Destin & South Walton Real Estate Blog

Dazzling Destin Pointe is a private gated upscale residential community located at the far western end of Holiday Isle.  This is Destin's version of island living since Holiday Isle is surrounded by jeweled town waters on three out of four sides.  The views from Destin Ponte Real Estate are indeed dazzling since pure white sand dunes shimmer in the sun and the emerald green gorgeous gulf extends all the way to the southern horizon. Towards the north you can see the Destin Harbor which is home to the largest charter fishing fleet in the entire Gulf of Mexico. The iconic towers of the Emerald Grande, charming Harborwalk Village and the arching Destin Bridge mark the beginning of “East Pass” which borders the neighborhood towards the west. Here the charter…

Edgewater Beach Resort at 291 Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach is truly a remarkable site to behold. Towering above the edge of the ever changing jewel toned Gulf of Mexico; this monumental Destin landmark was inspired by the design of a luxury hotel on the French Riviera. This “Southern Riviera” duplicate is a stunning piece of work and a local architectural treasure. Edgewater's design rises up in step like form going from ground level at one end, up to nineteen stories at the other. Each tier has an uncovered terraced balcony complete with vines that cascade over the sides. The entire crescent shaped building nestles around two tropical lagoon swimming pools giving it a luxurious look. On the Scenic Gulf Drive side, the curvature makes Edgewater look…

Searching for residential real estate properties for sale in Destin and South Walton has never been easier. New state of the art technology allows potential buyers to fly over properties and view real estate listings that are pulled directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provided by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. Instead of surfing the web to find individual properties for sale, you may do a “fly over” in your own virtual reality hot air balloon. This easy to use map feature gives you a satellite aerial view of Destin and all of Northwest Florida at just about any height. The vistas are incredible when you see our beautiful island like paradise nestled between the impressive expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay to the north and the jewel…

Many of our Ocean Reef Realty clients have become enthralled and enamored by the village of Alys Beach which is a wonder to behold. This affluent residential enclave of private villas which were just recently completed to look like something you might see on the Greek isles or in Italy rather than along the shores of South Walton. All are completed with alabaster white, thick adobe stucco walls with more on the way. The setting is quite striking. Pyramid peaked towers mark each end of the village on Scenic 30A with two rows of Royal Palms lining the way. The village straddles this picturesque setting that overlooks the jewel toned waters of the gorgeous gulf where dolphin can be seen frolicking off in the distance. The sugar sand shores received a top…

The exclusively gated communities of Sandestin Golf, Tennis and Beach Resort is a special world unto itself since all 2,400 lushly landscaped acres are nestled in between the emerald toned Gulf of Mexico and the huge expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay. It is the by far the most prestigious resort community on the Florida Gulf Coast and for over thirty years people have “come here to play but stay for a lifetime.” Real estate opportunities abound at this popular destination since many are now making Sandestin their primary residence while others use them part of the year and lease them out at other times to take advantage of the lucrative rental market. Over thirty different “neighborhoods”, completed in varying styles of architecture and ambiance, comprise…

The popularity and convenience of smart phones is changing the way people communicate and the way they shop, including for homes and condos. Smart phone users generally begin their search for a home in Destin, the Beaches of South Walton or Panama City Beach by searching for area real estate listings on their phones. Most Destin Realtors now have mobile websites that allow house hunters to find and view listings from their phones and are employing other devices designed to aid smart phone house hunters.

For sale signs, emails and tweets often include QR codes that allow smart phone users to obtain detailed property information and photos about a home and even schedule an appointment with a real estate agent simply by swiping their phone over the code. It’s…

It looks like the end of the nation’s housing crisis could be in sight. A new Reuters’ survey of the nation’s leading economists found most seeing light at the end of what has been a long, dark tunnel. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index used to predict housing trends is expected to remain unchanged through the end of the year, reflecting the stabilization of the nation’s housing market. But in 2013, economists are predicting that home prices will begin to rise for the first time in 7 years.

Not only are economists bullish about America’s housing market, but their faith seems to be increasing. When surveyed In January, economists predicted a 1.5% increase in the 2013 home price index. In the most recent survey, economists upped their estimate,…

The ocean breezes swirling over Panama City Beach will be filled with the mellow sounds of cool jazz when musicians tune up for the  opening of the 14th annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival which runs through Sunday, April 22 at Pier Park. Founded by Mike and Renee Carter, owners of Panama City Beach radio station WSBZ (106.3 FM) -- known locally as “Seabreeze” -- the annual music fest draws thousands of jazz fans from across the country. Jazz Magazine rates Seabreeze one of the Top 10 Jazz Festivals in the U.S.

A free concert by Urban Jazz Coalition & Friends will kick off the festival at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Join fellow jazz fans at the Pier Park amphitheater in Panama City Beach for a mellow ode to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. As the sun…

If you are a home owner who is contemplating a move to a larger or smaller home; or if job opportunities, family needs or retirement plans are forcing you to relocate; your biggest concern is apt to be timing. If you’re like most people, you’ll be relying on the proceeds from the sale of your current home to finance the purchase of your new home. When simultaneously buying and selling a home in today’s mercurial housing market, timing is everything. Unfortunately, getting all your ducks – appraisals, loan approvals, title searches, closing dates, etc. -- to line up in a nice neat row can be a Herculean task, one that takes the experience, knowledge, resources and dedication of a top-notch Destin Realtor.

Choosing a highly-experienced Destin real estate…

Home stagers and savvy Destin Realtors  use many tricks when preparing a Destin home for sale, including using nature as a staging aid. Coordinating the interior décor of a South Walton home with its exterior landscape creates a seamless space that appears to extend beyond  the walls of the home and into the surrounding landscape. By bringing the outdoors inside the home, home stagers create a visual illusion that makes a home appear to be airier and more spacious than it actually is. The effect is appealing to South Walton home buyers . Using nature to enhance the appeal of your South Walton home conjures an impression of restful relaxation, encouraging buyers to view your home as a refreshing oasis amid the noise and hubbub of daily life – a very…