For more information on East Pass Towers or any Luxury condominium on the Emerald Coast contact Steve Brown.

Steve Brown is a 13 year Destin area Realtor at Keller Williams Realty, Emerald Coast specializing in luxury, second and vacation homes. He is the owner of BuyInDestin.com a Full Service Real Estate website offering helpful Real Estate Information and Searches such as: Gated Communities; Best Deals In Destin; Boat Properties; news, tools and much more. He can be reached at 850-376-4761 or by email buyindestin@cox.net

I have a buyer that is looking for a “steal” and he wants to buy in Pelican Beach Condo.  There have been a few recent short sales and a foreclosure sale that have set the bar in the building and my buyer wants to buy a little lower even then current “low” bar.  Seems reasonable right?  The market is still going down so a buyer should not have to pay even what     the most recent sale price was – right?  Well this is not the case when the market has bottomed out and the sellers that are left won’t go any lower which is what has happened recently at Pelican Beach Condo.  We have been making offers to listed property and the sellers are rejecting them outright – they are not going as low as recent sales.  This is a very good sign that the market in Pelican Beach Condo has bottomed out.  Granted there are a few more short sales and possible foreclosure properties that may hit the building so if you are hoping to get  a “steal” a Pelican Beach Condo you are going to need to keep an eye on the short sales and possible foreclosure properties and be ready to act quickly when they come up.   

For more information on short sales and possible foreclosure properties at Pelican Beach Condo simply call Kris Moran at 850-654-3325 or email her at Krismoran@cox.net or visit www.themoranteam.com

Find easy access to all Penthouses on the market along the Emerald Coast at www.BuyInDestin.com/Penthouses 

723 East Pass Towers - Destin, FL - 3BR/3BA, 2,367 sq.ft. $1,790,900 http://ecarmls.com/EmeraldReports/listings.asp?ID=5414882291 Magnificent vistas of Destin’s East Pass, Gulf Beaches and the Harbor. Appointed with mahogany and stainless steel ceilings, Italian mosaic flooring. Designed with gentle curves and arched mahogany doors. Like being on a luxury yacht.

4549 Southwinds II - Sandestin, FL - 5BR/5.4BA, 5,250 sq.ft. $4,390,000 http://ecarmls.com/EmeraldReports/listings.asp?ID=5414882295Occuping the whole 14^th floor, with secure elevator access. 4 private balconies and views of the gulf, beaches, golf courses and Choctawhatchee Bay in Sandestin Resort.  

10 Andante - Seacrest, FL - 4BR/4.5BA, 4,300 sq.ft. $3,850,000 http://ecarmls.com/EmeraldReports/listings.asp?ID=5414882300Only 10 units in this all penthouse project. Appointed with the highest grade appliances and cherry cabinetry. Home theater with leather seating and 110” HD projection. Sitting 40’ above sea level makes for incredible views of the Gulf and private 240’ beach. 

Steve Brown is a 13 year Destin area Realtor at Keller Williams Realty, Emerald Coast specializing in luxury, second and vacation homes. He is the owner of BuyInDestin.com a Full Service Real Estate website offering helpful Real Estate Information and Searches such as: Gated Communities; Best Deals In Destin; Boat Properties; news, tools and much more. He can be reached at 850-376-4761 or by email buyindestin@cox.net

To learn more about how The Moran Team will sell your condo simply call John Moran @ 850-654-3325 or send an email to john@themoranteam.com or visit our website at www.themoranteam.com

Short sales and foreclosures are big buzz words in Real Estate today. A lot of people have heard about short sales, but not too many people, outside of the Real Estate industry, know exactly what they are or how to find them.

Short Sales and Foreclosures can be great deals if you have the patience and the guidance of an experienced Realtor to help you find the right property and assist with negotiations.

I have placed easy access to Short Sales, Foreclosures, REO (Bank Owned Properties), Distressed Real Estate and additional information in and around the Destin, FL area at BestDealsInDestin.com This information is updated constantly.

Steve Brown is a 13 year Destin area Realtor at Keller Williams Realty, Emerald Coast specializing in luxury, second and vacation homes. He is the owner of BuyInDestin.com a Full Service Real Estate website offering helpful Real Estate Information and Searches such as: Gated Communities; Best Deals In Destin; Boat Properties; news, tools and much more. He can be reached at 850-376-4761 or by email buyindestin@cox.net

Short sales are a good way to get a great deal on a condo right now.  A short sale is when the seller owes more for a condo than what the sales price ends up being but the bank that holds the mortgage allows the sale to go through anyway and cut their potential loss if the property goes to foreclosure.  There are no guarantees that the bank will accept a short sale offer but often times they will if an offer falls within a range the bank determines is acceptable based on the current market conditions.   

To see all the condos that are short sales in our area, or if you are interested in selling a condo using a short sale simply call Kris Moran @ 850-654-3325 or send an email to krismoran@cox.net.  Visit the Moran Team at www.themoranteam.com

June 2008 Results:
The Keller Williams Realty Emerald Coast Destin office reported its June results selling over 7 million dollarsin home sales. Our agents have participated in 31 home sales this month which is the most reported by any office associated with the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. With 113 agents, this office has also sold more homes than any other brokerage firm this year to date. Keller Williams agents have participated in 168 transactions so far this year valued at over 46 million. Keller Williams Emerald Coast serves communities from Navarre to Panama City.

Condo-hotel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A condo-hotel, also known as a hotel-condo or a Condotel, is a building used as both a condominium and a hotel.Condo hotels are typically high-rise buildings developed and operated as luxury hotels, usually in major cities and resorts in the US and around the world. These hotels have condominium units which allow someone to own a full-service vacation home. When they aren’t using this home, they can leverage the marketing and management done by the hotel chain to rent and manage the condo unit as it would any other hotel room.^[1]

Financing is generally costlier than for a primary residence. Mortgage rates may be a full point higher, and in the past this was especially true because financial institutions were unfamiliar with the condo hotel concept. Pre-construction purchases require a significant down payment, and buyers won’t see financial return or be able to use their unit until the hotel is completed and ready for operation. Furthermore owners may have to purchase extra insurance to protect against liability claims and some types of damage or loss.

Sue Botelho
Branch Manager/Loan Officer
850-424-6866 Office
904-212-1641 Fax

 One factor to consider before buying a condo is how do you plan on purchasing it - as a primary residence, second home, or as an investment?   1.      If you plan on obtaining financing for your condo be sure to ask your lender if he or she offers different mortgage rates for primary residence, second home or investment properties.

2.      If you plan to purchase a condo as an investment property, you may want to consider placing the unit on a local rental program.  Ask to meet with a rental agent who can guide you in what a Resort Guest wants to see in a condo.  Short term resort rental agencies offer pricing for different seasons and different level units.  A “platinum rated” condo during Memorial Day week will certainly rent out for more than an average unit on a non holiday week.

3.      Ask your rental agent how you can decorate your condo to have the “luxury hotel” feeling.  It may seem like extra money upfront to decorate to high standards but remember that if guests enjoyed their stay in your condo, they will want to book year after year with you!

4.      If you plan to only use your condo for your family and friends you may choose to decorate in a manner which suits you, in other words, more personalized décor.

5.      Consult with your accountant on how the IRS views a second home versus and investment property.  Consider the fact that there is a homestead property tax exemption available in the state of Florida for primary homes.

Now may be your chance to have that dream home on the water when a few years back this dream may have seemed unobtainable.  If you would like to explore these areas in more detail simply call Shari Gross at Cell: (850) 376-5406 or send me an email Shari@ShariGrossRealtor.com and I will be glad to help. Or search for all condos at www.ShariGrossRealtor.com

1. Find a Realtor who is familiar with the area and various condominium buildings.  One Realtor, your buyer’s agent, can show you many condos in one day.  This is sometimes tricky because many units are rented and the only time to see the unit is during the “turnover”.  But this is good because the condos are generating income through rentals for the owners!   

1. Ask to see more than one unit in each building if possible, that way you can compare the views, and location to the elevator, garbage chute, and stairs! 

1. Ask your Realtor for an “Agency agreement”.  This will explain if the Realtor is working as a single agent or transaction broker. 

1. Plan on taking notes on the print-out sheet of each unit listing! After seeing about 3-4 condos, it is very difficult to remember which unit had the best view, granite counter tops, or that bad décor. 

1. Talk with your agent ahead of time to determine what factors are most important to you such as: direct Gulf or Bay view, location of building, floor level, floor plan, ceiling height, number of bedrooms, number of baths, updated kitchen, elegant furnishings, and price. 

 Of course all buyers want the best unit at a great bargain but sometimes if a buyer is willing to compromise a little, he or she can get a great condo at a great price.  If you would like to explore these areas in more detail simply give me a call at Cell: (850) 376-5406 or send me an email Shari@ShariGrossRealtor.com and I will be glad to help. Or search for all condos at www.ShariGrossRealtor.com

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