Destin & South Walton Real Estate Blog

One of the most family-friendly communities in Destin, Florida just got even more kid friendly. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort launched Club KZ this spring. A fully-supervised program of exciting activities for children ages 3 to 12, Club KZ offers age-appropriate activities geared to spark young imaginations, encourage physical activity, and develop social community; but the emphasis is clearly on FUN!

While mom and dad take some much-needed time off to relax and enjoy their own pursuits, their children could be going on a pirate treasure hunt, building a giant sandcastle, challenging themselves on the ropes course, gliding through the air on the zipline, biking around the resort or splashing their way to victory in a noodle race. Every day at Club KZ…

One of the most popular spots on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Panama City Beach attracts vacationers year-round. With miles of beautiful white sand beaches and hundreds of attractions and restaurants in the area, Panama City Beach is easily accessible and the perfect place to invest in a vacation home. Named the No. 1 real estate market by CNN Money in November 2006, Panama Beach, FL offers affordable, high-value investment opportunities in luxury vacation homes and condominiums. With tourist demand for this popular Gulf Coast community increasing every year, vacation home investments are expected to maintain their high value. 

When you purchase a Panama City Beach vacation home or condominium you double your pleasure:

1. You gain a dependable…

Recent changes in the mortgage industry have resulted in a maze of new paperwork, regulations and loan requirements that home buyers can find challenging to navigate. If you’re buying a home or vacation property in Destin, Floridaor the Beaches of South Walton, an experienced Destin Realtor can help guide you to a successful home purchase in one of Florida’s premier Gulf Coast communities. Continuing the information provided in our last post, here’s what Destin home buyers can expect when applying for a mortgage:

• More detailed appraisal. Mortgage lenders are taking a much closer look at home appraisals. The amount of your mortgage loan and whether or not it is granted may hang on the home appraisal. If the appraised value of the home exceeds the…

 In the past 5 years, the mortgage industry has undergone a major overhaul. If you’re planning to buy a primary or vacation home in the popular Destin-South Walton area on Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast, you should be aware of the changes in the mortgage process. South Walton Realtors say home buyers can expect to deal with more paperwork, undergo a more thorough financial review, pay more money up front, and wait longer for their mortgage to be approved. An experienced Destin Realtor can help home buyers navigate their way through the maze of new paperwork and other requirements.

Here’s what to expect when you apply for a mortgage to purchase a vacation home or condo in the Beaches of South Walton:

• More paperwork. Be prepared for a flurry of…

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, which is just a short drive away.

High-end shopping and wonderful art galleries abound in this quiet, discerning community. Discover delightful…

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.

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 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.…

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…

With the economy still recovering, many Destin, Florida home sellers  and home buyers think they’ll save money by selling or buying a home themselves. The truth is that few people save money when they take a do-it-yourself approach to selling or purchasing a home on Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast and many people actually wind up losing money. In most cases, sale-by-owner homes sit on the market longer, receive less buyer traffic and sell for less than homes sold by Realtors. A Realtor provides South Walton home sellers  with instant access to multiple listing services and professional connections that will drive maximum buyer traffic to the home. Intimately familiar with local markets, a Destin Realtor can provide valuable advice on pricing and preparing your…

The three communities that border Grayton Beach State Park –Grayton Beach, Seaside and WaterColor -- illustrate the delightful diversity of the charming communities that comprise the Beaches of South Walton. Strung along Florida’s Emerald Coast like a strand of glimmering pearls, South Walton’s seaside communities run the gamut from iconic Florida beach towns to luxurious resorts and beautiful planned communities. Each of the small towns that hug the Gulf Coast between Destin and Panama City Beach has its own unique character; but all offer the gracious, relaxing lifestyle that has made the Beaches of South Walton one of the Gulf Coast’s most desirable places to live.

Grayton Beach is the iconic Florida beach town. Nestled among tall pines and oaks,…