Closed Sales
Closed sales for the 12-month period ending December 31 were up 23% from the preceding 12-months, from 31,834 to 39,179. Sales for the month of December, although down 20% from the unprecedented surge we experienced in 2020, were up 34% when compared to pre-pandemic levels of the three preceding years.

Listing Inventory / New Listings
With 2,108 properties on the market as of December 31, listing inventory remains low. This is less due to a lack of listings entering the market than it is to the rate at which listings are selling. New listings for the 12-month period ending December 31 were down 4% from the preceding 12 months, from 37,855 to 36,282.

Average Selling Price
The average selling price for the 12-months through December 31 was $641,354, up 24% from the preceding 12-month period when the average selling price was $518,791.

Summary
Despite historically low standing inventory throughout the year, with nearly 40,000 properties sold, 2021 broke all past annual closed sales records. New listings, although down somewhat from 2020, still came in at a steady pace but most were spoken for by buyers right away, sometimes even prior to the listings making it to the Multiple Listing System and thereby never being counted in the standing inventory. 2021 also realized a notable increase in the average sales price with a 24% gain over the preceding year. By comparison, 2020 posted a 17% increase. Notably, prior to these considerable increases, the average price only rose an average of 2% per year from 2016 through 2019. The average sales price in Southwest Florida has risen an average of 11% per year over the past five years.
For 2021, John R. Wood Properties surpassed all other brokerages in total closed transactions, total closed sales volume, and total listings sold in Southwest Florida!

In partnership with Captiva Cruises and Todd and Leanne Marcum, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s next  Pine Island Sounds cruise will feature Ryan Scott on Jan. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.; it will depart from McCarthy’s Marina, at 11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva. Scott is a Brooklyn-based guitarist and soul singer whose music embodies rock ‘n’ roll and soul in its purest form, influenced by the blues-rock guitar lineage, New York’s jazz tradition, New Orleans R&B, Brazilian psychedelia and more. Tickets are $100 and include first drinks provided by Janie Howland and Jack Thomas and snack box from Catering by Leslie Adams. A cash bar will also be available. Proceeds will benefit the SCCF’s water quality efforts including research, policy and educational outreach. For more information or tickets, visit https://pineislandsounds.eventbrite.com.

The LeAneSUAREZGroup was one of the key sponsors for the Let’s Pink Out Sanibel Captiva Pink-A-Ball gala held on Saturday, October 9th at Sundial Beach Resort and Spa.

Let’s Pink Out raises funds for uninsured and underinsured residents and employees of Sanibel and Captiva islands who need mammograms and assistance with other cancer-related needs.

2021 marked the 10th year for the organization which has grown from a simple picnic table at the Sanibel Fire Station during the month of October to a month-long affair with a variety of wonderful community events.

LeAne and the entire Suarez family were honored to support the breast cancer needs of their community and especially support John R. Wood Properties very own staff member and breast cancer survivor, Ann Neubauer.

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village announced that the Blue Giraffe Restaurant is a platinum sponsor and Bailey’s General Store is a silver sponsor for its Gala Movie Premiere on Feb. 22. The event will feature the documentary “Secrets & Stories of the Sanibel Lighthouse.” For sponsorship information, call Executive Director Emilie Alfino at 239-472-4648 or 239-357-1644.

Watch this episode of SoWeFlo where LeAne explains why Captiva is so special and what's like to live here. John R Wood Properties and LeAneSUAREZGroup presents SoWeFlo Life...