457 Pine Ave 3/2 $697.5K.

1015 Fish Crow

7 price changes: 4606 Brainard Bayou Rd 2/2 now $469.9K, 9426 Beverly Ln 3/2 now $575K, 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $635K, 1223 Par View Dr 3/2 now $740K, 5422 Shearwater Dr 3/2.5 now $799K, 3706 West Gulf Dr 4/3 now $1.325M, 2964 Wulfert Rd 5/5.5 now $2.998M

12 new sales: 9214 Kincaid Ct 2/2 listed at $380K; 1476 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $695K; 1978 Roseate Ln 3/2 listed at $699.9K; 1807 Serenity Ln 3/2 listed at $725K; 5834 Pine Tree Dr 2/2 listed at $739,555; 3323 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 listed at $784.9K; 676 Emeril Ct 3/2 listed at $850K; 938 Pecten Ct 3/2.5 listed at $899K; 847 Lindgren Blvd 3/2 listed at $899K; 1199 Par View Dr 3/2.5 listed at $999K; 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 listed at $1.499M; 1230 Bay Dr 3/2 listed at $1.619M.

3 closed sales: 1677 Atlanta Plaza Dr 2/1.5 $380K, 550 Leather Fern Pl 3/2 $600K, 478 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 $760K.

LOTS

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

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5104 1/2 listed at $400K.

1 closed sale: Captiva Hide-A-Way #1B 2/2 $837.5K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 11559 Laika Ln 3/3 $7.7M, 16660 Captiva Dr 5/6.5 $18M.

2 price changes: 14865 Mango Ct 2/2 now $1.195M, 16801 Captiva Dr 5/5 now $2.25M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

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

Below is our fun ad from this week’s “Island Sun”. Happy Fathers’ Day!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

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Sanibel & Captiva Real Estate Scoop

Florida’s Single-Family For-Sale Inventory Hit Record Low in 2Q

Tidbits from NAR Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun

Openings/Closings/Rescheduling

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 7-14, 2020

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SanibelSusan Realty Associates

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

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

Salt Pulping on Wood Pilings

Salt Damage to Wood

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

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Watching the Weather

Island Openings/Closings

The Return of McMansions? They Answer Pandemic Buyers’ Needs

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 24-31, 2020

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At SanibelSusan Realty

The “Real Estate” State of the State

The Market on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 17-24, 2020

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City of Sanibel

Great News from Turtle Patrol

Why We Love It Here

Update on The Wildlife Refuge

Realtor.com’s Website Has ‘Record-Level’ Buyer Interest

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

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City of Sanibel Status as of July 7, 2020

Huge Spike in Internet Viewings in June

Protect Your Meetings from Unwanted Visitors

9 Ways to Prepare for a Virtual Showing

Openings/Closings/Reopenings

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 3-10, 2020

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The Luxury Housing Market Is Back & Vacation Destinations Are Hot

At SanibelSusan Realty

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 19-26, 2020

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Sea Turtle Nest Update

At SanibelSusan Realty

Covid-19 Precautions

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity June 12-19, 2020

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