Destin & South Walton Real Estate Blog

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Named one of Florida’s don’t miss 52 Amazing Weekends for 2012 by Florida Travel and Life, Digital Graffiti  will turn the Emerald Coast resort town of Alys Beach  into a living work of art on June 8 and 9, 2012. Now in its fifth year, the annual outdoor projection arts festival draws digital artists from around the globe, inviting them to use the town’s iconic white buildings, courtyards and pedestrian pathways as canvas for their art. Ocean Reef Realty is proud to be presenting sponsors for this years event.

Unique and intriguing, projection art melds cutting-edge digital technology with architecture to create a stunning, if ephemeral, visual feast. The white walls of Alys Beach homes, buildings and archways provide the perfect canvas for the animated…

An historic gem perched in the center of the Florida Panhandle, DeFuniak Springs is a charming small town in Walton County surrounded by untouched rural beauty. Life in DeFuniak Springs is slow-paced and neighborly, attracting many families, retirees and returning vacationers who enjoy life off the beaten path but still want to be close to all of the Gulf Coast’s exciting attractions. Its central location has made Walton County one of Florida’s fastest growing locations , yet DeFuniak Springs retains an irresistible small town charm reminiscent of an earlier day when life seemed less complicated and neighbors stopped by to chat.

Built as a railroad town in the 1880s, the town was named for Frederick DeFuniak, vice-president of the L&N (Louisville and…

 If location were the only consideration, every home along Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast would sell within days of its listing. The sun-drenched communities along Florida’s famed Emerald Coast from Destin through the Beaches of South Walton to Panama City are among America’s most inviting, attracting millions of vacationers every year who would love to live or own a vacation home in the popular area. But in today’s economy, price usually trumps location, say experienced Destin Realtors.

Every home can sell if the price is right. The trick is to find that magical breaking point between attraction and turn off. Naturally, Destin home sellers want to earn as much money from the sale of their home as possible, but pricing your home too high can turn off…

American vacationers chose Destin, Florida one of the Top 25 Best Destinations in the U.S. in Trip Advisor’s 2011 Travels’ Choice Awards. Rubbing shoulders with iconic American cities like New York City, Honolulu, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New Orleans, Destin’s renowned beaches and exciting variety of family-friendly activities earned it a spot on the annual list of American favorites. With miles of beautiful sugar-sand beaches lapped by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Destin joins the country’s most stunning landscapes on the list of favorite U.S. destinations, sharing the spotlight with Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado; the red rock monoliths of Sedona, AZ; California’s Big Sur country; and the Great Smoky Mountains National…

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.