Real Estate Statistics
| Average Price | $1.5M |
|---|---|
| Lowest Price | $7K |
| Highest Price | $15M |
| Total Listings | 238 |
| Avg. Days On Market | 89 |
| Avg. Price/SQFT | $694 |
Property Types (active listings)
Sanibel Island Real Estate and Luxury Homes
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Sanibel Island Homes for Sale
Sanibel Island Sanibel Island is a barrier island just off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida. Because of its location, Sanibel Island residents are privileged to benefits like beautiful sunsets, colorful seashells, excellent fishing and delightful weather all year round. What sets some of the Sanibel Island real estate apart from other areas of Florida is the fact that, by being a barrier island west of Fort Myers and just north of Naples, it is home to a number of unique features. Read more about Sanibel Island Home Values and Real Estate Market
One of the highlights of Sanibel island is that it features a ton of natural beauty. In fact, just about half of the island is actually nature preserve, some of the more popular natural areas include the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, in addition to the land that is monitored by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. This gives residents of the area a truly special relationship with nature, that so many other popular beach communities end up seeing disappear over the years.
One of the biggest draws to Sanibel Island is the beaches. Barron's Magazine, in 2010 rated Sanibel as one of the top 10 places to own a second home, and the beaches were one of the biggest factors. Another hidden fact that many don't realize about the island is that it actually has much sandier beaches than some of its neighbors. This is because the island is actually facing in an East-West orientation. 
That means that Sanibel Island has not only the benefit of long stretches of sandy beaches, but it is also known for the incredible amount of shells that wash ashore. This is a perfect spot to spend a day wandering the beach and collecting shells. In fact, in a recent article by the New York Times, they compared Sanibel Island to the South Pacific in the number and quality of shells that can be found in the area, yet unlike in the South Pacific, on Sanibel Island, the shells can be found within reach, right onshore.
Many residents of the area love to spend their days on Lighthouse Beach, where the famous Sanibel Lighthouse is located. The area provides a perfect spot for viewing those famous Gulf of Mexico sunsets, as well as offering a selection of nature trails and a pier for fishing. Many residents spend their afternoons strolling Lighthouse Beach people watching and fishing off the pier. The area around both Sanibel and Captiva Islands are well known for their amazing abundance of fish, many call the area a sport fisherman's dream.
The metro regions surrounding Sanibel Island offers residents a number of fantastic activities all year round. Of course, on the beaches, the tropical climate of the entire southwestern Florida region means you are never far from a day on the beach, or on the water enjoying stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. For those who love to keep active, the natural preserves offer a number of nature trails that are perfect for morning jogs. And, of course, you cannot leave out the golfing opportunities.
The area between Fort Myers and Naples is truly known for its hundreds of famous golf courses, many of which have been designed by noted and well-respected golf course designers. There are a number of different options for avid golfers that include very exclusive private courses, municipal courses, and public courses only minutes away from those famous Sanibel Island beaches. 
It is very easy in this part of the country to play a new course every week and hardly have to repeat over a long period of time. There are few areas that offer both incredible golf and beautiful beaches that are available year-round like Sanibel does.
Also just minutes away from the tranquility of the island is the bustling city life of the urban metro areas. What is so fantastic about a place like Sanibel island is that it is just so easy to escape from the hustle and bustle of work and life, in only a few minutes you can go from downtown Fort Myers or Naples and be back on the beach. However, the benefit of being so close to these growing metro regions is that they provide area residents with a number of options in terms of dining and shopping.
There is an abundance of dining options on Sanibel, many of them serve incredibly fresh local seafood, which so many residents find to be a real treat. Many of the restaurants offer incredible oceanfront dining options, as well as something that is rare in many parts of the world. Residents love having the ability to choose from the number of places to eat that cover a variety of budgets and menus. There are also a number of local art galleries on the island as well, many of which feature some of those beautiful shells.
For those who have been looking at Sanibel Island homes for sale, they would be very pleased to find out there are a number of different options. From waterfront single-family residences to townhouses and condos, there are homes for every style, taste, and budget available on the island. Of course, because of the prime location, there are quite a few high-quality luxury homes located on the island that offer beachfront locations, swimming pools, lanais and kitchens full of top of the line stainless steel appliances.
Other housing options also include Sanibel Island luxury condominium buildings. These buildings have beachfront access as well as incredible ocean views including large windows, balconies and glass doors. Many residents, especially those with smaller families or retirees love living in the condo community because of all of the benefits that it offers to residents.
More Info & Facts About Sanibel Island
The same attractions that caused Frommer's Travel Guide to rank Sanibel Island the #1 top tourist destination for 2011 also make Sanibel Island an exceptional place to live.
With a subtropical climate cooled by gulf breezes, miles of unspoiled beaches, even more miles of paved bike paths, 2 championship 18-hole golf courses, and more than 6,500 acres of wildlife preserves, this barrier island is paradise for those who love nature and the outdoor life.
At the same time, thanks to the Sanibel Causeway, residents are only minutes away from Fort Myers – the commercial center and county seat of Lee County, Florida.
Living on Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is much like a small town – with a population of just over 6,000 and a median age of 65.
As might be expected, the leading occupations involve arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food services, and the retail trade. What might not be expected in a community of this size and this demographic is the quality of Sanibel Island elementary and middle schools. (High school students are bussed to Fort Myers.)
In a ranking system that involved more than 3,000 schools throughout Florida, Sanibel School scores surpassed all others in the state. The Sanibel Library is also ranked as the top library in Florida.
The conclusion: While Sanibel Island is a fine place to retire, it's also a fine place to live and work while raising a young family.
More About Sanibel Island
Home buyers from the cold northern states have long chosen Florida as the perfect retirement destination or the perfect "winter home."
While some enjoy the "big city," those who prefer being close to nature choose Sanibel Island. Here residents can drive, walk, or ride bikes for miles through the wildlife preserves, angle for more than 50 varieties of fish, and enjoy the sights and sounds of more than 230 different species of birds. Golfers can choose from 3 different courses – two of which are championship 18-hole courses.
Buying a Home on Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island homes for sale range in price from the low $100's for condos or apartments up to nearly $6 million for spectacular estate homes on the beach. The median sales price in the second quarter of 2012 was just over $500,000.
While a few bargains in foreclosure and pre-foreclosure properties do exist, distressed properties account for only about 4% of the homes for sale on Sanibel Island. While development is restricted by the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan established in 1974, those wishing to build a dream home can still find spectacular building lots for sale.