This real estate nightmare involves two sales of the SAME HOME on the SAME DAY, combined with some sloppy paperwork by the Title Company. Subsequently, the whole thing fell apart, just like a house of cards.  I'm not trying to scare anyone, but really felt that this story needed to be told. It's something that home buyers, sellers or other agents need to be aware of.

The First Deal

After looking at several Destin homes, enduring inspections, appraisals, and lender related delays, our buyers were excited about closing on their new home last Friday. Everything went smoothly as buyers and sellers both signed their respective paperwork, the lender authorized funding, and the title company began disbursement.

We picked up our check on the following…

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Emerald Coast SchoolsWe're really fortunate here along the Emerald Coast to have access to excellent schools in both Okaloosa and Walton Counties. There are some hurdles, such as the need for new schools due to increased population, and the constant retrofitting of older buildings, especially in Okaloosa County. There is a big demand for new teachers, with fewer and fewer choosing the profession each year.

The new state law allows parents to choose which school their children will attend, even if it's not in their zoning, or even in their county. Okaloosa County is just one of three "A" rated districts in the entire state, as a result their schools are especially attractive. It's a bit of a balancing act, accounting for a growing local population and the out-of-county…

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Santa Rosa Beach is an unincorporated community that encompasses several smaller communities between Choctawhatchee Bay in the north and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. Point Washington and Grayton Beach act as eastern borders, and Miramar Beach borders to the west.

Real estate in Santa Rosa Beach includes a nice cross-section of bayou or bayfront homes in the north and beachfront treasures in the small Gulf towns along the Scenic 30A Highway in south Santa Rosa Beach.

The stats below represent total sales for June 2016 of Santa Rosa Beach homes, condos and other property types. Notice that single-family homes numbers are quite high, this property type dominates especially in the northern communities close to the bayou and Choctawhatchee Bay.

 

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Destin, the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" just got luckier! 

Make way for the expansion of Bass Pro Shops in Destin. The renovation will total 16,600 square feet and should be completed in the Fall of 2016.

Shoppers can look forward to:

  • more retail space
  • boat pad increasing from 5 boats to 15-20
  • three additional checkout counters
  • new fitting rooms
  • aquarium remodel
  • new energy-efficient LED lighting in store

With a huge population of anglers and boaters, this new development will be welcomed.

Bass Pro Shops, Destin FL

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Destin beachfrontRecently Walton commissioners voted to remove signs, ropes and any obstructions from the beach. This meant that homeowners with "private property" or "no trespassing" signs on their beachfront lots would face penalties if they didn't take them down.

Well, it wasn't long before homeowners started to push back. A federal lawsuit was filed on Monday by Edward and DeLanie Goodwin, claiming that this action was violating their First Amendment rights to display signs on their private property.

According to report in the NWF Daily News, the Goodwins, who have owned their home since 1978, are entitled to its use down to the mean high water line. There are several times in the past when strangers have trespassed on their property and even entered their home…

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I swore I'd never write a post about the whole Pokemon G phenomenon, but I just can't help myself. You might have read an article recently in The Destin Log about how Pokemon Go is taking over Destin Commons. Players are glued to their smartphones in search of elusive Pokemons, sort of like geocaching, but with a twist.

This is a lot of excitement for a game that started out as an April Fools prank by Google just 2 years ago.

Unlike most computer games, Pokemon Go gets people outside, walking and possibly venturing upon new areas or notable places you've never seen before. A friend said that since he's been playing, he walks 6000 more steps a day then before. But, there is one big issue with this game. Like most popular computer games, it's…

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This Destin real estate update gives you a snapshot of home, condo and land sales in Destin FL and the surrounding Emerald Coast areas for June, 2016.

Destin Home Sales

Destin real estate updateAlthough slightly down from May, Destin home sales in June 2016 reflected an active market with almost $23,000,000 in sales volume. The average price was $658,345 and houses closed at an impressive 93% of asking price. 708 single family homes were sold in the Emerald Coast area for a total volume of $285,426,540. The average sale price was $403,145 with homes selling an average 98% of their asking price.

Luxury homes were hot along Scenic 30A with the highest median home price at $2,475,000 in Alys Beach, followed by $1,522,500 in Rosemary Beach and $860,000 in Watersound.

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Navarre Beach PierThe Destin Log recently printed an article, "Destin a pricey destination, but tourists say it's worth it." They reported that the average visiting family can expect to spend approximately $5,000-7,000 a week on their trip.

Then they proceeded to interview a family that spent over $6000 in two weeks for her family, which included a teenage daughter and her two friends. Their activities included, the Track, the Gulfarium, a spa day, a sail on a party boat and parasailing. Hello...those kinds of activities are going to cost you big bucks, no matter where you travel to.

The other example, Doug Rogers from Louisiana, has a family of five who come to Destin twice a year and spend a total of $8,000. This is a perfect example of someone who should be…

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Congratulations to these happy new home owners in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach. It was a pleasure working with you.

Silver Beach Towers condosSold: 06/10/2016 $1,495,000 | MLS #752153
1048 E HWY 98 1706, Destin, FL 32541
Two stories of floor-to-ceiling windows and 3 huge terraces in this Silver Beach Towers condo. Owners will enjoy Gulf views as far as the eye can see.

Sold: 06/16/2016 $1,267,500 | MLS #752162
504 Bayview Street, Destin, FL 32541
This luxury waterfront home on Joe's Bayou boasts 100' of deep waterfront and a 2-boat dock with lift. Built for outdoor living, the new owners are sure to spend hours on their 900 sq.ft. lanai with fireplace, bar and summer kitchen.

Sold: $1,175,000 | MLS #749298
950 E. Highway 98 6052, Destin, FL 32541
Newly renovated with…

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Watersound Village CommonsNew homes are coming to the upscale development of Watersound Origins. This sought after South Walton community in Watersound FL will be adding 107 new lots that are expected to be available next summer. Situated next to the activity center and close to parks and the Village Commons.

Part of this new development means re-routing the Watersound Trail so that it passes through the new phase. Unfortunately, the trail will be closed until 2017 when construction is complete. The five-mile trail begins at Watersound Origins Village Commons, and connects to Gayle's Trails in Panama City Beach.

Currently homes can be purchased in Watersound Origins starting in the mid $400,000s.

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