Beach in front of our new listing at Sand Pointe, by JMA Photography
It’s SanibelSusan reporting that we experienced a reduction in both island traffic and phone calls this week. The real estate action slowed down some too, but I still managed to write a couple of offers. One remains in the negotiating stages and the other has been accepted verbally. Hopefully, I will have more to say on those next week. My teammates held new condo listings open for Realtor Caravan yesterday with good attendance both from Realtors® and walk-ins. Most likely we will see another spurt of activity over the next week and through the Easter Holiday weekend, but things here are definitely slowing down.
Mariner Pointe fishing pier, by JMA Photography
Here are some news items, followed by the real estate action posted in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service over the last seven days.
Spring Happenings on Sanibel
April 12 – Sat – CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) Antique, Fine Art and Estate Jewelry Sale & Auction at The Community House. This day-long event includes: A “Buy It Now” sale 1 to 7:30 p.m.; professional appraisals being offered 1 to 3 p.m. (up to three items at $5/item, cash only); Live Auction begins at 5:30 p.m.; cash bar & complimentary hors d’oeuvres donated by Island Restaurants beginning at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 donation to CROW.
April 12 – Sat – The Sanibel School Seahorse Festival at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, 4 to 8 p.m. Open to the public with family-friendly games & activities on the lawn, plus face painting, silent auction, live band, bounce house, food & refreshments. View & bid on auction items from your Smartphone. Visit www.SanibelSchool.org to view auction items online. The Sanibel School has been awarded the National Blue Ribbon status as a top-performing public school since 2007. Adults free, children $10.
April 12 – Sat – Sanibel Sea School “Octifest” on Causeway Island A at 6:30 p.m. includes evening of cocktails, auction items, sunset, & dinner. Call 472-8585 for reservations.
April 15 – Tues – Captiva Memories: Artists & Authors at The Captiva Community Center at 7:30 p.m. includes a premier screening of a new film by filmmaker Rusty Farst. Commissioned by The Captiva Historic Society capturing oral histories about significant artists and writers who found inspiration and solitude on Captiva (includes interviews about Robert Rauschenberg, Anne Morrow Lindberg, J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling, and Maybelle Stamper. Free and open to the public, but reservations required (call 239-472-2323).
April 16 – Wed – ‘Ding’ Darling Upcycle Art Fest at ‘Ding’ Darling Visitor & Education Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Preview the works at www.DingDarlingSociety.org/upcycle-gallery. Activities at the UpCycle include artist exhibits, art sale, make-&-take crafts for kids & adults, & environmental slide presentations. No cost for admission. More info at www.UpcycleArtFest.com.
April 19 – Sat – 20th Annual Children’s Center Spring Festival at Sanibel City Park (across the street from SanibelSusan Realty), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes Easter egg hunt, bounce house, giant slide, sack races, face painting, piñatas, photo booth, silent auction, games, crafts, food, contests, nail painting, & tattoos. Cost is $10 for unlimited activities.
April 19 – Sat – Easter Party at Zebra Frozen Yogurt in the Bailey’s Center from 3 to 4 p.m. with live butterfly release, face painting, goodie bags, games & prizes, & frozen yogurt.
A Cool Mobile App
I read an on-line article this week on “Real Estate News” in the Helpful Tools, Technology & Social Media section of the YPN Lounge of “Realtor®Mag’s” Blogs. YPN is a group within the national and state Association of Realtors®. It stands for “Young Professionals Network”. The Sanibel and Captiva Islands Association recently started a chapter here, but they also call it “Your Professional Network”, so we old duffers who wish we were young also can participate.
The article included info on a couple of “mobile apps that you (and your customers) will love.” It was provided by Anand Patel, broker and president of Pangea Realty Group based in Tampa.
Here is his write-up on the app that I tried out using the office location:
“Sitegeist – Have you ever been out showing property with buyers and while standing in front of a house they start asking you questions about the neighborhood that you know are probably in violation of fair housing laws? I have my agents ask their buyers to download the Sitegeist app which pulls all sorts of public records data based on your geo-location. Sitegeist pulls from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Foursquare, Yelp, Weather Underground, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The app will tell a user based on their location things such as:
- How people commute – car, public transportation, walk, bike
- Median home values
- Average rent
- Number of males vs. females in the immediate area
- Household incomes
- Number of children under the age of five
- Median age of homes
- Number of housing units
And a lot more…
“See how your customers may find this information useful? And also see how much safer it is when the data is coming from a third party without you having to tip toe around the questions? Believe me, your customers will be wowed and your broker relieved when you start using and sharing this app. I also personally use this app when analyzing commercial real estate in markets I am not too familiar with….
“A common question that I get asked when I share this app with agents, colleagues and customers is “how far around me is this data pulling from?” Because the data is coming from multiple sources and each source has different criteria for what they consider to be “nearby” there is no single answer to this question. For example, the U.S Census Bureau data measures geographic area by the census tract, political contributions are measured by zip code, the EPA uses a 5-mile radius, and Foursquare and Yelp each have their own algorithm to come up with what constitutes a geographic area around you. Regardless of how far around you the data is pulling from, the aesthetically appealing graphics, easy to read design and quick access to relevant data make it a must have when your buyers are house-hunting.
“Sitegeist is also free and you can download it here: sitegeist.sunlightfoundation.com“.
Here are the results that were posted when I keyed in our SanibelSusan Realty office location on Periwinkle Way:
People: Median age: 65 yrs 6 months; Children under 5: 62 at 0.05 kids per household in 1,181 households; Household Incomes: 54.1% over $100K; Gender: 50.8% male; Political contributions: $193,854 (Republicans), $70,918 (Democrats).
Housing: Median Home Value $606,700; Average Rent: $1,630/month; 10% of people rent; How People Commute: 75% by car.
Fun: Tarpon Bay Explorers, Sweet Melissa’s Cafe, Jerry’s Foods; Explore: Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory; 2 Movie Theaters within 5 miles;
Weather: 76 degrees F and clear right now; Average temps for today: high 84; low 62; Record temperatures for today: 93 high (in 1944), 47 low (in 1950);
History: Median Age of Homes: 31 years.
Here are the results that changed when I keyed in my home in Sanibel Estates on the east-end:
People: Median age: 64 yrs 7 months; Children under 0: no children in 1,426 households; Household Incomes: 41% over $100K; Gender: 53.9% female.
Housing: Median Home Value $685,900; Average Rent: $1,036/month; 16% of people rent; How People Commute: 72% by car.
Fun: Lighthouse Beach & Fishing Pier; Explore: She Sells Sea Shells.
History: Median Age of Homes: 37 years.
Remodeled Captiva Civic Association Building Now Open
Out on Captiva, be sure and check out the new Captiva Civic Association building which includes a new Captiva history museum and a new reading area in the expanded Captiva Library. The cleverly conceived and created History Gallery takes on the wooden look of the interior of the old mail boat, ‘Santiva’ which serviced the islands prior to the construction of the Sanibel Causeway in 1963.
The boat windows feature interpretive panels and touch screen access to historic photos. In addition, visitors can enjoy looking out through the windows of the boat to the ‘views’ that passengers saw as they cruised between Fort Myers and the islands. The room also has a ‘launch pad’ area where visitors can learn about other historic sites and museums in the area such as Useppa Museum, Boca Grande, Randall Research Center at Pineland, and the Sanibel Historical Village. More info at www.CaptivaIslandHistoricalSociety.org.
The whole project began last spring, adding almost 1,200 sq.ft. to the 7,400-sq.ft. building at 11550 Chapin Lane. The facility was originally constructed in 1961 and expanded several times including the addition of the wing for the Captiva branch of the Lee County Library in 1970. All of the funds for the renovation came from member donations even though the Captiva Community Center complex includes a public library and local sheriff’s deputy residence. CCA was founded in 1936 at the old Fisherman’s Lodge to foster road repair, construction of a city dock, vegetation control and general improvement of the island. It met at various homes and public places until 1949 when it took over the old schoolhouse, which is not the Captiva Chapel by the Sea. A decade later, it moved into an adjacent part of the one-engine firehouse built on the existing site of CCA.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 4-11, 2014
Sanibel
CONDOS
1 new listing: Tanglewood #1A 3/2 $1.179M.
3 price changes: Sundial #I103 1/1 now $375K, Kimball Lodge #304 2/2 now $549K, Loggerhead Cay #583 2/2 now $549.9K.
8 new sales: Sanibel Shores #2 2/1 listed for $299K, Sanibel Moorings #1322 2/2 listed for $419K; Sanibel Moorings #422 2/2 listed for $449,999; Loggerhead Cay #121 2/2 listed for $699K; Pointe Santo #B25 2/2 listed for $749K, Tarpon Beach #109 2/2 listed for $789K, Snug Harbor #121 3/2 listed for $997.5K, Sanibel Seaview #B1 3/3 listed for $1/395M.
5 closed sales: Loggerhead Cay #362 2/2 $480K, Sandpiper Beach #103 2/2 $550K, Kings Crown #313 2/2 $575K, Nutmeg Village #103 2/2 $587K, Pointe Santo #B23 2/2 $580K (our listing).
HOMES
7 new listings: 1835 Ardsley Way 2/1 $349K, 589 Rabbit Rd 2/2 $499K, 9446 Beverly Ln 3/3.5 $599K (short sale), 989 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2 $635K, 766 Sand Dollar Dr 4/5.5 $1.495M, 375 East Gulf Dr 4/3 $1.849M, 2969 Wulfert Rd 6/6/2 $1.95M.
4 price changes: 736 Cardium St 3/2 now $439K, 828 Rabbit Rd 2/1 now $442K, 1817 Buckthorn Ln 4/3.5 $1.095M, 2514 Blind Pass Ct 4/3/2 now $1/349M.
11 new sales: 1890 Farm Trail 3/2 listed for $449K, 340 East Gulf Dr 2/2 listed for $489K, 696 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 listed for $575K, 1838 Long Point Ln 3/2 listed for $639K, 4622 Rue Belle Mer 4/2 listed for $809K, 1818 Buckthorn Ln 3/3 listed for $875K, 1759 Jewel Box Dr 3/2 listed for $995K, 2749 Wulfert Rd 3/3.5 listed for $995K, 466 Sea Oats Dr 4/3.5 listed for $995K, 2729 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 listed for $1.098M, 5612 Baltusrol Ct 4/3.5 listed for $1.695M.
6 closed sales: 450 Leather Fern Pl 3/2 $575K, 3808 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $650.2K, 1827 Buckthorn Ln 3/2 $735K, 750 Sand Dollar Dr 2/2 $785K, 1838 Buckthorn Ln 3/2 $1M, 1480 Angel Dr 3/3 $1.31M.
LOTS
1 new listing: 6411 Pine Ave $349K.
No price changes or new sales.
2 closed sales: 761 Donax St $204K, 1898 Woodring Rd $2.05M.
Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Ventura Captiva #2B 2/2 $797.5K.
No price changes.
1 new sale: Beach Villas #2634 3/3 listed for $840K.
No closed sales.
HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sale: 1129 Longifolia Ct 4/5 listed for $5.995M.
1 closed sale: 11527 Andy Rosse Ln 4/4 $2/35M.
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.
Happy weekend to all!
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