April 2011 RSS Feed

 

When Destin, Florida home owners  sell their homes, they have two goals:

 

1. Sell their home as quickly as possible, and
2. Obtain the best price possible.

 

In today’s housing market, South Walton home owners  are often conflicted about whether they should accept a buyer’s offer or keep their home on the market a little longer in the hopes of receiving a better offer. The risk in accepting an early offer, especially if it is well below your asking price, is that you may be minimizing potential financial gain. You might get a more reasonable offer by waiting. This can be a critical decision if you’re counting on the sale of your Destin home to finance the purchase of another home. Accepting a low offer can jeopardize the purchase of your new home.

 …

 

Known locally as the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals,” the Sandestin Wine Festival will toast its 25th anniversary when the first bottle is uncorked tomorrow. Held in the Village of Baytowne Wharf just 10 mines east of Destin, Florida, the popular wine festival kicks off Thursday, April 28 and runs through Sunday, May 1. This weekend, wine lovers from Destin, South Walton , Panama City Beach   and all along Florida’s scenic Emerald Coast will be gathering under the white tents on the Baytowne Wharf to sample some of the best vintages found in America and around the world.

 

This year, wine aficionados and novices alike will have the opportunity to taste and purchase a wonderful selection of more than 600 domestic and international wines. A…

 

The newest of the beautiful Gulf Coast beach communities that comprise the Beaches of South Walton , Alys Beach, Florida is an oasis of quiet luxury nestled along the Gulf Coast’s scenic Highway 30-A. Recently named America’s Top Spot for Design-Savvy Home Buyers by Forbes magazine, Alys Beach  provides a tranquil retreat that will soothe your soul and nourish your spirit.

 

The crisp architectural lines, bright white color palette, and beautifully-landscaped central courtyards and delightful terraces give this New Urban community an enticing Mediterranean sensibility. In keeping with the community spirit of New Urbanism, all of the community’s delightful amenities are located within easy walking distance of every home. The magnificent Caliza Pool at…

The process of looking for and purchasing a new home can be fun and exhilarating. In most cases buying a home involves preparing for a new and exciting time in your life like celebrating the joys of starting a new job or beginning a new family. When buying a home you aren’t necessarily bound by any pressure other than trying to find the space of your dreams and there is a good chance that you won’t have to settle unless you are bound by time.  The process of selling your home, on the other hand, can be loaded with plenty of headaches and hassles if you don’t have a realtor who is experienced in selling in your area. If you don’t have the benefit of a knowledgeable realtor you run the risk of selling your home for less than it is worth or having it sit on…

 

Rubbing shoulders with famous beaches in Bali, the Seychelles and Hawaii, Santa Rosa Beach in the heart of Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast was recently selected as one of the world’s 10 Best Beach Destinations for 2011 by Yahoo Travel readers. Long stretches of white sugar sand beach lapped by clear blue ocean waters make Santa Rosa Beach a world-class beach site and the perfect location for your Florida vacation or retirement home. One of the idyllic Beaches of South Walton , Santa Rosa Beach is pleasantly quiet and relaxed, providing a delightful counterpoint to the excitement of nearby Panama City Beach  and the busy activity of Destin, which is just a short drive away.

 

High-end shopping and wonderful art galleries abound in this quiet,…

 

The desire to return to a simpler, gentler time when folks knew their neighbors and could walk to the library, café or corner store is driving a new building trend. Seeking to capture the Mayberry sensibility of the early 1950s, neighborly communities that eschew noisy strip mall-lined highways and concrete parking lots in favor of pedestrian walkways, bike paths and communal green spaces are attracting families, vacation home owners and retirees who seek a richer, friendlier, more eco-friendly living experience. The residents of Rosemary Beach, Florida will tell you it’s a delightful way to live.

 

More than a decade ahead of its time, the planned pedestrian community of Rosemary Beach  was built among the dunes of Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast in 1995.…

 

A family vacation to one of America’s favorite family vacation spots just got a whole lot cheaper. For a limited time, Vision Airlines is offering $59 one-way fares from a host of southeastern U.S. cities to the sun-drenched beaches of Destin  and South Walton on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast. Vision Airline’s Sizzling Summer Seat Sale began April 11 and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 24. Travel must be completed by June 15, 2011.

 

A Destin area newcomer, Vision Airlines’ recent debut is one more excellent reason to purchase your Florida vacation home  in the desirable Destin-South Walton Beach area. The promise of continued affordable airfare from this respected regional discount airline is a wonderful benefit for Destin vacation…

 

The soft, sugar sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast may be the initial reason people consider buying a vacation home in Destin and South Walton  or decide to retire or move to one of Florida’s most popular family playgrounds, but it’s the vibrant community neighborhoods and wealth of diverse activities that clinch the deal. There’s plenty to do in the Destin-South Walton area when you get off the beach. Here are some of our favorites:

 

·        Kitchenique Cooking School and Gourmet Pantry is one of Destin’s top off-beach attractions. Noted local and regional chefs share their professional cooking techniques in hands-on classes. A constantly-changing schedule keeps foodies and aspiring chefs coming back for more. Gourmet cooks and wine lovers won’t…

 

We’ve been talking about how to choose a Destin and South Walton realtor . Asking friends and neighbors for recommendations (see our previous post) is certainly a good starting point for choosing a realtor ; but if you want your home to sell fast and for the best possible price, it’s wise to dig a little deeper and investigate the real estate background, professional credentials and local reputation of any real estate agent you plan to do business with. The local branch of the National Association of Realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, Angie’s List and the internet are good places to start.

 

1.      After your narrow your list of potential candidates, visit the real estate offices of your top picks. Ask how many local listings they have, number of…

 

When people buy a home in Destin or South Walton, Florida  , particularly if they’re first-time home buyers, they are frequently unaware of all the costs involved in purchasing a Gulf Coast home. Buyers who have carefully budgeted for their down payment and monthly mortgage payments may find themselves strained financially if they neglect to account for the added expense of points, mortgage insurance, appraisal, home inspection and other necessary closing activities and costs.

 

When Destin home buyers work with an experienced Gulf Coast real estate agent , their agent will provide them with a fairly good estimate of the closing costs they will be required to pay. This allows home buyers to factor those costs into their home-buying budget before they…