Almost 2020 On Sunny Sanibel

Posted on December 27, 2019 by SanibelSusan

Sanibel and Captiva Islands are busy with lots of holiday vacationers. The weather certainly has been wonderful for them with mostly sunny days and temperatures in the mid- to high-70’s, while down into the 60’s at night. Restaurants are reporting waits – so if you are here, be sure to make dinner reservations.

The team advised that yesterday was their first winter 1-hour trek getting off-island at 5 p.m. “Yes, they take the back way.” It’s that time of the year when we plan our travel … by turning right … and allowing plenty of time.

More visitors are expected to arrive tomorrow during Saturday arrivals at weekly rental properties. I will be out during turn-overs showing a few 3-bedroom condos. We had multiple requests for big condos this week. Though, there are 130 Sanibel condos currently for sale, larger units are hard to come by. Those looking for gulf-front 3 bedrooms, there are six available in residential complexes and another seven in complexes that rent weekly. If you want a condo in a particular complex, let us know and we’ll do our best to snoop one out.

Island Sales Stats

With it almost the end of the year, below is a snapshot of the Sanibel and Captiva market today. There is plenty of inventory, but we are looking for new listings so please keep us in mind if you know someone thinking of selling.

The below data from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is as of today, 12/27/19. The activity posted for the last two weeks in the MLS follows a couple of news items:

SANIBEL	Condos		Homes		Lots
SANIBEL	No.	Avg Price $	No.	Avg Price $	No.	Avg Price $
For sale	130	806,859	195	1,380,871	72	717,724
Under contract	18	821,555	20	913,575	2	1,672,450
Closed this year	123	701,250	207	954,957	15	372,200
Closed in 2018	155	720,617	218	1,112,748	21	602,095
Closed in 2017	140	728,793	186	1,004,237	32	327,229

CAPTIVA	Condos		Homes		Lots
CAPTIVA	No.	Avg Price $	No.	Avg Price $	No.	Avg Price $
For sale	39	1,140,478	43	3,220,111	4	3,397,250
Under contract	2	514,450	5	3,518,599	0	N/A
Closed this year	29	1,037,077	16	2,808,597	1	1,375,000
Closed in 2018	27	797,532	25	2,127,352	0	N/A
Closed in 2017	34	671,551	22	2,457,023	2	2,312,500

New Year Events

New Year’s Eve Shellebration at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa with island-style buffet, stilt walker, fire dancer show, games, pie-eating contest, DJ & live entertainment, face painting, fire pit s’mores, free throw contest, WII dance, wishing tree, corn hole, countdown toast. Reservations needed 800-838-3006.

20^th Annual Polar Bear Plunge at noon Jan 1 at Tarpon Bay Beach at 111 Tarpon Bay Rd. Sign in and song sheets available at 11 a.m. Wear a bathing suit and bring a towel, chairs and coolers optional.

Study: Lots of Listings Coming as Baby Boomers Age

From FloridaRealtors®: “Boomers own about 1/3 of all U.S. properties and 27% of them will sell their home within the next 20 years – but some metros will feel the impact more than others.

“SEATTLE – Builders have struggled to overcome land scarcity and rising labor costs and materials. But a flood of homes will come on the market over the next 20 years as baby boomers age – enough to affect local economies in traditional retirement areas.

“Northerners are struggling. They love winter sunshine and low taxes, but a decision to move 1,000 miles to Fla. isn’t easy. Will homesickness set in? How much does a trip “back home” to see family cost? And how much tax savings are we talking about?

“The boomer generation, once 76 million strong in the U.S., dwarfed the 55 million Gen-Xers and 62 million millennials it preceded. Today, the 60-and-older generation owns about a third of America’s homes, and a new analysis by Zillow attempts to show how their aging will impact the housing market.

“The study predicts that a “Silver Tsunami” of sellers will build slowly as the number of adults aged 60 or older pass away each year. However, a rise is expected in the 2020s and 2030s.

“In the decade from 2007 to 2017, roughly 730,000 U.S. homes were released into the market each year by seniors aged 60 or older. From 2017 to 2027 and from 2027 to 2037, that number is set to rise to 920,000 and 1.17 million per year, respectively. This means more than 27% of today’s owner-occupied homes will become available by 2037.

“While virtually all areas will feel the effects to some degree – between one-fifth and one-third of the current owner-occupied housing stock was impacted in every metro analyzed – the wave won’t hit all at once and won’t strike all markets equally.

“Retirement hubs like Florida and Arizona are likely to feel the sharpest impact. If demand erodes because fewer people choose to retire there in the coming years, those areas might end up with excess housing. Also heavily impacted will be regions like the Rust Belt, which saw younger people move away in recent decades, leaving older generations to make up a larger share of the population.

“Some regions will be far less affected. These include Salt Lake City, where a much smaller share of homeowners are in their golden years, as well as Atlanta, Austin, Dallas and Houston – all of which are vibrant but relatively inexpensive places that tend to attract younger residents looking for an affordable alternative to expensive coastal cities.

“Still, the differences in the share of homes released by seniors among metros are small compared to the differences within them. Palm Springs, for example, will see 45% of its owner-occupied homes vacated by 2037, compared with 23.8% of the combined L.A.-Riverside metro area overall. El Mirage and Sun City figure to see nearly two-third of their homes available, compared with 28.2% of the Phoenix area at-large.

“Housing released by the Silver Tsunami – upwards of 20 million homes hitting the market through the mid-2030s – will provide a substantial and sustained boost to supply, comparable to the fluctuations that new home construction experienced in the 2000s boom-bust cycle. Whether this housing is appropriately located, priced and styled to meet future demand, however, will be an important factor in how it pairs with new construction to alleviate today’s housing shortage.

“It seems likely, however, that the construction industry will, over the next 20 years, start to put a greater emphasis on updating existing properties rather than building from the ground up.” © 2019 Florida Realtors®

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity December 13-20, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Captains Walk #B3 1/1 $239.9K, Sandpebble #4E 2/2 $489K, Cottage Colony West #134 1/1 $614.5K, Blue Gulf #201 3/2 $1.398M.

5 price changes: Sanibel Arms #B1 1/1 now $449.9K; Seawind #A107 2/2.5 now $574,777; Mariner Pointe #421 2/2.5 now $639K; Heron at The Sanctuary #3B 3/2.5 now $818K; Sanctuary Golf Villages #1-4 3/3 now $838.5K.

3 new sales: Sundial #H211 1/1 listed at $395K, Sundial #C204 1/1 listed at $480K, Loggerhead Cay #134 2/2 listed at $995K.

3 closed sales: Seashells #15 2/2 $425K; Sanctuary Golf Villages #5-1 2/2.5 $736,750; White Pelican #114 2/2 $830K.

HOMES

9 new listings: 569 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $499.5K; 1845 Ardsley Way 3/3 $599,555; 2065 Wild Lime Dr 3/2.5 $639K; 9418 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $699K; 238 Daniel Dr 3/2 $777,126; 215 Robinwood Cir 4/3 $884,488; 2417 Wulfert Rd 3/3 $1.089M; 707 Anchor Dr 3/2.5 $1.175M; 5618 Baltusrol Ct 4/4/2 $2.195M.

10 price changes: 1954 Roseate Ln 3/2 now $594K, 513 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 now $709K, 405 Tiree Cir 3/2 now $735K, 1351 Middle Gulf Dr #1F (Moonshadows) 3/3 half-duplex now $765K, 1410 Sanderling Cir 3/2 now $835K, 5422 Shearwater Dr 3/2.5 now $899K, 1345 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 now $1.049M, 1560 Royal Poinciana Cir 3/2 now $1.05M, 1283 Isabel Dr 3/2 now $1.1M, 500 Sawgrass Pl 8/8/3 now $2.85M.

4 new sales: 257 Daniel Dr 3/2 listed at $750K, 245 Christofer Ct 3/2 listed at $799K, 982 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.15M, 707 Anchor Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.175M.

5 closed sales: 706 Nerita St 3/2 $774K, 9436 Yucca Ct 3/2 $839K (our buyer, available as a seasonal rental with Sanibel Holiday, called Annabel’s Cottage), 1243 Sand Castle Rd 4/4 $980K, 758 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3 $1.285M, 5723 Baltusrol Ct 4/4.5 $1.8M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 255 Hurricane Ln $399K.

1 price change: 1292 Par View Dr now $349K.

1 new sale: 1800 Woodring Rd listed at $2.595M.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Gulf Beach Villas #2112 1/1 now $510.9K.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #4212 1/2 listed at $368.9K.

1 closed sale: Ventura Captiva #2B 3/3 $875K.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 11540 Laika Ln 3/2.5 now $1.299M, 11504 Wightman Ln 4/3.5 now $1.5999M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity December 20-27, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Mariner Pointe #1051 2/2 $499K, Oceans Reach #4D1 2/2 $898.5K.

1 price change: Cottage Colony West #101 1/1 now $595K.

2 new sales: Sandpiper Beach #203 2/2 listed at $699K, Sanibel Moorings #1111 2/2 listed at $ 947K.

3 closed sales: Seashells #37 2/2 $405K, Sanibel Siesta #108 2/2 $570K, Kings Crown #213 2/2 $755K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 970 Black Skimmer Way 2/2 $636K, 930 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 $1.295M, 912 Kings Crown Dr 3/3.5 $1.445M, 1480 Middle Gulf Dr 4/4/2 $1.65M.

4 price changes: 9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 now $549K (our listing), 1717 Sand Pebble way 3/2 now $635K, 1567 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $849K, 2391 Shop Rd 3/2.5 now $1.875M.

9448 Begonia Ct in Gumbo Limbo

3 new sales: 569 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $499.5K, 1269 Par View Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.099M, 1525 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/2 listed at $1.4695M.

6 closed sales: 1805 Ibis Ln 2/2 $515K, 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 $545K, 6447 Pine Ave 3/2.5 $552.5K, 1418 Sanderling Cir 3/3 $599.5K, 9440 Cotten Ct 3/2 $617.5K, 707 Cardium St 3/2 $685K.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 2510 Coconut Dr listed at $749.9K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5316 3/3 listed at $660K.

1 closed sale: Captiva Hide-a-Way #2D 2/2 $835K.

HOMES

3 new listings: 11521 Laika Ln 3/3 $1.385M, 15843 Captiva Dr 3/3 $7.489M, 16500 Captiva Dr 6/6/2 $7.989M.

2 price changes: 11525 Wightman Ln 3/2 now $1.225M, 11504 Wightman Ln 4/3.5 now $1.5999M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Granddog, Bella, checking out the office Christmas tree!

Best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel Scoop & Captiva Chatter

Posted on December 13, 2019 by SanibelSusan

The SanibelSusan Team has been busy this week preparing for a 7,000-piece mailing that will be going out next week. If you are not already on our mailing list and want to receive an island inventory list, be sure and let us know.

Below are a couple of news items, followed by week’s action in the islands’ Multiple Listing Service.

BIG ARTS Performance Hall Update

Reported in the “Island Sun” this week:

”BIG ARTS has been a Sanibel-Captiva treasure for decades. It began as a dream in 1972 inspired by a small band of artists who felt the community needed a special place for arts and enrichment on the barrier islands. That dream is stronger than ever and 2020 is a landmark year: the creation of a new home for BIG ARTS. The building is nearing completion, and its opening will be heralded with a grand gala, A Dream Come True, on Friday, January 24 and a free public open house on Saturday, January 25.”

Santa Run

Also in the “Island Sun” this week,

“Once again this year, Santa will be making a visit to Sanibel homes on Monday, December 23 before he heads out for his worldwide route. Santa’s Santa Run is organized and assisted by the local Kiwanis Club, and those young and old will remember the experience for years to come. If you would like to have Santa visit your home while he’s in town, Kiwanis will be happy to oblige.

“Any adult who would like Santa to deliver gifts to their household can arrange a Santa visit. To do this, you should secure an appropriate gift for each recipient (young or old), wrap and address each gift, then place the gifts into one sack for each household, along with your address information and any special instructions for each gift recipient. Then deliver the sack to the main Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, 2361 Palm Ridge Rd no later than 5pm on Monday, December 23. Santa and his elves will leave the fire station around 5:30pm and make deliveries between 6-8pm.

“The Santa Run is still going strong and has grown considerably. Kiwanis now recruits six Santas, each with a helper elf and driver/navigator. In the course of the night, each of the Santa teams makes about 125 stops! If you have questions contact Muench at 472-2812.”

Island Store Construction Update

Here’s an article from the “Islander” this week:

“Renovations at The Island Store are ongoing, with an undetermined completion date, as issues with the building’s structural components were discovered by the contractors when they started the project.

“With coordinated help from the Lee County Historic Preservation Board and RLR Investments – the building’s owner- Bailey’s has been working to rebuild and renovate the exterior and interior to the business from its former operator and signed a new lease with the building’s owner.

““After beginning construction, the contractors found significant deterioration of the building’s structural components,” Calli Johnson, whose family owns Baileys, reported last week. “Structural engineers are currently drafting the plans to ensure the structural integrity of the building, in order to safely welcome shoppers upon reopening and for future generations to come.”

““Unfortunately, due to the age of the building and the significant structural issues, a timeline on completion is impossible to predict,” she added.

“At two Captiva Community Panel meetings this year, Bailey’s held presentations for the group. They explained the project would entail renovating the store’s interior and exterior, while maintaining Captiva’s architectural standards for historic buildings like it.

““With the same charm shoppers have enjoyed since ‘Ding’ Darling opened it as a general store in the early 1900’s,” Johnson said.

“Registered as a historic site and building, it once served as a boarding school, as well.

“At the panel meetings, Bailey’s also explained that the planned project would retain the building’s “look”, but use modern materials built to last longer. The store’s footprint will stay the same.

““All involved in the project are working to reopen the business as quickly as possible,” Johnson reported. “The operators of The Island Store understand this leaves a significant gap in the amenity offerings on Captiva. Fortunately, they are prepared to serve you form Bailey’s General Store.”

“She explained the Sanibel store provides delivery services throughout Captiva.

““And can even stock your home or rental before you arrive,” Johnson added.

“Bailey’s and RLR Investments thanked the public for its patience.

““The same folks that welcome you to Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel have enjoyed serving you over the past year on Captiva at The Island Store,” she reported. “Upon completion, the store will reopen as the same quaint Island Store that shoppers have come to know, love and count on, year after year.”

The Island Store is at 1500 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity December 6-13, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Coquina Beach #5A 2/2 $468K, Sandalfoot #2D2 2/2 $699K (our listing), Pointe Santo #C23 3/2 $1.15M.

1 price change: Sandpiper Beach #205 2/2 now $860K.

7 new sales: Donax Village #10 1/2 listed at $358K, Blind Pass #E207 2/2.5 listed at $399K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #B102 2/2 listed at $489K, Loggerhead Cay #581 2/2 listed at $689K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #2-5 2/2 listed at $714K, Golden Beach #3 3/2.5 listed at $1.499M, Angler’s Key #202 3/3 listed at $2.195M.

3 closed sales: Surfside 12 #A3 3/2 listed at $700K, Tarpon Beach #104 2/2 $1.07M, Wedgewood #203 3/3.5 $2.4475M.

HOMES

8 new listings: 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 $569K; 1076 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $699,555; 1014 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $749K; 5089 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $749,999; 792 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 $1.047M; 532 Sea Oats Dr 3/4 $1.275M; 1564 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $1.295M; 2411 Blue Crab CT 4/4.5 $2.495M.

7 price changes: 1027 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 now $479K, 836 Donax St 3/2 now $549K, 5659 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 now $825K, 401 Lagoon Dr 4/4 now $970K, 550 N Yachtsman Dr 3/3 now $1.325M, 1230 Bay Dr 3/2 now $1.649M, 5075 Joewood Dr 4/4.5 now $2.9M.

5 new sales: 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 listed at $620K, 1396 Tahiti Dr 4/3 listed at $779K, 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 listed at $958.5K, 2569 Coconut Dr 3/2 listed at $989K, 1333 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.095M.

3 closed sales: 198 Southwinds Dr 3/2 $675K, 256 Daniel Dr 3/2 $740K, 747 Windlass Way 4/3.5 $2.4M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 3308 St Kilda Rd now $475K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End Village #1602 3/3 $2.015M.

No price changes, new sales, or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16221/16217 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 $4.389M.

1 price change: 11505 Gore Ln 5/5 now $1.695M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Woohoo, Tonight Is Sanibel Luminary

Posted on December 6, 2019 by SanibelSusan

It is another happy Friday with holiday news from SanibelSusan. Tonight, being Sanibel Luminary, the island already is sparkling with lights and trimmings. With daytime temperatures this week in the 60’s and 70’s, perhaps it will be cool enough tonight to wear Christmas sweaters. It is always fun to see the luminary trail filled with folks in those, and shorts with flip flops. The luminary trail will be lit from 5:30 to 9 p.m., from one end of Periwinkle Way to the other.

Midweek, across the street from SanibelSusan Realty, at Sanibel’s Community Park, we watched as City employees finalized decorations on the bike path there. The display begins with an archway at the playground entrance next to the Community House. Guarded by a nutcracker soldier, the delightful display continues through a tunnel of lights, ending with a “photo op” banner and bench which will be staffed tonight by City lifeguards and Recreation Department staff.

When I told the team that I thought they were installing life-size mechanical snowmen, teammates Dave and Elise corrected me saying these snowmen had faces and were really bending over and moving. Then, later when City Manager Judie Zimomra posted on social media about this upcoming photo op event and I shared my snowman story, she also corrected me – saying they really are snow-women.

Yesterday afternoon the display expanded when an igloo appeared – made by teens in the City’s Rec Center after school program – and using empty water jugs. According to a City post, it contains 422 1-gallon plastic jugs, 24 half-gallon jugs. It took a month to collect the jugs and about 18 hours to construct with 285 glue sticks. It’s 5’2” high and weights just over 42 pounds. Thanks to our City Manager for sharing her photos!

If you are in the neighborhood tonight, stop in and get your picture taken with the igloo which is framed by two blow-up snowmen. It and the live Sanibel snow-gals will be at the bench at the tunnel’s end until 9 p.m.

Looking for other holiday festivities? Info about a few more posted below, followed by some other island news and our weekly reports of the action with our listings and as posted since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

Holiday Festivities, Shopping, & Helpers

35^th Annual Sanibel Holiday Luminary Stroll – From one end of Periwinkle to the other, tonight until 9 p.m. At 6 p.m. SanibelSusan and other BIG ARTS Chorus pals will be singing Christmas carols inside Bailey’s General Store. Come and join us! Sanibel Luminary Update from the City’s website: (mySanibel.com): This year there will be designated “Walk Your Bike” zones in the traditionally high traffic portions of the Shared Use Path. ALL path users, pedestrians and cyclists, are reminded that all users should wear bright, reflective clothing and carry a light such as a flashlight at Luminary. Please use caution and common sense at the event, including only crossing the road at designated crosswalks and carefully following all instructions of on-site law enforcement. The Sanibel Chief of Police reminds all cyclists that Florida’s bicycle law requires any bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500’ to the front and a lamp and reflector on the rear each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600’ to the rear.
Sanibel-Captiva Lions Christmas Tree Sale – next to Island Cinema at the Bailey’s Center, Wed through Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., selling Michigan Fraser firs from 5’-10’, wreaths, & stands.
10^th Annual Golf Cart Parade Followed by 35^th Annual Captiva Holiday Luminary Stroll – tomorrow, Saturday, 12/7. Golf cart parade beginning at 2 p.m. near the entrance of South Seas Island Resort. Judging at 2:30 p.m., then parade begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by luminary from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
South Seas Holiday Stroll – at the resort’s Yacht Harbour Marina & north end, Fri & Sat nights, 12/6 & 7, 12/13 & 14, 12/20 & 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. featuring “ice” skating, entertainment, arts & crafts, treats, & more. Complimentary to resort guests, public entry with $10 donation to benefit Captains for Clean Water, children under 12 free. More info at SouthSeas.com
BIG ARTS Community Chorus Holiday Concert – Tues, 12/10 at 7 p.m. at the Sanibel Community Church as the new BIG ARTS performance hall is under construction. Tickets ($12, with children under 12 free) at the door or on-line at BIGARTS.org.
Art Under the Stars – Thur, 12/12 from 5 p.m. a collaboration between Hirdie-Girdie Gallery (2490 Library Way), Tower Gallery (751 Tarpon Bay Rd) & Suncatcher’s Dream (630 Tarpon Bay Rd, #2)
Captiva’s First Ever Blues on the Beach – Sat, 12/14 at 15951 Captiva Dr from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets on-line ($15) at Tween-Waters.com/shop or at the door ($20).
Friends Who Care – Remember last month when island Realtors® collected toys and gift cards at their annual “Fall Into Christmas” event? These donations go to Friends Who Care who coordinates the annual Santa Run which delivers the gifts to needy island children and seniors on Dec 23. If you are available to help sort and wrap the many donations, sorting day is at The Community House on Wed 12/18 at 2 p.m., followed by wrapping on Thu 12/19 at 9 a.m. Adult volunteers are needed, please bring your own scissors on wrapping day.

Real Estate Happenings

Usually the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are busy with holiday preparations, but it also can be a good time for real estate. Just ten new listings were open for Realtor® Caravan yesterday morning, but Dave and Lisa were both out showing Captiva property yesterday afternoon and I have a full line-up of Sanibel homes and condos to show on Saturday. I always remind myself about the time I sold a house on Christmas Day. Sometimes the hype of the season helps spark the sale.

Sanibel Scoop

New Location for Center-4-Life – At their Tuesday meeting, Sanibel City Council voted to purchase the commercial property at 2475 Library Way (currently Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank). It will be the future home of the City’s new Center-4-Life facility. More and updated space is needed for the expanded Island Seniors membership, programs, and activities. The sale is expected to finalize before the end of the year.
SCCF & Sanibel Sea School Join Forces – Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) and Sanibel Sea School will begin 2020 as a united force to better conserve the coastal ecosystems. As announced this week, starting January 1, the Sanibel Sea School will become SCCF’s education department. The two organizations will become a single nonprofit with Dr. Bruce Neill of the Sea School becoming SCCF’s director of education. SCCF currently is renovating its former Nature Center on Sanibel-Captiva Rd into an education hub with an auditorium that will feature presentations and displays on SCCF’s varied programs. Coastal Watch, an island-based advocacy arm of the Sanibel Sea School, also will become part of SCCF. Dr Neill summed it up nicely, saying, “We can best support nature and serve our community with a single unified voice, broadcast across multiple wavelengths, to promote nature resources conservation.”

Changes at Island Eats

Cielo – was remodeled and renamed this summer (formerly Il Cielo). It reopened this week at 1244 Periwinkle Way with a new bar room featuring small plates and exotic drinks. More info at https://cielo-sanibel.com .
Sanibel Chocolate Shop & Patisserie – in the former location of Pinocchio’s at 362 Periwinkle Way, open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving artisan sandwiches & fresh baked pastries, muffins, crumb cake, croissants, and quiche. Also, Norman Love confections and homemade ice cream.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity November 29-December 6, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

5 new listings: Sanibel Moorings #311 2/2 $599K, Loggerhead Cay #222 2/2 $649K, Lighthouse Point #114 3/2 $679K, Loggerhead Cay #134 2/2 $995K, Sunward of Sanibel #201 3/2 $1.35M.

3 price changes: Mariner Pointe #642 2/2 now $585K, Loggerhead Cay #553 2/2 now $679K, Cottage Colony West #102 1/1 now $609,906.

1 new sale: Sanctuary Golf Villages I #5-1 2/2.5 listed at $754.5K.

3 closed sales: Sundial #H307 1/1 $412.5K, Breakers West #A5 2/2 $489K, Wedgewood #305 3/3.5 $1.425M.

HOMES

7 new listings: 965 Beach Rd 3/2 half-duplex $499K, 433 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $665K, 2010 Wild Lime Dr 3/3 $729K, 1056 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $879K, 1271 Par View Dr 3/3 $949K, 2569 Coconut Dr 3/2 $989K, 5855 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2 $995K.

10 price changes: 1684 Bunting Ln 2/2 now $491.5K; 1356 Jamaica Dr 2/1.5 now $575K; 1536 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $589,995; 4619 Brainard Bayou Rd 3/2 now $595K; 280 Southwinds Dr 3/3.5 now $699K; 218 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 now $745K; 1031 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $799K; 5835 Pine Tree Dr 3/2 now $844.5K; 5186 Sea Bell Rd 3/3 now $875K; 1285 Par View Dr 4/2.5 now $879K.

5 new sale: 401 Raintree Pl 3/1.5 listed at $475K; 1805 Ibis Ln 2/2 listed at $519K, 707 Cardium St 3/2 listed at $729K; 632 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $719,007; 247 Christofer Ct 3/2 listed at $799K

1 closed sale: 2414 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 $1M.

LOTS

3 new listings: 2002 Wild Lime Dr $319K; 0 Dixie Beach Blvd $525,555; 6419 Pine Ave $889K.

2 price changes: 2279 Wulfert Rd now $318K, 3945 West Gulf Dr now $3.495M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 898 Rabbit Rd $160K (our listing & sale).

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Tennis Villas #3137 2/2 $474K, Beach Cottages #1404 2/2 $1.245M.

1 price change: Beach Villas #2417 1/1 now $505K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Beach Homes #11 4/3 $2.285M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 53 Sandpiper Ct 2/2.5 $889K.

4 price changes: 11501 Laika Ln 3/3 now $1.3M, 11547 Laika Ln 4/4 now $1.995M, 11528 Andy Rosse Ln 1/2.5 now $2.6M, 15147 Captiva Dr 6/5.5 now $4.595M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 11525 Murmound Ln now $795K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 13470 Palmflower Ln $1.375M.

Until next Friday, may your holiday festivities also be fun!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

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

Posted on October 25, 2019 by SanibelSusan

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

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

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

Red Tide Update

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

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

At West Wind Inn

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

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

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

Lee County Property Fraud Alert Service

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel’s Leaders Working for All of Us

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

Below is some info from her Facebook post:

Port St Lucie Councilor Jolien Caraballo Congressman Brian Mast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

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

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

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

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

HOMES

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

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

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

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

LOTS

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

No price change or new sales.

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

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listing.

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

No new or closed sales.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

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

Posted on October 18, 2019 by SanibelSusan

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

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

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

Red Tide

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

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

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

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

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

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

Annual Meeting Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

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

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

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

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

At SanibelSusan Realty Associates

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

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

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

Event Reminders

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

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

Rising Financial Wealth Boosts Demand for Vacation Homes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

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

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

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

No closed sales.

HOMES

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

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

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

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

LOTS

No new listings.

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

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

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

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

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

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

No price changes or new sales.

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

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

No Snow Here, But This Egret Sure is White!

Posted on October 11, 2019 by SanibelSusan

It’s SanibelSusan reporting that the island roadways are getting busier. With 2018 off, it sure is great to again see activity pick up in October. In the summer, I often make a quick trip home during the noon lunch hour. That 2.9-mile trip up Periwinkle, in the off-season, usually takes about seven minutes. By yesterday, that time had expanded to 15 minutes. But, that’s OK, businesses need those returning owners and visitors.

Island friends, Ed and Ellie stopped in this week to say “hello” and Ellie shared the below photo she took at the Sanibel fishing pier. I told her this beauty will be the star of this week’s blog! It’s a beautiful great white egret (I think), not a snowy egret. Those are smaller and have the opposite coloring – still bright white, but black beak and yellow feet. Great white herons are similar too. Also large and their coloring is like the great white egret, but they have large heavy bills. If I guessed wrong, I bet a birder will set me straight!

It still feels like summer! Weather this week cooled down to the high 80’s (degrees F) during the days, low 70’s at night – mostly sunny with occasional showers inland off-island. We need rain, so on Saturday the Army Corps of Engineers initiated minimum water flows from Lake O to the Caloosahatchee estuary. During certain times of the year, scientists say water releases like this are necessary to maintain a health estuary. The releases were expected to continue until tomorrow.

With the news reporting big weather changes elsewhere – huge temperature drops, plus snow and ice storms. That should make Sanibel & Captiva even more appealing.

Teammate Elise advises that the Lee County Schools first quarter ends today – that was fast. Local kiddos also get a full week off for Thanksgiving vacation this year, usually they just get a few days.

We did not have a local Association of Realtors® Caravan meeting this week. Next Thursday is our annual meeting. After a few news items below, check out the action since last Friday reported in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service. You will notice that in comparison to last week, there was not much. We hope that changes with the holiday weekend and that you enjoy your weekend too!

Vice President Pence to Visit Sanibel Again This Weekend

Once again, the island is a twitter with the news that Vice President Mike Pence is expected to make another trip to Southwest Florida this weekend. A TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) has been issued for VIP movement at Southwest Florida Regional Airport and southern Sanibel Island from Thursday at 11:45 p.m. through Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

During that time, the airspace around Sanibel has been designated as “national defense airspace,” which is common when the president or vice-president visits an area. The Sanibel Causeway and other roads are expected to close at times during the high-profile visit, but please know that it is not much of a disruption. He stays at a client’s home here that is off the beaten path so unless you happen to be on Periwinkle or the Causeway when he is on the move, you probably won’t even know that he is in town.

Process for Registering Sanibel Short-Term Rentals

Recently, Sanibel City Council approved establishing a registration process for island short-term rentals. Council supports an ordinance to create registration of dwelling rentals and rental licenses. The purpose of the process is to regulate and ensure compliance of non-resort housing and platform vacation rentals like Airbnb and to preserve the character of residential neighborhoods. (It is basically a record and licensure process to ensure that rules already in place are followed. Sanibel Code says that compliant resort dwellings have no rental time or frequency limit, while non-resort dwellings must be rented for four consecutive weeks or more.) More on this in the weeks to come.

Events & ReOpenings

“Season” begins with lots of annual happenings:

Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club – Though the Shell Museum remains closed while the new Aquarium construction completes, the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club’s first meeting of the season is this Sunday, October 13 at the Sanibel Community House beginning at 2 p.m.

Sanibel Historical Village – reopens Tues, October 15 and will be open Tues-Sat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with guided tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Season highlights include several Twilight Talks and their annual gala fundraiser February 18 at The Community House. The talks are at noon on the 1^st Mondays, December through March. New museum volunteers are always needed. Training begins November 4. More info at www.sanibelmuseum.org

13^th Annual Tower Gallery Attic Sale– Fri & Sat, October 18 & 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.towergallery.net

4^th Annual Sanibel Blues & Jazz Fest – Sun, November 3 from noon to 7 p.m. in the backyard of Bailey’s Center sponsored by the Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club. Annual fundraiser for the club’s charities, including scholarships and summer youth programs at the Sanibel Rec Center. Performances by islander Johnny Jensen at 1 p.m., the local Marty Stokes Band at 2 p.m., Sean Chambers featured on the U.S. Billboard Blues Album Chart at 3:30 p.m., & British Blues Hall of Famer Matt Schofield at 5 p.m. A jam session featuring all of the performers ends the event. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com, Bailey’s General Store, Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank, & George & Wendy’s Seafood Grille.

South Seas Hosting World Championship Hobie Class Races – from Nov 1-16. This is the 1^st time since 1984, that these races are being held in the U.S. and the 1^st time in SW Florida. According to race organizers, the Hobie 16 World Championships is the only sailboat class in the world to supply brand new identical boats for all competitors to race. The course will be just off Sunset Beach, at the north end of Captiva. Sailboat racing fans may enter the resort entry gate and proceed to hotel registration where $5 per vehicle will be collected, parking pass issued, and wristbands provided for each spectator. Tickets also are available for special events (www.hobieclass.com).

2019 Taste of The Islands – Sun, November 10 from noon to 5 p.m. at Sanibel Community Park with CROW’s animal ambassadors and silent auction in The Community House. The participating restaurants were announced this week including The Bubble Room, The clam Shack, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, The Jac Island Bar & Grille, Matzaluna The Italian Kitchen, MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, Rosie’s Café & Grill, Sanddollar Restaurant, Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory, Sanibel Fish House, Shima Japanese Steakhouse, T2 (Traders 2), Thistle Lodge, and The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market.

Coastal Watch 3^rd Annual Fundraiser, The Launch – Sat, November 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Community House, in support of local conservation initiatives.

UCF Economist: Recession No Threat to Florida

The below article was posted on-line this week at Florida Realtors®.

“ORLANDO, Fla. – Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, expects Florida’s economy to grow faster than the U.S. economy over the next three years.

His third-quarter economic forecast indicates that the state’s “powerful” economy will produce a higher percentage of jobs than the nation and attract more job seekers from other states through 2022. Snaith predicts that much of the job growth will come from the professional/business services, education/health care services, and construction sectors.

““Florida’s economy continues to hit on all cylinders, and there are no economic storm clouds on the horizon,” he says. “Our biggest challenge over the upcoming years will revolve around how best to manage and facilitate economic growth.” In addition, Snaith says the fundamentals of the state’s housing market remain “solid,” and economic and job growth and the influx of retiring baby boomers should continue to support the upward trend on sales.

““Low inventories of existing homes for sale and lagging housing starts growth contribute to an environment where home prices continue to rise,” Snaith adds. “The shortage in the single-family market will be rectified as the pace of single-family housing starts to ramp up over the next several years. Single-family housing starts in 2022 are expected to increase by 79.7% from 2014 levels.””

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (10/03/19) Hielscher, John

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 4 – 11, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sunset South #2C 2/2 $609K, Sanibel Inn #3512 2/2 $727.5K, Sundial #J208 2/2 $769K.

No price changes, new, or closed sales.

HOMES

3 new listings: 610 Hideaway Ct 3/2.5 $629K, 1163 Seagrape Ln 4/4 $1.295M, 550 N Yachtsman Dr 3/3 $1.35M.

5 price changes: 1401 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex now $504.9K, 1717 Sand Pebble Way 3/2 now 645K, 1676 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2 now $825K, 1285 Par View Dr 4/2.5 now $889K, 982 Whelk Dr 3/2.5 now $1.15M.

3 new sales: 1800 Ardsley Way 3/2 listed at $695,555; 198 Southwinds Dr 3/2 listed at $699.9K; 823 Birdie View Pt 4/3 listed at $799K.

No closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 1837 Buckthorn now $629K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End Village #1619 2/2 $1.549M.

2 price changes: Bayside Villas #5136 1/2 now $419K, Bayside Villas #5228 1/2 now $429K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11528 Andy Rosse Ln 1/2.5 $2.9M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 17041 Captiva Dr 2/2 listed at $1.699M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Best wishes for a fun holiday!

SanibelSusan Realty will be open so you won’t need Columbus. We can help you find what you want!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Things are Hoppin’ On Sunny Sanibel

Posted on October 4, 2019 by SanibelSusan

Susan here, reporting a record-breaking weekend followed by a busy week at SanibelSusan Realty. Before those details, here are a few photos taken after I left the office last night. With no rain for several days, water and waterways surrounding the island are clear. These pictures in order include:

Tarpon Bay taken from next to SCCF’s Marine Lab and Tarpon Bay Explorers
Turner Beach looking toward the bridge to Sanibel and to the gulf
Roosevelt Channel to Pine Island Sound, taken from behind the Green Flash restaurant.

A combination of circumstances kept the SanibelSusan Team hoppin’ with three new sales, including the two properties we just listed last week. Sometimes when a new listing hits Multiple Listing Service (MLS), there are buyers waiting for a property like that. Often their Realtor also is watching new inventory for them.

There usually is a jump in interest too whenever an asking price is reduced under the next $100K mark. With most internet search engines having drop-down menus in those increments, once a price is reduced, the listing gets noticed by prospective buyers who may have not considered the property before because the price was out of their budget range.

Sellers sometimes think that their first offer is too soon. But, even in multiple offer situations, it usually makes sense to see the first offer through to the end. Statistics show that the 1^st offer often is the best offer. It also is important to recognize that sometimes there are terms as important as the price, like when the closing will occur, how serious the deposit is, Seller repair requirements, and what “outs” the contract has for the Buyer.

Getting a buyer to sign on the dotted line and negotiating the sale are just the first steps in getting a property sold. Working through contract contingencies often may be more challenging. Those may be things like the inspection/cancellation period in the “as is” contract. During that window, a buyer may view the property for the first time, have inspections, do due diligence on costs (like insurance, utilities, repairs), investigate making changes to the property (like adding a pool), or even change their mind.

The team tracks post-contract action items to ensure that they are successfully completed on time – things like escrow deposits, financing applications, applications to homeowners and condo associations, estoppel letter payments, appraisals, loan commitments, utility and service provider changes, etc.

The last seven days also brought us an unexpected and unusual number of hiccups with properties already under contract. I don’t know if that is what makes this business fun, but it certainly makes it interesting – ever changing – and reminds us that flexibility can be as crucial as follow-through.

The action posted since last Friday in the islands’ MLS is posted after a few news items below. We sure hope that this spurt of activity for us is an indication of what “season” will be like this year, but honestly, I think we just got lucky – and we are very thankful for it.

Sanibel’s Tax Rate Adopted – Lowest in Six Years!

Sanibel City Council recently took less than eight minutes to officially adopt the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Approved and discussed at earlier budget hearings, the rolled back operating millage rate of 1.8922 mills is the lowest tax rate in the last six years. (A mill is $1 per every $1,000 of taxable valuation. The rolled back rate is the same rate it would take to generate the same amount of revenue in the coming fiscal year as was generated in the previous year.) The budget for the upcoming year is $73,266,546.

Mayor Ruane also noted that the millage rate is down 25% from its historical peak. Ruane explained that during the recession in 2007, the City’s total debt was high, and there were little reserves. In comparison, now, 12 years later, taxes are lower, reserves are replenished, the City has minimal debt that continues to drop off, and funds are available to allocate to large-scale projects like the Donax wastewater project.

Noteworthy from the budget is that Sanibel has received approximately $3.3 million of the $3.9 million expected from FEMA and the State of Florida for reimbursement of Hurricane Irma expenditures. If there are additional disaster needs through the end of hurricane season, the City has secured a $5 million line to use for immediate expenditures.

New Website – Sanibel Fire & Rescue District

In compliance with State mandates, Sanibel Fire & Rescue District recently launched its new website at www.SanibelFire.com. It includes meeting dates, agenda, minutes, etc.

Island “Season” Begins & With Annual Events

San-Cap Motor Club – The first Cars & Coffee Cruise-in of the season begins this week. Saturday, Oct 5 at Periwinkle Place Shopping Center from 9 to 11 a.m. with a lineup of classics, muscle cars, antiques, hot rods, and other vehicles on display. The Club usually holds this event the first Saturday of each month through season.
Sanibel Farmers Market – begins this week. See you there Sunday, Oct 6, on the grounds of City Hall (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Be sure and bring your recyclable bag – or buy one there. The market is both straw and plastic bag free! More info at www.BuyLocalLee.com
BIG ARTS Community Chorus – fall schedule runs from Oct 15 to Dec 9. While the new BIG ARTS building is under construction, chorus meets Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Strauss Theater. Join SanibelSusan who’s been with the group since it began in the early 90’s. No auditions are required, all ages and abilities welcome. Fall performances include: Sunday, Nov 24 at Community Thanksgiving Celebration at The Community House; Friday, Dec 6 at Center-4-Life Luncheon at the Sanibel Rec Center; Friday, Dec 6 at Bailey’s Shopping Center for Luminary caroling; Tuesday, Dec 10 Holiday Concert. The spring schedule runs from Jan 7 to Mar 31, with rehearsals beginning Jan 28 at the new Performance Hall. Spring performances include: Saturday, Jan 25 at BIG ARTS Gala showcasing the new building and performance hall; Wednesday, Feb 19 at Annual FISH Luncheon at The Community House; Thursday, Mar 19 at Center-4-Life Dinner at The Sanibel Rec Center; Wednesday & Thursday, Apr 1 & 2 Spring Concerts at new BIG ARTS Performance Hall.
Howl-O-Ween Fundraiser – Friday, Oct 27, 5 to 7 p.m. at Over Easy Café patio. Includes pet costume contest and fundraiser to benefit Flying Fur Animal Rescue. $10 donation includes beer, wine, and yappitizers.
38^th Annual Taste of the Islands – CROW’s annual fundraiser featuring local island restaurants is Sunday, Nov 10 from noon to 5 p.m. at Sanibel Community Park (across the street from SanibelSusan Realty). Established in 1968, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a teaching hospital saving sick, injured, and orphaned native and migratory wildlife. Through state-of-the-art veterinary care, public education, and an engaging visitor center, CROW works to improve the health of the environment, humans and animals through wildlife medicine. For more info, or to plan your visit, go to http://crowclinic.org . If you find an animal needing help, call (239) 472-3644 ext. #222.
SCCF’s Wine in the Wild – Friday, Nov 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Bailey Homestead Preserve. Usually a sell-out, tickets will NOT be available at the door. Five food stations will be set up each featuring a dish from one of Sanibel’s finest kitchens – Catering by Leslie Adams, Cielo, Malia, Sanibel Catering Company, and Sweet Melissa’s Café. Each will be paired with a wine. Dessert buffet by Normal Love confections, followed by live auction. Reservations through Linda Uhler at 239-472-3817.

Upcoming at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Every Kid Outdoors Program – The U.S. Department of Interior recently extended the Every Kid Outdoors Program (formerly Every Kid in a Park) for another seven years. The program grants fourth-grade students a free annual pass to visit more than 2,000 federal recreation areas – including J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge — with their families, classmates, and friends. To obtain the free pass, fourth-grade students visit www.everykidoutdoors.gov , participate in a short educational activity, and download a voucher. The voucher is valid for multiple uses between Sep 1, 2019, and Aug 31, 2020, to correspond to the traditional school year. The voucher may be exchanged for a keepsake pass at “Ding” Darling or other participating federal lands. The voucher or pass allows free entry for fourth graders, all children under age 16 in the group, and up to three accompanying adults (or an entire car for drive-in public lands like “Ding”) to most federally managed lands and waters. The pass does not cover amenity fees such as kayak rentals or boat rides.
‘Ding’ Day Combines Art with Family Fun – Two-time Federal Duck Stamp winner Scot Storm will travel from Minnesota to headline the “Ding” Darling Day Duck Stamp Presentation on Sunday, Oct 20, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. He will sign stamps following his presentation. Florida Junior Duck Stamp winner Anna Grace Swanson from Titusville will also be on hand to meet and greet. “This year, we have folded Conservation Art Day together with ‘Ding’ Darling Day Family Fun Day,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. Go to www.dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/ding-darling-days for a full schedule of activities.
Merit Badge University – On Oct 26, the Refuge will host its second annual Merit Badge University for registered Boy Scouts of America. Support for the program comes from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, LCEC, and Tarpon Bay Explorers, the Refuge’s recreation concession. Scouts from around the nation will have the opportunity to earn up to two out of six badges being offered that day. They include Bird Study, Photography, Cycling, Kayaking, Fishing, and Fly Fishing. Class sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 27 – October 4, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

2 new listings: Sanibel Shores #A2 2/2 $459K, Sanibel Arms West #H5 2/2 $559K.

5 price changes: Sundial #A306 2/2 now $729,999; Sanctuary Golf Villages #5-1 2/2.5 now $754.5K; Heron at The Sanctuary II #2B 3/3.5 now $778K, Heron at The Sanctuary II #3B 3/2.5 now $850K, Sundial #K103 2/2 now $889K.

3 new sales Breakers West #A5 2/2 listed at $499.9K, Island Beach Club #210B 2/2 listed at $739K. Pine Cove #201 3/2 listed at $1.395M (our listing, view below).

1 closed sale: Sundial #I103 1/1 $435K.

HOMES

8 new listings: 9440 Cotten Ct 3/2 $650K, 749 Cardium St 3/2 $689K, 4397 Gulf Pines Dr 3/3 $795K, 9094 Mockingbird Dr 4/3.5 $895K, 1345 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 $1.12M, 1081 Captains Walk St 4/2.5 $1.195M, 1717 Venus Dr 3/2.5 $1.299M, 747 Windlass Way 4/3.5 $2.45M.

3 price changes: 9448 Begonia Ct 3/2.5 now $599K (our listing, pictured below), 1973 Wild Lime Dr 4/3 now $599.9K, 911 Almas Ct 3/2.5 now $1.375M.

6 new sales: 1365 Tahiti Dr 2/2 listed at $449K (our listing, pictured below), 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 listed at $499K, 1731 Serenity Ln 4/3 listed at $639K, 1586 Century Ct 3/2.5 listed at $665K, 4080 West Gulf Dr 3/2 listed at $995K (our buyer), 772 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 listed at $1.189M.

1 closed sale: 980 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 half-duplex $509K.

LOTS

3 new listings: 1872 Middle Gulf Dr $495K, 2299 Starfish Ln $549K, 1874 Middle Gulf Dr $979K.

1 price change: 1048 Fish Crow Rd now $394.9K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 0 Dinkins Lake Rd $240K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Homes #11 4/3 $2.35M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Gulf Beach Villas #2004 2/2 listed at $638K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 10 Sunset Captiva Ln 2/2.5 $995K.

1 price change: 15819 Captiva Dr 5/5 now $9.1M.

1 new sale: 14981 Binder Dr 3/3 listed at $995K.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday! If you are thinking about wintering on Sanibel, please don’t delay buying or making reservations.

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel/Captiva Real Estate Action This Week

Posted on September 27, 2019 by SanibelSusan

Happy Friday! It has been a week with a little more activity on the islands. Our listings certainly got more action, including two sales and a couple of price reductions. Teammates and I were out showing and viewing property, and we also got two new listings. Hopefully, this is an indication that the market is picking up.

A report with the details of the action since last Friday in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows a couple of news items below.

Sanibel & Captiva Island Association of Realtors®

This week, there was no Thursday morning Realtor® caravan of new listings. The bi-weekly summer schedule ends at the end of October when it reverts to every week. Our new listing at Pine Cove #201 will be open for caravan next week (9 a.m. to noon).

SCCF Sea Turtle Program 2019

Details about the 2019 Sea Turtle tagging project are in “SCCF’s Member Update” Oct 2019 issue. Since the project began in 2016, their team has documented 1,178 encounters with turtles on the beach at night, representing 587 unique individuals. When a turtle is encountered, she is scanned for existing tags, tagged if none are found, and measured with calipers and a measuring tape.

Of the 587 seen, 236 have been encountered more than once. Sea turtles don’t nest every year – each individual lays approximately 3-6 nests over the course of the season and then spends a year or two foraging to replenish her energy reserves before returning to the nesting beach.

The 2019 season is the 4^th year of the tagging project. “Highlights of the 2019 tagging season include:

A new record of 353 documented turtle encounters from May 1 – July 31
Six green sea turtles seen on Sanibel, totaling 18 observed nests
The average loggerhead carapace size was 94.5 cm (slightly over 3 feet), with their largest loggerhead measuring at 115 cm (almost 4 feet long).
Staff interacted with 1,126 beachgoers at night to educate them about the impacts of flashlights on sea turtles.”

More info at www.SCCF.org.

A Mixed Economic Picture Ahead

An interesting update in the September-October 2019 “Realtor®” magazine by NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun. He says, “Home building is accelerating, but sales continue to lag.”

“Annual home sales have been moving sideways in recent years: 5.4 million in 2016, 5.5 million in 2017, and 5.3 million in 2018. As of June, this year’s total stands to be 5.2 million on an annualized basis.

“These flat numbers make little sense in light of the decent economy. From 2016 through the first half of 2019, the economy added 8 million net new jobs at higher pay. Moreover, household net worth grew by $13.5 trillion, thanks to the rising stock market and surging real estate prices. The unyielding homeownership rate has lead to a more concentrated build-up in wealth than if ownership had expanded.

“Perhaps reduced tax benefits for homeowners is the main reason the home sales have become sluggish. Fortunately, the market is shifting for the better because of amazing mortgage rates. The Federal Reserve’s decision to be more accommodating has brought mortgage rates down to under 4%. The housing supply remains a hurdle but steadily homebuilders are responding by building more spec homes and at lower price points, where the demand remains the strongest. Realtors® are also witnessing an uptick in seller inquiries in our consumer survey. Consequently, pending contracts rose in June in all major U.S. regions, marking the first year-over-year gain in 17 months. Barring headaches over inspections, appraisals, and mortgage funding, closing activity is expected to shoot higher in the second half of the year.

“And the economy still has room to grow. Home building needs to increase robustly to address the inventory shortage. And falling vacancy rates in office, industrial, and apartment properties suggest commercial construction needs. The main looming worry is the impact of the intensifying trade war on corporate investment and the stock market. In a good economy, business investment should be rising around 5% or more – certainly roughly in line with the growth in profits, which have soared. That’s not happening, and it’s of concern.”

Fall Home Checklist

Whether you are in Florida or elsewhere, here is a good Fall Home Checklist reminder taken from an article posted in the September issue of Florida Realtor® magazine:

Exterior

Trim tree branches and vegetation near roof
Check roof, siding and foundation for damage
Check chimney for loose bricks and missing mortar
Clean gutters and downspouts. Make sure water doesn’t pool around foundation
Seal gaps and holes that could provide access for animals
Replace loose or missing caulking around windows and doors
If area is subject to freezes, shut off exterior faucets and irrigation system and store hoses

Interior

Check attic and crawl spaces for leaks and moisture after wet weather
Check caulking around faucets showers, bathtubs, sink and toilets
Check faucets and supply valves for leaks or corrosion
Inspect water heater for leaks
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Have a professional inspect/clean the chimney. Test fireplace flue for tight seal
Test circuit breakers and ground-fault/arc-fault interrupters
Consider hiring a professional to inspect and tune up your furnace/HVAC system
Change HVAC system filters and remove any materials that block return air vent
Clean dryer vent.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 20 – 27, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sandpebble #1A 2/2 $449K, Signal Inn #18 3/2 $1.175M, Pine Cove #201 3/2 $1.395M (our listing).

From the wrap-around balcony at Pine Cove #201.

2 price changes: Signal Inn #10 1/1 now $499.9K, Signal Inn #14 2/2 now $739K.

3 new sales: Sanibel Arms West #I1 2/2 listed at $569K, Sunset South #6B 2/2 listed at $575K, Sanibel Moorings #1341 2/2 listed at $680K.

1 closed sale: Pointe Santo #B2 2/2 $640K.

HOMES

4 new listings: 1365 Tahiti Dr 2/2 $449K (our listing), 1695 Serenity Ln 3/2 $499K, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 3/2 $959K, 1121 Skiff Pl 3/3 $995K.

1365 Tahiti Dr in Tradewinds

6 price changes: 405 Tiree Cir 3/2 now $749K, 1672 Hibiscus Dr 3/2 now $959K, 5402 Osprey Ct 4/3 now $975K, 842 Limpet Dr 3/3.5 now $2.095M (our listing), 1069 Bird Ln 4/3.5 now $4.795M, 4143 West Gulf Dr 3/3.5 now $5.795M.

842 Limpet Dr in Shell Harbor

5 new sales: 681 Rabbit Rd 3/2 listed at $549K, 1558 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $599K (our listing), 1010 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 listed at $1.095M, 1345 Tahiti Dr 3/2.5 listed at $1.15M, 4709 Rue Belle Mer 3/2 listed at $3.125M.

1558 Sand Castle Rd in The Dunes

3 closed sales: 1203 Kittiwake Cir 3/2.5 $505K, 640 Oliva St 3/2 $649K, 2689 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 $1.6335M.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 2133 Starfish Ln now $389K.

1 new sale: 5737 Baltusrol Ct listed at 299K (our listing).

5737 Baltusrol Ct in The Sanctuary

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sunset Beach Villas #2217 1/1 $510K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: Sunset Captiva #204 2/2 $1M.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11540 Laika Ln 3/2.5 $1.375M.

1 price change: 16525 Captiva Dr 3/4 now $1.495M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

September Weather Arrives on the Islands

Posted on September 20, 2019 by SanibelSusan

It’s time for another SanibelSusan Friday update about Sanibel and Captiva Islands. It was a surprise on Tuesday afternoon when Sanibel’s electric service went out.

According to Lee County Electric Coop (LCEC), the outage was caused when an antenna atop a sailboat mast hit the main power line coming to the island. Thank you, LCEC for getting it back up and running in just an hour. With 90+degree temperatures that day, islanders did not want to be without AC for long. Most summers, there are a few minor outages, but this year, there have only been a handful.

Today’s surprise was a noticeable change in the weather. Local forecasters are joking that it is because fall begins on Monday. Little, if any, rain is expected in the upcoming week. With low humidity, temperatures today are expected to only hit 87 degrees F. That is a welcome change. It has been in the low 90’s for weeks.

On Monday, nighttime temperatures are expected to go down into the high 60’s/low 70’s. It has been many months since it has been that cool. Late September usually equates to snowbirds on the move. The SanibelSusan Team hopes that means more sales will follow.

September Island Updates

There is always a flurry of activity just before the snowbirds get back. Here are some changes that I noticed during my travels this week.

Casa Ybel Resort – The new entrance is almost done at Casa Ybel Resort. It was damaged two years ago during Hurricane Irma when their huge specimen tree on the bridge going into the resort came down. Over the last few weeks, landscaping crews have been there working on a new design. This week their new sign went up, work on the bridge and roadway completed, and the new landscaping went in. The design includes stonework with waterfalls now framing the entrance and many tropical plants and palms. What a special welcome it creates!

Dairy Queen – Has been closed and cordoned off with construction tape all week. No word on when it is reopening.

Mariner Pointe – Has a new fresh white sign at their entrance. It must be a temporary one, since their street number actually is “760”.

Saint Kilda – Community is getting water main replacement according to Island Water’s Fall 2019 “IWA Pipeline”. The project is upgrading the original developer-installed water main with higher strength pipe and new fire hydrants. Periodic IWA project updates may be found on their website www.IslandWater.com under “Latest Capital Project”.

SCCF Nature Center Closed for Renovations – The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation Nature Center is closed for educational programs until further notice due to ongoing interior renovations. The administrative offices remain open for meetings and other business activities. The trails behind the Nature Center at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Rd., also will stay open for visitors. While renovations are underway, SCCF events and educational programs will be held at the Bailey Homestead Preserve.” Detailed information about the open trails at SCCF’s six public preserves may be found at http://www.sccf.org/preserves. SCCF’s Native Landscape and Garden Center is maintaining its regular retail schedule at the Bailey Homestead Preserve, 1300 Periwinkle Way. Call 239-472-1932 for additional information about the Garden Center’s operating hours and upcoming programs.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® September Membership Meeting

In addition to the phones, roadways, beaches, and shops being super quiet, the local Association of Realtors® monthly membership breakfast yesterday, was lightly attended. Before the property announcements, attendees heard from the four candidates running for our three board vacancies. The election results will be announced at our annual meeting in October. Good luck to Realtors Greg Demaras, Pfeifer Realty Group; Mike McMurray, Royal Shell Real Estate; Liz Podolsky, McCallion & McCallion Realty; and Janka Varmuza, VIP Realty Group.

Meeting speaker was Angela Melvin, founder and CEO of Valerie’s House. Angela like her family before her, grew up in Fort Myers. Her mother, Valerie, died in a car accident in 1987 when Angela was just 10 years old, sparking her passion to find a place that could help children in similar situations. After college and working as a broadcast journalist around the country and then a Communications Director on Capitol Hill, Angela spent several years working for and sitting on boards for various non-profits including the Wendt Center for Grief and Loss in Washington, DC. She returned to Fort Myers in 2013 and shortly after, founded Valerie’s House.

Valerie’s House is the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with its sole mission to help children grieve the loss of a loved one. With locations now in Fort Myers, Naples, and Punta Gorda, Valerie’s House is a place where children connect with one another and learn the tools to heal after they have experienced the death of someone they love. At Valerie’s House, children know others their own age, and they learn that loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams. In addition to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, Valerie’s House is a family of others grieving. More info at http://www.ValeriesHouseSWFL.org.

Upcoming Event Reminders

International Coastal Cleanup is tomorrow, Saturday, Sept 21, from 9 a.m. until noon. Thirteen clean-up locations will participate throughout Lee County. The island Realtors® team will be working on Causeway Island B. Last year, the cleanup attracted 1,546 volunteers who removed 3,358 pounds of litter and debris from waterways. To participate, please register at www.klcb.org/coastal-cleanup.html

USTA Southwest Florida Clay Court Championships for the 4^th year will be at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, September 27-29. Age Divisions: Open, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, singles & doubles. Registration deadline is Sep 25 at www.USTA.com using tournament ID 150046619.

Farmers Markets are beginning soon. Local Roots has updated their website with the market start dates. Wondering which is open when? Here’s a quick summary.

Sundays on Sanibel – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Oct 6 to May 31 (including Easter Sunday) on the grounds of Sanibel City Hall. This will be the 12th season for the Sanibel market. It has something for everyone: fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, honey, meats, cut flowers, prepared meals, mini-donuts, cupcakes, bagels, guacamole, pickles, cheeses, baked goods, native plants, artisan foods, local crafts, organics, and more. Shoppers are encouraged to bring dry and canned foods to the market booth. They are donated each week to F.I.S.H., the islands’ food pantry. The market is a plastic-straw-free zone, is a non-smoking area, and only service dogs are allowed in the vendor areas. New to the market this season, vendors will not use single-use plastic bags. Reasonably price reusable bags are for sale at the market booth or bring your own. Follow the signs for parking. All handicap parking is at City Hall. For more information on this and other SWFL Farmers Markets, go to BuyLocalLee.com
Mondays at Fenway South – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Jan 6 to Mar 30 at Jet Blue Stadium
Tuesdays on Captiva – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Nov 5 to Apr 28 at South Seas Island Resort
Wednesdays at Lakes Park – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Oct 2 to Apr 29 at Lakes Regional Park
Thursdays at Coconut Point – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Oct 3 to Apr 30 at Coconut Point Mall
Thursdays at River District – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-‘round at Centennial Park
Fridays at Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Dec 20 to Apr 24 at Wheeler Rd ball field
Fridays at Sanibel Outlets – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Dec 13 to Mar 27 at Sanibel Outlets
Saturdays in Bonita Springs – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. from Oct 5 to Apr 25 at The Promenade

Seems like yesterday when Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura started Local Roots and organized their first market in the parking lot at Tahitian Gardens shopping center. Talk about success! What wonderful contributions they have made to us living in Southwest Florida. Did I mention, they are summer pickleball stars too!

Island Beaches & Red-Drift Algae

As much as social media today keeps us connected, I swear sometimes it is our own worst enemy. There were so many differing reports about beach conditions following Hurricane Dorian and so many local reporters only talking about the bad stuff (ugh), that I did stops at a few beaches yesterday as I was on my real estate rounds. East-end and mid-island beaches were beautiful. This morning, I stopped at the bayside beach at the end of Bailey Road and it likewise is clear and breezy. Some of my photos below.

Beach at the Donax Street access on 9/19/19

Overlooking Sand Carlos Bay at the end of Bailey Rd on 9/20/19

To clear up misconception and confirm conditions often change, below is the report posted online yesterday by the City.

“Large Sections of Sanibel Beaches Currently in Excellent to Very Good Conditions

Frank Spinuzza. 09/19/2019 05:58 pm

Spot Locations Remain Dynamic & Ephemeral

Update on Algae Pilot Project

At this time large stretches of Sanibel beaches are in excellent to very good conditions. Algae deposits continue to be dynamic and ephemeral, likely driven by wind conditions, currents, tides, and/or other factors.

Residents & visitors are reminded that paid beach parking meter receipts are not restricted to the beach parking lot in which purchased. Paid, unexpired beach parking is transferrable to any other of the other City of Sanibel’s public beach parking lots.

Status of In-water Algae Removal Pilot Project:

City staff is currently compiling the results of the in-water algae removal pilot project conducted on Tuesday 9/10/19. The project, authorized for 4 days, was discontinued after 1 day due to insufficient algae at both permitted locations. Equipment remains staged on-island in the event conditions at one of the two currently permitted locations (Lighthouse Beach Park & Gulfside City Park) as warranted and are suitable to continue the pilot.

Results will be presented to City Council at a future meeting as well as the upcoming Tourism Development Commission meeting for reimbursement.

We are presently experiencing very dynamic changes to our beaches based upon changing wind directions, even the course of the same day, conditions earlier today were observed as:

Excellent conditions with little to no algae deposits are present at Sanibel’s east end beaches from Lighthouse Beach Park to Gulfside City Park and at Blind Pass Beach Park on Sanibel’s west end.
Light to moderate deposits are present Beach Accesses 1, 2,5 & 7 on West Gulf Drive.
Moderate to heavy deposits are present at Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman’s Beach and Turner Beach (Captiva).

Even at locations with heavier algae deposits, little to no odor is currently present.

While shorebird nesting season is officially complete, numerous shorebirds are present and actively foraging in algae deposits. Seabirds and wading birds are also present.

Sea turtle nesting season continues through Oct 31st. As of 9/15/19, 60 active nests remain.

Numerous baitfish were observed at several locations…

(The City report contains photos taken from various island locations, check them out at www.MySanibel.com. The City’s 9/19 report ends with the below info.)

“Florida Department of Health–Healthy Beaches Program

The Florida Department of Health samples 4 Sanibel beach locations weekly for fecal indicator bacteria. Samples collected on Monday 9/16/19 were all in the “good” range for enterococcus bacteria. Weekly testing results are posted here: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/county-detail.html?County=Lee&Zip=33916-2205

For more information on Sanibel and other Lee County beach conditions, click on these links:
Florida Healthy Beaches
Mote Marine Lab Beach Conditions Map

END”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 13-20, 2019

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

2 price changes: Sundial #E108 3/2 now $1.275M, La Playa #1B 3/2 now $1.399M.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: Sundial #I104 1/1 $456K (our buyer, under contract last week, closed this week), Mariner Pointe #1041 2/2 $468K.

(Our Sundial buyer went under contract last week & closed this week. It’s not often that a closing can happen that quickly, but thanks to Stacy at Sundial West & Michelle at Barrier Island Title, it got it done! The SanibelSusan Team thanks them!)

HOMES

2 new listings: 868 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $550K, 5757 Baltusrol Ct 3/3 $1.579M.

1 price change: 1755 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 now $755K.

3 new sales: 970 Greenwood Ct 3/2.5 half-duplex listed at $429.9K, 9401 Beverly Ln 3/3 listed at $675K, 1136 Golden Olive Ct 4/4.5 listed at $2.59M.

4 closed sales: 513 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $628.5K, 534 N. Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $825K, 845 Birdie View Pt 3/3 $1.1065M, 844 Lindgren Blvd 3/3 $1.205M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Bayside Villas #5118 1/2 now $377.9K.

1 new sale: Beach Villas #2426 2/2 listed at $537.5K.

1 closed sale: Ventura Captiva #2A 3/3 $900K.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, enjoy a “cool” September!

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

A Sunny Warm Grateful Friday on Sanibel Island

Posted on September 6, 2019 by SanibelSusan

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

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

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

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

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

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

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

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

View from Sanibel Arms West #E2

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

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

Temporary Closings

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

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

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

Positive Trends for Florida Real Estate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sanibel

CONDOS

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

No price changes or new sales.

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

HOMES

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

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

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

No closed sales.

LOTS

Lot at 4566 Buck Key Rd in Sanibel Bayous

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

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

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

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

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Susan Andrews aka SanibelSusan

Island Sales Stats

New Year Events

Study: Lots of Listings Coming as Baby Boomers Age

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity December 13-20, 2019

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity December 20-27, 2019

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Holiday Festivities, Shopping, & Helpers

Real Estate Happenings

Sanibel Scoop

Changes at Island Eats

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity November 29-December 6, 2019

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Upcoming Events

Red Tide Update

At West Wind Inn

Lee County Property Fraud Alert Service

Sanibel’s Leaders Working for All of Us

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

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Red Tide

Annual Meeting Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

At SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Event Reminders

Rising Financial Wealth Boosts Demand for Vacation Homes

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

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Vice President Pence to Visit Sanibel Again This Weekend

Process for Registering Sanibel Short-Term Rentals

Events & ReOpenings

UCF Economist: Recession No Threat to Florida

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity October 4 – 11, 2019

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Sanibel’s Tax Rate Adopted – Lowest in Six Years!

New Website – Sanibel Fire & Rescue District

Island “Season” Begins & With Annual Events

Upcoming at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 27 – October 4, 2019

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Sanibel & Captiva Island Association of Realtors®

SCCF Sea Turtle Program 2019

A Mixed Economic Picture Ahead

Fall Home Checklist

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 20 – 27, 2019

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September Island Updates

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® September Membership Meeting

Upcoming Event Reminders

Island Beaches & Red-Drift Algae

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 13-20, 2019

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SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Temporary Closings

Upcoming Events

Positive Trends for Florida Real Estate

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

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