Summer may be coming to a close on the coast, but the fun continues beyond the season’s end! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into September!

Longleaf Restoration Project at Grayton Beach State Park Sep 16

https://sowal.com/story/longleaf-restoration-project-at-grayton-beach-state-park-sep-16

After two years of construction, the Duplin Winery is open for business in Panama City Beach!

https://pcbeach.lifemediagrp.com/duplin-winery-is-the-newest-pcb-attraction/

Okaloosa and Walton Counties send help following Hurricane Idalia aftermath

…

249 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Summer may be coming to a close on the coast, but the fun continues beyond the season’s end! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into September!

Okaloosa and Walton Counties send help following Hurricane Idalia aftermath

https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/local/2023/08/31/okaloosa-and-walton-counties-send-help-after-hurricane-idalia/70719817007/

A Destin Tradition Celebrating 45 Years! Destin Seafood Festival Oct. 6-8

https://destin.lifemediagrp.com/a-destin-tradition-celebrating-45-years/

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will usher in the fall 2023 cultural arts season with something new ... and salty! Inaugural Salt Water Music Fest Oct 12-14

…

208 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Plenty of people are still moving these days. And if you’re thinking of making a move yourself, you may be considering the inventory and affordability challenges in the housing market and wondering what you can do to help offset those. A new report from Gravy Analytics provides insight into where people are searching for homes and what they’re prioritizing most right now. That information could help you plan your own move.

1. People Are Moving to Cities with Lower Housing Costs

One big factor motivating where buyers are going is affordability and that’s no big surprise. People are relocating to areas that have less expensive housing options. As a result, small cities are thriving. Hannah Jones, Economics Data Analyst…

279 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house right now? The short answer is, yes. Especially if you consider how few homes there are for sale today.

You may have heard inventory is low right now, but you may not fully realize just how low or why that’s a perk when you go to sell your house. This graph from Calculated Risk can help put that into perspective: 

As the graph shows, while housing inventory did grow slightly week-over-week (shown in the blue bar), overall supply is still low (shown in the red bars). Compared to the same week last year, supply is down roughly 10% – and it was already considered low at that time. But, if you look further back, you’ll see inventory is down even more significantly.

To gauge just how…

301 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

 

If you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years. Equity builds over time as home values grow and as you pay down your home loan. And, since home prices skyrocketed during the ‘unicorn’ years, you’ve likely gained more than you think.

According to the latest Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner has more than $274,000 in equity right now. That much equity can help you achieve certain goals. In a recent article, Bankrate elaborates: 

“While the pandemic created serious challenges, the silver lining for anyone who owned a home was the sizable equity gain. Understanding how home equity works, and how to leverage it, is important for any homeowner.”

Here are…

249 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, summer has graced us with its radiant presence! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into August!

Walton County predicts 2023 tourism season to be the biggest in years

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/walton-county/walton-county-predicts-2023-tourism-season-to-be-the-biggest-in-years/

Black Creek Music Festival, Walton County's Newest Music Event, Is Taking Place August 18–20 At The Outpost

https://www.emeraldcoastmagazine.com/black-creek-music-festival/

Seaside eateries make Southern Living’s top 20 on 30A

https://seasidefl.com/news/seaside-eateries-make-southern-livings-top-20-on-30a

Now…

440 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, summer has graced us with its radiant presence! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into August!

Whale shark spotted off the coast of Destin

https://www.al.com/news/2023/07/watch-fishermen-encounter-a-whale-shark-off-the-coast-of-destin.html

Capt. Royal Melvin Heritage Park is officially open in Destin

https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/news/local/2023/07/20/capt-royal-melvin-heritage-park-is-now-open-in-destin/70424695007/?itm_medium=recirc&itm_source=taboola&itm_campaign=internal&itm_content=BelowGalleryFeed-FeedRedesign

Special Operations Command will remain at Okaloosa's Hurlburt Field

…

396 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time.

Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of Income Level

You may be surprised to learn homeowners across various income levels have a much higher net worth than renters who make the same amount. Data from First American helps illustrate this point (see graph below):

What makes wealth so much higher for homeowners? A recent article from Realtor.com says:

“Homeownership has long been tied to building wealth—and for good reason. Instead of throwing rent…

443 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post