Second Homes At Beautiful Beaches
Looking to buy? Northwest Florida’s beaches provide some amazing options
Nashville Lifestyles
By Murray Balkcom (The Premier Property Group) • March 1, 2011
As a realtor working in the South Walton area of Northwest Florida—also home to Seaside, Seagrove, WaterColor, WaterSound, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach and many other quaint beachside communities—I’m often asked about local real estate. Our second-home market is mostly driven by buyers within a nine-hour driving radius, including the Nashville area, and even other parts of Florida.
The beaches here aren’t the work of man, but the work of Mother Nature. They’re made of the whitest sand I’ve ever seen, which comes from the lightest pieces of quartz, washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over millions of years. The sand squeaks little reminders of the natural beauty found here as your toes stretch with each step. With approximately 40 percent of the land in South Walton being state owned, including parks, beaches and forests, nature and relaxation remains the focus in South Walton—as opposed to the high rises and big-box stores that dot the coastline of our neighboring cities Destin and Panama City Beach. Our emerald green waters will wash your troubles away, and the stars shine so brightly here that you can almost see Heaven in the distance.
Amongst the tourists, you’ll find plenty of locals who used to be tourists. They’ve reinvented themselves to enjoy a slower pace of life, and they’ve traded in their dress shoes and high heels for flip-flops and sunglasses. Don’t worry if you’re still only a tourist yourself, because today’s tourists are tomorrow’s owners and residents. Give it time and the beaches of South Walton will grow on you…. <CONTINUE READING>