TGIF from sea

Posted on July 22, 2016 by SanibelSusan

Thanks to SanibelSusan teammates, Elise & Dave, this Friday Update is coming to you from Haiti where I am enjoying the final days of of a Caribbean cruise while they & Lisa have handled things in the office & at home.

Here is a picture of my view in Labadee where it is a breezy 84 degrees as I pen this at 4:30 p.m.

Dave & Elise say it has been a quiet week on Sanibel as far as showing requests and inquiries about our listings, but they have been busy finishing up our 8000-piece newsletter mailing. If you’d like a copy, let us know.

They offer the following news items & then the Sanibel Captiva MLS activity since last Friday.

But first since I know Sanibel photos are your favorite, here are some taken by our friend Scott who had a busy day on Monday with some Pelicans! (You saved me again, Scott.)

Clear Your Gear Stations

As reported in the Island Sun this week, last week a volunteer representing the Monofilament Busters conservation group oversaw the installation of five new monofilament fishing line recycling stations completed by the City of Sanibel’s Department of Public Works, expanding the scope of the three-year-old Clear Your Gear Campaign. Clear Your Gear is a collaborative effort among Sanibel & Captiva conservation organizations aiming to reduce the amount of monofilament line and fishing gear left in our environment, which is often detrimental to wildlife. New locations are: Bowman’s Beach main beach access, Bowman’s beach kayak launch, Clam Bayou box culvert, Blind Pass, City Boat Ramp.

Shells Needed For Museum Crafts

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum needs shells. The daily Shell Crafting is so popular that the museum is running low. Shells do not need to be perfect and can be from any Southwest Florida beach. They do need to be clean and they must not be what the museum calls “live collected”. In other words they only want shells that are empty when found. The types of shells the program prefers are: lightning whelks under three inches long, paper figs, tulips, rose petal telins, buttercup lucins, apple murexes, paired cockles, dosinias, coquinas, large scallops, kitten paws, turkey wings and button snails. Shell Crafting classes are offered every afternoon in the museum’s auditorium. Classes are free with paid museum admission. Donations accepted at 3075 SanibelCaptiva Rd.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity July 15-22, 2016

Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listings: Blind Pass #B207 2/2.5 $515K, Sanibel Arms West #M3 2/2 $547.5K.
2 price changes: Mariner Pointe #712 2/2.5 now $525K, Moonshadows #2C 3/3 now $1.897M.
2 new sales: Lighthouse Point #122 2/2 listed at $499K, Sundial West #A205 2/2 listed at $829K.
No closed sales.

HOMES
2 new listings: 9209 Kincaid Ct 3/2 $499K, 533 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $548K (our listing).

Our new listing at 533 Rabbit Road

2 price changes: 918 Lindgren Blvd 3/3.5 now $1.325M, 598 Kinzie Island Cct 3/3.5 now $1.785M.
3 new sales: 421 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $829K, 739 Pyrula Ave 3/3 listed at $1.245M, 6491 SanibelCaptiva Rd 2/2 listed at $1.795M.
2 closed sales: 2150 Egret Cir 3/2 $479K, 1702 Sand Pebble Way 3/2.5 $500K.

LOTS
1 new listing: 9232 Dimmick Dr $212,555.
No price change or new sales.
1 closed listing: 6217 Starling Way $1.159M.

Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings, price changes, or new sales.
1 closed listing: Tennis Villas #3231 2/2 $395K.

HOMES & LOTS
Nothing to report.

Until, next Friday, I borrowed another photo from Scott! Even at sea, we don’t see sunsets like on Sanibel. This was Wednesday night Tarpon Bay side! Thank you, Scott!

TGIF, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel Summer & Ospreys, oh my…

Posted on July 15, 2016 by SanibelSusan

It is Susan reporting that it has been another “quiet” week on the islands. No Association of Realtors® caravan meeting yesterday, but the activity in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service over the last seven days follows a few news items below.

First a few photos from our friend, Scott, who shares his pictures with us – for the blog. These ospreys love his dock! Thank you, Scott!

Sea Turtle Nests Break Record on East Sanibel

kemp turtle Following up on last week’s post about sea turtles, SCCF’s (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) blog on Wed, July 13, posted the following:

“Today SCCF’s Sea Turtle Program confirmed that Sanibel’s East End has broken the record for nest numbers since we began recording. We officially have 122 loggerhead nests on the East End.

“2015 was the previous record holder with 120 nests. Prior to that, the average for nests on the East end was 38 per year! We are having an excellent season!

“Here’s how you can ensure all those nests, hatchlings, and momma’s stay safe:

Respect all staked nests.
Turn off all lights – Nesting females and hatchlings primarily emerge after dark so remember to turn off all lights. Sea turtles use the brightest horizon to navigate towards the water. Any artificial lighting will cause confusion and steer turtles in the wrong direction. This includes beachfront lighting, flash lights, flash photography, and even iPhones.
Remove all beach furniture and toys – Clear everything off the beach from 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. Obstacles on the beach can cause nesting females and hatchlings to become entangled.
Fill in all holes on the beach – if you dug a hole on the beach please fill it in. Nesting females and hatchlings can fall into holes, causing them to be vulnerable to predators.
Never approach a nesting sea turtle – if approached the sea turtle will likely abandon her nesting attempt

sea-turtle-eggs “Loggerhead Sea Turtle Facts

Loggerheads are one of seven species of sea turtles in the world
Nesting/hatching season occurs from April 15 through October 31
Adult loggerheads can grow to more than 3-feet long and weight 200 to 350 lbs
A female loggerhead may nest around 3-6 times per season
Each nest contains 100 or more leathery ping-pong ball sized eggs
Incubation takes about 55 to 65 days depending on sand temperature
It may take 30 years or more for loggerhead hatchlings to reach maturity.”

2016 Profile of International Activity in U.S. Residential Real Estate

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) just issued the results of the annual survey by their Research Division which measures the share of U.S. residential real estate sales to international clients. The report divides those international or foreign clients into two types:

Non-resident foreigners who are non-U.S. citizens with permanent residences outside the U.S. They typically purchase for investment, vacations, or other visits of less than six months.
Resident foreigners who also are non-U.S. citizens, but are recent immigrants (or in the country for less than two years) or temporary visa-holders residing for more than six months for professional, educational, or other reasons.

The report contains some interesting information. Here are a few excerpts:

“Amid slower economic growth in many countries and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, fewer non-resident foreigners purchased U.S. residential properties while resident foreigners stepped up their purchases. Meanwhile more U.S. domestic clients searched for properties abroad…
Foreign buyers purchase $102.6 billion of residential property from April 2015 – March 2016, a decrease from $103.9 billion in the previous 12-month period…
Non-resident foreigners accounted for 41% of foreign buyers while resident foreigners made up 59%. In past years, the number of foreign buyers was split almost evenly between resident and non-resident foreign buyers…
Foreign buyers typically purchase more expensive properties…
45% of foreign buyers who purchased residential property came from China ($27B), Canada ($8.9B), India ($6.1B), the United Kingdom ($5.5B), and Mexico ($4.8B)…
Non-resident foreign buyers made up the bulk of buyers from Canada and the United Kingdom while resident foreign buyers came from China, India, and Mexico…
Although foreigners purchased property nationwide, five states accounted for 51% of total residential property purchases: Florida (22%), California (15%), Texas (10%), Arizona (4%), and New York (4%)…
72% of non-resident foreigner buyers purchased the property as a vacation and/or residential rental property for investment while 21% of resident foreign buyers purchased the property for vacation and/or rental use…
50% of reported transactions were all cash…
Previous client contacts and referrals accounted for 47%….”
Florida and Arizona attracted buyers from Latin America, Europe, and Canada who tend to purchase properties in warm climates for vacation purposes…
The outlook for international real estate activity in the U.S. remains positive. The decline in the value of the British Pound following Brexit is likely to mean fewer buyers from the United Kingdom. However, businesses and foreign real estate investors may choose to stay away from the United Kingdom, and the United States could become an attractive alternative.”

Corps to Cut Back Lake O Releases

As reported on line yesterday (July 14) by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF):

“Some good news — the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the request made during this week’s Periodic Scientists Call to reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee to 2,800 cfs measured at the Franklin Lock from last week’s average 4,158 cfs. Flows to the St. Lucie will be reduced to 650 cfs. There should be some improvement in water clarity because of the reduction — but that would also require that rainfall not be heavy enough to increase the amount of runoff from the Caloosahatchee’s own watershed.

“SCCF participates in a weekly conference call with the Army Corps and South Florida Water Management District as part of a local stakeholders group, which also includes J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the City of Sanibel, Lee County, the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the City of Cape Coral. As part of this process, the partners prepare a weekly Caloosahatchee Conditions Report. During this week’s call, stakeholders requested a slowdown on the lake releases.

You can find the reports on our website.”

In other SCCF news, their Natural Resource Policy Director Rae Ann Wessel spoke at a congressional hearing yesterday in DC on the water quality crisis in Southwest Florida and St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties on Florida’s east coast. In part, she said:

“We need to recognize this is a national issue requiring science that informs and directs public policies to protect the natural resources in our backyard,” Wessel testified. “This is an economic crisis as well as an environmental one, with 47,000 jobs in our $3 billion tourism industry at stake. We must act now to stop the harmful algal blooms that extend over 35 miles of the Caloosahatchee as we speak. We ask four things of Congress today. Bring greater science to bear in seeking solutions. Pass WRRDA (The Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2016). Continue the Tamiami Trail bridging. Accelerate the implementation of the CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan) project to store water in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) south of Lake Okeechobee. These four actions will provide the greatest impacts for resolving the water quality crisis on Florida’s two coasts.”

The Interagency Working Group hearing was the start of “Lagoon-Gulf Action Day” on Capitol Hill. Participating agencies included:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 8-15, 2016

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

3 price changes: Sanibel Arms #F2 1/1 now $515K, Sandpiper Beach #203 2/2 now $699K, Tanglewood #1A 3/2 now $1.1479M.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 4428 Waters Edge Ln 3/2.5 $1,299,999.

5 price changes: 1746 Windward Way 3/2 now $540K, 810 Elinor Way 3/2 now $649K, 519 Kinzie Island Ct 3/2.5 now $1.395M, 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $1.929M, 1306 Seaspray Ln 3/4 now $3.895M.

3 new sales: 726 Cardium St 3/3 listed at $775K, 760 Windlass Way 3/3 now $979K, 2251 Starfish Ln 4/3.5 listed at $1.295M.

2 closed sales: 2407 Shop Rd 3/1 $330K, 1317 Eagle Run Dr 4/3.5 $1.075M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 1242 Anhinga Ln listed at $525K.

1 closed sale: 2988+2993 Wulfert Rd $799K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #4214 1/2 $317.5K.

No price changes, new or closed sales.

HOMES & LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Scott shared this sunset photo too! It’s a beauty!

Sunset 07-09-16

Thanks again, Scott ! Here’s hoping everyone’s weekend sunsets are beautiful too!

TGIF! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel’s April Flowers Waiting for May Showers

Posted on April 22, 2016 by SanibelSusan

Hibiscus

The SanibelSusan Team continues to enjoy the island’s post-season limited traffic and wonderful weather. Our news this week is short due to a busy schedule in the office…showings…more showings…even more showings…lots of internet inquiries…and then a nice closing today.

Our weekly report of the activity posted over the last seven days in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows the below article from Sunday’s edition of the “Santiva-Chronicle” about how Sanibel fared in the recent Florida legislative session.

Sanibel Saw Success in Florida’s Legislative Session

Sanibelcityseal logo “Sanibel came away from the recently concluded session of the Florida Legislature with flying colors, Dan DeLisi, the city’s legislative consultant, told the City Council at the council’s recent meeting on April 5.

The city received funding for two projects at the Donax Wastewater Reclamation Plant on the island and, along with the rest of Florida, made great strides on broader water quality issues involving the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee.

““You won’t see a city this size get money like this,” DeLisi told the council. He noted the projects first had to clear both houses and then dodge a gubernatorial veto. Projects like Sanibel’s usually get cut at some point, he said.

“DeLisi said State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and State Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-76 which includes Sanibel, did “the heavy lifting” with a big assist from State Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-79 which includes northern Lee County.

“Sanibel received $825,000 for the two projects at the Donax plant.

“Also of major significance to Sanibel were the legislature’s handling of the Legacy Florida bill and the Water Policy bill.

“A key part of the Legacy Florida bill is getting the Amendment 1 documentary stamp revenues appropriated in the right direction. The bill requires that $100 million be dedicated to funding the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

““Segregating money for CERP helps to move forward with large construction contracts, specifically for the C-43 Reservoir, and provides a basis for our federal partners to consider how they meet their cost-share obligations through constructing other projects,” DeLisi said.

“The Water Quality Bill, which almost got through in the dysfunctional 2015 legislative session, did pass this time and addressed five major areas, among them water quality in the Lake Okeechobee watershed.

““Changes to how water quality in the Lake Okeechobee watershed will be enforced is the section that has the most impact on the City of Sanibel,” DeLisi said.

““It was an historic session,” he said. “They really got a lot done. We had tempered expectations and got historic results.””

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity April 15-22, 2016

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Sundial West #I207 1/1 $315K, Pointe Santo #C36 2/2 $875K, Tamarind #A102 2/2 $1.695M.

4 price changes: Donax Village #14 2/2 now $529K, Kings Crown #208 2/2 now $799K, Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 now $799K, Atrium #201 3/3 now $1.595M.

4 new sales: White Caps South #5 1/1listed at $520K, Sealoft Village #106 2/2 listed at $599K, Bayview Village #2A 3/3 listed at $693K, Sanibel Seaview #A-1 3/3 listed at $1.199M.

5 closed sales: Compass Point #221 2/2 $585K (our listing), Sundial West #A305 2/2 $799K, Kimball Lodge #306 2/2 $800K, Shorewood #2 3/3 $1.195M, Sedgemoor #102 3/3.5 $2.4M.

HOMES

2 new listings: 1112 Olga Ave 6/2.5 multi-family $885K, 276 Ferry Landing Dr 3/3 $974.9K.

13 price changes: 9292 Belding Dr 3/2.5 now $439K, 1390 Middle Gulf Dr 3/3 half-duplex now $529K, 1410 Causey Ct 3/2 now $599K, 5279 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/2 now $648K, 4648 Buck Key Rd 3/2 now $649K, 1487 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 now $799K, 1321 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $875K, 792 Birdie View Pt 3/3.5 now $999K, 1740 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/3.5 now $1.095M, 1126 Harbour Cottage Ct 3/2 now $1.495M, 1052 Whisperwood Way 3/3 now $1.524M, 2118 Starfish Ln 4/5 now $1.799M, 584 Kinzie Island Ct 3/4 now $1.945M.

2 new sales: 9027 Mockingbird Dr 4/3 listed at $799K, 283 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2 listed at $1.995M.

5 closed sales: 656 Anchor Dr 3/2 $585K, 3301 Twin Lakes Ln 2/2 $585K, 485 Peachtree Rd 3/3 $712.5K, 345 East Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $899K, 4355 West Gulf Dr 4/3 $3.4M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 644 Sea Oats Dr $329K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 0 Dinkins Lake Rd $215K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Beach Villas #2517 1/1 now $497.5K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

2 new listings: 11411 Old Lodge Ln 4/3 $1.895M, 16163 Captiva Dr 3/2 $2.695M.

2 price changes: 11523 Wightman Ln 4/4 now $1.895M, 15161 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 now $2.295M.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: 15000 Binder Dr 3/2 $1.0325M, 11535 Wightman Ln 3/3 $1.105M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next week, here are a few favorite blooms found on the island! TGIF!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Woohoo – Another Gorgeous Day on the Islands

Posted on February 5, 2016 by SanibelSusan

Sanibel and Captiva have had wonderful warm sunny weather this week, until today when temperatures are expected to reach only the low 60’s. With more cool weather forecast for the next week too, the real estate action should be brisk. Hot beach days usually are when there are the fewest showings, so Realtors® love the chilly, but bright days – like today!

Beach

A report of the week’s activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows a few news items below.

Upcoming Events

With those cool days ahead, here are few things to do inside:

Tomorrow, Feb 6 – Center4Life Seniors Arts & Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.’

Also tomorrow, Feb 6 – Mardi Gras Celebration to support CHR (Community Housing & Resource) from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Dunes Golf & Tennis Club. More info at www.SanibelCHR.org/Mardi-Gras-2016

Saturday & Sunday, Feb 13 & 14 – San/Cap Rotary Club Arts & Crafts Show at the Sanibel Community House. Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. More info at www.sanibelartfair.com

Saturday, Feb 27 – Annual Kiwanis Spaghetti Dinner at the Sanibel Community House.

Foreign Sellers Update

Recent federal tax legislation increases the FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) general withholding rate from 10% to 15% effective for closings on or after February 16, 2016.

Sanibel Outlets Acquired by Dahlmann Properties

As reported today in the “Island Sun”, “Dahlmann Properties announced that it completed the purchase of Sanibel Outlets (formerly known as Tanger Outlets) on January 12…Work has already commenced on rebranding the property to Sanibel Outlets as well as a top-to-bottom assessment of the current tenant mix and physical plant…Dahlmann also owns Periwinkle Place Shopping Center, Heart of the Island Shopping Center, The Sanibel Inn, Song of the Sea Oceanfront Resort, Seaside Oceanside Resort, Sunset Beach Oceanside Resort, and The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club on Sanibel.”

Quilt Raffles to Benefit PAWS of Sanibel – Captiva

Dog quilt We had a nice surprise yesterday when we got a visit from Sheila Rodriguez who has made two quilts to benefit PAWS of Sanibel – Captiva. One named “Muchas Poochas” is on display at Three Crafty Ladies, Heart of the Island Shops, 1628 Periwinkle Way.

Cats Quilt The other called “Cats at Play While the Mice Are Away” is displayed at the Bank of the Islands, 1699 Periwinkle Way.

Please buy raffle tickets at these two locations.

PAWS (or Protection of Animal Welfare Society, Inc.) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit rescuing domestic animals here since 1987. Drawings will be March 31, 2016 and you need not be present to win.

If you are willing to foster, adopt, or help PAWS, please call Pam at 239-472-4823.

Real Estate Q&A: Don’t Be Tempted to Ditch Insurance

Good answer here to a question that was posted at Florida Realtors® online yesterday:

“Question: We are snowbirds and have a condominium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where we stay five months a year. We keep nothing of real value in the property and don’t have a mortgage. We are thinking about canceling our hazard insurance on the property to save $700 a year. Is this a good idea? – Larry

“Answer: No. I understand your desire to save a few bucks, but this is not the way to do it.

“Your property insurance covers more than just your furniture. Depending on the details of your policy and the policy carried by your condo association, the insurance may cover your appliances, flooring and even your drywall. If there is a fire, for example, you will need to replace a lot more than just your furniture.

“Your insurance also should cover you if your water heater bursts and floods your neighbors’ units. If you are in town when the damage occurs, it also may pay for the hotel you have to stay in while the repairs are being made.

“Your insurance also will step up if one of your guests gets hurt while visiting. Just because they like you doesn’t mean they won’t sue you. Even when you are out of town, you may be sued if someone breaks into your condo and gets hurt. Many homeowners have a hard time justifying the cost of insurance, but there is a reason you have it. It can keep you from enduring a financial crisis.

“While I strongly recommend that you keep your policy in place, you should shop around to make sure that you have the right coverage and the best deal.

“About the writer: Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He is the chairperson of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is an adjunct professor for the Nova Southeastern University Paralegal Studies program. The information and materials in this column are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed. Nothing in this column is intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney, especially an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.”

Farm Water Hits SWFL, Leaves Coast Brown, Murky

The recent rains resulted in the below posting yesterday on www.news-press.com

“It was just a matter of time before polluted farm water from Lake Okeechobee made its way to Southwest Florida.

“”Boy, yeah, we saw it,” said Rick Bartleson, a water quality scientist at Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, when asked if the polluted water had worked its way here. “The water at the (Sanibel) causeway is pretty brown (because) the flows are up to rainy season levels.”

“The South Florida Water Management District spent four days, starting Wednesday night, pulling water off farm fields south of the lake, although the district didn’t send out a public notice about the “emergency” measures until nearly 24 hours after they had started.

“Critics say these water management practices are largely responsible for toxic algal blooms that often plague both the west and east coasts of Florida.

“Polluted and unnatural water from Lake Okeechobee and lands within the Caloosahatchee River watershed kills sea grasses and oyster beds.

“Excess nutrients from the landscape contribute to the duration and frequency of harmful algal blooms, like red tide. Red tide, caused here by Karenia brevis, is a neurotoxin that causes fish and marine mammal kills and can lead to respiratory issues in humans

“Record rains have not made the situation better as the lake level is rising at the same time the state was back-pumping farm water into Okeechobee.

“With levels around 17 feet above sea level, well over the Army Corps mandated maximum of 15.5 feet above sea level, the only way to quickly drain the lake is to send billions of gallons of dirty water down the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers.

“Measurements taken by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation show more than 12,000 cubic feet per second flowing through the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam, an Army Corps structure that holds back lake waters. Discharges begin harming the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary when levels reach 2,800 cubic feet per second.

“Freshwater has also blown out much of the estuary, causing low salinity levels along the coast — which can kill marine species and disrupt the aquatic food chain.

“Recent Caloosahatchee flows have literally been off the chart.

“”When flows are at 2,800 (cubic feet per second at Franklin Lock), that is one level a harm, but this was another level,” Bartleson said. “Over 4,500 (cubic feet per second) is considered extremely high. We don’t even have an indicator that goes that high (to 12,000 cubic feet per second and above).”

“Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane said the city has received many emails from concerned residents and business owners. “There was definitely a breakdown in communication between the Corps and the water management district,” Ruane said. “But with the impressive rain, they’re going to have to pump some of the water off the farms.”

“Ruane, who was in Tallahassee Monday lobbying for more water quality projects in this region, said that the current water management system was designed to take in more water than it can push out, a fact that became painfully obvious during floods and record rains in 2013.

“”We’re going to have to pull out every trick in the playbook to offset some of these releases,” Ruane said.

“”We’re going to have to talk to as many private property owners as possible to store water. We’re in a bad situation. The effects of the releases sometimes you don’t see for months.”

“The rain is expected to continue for the next 60 days or so, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is calling for El Nino conditions to bring more rain and slightly cooler temperatures this winter.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity January 29 – February 5, 2016

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sundial West #H110 1/1 $299K, Sanibel Arms #8 1/1 $375K, Cottage Colony West #137 1/1 $649K, Sundial East #S404 3/2 $849K.

2 price changes: Sand Pointe #113 2/2 now $759K, Gulfside Place #117 2/2 now $1.295M.

6 new sales: Loggerhead Cay #351 2/2 listed at $529K, Lighthouse Point #113 3/2 listed at $639K, St.Criox #4 2/2.5 listed at $935K, Atrium #302 2/2 listed at $1.645M, High Tide #B101 2/2.5 listed at $1.795M, Tigua Cay #489 3/3.5 listed at $2.235M.

5 closed sales: Ibis at The Sanctuary #201 2/2 $450K; Loggerhead Cay #471 2/2 $485K; Lighthouse Point #312 3/2 $698,750; Clam Shell #C 2/2 $975K; Sunset South #5A 2/2 $1.138M.

HOMES

16 new listings: 1653 Bunting Ln 3/2.5 $459K, 1565 Bunting Ln 3/2 $599K, 1113 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $639.9K, 750 Nerita St 3/2 $699K, 2549 Harbour Ln 3/2 $799K, 595 Birdsong Pl 4/2 $849K, 1311 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $849K (our listing), 1259 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 $869K, 4775 Rue Helene 4/3 $895K, 437 Lake Murex Cir 4/3 $895.9K, 1170 Buttonwood Ln 4/2 $975K, 1146 Buttonwood Ln 3/3 $999K, 1121 Skiff Pl 3/3 $1.2M, 815 Birdie View Pt 3/3 $1.299M, 1326 Seaspray Ln 4/4.5 $2.45M, 4355 West Gulf Dr 4/3 $3.8M.

View from 1311 Sand Castle Rd

2 price changes: 6491 SanibelCaptiva Rd 2/2 now $1.95M, 2451 Blind Pass Ct 4/4.5 now $2.375M.

3 new sales: 9012 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $539K, 1148 Shell Basket Ln 4/2 listed at $699K, 2388 Wulfert Rd 3/4 listed at $1.098M.

4 closed sales: 1806 Ibis Ln 3/2 $360K, 542 Boulder Dr 2/2 $500K, 1516 Bunting Ln 3/2 $575K, 699 Anchor Dr 3/4 $950K.

LOTS

No new listings.

1 price change: 5148 Sea Bell Rd now $199K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 690 Birdie View Pt $360K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

2 closed sales: Beach Villas #2618 2/2 $639.5K, Beach Cottages #1413 2/2 $950K.

HOMES

No new listings.

3 price changes: 15000 Binder Dr 3/2 now $1.049M, 11515 Murmond Ln 3/3 now $1.494M, 16500 Captiva Dr 5/5 now $4.995M.

No new sales.

2 closed sales: 1127 Longifolia Ct 4/3 $5.3M, 16660 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 $16.3M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, wishing you bright sunny days & magnificent sunsets regardless of the temperatures!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Just Another Gorgeous Friday on the Islands

Posted on November 13, 2015 by SanibelSusan

All’s well again this week on sunny Sanibel Island.

It has continued to be unseasonably warm and there were a few showers on Tuesday while SanibelSusan was out showing property. Rumor has it that a cooler/dryer front arrives this weekend for a couple of days, when temperatures will drop all the way down to the low 80’s during the day, but back into the mid-80’s next week.

SanibelSusan Realty Happenings

Beach walk at Sanibel Moorings

Several of our listings had good showings this week. I showed several condos at both Sanibel Moorings as well Mariner Pointe and wrote a sight-unseen offer that was accepted on a canal-front pool home.

Yesterday, there was a Realtor Caravan meeting followed by tour of new listings. Only four new listings were held open which is fewer than usual for this time of the year. The SanibelSusan Team held open our new listing at Coquina Beach #3G.

Beach walk at Coquina Beach

Below are a few news items followed by the activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service since last Friday.

Upcoming Island Events

Check out the “Upcoming Island Events” tab on www.SanibelSusan.com for a complete list. Here are some scheduled this month:

Tomorrow – Nov 14 – Free Admission at Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – to celebrate their 20^th anniversary. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tomorrow – Nov 14 – 2^nd Annual Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club Eye Ball – at The Community House from 5 to 9 p.m. with all proceeds going directly to charity. This year, they will go to SE Guide Dogs.

Tomorrow – Nov 14 – Wines In The Wild – SCCF’s (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s) annual wine tasting fundraiser with silent and live auctions. Held at the SSCF Nature Center from 6 to 8 p.m., call SCCF for reservations (472-2329). Tickets $75 in advance or $85 at the door.

Mon – Nov 16 – “A Home of Our Own” – F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, Inc. open house to introduce their new building and provide info on what F.I.S.H. does for the community, 2430 Periwinkle Way from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Tues – Nov 17 – SanCap Solar Connect Solar Community Meeting – Residents of Sanibel and Captiva Islands will be able to realize savings on solar energy conversion through the collective buying power of SanCap Solar Connect, an initiative designed by “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS). Based on a number of successful initiatives in other states, it is the first-ever community-driven solarize program in Florida. The next informational Solar Community meeting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center auditorium. Refreshments will be available. No reservations are necessary to attend the meeting. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3, at the same time and place. Representatives from Urban Solar, SanCap Solar Connect’s installation partner, and DDWS will be on hand at the meeting to explain how the program works and answer questions. Residents and businesses will be able to schedule free, no-commitment analyses with Urban Solar to receive a bid for installation costs and information on the advantages of a solar energy system. Go online at www.SanCapSolarConnect.org to sign up for a free evaluation or to receive informational emails.

Wed – Nov 18 – CASI Breakfast – Condominium Associations of Sanibel, Inc. upcoming breakfast meeting at The Sanctuary Clubhouse at 8 a.m. will include a presentation of the results of a study commissioned by the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau about how improvements to accommodations increase revenues. Cost is $15 for condo board members and staff, $25 for all others. Call 239-334-2138 for reservations. (Sanibel property managers have said that their owners who have renovated have seen rental revenues increase $35K to $50K a year.)

Sat & Sun – Nov 21 & 22 – Concerts to Raise Awareness for Water Quality – Musicians J. Robert Houghtaling, Brent Moyer, and Austin Church will perform on Sat at Jensen’s Twin Palm Marina from 4 to 6 p.m. Then on Sun from 1 to 3 p.m. on the porch of SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Nature Center. Along with music, SCCF scientists and policy staff will be on hand to answer questions about their studies and current issues in the water in the Caloosahatchee River and the estuaries cradled by Sanibel and Captiva.

Sat – Nov 28 – Free ‘Ding’ Darling Kids Fishing Derby casts off on causeway Nov. 28. Kids who are able to hold their own fishing pole are invited to participate in the free 4^th annual “Ding” Darling Kids Fishing Derby to be held at the Sanibel Causeway Islands Park (Island A) on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) cosponsor the event. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the causeway, and ages 15 and younger start fishing at 9 a.m. and finish at 11 a.m. Awards ceremony is at 11:30. Judges will record catches during the fishing session. Once the results are tallied, they will award winners in two age groups: 10 to 15, and 9 and younger. Based upon total inches of fish caught, the refuge will award first, second, and third place prizes, plus awards for the largest and smallest fish hooked in both age categories. Participants should bring fishing poles, but the refuge will provide a limited number of loaner poles for those who do not have their own equipment. Bait will be provided. Throughout the day, volunteers and staff will teach fishing skills and safe, ethical fishing practices. The event is made possible also by support from the Trophy Case, Sanibel Island Fishing Club, and Lee County Parks & Recreation.

News Corp Upbeat on Real Estate

From “DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS” on Monday, November 9, 2015:

“In its latest earning call, media giant News Corp, also the owner of realtor.com®, singled out its stake in housing market investments as the bright spot in its earnings. News Corp’s income from continuing operations reached $143 million in the first quarter compared to $109 million in the prior year

““News Corp is on track in its transition to a more digital and global future, having successfully integrated several recent acquisitions and built a powerful platform for future growth,” said Robert Thomson, News Corp chief executive, on a recent earnings call. “We are focused on driving sustainable expansion of revenue and profit, and leveraging the potency of our brands, while diligently controlling costs to maximize long-term returns for all investors.”

“News Corp’s largest revenue generating segment, news and information services, provided the largest drag on revenue in the first quarter. But its profits were buoyed by a strengthening housing market.

“News Corp, owner of such titles as The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, acquired Move Inc. and realtor.com® in November 2014, firming up its stake in the real estate arena. News Corp also has a majority ownership of the REA Group Ltd., a leading Australian residential property website.

“Thomson said during the call “we are particularly pleased with the momentum at realtor.com®, which is significantly ahead of schedule on key metrics.”

““We are now, by some reckoning, the world’s largest digital property listings company, and we see a particularly bright future in the sector, especially in the U.S. where we believe the national real estate market is still returning to health,” he said.

“In News Corp’s Digital Real Estate Services sector, revenues in the quarter rose $79 million or by 71% compared to the prior year. The jump in revenues was primarily due to the inclusion of the results of Move.

During the first quarter, Move’s revenues climbed 33% to $85 million from $64 million the year prior. Average monthly unique use of realtor.com®’s web and mobile sites for the quarter surged 43% year-over-year to about 46 million. That growth was mostly attributed to a 64% increase in its mobile users.”

The Housing Recovery’s Missing Link

As reported last Friday by NAR (National Association of Realtors®):

“The declining number of first-time home buyers in the market is the major missing piece in the housing recovery, says Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®.

“Despite an uptick in home sales over the past year, the share of first-time home buyers in the housing market dropped for the third consecutive year, and remains at its lowest point in nearly three decades, according to the NAR 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report.

“The increase in home sales over the past year has instead been driven by more repeat buyers with dual incomes, NAR’s report showed.

“The share of first-time buyers fell to 32% in this year’s survey; last year first-time home buyers represented 33% of the market share. The share of first-time home buyers this year is at its lowest point since 1987, when first-time home buyers represented 30% of the market.

“Historically, first-time home buyers typically represent nearly 40% of primary purchases.

““There are several reasons why there should be more first-time buyers reaching the market, including persistently low mortgage rates, healthy job prospects for those college-educated, and the fact that renting is becoming more unaffordable in many areas,” Yun says. “Unfortunately, there are just as many high hurdles slowing first-time buyers down. Increasing rents and home prices are impeding their ability to save for a down payment, there’s scarce inventory for new and existing-homes in their price range, and it’s still too difficult for some to get a mortgage.”

“Twenty-five percent of would-be first-time home buyers said that saving for a down payment was the most difficult task in home ownership, and 58% reported student loans in particular were delaying their ability to save.

““With a median amount of student loan debt for all buyers at $25,000, it’s likely some younger households with even higher levels of debt can’t save for an adequate down payment or have decided to delay buying until their debt is at more comfortable levels,” Yun says.

Repeat buyers were mostly using the proceeds from the sale of their primary residence as their top source for a down payment on their next home purchase – 53% this year compared to 47% last year.

““With first-time buyers stuck on the sidelines, the majority of sales activity in most parts of the country is coming from pent-up sellers taking advantage of rising home values in their neighborhoods and using their equity to trade up or move down,” says Yun.

“Married couples represented an increasing share of buyers: 67% of buyers were married couples (up from 65% last year). Married, repeat buyers have the highest income among all buyers too at $108,600.

“Meanwhile, single females have been a growing share of buyers the past few years but are showing signs of retreating. The share of single, female buyers fell from 16% to 15% in the latest survey.

““Similar to some of the obstacles facing first-time buyers, tight credit conditions and having less purchasing power than households with dual incomes likely led to the share of single-female buyers declining to its lowest since 2001 (also 15 percent),” Yun says.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity November 6-13

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Seashells #28 2/2 $365K, Coquina Beach #1D 2/2 $599K, Lighthouse Point #312 3/2 $739K.

3 price changes: Sanctuary Golf Villages I #1-1 2/2.5 now $699K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #2-2 3/3 now $775K, Clam Shell #C 2/2 now $999K.

2 new sales: Lighthouse Point #312 3/2 listed at $739K, Compass Point #111 2/2 listed at $1.159M.

No closed sales.

HOMES

5 new listings: 1125 Captains Walk St 3/3 $830K, 699 Anchor Dr 3/3 $985K, 812 Angel Wing Dr 3/3.5 $2.447M, 696 Kinzie Island Ct 4/5 $2.475M, 1272 Isabel Dr 4/4.5 $3.575M.

3 price changes: 1806 Ibis Ln 3/2 now $440K, 1380 Jamaica Dr 3/2 now $580K, 689 East Rocks Dr 3/3 now $778.5K.

3 new sales: 1774 Bunting Ln 3/2 listed at $539K, 842 Limpet Dr 4/3.5 listed at $1.495M (our sale), 2963 Wulfert Rd 4/6.5 listed at $2.795M.

1 closed sale: 1188 Harbor Cottage Ct 3/3 $840K.

LOTS

2 new listings: 9211 Dimmick Dr $174K, 2379 Wulfert Rd $325K.

1 price change: 5290 Punta Caloosa Ct now $299K.

2 new sales: Sabal Sands Rd, lot 8 listed at $219.9K; 2462 Wulfert Rd listed at $219.9K.

1 closed sale: 1243 Par View Dr $318K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Homes #25 3/2 $2.395M.

3 price changes: Beach Villas #2416 1/1 now $519K, Beach Villas #2422 1/1 now $529K, Lands End Village #1665 2/2 now $1.05M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #5310 3/3 $570K.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 17130 Captiva Dr 4/4 now $3.998M, 16910 Captiva Dr 4/4 now $4.719M.

2 new sales: 11546/48 Wightman Ln 3/2.5 now $3.8M, 16660 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 now $16.5M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, here’s to more sunny days… Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Summer Like Weather in Nov on Sunny Sanibel Island

Posted on November 6, 2015 by SanibelSusan

It’s Susan just back from a quick trip to the Dominican Republic to find that my SanibelSusan teammates did a great job holding down the fort in my absence and preparing this update! Here’s what they had to say:

It was another quiet week on Sanibel, but traffic continues to increased. There was very little rain this week and local news stations have reported record-setting temperatures with afternoon highs of 91 degrees F.

The set-up for CROW’s Taste of the Islands was going on today across the street from SanibelSusan Realty. It is Sunday November 8th at the community park from noon to 5pm.

Here are some other news items followed by the MLS activity since last week.

SCCF Oyster Restoration

SCCF is looking for volunteers to help restore healthy, productive oyster reefs in San Carlos and Tarpon Bays. Events will be held three days a week from 9 a.m. until noon.

Restoration efforts started this week & included filling buckets with fossilized shell and transporting them to Tarpon Bay boat ramp, loading buckets onto a barge and transporting them to the restoration site, and finally dumping the shell. This is physical work so come prepared with clothes that can get dirty and wet and close-toed shoes that can get wet. Work days and plans for the upcoming weeks will be sent on Fridays to those individuals who have registered at http://marinelab.sccf.org/signup/.

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

The City of Sanibel and the Lee Coast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America will conduct its annual Veterans Day Ceremony to honor military veterans on Wednesday, November 11th. It will be held at Sanibel City Hall with military music beginning at 10:45 am and ceremony starting at 11 am.

The guest speaker is former naval aviator and Sanibel resident Ed Sieber. Sanibel’s BIG ARTS Concert Band will provide music. One of the most touching aspects of the ceremony is Remembrances, where veterans recall past military experiences. Any veteran who wished to participate is welcome to do so.

Native Plant Nursery Moving

SCCF’s Native Plant Nursery will be moving to the Bailey Homestead Preserve. On Wednesday, November 11 at 8:30 there will be a soft opening for the nursery’s new location at 1300 Periwinkle Way and to present it’s new name SCCF Native Landscapes and Garden Center.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity October 30 – November 6

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Ibis at The Sanctuary #A201 3/2 $468.5K, Coquina Beach #3G 2/2 $524K (our listing with photos below), Lighthouse Point #217 2/2 $579K, West Shore #3 3/3 $1.749M.

1 price change: Blind Pass #G203 2/2 now $483K.

1 new sale: Pointe Santo #D5 2/2 listed at $725K.

3 closed sales: Blind Pass #B101 2/2 $410K, Cottage Colony West #110 1/1 $617K, Tarpon Beach #309 2/2 $832.5K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 954 Donax St 3/3 $500K, 863 Rabbit Rd 3/2 half-duplex $549K, 958 Cabbage Palm Ct 2/2 $730K, 923 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $889K, 532 Sea Oats Dr 3/4 $1.379M.

7 price changes: 2407 Shop Rd 3/1 now $374K, 1312 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $698K, 557 N. Yachtsman Dr 4/3 now $829K, 249 Daniel Dr 2/2.5 now $824.9K, 1224 Par View Dr 3/3 now $1.149M, 750 Periwinkle Way 5/4 now $1.948M, 3675 West Gulf Dr 3/2 now $3.85M.

4 new sales: 9032 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 listed at $499.9K, 3181 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 listed at $570K, 2079 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 listed at $599K, 4241 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 listed at $3.995M.

1 closed sale: 734 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 $1.05M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 5407 Osprey Ct $504.5K (short sale), 6002 White Heron Ln $735K.

2 price changes: 4566 Buck Key Rd now $199K, Sabal Sands Rd, lot 8 now $219.9K.

No new or closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16979 Captiva Dr 7/6.5 $4.595M.

1 price change: 11525 Chapin Ln 4/4 now $1.595M.

1 new sale: 15000 Binder Dr 3/2 listed at $1.195M.

1 closed sale: 15172/174 Wiles Dr 7/5.5 multi-family $7.3M.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 16970 Captiva Dr $2.7M.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan & The SanibelSusan Team (David Anderson, Elise Carnes, & Lisa Murty)

August Arrives – Summertime on Sanibel & Captiva Island

Posted on August 7, 2015 by SanibelSusan

Redfish Pass between Captiva & North Captiva

This week, the rainy weather experienced on the islands last week turned around, with hot sunny days in the low 90’s and just an occasional quick shower. If you are here on vacation this week, it’s a winner weather-wise!

Florida schools go back early with teachers in Collier starting on Monday, Lee the following week, so it is pretty much a summer wind-down beginning here. Many condo fall projects already are beginning and restaurants/shop workers are talking about when they will be closing for their pre-season breaks.

Vacation rental bookings have dwindled down too and will continue for the next few weeks until we see the snowbirds start to come back, usually mid-October.

The good news is that although there is not much real estate activity now, the buyers who are here looking, generally are serious.

There was no Realtor® Caravan Meeting this week, but The SanibelSusan Team had a handful of showings and another closing. The activity posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service over the last seven days, follows a couple of news items.

If you are on our mailing list, this week we mailed an island inventory booklet dated July 22, 2015. It is organized by island (Sanibel and Captiva) and property type (condos, homes, lots) and subdivision/complex. Included are the properties for sale and recent sales. If you want to be added to our mailing list, please call 888-603-0603 or 239-471-HOME (4663), or email Susan@SanibelSusan.com.

Where Do Buyers Come From?

The following comes from the National Association of Realtors® Economists’ Outlook blog on July 15:

“Getting involved in your community once only meant volunteering for a civil group, joining a sports club, or running for local governance. People stayed connected through face to face interactions. In an industry like real estate that thrives on friendly interactions and personal connections, building online communities through websites, social media, and digital communication is now one of the most efficient ways that REALTORS® can build and expand their network to generate new business.

“The majority of business for real estate professionals comes from referrals and repeat business, which makes sense since the industry is built upon personal relationships. At first, the idea of expanding online communities to grow the real estate industry seems like a no-brainer. All businesses these days rely on digital connectivity or they get left behind. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)’s Research department flipped through its survey data to take a deep look at how its members value online communities for their business. Here is what the surveys said:

“The NAR 2015 Member Profile, an in-house survey that gathers demographic data on its 1 million real estate members, reports that:

65% of REALTORS® use social media for their business.
64% said that open houses brought no business.
40% of business for younger agents are from referrals and repeat business and 64% for more experienced agents.

“Naturally, word of mouth remains the largest source of income for NAR members and only grows by the number of years REALTORS® stay in the game. What is interesting to note is that open houses are almost a dead avenue for REALTORS® – they brought two-thirds of NAR members no business. Websites do not appear to bring in new clients on their own. However, two-third of members said they actively use social media as a means to market their brand and showcase their listings.

“The NAR 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, NAR’s profile of the buying and selling process, states that:

The first step in the home-buying process for 43% of home buyers was looking online for properties and 12% looked online for information about how to buy a home.

“Ninety-two percent of buyers use the internet in some way in their home search process and 50% of buyers use a mobile website or application in their home search.

“Real estate agents were viewed as a useful information source by 98% of buyers who used an agent while searching for a home.

“Eighty-eight percent of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69 percent in 2001. As a frame of reference, in 1964, 61% of buyers contacted agents, 40% read newspaper ads, and seven percent drove around when looking for a home. In 2014, 43% looked for properties online. While the initial process may start online, when buyers seek to make a home purchase, they turn to the advice from a real estate agent that they connected with from a trusted friend or family member.”

Sanibel Considers Increases for Beach Parking, Rec Center Fees

From the “Santiva Chronicle” on Tuesday, August 4, 2015:

“Beach parking prices and Recreation Center fees are about to go up on Sanibel. The Sanibel City Council will consider an ordinance at its September meeting that would raise the hourly fee for public beach parking from $3 to $4. Also to be considered at that meeting will be an ordinance that would raise fees for the various programs at the Sanibel Recreation Center in a range up to 20%.

“Both ordinances were proposed at the council’s meeting Tuesday, Aug. 4, as part of ongoing process of finalizing the 2016 fiscal year budget. “It’s important that taxpayers of Sanibel, the ones who are here all the time, not pay for increases in tourism on the island. The tourists should pay,” said Vice-Mayor Mick Denham, who moved to have the parking fee increase come before the council in September in the form of an ordinance. Beach parking fees pay for beach related expenses and Denham said the increase could be used to fund beach erosion projects, security cameras and other improvements.

““Beach parking pays for itself, but the beaches have other issues, like traffic and security,” Councilman Chauncey Goss said. He has advocated an increase in the parking fee since he came on the council this year.

“It’s a supply and demand issue,” Goss said. “If the beach parking lots are always full, then they may not be priced right.” “It’s a user fee, is what it is,” Councilman Marty Harrity said. “Let it pay for itself.” Denham urged that the council take Tuesday’s action in order to get the ordinance in front of the council in September for a first reading.

““Our population hasn’t changed. What’s changed is the number of visitors. It is reasonable to ask visitors to pay,” Denham said following the meeting. “We’ve already got $2.5 million going into our beaches, but that doesn’t pay for all of the expenses. We’ve got to live within our means.”

“Recreation Center – The council, at the urging of Mayor Kevin Ruane, sought ways of saving money at the Recreation Center and in response to that it received a report from Recreation Director Andrea Miller outlining ways to save $121,700. Among them is an across-the-board 10% increase in fees that would raise $60,000 more.

“Instead the council asked for an ordinance to be prepared that would evaluate programs at the Rec Center and determine appropriate increases in each up to 20%. “What programs are being heavily subsidized?” Goss asked. “We should identify those.”

“Presently the year individual rate for a resident is $157.50. A 10% increase would raise that to $173.25 and a 15% increase would take it to $181.13. “This gives us flexibility. Residents will still find that even with increases that our Rec Center is very competitive,” Ruane said.”

NAR Survey Finds Like-Kind Exchanges Promote Job, Economic Growth

According to a recent press release: “Real estate like-kind exchanges are an important vehicle for disposing of and acquiring properties and support the nation’s financial growth, job creation and economy, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®.

“The Like-Kind Exchanges: Real Estate Market Perspectives 2015 survey of NAR’s commercial and residential members found that real estate investors and commercial property owners place a very high priority on current like-kind exchange tax rules; 40% indicated that transactions would not have occurred in the absence of the tax provision, and 56% said even if the project would have occurred it likely would have been smaller in scale.

“Realtors® are active participants in like-kind exchanges; 63% of Realtors® participated in a like-kind exchange transaction between 2011 and 2015. The survey found that like-kind exchanges in which Realtors® participated created between 10 and 35 new jobs, mostly resulting from spending on building improvements following acquisition.

“”Like-kind exchanges that allow investors and businesses to defer capital gains taxes on the exchange of similar properties bring great advantages to investors, real estate markets and the economy,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Realtors® and their clients often look for better economic use of existing properties that are underutilized, which helps promote local economic development and increase the nation’s gross domestic product.”

“Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, a provision that has been in the tax code since 1924, provides individuals and businesses with critically needed tax deferment on gains after the disposition of a property as long as the proceeds are reinvested in a similar property through a like-kind exchange. Replacement properties must be identified in 45 days and the transaction completed within 180 days.

“Survey respondents said the primary reason that they or their clients participated in a like-kind property exchange, aside from the deferral of capital gains taxes, was for equity to acquire additional properties. Other reasons were for estate planning, portfolio diversification and completion of a development project.

The tax savings resulting from like-kind exchanges are also helping bring more capital into local markets. Eighty-six percent of respondents said the savings from tax deferment allowed them or their clients to invest additional capital and make improvement in their acquired properties; these investments are generally responsible for the creation of new jobs, such as in construction and property management.

“According to the survey, in 68% of like-kind transactions, Realtors® acted as a broker or agent, and 24% participated as an owner or investor in the transaction. A larger percentage of commercial members (76%) reported engaging in a like-kind exchange transaction compared to residential members (45%). Of the total, 40% participated in between 1 and 3 transactions, and 23% participated in 4 or more transactions.

Residential properties comprised the largest portion of recent deals, accounting for 27% of disposed properties and 24% of acquired properties, followed by apartments (17% of dispositions and 22% of acquisitions). Land assets accounted for 19% of dispositions and 17% of acquisitions; retail properties accounted for 8% of dispositions and 13% of acquisitions; and office buildings comprised 11% of dispositions and 10% of acquisitions.

“Investors tend to hold on to their properties for several years; 47% of respondents reported their holding period was between 5 and 9 years, and 27% indicated a holding period of 10 to 14 years.

“NAR believes like-kind exchange transactions are fundamental to the real estate investment sector, and repealing the tax provision would have negative effects across real estate markets and the industry.

“Like-kind exchanges help investors more efficiently allocate capital and resources with less borrowed money into new investments that drive economic activity in communities across the nation,” said NAR President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Ark. “Any tax reform plan repealing like-kind exchanges would hurt investors and small businesses, increase financial leverage, weaken growth and the economy, and result in the loss of jobs.”

“Survey respondents indicated that repealing like-kind exchange tax provisions would reduce equity in real estate; 67% indicated repeal would lead to a large increase in financial leverage. Realtors® said the negative result would be reduced purchase money and new construction loans, and increased property holding periods. Ninety-six percent of Realtors® also said real estate values would decrease if like-kind exchange provisions were repealed….”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity July 31 to August 7

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Sanibel Inn #14 2/2 now $739K.

1 new sale: Captains Walk #F7 2/1.5 listed at $310K.

3 closed sales: Captains Walk #F6 2/2 $285K, Sunset South #9C 2/2 $425K (our listing), Sundial #R304 2/2 $735K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 249 Daniel Dr 2/2.5 $834.9K.

3 price changes: 999 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 now $547K; 9032 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $549,999; 1188 Harbor Cottage Ct 3/3 now $899,555.

2 new sales: 1744 Bunting Ln 4/2 listed at $649K, 734 Sand Dollar Dr 3/3.5 listed at $1.195M.

1 closed sale: 1521 Wilton Ln 3/2 $520K.

LOTS

1 new listing: 5821 Pine Tree Dr $599K.

No price changes or new sales.

1 closed sale: 4626 Buck Key Rd $178K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Beach Villas #2618 2/2 now $659.9K.

1 closed sale: Lands End Village #1660 3/3 $1.35M.

HOMES

Nothing to report.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

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

Until next week, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Summertime Real Estate Report from Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Posted on July 10, 2015 by SanibelSusan

It’s SanibelSusan reporting the third week of “summer quiet” in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands real estate business. I have heard some interesting behind-the-scenes comments about how things have changed here this year. There definitely is a change in occupancy with accommodations mostly at capacity and the island busy, just busy having fun and not viewing or buying or listing real estate.

This week the “Periwinkle Way late-day traffic jam” reappeared. That usually is only during the winter months from about 3 to 7 p.m. when the islands are full and day workers are leaving. It is when traffic gets backed up at the 4-way stop. Typical late afternoon summer showers may have contributed to this extra summer traffic with more visitors on the road once the sun disappears.

The July 4^th festivities last weekend were well attended, with a big turn-out at SanibelSusan Realty for the parade. Here are a few photos, some taken by my cell phone, but the good ones are credited to our pal, Scott Shew, who always is great about sharing his pictures. Thank you, Scott.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As the week progressed, Scott shared a few more photos. These two at Ding Darling he said were taken when the no see-ums were out in full force so the bird in the second one might be dunking to avoid them.

SZ6A0404

Below are a few news items followed by the action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service over the last seven days, there wasn’t much!

Heat Wave Sweeps Through Housing Market

From Realtor®Mag’s “DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS”:

“The housing market is getting hotter this summer, according to a preliminary analysis of June data from realtor.com®. The median list price nationwide in June rose 7% year-over-year, reaching $233,000. The median days on the market is 66 days, also down 7% year-over-year. Also, inventories are growing faster – 4% higher in June over May, but still down over last year. (That’s the case nationally, but not on Sanibel and Captiva where inventory is very low.)

“”Our early read of real estate trends in June suggests good news ahead for the U.S. residential real estate market, especially in the hottest markets with healthy growth in supply,” says Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com® Chief Economist. Traffic and searches on realtor.com® continued to set new highs in June. Unique users for June are now on pace for at least a 40% growth year-over-year and visits and searches at realtor.com® are expected to surge more than 50% and 30%, respectively, Smoke says.”

Economists Pinpoint Inventory Shortage Causes

As follow-up to the last article, this one based on The Wall Street Journal, June 26, has some answers:

“Inventories of homes for-sale remain low due to home owners staying put and homebuilders still keeping supplies tight, economists said during a panel discussion at the National Association of Real Estate Editors’ annual conference.

“Homes listed for resale in May were at a 5.1-month supply at the current sales pace. Most economists consider a supply of six to seven months to be balanced and healthy for the market.

“Economists at the National Association of Real Estate Editors’ annual conference pointed to several factors that are preventing sellers from putting their homes up for sale. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, blamed the bulk of the inventory shortage on the lack of new construction. “We will still have an inventory shortage if builders won’t build,” Yun said. “It is just simple math.”

“Other economists during the panel also said the persistent lack of equity four years into the housing recovery for a large number of home owners continues to prevent many would-be sellers. About 5 million homes in the U.S. — or 10% — are underwater, valued at less than the mortgage.

“Also, some home owners may be reluctant to sell partly because they refinanced in recent years at interest rates of less than 4% and they don’t want to give up those low rates, says Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist.

“The economists also noted a significant increase in single-family homes being offered for rent that have dented the overall supply of homes for-sale too. Nothaft estimates that since the downturn investors have purchased 3 million single-family homes and converted them into rentals.

“Other economists at the session also noted that stringent mortgage standards, prohibitive land costs, and limited lending to small builders was also prompting a lower supply of homes for sale.”

Study: Biggest Opportunities in Boomer Market

We aren’t giving up on those baby boomers just yet. They definitely are the largest market segment on the islands. Here’s what “DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS” said about them last Wednesday:

“Though the real estate industry has made it a mission to bring Millennials into home ownership in recent years, a new study by research firm HouseCanary suggests we not ignore an inconvenient truth: Baby boomers have the buying power.

“The study raises questions about how wise it is to focus on Millennial buyers, given their economic limitations. If interest rates — which are expected to keep ticking up this year — were to increase to 6%, more than one in three Millennials would no longer be able to afford a home at their current prices, HouseCanary found. Millennials are carrying high debt with limited savings, and their career growth has been slow.

But baby boomers have fueled the housing market for decades as the biggest drivers of growth in the entry-level market in the 1970s and ’80s, as well as the move-up market in the ’90s and 2000s. Boomers aren’t slowing down: They’re expected to continue to drive household growth over the next 20 years “due to significant wealth and high home ownership rates,” according to HouseCanary. Over the past year alone, baby boomers accounted for 244% of household growth annually.

“”The vast imbalances in wealth and home ownership among baby boomers and Millennials are resulting in wide disparities in the demand for home buying versus renting,” says HouseCanary President JP Ackerman. “Our analysis indicates that rising interest rates and home prices will exacerbate the situation, as the Millennials’ ability to purchase homes will be severely jeopardized as monthly payments get further out of reach.”

“HouseCanary CEO Jeremy Sicklick says his company’s research indicates greater opportunity for developers to target the aging population with for-sale inventory while targeting the younger generation for-rent inventory.”

New Fire Station on Captiva

The grand opening of the new fire station on Captiva is scheduled for Sat, July 18, from 10 a.m. until noon. The public is invited. It also is the 60^th anniversary of the creation of the Captiva Island Fire District. During that time, it has transformed from a volunteer bucket brigade to a squad of highly-trained professionals with equipment for not just fighting fires but also for advanced life support. Congratulations! www.CaptivaFire.com

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity July 3-10

Sanibel

CONDOS

3 new listings: Tennisplace #D31 1/1 $239K, Heron at The Sanctuary III #1B 3/2.5 $650K, Nutmeg Village #309 2/2 $799K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Colonnades #15 1/1 listed for $225K.

3 closed sales: Sunset South #2D 2/2 $500K, Breakers West #C2 2/2 $522.5K, Nutmeg Village #214 2/2 $920K.

HOMES

2 new listings: 976 Sand Castle Rd 3/3 half-duplex $495K, 3402 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $2.2M.

No price changes.

1 new sale: 1774 Bunting Ln 3/2 listed for $539K.

1 closed sale: 1325 Par View Dr 3/2.5 $695K.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

1 new sale: 2460 Library Way listed for $324.9K.

No closed sales.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Bayside Villas #5144 1/2 $299.9K, Ventura Captiva #1B 2/2 $1.35M.

1 price change: Bayside Villas #5310 3/3 now $585K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 new sales: 16785 Captiva Dr 3/3.5 listed for $1.395M, 1105 Tallow Tree Ct 3/3 half-duplex 3/3 listed for $2.0449M.

1 closed sale: 16512 Captiva Dr 7/5.5 $6.525M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Good weekend wishes to all. Little rain is expected here over the next few days, so no traffic jams expected! Here’s hoping the sunsets are as beautiful as this one. (Thanks, Melissa!)

Cheers! Susan Andrews (aka SanibelSusan)

Almost Fathers’ Day 2015 on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Posted on June 19, 2015 by SanibelSusan

It’s SusanSusan reporting that it was another fairly quiet week on the islands – but with gorgeous weather, occasional afternoon showers, fabulous sunsets, and probably more people on the island than we typically see in mid-June. The activity posted since last Friday in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service follows a few news items below.

June Membership Meeting – Sanibel/Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Though it had been three long weeks since our last local Realtor® Caravan Meeting, attendance was light at our monthly breakfast meeting on Thursday.

Two affiliate members spoke during the professional development segment of the meeting: Art Monahan with Seacoast Cottage Company discussed the various window types and designs used on the islands. “It’s amazing”, he said “how many consumers don’t realize that the windows used in Florida are different from those in homes in northern states.” Here we want to keep the heat out. There they want to keep the heat in. The impact resistant windows required here now are tested to 170 mph, many have three layers of glass and an inner shatterproof Mylar membrane which is what keeps the elements from penetrating a home even when the glass may break.

Jeff Carroll with Tradewinds Custom Homes discussed the three varieties of home exterior finishes popular in Florida because of their easier maintenance and durability (as compared to wood): vinyl siding, Hardie board, and Boral. He brought samples. Most of us recognize vinyl siding, it’s been popular for years. Hardie board, perhaps not as well know, was developed by James Hardie and is a siding made of fiber cement. Cement is combined with sand, water, and cellulose wood fibers to make a solid building material well suited for protecting building exteriors. We see a lot of Hardie board here. I hadn’t heard of Boral until Jeff’s presentation. He said that it is a relatively-new product that does not change even when submerged in water. His sample was in a jar of water and had been for two months, without compromising its integrity. Jeff said that Boral is made from fly ash and resin. He also described it as a true green product from cradle to cradle, meaning no nasty byproducts or gases are produced during its manufacturing. Sounds like a perfect material to be used on homes in hot humid Florida. In comes in a variety of shapes and sizes too, so can look like wood shakes, shingles, beadboard, and a variety of lapboards, etc.

LCEC Island Vegetation Trimming

Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) has advised the City of Sanibel that circuit crews will begin trimming vegetation on Sanibel and Captiva the week of June 22, 2015. Crews expect to be trimming vegetation for approximately three months, weather permitting.

The trimming will begin near East Gulf Drive and Bella Vista Way and proceeding through Sanibel to Sanibel-Captiva Road. See LCEC’s map below showing where trimming will occur.

As part of this vegetation trimming process, LCEC crews will make efforts to contact home/business owners prior to trimming. Door hangers will be left where person-to-person contact is not possible.

Vegetation management is part of the ongoing LCEC electric system maintenance and reliability improvement plan and is critical to reducing outages and ensuring safety. Residents with questions should call LCEC directly at 239-656-2200.

F.I.S.H. Moving to New Location

According to an article in today’s “Island Sun”, F.I.S.H.’s soon-to-be-occupied new headquarters at 2430 Periwinkle Way, behind Bleu Rendez Vous French Bistro will give them more than 1,000 sq. ft. than their current location.

F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, Inc. is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, human services organization focused on “neighbors helping neighbors” on Sanibel and Captiva islands. From their web site “The mission of F.I.S.H. is to lend a helping hand to those in need who live, work or the islands. Their objective is to make a social investment in our community that assists our neighbors to live independently with dignity in their homes.”

Founded in 1982, F.I.S.H. operated out of volunteers’ homes until their first office in The Village Shops. They have been in their second and current location at 1630 Periwinkle Way since 2007. The move to their own building later this month will allow them to expand their walk-in center to better serve their employees, volunteers, and clients.

The “Island Sun” article reports their success by giving some statistics from last year. “In 2014, FISH impacted the lives of 1,317 households representing 1,737 individuals. Las year, 86% of its annual budget was used for client programming. This included 386 senior households which benefitted from FISH programming such as Alzheimer’s assessments, daily well-check calls and prepared meals, emergency financial assistance, health equipment loans, non-emergency medical related appointment transportation and workshops. Also during the past year, 931 households – including 192 children – benefitted from FISH programming such as adult education assistance, community resource referrals and counseling, emergency financial assistance, ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) instruction, notary services, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax assistance, youth lunches, and scholarships.”

This wonderful hardworking organization is led by its 2015 President and CEO, Maggi Feiner, and Board Chair, John Pryor (also a fellow singer in the BIG ARTS Community Chorus & Ensemble). If you have the time or the wherewithal, please support them. They are always looking for volunteers and contributions, their web site also has a list of the food pantry needs. Today, it says canned proteins (tuna, chicken, beef), milk, juices (boxed for kids), paper towels, and toilet paper. When finishing up an island visit or prepared your hurricane box for the summer, it’s a good time to thin out your pantry and bring those non-perishable not-expired items to FISH.

Best wishes to FISH in their new location!

(You will be pleased to try Bleu Rendez Vous French Bistro too. I tried it a couple of weeks ago and it is divine. New décor, authentic yet reasonably-priced French menu. Open 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Hosts are Chef Christian and Mari Vivet. Check out their menu and be sure to make a reservation. http://www1.bluerendezvousbistro.com/)

Housing Solutions for Emerging Markets

No related to island real estate, but interesting info in this on-line article posted last Friday on “DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS”:

“Housing markets all over the world are dealing with a lack of affordable housing options. In many developing markets, builders are creating innovative properties that seek to solve the growing affordable housing and urbanization issue, as well as provide shelter for at-risk populations that battle natural disasters on a regular basis.

“Floating structures, monolithic domes, and even housing made from paper are just a few of the inventive housing creations that have popped up in emerging markets in order to solve various housing crises, according to global online real estate portal Lamudi, which focuses exclusively on emerging markets.

“Here are some examples of these housing solutions:

Paper Refugee Shelters, Rwanda – After the civil war in Rwanda left more than two million people homeless, Shigeru Ban, an award-winning modernist architect, decided to use low-cost paper tubes to build shelters for those in need. This inexpensive solution helped to conserve trees and avoid deforestation, and inspired Ban to make paper shelters all over the world in areas of need.

Paper Log Housing, Philippines – Paper tubes were also a solution after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, destroying 130,000 homes in the process. Shigeru Ban Architects were able to create emergency housing that included beer crates filled with sandbags, floor panels made of coconut wood and plywood, and paper tubes as the structural frame.
Makoko Floating School, Nigeria – In Lagos, urbanization and lack of space is a big problem. To confront this issue, NLÉ designed a prototype for a floating school to be built in the water community of Makoko.

Earthquake-proof Housing, Indonesia – A devastating earthquake in 2006 inspired the partnership of Domes for the World (DTWF) and the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) in building 80 monolithic domes in Indonesia. These structures are made to withstand various natural disasters and provide a secure shelter for those most as need in the area.

Ecovillage, Uganda – Earthbag construction technology was the solution for the growing environmental, economical, and social challenges in Uganda. More than three million people near Lake Victoria are at-risk for violence and natural disasters, and this earthbag ecovillage was created specifically to provide protection from bullets, fire, wind, and rain.”

Upcoming Events

Father’s Day – Captiva Cruises is offering free travel to Dads with a paid child on June 21, Sunday. Trips to Useppa Island or Cabbage Key, dolphin/wildlife adventure cruises, half-day shelling trips, and more. Reservations needed, call 239-472-5300.

Mango Tasting at The Community House – June 24, Wednesday, 6 p.m. The owner of FruitScapes on Pine Island will be there with ten different types of mangoes for attendees to sample. Bring your own potluck item to share with about six people. RSVP at The Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way, 239-472-2155.

90% of Properties Now Have Equity

More positive recovery news was posted on-line Wednesday at “Daily Real Estate News”:

“As home prices rise, more home owners are regaining equity. During the first quarter of this year, about 254,000 properties regained equity, according to CoreLogic’s latest equity report. That now brings the total number of residential properties with a mortgage that have equity to about 44.9 million – or 90% – by the end of the first quarter.

“Five states alone accounted for 31% of negative equity in the U.S., according to the report. Those states with the highest percentage of properties with a mortgage in the negative equity position in the first quarter are: Nevada: 23.1%, Florida: 21.2%, Illinois: 16.8%, Arizona: 16.8%, Rhode Island: 15.7%.

“About 90% of home owners now have housing equity and, as a result, have experienced an increase in wealth, which can spur additional consumption and investment expenditures,” says Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. “The remaining 10% of owners with negative equity will find their home value rising while they continue to pay down principal on their amortizing mortgage loan.”

“The still elevated number of home owners who have negative equity remains a concern, however. The number of negative equity households stood at 5.1 million, or 10.2% of all properties with a mortgage in the first quarter of this year, according to CoreLogic’s report. That represents a slight drop from 5.4 million homes, or 10.8%, that had negative equity in the fourth quarter of 2014.

““Many home owners are emerging from the negative equity trap, which bodes well for a continued recovery in the housing market,” says Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “With the economy improving and home owners building equity, albeit slowly, the potential exists for an increase in housing stock available for sale, which would ease the current imbalance in supply and demand. There are still about 5 million home owners who are underwater and we estimate that a further 5% appreciation in home values across the U.S. would reduce the number of owners with negative equity by about one million.”

“The following states had the highest percentage of properties in the positive equity territory by the end of the first quarter: Texas: 97.7%, Hawaii: 96.9%, Alaska: 96.8%, Montana: 96.8%, North Dakota: 96.2%.

“In general, the majority of positive equity properties are centered at the high end of the housing market, according to the report. For example, 94% of homes valued at greater than $200,000 have equity, compared with 85% of homes valued at less than $200,000.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity June 12-19

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sanibel Inn #3522 2/2 $749K.

1 price change: Sanddollar #C101 2/2 now $870K.

1 new sale: Sunset South #9C 2/2 listed for $449K (our listing).

Sunset South #9C view

6 closed sales: Colonnades #41 1/1 $185K, Spanish Cay #A7 1/1 $230K (our listing), Sundial #F303 2/2 $460K, Cottage Colony West #102 1/1 $611K, Sand Pointe #214 2/2 $715K, Island Beach Club #P2E $720K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 4221 Gulf Pines Dr 2/2 $589K.

6 price changes: 1024 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $589.9K, 9032 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $598,150, 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 now $639K, 420 East Gulf Dr 3/3 now $698K, 2969 Wulfert Rd 6/7.5.5 now $2.15M, 1253 Anhinga Ln 4/4 now $3.7M.

7 new sales: 9106 Mockinbird Dr 2/2 listed for $499K, 1314 Tahiti Dr 2/2 listed for $525K, 1593 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 listed for $529K, 1521 Wilton Ln 3/2 lissted for $549K, 1409 Albatross Rd 3/2 listed for $595.9K, 1710 Sand Pebble Way 3/2 listed for $645K, 4241 Old Banyan Way 3/2 listed for $739K.

7 closed sales: 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 $600K, 741 Nerita St 3/2 $625K, 1528 Angel Dr 3/2 $730K, 5076 Joewood Dr 3/2 $795K, 518 N Yachtsman 3/3 $995K, 1101 Schooner Pl 3/2.5 $1.089M, 5290 Caloosa End Ln 4/3 $1.4M.

LOTS

No new listings or price changes.

3 new sales: 9239 Dimmick Dr listed for $139K, 1429 Albatross Rd listed for $269K, 3411 West Gulf Dr listed for $3.74M.

1 closed sale: 1336 Eagle Run Dr $250K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: 2416 Beach Villas 1/1 $535K.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Marina Villas #707 2/2 listed for $595K, Lands End #1616 3/3 listed for $1.99M.

1 closed sale: Marina Villas #902 2/2 $620K.

HOMES

1 new listing: 7 Sunset Captiva Ln 2/2.5 $2.195M.

1 price change: 11530 Paige Ct 4/5.5 now $3.79M.

1 new sale: 11516 Andy Rosse Ln 6/6 listed for $2.349M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Happy Fathers’ Day weekend!

Summer Rain in the Neighborhoods on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Posted on June 12, 2015 by SanibelSusan

It was another fairly quiet week on Sanibel with late-day summer rains continuing and not much real estate action over the last seven days. Just had the electricity in the office go on and off multiple times as I was trying to post this blog. Those folks who scooted out early on a Friday afternoon had the right idea as a huge rain is dousing Southwest Florida now (4 p.m.).

In the real estate world, The SanibelSusan Team had another nice closing on Tuesday, the charming olde-Florida home with guest house, separate garage, and resort-style pool at 375 East Gulf Dr. Due to building code restrictions, we don’t see many multi-building residential properties like it on Sanibel. Since it dates back to the late 50’s, before City incorporation, it has some wonderful and unusual features.

Pool at 375 East Gulf Dr

Wednesday, we also had a walk-in looking for an entry-level income-producing condo at Sundial and we continue to receive inquiries about where to rent next winter. There aren’t many vacancies left!

Teammate Dave and I had a couple of listing presentations this week which resulted in two new listings – both pool homes. One, a split-plan 3 bedroom 2-1/2 bath near the beach in Little Lake Murex has an amazing wide and long lake view. The other, a large 5-bedroom 4-bath in gated Laguna Lakes with amenities, is just off-island.

View at 597 Lake Murex Circle

View at Sunset South #9C

It was another week without a Thursday Association of Realtors® Caravan Meeting, but there will be one next week when our new listing at Sunset South #9C is on the schedule.

Little real estate activity has been posted in the Sanibel/Captiva Multiple Listing Service since last Friday. Compared to “high season” when we may see as many as 15-25 island properties go under contract in a week, this week there were just five: a single Sanibel condo and four homes, three on Sanibel and one on Captiva. Those details follow a few news items below.

Florida’s Economic Growth Beats U.S. Average

The following article was posted at FloridaRealtors® on-line yesterday:

“Florida’s economic growth in 2014 outpaced the national average, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Wednesday. Goods and services produced in Florida increased 2.7% last year compared with 2.2% nationally, the bureau said.

“Growth in Florida topped all states east of the Mississippi River except West Virginia where the economy jumped 5.1% thanks to its mining industry, said BEA spokesman Thomas Dail.

“Florida’s economy, meanwhile, has benefited from strong growth in real estate and rental and leasing, Dail said. Florida, with more than triple the national growth in the real estate sector, was behind only North Dakota, the federal data showed.

“”There has been fairly strong contributions from retail trade as well,” Dail added. Florida had nearly double the national growth in the retail sector and was behind only Arizona, Washington and North Dakota, according to BEA’s numbers.

“Overall, Florida’s economic growth ranked 11th in the nation – good enough to beat any state touching the Atlantic – including New York, Massachusetts, Virginia and Georgia.

“The one bleak spot: Florida’s per capita share of the economy – the state’s output of goods and services divided by its population – continues to lag the nation’s. Last year, Florida’s was $38,690 vs. the nation’s $49,049. Florida has yet to recover to its pre-recession high of $44,048 in 2006.

“Florida has been rebounding from a deep recession since 2011, when the state’s economy actually contracted 0.6%, federal data shows. Goods and services grew only 1.7% in 2012, below the 1.9% national average.

Florida’s economy outpaced the nation’s in 2013 and 2014.”

Sanibel + Captiva Islands: Florida’s Best Family-Friendly Nature-Loving Escapes

We know it has helped the real estate market and the economy here as the islands have made top-ranking on many internet sites. FYI, here’s the article about Sanibel and Captiva that was posted yesterday on-line on “Forbes” by their travel writer, Katie Kelly Bell:

Photo from Forbes on-line 06-11-2015

“The sister islands of Sanibel and Captiva are something of a special breed in Florida. You won’t find bustling theme parks, water parks or alligator attractions on these islands. There won’t be long lines of sweaty tourists or beaches thronged with sunbathers either. In fact, these islands with their fertile unspoiled habitats seduce visitors without even trying.

Photo from Forbes on-line 06-11-15

“The islanders like to think the appeal is in the numbers: 15 miles of beaches, 25 miles of bike paths, 50 kinds of fish, 230 kinds of birds, 250 kinds of shells and their favorite number of all—zero traffic lights. Sanibel alone is home to 6,400 acres of mangrove wilderness, which is almost half of the total island. Many visitors just come to spend time in the J. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge—a birders paradise, but also an ideal place for nature hikes and the occasional alligator spotting.

“Sanibel and Captiva (which are connected by a short causeway) also have a few simple guidelines in place that keep this wildlife-rich paradise as pristine as it was when I first visited as a young girl almost 40 years ago. The island allows no weekly home rentals (although smaller condominiums can be rented weekly) and no developer, no matter how deep the pockets, is permitted to build a structure higher than three stories.

“Yet, most people really don’t care about the rules; they come for the uncrowded beaches and unparalleled shelling. During my first visit as a child, my father and I decided to go shelling in the rain. We discovered the most magical things on that gloomy day–lighting whelks, king conch, shark eyes–even the occasional fish or horseshoe crab washed ashore by storm tide. Our pockets bulged with loot. I felt like an explorer, alone in the beachy wilderness. The adventure remains one of my most treasured memories with my dad to this day.

“In the following years I’ve taken my own babies down those beaches—each walk its own treasure hunt. Shelling on Sanibel is a rewarding pursuit simply because it yields intact shells—the ones with critters have to go back—but the empties are yours to keep. Of course you can sunbathe, or just drift in the gentle waves, but busy bees like me find the shelling hard to ignore.

“The island is threaded with bike trails and it’s a great way to get around or just explore sections you haven’t yet seen. I prefer biking through the wildlife refuge to driving—one always sees more when you slow down—and see you will. You can also take a guided tour by kayak through the refuge or through the mangrove forest. (Tarpon Bay Explorers offer several options led by naturalists). Expect to see a wide range of wildlife including dolphins, manatees, alligators, anhinga, pelican, and more.

“Shoppers won’t be disappointed, nor will those who just eat out every meal…Sanibel and Captiva have enough of both options to keep visitors busy for weeks without ever having to return to the dreary “mainland”.

“Today I go for different reasons—my mother, who lives there now, is aging and we spend more time shuttling her to the hospitals in Ft. Myers than shelling or kayaking. But, on each trip the wildlife still give–I’ll spy an anhinga drying its wings, or a pelican diving for dinner, and shells still wash ashore. Maybe that’s why people come back year after year—the island never changes–and you can feel, if only for a while, that you haven’t changed either.

“When to Go: Summer is certainly hottest—but the islands are quieter during this season. Once November hits (through late April) you’ll be competing with the high season in terms of pricing. There are never any lines or crowded beaches here—just traffic getting off and on the island. So year-round it’s still a pleasure to visit….”

Sanibel Sewer Project Moves to Last Phase

The Sanibel Sewer Expansion Program is moving into Phase Four which is the last portion of the program which included centralization in 1974 and consolidation of island wastewater in 1991.

The program is about 99% complete with 42 properties in Phase Four remaining to be converted from their current septic systems. A low flow exemption has been granted to 28 properties, which will remain on septic for a temporary time period, which allows these properties to remain on their systems until they fail. The construction of Phase Four is estimated to take three off-seasons with the potential of being completed in just two. A more firm timetable will be established for City Council’s July meeting.

Read a Book, Get a Donut

Sanibel’s Bennett’s Fresh Roast is encouraging children to read while out of school for the summer. The shop is offering donuts in exchange for reading. Through August 31, school-aged children, from kindergarten through 5^th grade, may receive a complimentary fresh donut each time they read a book at Bennett’s. Children may receive one free donut per day before 4 p.m. when they read a book while accompanied by a parent. Books appropriate for children are available for reading on-site.

Island Businesses Earn Trip Advisor Awards

Trip Advisor has awarded several Sanibel businesses with Hall of Fame Awards (which are earned after winning five years in a row) or single excellence awards. Trip Advisor says Sanibel is “a family destination offering the best of both worlds. Sanibel Island is a vibrant community with laid-back beach relaxation or deep sea adventures. Fishing excursions, dolphin-watching tours and snorkeling appeal to travelers of all ages. Sanibel vacation homes are praised for their cozy, yet airy vibes and proximity to some of American’s most gorgeous beaches, with views into the Gulf of Mexico to make for a frame-worthy picture or postcard.”

Here are the businesses that recently received awards:

Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream

Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame Winner.

Tarpon Bay Explorers

2015 Hall of Fame

Oceans Reach Condominiums

Customer Satisfaction Index of 98.2 when rated for value, rooms, service, cleanliness, and location.

Beachview Cottages

Hall of Fame Award for their unique vacation experience.

Fourth of July Events Announced

The 4^th of July is on Saturday this year. Here are the events promoted in today’s “Island Sun”.

25^th Annual Independence Day Parade – themed “For The Fun of It”. Parade line-up begins on Island Inn Road at 8:30 a.m. & the parade begins at 9:30 a.m., traveling from Island Inn Road to Tarpon Bay Road down Periwinkle Way to Casa Ybel Road. Commemorative T-shirts are available at Bank of the Islands and will be sold along the parade route.

36^th Annual Road Rally – sponsored by Sanibel-Captiva Optimists Club, teams puzzle out clues while following a prescribed driving course around the island. Prizes are awarded for correct time and mileage, the most correct answers to the quiz about things seen along the route, as well as best decorated vehicle. Entry forms available in various locations around the island. Fee covers car, driver, navigator, unlimited crew, and includes one official Road Rally T-shirt (additional shirts available for $15). Rally begins at Timbers Restaurant/Sanibel Grill parking lot at noon, and ends there for the “after-glow party”. Starting times are staggered. All proceeds provide funds for college scholarships.

Sanibel Island Fireworks Nights 2015 – at 9 p.m. set off from the end of Bailey Road into San Carlos Bay. Best viewing from the causeway. (Sorry, no public event at The Dunes this year, but member and VIP event 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.)

First Federal Junior Duck Stamp Judging On Sanibel

Next year, for the first time, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will hose the Federal Junior Duck Stamp judging. The public is invited, so mark April 22, 2016 on your calendars, and stay tuned for news of other activities in the planning stages.

““Ding” on the Wing”, the “Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society newsletter, announced this week that “Every year, the Refuge hosts the judging of the Florida Duck Stamp program. In 2016, it will welcome the nationwide judging – a fitting tribute to Sanibel Island as the birthplace of the JDS program.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity June 5-12

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Somerset #B201 3/2.5 $1.95M.

2 price changes: Captains Walk #B4 2/2 now $315K, Blind Pass #G203 2/2 now $485K.

1 new sale: Sanibel Arms #E7 1/1 listed for $339K.

5 closed sales: Colonnades #41 1/1 $185K, Sundial #H109 1/1 $315K, Seawind #A106 2/2.5 $450K, Sundial #J401 1/1 $465K, Lighthouse Point #231 2/2 $640K.

HOMES

5 new listings: 1314 Tahiti Dr 2/2 $525K, 1388 Tahiti Dr 3/2 $679K, 887 Casa Ybel Rd 4/3 duplex $699K, 597 Lake Murex Cir 3/2.5 $749K (our listing), 689 East Rocks Dr 3/3 $768.5K.

4 price changes: 1182 Kittiwake Cir 3/3 now $659K, 1085 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $670K, 3364 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $789K, 5773 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 2/2 now $1.95M

3 new sales: 1599 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 half-duplex listed for $489K, 4515 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 listed for $585K, 2999 Twin Ponds Dr 4/3.5 listed for $865K.

5 closed sales: 536 Boulder Dr 3/2.5 $650K, 820 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2 $950K, 375 East Gulf Dr 4/3 $970K (our buyer), 6170 Dinkins Lake Rd 3/3 $1.575M, 428 Bella Vista Way 4/4 $1.6M.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: 915 Main St $150K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Beach Villas #2525 2/2 $649K.

1 price change: Tennis Villas #3111 1/1 now $249K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

1 new listing: 16237 Captiva Dr 5/5.5 $3.95M.

1 price change: 1105 Tallow Tree Ct 3/3 now $2.049M.

1 new sale: 1121 Schefflera Ct 4/4.5 listed for $3.99M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan

Sanibel Scoop & Captiva Chatter

SanibelSusan's Blog About What's Happening on the Islands

Tag Archives: Sanibel Island

TGIF from sea

Like this:

Sanibel Summer & Ospreys, oh my…

Sea Turtle Nests Break Record on East Sanibel

2016 Profile of International Activity in U.S. Residential Real Estate

Corps to Cut Back Lake O Releases

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 8-15, 2016

Like this:

Sanibel’s April Flowers Waiting for May Showers

Sanibel Saw Success in Florida’s Legislative Session

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity April 15-22, 2016

Like this:

Woohoo – Another Gorgeous Day on the Islands

Like this:

Just Another Gorgeous Friday on the Islands

Like this:

Summer Like Weather in Nov on Sunny Sanibel Island

Like this:

August Arrives – Summertime on Sanibel & Captiva Island

Like this:

Summertime Real Estate Report from Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Like this:

Almost Fathers’ Day 2015 on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Like this:

Summer Rain in the Neighborhoods on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Sea Turtle Nests Break Record on East Sanibel

2016 Profile of International Activity in U.S. Residential Real Estate

Corps to Cut Back Lake O Releases

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 8-15, 2016

Share this:

Like this:

Sanibel Saw Success in Florida’s Legislative Session

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity April 15-22, 2016

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: