Realty Executives Gulf Coast
Traveling to the Alabama Gulf Coast doesn’t have to exclude the family pet. There are several places more than willing to make the whole family, including pets, feel welcomed.
Wanting to stop and get a bite to eat? According to the site, www.bringfido.com, these restaurants allow your dog, on a leash, to join you. For Gulf Shores listings view here. There are four restaurants listed including Bills on the Beach and The Flying Harpoon. To find out if The Hangout or LuLu’s allows pets, give them a call a couple of days ahead of your plans to check.
Orange Beach has twice as many pet friendly destinations. For the complete list, see here. Some favorites include Cosmos Restaurant and Bar, Flippers Seafood and Oyster Bar and The Southern Grind Coffee House. For Perdido, click here, include The Flora-Bama Yacht Club and the Sunset Grille.
Looking for a pet friendly place to stay? No problem. There are several to choose from but always call ahead and check to avoid a vacation catastrophe. Reed Vacation Rentals lists several pet friendly homes. Tripadvisor also has the top 10 pet friendly rentals, see here. From waterfront condos with boat slips to cottages with Little Lagoon access, there’s something to suit your needs. Sunset Properties also has several listings, see here. Picard Realty Rentals includes a couple of properties that allow for small dogs under 20 pounds, see here. REMEMBER to always call before you book a property online if you are bringing a pet. All rentals made with pets must be approved by each rental agency according to their own bylaws and and covenants.
Pets need a little fun too. The Gulf Shores Dog Park at 308 Clubhouse Drive, Gulf Shores, is open from dusk to dawn. Fenced in with plenty of shade and water, the simple layout allows dogs to play without their leash. Orange Beach’s Unleashed Dog Park is located at 27920 Canal Road. The park is also fenced with water stations and almost an acre of shade for you and your pet. Please be aware of all rules and regulations, see here.
The Gulf State Park Dog Pond located at Lake Shelby is reached by turning left when you enter the parking lot. The dog park is at the end of the parking lot/road. Permits can be purchased at the pier, park headquarters, and the campground. $2 Daily Pass $7.50 Weekly Pass 17.50 Monthly and $35 Yearly. Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to sunset and all dogs must be current on all vaccinations, be wearing an owner identification tag at all times, and must be leashed when entering and exiting the Dog Park. There are several other rules and regulations that can be checked here.
Be aware that the safety of your pet, other park visitors, and the natural wildlife are always considered to be the top priority. Owners are required to be present and alert at all times and to respect the Gulf State Park’s Leave Only Footprints initiative.
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry trails offer miles of walking for exercise. Water and waste stations are conveniently located throughout. All pets must be on a leash. For rules and regulations and a printable map, see here.
The last thing you want to do on vacation is make an emergency trip to the vet. But thankfully, our area is very blessed with quality service. Make sure you bring important documentation, suggestions are below.
Suggested Puppy Packing List:
Local Veterinarians with reviews from Yelp, see here.
If you find that you or your pet never want to leave our beautiful area, give me a call, text, or email today. I’ll be happy to help you find that perfect home for both of you.
Last month Baldwin County was dubbed “Alabama’s Undisputed King of Growth,” by AL.com’s John Sharp. He made a pretty good case stating that Baldwin County’s population has grown by some 21,444 since 2010. This places Baldwin County as the fastest growing county in the whole state of Alabama. Slightly behind Madison and Lee Counties, these three make up for 49% of all the state’s population growth.
What this transcends into is an increase of 6% in home sales. The number of residential sales shows a 39% rise since 2011, according to the Baldwin County Association of Realtors. What’s more, it’s not stopping. Baldwin County averaged 3,000 new residents in 2015. Each year shows a steady increase in home sales as well as population growth.
The average time for homes to stay on the market in March was close to 145 days compared to 173 days in 2012. The Average days on the market for April increased by 20. Prices have settled and seem stagnant but gone are the days of foreclosures. These are few and far between. Prices for new homes have decreased to an average sale figure of $233,618 from $235,768. However used home prices have increased to an average of $249,004 from $231,702 in March.
New listings in April took a dip of around 90 less than annual average and March’s new listing numbers. Used home listings reached an all time low in April with an average of 3,243 for all of Baldwin County. New home listings were at around 448 at the end of April. Keeping inventory continues to be a real need.
Local industries such as Airbus, the University of South Alabama and UTC Aerospace Systems in Foley have added new jobs at an amazing rate, which in turn creates a higher demand in home sales. The projection of individuals hitting retirement age of 65 by the United States Statistics board gives a number of some 60 million by 2020. This phenomena is also a contributing factor in home sales. Baldwin County is becoming a strong leader in the places retirees are heading. Snowbirds are another factor that will support more growth in the coming months as retirement allows them more freedom. The Alabama Gulf Coast has long been a favorite among snowbirds.
What does this all mean. It means that the Alabama Gulf Coast continues to grow and offers an affordable, safe community to live, vacation or invest in.
If you are in the market to sell or purchase property along the Alabama Gulf Coast, give me a call today. I have the experience to help you make the right decision that bests fits your lifestyle.
Has it always been your dream to purchase a beachfront home? Maybe you want to escape the hectic lifestyle and want to create your own fortress of solitude, only much, much warmer. If you’re looking for a place for your family to make new memories, enjoy the sun, the waves, and white sugar beaches, then the Alabama Gulf Coast has what you’re looking for.
But what do you need to consider before making a life changing purchase? You don’t want your dream to become a nightmare. Being realistic doesn’t have to dampen the excitement or success of owning a piece of paradise. So let’s take inventory and get you suited up for your next adventure.
Researching your future dream home paradise is a must. Here are a few questions to ask yourself about the property in mind.
Neighbors and neighborhoods are vital to your peaceful abode. Do your homework. Look up the crime information on city data. Introduce yourself to those while you are looking. Get a feel of the community by driving through at different times on different days. You don’t want to move in next to Lex Luthor. Ask these questions?
Beachfront vs. Beach Access. Enjoying a coastal community doesn’t have to mean being on the water and some of the most desirable communities are off the water with access. What do you need to consider?
Affordability vs Overextending. Be sure to talk with a mortgage company early on and get yourself pre qualified. Like any other purchase, there’s always a few extra costs that are unexpected. Ask yourself these questions?
Dreams do come true. Whether your new home will be your primary or secondary residence, and/or something you plan on keeping as a family inheritance, or potential source of rental income, this decision should be a well thought out purchase from all angles. Being diligent with your research will pay off in the end. Your beach home should be a place of rest and relaxation, a foundation from which many memories are made for years and years to come.
Don’t let bad decisions ruin your ability to enjoy your investment. Having yourself armed with information will always go in your favor. No need to let a little hidden kryptonite spoil your happy ending.
Play it safe and be smart about your purchase. Be prepared so that when the worst case scenario happens you won’t be caught off-guard and you and your new home will be able to bask in the warm sunshine rejuvenating the way superman does. Because that’s what you’ll feel like after making the perfect purchase.
There’s a lot of new construction going on along the Alabama Gulf Coast. New homes are popping up in Craft Farms and Craft Farms North, Crimson Ridge, Osprey Landing, The Retreat at Bon Secour, Andhurst Walk, The Peninsula, Cypress Village, Stonegate Estates, Pass Time Cottages, Cottages at Romar, The Cottages at Lagoon Pass, not to mention the stand alones in West Beach, Orange Beach, or Bear Point. New condominiums are also underway with The Beach Life Condominiums, Phoenix Gulf Shores, The Cottages at West Beach, and The Rookery III. Plans for several others are undergoing approval.
What are the influencing factors for this growth spurt?
Alabama Real Estate shows home appreciation rates increasing by 3 percent.
Predictions for the housing market value index shows a 3.6 percent increase for 2016. Alabama’s prices still provide a buyer’s market compared to other states.
Statistics show that the average days for listings on the market have dropped to 101 days instead of 142 days at the beginning of 2015. Rental units are in strong demand around the country and with a 40 percent rental population along the coast, construction for new apartments and condos are on the rise for 2016.
The foreclosure rate of 5.8 homes per 1,000 in Alabama is slightly higher than the national average of 3.8 per 1,000. With the attention from the BP Oil Spill, the once little known Alabama Gulf is now known abroad making several other headlines such as Good Morning’s Fire-Rescue America Video Challenge, Best Seafood Restaurants, not to forget the Hangout Festival which draws tens of thousands to the coast each May.
Strong job markets are influencing the need for more housing in Alabama.
Baldwin County’s ethnically diversity - Mobile is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country - makes it an attractive move for the younger working class.
City and State taxes are some of the friendliest in the nation. State income tax: 2 percent to 5 percent. State sales tax: 4 percent. Mean property tax rate as a percentage of mean home value: 0.40 percent, but seniors 65 and older do not pay state property tax. Property tax ranking: No. 49 (with one being the highest and 50 the lowest.) Estate tax: None—but taxpayers pay a "pickup" tax for state death taxes. Inheritance tax: None.
Despite interest rate hikes and predictions of increase, the rates are have actually dropped again. For those that have been waiting to purchase a new home or sell an existing home, chances are now is a great time to do so rather than later. We’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have on either end. Give us a call today.
Condominium sales along the Alabama Gulf Coast have steadily risen over the last year from 1124 to 1190 sold units. September’s sales resulted in 118 units sold, certainly a new direction from several years ago. Compared with only twelve months ago, sales have jumped up 20% from 993 sold units to 1,190 as of September with another 197 units pending.
Average sale prices have also increased from $300,730 to $313,202 which shows a slight 4% increase from 2014. Average price per square foot rose from $218 to $236 with a 10% increase in median price from $250,000 to $275,000. (This excludes Phoenix West II.)
What’s not increasing is the supply. The overall inventory decreased by 2.4% leaving those looking for a condo scratching their head and possibly plunging into one that didn’t exactly fit their dreams. A dip in inventory following the month of August each year seems to be consistent with past condo data provided by the Alabama Center for Real Estate. The peak year for condos on the market was 2010 with 1,594 units which creates a 35.3% inventory decrease for our present day sales. What makes this interesting is the the demand is by far overwhelming what’s available. This is inconsistent with past records.
With the contrasting historical seasonal buying trends, condo sales have steadily increased instead of decreasing for the month of September. Prices also are staying steady or slightly increasing in some marketing areas.
According to Condo Owner, Bargain hunting for condos is becoming harder and harder as inventory shrinks and closings become a daily event. Foreclosures, once dramatically impacting coastal sales, are becoming a thing of the past which in retrospect is music to the ears of owners and investors.
Real Estate continues to provide a solid financial investment. Investors hanging on to a property for a couple of years can receive much higher returns than most other investments. If you own a condo and have considered putting it on the market, now is definitely the time to do so. WIth sale prices on the upswing and buyer demands rising with inventory shrinking, this could be an excellent opportunity to cash in. With new construction on the horizon with sparkling new units becoming available, selling could be a wise move.
Call us today and we will be happy to sit down with you. We’ll provide the most up-to-date information to help you make a sound financial decision about your property. We’ll also guide you through each process with one of our many professional real estate agents.
Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
