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A Closer Look: Elliot Point

Depend on who you ask, Elliot Point may be called Elliot’s Point, Elliott’s Point, Elliott Point, or Elliot Point. Regardless, this great little neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is at the center of what makes Fort Walton Beach special.

The entire area known as Elliot Point runs from Hollywood Blvd – the northeast side – to E. Miracle Strip Parkway, between Beal Parkway and the water. Close enough to the beach and shopping to make you feel connected and in the thick of things but also close enough to parks and the water to relax and enjoy the coastal life.

Elliot Point Elementary School

A well-rated school beloved by teachers, students, and parents alike, Elliot Point Elementary is in the heart of this part of Fort Walton Beach. The area has a crime rate below the national average so parents can feel safe living here, as well as sending your children to school. More than 600 children attend Elliot Point from grades Pre-K through 5th grade.

Parks

Depending on what you like to do for fun in your free time, you’ve got options around Elliot Point.

Ferry Park is a community park featuring a one mile walking path, disc golf course, tennis courts, a community recreation center, and little league fields. There’s also a playground for kids to let off some steam, and it’s a great place to bike or walk your dog.

Garniers Beach is a neighborhood park that offers the best of coastal living. Boat ramps allow you to launch off and enjoy the water or just bring the family for a picnic and playtime at the playground. Either way, it’s a peaceful way to spend your time.

 Shopping

Living in or around Elliot Point gives you access to some of the best shopping experiences Fort Walton Beach has to offer.

Uptown Station, home of the state’s largest American flag, isn’t just another strip mall – it’s a shopping and dining experience that’s fun for the whole family. With a playground and a splash pad to keep the kids busy in good weather, you can buy your groceries, go to lunch, get a new driver’s license, grab an ice cream treat, and buy new clothes all in one place. Walk around or drive and park – Uptown Station is designed for both.

Downtown Fort Walton Beach is home to local businesses and restaurants and is the most eclectic part of town. Get a new tattoo, buy gourmet treats for your pets, or grab your next pair of running shoes. Community activities are common in downtown and the area is home to some of the most beloved events – Billy Bowlegs’ and his pirates, local 5k races, and much more!

Living in the Elliot Point area puts you in the middle of what makes Fort Walton Beach a great place to live on the Emerald Coast. You’ll have to coastal life without the heavy tourism, shopping and dining without traveling too far, and a great place to raise a family!

Real Estate Sales on the Emerald Coast for August 2014

Image courtesy of Mark Moz via Flickr

The August real estate numbers for the Emerald Coast, including Okaloosa and Walton counties, are a mixed bag. Some good news, some not so good news – and the local real estate market continues moving forward.

Single Family Home Sales

Emerald Coast

• Closed sales increased 6.6%
• Pending sales rose 28.8%
• Median prices decreased 5%
• Inventory increased 25%
• Months supply increased 15.2% to 8.4 months of inventory

Okaloosa County

• Closed sales dropped 0.7%
• Pending sales increased 20.7%
• Median prices increased 2.6%
• Inventory increased 24.4%
• Months supply increased 15.5% to 7 months of inventory

Walton County

• Closed sales increased 18.3%
• Pending sales increased 45.3%
• Median prices fell 9.3%
• Inventory increased 27%
• Months supply increased 14% to 10.2 months of inventory

Townhouse and Condo Sales

Emerald Coast

• Closed sales decreased 23.4%
• Pending sales decreased 25.8%
• Median prices increased 29.3%
• Inventory dropped 4%
• Months supply increased 9.7% to 10.1 months of inventory

Okaloosa County

• Closed sales dropped 36.4%
• Pending sales fell 37.2%
• Median prices rose 35.6%
• Inventory decreased 2.2%
• Months supply increased 20.7 to 11.1 months of inventory

Walton County

• Closed sales decreased 19.1%
• Pending sales decreased 1.2%
• Median prices increased 11.6%
• Inventory rose 7.3%
• Months supply increased 11.2% to 10.2 months of inventory

A few things to remember…

A healthy inventory level for any real estate market is around 6 months supply of inventory. Anything over 8 is considered a high level of inventory and could begin to bring down prices as buyers are given more options and competition increases among sellers.

Townhouse and condo sales could be an indication of tighter financing options, insurance affordability, as well as the fact that the vacation season is winding down and demand is decreasing for resort or vacation properties. No one thing contributes to declining sales.

Pending sales are only an indication of the month ahead. In months with an increase in pending sales, you can expect sales to increase for the following month. A decline in pending sales may be an indication of lower sales the next month. It is not an automatic as sales often take more than 30 days to close, and a pending sales in June may affect sales data several months in the future.

All sales data is from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and is compiled by Florida Realtors®, the state association for Florida. The Emerald Coast statistics cover both Okaloosa and Walton counties as well as surrounding areas based on the listings entered into the MLS by ECAR MLS participants.

Four Factors for Choosing the Best Heating/Cooling System

Whether it’s time to replace your old air conditioning system or install one for the first time, it’s a project that will result in year-round comfort for your family. Installing a new system is not cheap. It will likely cost several thousand dollars. But because the efficiency of most new systems has increased so much over the years, the system you choose will likely save you money in heating and cooling costs over the long run.

“Getting what you need at the outset will ensure that you don’t need to purchase upgrades later on,” says California system installer Ron Hassebroc.

Hassebroc offers four factors to consider when choosing a new central air conditioning unit:

The BTU measure – The British Thermal Unit (BTU) measure affects the system’s ability to cool. The higher the BTU rating, the more powerful and quick the performance. The BTU measure you need is based on the size of your home, its insulation and other factors – so while a low BTU rating may not efficiently cool your home, choosing the highest BTU may be a waste of money and energy. Rely on the expertise of the salesman or installer to determine the BTU measure you need.

The Seasonal-Energy Efficiency Rating – Known as the SEER rating, this measure helps ensure the system will work at peak efficiency, providing the best use of BTUs for the lowest price. DO look for the highest SEER rating possible – and choose an Energy Star unit, since their SEER ratings are typically 14 percent higher than competing models.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) – a higher MERV rating means your unit’s filter works better, trapping more dust and other airborne particles. Ratings are on a 1 to 12 scale. While 12 is ideal, offering the best air purification on the market, anything above nine is still very clean.

Installation costs – These can vary depending upon the existing ductwork in your home and the size of the unit you have selected. Get estimates before you purchase a new unit. When factoring installation costs, you may find that a seemingly more expensive model will actually cost less overall if installation is included in the price.

A Closer Look: Kenwood

Deciding where to buy a home and where to live your life is easier when you know the area. In the first of an on-going series, let’s take a look at a neighborhood in the heart of Fort Walton Beach – Kenwood.

Located off of Beal Parkway, between Mooney Road and Racetrack Road, Kenwood is centrally located to everything you might want or need in Fort Walton Beach. The neighborhood offers the best of both worlds – coastal living and city life.

Coastal Living

You move to the Emerald Coast for any number of reasons: job transfer, military career, vacationer-turned-local, you name it. The reasons go on and on. You stay on the Emerald Coast for one reason – the coastal lifestyle.

Kenwood gives you a taste of the Emerald Coast without living on the beach. Waterfront properties and bayou-front properties, thanks to Don’s Bayou and Garnier Bayou, abound. Fishing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing are just some of the possibilities.

City Life

Because Kenwood is located in between two busy roads within Fort Walton Beach, you’re close to everything you need – shopping, restaurants, schools, and work. Military families love Kenwood because of it’s proximity to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field.

Not many neighborhoods back up to a golf course without golf course prices, but in Kenwood, residents live close to the Fort Walton Beach Golf Course, a 36-hole city golf course. Good rates, beautiful greens, and close by – what’s not to love?

For Families

Kenwood Elementary is the closest elementary school with an annual enrollment of 608 students. Kenwood is a family-friendly neighborhood and a great place to raise your family. According to GreatSchools.org, reviewers love Kenwood and have many fond memories of their years at the school. They even wish they could send their own children to their beloved Kenwood.

As your children grow, they’ll attend Pryor Middle School and Choctawhatchee High School (lovingly known as Choctaw), home to the Green Indians! School pride abounds in Fort Walton Beach, no matter where you live. A friendly, but longstanding rivalry between Choctaw and the Fort Walton Beach Vikings, means school spirit is easily found, and Friday nights during football season are fun for everyone.

There are so many great places to live on the Emerald Coast. Kenwood is a great neighborhood with so much to offer!

Making A Color Statement: Hot New Interior Color Trends

No matter your budget or time constraints, says Hollywood interior designer and set consultant Stephan St. Orang, nothing can change the mood and beauty of your home more significantly than interior paint and lighting.

“This is the year to look for color combinations that take their zing from nature,” St. Orang maintains. “You need only to take a nature walk to find surprising combinations that are vibrant, dynamic and that harmonize with one another in a joyful or pleasing way.”

Break away from the safety of neutral whites, greys and beiges, so popular in the last few years of economic uncertainty, with bold and optimistic color combinations like these, he suggests:

• Spring forest ambience – Wake up bedrooms or living rooms with walls of forest moss or leafy green and accent with splashes of yellow, vibrant pink and lavender in pillows and other accessories.
• Sense and sensibility – Begin with an exuberant rush of bold color, such as walls of rich copper-orange to create a sense of warmth. Add calming accents of cool blues and light yellows to create a cheerful and uplifting space.
• Earth and sky – Create a look of stylish, airy elegance in the dining room with walls of blue accented with darker wood trim. Add a soothing pale blue ceiling to soften the formality and accent one wall with a weathered, artistic stencil pattern to add visual interest.
• Spiced life – Add interest and cheer to a rec room or home office with an unexpected pairing of natural pewter on the walls and a pop of persimmon on the ceiling. Or stick with a more neutral ceiling and make creative use of color by painting a wide swath of your favorite hue along one wall to create an interesting backdrop for favorite works of art.