Bill Grannan

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!

Are vacationers coming back to Destin in droves as they have in summers for so many years? Are owners and property management companies having to discount their rentals already in hopes of enticing vacationers to their rentals? What is a fair price for vacation rentals in the Destin area? Are vacationers being realistic when asking for discounts?

See www.CrystalWatersVacations.com for our vacation rentals in Destin. We specialize in rentals along Scenic Gulf Drive. Yes, you will find discounts and deals already! Some of our condos are being offered at discounts over last years prices and much lower than what bigger management companies are charging. Get discounts on Condos at Beach Retreat, Crescent, and Grand Caribbean East condos! Our prices offer tremendous values for your family budget for your vacation in Destin!

Our homes and cottages are booking nicely and are already priced at "by owner" prices! If you would rather have a home, don't miss our homes in Emerald Shores, Beach Retreat, and Crystal Shores! You'll find 3 to 5 bedroom homes sleeping from 8 to 14 people!

See also www.EmeraldShoresDestin.com

Though it is tough to say if our area has reached the bottom of the market, our activity seems to be picking up! Our office has received several inquiries for properties and are currently working with several buyers in the area. Our listings are receiving a lot of attention too. Showings are on the rise! Prices and interest rates are low and the perfect time to buy is now. Holding on to property for the long term is the best way to invest in Real Estate. Short term flips are a thing of the past for now. If you are a buyer or a seller in the Destin area, please visit our web site at www.destinscenic98.com or www.billandterryteam.com for more information. You'll find quick searches to properties in the area by price, location, and community!