SanibelProperty.com

& CaptivaProperty.net

Sanibel Real Estate - Captiva Real Estate -  Island Real Estate - South West Florida Real Estate - International Investment

 Island Condos - International Property Specialists - Tropical Paradise

 

 

 

Common Real Estate Questions

Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about island real estate. If there is anything you need to know which is not covered here, please feel free to CONTACT US. We will get back to you as quickly as possible.

What can I expect from my US Realtor? We realize there are many differences between the services provided by real estate professionals in the U.S. and the rest of the world.....

Where on the Islands? Beach, boat or golf?  Where you want to live on the islands depends on what you will spend your time doing....

Sanibel or Captiva? Sanibel Island is linked to the mainland by a four-mile causeway...

Home or Condo?  The amount of time you are going to spend on the islands, and whether you want to rent out your property, are the two major factors people use to determine...    

Investment Opportunities    Most people buying island property are primarily interested in personal enjoyment, but if you want to offset some of the costs of your island property you can rent it.....

About Mortgages   Some common mortgage terms explained...

Other Islands  There are five major island communities in Southwest Florida....

What are the rules for a 1031 tax deferred exchange?  Information concerning real estate taxes, and how to avoid them!....

Thinking about building?  A guide to Sanibel's Ecozones  Keeping our islands free from urban problems which plague some cities takes planning and an understanding of what makes our area different from others on Florida. Sanibel Island is divided into nine development Eco-Zones......

Average island prices drop but sales pick up pointing to good season

The average price of property sold on Sanibel between January 1st and September 30th has dropped 19% so far this year making a 25 percent decrease on average prices of sold property on Sanibel over two years.

The most expensive properties showed the biggest drop with a 27 percent drop in beachfront property prices and a 23 percent drop in bay front property. The only property type that gained was inland property which increased 13 percent in the first three quarters of this year.

Captiva fared no better with property prices overall dropping 30 percent over the year and 26 percent over two years. All categories dropped with near beach properties dropping as much as 55 percent.

Take a longer view and the picture is better. Captiva does better than Sanibel. Over five years, the average price of Captiva property has gained 57 percent. (But bear in mind that Captiva was still recovering from Hurricane Charlie five years ago and prices were depressed.) Average prices on Sanibel dropped just  9 percent over five years.

 

Take a still longer view and all categories fared, if not brilliantly, at least adequately.  Sanibel prices have increased 50 percent in the last ten years  and Captiva prices have gone up 42 percent with Captiva beachfront and Captiva near beach homes starring with 86 percent and 94 percent increases respectively. For a spreadsheet of island prices over ten years and more, e-mail Wendy at Wendy@SanibelProperty.com

And now for even better news……  Following a dismal start, a lackluster spring and a mediocre summer, sales have already started picking up for the fall with 17 homes and 14 condos either pending or contingent. This is highly unusual: October is generally our slowest month.