The Difference Between Elevated and Ground-Level Homes

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Today, we're going to discuss what's up with stilts on Sanibel and Captiva islands. 

There's a variety of home designs here on the island - you'll see ranches, piling homes, and two- to three-story homes as well! The basic classifications of homes here on the island are elevated and ground-level. In 1977, there was a change in the building code that stipulated that every new home built must have its living floor above flood elevation. This means that most homes built after 1977 are on stilts! 

Many of the stilted or piling homes have garages or storage space on the lower level. Both ground-level homes and elevated homes have their advantages. Ground-level homes are older, have less square footage, and they don't have stairs, which is a big advantage for older homeowners. Ground-level homes are also connected to the yard. However, there are certain flood-insurance implications of ground-level homes you need to be aware of.

Elevated homes have stairs that lead up to the upper level, and will sometimes even have an elevator. These homes are built to handle floods, so they will be more protected should water levels rise after a storm. Elevated homes also have nice views and catch breezes on hot summer days. With these homes, flood insurance is a bit less burdensome. Some buyers build out the lower level to be a living area, even though it's not compliant with city codes. Doing this could affect what you pay in flood insurance. 

Because buying homes in Sanibel and Captiva, whether elevated or ground-level, can be confusing, we suggest you give us a call or shoot us an email. We have the expertise to help you make the right decisions for you and your family, and we would love to help!

Until next time, have a great day!

Single-Family Homes or Condos?

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A lot of our buyers here in Sanibel & Captiva are stuck between choosing single-family homes and condos. This can sometimes be a tough decision for our buyers, and we're here today to explain the advantages and disadvantages of these types of properties.

Homes will provide you with a lot more space as they have yards, garages, and generally more square footage. As far as privacy goes, you will also have a little more space to yourself, and this can be very important when deciding between the two properties. Here in Sanibel we have ground level and elevated homes, but we'll be speaking about this in another video.

Condos usually provide fabulous views, they're usually on or near the beach, and many offer great amenities. 

Some important considerations you need to make in respect to the city of Sanibel is that there are rental restrictions in place which limit rental periods for homes and condos. Homes have to be rented for a minimum of 28 days, and condos have a minimum of seven day rentals. However, some condo associations place limits on how many times per year a property can be rented out.

Additionally, there are a few condo communities that have been grandfathered in to allowing one-day rentals to take place. This improves cash flow for these properties because they're easier to rent out, especially in the off season. 

Many people also assume condos are less expensive than homes, but this is not always the case because when you purchase a condo, the potential revenue from renting is often factored into the sale price. This makes them more expensive to purchase because the seller knows how much can be made off of rental charges. 

If you're still debating whether to buy a home or a condo, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to consult with you to reach a good decision. 

How Can You Access Over 20 Beaches on Sanibel?

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Most people who come to Sanibel Island come here to enjoy our beaches. This comes as no surprise, as we have over 13 miles of pristine beaches here on the island.

In reality, owning beachfront property is beyond the means of most people. However, the nice thing about Sanibel is that just about every home on the island has easy access to the beach. A misconception among many people is that if you don't live on the beach, you're going to be limited to one of our six public-access beaches - but this simply isn't true. A beach permit gives you access to lots of different beaches. The city of Sanibel issues these permits to residents so that they can access 20 different beaches on the island. 

You'll never run into parking problems if you get one of these permits, they're under $20 a year! For $12 per year, you get access to a wide variety of beaches with very little hassle! So there's no reason to fret if you can't live right on the ocean - you have many options! 

Give us a call or shoot us a quick email if you have any questions about beach permits, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind. We would love to hear from you!