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School me on the Florida Panhandle
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:19 pm
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:19 pm
My wife and I are in the very initial stages of searching for a vacation home. Whether it's a single-family, condo or townhouse, we are flexible. However, we'd love to find a warmer place that can be an escape from Chicago. Neither of us are too familiar with the Florida Panhandle, but the region intrigues us. Would love to get some opinions on what may fit best - we're 32 and 31 and like going to bars/restaurants, but do enjoy plenty of quiet, too. We understand December - February can get chilly. Any towns that we should consider?
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Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:26 pm to hoopsgalore
Prices are through the roof right now. I wouldn’t recommend something directly on the gulf. Get a nice townhouse on one of the bays. This will save lots of money on insurance and initial buying costs.
This post was edited on 8/8/22 at 4:19 pm
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:33 pm to Riolobo
Totally understand - something imminent seems unlikely, as we are very aware of the market right now. However, as we started looking at warm weather places, came to realize that the Florida Panhandle is an area we don't know much about.
Really just wanted a sense of where a younger couple should be looking / visiting.
Really just wanted a sense of where a younger couple should be looking / visiting.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:39 pm to hoopsgalore
You looking to be directly on the water, or easy walk to the beach? budget? number of bedrooms?
There are certain areas with a lot more condos on the beach (destin, orange beach alabama) and then there are the 30A places which is has a lot more houses within walking distance of the beach. Destin, Panama City, Orange beach are all built up a lot more with more stuff going on, but also a lot more people. Places like seaside are more laid back and smaller. Really depends on what you are looking for as to where you would be looking.
There are certain areas with a lot more condos on the beach (destin, orange beach alabama) and then there are the 30A places which is has a lot more houses within walking distance of the beach. Destin, Panama City, Orange beach are all built up a lot more with more stuff going on, but also a lot more people. Places like seaside are more laid back and smaller. Really depends on what you are looking for as to where you would be looking.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:40 pm to hoopsgalore
With your overall lack of experience I would find a realtor that specializes on gulf coast properties if you are making that type of investment.
With condos you have to deal with all the do's and don'ts of that particular condo. No different than a HOA which can be a nightmare with these vacation properties that are also used as rentals.
I agree with something on the bayside, you are just one hurricane away from disaster if you are on the beach side.
Also, see if there is a local group from your area that you could hook up with, makes it easier to be in a group type situation as well. When you have people you trust it makes it easier to make that investment and you are doing it with like kind of individuals. I know a group that went in on a condo with people in their home town and the setup works great.
With condos you have to deal with all the do's and don'ts of that particular condo. No different than a HOA which can be a nightmare with these vacation properties that are also used as rentals.
I agree with something on the bayside, you are just one hurricane away from disaster if you are on the beach side.
Also, see if there is a local group from your area that you could hook up with, makes it easier to be in a group type situation as well. When you have people you trust it makes it easier to make that investment and you are doing it with like kind of individuals. I know a group that went in on a condo with people in their home town and the setup works great.
This post was edited on 8/8/22 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:54 pm to Hermit Crab
quote:
You looking to be directly on the water, or easy walk to the beach? budget? number of bedrooms?
Flexible to being on the water or an easy walk / bike ride to the beach. Prefer to keep budget $500K or under, and I don't think either of us have much issue with some renovations. Two bedrooms is what I'm seeing available within our budget, which suits us just fine. We have a three bed condo in Chicago, and I anticipate this will be a bit more minimal than what we live in day-to-day.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 1:57 pm to nicholastiger
quote:
With your overall lack of experience I would find a realtor that specializes on gulf coast properties if you are making that type of investment.
Definitely going to find a realtor. Wasn't aware certain realtors focus on all Gulf Coast properties, but I guess that makes sense for any vacation destination. This is why I like the preliminary help from this board.
quote:
I agree with something on the bayside, you are just one hurricane away from disaster if you are on the beach side.
Helpful tip. Like I said, I am so, so new to the Gulf Coast.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 2:04 pm to hoopsgalore
Some of those realtors service all the way from Gulf Shores and into Florida all the way to Destin
30A is a little different setup and some very expensive properties, it's gonna be the high end
30A is a little different setup and some very expensive properties, it's gonna be the high end
Posted on 8/8/22 at 2:08 pm to hoopsgalore
quote:There's chilly to folks from Louisiana and then there's chilly to Chicagoans.
We understand December - February can get chilly. Any towns that we should consider?
Every acre in the State of Florida is not chilly to Chicagoans.
How are you going to get there? If by plane then you'll need to (obviously) be near airports.
I would avoid the City of Panama City.
Look around Destin/Fort Walton, Pensacola itself is an older crowd.
As was said here, you are shopping after a significant run-up in property values there, will they retreat in the next five years?
I don't know.
I've had a family property in Perdido (near the AL/FL line) for a long time. It's been wonderful for kids, but it's slow paced, especially in the Winter there.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 2:09 pm to hoopsgalore
Thank you for saying “Florida panhandle” and not 30A like all the other troglodytes
Posted on 8/8/22 at 2:40 pm to hoopsgalore
Just my two cents worth. If you can find something on the east end of PCB near St Andrews State Park you should check it out. The park is great and you don’t have to deal with all the traffic. Some great local restaurants/bars in that area. Fishing is also great near the pass.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 2:45 pm to soccerfüt
quote:
How are you going to get there? If by plane then you'll need to (obviously) be near airports.
That's a good point. You essentially have Pensacola airport, Destin/Ft Walton, and Mobile. If y'all are not huge beach people and just looking for a relaxing place to escape the Chicago Winter, Fairhope Alabama is pretty tough to beat. You're not going to get white sand beaches and blue water like you will in Destin, but you're also only an hour or so from Gulf Shores/Orange Beach if you need your beach fix for a day.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 3:22 pm to hoopsgalore
I live in Port St. Lucie, and you may want to look down this way. The weather in the winter is much warmer - about 10 degrees warmer on average for the daily high in January. If you're planning on having a get away for warm weather stuff in January, then southern Florida would be a better way to go.
It gets very expensive in Miami, but if you go up the coast a bit to North of Hobe Sound and into Stuart, Ft Pierce, Port St Lucie, Vero Beach, etc, the cost is significantly less, as well as the traffic.
I don't know the costs on the west coast of southern FL, but it's probably still cheaper than Miami.
The Atlantic side has very nice beaches, although the sand is not sugar white like it is on the panhandle area. The trade off is that the water is warm enough to swim in all year-round, and yet it doesn't get "bathtub" warm in the summer like it does in the Gulf. Also, businesses don't shut down in the winter, either. Snowbirds keep business booming in the winter, and families keep it going in the summer.
For most people in Louisiana, south Florida is 3 times as far to drive as the panhandle. If you're coming from Chicago, I'm assuming you're flying, so it won't really be any more expensive.
It gets very expensive in Miami, but if you go up the coast a bit to North of Hobe Sound and into Stuart, Ft Pierce, Port St Lucie, Vero Beach, etc, the cost is significantly less, as well as the traffic.
I don't know the costs on the west coast of southern FL, but it's probably still cheaper than Miami.
The Atlantic side has very nice beaches, although the sand is not sugar white like it is on the panhandle area. The trade off is that the water is warm enough to swim in all year-round, and yet it doesn't get "bathtub" warm in the summer like it does in the Gulf. Also, businesses don't shut down in the winter, either. Snowbirds keep business booming in the winter, and families keep it going in the summer.
For most people in Louisiana, south Florida is 3 times as far to drive as the panhandle. If you're coming from Chicago, I'm assuming you're flying, so it won't really be any more expensive.
This post was edited on 8/8/22 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 8/8/22 at 3:35 pm to Jax-Tiger
Yeah, I'm in Naples and if we have a 45 degree morning in winter it's rare and the highs are almost always in the 70's to low 80's in winter. If you want a surefire break from winter SW Florida is a good spot but fair warning, it's not cheap unless you want to get a place somewhere like Cape Coral. You can also AirBnB your property here year round without issue.
Adding to that multiple airlines have non-stop flights to RSW every day.
Adding to that multiple airlines have non-stop flights to RSW every day.
This post was edited on 8/8/22 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 8/8/22 at 3:35 pm to UpToPar
quote:
Fairhope Alabama is pretty tough to beat.
They are in their early 30s not 80s.
Posted on 8/8/22 at 3:36 pm to hoopsgalore
For what yall would be using the vacay home for, I would say somewhere in the 30A area... simply because its a bit of everything you are looking for. Also, can have the possibility of flying into Pensacola or Destin from Chi (pending prices, availability etc.)
Some of the other places that are usually more popular or overgrown I'd say wouldn't be what I would be trying to accomplish by "getting away"...
30A, that would be my vote for a setup like what you are going for.
Let me know, I'll rent from ya
Some of the other places that are usually more popular or overgrown I'd say wouldn't be what I would be trying to accomplish by "getting away"...
30A, that would be my vote for a setup like what you are going for.
Let me know, I'll rent from ya
Posted on 8/8/22 at 4:48 pm to hoopsgalore
quote:
we're 32 and 31 and like going to bars/restaurants, but do enjoy plenty of quiet, too
Have you taken a look at St. Augustine? - specifically the Vilano Beach/Anastasia Island area. It's not the panhandle, but on the Atlantic Ocean instead. Quiet when you need it, 5 minute drive to restaurants and bars in the St. Aug historic district.
Posted on 8/9/22 at 12:24 pm to hoopsgalore
From Chicago, I would want to go somewhere that has direct flights. Are there direct flights easily available to Pensacola, Destin or Panama City ?
I'd consider the Ft. Myers area and even the area south of Ft. Myers to Marco Island. Should have more options for direct flights to Ft. Myers compared to the Panhandle.
I'd consider the Ft. Myers area and even the area south of Ft. Myers to Marco Island. Should have more options for direct flights to Ft. Myers compared to the Panhandle.
Posted on 8/9/22 at 1:13 pm to yaherrdme
I did a quick look and there are at least 4-5 airlines with direct flights to RSW (Ft Myers).
Posted on 8/9/22 at 1:18 pm to hoopsgalore
Will be completely ruined within 5 years. Go while you c an.
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