Just Sold | Pointe of View | Unit 901 | Santa Rosa Beach, FL

2 Bedroom  •  2 Bath  •  1,058 Square Feet  •  Selling Price: $127,000   

This cozy first floor end unit is the perfect little home for our client. The unit features 18 inch tile floors, 9'' ceilings, and all appliances included. There is a large walk-in closet in the front bedroom. In addition there is also balcony with an outdoor storage room. On site you'll find a pool and exercise room. An excellent location adjacent to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin with many shops, restaurants and Publix just steps away. A real treat – Grand Boulevard Farmers Market sets up every Saturday year round from 9am–1pm at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard. At Pointe of View you're also close to schools, Sacred Heart Hospital, and the sugar white beaches of Destin and 30A. Paradise!

Click here to view more units for sale at Pointe Of View!

Just Sold | 110 Legion Park Loop | Miramar Beach, FL

3 Bedroom  •  2 Bath  •  2,570 Square Feet  •  Selling Price: $420,000

We were so excited to get this home under contract in just 8 days for our long term clients, who are always a pleasure to work with! Our team marketed this property to reach a great amount of potential buyers in a short amount of time. 

This gorgeous home is located in the heart of Miramar Beach. Less than half a mile from the Bay, and just a mile from the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. This wonderful family home has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, den, and bonus room. Custom cabinetry, plantation shutters, bamboo and ceramic wood flooring, double tray and vaulted ceilings, granite countertops – the list of fine touches throughout the whole home is endless. The screened-in patio leads you to your own little backyard oasis with tropical landscaping and serene pond. The master suite has a private balcony overlooking the beautiful surroundings. A 3 car garage, walk-in closets, and a laundry chute provide convenience and extra storage. Paradise!

As mentioned in our previous blog, professional photography matters! And this case was no exception. Check out the various marketing methods that we used to create a cohesive brand for this gorgeous home. 

Email flyer sent to our database of investors, as well as an agent version for maximum exposure.

Facebook post featuring a video tour of the property. We also post to YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest. In addition, we create a blog for your property. 

Professional photos highlight each spectacular feature of the property.

Click here to see more homes for sale in Miramar Beach!

Just Sold | Ariel Dunes II Unit 702 | Miramar Beach, FL

2 Bedroom  •  2 Bath  •  1,230 Square Feet  •  Selling Price: $320,625

We're so happy to have assisted our wonderful clients in finding and purchasing their perfect paradise! These Texas residents were originally interested in the Panama City Beach area, but they made a visit to Destin and couldn't resist the atmosphere and lifestyle that the area is so popularly known for, so they decided on this lovely unit at Ariel Dunes II within the Seascape Resort. An awesome choice for a second home!    

Showcasing incredible views of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico – this is the deal they've been waiting for – situated near the best stretch of Destin's white sandy beaches. This stunning condo came fully furnished and offers two spacious bedrooms including a Gulf front master suite with a spa-like master bath with gorgeous granite counters, a stunning gourmet kitchen with slab granite counters and sleek stainless steel appliances, and a large living area with glass sliders lead to the large balcony to take advantage of the unbelievable views. Against a backdrop of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico views, how could they resist! 

Living within Seascape means being able to take full advantage of the resort style amenities including: 

• 24,000 square feet of 4 pools with seasonally heated areas
• On-site restaurant: Cabana Cafe
• 18-hole golf course and pro shop
• Eight tennis courts
• Basketball courts
• Beach front restaurant: Whale's Tail
• New Towne Centre full of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment
• 2,000 feet of beautiful deeded beach

Click here to see more units available within Seascape!

Professional Photography: Why It Matters When Selling Your Home

One of the most important ways we market your property is with photos and video. With over 92% of people starting their searches online, photos and video are the first impressions they have of your home. Our goal is to capture the true character of your home and make it irresistible to pass up viewing in person. 

In photography, it is all about lighting and angles. We take the time to find the best angles and most desirable aspects and feature them in a way that potential buyers can envision themselves living there. Remember, a potential homebuyer will not be thinking about why they love a photo; they will only know they love it. By offering professional in-house photography we add that something special to stand apart from other properties. 

When we shoot video, it's not just a simple walk-through of your property, we strive to capture the essence of the lifestyle associated with your home. We want potential buyers to place themselves there from the second they show interest in your property. This is especially useful for out-of-town buyers, allowing us to reach a greater market than just local buyers.

Check out these 5 simple facts regarding the use of professional real estate photos: 

• Buyers spend 60% of their time looking at listing photos, and only 20% each on the listing description and agent description.

• Homes with high-quality photos receive 47% higher asking price per square foot. 

• 83% of buyers cited pictures as very important.  

• You have two seconds to grab the buyer’s attention without a photo, and 20 seconds with a photo.

• Homes with professionally photographed pictures can sell for up to $19,000 more.

It’s simple: The more eyes that stop on your featured listing photos and video equals more people who come to the property. The more buyers who like the home will bring more — and better — offers. 

Our team is here to create an individual brand for your property that sets it apart. Contact us to hear more about our marketing strategies!

Take a moment to check out our YouTube channel by Clicking Here and explore a playlist of just a few of the tours we've created for various properties. Or check out a few of the tours below! 

Sources: 

20 Seconds for Love at First Sight - The Wall Street Journal
10 listing photo mistakes to avoid when selling a home - CBSNews.com
80% Of New Homes Are Found Over The Internet And 83% Of Buyers Cited Pictures As The Most Important - investordetails.wordpress.com
Look Sharp: Professional Listing Photos Sell For More Money - Redfin.com

Just Sold | 107 Rainbow Drive | Fort Walton Beach, FL

3 Bedroom  |  3 Bath  |  1,698 Square Feet  |  Selling Price: $221,000

We were so happy to assist our wonderful client in the purchase of their first home! 

This completely renovated ranch style home has beautiful touches and wonderful character. With nearly everything new including beautiful flooring, and finished off with a serene color scheme, this home is just lovely. The split floor plan includes a Master Suite with large walk-in closet, custom wet bar, bonus room, and two additional bedrooms. The central location in Fort Walton Beach is less than 10 minutes to both bases and keeps you close to all the necessities, and fun at the beach. With a front and back patio and beautifully sized fenced in yard, you've got a perfect place for family fun. We're so thrilled for our buyer! 

Contact us to find your paradise home!  

June Sales Market Highlights

June was quite the busy month.. with the beginning of the Summer season it's no surprise! 

We had an active June ourselves. We assisted our wonderful buyers in the sale of 160 Marlberry Trace. In addition, we worked to get several more properties under contract. We'll have all the details in the July Market Report! 

We also worked closely with each of our sellers to get these properties on the market in June:

East Pass Towers • Unit 626
Noblat Townhomes (2 Units Under Contract Already!)
110 Legion Park Loop (Under Contract Already!)
Seascape Condo Garden Villa • Unit 27A
Sandpiper Cove • Unit 1006

We love staying in touch to keep both our buyers and sellers prepared for the busy summer market. The activity this year is exciting and we can't wait to hustle our way through summer! This is a great time to perform some due diligence regarding purchasing property. We are getting a new influx of inventory daily and there are some great opportunities out there right now. The daily hot sheet has new listings hitting the market every day, so let us know if you would like to receive updates on the market! 

Check out the area sales highlights for the month of June:

The highest priced condo sold within the areas of Okaloosa Island, Destin, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, and 30A was: 

The Lucian at Alys Beach • Unit 42

30A East

$1,983,406

3 Bed/3.5 Bath 

1,920 Square Feet 


The highest priced home sold within the areas of Okaloosa Island, Destin, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, and 30A was: 

4905 West County Highway 30A 

30A West

$5,750,000 

6 Bedroom/6.5 Bath

5,743 Square Feet

Just Listed | Ariel Dunes II | Unit 1105 | Miramar Beach, FL

1 Bedroom  |  1.5 Bath  |  732 Square Feet  |  Selling Price: $235,900

Located on the 11th floor of stunning Ariel Dunes II Condominium, this unit offers spectacular panoramic views. From your large private balcony, take in the views of the Gulf of Mexico and miles of coastline. This unit is turn-key and furnished coastal chic. The kitchen has granite counter tops, solid wood cabinetry, and a breakfast bar. The unit has built-in hallway bunk beds, stackable washer/dryer, and 9-foot ceilings. This condo has three large pools that hug the south side, combining for almost 9,000 square feet. This condo is part of Seascape Resort, a perennial favorite of visitors. Paradise!

Owners and renters at Seascape have access to amazing amenities including:

18-hole golf course 
State-of-the-art tennis facilities 
Conference center
5 Pools
2,000 feet of beach frontage
Whale's Tail beachfront restaurant
Bike Rentals
New Towne Centre with shopping, restaurants, and entertainment
And so much more!

Click here to see more photos and information about this unit! 

And check out the video tour we produced below! 

Just Listed | Gulf Place Town Center East | Unit 220 | 30A

1 Bedroom  |  1 Bath  |  570 Square Feet  |  Selling Price: $230,000

Located along desirable 30A and mere steps from its white, sugar-sand beaches this 2nd floor unit is a must-see! This charming one bedroom unit features high ceilings, a full kitchen, tile flooring throughout, and a spacious bathroom with garden tub. The large kitchen, dining, and living areas all flow together to create an open and airy feel. French doors lead to the cozy balcony where you can take in the Gulf views and salty sea breeze. A great investment opportunity – this unit is projected to gross $24k+ in rentals! With everything within walking distance, they say Gulf Place is the place where distance is measured in footsteps. Paradise!

Owners and renters at Gulf Place have access to amazing amenities and activities all within walking distance including:

Three pools
Hot tubs
Tennis courts
Unique shopping boutiques
Restaurants
Concerts
Farmers markets 
Three beach accesses
And so much more!

Click here to see more photos and information about this unit! 

& 

Check out the video tour we produced below!

Closing the Deal

You are under contract, and the deal is due to close on an agreed upon date. What are your chances of closing on or before that date? According to a recent Realtor survey, almost 25% of contracts will face a delay in closing; another 5% will not close and will be terminated. So, what are the major impediments to closing on time? 

The number one cause of delay is financing. Approximately 36% of contracts will experience a postponement because of funding issues. As a buyer, the best thing you can do is get a lender pre-approval before you start your search. This will guide and give parameters to your property search. As a seller, you will want to ask for a pre-approval letter when the offer is presented. After the contract is executed, the buyer's work will begin with providing the lender with the many requested documents. If you are the buyer, do NOT buy anything large, charge excessively, or quit your job! One word of advice for all parties: Patience. 

The second closing hurdle is the appraisal, where 20% of transactions are delayed because the appraisals are not completed on time or are below contract price. When we work for you, we will give expert advice on market value. Our Comparative Market Analysis will give you a snapshot of the market value range. Remember, the lender orders the appraisal to confirm that the property is worth at least the contract price. Sellers, be real with your expectation of value. Buyers, understand that this appraisal ensures the lender's investment, but value is a moving target. 

The third most prominent closing threat is the notorious home inspection. Inspections stall closings approximately 15% of the time. Most required repairs are delineated in the contract, but there is room for interpretation. This is why sometimes we have to negotiate to find a sweet spot for both buyer and seller. The contract will also have a repair limit. 

As your real estate team, we will play a vital role in getting you to the finish line on time with minimal problems. Although some delays are unavoidable, knowing the pitfalls will help us get there on time.