30A Real Estate Advice RSS Feed

A recent article from the National Association of Realtors stated many of the National "HOT” Markets, such as San Francisco and New York have rebounded from the last recession and prices are back to pre-recession levels. This spurred me to find out how our communities of South Walton compare!

I primarily focus on the Emerald Coast real estate market, particularly the communities of Santa Rosa Beach, Scenic 30A and Southern Walton County. In analyzing these areas, I have compiled historical data using both our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and statistics from Metro Market Trends, which allows me access to accurate and up-to-date data, including public records.

A History of Exponential Growth

Over the last 25 years we have seen…

You’ve just purchased your beach vacation home or condo. Congratulations! What now?

It’s an exciting time – your dream has come true. Now, it’s time to set up your rental property and start generating income. Where to begin? It’s a fun process to turn your home into a vacation rental property that welcomes visitors, and even better when those visitors turn in to repeat guests.

Here’s my top ten list of the things I’ve learned from many years of renting my own vacation properties and managing others as well.

1 - Make it personal.

Don’t hesitate to leave family pictures out for guests to enjoy. This reminds them that a family owns the home that they are “borrowing” (renting) and helps ensure they take good care of your property.

2 - Have a…

While having a beautiful 30A beach home is something so many of us dream about, not everyone wants to have a full-time, part-time or vacation home directly on Scenic 30A’s pristine beaches. One of the neat things about living or owning property in South Walton is the diversity of locations the area has to offer. While over 40% of the land that makes up southern Walton County is either in State Forest areas, Florida State Parks or preservation areas, there are beautiful locations with wonderful waterfront or wooded surroundings to make almost everyone’s dream place.  And the best thing is, from just about anywhere in South Walton you can still be at the beach in no-time! 

So, if beachside living isn’t “your thing” but you want to be on the water, how…

Summer 2015 came and went quickly and it’s hard to believe that it's nearly a memory. Fall is just around the corner and a “primo” time to be at the beach! We have gorgeous sunsets over the gulf, milder temps, lower humidity and a slower pace to the day. It just doesn’t get much better than that!

The South Walton real estate market has been and continues to be very strong. So far this year market numbers are indicating spring and summer was a very active selling season for real estate in South Walton and Scenic 30A! Davis Properties' year-to-date sales are rapidly approaching $70 million and counting—not too shabby for a small, but dedicated, nine-member sales team! Property values along Scenic 30A and the general area have been consistently…

Sometimes buyers choose to rent first, allowing them the option to get to know the area better before buying a permanent home. Long-term rentals in the 30A area of South Walton County are in high demand, difficult to find and usually don’t stay on the market very long. You or someone you know may be looking for a property to rent in South Walton, and if you’ve spent any time at all in your search, you know it can be a bit of a challenge.

While the Davis Properties team focuses their efforts on home, condo and lot sales, we also want to make sure we can help with anyone’s local 30A real estate needs in whatever capacity we can. Because we frequently receive inquiries about rental properties; we decided to put together a resource list to assist in…

So maybe you’ve discovered the incredibly beautiful beaches of 30A! You’ve fallen in love with the area, the art, music and food scenes. You find that people are incredibly friendly and most every direction you look, the views and sunsets are out of this world. You might even find yourself thinking: "We need to figure out how to make this place home!"

This scenario happens daily along the beaches of South Walton. While many have taken the leap of faith; moved to the beach and are living the good life; others, may opt for a longer term transition to owning a home at the beach. An ideal alternative for many is to begin with buying a property that’s used as a vacation rental. If you choose this route, there are some things to consider when looking at…

3 simple strategies to capture buyers’ attention and stand out from the competition.

Currently there are nearly 600 homes on the market along the scenic 30A coastline. With so many South Walton homes available right now, it’s more important than ever, to make your home stand out from the competition. While there are always things you have no control over, here are three smart, simple strategies you can do ahead of time. Armed with a little planning and preparation you’ll be ready to “put your best foot forward” and grab the attention of prospective buyers and change your “ FOR SALE” in to ”SOLD”!

You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

Take a step back and really look at your home through the eyes of a buyer, then be ready…