Slices of 30A: Your 30A & South Walton Real Estate Blog

Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County

 

Get Creative This Fall: New Classes at the Cultural Arts Alliance

Looking for something a little different to do in South Walton this fall? The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) has released its September creative lineup, with workshops and classes designed for everyone from complete beginners to experienced artists.

And there's plenty to choose from.

A Little Something for Everyone

September's calendar includes painting, pottery, photography, gardening and even a few seasonal projects. Some highlights include:

Printing with Sunlight: Cyanotype Workshops – Create beautiful blue-and-white prints using sunlight, plants and found objects in this beginner-friendly introduction to one of photography's oldest techniques.

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What Do Real Estate Investors Look at in Terms of the Cap Rate?

The capitalization rate gives buyers an easy way to compare how much income different properties might earn. For example, if you are looking at several 30A vacation rentals, you can use cap rates to narrow down your options before digging deeper into each property’s finances. But a higher cap rate does not always mean a better investment. A property with a higher projected return might also need more maintenance, have less stable income, or be in an area with uncertain long-term demand. Another property could have a lower cap rate but be in a location or style you like more. That’s why the cap rate is just one number to consider, not the final answer.

Why Cap…

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Tickets Are On Sale Now for the 30A Songwriters Festival 2027

One of South Walton's most anticipated weekends is on the calendar. Tickets are now on sale for the 30A Songwriters Festival, returning over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, January 16–19, 2027. The 30A Songwriters Festival is now in its 18th year and has grown into the biggest and most respected songwriters festival in the Southeast. Music fans from around the world come to enjoy great performances in special venues along Florida's Gulf Coast. This year, more than 175 well-known songwriters will perform over four days in more than 30 venues along Scenic Highway 30A. You can enjoy small shows in cozy rooms for under 100 people or see big concerts for thousands at…

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Hurricane Preparedness Guide for 30A & South Walton Homeowners

Living along Scenic Highway 30A means enjoying sugar-white beaches, coastal dune lakes, and one of Florida's most beautiful communities. It also means preparing for hurricane season each year.

The good news? A little planning before a storm develops can make a tremendous difference. Whether you're a full-time resident, own a second home, or manage a vacation rental, taking a few simple steps now can help protect your family, your property, and give you greater peace of mind.

At Davis Properties, we've called South Walton home for more than 30 years. We've weathered our share of storms and know that preparation is always the best defense.

Before Hurricane Season

The Atlantic…

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Local Artist Melissa Davis Featured in VIE Magazine

The Emerald Coast has long been home to talented artists whose work captures the beauty and spirit of our coastal communities. We're proud to share that local artist Melissa Davis is featured in the latest issue of VIE Magazine in an inspiring article titled "The Renaissance of Melissa Davis: Art Comes in Many Seasons."

The feature explores Melissa's creative journey, reflecting on the seasons of life that have shaped her work and the renewed inspiration behind her latest collection. Her newest large-scale paintings celebrate the color, movement, and natural beauty of the Gulf Coast while marking an exciting new chapter in her artistic career.

Melissa's artwork has become recognizable for…

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30A Events Guide: Festivals, Fireworks & Family Fun This Summer

Summer is one of the best times to experience everything that makes Scenic Highway 30A so special. Beyond the sugar-white sand and emerald waters, South Walton comes alive with outdoor concerts, family festivals, local theater, art workshops, wildlife experiences, and patriotic celebrations that bring our beach communities together.

Whether you're vacationing along 30A, spending the Fourth of July at the beach, or you're lucky enough to call South Walton home, there's something happening almost every week. Here's our guide to some of the best events taking place in late June and throughout July.

Don't Miss These Summer Favorites

If you're only in town for a few days, these are…

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Why Rosemary Beach Still Feels Different After 30 Years

Last year, Rosemary Beach celebrated its 30th anniversary. Today, it’s difficult to imagine 30A without it. The cobblestone roads, the public square, the architecture, the walkability, and the atmosphere of a community that seems to emerge naturally from thoughtful design. For many visitors, Rosemary Beach feels timeless, as though it has always been here. But thirty years ago, it was little more than an ambitious idea. And like many great communities, its success began with a group of people who saw possibilities long before everyone else did.

A Different Vision for the Coast

In the mid-1990s, much of the Florida Panhandle was still developing under a familiar model. Coastal…

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Why do some 30A homes sell quickly while others sit? Learn what today's buyers value most.

This week, we address the question on many sellers' minds.  "If homes are still selling along 30A, why are some selling so much faster than others?" It’s a fair question. After all, buyers are still purchasing homes. Yet some properties seem to attract immediate attention, while others remain on the market for months. Usually, there isn’t just one reason. Today’s buyers have more choices, information, and time to evaluate options. As a result, the difference between homes that sell quickly and those that stay is more noticeable. Here are some of the main reasons.

Price Matters More Than Anything

Often, the simplest answer is the…

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County Update: Commissioners Approve Resolution on Public Beach Use

On May 26, 2026, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution supporting public use of the county's beaches. The resolution recognizes Walton County's beaches as a valuable community asset and highlights their significance to the local economy, tourism industry, and tax base. It also recognizes ongoing discussions and disputes over beach use in the past decade. The resolution states that actions by visitors, property owners, commercial vendors, and government responses, including legal proceedings related to customary use, have contributed to tensions among stakeholders.

What the Resolution Says

The resolution formally affirms the Board's…

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The Question Behind “Should We Wait?”

What we hear most from buyers is the question, “Do you think we should wait?” Concerns about mortgage rates, headlines of softening markets, and discussions of a “better opportunity” just around the corner naturally have buyers examining their choices. We’ve realized that what buyers really want to know is, “If we buy now, will we regret it?” That is the part of today’s market that numbers alone do not fully explain. Most buyers are not making decisions based solely on interest rates or median sale prices. They react to everything surrounding the decision. That could be inflation headlines, insurance costs, stock market swings, recession talk, election-year noise, and fear of making the wrong move…

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