Talladega Nights VS Destin: Which Would You Choose?

When it peeled out in 2006, Talladega Nights, the Legend of Ricky Bobby, was a comedy blockbuster. Now the mansion, featured so prominently in the movie, is for sale!

This $9.9M, six-bedroom, 12000-square-foot home is just 25 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina, at 17240 Connor Quay Court in Cornelius. Numerous scenes from the movie take place in the home, making it all the more special for film lovers. The style is a mix of Southern mansion meets the Palace at Versailles.

It sits on a peninsula in such a way that it offers over-lake sunset views almost year round. Over-the-top baroque accents can be found everywhere, from huge crystal chandeliers to rich bohemian patterns and fabrics on the floors and furniture. Outside, the grounds are a mix of tile and brickwork, and the pool is grand and opulent, all befitting the king of NASCAR.

Taking that same $10M and investing it in Destin and 30A beach property puts one in quite a different real estate space. One in which the location's inherent mass appeal to vacationers factors into the equation in the form of rental income. Gulf-front homes on the Emerald Coast exist in one of if not the hottest rental markets in the country; larger homes can command a substantial percentage of their purchase price each year they are on the market. Ocean Reef specializes in this type of real estate, and through our vacation rental division, we are intimately involved with the management of hundreds of homes and their healthy return on investment.

For a worthy competitor to Ricky Bobby's abode, we chose 209 Open Gulf Street as the dark horse in this race. Hailing from Miramar Beach, it sits on less than an acre of land, but oh, what an acre. This three-story home is located directly on the beach. The hot tub and heated swimming pool are perched atop the dunes and look out over one of the deepest stretches of beach in South Walton. A classic cracker-style architecture graces the exterior of this aqua-hued and crisp white accented home. There are two individual garages, perfect for your NASCARs. It comes in a hair higher in price at $10.5M but is well worth the money. This home has the potential to clock in with a yearly beach rental income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars - something few homes in either of the Carolinas could ever hope to achieve.

Entering the home, you will be dazzled by the high ceilings and open use of space that in every room leads your eye to the beach. The kitchen, like the rest of the home, makes great use of white surfaces and a play of chrome and dark wrought iron accents. The furniture is a blend of classic American pieces and clean, modern elements. A wall of glass floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors gives one the sense that they are already on the beach, just sitting in the living room. The balcony includes a beautiful outdoor kitchen and a massive dining table for outdoor dining.

The primary and secondary bedrooms are fortresses of solitude, finished in beadboard, marble, and bright white painted wood. The children's room is something out of a dream; bunk beds are floor-to-ceiling castle-like structures.

The property has a huge game room with a pool table, bar, and even a Peloton bike for logging in some miles anytime.

The hot tub, pool, and patio area have a decidedly Mediterranean feel with bright blue tile work and cedar wood flooring. A spiral staircase leads up to the second-floor patio, and a private walkway leads down to a pristine stretch of beach stretching out from the home to the emerald waters. It's a rental monster with massive money-making potential. So which would you choose?

Bring your $10M to the beach and contact our Ocean Reef Real Estate Sales team at 877-392-6085. We'll be sure to get you into this smokin' hot beachfront beauty! Or if you are like the rest of us, we can most definitely help you find your own little slice of paradise with a slightly more modest budget, but hurry, as they say, if you ain't first, you're last!