"Slices of 30A"

What's The Best Time Of Year To Buy On 30A?

Many are surprised to learn that Spring, not Summer, is typically the peak Selling Season at the beach. Historically, more properties are sold in the second quarter (April-June) than any other, as illustrated below (except for the anomolous 2020):

While Spring may be the best time to sell, Fall is usually the best time to buy. For one, homes and condos rented during the height of vacation season are more accessible in the Fall. Now that our overheated market is slowing down, we're beginning to see regular seasonal trends pick back up in our market.

Here are a few reasons why Fall is the best time to buy: 

• More inventory: Although availability is not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, inventory has increased 20% since last year.
• …

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September Fall Events On 30A

Fall is just around the corner! And there will be plenty of fun things to do throughout the season on the beaches of 30A and South Walton. Here are a few activities scheduled for the rest of this month. Check back each month for more!

The Emerald Coast Theater is Celebrating 10 Years with “An Enchanted Evening” by Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Friday, September 16, 5:30-9:30 pm.

North Beach Social Octoberfest, German Beer & food all day Sunday, September 18.

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport hosting “Fallapalooza,” a nature-based Festival. Saturday, September 24, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Stinky’s Bait Shack Songwriters Performance Series, August – December, Every Wednesday & Thursday, 8:00 – 10:00 pm. Check for schedule changes online.

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Labor Day Fun Activities on 30A!

As your last hurrah of summer, there are plenty of fun activities on 30A! 

Don't worry; if you're not at the beach this weekend, many of these activities will still be going on after Labor Day:

Seaside

Central Square Cinema Friday, 8:00-9:30 pm

Sounds of Seaside Saturday, 1:00-4:00 pm

Labor Day Weekend Concert: Motel Radio Saturday, 7:00-8:00 pm

Watercolor

Scratch Biscuit Brunch & Live Music Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

FOOW (Fish Out of Water) Features Sunday Brunch with Live Music!

Alys Beach

Music & Art Saturday, 4:00 to 7:00 pm

Rosemary Beach

Live Music at The Courtyard at Pescado 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Sculpture Exhibition 2021-22 (Ends September 5)

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International Coastal Cleanup Day Returns to South Walton

South Walton, FL – The Walton County Tourism Department and the Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles are, once again, hosting an International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 – 11 a.m.

Both residents and visitors are encouraged to participate. Volunteer Beach Ambassador teams will be hosting groups at five South Walton Regional Beach Accesses listed below:

1. Inlet Beach Regional Access, 139 S Orange St., Inlet Beach
2. Santa Clara Regional Access, 3468E Co Hwy 30A, Seagrove
3. Ed Walline Regional Access, 4447 W Co Hwy 30A, Gulf Place
4. Dune Allen Regional Access, 5999 W Co Hwy 30A, Dune Allen
5. Miramar Beach Regional Access, 2375 Scenic Gulf Dr., Miramar Beach

Participants can choose to count their collected…

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It's Still Hurricane Season In The Sunshine State

This week, a waterspout in Destin reminded us that hurricane season is not over!

Hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has been relatively quiet in Florida this summer. (Let's hope we haven't jinxed it just by mentioning it!)

Weather experts say 95% of all major hurricanes occur after August 1. So, we've put together a few other tips to help you stay prepared for the rest of the season!

Did you know you can sign-up to receive local alerts for Walton County?

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5 Things To Do Off The Beaches of 30A This Weekend

There’s still plenty of fun to squeeze out of summer! And if you’re looking for something different, why not explore the surrounding areas off the sandy, beaten path of 30A? Here are a few hidden gems you just may not know about:  

Defuniak Springs

The Main Street movement is hitting full force in the vibrant, small town of Defuniak Springs, about 30 miles north of 30A. There’s plenty to see and do:

•         Weekend Farmers Market
•         Music On Main
•         Food Truck Friday (second Friday)
•         Chautauqua Winery  

On The Bay at Hwy 331

North Beach Social is serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner right on the Choctawhatchee Bay in Santa Rosa Beach. Enjoy Paella night and live music; or take time for a leisurely…

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Buyers' Favorite Beach Towns On 30A

On this day last year, we shared the Top 30A Beach Towns that were the most popular with Buyers. One year later we decided to look at what the trends show now. 

Drum roll please . . .

Coming in at first place again!

#1 Seagrove Beach

We think Seagrove Beach stays at the top of the list for a few reasons:

• Diversity of selection among homes and condos -- from upscale, luxury, and modern to elegant, Old Florida and beach bungalow-style.
• Seagrove is largely comprised of several small pockets of neighborhoods, many of which allow owners more freedom with design and fewer community restrictions.
• Plenty of ways to get to the beach, with 22 neighborhood access points, one regional access at Santa Clara, and another regional access is…

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Home Prices Are Up on 30A/South Walton, So Why Are Sellers Reducing Listing Prices?

The median sales price for homes along 30A rose 21.5% in June, signaling that the market is still hot for sellers, even though sales are declining, and inventory significantly jumped compared to last year.

Median sales prices for a home are $1,525,000, compared to $1,255,000 this time last year. In a previous couple of months, inventory was up; by 30% in May and 39% in June.

Why are some sellers reducing their listing price?

We've grown accustomed to homes selling as quickly as they hit the market. For example, median-priced homes last on average just 23 days on the market. While the pace is still at record levels, how quickly a home sells largely depends on how well-priced a property is when it hits the market. 

Price reductions along 30A…

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Best Things To Do On 30A

Scenic 30A and South Walton are packed with an assortment of activities that are sure to please outdoorsy types, foodies, and curious wanderers of all ages.

We’ve put together some of our favorites to share with you, from coffee houses and locally crafted beer to outdoor adventures, and best spas.

Best Kids Activities & Attractions:

• 30A Sea Life Discovery Center
• Learn To Surf
• The Big Chill
• The Village of Baytowne Wharf
• Camp Watercolor

Best Fishing Charter:

• Reel 30A
• Florida Boy Adventures
• Santa Rosa Charters

Best Outdoor Adventure Company:

• YOLO Board
• Adventure 30A
• BOTE Grayton

 Best Coffee Houses:

• Black Bear Bread Company (We also highly recommend dinner at the Grayton…

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30A Real Estate: Will Prices Continue To Rise?

As we reported last week, there are signs that the real estate market along 30A is cooling. Some of the big questions for the remainder of the year are, will mortgage rates keep going up? Are residential prices continuing to climb - or are they going to go down soon? 

Locally, existing home sales have dropped significantly over the last 6 months compared to last year. But inventory still has some catching up to do to keep up with the demand in our area. It's been reported nationally that inventory has risen as much as 25% during April and May, but available properties along 30A are still declining compared to this same time last year. Seasonality trends conclude that sales will drop further in the fall and winter months, but it's too soon to tell if a…

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