Welcome to the sister islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Some people call our islands paradise. Others call them home, or home away from home.

Things are a little different here. The islands are old Florida. They are laid back and not very formal. Nature is deeply noticed and appreciated and wildlife and bicycles have the right of way.

For different reasons our small little subtropical islands are world-renowned. They can be found just southwest of Fort Myers on the Gulf coast of Florida. To get here you have to cross a three mile causeway and bridge which joins our barrier islands to the mainland.

You can feel the difference as soon as the causeway ends. Our two islands cover just twenty miles, but they are miles of serene beauty and natural grace. Sanibel’s building regulations and environmental policies are the strictest in the state. You won’t be driving past any high rises, neon signs or stoplights. Our islands are slow and mild. They are places to relax and enjoy the gifts of nature. Over one half of the land on Sanibel is dedicated as nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

Many visitors fall in love with our islands. They come back again and again. Many also invest in the islands by buying a home or condo. Some live here year round. Others come just for the winter months and use their homes as a second residence. Others may only be able to come for a few weeks a year and then they rent their homes or condos turning them into income producing properties benefiting from cash flow, tax advantages and  long term appreciation.

The residential choices for people who fall in love with the islands and want to purchase a home or condo here are endless. There are a variety of neighborhoods, types of housing, price ranges and architectural styles. While a great deal of pre-purchase research can be done on the internet, another trip here just for the purpose of narrowing down your search is extremely important. Here are some ideas on the types of living you can find on our islands.

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES  -  SANIBEL

As you know, in a buyers market, which is what we have now, price reductions are frequent and inventory is usually high. All prices quoted at the time of writing , could very easily change by the time you are reading it.

Today our Sanibel Captiva MLS shows 296 single family homes on the market in Sanibel. This is a huge number for Sanibel and is indicative of the type of market we are experiencing. The least expensive home is listed at $324,900 and the most expensive home is $19,500,000. Right now there is an excellent selection of homes on both sides of the market price ranges. The average cost of a home (market wide) is probably in the range of $900,000 to $1,000,000.

Neighborhood Inland Homes

These neighborhoods can be very similar to neighborhoods found anywhere in the country. Many of the homes are a little smaller and older. They are usually not on the water or too near the beach. They could be on a small lake or pond. Prices range in the vicinity of $350,000 to $900,000. On such a small island shopping and the beaches are usually just a short bike ride from homes in this category. From many of them it would be a long walk to the beach, but we love our bikes here. There are very good buys available today in some of our inland neighborhoods.

Near Beach Homes

This is a descriptive you hear often on the islands. It usually means that it is just a short walk from your home to the beach. You can leave your bicycle in the garage if you live in one of these. These homes tend to be a little more expensive just because they are located closer to the beach. Some of them will also be newer and larger than Inland homes. There are entire neighborhoods that fit the Near Beach description. Later we will point some of these out. Prices in this category can range from $600,000 to $3,000,000.

Canal Front Homes

These are unique and highly coveted. This means that you can dock your boat in your backyard and have direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Our waterways are some of the best in the world. Boating and fishing are major past times here. Almost all boaters dream of being able to dock their boat at their home. Some of the canals demand limited boat size because of bridges that must be navigated. Other canals have no limits at all and boats can be any size. The Gulf is usually calm enough to accommodate small boats even though some homes have docks and canal depths which can accommodate sailboats or medium sized yachts. Most of these homes are larger, have swimming pools and nice docks. Prices range from $750,000 to $3,000,000.

Country Club Homes

There are three country club communities on Sanibel. Two are close to the east end of the island and one is close to the Sanibel – Captiva border. Two are modestly priced for club memberships and one is more expensive.

The Dunes Golf And Tennis Club is a large country club community on the east end of Sanibel. It has an 18 hole championship course and a tennis facility with multiple courts and surfaces. In today’s market homes start at $449,000 and end at $1,365,000.

Beachview Country Club is also located near the east end of Sanibel. It is a little closer to the beach than the Dunes. It has an 18 hole course and a strong tennis program. Homes here are a little larger than in the Dunes. At today’s prices, homes in Beachview range from $783,500 to $2,280,000. Both the Dunes and Beachview have private memberships but they are also open to the public.

The Sanctuary Country Club is located close to the Sanibel and Captiva border. Go out on Sanibel Captiva Road then go right on Wulfert. This is a private equity club with an Arthur Hills designed 18 hole golf course and mid size tennis facility. There are 350 members and this course is not open to the public. Condos in the Sanctuary   at current market prices start at $699,000 and go to $849,000. Homes start at $950,000 and end at $5,200,000.

Bay Front Homes

You get your first view of these as you cross the Causeway from the mainland. Bayside homes are highly sought after and fairly expensive. They can be found on the east end, mid-island and the west end of Sanibel. Some of them have boat docks, but not all. They have wonderful water views which encompass passing boats or dolphin playing in the warm bay waters. Homes on the bay currently begin at $1,379,000 and end at $4,295,000.

Gulf Front Homes

This is the ultimate location for some buyers. You can walk out your back door, down your private pathway, directly to some of the best shelling beaches in the world. From many rooms of your home you can see the beach and the from every window. While there are a few relatively small homes on the beach, most of them are estates with vast grounds and gardens. In today’s market there are nineteen gulf front selections with prices from $1,999,995 to $19,500,000.

Neighborhoods and Developments

There are many different single family developments on Sanibel. Listed below is some information about the largest neighborhoods and developments.

CONDOMINIUMS   -  SANIBEL

Condos either on the beach or near the beach are a favorite buy for investors who are looking for rental income. There is a year round rental market on Sanibel which makes this choice of a second residence appealing to many. Owners spend a few weeks or months in their condo, then rent it out through a management company for the remainder of the year. Currently, our MLS shows 284 condos on the market. These range from a one bedroom, near beach, 556 square foot condo for $244,000; to a four bedroom, Gulf front, 3605 square feet condo for $3,150,000.

Not all condos are the same. Some condo complexes have better rental reputations than others. Some have on-site management. Some are older and the construction codes may not equal some that are newer. Some have strong condo owners associations. Some have just eight to twelve units, while others have hundreds. All have HOA’s or monthly/quarterly Home Owner’s Association fees. Condo complexes can also levy special assessments to pay for critical needs. Some complexes have extra storage, or pools, or tennis, or under building parking; others do not. Condos also have rental restrictions. Most must be rented for seven days at a time. Some can be fourteen days and others can be thirty days. A few have daily rentals.

Inland Condos

These will be smaller and a little older. They may be duplexes or mid size buildings. They will be a short bike ride from the beach, but usually not a quick walk. Most will be one or two bedrooms. Many of the condo units on both islands come fully furnished when sold. Prices in this category range from $250,000 to $650,000.

Gulf Front Condos

The vast majority of the condos in Sanibel are found on the beach. Just ride along East Gulf, Middle Gulf and West Gulf Drives and you will see them by the dozens. These of course vary in size and quality, but all of them share the great proximity to one of the nicest beaches in the country. Most of these condo complexes offer amenities such as swimming pools, elevators, parking and sometimes tennis. Everyone has their own tastes and budgets and there are enough condos of different varieties to appeal to all. Prices in today’s market start at $400,000 and rise to $3,150,000.

Bay Front Condos

As the name implies many of these condos have beautiful bay front views. Some of these Complexes even have boat docks for quick access to the Bay and Gulf. Most of these complexes have swimming pools, tennis courts and other amenities. Units can have one, two or three bedrooms. The majority of these condos are on the east end of Sanibel. Current market prices range from $400,000 to $1,000,000.

A note about “views.” We seem to market our island Gulf Front condos with discussion of views. There is a direct front view or a partial view. A condo complex may have multiple buildings. Two of those buildings might be right on the beach, and three other buildings may be in back of those, closer toward the street. While most may have some type of view of the Gulf, only the first two buildings would be “direct Gulf.” Individual unit prices within a complex rise and fall with the directness of the view.

Top Of The Line Condos

These of course are the most expensive and most private of all the condo complexes. Most of these will be found at the West End of the island. Usually these are much smaller complexes with less than 20 individual units. The units will be larger than most, some with well over 3000 square feet. The HOA fees will be higher, as will any assessments for critical issues. Many of these condo complexes do not permit rentals, or if they do the rental restrictions may be for thirty day minimums. There are about 10-12 complexes that fit into this category. Current prices range from $1,500,000 to $3,200,000. 

Condo Complexes

There is a large number of condominium complexes on the Island. Here is just a sample of them.

SUNDIAL RESORT

The Sundial Beach and Golf Resort is the only full-service resort on Sanibel Island. Sundial is made up of two condominium associations which are comprised of 406 individual units. Recently renovated, Sundial has provided a beachfrront lifestyle for three generations of families.

There are a number of Sundial condos available for purchase. If you are looking for direct beachfront, you should study the offerings on the west side of the resort in buildings A-E and K. There are beachfront one and two bedroom condos for sale at attractive prices.

Just off the beach there are a number of one and two bedroom condos, and some two bedrooms with a den, that offer a direct water view, a partial view or a garden view.

Larger condos can be found toward the east side of the resort where most are over 1500 square feet. Sundial has an on-site rental management prgram for its owners. While it is not mandatory, the majority of the owners prefer the convenience of having all of their rental needs centralized.

Sundial condominiums range from the high $300’s to $1.5 million. You may view some of these on the Property Search Screen or stop by our offices at the resort.

CAPTIVA SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Captiva is different. It is small, exclusive, quiet and can be more expensive than Sanibel. It’s a little away from it all. There aren’t too many stores here, but the ride to Sanibel for shopping is only about 20-30 minutes.

Because of its’ size, Captiva has fewer home choices than Sanibel. It’s a sliver of an island about five miles long and less than a quarter of a mile wide. Many people fall in love with Captiva and are sometimes surprised when they hear the home and condo prices. The lifestyle here is slow, healthy and wonderful. Living on Captiva truly gives you the feeling of being on a special and beautiful isolated Florida island.

As of today’s listings in the San/Cap MLS, there are 68 homes on the market on Captiva. In relation to the total number of homes this is a fairly high number. The least expensive home is listed at $895,000 and the most expensive is $25,000,000. The average price of today’s 68 single family home listings is about $2,500,000.

Neighborhood Inland Homes

While it is always nice to live on the water, Captiva is so small that no matter where you live you are just a 2-3 minute walk to the Gulf or the Bay. There are a dozen or so streets that are not on the water that have a good selection of homes currently for sale. Prices in this category range from $900,000 to $4,000,000. Some may be tiny two bedroom cottages while others can be very modern six bedroom pool homes. When you see Captiva investors they are usually smiling. There is a year round rental market here and inland homes rent almost as frequently as waterfront homes. All Inland homes can also be classified as Near Beach Homes. On Sanibel many people use bicycles all the time. On Captiva you will see everyone walking wherever they go.

Bay Front Homes

As you drive into Captiva the Bay or Roosevelt Channel is on the right hand side of the road. If you are a boater you will love this side of the island. Most of the homes have long driveways and cannot be seen from the road. Almost all of them have private boat docks, with access to the Bay, the Inland Waterway or the Gulf. In today’s MLS there are 15 homes for sale in this category from $1,000,000 to $4,300,000 million. While there is the occasional older small Florida cottage on the Bay, most of these homes are fairly large and fit into the luxury classification. They are private, somewhat isolated and have beautiful views of the Bay or the Channel

Gulf Front Homes

Now we enter the land of the wealthy. Captiva’s Beach front homes are some of the most luxurious and appealing waterfront homes in all of Florida. Many of them are estates on 1-2 acres of prime beachfront property. Many have guest houses, or formal gardens or other residential features that will take your breath away. If money is no object, this may be the place to consider. Today’s MLS shows 25 Gulf Front single family homes on the market. The least expensive is $2,800,000 and the most expensive is $25,000,000. An average price for today’s listings is about $6,000,000. To give you a better idea of prices in this category, there are three Gulf Front vacant parcels of land on the market, with the least expensive being $3,495,000.

Neighborhoods and Developments

There are very few developments in Captiva. It is so small there are only a few recognized neighborhoods. Some of the neighborhoods have names used for legal documents: A.M. Gores; Captiva Beach; Captiva Landings; F.A. Lanes Bayview; Frowes; Dickeys; Sunset Captiva and Tichenors.

A large section of Captiva, at the very north end of the island, is devoted to the South Seas Resort. This is one of the finest luxury resorts in Florida. Obviously, as our agency name implies, we have a strong connection to South Seas. You can make wonderful investments here and love every hour you spend at the resort. Thousands of people from all over the world already call the Resort their second home. You can buy single family homes, condos and time shares on the resort.

CAPTIVA CONDOS