Emerald Coast Real Estate Blog

Wishing you a Healthy & Prosperous
NEW YEAR!

FIREWORKS ALONG THE GULF COAST

Pensacola Beach

If you're near Pensacola Beach this New Year's Eve, make sure that you watch the free fireworks show that will go off at midnight ringing in the New Year over the Santa Rosa Sound

Destin

Spend your evening at HarborWalk Village listening to the live music beginning at 7:00 pm.  The Headliner Band will take the stage at 9:30 pm and take you to the Countdown to 2022 with Fireworks at 9:30 pm!  Make your plans now!

Village of Baytowne Wharf - 6:00 pm - 1:00 am

Join in the festivities and help us celebrate the New Year and say goodbye to 2021! Dancing, Music, Dining, Drink Specials and stay until the party's over at 1:00 am.  To learn more click here.

Panama City Beach

The celebration begins at 5:35 pm at the Concert Stage in front of the Celebration Tower.  Help ring in the New Year in Panama City Beach!  The streets of Pier Park will be closed to all traffic where the Live Music and Entertainment will be found....

Updates for Navarre & Navarre Beach

During a recent Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association Meeting, Commissioner Dave Piech provided updates and confirmations for Navarre & Navarre Beach.

Improvements will soon begin along Gulf Blvd. on Navarre Beach after the county accepted a bid from a local landscaping company.

The County has applied for a Grant to put a bike path along Panhandle Trail that will connect Hwy 98 to the NYSA fields and Navarre High School.

Commissioners will not approve any additional extensions for finishing construction at the Navarre Park after they previously extended it another 43 days.

A new Hotel on Navarre Beach is making progress to begin construction on 3 lots where the Old Barracudas was located on Gulf Blvd.  Although it's not known yet what the name of the hotel will be, it is assured to be a higher end property.  The hotel will consist of 210 rooms with half of the rooms dedicated for a short term stay and the other half will be used for longer term stays.

For those living in the area, you've seen 2 derelict boats floating in the...

The Real Estate Market has been booming for well over a year and, according to the Experts, the country will still be experiencing strong gains throughout the coming year.

As the Pandemic subsides and the world begins to get back to normal, people are expected to flock back to the major cities that were locked down for so long, therefore, a surge in the Northeast, Southeast and the West Coast is to be expected.

There will not only be more moving, those either Buying or Selling will also be forced to live with the fact that housing prices will be increasing.  Don't expect the inventory to get much better in the near future too.

To learn what else the experts are saying click here.

According to a study recently conducted by Pew Research, almost half (44%) of respondents between the ages of 18 to 49 in the United States say that it's "not too likely" or "not at all likely" they will ever have kids.  That surprising statistic is up by 7% from a similar poll conducted in 2018. The reasons varied from not wanting kids, financial reasons or not having a partner.

*Subsequently, it's estimated that two out of every three homes in the United States includes at least one pet, estimated to be about 393.3 million.  95% of pet owners consider their pets to be family members.

Given these statistics, it's not a surprise that pets are now being considered as an integral part in the decision making when purchasing a new home.  They're not only being considered, Buyers are also willing to move to help accomodate their pet.

According to the National Association of Realtor's findings, of the 1,600 homeowners polled, 68% of respondents who weren't living in a pet-friendly home at one time said they moved for the sole purpose of accomodating their pets.  More renters became home buyers because their pets weren't allowed in their rentals.

It seems as if Buyers are seeking more pet-friendly homes...

Improvements Coming in
Walton County

You may already be seeing improvements for some areas in Walton county.  Below is a compilation of some of the changes that have already been approved:

A New left turn lane will be coming to Co. Rd. 30A at Co. Rd. 83 in Blue Mountain Beach.

Other areas for turn lanes are Co. Rd. 283 and Co. Rd. 30A at the edge of Grayton Beach.

The intersection, near the public parking area serving Grayton Beach, and other locations along 30A will be equipped with traffic signals to replace the stop signs and flashing red lights currently in place.

A new parking area is to be completed on Co. Rd. 393 near Co. Rd. 30A on a 2-acre tract near the often- crowded Ed Walline Regional Beach Access.  Once completed, there will be 89 new regular parking spaces, 11 goft-cart parking spaces and a small building to be used as a public transportation stop.

A 4.8 acre tract of land, located at Professional Place and U.S. Hwy 98, will be a new parking lot near beach access and less than a half of a mile from the often-filled Miramar Regional Beach Access on Scenic Gulf Dr.  There's a possibility there may also be a designated area to make a stop for future trolley service.

...

2 additional communities, one in Santa Rosa Beach and one at Hurlburt Field have now been recognized and added to the BearWise Community Recognition Program.  In order to be recognized, the communities need to meet all 6 BearWise Basics requirements.

Communities bordering forests or wildlife preserves are more proned to having wild animals enter their communities. The Cypress Dunes community is one of those that have recognized this problem and are taking extra measures to keep the wildlife out.

Due to the increase of human-bear interaction recently the Homeowners Association in this community met with the Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities to see what they can do to mitigate this problem.  They feel one way to do this is by purchasing bear-resistant trash cans for every owner's dwelling and required their use in 2016.

As Hurlburt Field is also bordering a wildlife area they, too, experienced these issues and have begun taking this matter in their own hands, requiring bear-resistant dumpsters to be used in all on-base properties.

To learn more about how your community can be a "BearWise" community click here.

Walton County has seen an alarming increase in drowings this past year on the Gulf of Mexico so  they're becoming proactive in efforts to keep beach goers out of the waters.

Earlier this year the fines were increased for those who disobey the Double Flag Warnings of the Beach. The fines for people not complying have been raised from $100 to a $500 Fine for those who defy the rules and disobey the law.

Other measures that will be taking place is through the enlistment of the Beach Vendors frequenting and selling on the Beach.  Once the Double Flag Warning is initiated Beach Vendors will begin collecting their chairs, umbrellas, etc. to deter people from staying on the beach

CLICK HERE to find out what other measures they'll be implementing to keep people safe during their stay.

Get in the Spirit of the Season with these
Holiday Movies at The Hub

7000 E. Co. Hwy 30A
Watersound Beach

6:00 pm

12/11 - "The Polar Express"

12/14 - "The Santa Claus"

12/15 - Dr. Suess "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

Click here for map

Possible Renovation Delays Coming to Navarre Park

**UPDATE** - On December 9th Commissioners will be asked to add 43 days on to the deadline for completion on the First Phase.  If approved it will change the deadline to January 28th.

An extension may be coming for the renovations to be complete at the Navarre Park.  Faced with weather and supply delays its been a challenging year.  Phase 1 was originally expected to be completed in September. The contractor was forced to put a change order in and, with the Board of Commissioner's approval, the date has been extended until December 17th.

Once complete there will be 20 more parking spaces, a new splash pad, playground, 3 shade structures and a kid-friendly restroom.   

The Permitting process for work to begin on the Seawall and Dock is moving forward, as they are under a separate contract than the other improvements to the park.

Two abandoned boats in the Santa Rosa Sound have been an issue that has been slowly winding through the courts for the removal process.

Stay tuned for an announcement once the re-opening date has been scheduled.

National Association of Realtors 2021
Buyer's and Seller's Preferences

Now in its 40th year, this in-depth study by the National Association of Realtors, is a snapshot of what's important to Buyers and Sellers now, what has changed, and why. 

The report found that the top two factors for motivating homeowners to sell was the desire to live closer to their relatives and friends and their desire for more space in their homes.

We all know that the Pandemic has affected the entire world.  Included in the changes we've had to make also made us shift our priorities. Clearly, there were many of us that found ourselves isolated, not only from our family, but from our friends and even co-workers.

To read the entire report click here. 

Take in the ?Area's Holiday Events
along the Emerald Coast!

From Christmas Movies, Holiday Dining and Concerts, we've got you covered with fun
for the ENTIRE Family!

Click here to take you to this year's list of events in Walton County!