Jessica Jones Destin Sandestin 30-A Real Estate

There is definitely a renewed interest with more completed sales

occurring along the Emerald Coast of Florida this year!

From January 01, 2009 to March 31, 2009,

the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors report the following statistics:

Combined Residential

(Condos, Detached Single Family, and Attached Single Family)

484 contingent properties

1431 pending properties

895 closed properties

Residential Land

29 contingent properties

123 pending properties

85 closed properties

Please contact me at any time to discuss current

Real Estate opportunities along the Emerald Coast of Florida!

Jessica Jones, Broker / Owner of Compass Realty of Florida LLC.

Mobile (850)259-5864

www.CompassRealtyFL.com

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

Read full article at

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.

If you've been sitting on the market sidelines and waiting until it hits bottom, get prepared to join in the real estate market! According to data collected by the Florida Association of Realtors, existing home and condo sales continue to rise over last year:

Florida's existing home sales rose in February, making it the sixth consecutive month that sales activity showed increases in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). February's statewide sales also increased over January's figures in both the existing home and existing condo markets.
Existing home sales rose 20 percent last month with a total of 9,858 homes sold statewide compared to 8,181 homes sold in February 2008, according to FAR. February's statewide existing home sales were 16.7 percent higher than January's statewide sales.Florida Realtors also reported a 15 percent gain in statewide sales of existing condominiums in February, continuing a trend in recent months for higher statewide sales of both the existing home and existing condo markets compared to year-ago levels. Statewide existing condo sales last month increased 25.1 percent over the total units sold in January.
Thirteen of Florida's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) reported increased existing-home sales in February while 11 MSAs also showed gains in condo sales. It marks the eighth month in a row that a number of markets have reported increased sales.

Locally on the Emerald Coast of Florida, we are not yet seeing price increases but quality properties priced well do not stay on the market long. Don't let an opportunity pass you by!

For those planning on installing or modifying properties, this is a good bit of information.

According to Section 136 of the IRS Code, energy conservation subsidies provided by public utilities,* either directly or indirectly, are nontaxable: "Gross income shall not include the value of any subsidy provided (directly or indirectly) by a public utility to a customer for the purchase or installation of any energy conservation measure."

The term "energy conservation measure" includes installations or modifications primarily designed to reduce consumption of electricity or natural gas, or improve the management of energy demand. Eligible dwelling units include houses, apartments, condominiums, mobile homes, boats and similar properties. If a building or structure contains both dwelling and other units, any subsidy must be properly allocated.

Given the definition of "energy conservation measure," there is strong evidence that utility rebates for residential solar thermal and solar electric projects may be nontaxable. However, the IRS has not ruled definitively on this issue. For taxpayers considering using this provision for renewable energy systems, consultation with a tax attorney is advised.

Other types of utility subsidies that may come in the form of credits or reduced rates may also be nontaxable, according to IRS Publication 525:

"Utility rebates. If you are a customer of an electric utility company and you participate in the utility's energy conservation program, you may receive on your monthly electric bill either: a reduction in the purchase price of electricity furnished to you (rate reduction), or a nonrefundable credit against the purchase price of the electricity. The amount of the rate reduction or nonrefundable credit is not included in your income."

* The term "public utility" is defined as an entity "engaged in the sale of electricity or natural gas to residential, commercial, or industrial customers for use by such customers." The term includes federal, state and local government entities.

The answer to the "paper or plastic" dilemma is - Neither! They're roughly equal in pros and cons. While convenient addictions, they both gobble up natural resources cause significant pollution. At the end of the day, using reusable shopping bags is the real answer! They are intended to be used over and over again. You can use them for any occasion and you will never have to throw them away or be worried about whether they are being recycled. This is a small step you can take to do your part in bettering our present environment and bettering the environment for future generations.

"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." - The Great Law of Iroquois Confederacy