Gena Bolton's Real Estate Blog - Your Sandestin, Destin and South Walton-30A Real Estate Resource.

Laurel Grove Home for Sale in Sandestin

7/31/2020

1369 W Ravens Run, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
$594,900.00 - 3 beds 3 baths 1,880 sq ft

Sit on the BACK PORCH and EXPERIENCE one of the most SERENE getaways - PRICELESS! Indulge in the feeling of privacy, nestled among the trees, in the midst of popular Laurel Grove. Enjoy peaceful views from an open floor plan with soaring cathedral ceilings. Take in Lake Views, as well as the first fairway and third green of the renowned Ravens Golf Course. This home is one of the few with a GOLF CART STORAGE ROOM. Third Bedroom is upstairs with full bath and walk-in closet. Kitchen has an island and breakfast bar. Well-Maintained Second Home. Stack Washer/Dryer does convey. In 2019 New Coil on inside A/C, New Ceiling Fans, New Kitchen Sink Erator Disposal, Upstairs' Windows Replaced w/Hurricane Impact Double Hung Windows, Exterior Painted, both porch steps rebuilt.

click here for more info

Magnolia Harbor Navarre Florida

7/15/2020

Magnolia Harbor Navarre Florida

Luxury Custom-built Mediterranean style Home situated on Double Lot. Only 2 blocks to Community Boardwalk access to Santa Rosa Sound & approx 4.7 miles to the Beach.  This Gorgeous Home situated in a quiet neighborhood offers features galore, ASK agent for FEATURES SHEET to see the MANY reasons to make this your home! For example: 14 ft. exquisite coffered, dropped & raised trey ceilings w/faux finish & decorative crown moldings, in-wall sound & security sys/cameras, Gourmet kitchen with Custom Cabinets, granite counter-tops, SS appliances, island, & walk-in pantry. Master Bdrm has large Walk-in Closet w/built-ins, bidet, jetted tub, Oversized shower. Picturesque large screened lanai has a wet bar, in-ground gunite heated saltwater pool w/waterfall & tropical landscape

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

need to sell your home

4/18/2020

Selling or need to sell your home?

Here are three tips to getting your home sold faster.

Tip #1: Hire A Pro
The housing market is tough and the competition is fierce. Being aware of how much a home is worth before putting it on the market can save money, time, and frustration. For this reason, it’s wise to hire a professional real estate agent.

Real estate agents know the market. There is a lot of work involved with selling a home. Real estate agents know about property trends, how to research the market, and how to find the best value for a home. They can price homes competitively to entice potential buyers instead of scaring them away.
They know how to make a home more appealing to potential buyers. Homeowners should make sure their homes are clean and clutter free before listing them on the market. A real estate agent may even suggest hiring a home stager. Staging a house may cause a higher closing price and staged homes tend to sell an average of 81% faster.
Real estate agents know how to find the right buyers. It isn’t enough to list a home, put up for sale signs and hope the right buyer appears. Real estate agents conduct a screening process for potential buyers. With the knowledge of a home’s actual market value, the agent is armed with all the information he or she needs to get the most money for your home and negotiate fairly.

Tip #2: Improve the Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is the first impression, so it's important to make it a good one. Try these simple budget upgrades to give your home the "WOW" factor that buyers are looking for!

Crystal clean. As simple as it sounds, it is extremely important to make sure your house is nice and clean on the outside. Don't forget about the exterior!
Knock knock. Another important design feature of your outer home is the front door as it is one of the only features of the exterior that buyers will be forced to look at up-close. A new door will not only look great from the curb, but also the details of its quality will inevitably be seen by anyone who enters the home. Make sure your door is in tip-top shape before you start your showings!
Raise the roof!: If your roof isn't in good condition or looks like it isn't in good condition, then an upgrade may be needed. Most buyers are quickly turned off when they see a roof that's in poor condition because it can be an expensive fix.
Fantastic furniture. Patio furniture is an easy and inexpensive way to differentiate your home from the rest! Add a pop of color to a neutral-colored house by placing vibrant chairs and planters on the front porch as featured pieces, or add a cute table and chairs to your lawn to show how useful the space can be. That being said, be careful not to overdo it, as too much patio furniture or potted plants may give the illusion that your home is cluttered, which is a major no-no in the real estate world.

Tip #3: Stage Your Home To Sell
There are many great ways to stage your home that will immediately interest viewers, but some have the power to engage the senses and impress potential buyers all the more.

Use textures and fabrics that complement. There is most likely a certain kind of buyer you'll have in mind when deciding to stage your home, so it's important to keep in mind how your house might appear to them. While differing textures and fabrics can certainly add depth and character to a home, you'll want to ensure they are also flattering to each other and compliment the style already apparent in your design aesthetic.
Keep a handle on the accessories. Instead of going for big, over-the-top pieces, stick to a style that's neat and tidy with some quaint accents that will play it up. A few brightly cultured coffee table books or a quirky light fixture can go a long way in adding interest to your living space!

Reach out to me today for more information.

Summer is Almost Here

4/17/2020

BAYSIDE CONDO SANDESTIN

4/12/2020

6th Floor ''A'' Rated Unit with endless Bay Views! New Flooring (12mm Waterproof Luxury Vinyl Plank)! Mattresses new in 2018 -- This unit is turnkey furnished and ready to enjoy - with History: 2019 Gross Rental Income $30,270.16 (with 214 Guest Nights / 4 Owner Nights) -- 2018 Gross Rental Income $28,129.16 (with 201 Guest Nights / 10 Owner Nights) - Bayside includes elevators, an indoor and outdoor lounge area, beautiful bay-front pool deck with spectacular Bay views. - A great location adjoining Sunset Bay Cafe, Linkside Conference Center, Sandestin Fitness and Sandestin Spa & Salon. -- Conveniently across from The Links Course at Sandestin - named one of the ''Top Five Golf Courses in Northwest Florida'' and one of the ''Top 100 Courses in Florida'' by Florida Golf News.

$140,000.00

All Bayside Listings

True Super Hero

4/6/2020

Seascape Resort Condo

3/27/2020

Wonderful newly remodeled, my compliments to sellers for creating an outstanding unit. It's a joy working with you both.

We are in this together

3/26/2020

While we exercise wisdom in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, we know that divine health and protection is from Jesus. Let’s continue to trust in His promises of protection in Psalm 91 for ourselves, our families, and all those who are affected by illness and pray that the virus will be contained and conquered.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. Psalm 91:9–10

Wash Your Hands PLEASE

3/25/2020

All Public Beaches Closed for 30 Days

3/21/2020

On Thursday morning, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners decided to close all public beaches for 30 days.

The commissioners then tasked the Sheriff’s Office with enforcing the emergency ordinance. A few hours after the meeting finished, Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Jr. called a news conference to discuss how they would go about the challenge.
He says their first step was to educate the beach goers on the new ordinance. “That’s first and foremost. Keep in mind this is a customer service oriented business. We have to let people know there has been a change.” He says, for the most part, people have listened to the deputies patrolling the sands.“They’re not pleased but they understand and they’re complying. That’s what we want. We are looking for voluntary compliance. I want to be clear; we are not dragging people off the beach in handcuffs.” If you choose not to be compliant, you will be handed a misdameanor charge.
“No we would not, typically speaking, take those folks out to jail. We would issue a notice to appear, a summons, things of that nature. The Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with community partners like the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) will be working together to keep individuals off public beaches.

A good sign though, Sheriff Adkinson says local business owners he’s spoken with want to help uphold the closures and hopes the rental property owners do the same.
“We need our vacation rental folks to be honest and tell these folks that the beaches are closed. Do not continue to advertise and fill houses with 20-30 people, come down here and let them take the money. The beach is closed for that standpoint.”
Signs will go up on Friday morning starting at 5:00 a.m. at every public beach access point in the county. Adkinson says their main goal is compliance but the law will be enforced. He also encourages everyone, the only way to get through this pandemic is by doing it as a team. We’ve got to get through this and the only way we’ll get through this working as good neighbors and with cooperation.”
The emergency ordinance is in effect for 30 days however, the commission can revisit the matter at any time. They can also choose to extend it if needed.

30A TROLLEY TOURS - HOP-ON HOP-OFF

3/6/2020

30A TROLLEY TOURS - HOP-ON/HOP-OFF

Click here for more info

Trolley Tours are available to public between March – October of 2020
Educational, affordable, and timely guided tours drive through 12 unique beach communities along 30A. Learn unspoken truths about Santa Rosa Beach and the unique connection our beach communities have to Florida’s environment and endangered coastal wildlife. Trolley route runs from East to West along 30A, starting in Gulf Place and ending in Inlet Beach.
TICKET OPTIONS:
$5 – ONE WAY
$15 – DAY PASS
$35 – WEEK PASS
(850) 865-5145

How do I pay for my tickets?
"Tickets can be purchased from participating merchants, vacation rental companies, our online store, or paid in cash to the conductors.
*Should you pay via the website you will be asked to show your confirmation for issuance of a paper ticket and pass validation"

When will the beach trolley tours begin?

Beach trolley tours will officially launch on March 15th and run through October 31st

How do a reserve a trolley for a private event?

Trolleys can be reserved for weddings, pub crawls or other private events by calling (850) 865-5145.

How many beach trolleys are there?

We have 4 open-air trolleys for the ongoing trolley tours, and 2 private air-conditioned event trolleys available to book.

Are dogs allowed on the Trolley?

Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome. Owners are responsible for their dogs and we reserve the right to ask the owner to leave the trolley if the dogs is a nuance to other riders.

What is the route your beach trolley tours will take?

The beach trolley tours operate in a continuous loop, stopping at each of the twelve 30A beach communities, from Gulf place to The 30A Avenue in Inlet Beach.

How will the new FICO scoring impact credit scores?

3/2/2020

FICO 10-T will take into account 24 months' worth of trended data.

Info from Fox News 2/2/2020
About 80 million people will see a shift of 20 points or more in their credit scores thanks to the new models, according to FICO. Of those, about half will see their scores go up and the other half will see a drop.

For example, consumers who consolidate their credit card debt into personal loans, only to then go on and run up new balances, will be judged more harshly under the new FICO rules.

In addition, rather than looking at a month-long snapshot of consumers’ credit habits, FICO 10-T will take into account 24 months' worth of trended data. It will indicate, for instance, if you have a history of paying your balances on time or if your credit utilization has a tendency to spike over the holidays, but remains low for the rest of the year.

This data is thought to be more predictive of a consumer's overall spending habits, which will give lenders a clearer picture of how clients manage their credit long-term and allow them to better assess risk levels when making lending decisions. Read more at the Fox News Article - Click Button Below

FOX NEWS Article

Vintij Restaurant Grand Blvd

2/27/2020

Vin’tij - Corks & Forks

This past Monday night we went to Vin’tij with friends for Corks & Forks. They offer three courses’ and they match a different wine for each course. All this for only $30.00!

We enjoy Vin’tji anytime and it has become one our favorite places to eat. This is where we will take friends and family when they come to visit. By drawing on local flavors it has also become one of the preeminent restaurants on the Emerald Coast. We love the classy fashionable “casual” atmosphere and their attention to the guest experience. We have eaten in a few Michelin Star restaurants, most recently in Napa and they surely deserve the stars as they deliver a superb eating experience but I can a sure you Vin’tij will remind you of these restaurants.

We had reservations for four (always a good idea) when we arrived they were expecting us and greeted us with a smile and took us to our table. We decided we would sit in the bar area so we could talk and it would be ok if we were a little louder. Our waitress was delightful and recognized we wanted time to visit and never made us feel rushed.

The opening course was Hummus - Roasted Tomatoes, Toasted Almonds, Lemon Zest, Olive Oil with a sumptuous Chateau Le Freynelle Sauvignon Blanc.

Vin’tji has a respectable and robust wine list that surpasses exceptions’

Our entrée was delicious Sausage Cacciatore with house made Italian Sausage, Bell Peppers, Yellow Onions, Spaghetti, and Shredded Parmesan. They only use fresh quality ingredients and shows with a palate pleasing and flavorful meal and the wine was an exquisite - Matchbook Tempranillo.
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The dessert was a magnificent a Black Forest Creme Brulee with Sweet Pickled Strawberries and matched with Zardetto Prosecco.

A wonderful dinner with friends, I don’t believe you can find a better experience, thanks Vin’tij
.
https://vintij.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Vintijfoodandwine/posts/

February 2020 Newsletter

2/23/2020

EXCITING LOCAL EVENTS

February 28th | 7a-9p | Taste of the Race with Emeril Lagasse | Seaside
February 29th | 12p-4p | Shrimp & Grits Festival | Harborwalk Village

Destin-Sandestin-30A Condos for sale

2/20/2020

Are you looking for view that only a condo can provide?
Click links below or let me send you a list that fits your needs.

If you are ready to sell please call me and let me show you what we can do!

Sandestin Real Estate and Miramar Beach Real Estate
                                                Condo's & Town Homes

Destin Real Estate
  Condo's & Town Homes

30A Real Estate and South Walton County Real Estate
                                               Condo's & Town Homes

Seascape Resort 146 Sandpiper Bay

2/17/2020

Seascape Resort - Miramar Beach Fl;
Come see this this newly remodeled second-floor condo 2BR/2BA $289,900

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES

30A Wine Festival

2/15/2020

30A Wine Festival a GREAT event for a GREATER cause. The five-days of fun will benefit the Children’s Volunteer Health Network. Next time you go to the dentist, take a minute or two and think how many children in our community can't afford the simplest of treatment. Together we can make a difference. If you are unable to attend you can make a donation below.

Click Image to Donate

TICKETS

Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc. is a faith-based organization, established in 2005 in direct response to Walton and Okaloosa County’s large population of low income families who are unable to access high quality health services due to the unavailability (or inadequacy) of insurance. CVHN provides children in need the opportunity to flourish by facilitating health and wellness services via our Mobile Dental Clinic and partnerships with local providers. CVHN delivers access to free dental and vision care services to over 1,000 children enrolled in school in Walton and Okaloosa Counties who are on the free or reduced lunch programs.

For more information, call 850.622.3200 or visit cvhnkids.org.

The Allure of a Second Home

2/13/2020

When it comes to real estate, their similarities remain strong. In this report we will answer the following questions specifically about their behavior in the hot, high-end second home market:
Click for report

Valentine Tour of Homes

2/8/2020

Click here to see more

Local Area Directory

2/1/2020

Florida VA Home Loan Benefit

1/23/2020

On Jan. 1, 2020, it became easier for you to use your VA home loan benefit to purchase, refinance, or construct a home with no down payment, regardless of the cost of the home. The VA home county loan limits were eliminated as part of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 for Veterans and service members with full entitlement.

Historically, VA only guaranteed home loans up to the county conforming loan limits (CLL) as determined by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. These loan limits reflect the changes in average U.S. home prices at the county level. If you chose to purchase, refinance, or construct a home above the CLL, the lender would likely require a down payment from you before they would choose to close on the loan. In counties such as San Diego, Calif., or Arlington, Va., the limit is much higher to reflect the average cost of a home. This meant that when using your VA benefit, the lender–not VA–would require you to pay up to a 25% down payment on any amount above the county limit.

As of January 1, first-time homebuyers, or homebuyers who have sold their home and have full benefit entitlement available, will no longer have to worry about loan limits or down payment requirements when purchasing, refinancing, or constructing a new home.

When purchasing another home using your VA loan Conforming loan limits will impact those who want to purchase a second (or subsequent) home using a VA home loan. For those that currently have a VA home loan and plan to keep it and purchase a new home using a VA-backed loan that is more than $144,000, the rules are different.

You must be able to afford all the loans at the time of closing.
The next home you purchase must be your primary residence.
VA may be able to back the next loan, but it will depend on your remaining entitlement and the conforming loan limit (CLL) for your county.

Your basic VA home loan entitlement starts at $36,000 and goes up to 25% of the loan amount. The amount remaining on your entitlement after purchasing your first home will impact how much of a down payment will be required for your next purchase.
If the county CLL is $500,000 and your last loan was for $500,000, then you have no entitlement remaining.

If your first loan was for $200,000 and the second is for $400,000, the CLL for your next home would need to be at least $600,000 if you want the no-down payment option, otherwise you’ll have to pay a down payment on the amount above the CLL. Note that the county that will determine your loan limit is the county in which your next home is located.

In practice we’ve come up with more examples of how this would work in practice, which can be seen here.

As each case is different, your first step should be to request your certificate of eligibility, which will show your remaining VA home loan entitlement. If you need assistance determining what this means for you, reach out to your lender or a VA loan specialist.

As with any home loan decision, you should speak with your lender(s) or a loan specialist at your VA Regional Loan Center to go over your options when purchasing your next home.

Only you can determine what is best for your personal and financial needs.
Whatever the case, speaking to a loan professional about your options and shopping around for the best situation for you is key.

Remember, the VA Home Loan Program staff are here to assist you. For more information on VA home loans go to: www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans.

Author

VAntagePoint Contributor

December 2019 Market Snapshot

1/18/2020

Hammock Bay - Buxtons Mill

12/27/2019

Buxton's Mill in Hammock Bay
- by Truland Homes

Referrals are the biggest compliment that any realtor can receive. A past client and dear friends referred me to help their daughter and her husband moving here from another state - find the prefect home for their family. They are a terrific couple and it was privilege working with them. ENJOY YOUR NEW HOME!

Magnolia Bay in Sandestin

12/27/2019

Magnolia Bay Lane, Sandestin

It was my pleasure and a real joy assisting this couple in purchasing this beautiful home in Magnolia Bay - Sandestin.

This is the time of year for gift giving

12/17/2019

'Sweet Gift' Featuring Kermit, Gonzo - showing us that it is TRULY the thought and we should be grateful that someone was thinking of us. Merry Christmas

We went to a Ugly Sweater Christmas Party!
How did we do?