Incredibly low interest rates on Destin mortgage loans make now an excellent time to buy a Destin, Florida home  or invest in a South Walton vacation property. However, in order to take advantage of today’s historic low interest rates, you’ll need a good credit score. Since the mortgage meltdown, banks have become gun-shy about lending out their money to anyone who might possibly have trouble paying it back. Conservative lending practices can make it difficult for potential Destin home buyers with a decent but not top-notch credit score to get the mortgage loan they need. 

Your 3-digit credit score is what banks and other Destin mortgage lenders use to determine your credit risk; that is, your ability to pay off the loan. Credit scores range from 850

Historically low interest rates make this an excellent time to purchase a Destin, Florida home or invest in a South Walton vacation property. Maintaining a good credit score (760 or above) is critical when buying a home, say experienced Destin Realtors [http://www.gulfcoastrealestatesales.com/buying.php]. Paying bills on time and keeping credit card debt under control (see our previous post) are just two of the things Destin home buyers [http://www.destinrealestatesales.com/idx/search.html?search_submit=true&search_city%5B%5D=DESTIN&idx=detached-single-family&minimum_bedrooms=&minimum_bathrooms=&minimum_price=&maximum_price=] can do to increase their chances of securing the best mortgage rates. Destin real estate agents offer these additional

When ABC’s Good Morning America asked viewers to name the most beautiful place in America, they were swamped by thousands of breathtaking photos. From hundreds of places submitted by viewers, the GMA crew chose 10 scenic spots of extraordinary natural beauty. Miles of pure white sand beaches strung along the sparkling emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico earned Destin, Florida one of the coveted spots on GMA’s list of the 10 Most Beautiful Places in America. (Click here to see the GMA slide show and judge for yourself. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/best_places_USA/slideshow/gmas-beautiful-places-america-destin-florida-14223045

World renowned for its sugar-sand beaches, Destin is consistently named to lists of the world’s best beaches. As fine as

 For decades, the stereotypical Destin home buyer was a married couple in their mid-30s with 1 or 2 children. Condominium buyers were typically young, working couples with no children or empty-nesters tired of spending time and money on home maintenance. Most singles were assumed to prefer the cheaper, no-maintenance lifestyle of apartment living. Of course, the problem with stereotypes is that they are gross generalizations. Plenty of exceptions can always be found to the “rule.” There are singles who own Fort Walton Beach homes, couples with children who prefer Destin condo life, older couples who wouldn’t think of moving out of their family home, and empty-nesters who choose apartment living. But even so, until recently, single women were more apt

Single women are becoming a major force in the Destin real estate market. In 2010, single women accounted for 20% of all home purchases nationwide, nearly twice as many as single men who purchased 12% of the homes sold last year. Real estate’s fastest-growing demographic, single women are expected to increase their prominence in the Gulf Coast real estate market in step with their increasing financial power. Changing demographic, social and financial trends in American society are at the heart of the power shift:

• Women have been steadily closing the salary gap. Nationwide, salaries for women have risen to 94% of male salaries; and in most major metropolitan markets, women are now out-earning their male colleagues.
• Women are better educated

One of Destin, Florida’s most popular golf courses, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort was recently selected to receive the distinguished Greens of Distinction Award by Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine. The award recognizes premier golf resorts that excel in meeting the needs of corporate clients. A Greens of Distinction recipient for the 13th straight year, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort was recognized for its superlative meeting and golf facilities, tournament coordination and overall hospitality.

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort has been a consistent national and international awards-winner. This year, Meetings & Conventions magazine honored the storied golf club with its Gold Tee Award. Sandestin’s championship links get high marks

When vacationers first discovered Destin in the 1930s, the entire 30-mile stretch of white sand beaches that curve along Florida’s Gulf Coast was called “Destin.” Today, each of the beachfront communities that dot the Emerald Coast from Destin to Panama City enjoys its own identity; but Destin still retains the quaint charm and stunning natural beauty that first attracted vacationers.

The Panhandle’s fastest-growing vacation community

Destin  is also the most upscale. Everything in Destin is world class: the restaurants, golf courses, sport fishing, water sports, shopping, family attractions and beaches. USA Today readers voted Destin the Best Beach in America. For 9 years running, Destin has been chosen the No. 1 Beach in the South and one of the Top 5

House hunting generates its share of horror stories. As soon as you announce your decision to buy a home in Destin, FL, friends will start regaling you with tales of long, arduous months spent tromping through home after home in their search for the perfect Destin vacation home. Don’t believe everything you hear. Finding a lovely residence or vacation home on Florida’s beautiful, beach-lined Gulf Coast needn’t be a nightmare. With the help of an experienced Destin Realtor , house hunting can be pleasant, quick and painless.

Use these tips to speed up the house hunting process:

·         Know what you want. Spend some time reviewing homes on Destin Realtor websites  and make a list of features you want in a home. Rank the features in order of how

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