Destin & South Walton Real Estate Blog

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In our previous post we noted the development of an interesting real estate trend in the Destin, Florida area. Entrepreneurs are flocking to the Florida Panhandle’s Gulf Coast in search of new business opportunities and a fresh start. Seeking to combine a lifestyle change with ready-made jobs, these new Destin transplants are as interested in escaping the economic gloom up north as they are the frigid weather.

 

Destin’s gorgeous white sand beaches, warm weather, and access to the Gulf of Mexico, coupled with its location close to major air, land and sea transportation routes have attracted real estate investors to this grown-up fishing village for decades. Beautiful South Walton vacation properties and beach homes often draw investment…

 

In our previous post we noted the development of an interesting real estate trend in the Destin, Florida area. Entrepreneurs are flocking to the Florida Panhandle’s Gulf Coast in search of new business opportunities and a fresh start. Seeking to combine a lifestyle change with ready-made jobs, these new Destin transplants are as interested in escaping the economic gloom up north as they are the frigid weather.

 

Destin’s gorgeous white sand beaches, warm weather, and access to the Gulf of Mexico, coupled with its location close to major air, land and sea transportation routes have attracted real estate investors to this grown-up fishing village for decades. Beautiful South Walton vacation properties and beach homes often draw investment…

 

According to the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are following the sun south and west with Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast attracting a fair number of the new Sunbelt transplants. Census figures show that Florida’s population is growing at a rate of approximately 560 new residents per day, surpassed only by Texas and California. Active retirees are leading the Gulf Coast’s rally, drawn to Destin and South Walton by the warm weather, comfortable lifestyle, beautiful beachfront properties and wealth of activities. But Baby Boomer retirees aren’t the only ones swelling Destin’s population. The Gulf Coast’s population boom is also attracting younger and middle-aged workers that, unable to find employment up north, are turning…

 

This week, the average interest rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dropped back to its record low of 3.91%, falling from 3.95% the previous week. Interest rates on 15-year, fixed rate loans also remained low, averaging 3.23% nationwide, down very slightly from last week’s 3.24% rate. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has lowered interest rates to all-time lows and kept them there in an effort to strengthen the nation’s housing market. Bernanke has called recovery of the housing market essential to U.S. economic recovery.

 

“Restoring the health of the housing market is a necessary part of a broader strategy for economic recovery,” Bernanke said in a letter to the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees reported by…

When buying a Destin, FL home , it’s important to keep your eyes open and shop smart. Florida’s Gulf Coast offers many excellent opportunities for both residential and investment home buyers, but even great deals require that the buyer do his due diligence. When buying a home in the Destin and South Walton area, follow these smart home buyer tips:

Choose a Destin Realtor  with long-term experience buying and selling homes on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Dealing with a real estate agent who is intimately familiar with the many specific neighborhoods that line the Gulf Coast will ensure that you spend your shopping time productively. A top Destin Realtor can immediately steer you to properties and communities that meet your personal preferences.

Personally…

Buying or selling a home in Destin, Florida is not always a straightforward proposition. Often the buyer’s or seller’s financial circumstances or personal requirements can cause a few bumps in the road that can affect the finalization of a purchase contract. A Destin home buyer (or occasionally a home seller) may place certain constraints on his offer to purchase a home. Called “contingencies,” these constraints have the potential to jeopardize the pending sale.

Typical Destin real estate contingencies include:

Frequently, home owners who are upgrading to a new home will make the purchase of the new home contingent on the sale of their current home. Most often, these buyers need the money from the sale of one home to purchase the other home.…

Mortgage rates continue to plummet, making this an excellent time to purchase the Destin, Florida home or South Walton vacation property you’ve had your eye on. According to information just released by federal mortgage giant Freddie Mac, interest rates for 15-year mortgages have reached an all-time low. Nationally, the interest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.5% this week. Interest rates on fixed-rate 30-year loans have also dropped, falling to a new 2011 low of 4.32% nationally. Mortgage rates for home loans in Destin, the Beaches of South Walton, Panama City Beach and other Gulf Coast communities have never been lower. With economists beginning to report the first glimmers of U.S. economic recovery, home buyers and Destin real estate…

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…