Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us Possible relocation to Destin, FL area | Travel
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Possible relocation to Destin, FL area

Posted on 6/29/23 at 10:10 am
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 10:10 am
Anyone have any suggestions on decent areas to look for a residence.

Kids are grown, just wife & I. Work area will be Destin & East to Tampa Area.
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16839 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 12:52 pm to
Holiday Isle
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23581 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 12:56 pm to
I would highly suggest looking to rent for a year if this is a long term plan, I mean I guess you should anyway ha. But traffic and what not can be tricky, usually morning commutes is not an issue but you got bridges and other things to deal with. Budget will also play a factor, this isn't the case much anymore with the housing boom but 4-5 years ago you could fairly common to have a million dollar home on the water across the street from a trailer.

Are you driving to Tampa I'm assuming?
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 1:59 pm to
quote:

Are you driving to Tampa I'm assuming?




Territory will consist of panhandle (Destin & East) then South to Tampa. Driving, yes.
Posted by Paul Allen
Montauk, NY
Member since Nov 2007
77999 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 3:58 pm to
Live in Tampa and drive to Destin.
Posted by Pepperoni
Mar-a-Lago
Member since Aug 2013
4168 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 5:18 pm to
Split the driving.
Rent in Apalachicola on the bay or on St George
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:08 pm to
quote:

Live in Tampa and drive to Destin.


Trying to stay close to kids/grandkids (hence panhandle area).

Compromise with wife to stay within 5 hours or so. Tampa travel would only be twice per month.
Posted by bigpapamac
Mobile, AL
Member since Oct 2007
22573 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 6:28 pm to
quote:

Rent in Apalachicola on the bay or on St George


This would be my advice too.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6894 posts
Posted on 6/29/23 at 10:58 pm to
What’s your budget? Would you prefer a home or condo? How many bedrooms? Near the beach or the bay? North or South of the Bay?
This post was edited on 6/29/23 at 10:58 pm
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 7:55 am to
quote:

What’s your budget? Would you prefer a home or condo? How many bedrooms? Near the beach or the bay? North or South of the Bay?


Leaning towards renting 1st year & budget would probably be $300k or less.

Wife wants beach (expensive) and I'd prefer more inland.

2 bedrooms/2 baths
Under 1500 Sq Ft
Condo preferred
This post was edited on 6/30/23 at 7:56 am
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6894 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 8:04 am to
You’re not going to find any 2 bedroom beachfront for that price. You’re looking at 500k minimum for anything in decent shape.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23581 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 9:21 am to
How often do you have to be in Destin? For work I mean?

How long are your stays in Tampa? I'm working on thinking outside of the box for you.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6894 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 9:38 am to
quote:

I'm working on thinking outside of the box for you.


I’m interested in what you come up with.

Full disclosure. I have a business in Louisiana, Okaloosa county and the Tampa area. I’m a resident of Walton county and my wife is a resident in Louisiana. (That’s another story). With that said, when I need to be in Tampa, I usually schedule those trips from when I’m back in LA and fly direct from MSY. It’s easier than through Destin or Panama City because it’s never direct and beats the long drive on most days.
This post was edited on 6/30/23 at 9:39 am
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:29 am to
Territory & customers will all be in panhandle (East of Destin) on down to Tampa.

Tampa Area will be 2-3 days (per month)

Looking in Walton County at the moment and not interested in going as far as Tallahassee
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
46924 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 10:46 am to
quote:

I’m a resident of Walton county


Interested in feedback on areas you'd recommend housing/condo/townhouses.
Posted by Floating Change Up
Member since Dec 2013
12932 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 12:14 pm to
quote:

Trying to stay close to kids/grandkids (hence panhandle area).

Compromise with wife to stay within 5 hours or so. Tampa travel would only be twice per month.



Bluewater Bay in Niceville. Take the mid-bay bridge over to Destin, or HWY20 down the coast towards Tampa. Or head north 20 minutes to hit I-10 for the drive west to visit the grandkids.

Posted by LSUShock
Kansas
Member since Jun 2014
5629 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 1:16 pm to
Buy a house in St. Teresa. Let me come visit.
Posted by LSUShock
Kansas
Member since Jun 2014
5629 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 1:17 pm to
quote:

SippyCup


What kind of work? Sounds interesting
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6894 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 1:44 pm to
quote:

What kind of work? Sounds interesting


It's not interesting at all. In an effort to not dox myself, I will keep it vague. The business is in the financial services sector.
Posted by SippyCup
Gulf Coast
Member since Sep 2008
6894 posts
Posted on 6/30/23 at 1:57 pm to
quote:

nterested in feedback on areas you'd recommend housing/condo/townhouses.



Anywhere between Hwy 98 and the Gulf will be the most expensive and also have the most tourists and the most traffic. Now that the hwy 98 construction is complete the traffic flows, but it is something to consider if you're commuting daily.

With that said, I have lived in Destin, off 30A and now in Miramar Beach. I prefer this are over the rest because its a more narrow of area and has more homes than condos which means less people in one area. I'm one street off the beach, a 10 minute drive to the golf course and 12 to the marina. It takes me about 30 minutes to get to my office but I would rather be here than closer to the office.

Prices have gone crazy over the last 3 years so if I was in your situation I would look at renting for a little while.

There are plenty of places from Destin to Panama and up across the bay that are really nice. It all depends on what you like to do and what your top end budget would be. I'm pretty sure Baldona is in construction and has lived here much longer than me, so he can probably offer more in that area.
This post was edited on 6/30/23 at 2:01 pm
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