Last weekened, we were on the edge of Hurricane Gustav; this week, it was a beautiful weekend. While everybody knows that the real estate market nationally is down, and it is here, as well, the prices in our local market make buying real estate in Florida a great investment!
We have something that makes us different than say, Kansas or Oklahoma, or most of the rest of the U.S......a GORGEOUS COASTLINE! Here in the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach area, our sand truly looks like snow. It isn't too hot to walk on like the Atlantic seaboard, and it even squeaks when you walk. And the water? Simply AMAZING! Today, we saw about 20 dolphins, and for a few minutes even had a show worthy of Seaworld with the jumping they were doing. The color of the water is something that you can't believe until you see it, but there's a reason this is called the "Emerald Coast"! It is a great place to vacation and an even better place to live. I didn't have a great day yesterday so I took today to go to the beach and relax and that's where I took this picture (yes, I used sunscreen!) It's the same pier as in the blog from last week about Hurricane Gustav. What a difference a week makes??
In our area (the Panhandle), we have the best of both worlds - a great resort area with awesome beaches that are easily accessible and certainly not over-crowded, especially at this time of the year, and a "small town" feel, as well.
There is a true sense of community here. We have 3 military installations very close (Hurlburt Field, Eglin AFB, and Duke Field), we're within driving distance of Biloxi, MS, (approx. 2 hours), New Orleans (approx. 3-1/2 hours), and Atlanta (5-1/2 hours). There is a new international airport being constructed in Bay County, and football is KING in the Fall!
I love living in a place where you can go to a high school football game on Friday night and the temperature is comfortable, then drive to see the Florida State Seminoles play on Saturday, and then go to the beach and spend the day Sunday and get a tan! We have world-class restaurants and shopping in Destin and the Sandestin/Santa Rosa Beach area, lots of saltwalter and freshwater fishing, and we still have that small town feel that makes living here an experience that most only get to dream of!
I can't imagine living anywhere else and I am quite certain that our market will come back and our real estate will ALWAYS be valuable just becuase of where it is located!
With all of the activity of hurricanes and tropical storms, I wanted to give everybody a way to get information about National Preparedness Month as deemed by Homeland Security and the Citizens' Coalition. Click here to get to the webpage and find information on making a plan, being informed, and getting involved. As someone who lives on the Gulf Coast, this information can be used by all of us!
We just went to the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, right by the pier. The water was wicked rough! We even spotted a water spout that was heading from Destin. Here are a couple of pictures of the beach in Ft. Walton Beach during the storm. There may be some beach erosion, but this will not be bad in our area.
-From NW Florida Daily News, August 31, 2008:
FLORIDA EXISTING HOME SALES LEVEL IN JULY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR:
Single-family existing home sales rose in Florida for the first time in more than two years. While only six more homes sold in July, 2008 than in July, 2007, it could indicate stabilization in Florida's housing sector, according to the latest housing statistics released by the Florida Association of Realtors.
A total of 11,498 existing homes sold last month while 11,492 homes sold in July, 2007, maintaining the same level of sales activity in the year-to-year comparison, according to FAR. The last time statewide sales of existing homes outpaced the prior year's sales figure was in the year-end 2005 report, according to FAR records, when sales were up 2 percent over year-end 2004.
Florida's median sales price for existing homes last month was $193,600; a year ago, it was $238,900 for a 19 percent decrease. But, looking back to July, 2003, the statewide median sales price for single-family homes has increased 18 percent over the 5-year period, according to FAR records; at that time, the statewide existing home median price was $164,000. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.
UNITED STATES 30 August 2008 Florida beach town hosts world's first outdoor projection graffiti festival
The characteristic white walls of the new town of Alys Beach in Florida will become a blank canvas for digital artists to create graffiti on Aug 1, and entries have come from around the world. Sometimes referred to as "photon bombing," "guerilla projection," "projection bombing" or "urban projection," underground artists around the globe have started using the latest technologies to project video art onto skyscrapers and other urban structures as a means of artistic expression. This is the first event that celebrates their art.
 |
|
|
We are located directly behind the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors office!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
