South Walton FL Real Estate Blog 
Rosemary Beach | Neighborhood Highlight
Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 2:05pm. 3 Views, 0 Comments.
Named for the native species of herb that lines the town’s footpaths, Rosemary Beach offers its residents a “distinctive taste” of resort living. Situated on Scenic 30-A highway in the panhandle of Florida, the 107-acre, gulf-front town supports pedestrian traffic, community interaction and architectural harmony.
In spite of the community’s strict urban code, every home is architecturally unique and reflects each owner’s specific lifestyle. Twelve basic building types have established the character of each neighborhood and ensure the integrity of the Town Plan. Finished with wood siding, cedar shingle or stucco, the homes feature a rich palette of colors in subtle, natural tones. Deep eaves provide shade from the afternoon sun. High…
Alys Beach | Neighborhood Highlight
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 1:40pm. 8 Views, 0 Comments.
Luxurious resort living combined with almost indestructible construction is what you will find in Alys Beach, one of the most unique communities along Scenic 30-A highway in northwest Florida.
The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore is one of the area’s admirers. He said, “Alys Beach is the first fortified community in the nation. The rooftops are concrete, the walls are concrete, and the windows are bullet proof. Believe it or not, I would spend a night in here during a Category 4 hurricane. If you’re going to build on the beach, this is the way to do it.”
In addition to their durability, Alys Beach homes are “green” homes, built to have less environmental impact than conventionally built homes. Their passive heating and cooling systems…
Seaside Florida | Neighborhood Highlight
Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 5:59pm. 9 Views, 0 Comments.
Dreaming of a simple, beautiful life? That’s what you’ll find in the charming community of Seaside, located along Scenic Highway 30A in northwest Florida. Return to a bygone era in small town America when you stroll among the nine pavilions that anchor the streets of Seaside. Enjoy a community where sugar sand beaches are just steps away, the turquoise blue waters shimmer iridescently, and neighbors linger in the market to chat.
The dreamlike quality of life in Seaside is so unique that even Hollywood took notice. When film director Peter Weir was scouting locations for “The Truman Show,” the 1998 Jim Carrey movie about a man who unknowingly lives his life as a reality-show star, he scouted resort towns up and down the West Coast. He finally…
WaterColor Real Estate Market
Monday, April 9th, 2012 at 5:31pm. 17 Views, 0 Comments.
Tucked between Grayton Beach and Seaside,midway along Scenic Highway30-A in Florida’s panhandle is WaterColor, a master-planned community developed by the St. Joe Company and designed by the world-renown architect Jaquelin Robertson. Because of its strong history and company backing, purchasing property within this 499-acre resort makes a sound investment for anyone looking for real estate on the Emerald Coast.
WaterColor real estate features 1,140 custom-built residences, building sites,and multifamily dwellings that complement the natural surroundings. By combining classic southern architecture, innovative design, and the use of natural landscape, WaterColor recently received the Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute, the foremost…
Sandestin Resort Real Estate
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 2:23pm. 22 Views, 0 Comments.
If you want to own a little piece of paradise, consider all the options available to you at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Located between Pensacola and Panama City in the panhandle of Florida, the 2,400-acre resort stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to Choctawhatchee Bay, and offers a variety of amenities and special events that delight both visitors and full-time residents year-round.
Sandestin has 11 different communities along the beaches of the Emerald Coast with homes just steps from the sugar-white sands. The bayside has over 30 exclusive neighborhoods with properties offering gorgeous views of the sparkling water. In between buyers can find homes along the resort’s four championship golf courses or near The Village of Baytowne Wharf, which…
South Walton Real Estate Inventory
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 5:35pm. 25 Views, 0 Comments.
Property sales in South Walton have been brisk in January and February as buyers take advantage of incredible prices and short sales, andwe expect that trend to continue throughout the spring season. However, just as we predicted at the start of 2012, our inventory is shrinking and prices are starting to creep back up.
The Emerald Coast is following statewide trends as reported by the Association of Florida Realtors. Data for January 2012 show that the average sales price has started to climb. The average sales price for townhouses/condos was up 18.6% over the prices from January 2011, and up 5.2% for single family homes. This follows a steady decline in the average sales price from 2008 through 2011.
The number of pending sales of…
New Homes in South Walton
Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 11:09am. 42 Views, 0 Comments.
Whether you’re looking for a permanent residence or a second home for vacations, the South Walton area has a lot to offer. In addition to existing housing stock, northwest Florida has recently seen a tremendous influx of new construction. Okaloosa County alone has posted a 98 percent increase in the number of building permits issued since 2009.
The county’s Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert says his department is seeing activity on lots that have sat vacant since the start of the housing crash. “Back in the boom, people were platting everything they could get their hands on,” he adds. “So now we’re seeing subdivisions that maybe went through the preliminary phases … come back in for final approval, and those lots are ready to…
Reasons to Buy in South Walton
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 8:48am. 40 Views, 0 Comments.
Looking to rub shoulders with some of America’s wealthiest people at a fraction of the cost? Then, look no further than South Walton, Florida. In 2010 Forbes magazine listed the area as one of the top five counties that America’s rich are moving to in big numbers.
Why? Robert Shrum, manager of state affairs at the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C, attributes it to Florida’s low taxes. The state does not have an income tax, and after accounting for property taxes, Shrum’s analysis shows that Florida has the eighth lowest tax burden in the country. “If you’re a high-income earner, then that, from a tax perspective is going to be a driving decider if you’re going to move…” he said.
And don’t forget the spectacular beaches. Scenic…
South Walton Real Estate | New Year New Market
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 8:56am. 60 Views, 0 Comments.
Team members for South Walton FL Real Estate hope you and your family had the happiest of holidays, and are looking forward to improvements in all aspects of your life in the new year. We celebrated the end of 2011 by reflecting on the steady activity in the local real estate market in spite of the tough economic times across the country, and we look forward to a continuation of steady real estate sales in 2012.
Last year was definitely a “buyer’s market.” We sold many bank-owned properties and short sales. Property in the Destin-South Walton Beach area definitely lost some value last year, but not to the same devastating degree as other areas of the country. As a result, buyers were able to pick up some fantastic properties at very reasonable…
South Walton FL Real Estate | Happy New Year
Saturday, January 1st, 2011 at 1:53pm. 125 Views, 0 Comments.
The South Walton FL Real Estate team would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! 2011 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the real estate market in the Destin/South Walton area. If you are interested in relocating or purchasing a second home along the Emerald Coast we encourage to continue to utilize the search capabilities on SouthWaltonFLRealEstate.com.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!