Bill Grannan

Did I mention that our Sales seems to be on the rebound? I was able to get 2 great listings recently and both went under contract in 11 to 12 days! The first one is in Emerald Shores, a vacation rental neighborhood along the beach in Walton county in Miramar Beach. This home is in great shape and priced right! We received an offer the 2nd day and then 2 others before settling on the best! Sold completely furnished and rental ready too! The other one is a Town Home in Destin off Airport Rd in the Quail Lake development. These Town Homes were built in 2005 and have 3BRs/2BAs and a 1 car garage. This one is a short sale but priced at the market rather than at a ridiculously deflated price that we have seen so much of lately! It went under contract in just 12 days! Are buyers back in the market in Destin? Sure seems so! A quick look at statistics from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors MLS shows impressive increases in sales year over year from Oct to Jan. Sales were up 71.42%, 97.95%, 55.12%, and 55.10% respectively! February was up too though not quite as big. Prices have come down so much that buyers are worried about missing out! I've had a few recently where some of my buyers made low offers and missed out on tremendous buys!

On another note, the Scenic 98 and Scenic Gulf Drive in Okaloosa and Walton counties has dramatically improved! The beautification projects are in full swing and I can't wait to see the finished look. Already, landscaping has been added, side walks extended, boardwalks created on the beach side, and new asphalt down in some parts! Driving in this area is such a pleasure! Living here is well, "a piece of paradise!" Come buy yours today! See Destin Real Estate for more information about Destin & Miramar Beach and Scenic 98 Real Estate!

See Destin Vacation Rentals for more information! Fantastic 3BR/2BA cottage in the gated neighborhood of Emerald Shores just off Scenic Gulf Drive! Cute, cute, cute cottage close to the beach! Walk to the private beach Pavilion for Emerald Shores with lounge chairs, picnic tables, and restrooms right on the beach! The walk is a short 5 minutes! Take the free tram during the Summer! Pair-a-Dice is nicely furnished and well decorated! You'll be impressed. This home sleeps 9 with 1 King bed, 2 queen beds, a sleeper sofa, and a sleeper chair! Don't miss the master bathroom! Separate tub, shower, & water closet! The tub is a garden tub with jets! There are TVs in every room and a full size washer & dryer in the house! Other amenities include 2 pools, tennis court, and a basketball goal! Getting around is easy with access from the beach and HWY 98! Close to all acttivities in Destin! Walk to restaurants along the beach! Offered by Crystal Waters Vacations. 850 654 4659 See also Vacation Rentals in Emerald Shores.

Now is the perfect time for buying Real Estate in Destin! Prices on condos and homes in the surrounding areas have plummeted to prices we haven't seen since 2003 and 2001 in some cases! I showed a 3BR/2.5BA Town Home within walking distance to the beach today listed at only $149k! This Town Home was sold originally in 1998 for only $140k! OMG! Are we seeing prices not around since 1998 now? Could be in some areas! Buyers are coming back and sales are picking up but the inventory is still out there! If you've been thinking about a 2nd home in the Destin area or moving here permanently, don't hesitate! You may just miss the deal of the century! Our Realtors at Destin Real Estate specialize in Sales, Rentals, and Vacation Rentals in the Destin area specifically along Scenic 98 in Destin and Miramar Beach, Florida! Check out our beaches!

Paradise Retreat is a small neighborhood of 120 all brick homes located just off Scenic Gulf Drive in Walton County. There is access from HWY 98 on the North side and Scenic Gulf Drive along the beach on the South side. Walking to the beach is an short 5 minute walk! There is a private beach access for owners in Paradise Retreat too! All of the homes are all brick with 2 car garages. The yards are small to moderate in size. Some have backyard pools! The community is conveniently located between the Destin Commons Mall and the Silver Sands Outlet Mall. Golf, shopping, restaurants, and water sports are everywhere! Most owners either use their homes as permanent residences, vacation homes, or lease as vacation rentals or long term rentals. Property values have dropped dramatically from the highs in 2004 & 2005! Prices were as high as $600k and have fallen to as low as $155k but are now on the rebound! Now is the time to buy! The last sale was $269k. There are currently 2 active listings for sale. One at $249,00 which is a short sale and one at $339k which is a normal resale. Square footage ranges from about 1400 to 2020 square feet according to the builder's plans and have 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. These homes were built in 2004 and 2005. Paradise Retreat is convenient to the military bases in the area too! Eglin and Hurlburt are about a 30 minute commute. The school system is South Walton which includes Van Butler Elementary, Emerald Coast Junior, and South Walton High School. We'd like to help you with your home search! If you are planning to buy or sell in the area, please let us know! See our Destin Real Estate web site for more information. Here are some pictures of Paradise Retreat and the beach! If you are looking for a vacation rental in the area, we can help! See Destin Vacation Rentals for more information!

Oh my! Have you counted the number of Short Sales in the Destin area lately? Buyers with cash or easy access to cash have so many choices today. Activity seems to be picking up and buyers are starting to miss opportunities! I had 2 buyers miss opportunities just this week by getting their offers in a day too late. Short Sales are very popular targets but require a lot of patience and perseverance! It also helps to have an agent who can step through the red tape and speak to the right people at the bank! Seems like most agents are becoming pros at dealing with banks, but what about PMI companies that stand in the way? How many deals fall apart after countless hours working with sellers and their banks, only to be turned down by a mortgage insurance company? It's happened! Getting the right negotiator and knowing when to ask for help makes for an easier transaction. Let me help you with your short sale. I'm working several deals now representing both buyers and sellers. It's tough but it can be done!