The sweet life on a stretch of Florida's sugar sand

USA Today has named The Emerald Coast
The sweet life on a stretch of Florida's 'sugar sand'

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http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/2009-01-15-south-walton-florida_N.htm?POE=click-refer

The 14 communities are each distinct - some gated, some not; some planned, some evolved. The best known are Sandestin, Seaside, WaterSound and WaterColor. Among them, they contain an array of restaurants, art galleries, shops and recreational facilities. Most have a mix of houses, townhouses and condos. Prices also are diverse, from just over $100,000 to several million dollars.

A look at three south Walton County neighborhoods

· WaterColor. This 500-acre mixed resort and residential development designed in traditional Southern style, includes a boutique hotel, spa, beach club, marina, shops and restaurants. Residents also have access to a nearby Tom Fazio golf course. Home sites range from $96,000 to $1.5 million and houses from $575,000 to $4.6 million. The master plan calls for 1,140 homes.

· Sandestin. This huge development contains 30 subcommunities on 2,400 acres with thousands of homes and condos, some in high-rises. It also has four golf courses, a tennis club, spa, marina, 7 miles of beach and coastline, a shopping center, pedestrian retail village, 20 restaurants and several hotels. Condos begin as low as $129,000, and houses run as high as $3 million to $4 million, but "the majority of our residences are in the $250,000-$600,000 range".

• Town of WaterSound. A sister property to WaterColor, this development includes three neighborhoods, all designed in an architectural style inspired by Nantucket. WaterSound Beach is a gated, 256-acre beachfront community with mostly private homes. It has lots from $275,000 and houses from $865,000. WaterSound West Beach is a 62-acre coastal community surrounded by protected land with fewer than 200 home sites. Lots begin at $159,000 and houses at $699,000. WaterSound, on 1,400 acres, has the most residences planned, more than 1,200, and the most amenities, including a golf course and extensive trails. Lots start at $59,000 and houses from $459,000.

Looking for something on the Emerald Coast? Give Compass Realty of Florida a call to assist you on finding the perfect property based upon your needs. Visit www.compassrealtyfl.com or contact Jessica Jones at 850.259.5864 or jessica@compassrealtyfl.com.