Real Estate Information

Below is a link from Yahoo Travel rating Watercolor as the #5 best resort in the world.

http://travel.yahoo.com/photos/10-top-beach-resorts-around-the-world-1371234536-slideshow/beach-resorts-watercolor-inn-photo-1140950516.html

Although we have had a lot of people in town lately visiting the beautiful beaches of Destin, if you make it out to the beach early it is extremely serene and peaceful. This photo was taken this morning at Whale's Tail Beach Bar & Grill at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, FL, where I happily reside. The weather is great, the sand is crisp white, and the Gulf of Mexico is it's usual shades of emerald green and blue. Start your day out right and take a stroll on the beach in the morning for some mental cleansing and exercise. Or simply relax in one of those chairs calling your name. The beach and sound of the water can truly be healing and help anyone recharge. Enjoy what our beaches have to offer.

Photo Location & Credit: Whale's Tail Beach Bar & Grill, Miramar Beach, FL, photo by Carrie McMellon.

ABC's Good Morning America features Destin, FL as the Most Beautiful Place in America! We are so honored to be recognized for our beautiful beaches, emerald waters, white sands, incredible fishing, and southern hospitality. The world renowed Chef Emeril took a visit to Destin to see the beauty himself. He also saw first hand why we are designated as the Luckiest Fishing Village on his chartered fishing trip on the Gulf of Mexico. Take a look at the attached video to see why Destin is stars like Toby Keith's and Brittany Spear's Hideaway Spot. 

Okaloosa and Walton counties have been recognized as one of the fastest growing regions in the country! We owe a lot of this success to our increased activity in 2012 and currently in 2013 within our real estate & rental markets. Now is a great time to invest along the Emerald Coast. Be sure to checkout the article below posted March 14th in the Northwest Florida Daily News. 

By DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News 

Published: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 18:28 PM

Okaloosa and Walton counties have been recognized as one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday released a list of the 10 fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas. The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin MSA, which takes in all of Okaloosa and Walton counties, ranked third.

Larry Sassano, interim president of Florida’s Great Northwest, said the ranking will be a great way to market the area as one that is vibrant and growing.

“That’s impressive,” Sassano said. “If you show that you have the third fastest-growing MSA in the country, that’s going to say something about the potential for growth for companies. Companies want to grow from a larger pool of potential employees.

“I think this is a good marketing tool for the region,” Sassano added. “Even though it’s really isolating it to two counties, it’s two counties in Northwest Florida. Anytime you can promote even one county, the other counties will have a positive impact as well.”

The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin MSA had a population of 239,021 in July 2011. That grew to 247,665 by July 2012 for an increase of 3.6 percent. Only the Midland, Texas, and Clarksville, Tenn.-Ky., MSAs had higher growth rates, at 4.6 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively.

Sassano said one of the biggest factors companies consider when they are deciding where to operate or expand is the availability of a strong workforce. A growing population helps with that.

“The larger the population, the more opportunities employers have to select qualified employees,” Sassano said.

Local economist David Goetsch said part of the growth in Okaloosa and Walton counties during that time frame was because of the addition of a new battalion to the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the continuing migration of retirees.

“Nobody’s growing very much because of the economy,” Goetsch said. “It’s good news for us, but we’re kind of one of the fastest growing in a very slow-growing economy.

“We’re leading a very slow pack,” he added.

Goetsch said he doesn’t expect the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin MSA to remain one of the fastest-growing areas for much longer.

“Even without sequestration, I wouldn’t expect it because you get the benefit of the 7th Special Forces once, and we’ve got that now,” Goetsch said. “The small amount that we typical grow out of retirements will continue, but that is small, and with sequestration that will probably even be slower.

“With sequestration we will probably lose some also. Not military, not retirees, but we’ll probably lose some defense personnel.”

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

Spring Break is here! The sun is out, the water is warm, and college flags are flying. Although we welcome visitors, we also want to maintain our beautiful beaches and keep a friendly environment. Shown here is a photo at Whale's Tail in Miramar Beach, which is the designated beach for Seascape Resort. In order to enforce a safe and healthy atmosphere, the Walton County Sheriff has 25-30 people patrolling the beaches and neighboring areas to help in the proactive approach. One beach goer said in the Daily News we come to Destin because "It's cleaner, the beach is prettier, there's nicer people, and the woman are better looking." We (us locals) intend to keep it that way...the beaches, that is. If you venture out to the beach during the month of March be sure to live by example and clean up your surroundings so everyone around you realizes the importance of keeping the beaches clean. We take pride in having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you are not able to set a good example during this year's Spring Break, be sure to take part in Annual Earth Day Beach Cleanup on April 20th. 

Photo Location & Credit: Whale's Tail Beach Bar & Grill, Miramar Beach, FL, photo by Daily News photographer.

It's that time again. Get your fishing poles and charter boats ready for the 16th Annual Destin Cobia Tournament! The competition starts today and ends on April 30th. The kick off party is tomorrow at 7pm at the Harborwalk Marina and Emerald Grande. Destin is known worldwide for its incredible fishing. Be sure to participate in this one as it is a great experience and there are plenty of awards. Last year, more than $35,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. All proceeds from the event go towards the Miss Destin Scholarship Fun. The Miss Destin competition began in 1951, just 3 years after the Destin Fishing Rodeo debuted. This scholarship fund has helped dozens of aspiring young women further their education. 

In honor of Valentine's Day, I would like to take a moment to recognize how romantic the "Emerald Coast" of Florida can be. Being born and raised on the Gulf Coast and traveling to many of the world's beaches, I can truly say that Destin is still my favorite. The sand is pristine white and beautiful. It sparkles in the light, squeaks when you walk on it, and feels soft and warm to the touch. The Gulf of Mexico is crystal clear and vibrant colors of green and blue. You instantly feel relaxed and at ease while walking along the beaches of the Gulf Coast. It is a perfect place to getaway, forget about the daily grind, and spend some quality time with someone special. There are a lot of great communities along the Gulf Coast, but one of my favorities is Rosemary Beach. Rosemary Beach is a neo-traditional town located between Panama City Beach and Destin, at the eastern end of Scenic Route 30A. The town is only a quick 30-minute drive from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport with direct flights from about Atlanta, Orlando, Baltimore, Houston, and Nashville. Rosemary Beach was born in 1995 and with it's unique architectural aesthetic and sense of community, it is a little piece of heaven on earth. The town is reminiscent of the West Indies and has a sense of harmony and peace. All of the homes face pedestrian boardwalks and are finished with wood siding, cedar shingle, or stucco and metal or shingle shake roofing. Most of the homes are painted in rich, natural tones, and surrounded with native vegetation. There are romantic secret pathways throughout the neighborhood that lead to the beach, the town square, tennis courts, and other luxurious amenities. The entire neighborhood is bike and pedestrian friendly so you really do feel like you are in a fantasy land where time stands still. Not only is this a great place to visit and explore, but it is also one of the Gulf Coast's most coveted locations for a wedding. Our dear friend, Christina Gillon, has planned some incredible weddings at Rosemary Beach, one of which I had the pleasure of attending. Next time you are deciding where to visit with your loved one, keep Rosemary Beach in mind and of course, call the Nathan Abbott Team for a potential discount on your stay.

Photo Location & Credit: (top photo) Rosemary Beach, photo by ResortQuest Real Estate Photographer; (bottom photo) Rosemary Beach walkway, photo by Lisa Ferrick.

The ResortQuest 2012 Awards Banquet was held this week at the beautiful Sandestin Hilton near the beach. We are proud to announce that our buyer's agent, Daniel Walker, was awarded "Rookie of the Year" closing 40 transaction for a total of ~$8M in production. This is an incredible accomplishment for Daniel's first year in real estate. Daniel is originally from Bainbridge, GA and moved to the 30A area of Santa Rosa Beach in 2012. He is a huge asset to the Nathan Abbott Team and we look forward to continued years of success with him. Because of Daniel, the additional members of the team, and Nathan's incredible drive and hard work, the Nathan Abbott Team was awarded Top Closed Production at ResortQuest Real Estate of Florida for 2012 with a total of ~$28M and closing nearly 100 transactions. Our founding principles - customer service, knowledge, team work, and dedication - is what shapes our success. We take pride in delivering the ultimate real estate experience and look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

The ResortQuest Awards Banquet is coming up and we are proud to announce that the Nathan Abbott Team is #1 in Sales for ResortQuest Real Estate of Florida for 2012! We could not have done it without our valued customers and the continued support and referrals. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to work with you. If you ever need anything along the Emerald Coast do not hesitate to ask. The Nathan Abbott Team continues to expand and added two amazing members to the team this year. Brett Bianca is the Buyer Specialist for Destin, Miramar Beach, & Okaloosa Island, and Roxxy Cole is the new Listing Coordinator and Marketing Director. Amanda Abbott transitioned into a new position as Seller Specialist and keeps up with the Social Media channels. Daniel Walker had an incredible first year as the Buyer Specialist for Panama City Beach & Santa Rosa Beach. Frank Meader, the Closing Coordinator, facilitated all of our closings (nearly 100!), is the master of multi-tasking, and always has a smile on his face. We continue to gain knowledge from our leaders, Nathan & Erin Abbott, and all work together in order to deliver the ultimate real estate experience. The Nathan Abbott Team looks forward to a productive 2013 and making a difference in our customer's lives. Whether you are looking to sell your property, make an investment in an income-producing property, or find your dream home, the Nathan Abbott Team is here for you! 

Photo Location & Credit: Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, photo by Romona Robbins Photography. 

The Gulf Coast of Florida has graced us with some incredible sunsets this fall and winter. Any local can tell you that the best time of year on the Gulf Coast is the fall. The weather is perfect with the sun shining and a crisp breeze, the water is still warm enough to swim in, the beaches are serene and less crowded, and the sunsets truly take your breath away. The whispy clouds are painted with hues of yellow, orange, purple, and even pink, and the Gulf of Mexico tends to be a mirrored image of the colored sky. The sunsets are equally as stunning on our lakes. First, the massive sun slowly merges down the horizon line beaming bright, and next, the sky is enhanced with all of the deeply saturated colors. I have never been able to explain why the sunsets are substantially more breathtaking in the fall and winter than any other time of the year, but it simply has to be something in the air! We encourage you to come on down and visit the Destin area next fall or winter and experience it first hand. You will not be disappointed. Also, don't forget that we can get you a discount on your stay with our ResortQuest referral code!

Photo Location & Credit: 1. (top photo)  Stewart Lake, Seascape, Miramar Beach, FL, photo by Amanda Abbott; 2. (left square) Gulf of Mexico, Miramar Beach, FL, photo by Chef Phil McDonald of Table Five Private Chef + Catering, www.tablefivechef.com; 3. (right square) Gulf of Mexico, sunset view from Grand Dunes Condominium - North Tower #2050, Miramar Beach, FL, photo by Jason Sgobba of Photographer 850, www.photographer850.com; 4. (bottom left) Sunset view from Bud N' Alleys Restaurant, Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, photo by Amanda Abbott; 5. (bottom middle) Gulf of Mexico, Destin, FL, photo by Sylvia Ignas; 6. (bottom right) Western Lake, Scenic Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, photo by Amanda Abbott.