Below Market Rate Housing on Sanibel Island: A Complete Guide to CHR Communities

Sanibel Island’s Below Market Rate Housing (BMR) program helps support the island’s workforce and long-time residents by providing housing opportunities that are more affordable than traditional market-rate properties. These homes and rental communities are managed by Community Housing & Resources (CHR), the City of Sanibel’s housing foundation.

CHR has been serving Sanibel and Captiva since 1979, helping residents live and work on the island while preserving the community’s year-round character.

Unlike traditional real estate listings, CHR housing communities are typically not part of the open real estate market and rarely become available for purchase.

What Is Community Housing & Resources (CHR)?

Community Housing & Resources is a nonprofit organization that develops and manages workforce housing and affordable housing opportunities on Sanibel Island.

The organization works in partnership with the City of Sanibel to maintain housing opportunities for residents who contribute to the island’s economy and community.

CHR properties include:

  • Workforce rental housing

  • Limited-equity ownership homes

  • Senior housing communities

  • Small residential neighborhoods

Learn more about CHR properties here

Why Below Market Rate Housing Exists on Sanibel

Sanibel is a small barrier island where housing costs can exceed what many local workers can afford. The Below Market Rate Housing program helps maintain a stable year-round community by supporting housing opportunities for residents who work on the island.

These programs help support:

  • Teachers

  • Healthcare workers

  • Retail and hospitality employees

  • First responders

  • Long-time island residents

By maintaining workforce housing, Sanibel preserves the services and businesses that support the island community.

Complete Guide to CHR Housing Communities on Sanibel

The following communities are managed by Community Housing & Resources.

Airport Way

Airport Way provides workforce housing located near the Sanibel Recreation Center and island bike path system. The location offers convenient access to Periwinkle Way and central Sanibel amenities.

Beach Road

Beach Road is a small single-family home neighborhood on the East End of Sanibel located near the Gulf of Mexico. These homes are part of Sanibel’s Below Market Rate Housing program and rarely become available for purchase.

Casa Mariposa

Casa Mariposa is a senior housing community managed by CHR. The community provides affordable housing opportunities for qualifying senior residents in a convenient Sanibel location.

Centre Place

Centre Place is a workforce housing community located in central Sanibel, providing residents with access to shopping, restaurants, and island services along Periwinkle Way.

Mahogany Way

Mahogany Way provides workforce housing in a quiet residential setting on Sanibel Island with convenient access to island amenities and bike paths.

Riverview

Riverview is a CHR housing community that is currently undergoing redevelopment and improvements as part of Sanibel’s ongoing workforce housing initiatives.

Sanibel Highlands

Sanibel Highlands is a workforce housing community located near central Sanibel amenities and the island bike path system.

Woodhaven

Woodhaven provides workforce housing in a residential neighborhood setting with convenient access to Periwinkle Way and island services.

Wooster (Lake Palms)

Wooster, also known as Lake Palms, is a CHR housing community located in central Sanibel providing affordable housing opportunities for qualifying residents.

How CHR Housing Is Different From Traditional Real Estate

CHR communities operate differently from traditional real estate neighborhoods.

Important differences include:

  • Income eligibility requirements

  • Employment-based qualification guidelines

  • Deed-restricted housing

  • Limited-equity ownership structures

  • Program-regulated resale conditions

Because of these requirements, CHR properties rarely appear in traditional real estate listings.

Buying or Selling CHR Properties on Sanibel

Below Market Rate Housing properties follow program guidelines rather than open-market pricing. When opportunities arise, they are typically coordinated through Community Housing & Resources.