City of Sanibel: Keep 2012 Hurricane Re-entry Pass for 2014

December 2, 2013

Special to the Reporter (sancapnews@breezenewspapers.com) , Island Reporter, Captiva Current, Sanibel-Captiva Islander

The 2013 hurricane season came to an end on Nov. 30. In the city's continuing efforts to reduce costs, it's not issuing new Hurricane Reentry Passes in 2014, but is honoring the passes issued in 2012 and 2013.

Below are the valid pass types for the 2014 hurricane season:

RESIDENTIAL - ORANGE

COMMERCIAL - BLUE

Important information about re-entry passes:

Purpose: The pass aids security, speeds re-entry, and provides traffic control at a time when we must keep traffic to a minimum. The pass allows persons in a vehicle to return to perform property damage assessment.

Pass Limits: To meet the purposes of security, re-entry and traffic control - (Residential) a strict limit of one (1) pass per address - (Commercial) businesses will be issued only enough commercial passes to facilitate the damage assessment process, ordinarily one (1) pass.

Pass Holders Responsibility: Due to the security aspects of the pass, all persons issued a pass are responsible to ensure their pass does not fall into the wrong or irresponsible hands.

Lost/Destroyed Passes: In the unusual event we have to evacuate, people without a pass can return with proper credentials. Access via credentialing is slower, so it's recommended every household get a pass and take care of it.

Pass Expiration: The city makes an independent decision each year whether to re-use passes or issue new ones. There will be press releases and emails when the decision is made. Keep your pass until you know it is no longer valid.

For questions about hurricane passes or preparedness please refer to the Emergency Management section of the city website, or call the Sanibel Police Department at 472-3111.

https://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/522854/City-of-Sanibel--Keep-2012-Hurricane-Re-entry-Pass-for-2014.html?nav=5051

Sanibel Luminary is Tonight!

Enjoy a wonderful evening at Annual Sanibel Luminary Festival Tonight! Enjoy food, drinks, music and friendship throughout Periwinkle Way.

Make sure you head to Captiva Saturday for the Golf Cart Parade and all the Captiva Luminary events!

'Tis the season: Island packed full of holiday themed events

November 27, 2013

By MCKENZIE CASSIDY (mcassidy@breezenewspapers.com) , Island Reporter, Captiva Current, Sanibel-Captiva Islander

Sanibel and Captiva Islands are known for their world class beaches, fishing, and outdoor recreation, but the island also hosts some of the most unique and popular holiday events in Southwest Florida.

Visitors from the mainland participate in old-fashioned holiday events like tree lightings, singing carols, and hayrides within the island's uniquely "small-town" atmosphere, as well as new twists on old traditions, including luminaries, lighted boat parades, golf cart parades, and a Mullet March.

The festivities kick-off after Thanksgiving with the 29th Annual Luminary Festival Weekend, hosted by the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce, and the community-led Holiday Village on Captiva Island.

During the luminary, volunteers from the Sanibel Captiva Lions Club place hundreds of white bags, filled with sand and containing a lit candle, along Periwinkle Way. Island businesses open their doors with refreshments, music, special holiday sales, and even visits from Santa Claus. The Sanibel Community Church also hosts a live nativity scene.

It's suggested that visitors park wherever there is space and use trollys that will pick up passengers at nine different stops. The chamber will produce a trifold with details about where to board the trollys and what special events are being hosted along Periwinkle Way.

"Luminary Festival Weekend is the one time a year that the entire island community comes together to celebrate the season and we are delighted to be able to help bring light to our amazing island family during the holidays," said Ric Base, president of the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce.

The Fourth Annual Captiva Holiday Village begins after Thanksgiving with tree lightings at 'Tween Waters Inn and the South Seas Island Resort. Holiday Village events have grown so popular that a production crew from the Travel Channel's "Xtreme Xmas" filmed the golf cart parade last year.

Locals decorate golf carts with decorations, lights, garland, hats, stuffed animals and even plastic flamingos, and the drivers wear over-the-top outfits. Awards are given for the best decorated golf carts and proceeds benefit the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.

"This was such a great opportunity to bring our quirky island festivities to the world," said 2012 Golf Cart Parade Chair Denice Beggs. "This parade is such a unique and fun event for locals to be involved in. The competition has really increased, and many participants plan their decorations a year in advance."

Holiday Village events are scheduled throughout the entire month of December, ranging from holiday strolls at South Seas where guests can access the resort's grounds and marina for lights, entertainment, and arts and crafts, to a lighted boat parade in the evening.

"There's something for everyone to enjoy, from live entertainment to arts and crafts, games, S'mores, and of course old St. Nick," said Dorothy Fitzgerald, an island resident and chair of the Holiday Stroll. "This holiday stroll is sure to become a new holiday tradition for families.

Proceeds from the South Seas Holiday Strolls benefit the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

For more information or a complete schedule of events: Visit the chamber's website at sanibel-captiva.org to learn about the 29th Annual Luminary Festival Weekend and captivaholidayvillage.com to learn about the Captiva Holiday Village.

https://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/522840/-Tis-the-season--Island-packed-full-of-holiday-themed-events.html?nav=5051

Sanibel Luminary Festival – 2013

Date: December 6, 2013 Time: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Event Description

The Chamber is proud to host its 29th annual Luminary Festival on Sanibel and Captiva Islands Friday, December 6th on Sanibel and Saturday, December 7th on Captiva. Luminary Festival is a community-wide holiday event that brings together residents, visitors, businesses and organizations, promoting goodwill and community spirit. Some of our visitors make early hotel reservations especially for the event.

As you "travel the trail", look for the many fun places to stop and enjoy. There will be a  complimentary trolley service, Santa visits, photos with Santa, a live nativity scene, music and activities for the entire family.

Our goal is to offer recognition to Island businesses and encourage local shopping while providing a fun-filled evening for family and friends. All Chamber merchants are invited to participate and show off their creative decorated storefronts and host holiday celebrations at their center.

http://sanibel-island.sanibel-captiva.org/Events/details/sanibel-luminary-festival-2012-6751

Average rate on 30-year mortgage at 4.22%

WASHINGTON (AP) – Nov. 22, 2013 – Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages declined this week after two weeks of increases, keeping home buying affordable.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan fell to 4.22 percent from to 4.35 percent last week. The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage dipped to 3.27 percent from 3.35 percent.

Rates had spiked over the summer and reached a two-year high in July on speculation that the Federal Reserve would slow its bond purchases later this year. But the Fed held off in September and now appears poised to wait at least a few more months to see how the economy performs. The bond purchases are intended to keep long-term interest rates low.

Mortgage rates tend to follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. They have stabilized since September and remain low by historical standards.

Still, mortgage rates are nearly a full percentage point higher than in the spring. The uptick has contributed to a slowdown in home sales. The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes fell 3.2 percent in October, the second straight monthly decline.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday each week. The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged at 0.7 point. The fee for a 15-year loan also was steady at 0.7 point.

The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage held at 2.61 percent. The fee was unchanged at 0.4 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage fell to 2.95 percent from 3.01 percent. The fee rose to 0.5 point from 0.4 point.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=299725

U.S. homes sell 30 days faster year-to-year

SEATTLE – Nov. 14, 2013 – Nationwide, homes listed for sale on real estate marketplace Zillow sold a month faster in September 2013 than they did in the same month on year earlier – 86 days compared to 116 days in September 2012.

The fastest home turnover markets in the U.S., according to Zillow, include the San Francisco Bay Area (48 days); Sacramento, Calif. (59 days); and Dallas (60 days).

Homes sold faster this September compared to last September in all 30 of the largest metros. Large metros that saw the greatest gain in turnover rate include Las Vegas (44 days faster), Sacramento (43 days) and San Antonio (37 days).

In order to correct for homes that are listed, removed and re-posted with new prices, Zillow considered multiple listings within 40 days at the same address as one listing. Since the beginning of 2010, homes nationwide have spent a median of 119 days listed before being sold or taken off the market.

“Home shoppers in today’s environment need to be prepared to move quickly, with pre-approvals in place and an established sense of what they’re willing to pay for a home,” says Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries.

Source: http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=299318

Average rate on 30-year mortgage at 4.16%

WASHINGTON – Nov. 8, 2013 – Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose slightly last week but remained near historically low levels.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan increased to 4.16 percent from 4.10 percent last week, which was the lowest level in four months. The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.27 percent from 3.20 percent.

Rates have been falling since September when the Federal Reserve surprised investors by continuing to buy $85 billion a month in bonds. The purchases are intended to keep long-term interest rates low.

Slower hiring in recent months has many analysts predicting that the Fed will maintain the current pace of the bond purchases into early next year, which should keep mortgage rates low for the time being.

The recent drop in mortgage rates could help boost home sales, which slowed in September after rates reached their highest averages in two years.

The decline in sales has also affected price gains. Real estate data provider CoreLogic said Tuesday that a measure of U.S. home prices rose only slightly in September from August, a sign that prices are leveling off after big gains earlier this year.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country on Monday through Wednesday each week. The average doesn’t include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage rose to 0.8 point from 0.7 point. The fee for a 15-year loan was unchanged at 0.7 point.

The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 2.61 percent from to 2.64 percent. The fee remained at 0.5 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage was steady at 2.96 percent. The fee edged up to 0.5 point from 0.4 point.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=299138