Calling all realtors/investors

[kirstenOn30A]

i believe something should be done about the bad national publicity we have been receiveing from the press, especially the Wall Street Journal. I believe that one of the reasons people swarmed the area last year is because it got trendy (in addition to beauty). People like prada, louis vaton, and sowal because all the trendy people have a piece of it. After a bad year of hurricanes, shark bites, and poor parking people have shyed away from buying beach homes in the panhandle. And I know we all think that it's REALLY expensive and crazy last summer, but really it is not when campared to places like the Hamptons, Miami, and San Diego. We attrat the same people that have second homes there. But not if they think that we are spent and "so last year" .
Anyways, I feel that there is enough money inversted in real estate here that we should defend our selves. Anytime a company does something stupid and people start to pull away from purchasing stock they release a press statement defending themselves. If we get together and start a campaign to get good publicity for the area it couldn't hurt. I feel like something should be done. Does anyone eles feel that this may be a good idea?
Having lived here my entire life I have mixed views about pimping out my area to outsiders. I have enjoyed the vacent majestic beaches with all the other poor rural locals back in the early 80's and even though I have to share the beaches and the roads with many more people now, I do appreciate how much better off people are that have taken advantage of the real estate boom. There is much more opportunity here and there is no need for it to completely collapse before it gets big again.

[EZ4144]

The county TDC does lots of advertising and PR. they spend millions and millions of our tax dollars and have gotten lots of people to buy here but have also ruined things.

They don't rebuild walkovers and still tell people to come here so they are lying. Good PR is about lying and covering it with money.

[Rita]

....I believe that one of the reasons people swarmed the area last year is because it got trendy (in addition to beauty). People like prada, louis vaton, and sowal because all the trendy people have a piece of it......

We're not trendy .... We love the area for way different reasons.
You wouldn't be trying to drive the likes of us out would you? I'll stand up and say, my family wants more of OUR kind in SoWal.

[TooFarTampa]

We're not trendy .... We love the area for way different reasons.
You wouldn't be trying to driving the likes of us out would you? I'll stand up and say, my family wants more of OUR kind in SoWal.

Honestly, the thought of SoWal being like SoBe or Key West makes me want to throw up. Trendy = bad IMO.

[kirstenOn30A]

FIRST I would like to say that I do appreciate all of the feedback. Even though a lot of it was posted from absentee owners. Not to offend anyone here, but where and when did you buy here? Where you not swayed by Gulf place, Watercolors, Seaside, and all of the other multi million dollar developments? Ask anyone that has lived here for several years and they will tell you that none of these developments are what Walton County truely is about.
But times have changed and we are dealing with the fact that people think its cool to live here. That's just the way it is. Now i know that most of the intelligent people on this message board don't want to lump themselves in the catagory of "trendy" people because if you are like me it's not cool to be trendy. But if they are the ones who are keeping out beaches livable, where most of us real locals make an acutal living, then we have to tend to them a little. I tell you this much I would much rather be a restruant owner or waitress, real estate agent or broker, and retail owner or worker than working up in Freeport as a farmer or living off of welfare. Have you ever been to upper walton county? South walton was not much different twenty years ago.
If the thought of marketing makes you think that it is only big bad business spending money on lies then you have never been involved with an honest businessman. Maybe ONLY a maketing campaign is not the answer, which is why I posted my thoughts in the first place. But we as people CAN get things done if we spend a little time and money one it. Rebuilding walkovers are a great place to start, in addition to hitting the specific people that are attacking us i.e. Wall Street Journal.

As far as if realtors have to spend money here then maybe we should find a new place to sell real estate. Let me tell you how much money they make on a single sale of a 2 million dollar house. It's more than enough to protect our interest here.
There are still a few places where it's not "trendy" in Florida. Ya'll ever been down to Appalachacola? Tell me how uncongested the roads are, how many diverse people live there, and how comletely in the middle of no where it is. There are no SOHO's there, no criollas, no bud and alleys, venus, mars, sufer girl. That's fine with me I don't take advantage of those things here. But I know that the majority of you do. So no hurt feelings, but try not to deny what South Walton has become and the direction it is going.

[lost in sowal]

One quick clarification, all TDC efforts are funded by dollars paid by visitors staying less than 6 months called a bed tax or tourist occupancy tax- NOT County taxes. This goes for all beach restoration efforts, daily beach cleaning, post-hurricane debris removal, sea oat plantings, beach access rebuilding and maintenance, etc. Most people don't realize it but we have been exporting the cost of most of these activities to visitors for almost 20 years, and all of these activities since 1999.

As for access locations 25 are open today and the remaining ones will be completed by Memorial Day. Check http://partners.beachesofsouthwalton...ach_Access.asp for more information.

[Camp Creek Kid]

FIRST I would like to say that I do appreciate all of the feedback. Even though a lot of it was posted from absentee owners. Not to offend anyone here, but where and when did you buy here? Where you not swayed by Gulf place, Watercolors, Seaside, and all of the other multi million dollar developments? Ask anyone that has lived here for several years and they will tell you that none of these developments are what Walton County truely is about.
But times have changed and we are dealing with the fact that people think its cool to live here. That's just the way it is. Now i know that most of the intelligent people on this message board don't want to lump themselves in the catagory of "trendy" people because if you are like me it's not cool to be trendy. But if they are the ones who are keeping out beaches livable, where most of us real locals make an acutal living, then we have to tend to them a little. I tell you this much I would much rather be a restruant owner or waitress, real estate agent or broker, and retail owner or worker than working up in Freeport as a farmer or living off of welfare. Have you ever been to upper walton county? South walton was not much different twenty years ago.
If the thought of marketing makes you think that it is only big bad business spending money on lies then you have never been involved with an honest businessman. Maybe ONLY a maketing campaign is not the answer, which is why I posted my thoughts in the first place. But we as people CAN get things done if we spend a little time and money one it. Rebuilding walkovers are a great place to start, in addition to hitting the specific people that are attacking us i.e. Wall Street Journal.

As far as if realtors have to spend money here then maybe we should find a new place to sell real estate. Let me tell you how much money they make on a single sale of a 2 million dollar house. It's more than enough to protect our interest here.
There are still a few places where it's not "trendy" in Florida. Ya'll ever been down to Appalachacola? Tell me how uncongested the roads are, how many diverse people live there, and how comletely in the middle of no where it is. There are no SOHO's there, no criollas, no bud and alleys, venus, mars, sufer girl. That's fine with me I don't take advantage of those things here. But I know that the majority of you do. So no hurt feelings, but try not to deny what South Walton has become and the direction it is going.

Kirsten, welcome to Sowal.com. We appreciate your postings and input. Be aware that most of those who post regularly on this board are very knowledgeable about the real estate market in this area. There are many professionals--realtors, developers, contractors, business owners--who post here (and at least one person who studies market trends for entertainment). There are many, many full-time Sowal residents, many who own property here (and wish they could be here full-time) and many who would love to own, but don't at this time. All are welcome. Sowal.com is a great forum for information about the area, intelligent debates (mostly about the "market" and investing), breathtaking photos (thanks to Kurt and Smiling JOe), and a whole lot of goofiness (visit "The Lounge").

You will find that many of the topics that you have brought up have been discussed in previous threads. Take some time to look through those threads and you will get a sense of who is who--where we're from, what we do for a living, and if we are bullish are bearish and the market. As you sift through the previous threads, you will find that some very interesting and intelligent conversations have taken place. And there are many very interesting and intelligent conversations that have yet to take place, so you input is welcome. Just don't jump to conclusions about the people on this board. This board in NOT a place where full-time SoWallians and full-time property-owners, but part-time residents, argue or fight. For at heart, almost everyone on this board is a full-time SoWallian.

[Rita]

One quick clarification, all TDC efforts are funded by dollars paid by visitors staying less than 6 months called a bed tax or tourist occupancy tax- NOT County taxes. This goes for all beach restoration efforts, daily beach cleaning, post-hurricane debris removal, sea oat plantings, beach access rebuilding and maintenance, etc. Most people don't realize it but we have been exporting the cost of most of these activities to visitors for almost 20 years, and all of these activities since 1999.

As for access locations 25 are open today and the remaining ones will be completed by Memorial Day. Check http://partners.beachesofsouthwalton...ach_Access.asp for more information.

Thank you. I did not know that county taxes didn't help with some of the mentioned. This board again serves as a quick source of info.

[Snapper Grabber]

I have a home in a nonresort area of Seagrove. I do not want the area to be known as trendy with people flocking to vacation here. I bought here because I enjoy the uncrowded, natural beauty of the area. Growth is inevitable, but I wince at every new development.

[reedtsu]

I think that I agree with you kirstenon30A and I have lived here since Ed Walline was just a place with two large concrete blocks painted to look like dice and One Seagrove was just a old house on an empty beach. To be a real local you have to know what I am talking about......haha Easy now and just kidding before I get cyber jumped....... I do agree though with the branding and marketing.

[Smiling JOe]

I think that I agree with you kirstenon30A and I have lived here since Ed Walline was just a place with two large concrete blocks painted to look like dice and One Seagrove was just a old house on an empty beach. To be a real local you have to know what I am talking about......haha Easy now and just kidding before I get cyber jumped....... I do agree though with the branding and marketing.

So Reedtsu, I reread Kristenon30A's post and don't have a clue of where you are going with this. Since you have lived here longer than all of us, you think we should go on a major marketing program to sell more real estate and tell people to come in droves? I think that is what Kristen is talking about. Just trying to understand you correctly.

[reedtsu]

The living here so long part was mostly a joke but you read correctly. From what I have read I do think we are getting some bad media. The shark attacks and all the predictions of several more years of bad hurricane seasons are a couple that really get me. They do not mention all the things that make South Walton South Walton. I would like to see people come here and continue to come here in droves, if they want. I do not think it is the popular opinion but it is mine. That old house and tacky concrete dice would still be there today if not for growth. Do you want it to stay just like it is now? Something does need to be done as far as governing the growth. Things could get out of hand quickly if they havn't already.

[SHELLY]

I would like to see people come here and continue to come here in droves............Something does need to be done as far as governing the growth. Things could get out of hand quickly if they havn't already.

Ya can't have it both ways.

Personally, having the wide, uncrowded beaches lined with dunes (not houses and condos) all to myself--with the only "downside" being the dice house? Where do I sign up?? You can keep your Prada and "louis vaton."

[reedtsu]

I am not sure you would like it so much after a few months. The beach just gets old after awhile with nothing else to do. Cold weather hurts that image too. I like there being a Publix right down the street. I guess the romantic in me is not as strong as it should be.....I agree with the Louis Vaton thing!! 1000.00 for purse!! I sure would like the guy that marketed it to come market South Walton though!!

[SHELLY]

I am not sure you would like it so much after a few months. The beach just gets old after awhile with nothing else to do.

I DID.............and it DIDN'T.

I agree with the Louis Vaton thing!! 1000.00 for purse!! I sure would like the guy that marketed it to come market South Walton though!!

If you get a "Vaton" for $1,000 you've been robbed...and the guy who's marketing them in SoWal would more likely than not be selling them out of the trunk of an '82 Chevette.

[Paula]

I agree with Kirsten on most of her points. I have full faith that SoWal will continue to grow. I also believe that many people who have lived here for a long time, for a short time, or who are second-home owners love it (regardless of when they bought their places here), though they may have different ideas about what it should look like in the future and what kind of people they want to be around.

Kirsten clearly loves the area and makes her comments not to tease people or annoy people, but to express a heartfelt hope and desire to have some say in the future of the area. As for Hamptons or Prada or whatever else annoys many people, that didn't jump out at me as much as someone caring about the area (and I don't own any Prada and I've never been to the Hamptons). I don't think Kirsten expected the comments to become SoWal sport (sorry, Kirsten -- message boards can often lack politeness norms that we often play by in face to face conversations).

There are other threads on this topic, but I wouldn't mind hearing ideas on this thread as well. I have to go to work now so can't reply now with specific ideas (other than get the boardwalks up quickly after storms and/or have the kind of boardwalks that can be pulled up before a storm is predicted). I think my comments would have to do more with protecting many of the good things we already have (bike trail, nature, parks, etc.), managing traffic, life guards in some areas (which we'll have), supporting local businesses including restaurants/galleries/taxis/physicians. I also think having more books of all kinds about the area published (with the great photos by our growing number of photographers in this area) would be useful (e.g. history, cookbooks, poetry, photographs, children's books, etc.)

So Kirsten, I think it would be very interesting and useful to have a conversation with you!

[Unplugged]

I don't think Kirsten expected the comments to become SoWal sport (sorry, Kirsten -- message boards can often lack politeness norms that we often play by in face to face conversations).

Well said Paula - I see this all too often here, and wonder why..

... esp. when it frequently comes from long-time posters

I agree with Kirsten on most of her points. I have full faith that SoWal will continue to grow. I also believe that many people who have lived here for a long time, for a short time, or who are second-home owners love it (regardless of when they bought their places here), though they may have different ideas about what it should look like in the future and what kind of people they want to be around.

... So Kirsten, I think it would be very interesting and useful to have a conversation with you!

(re the the thread topic and Kirsten's/ Paula's point of view)
____________________________

[goofer44]

Paula, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Also, more civility and less sarcasm is needed on message boards. This is a fabulous forum for expressing concerns and ideas. When someone expresses a heartfelt thought, it is not helpful when it is met with sarcasm and condescension. Just my opinion.

[SHELLY]

Kirsten clearly loves the area and makes her comments not to tease people or annoy people, but to express a heartfelt hope and desire to have some say in the future of the area.

Kirsten is/was a real estate agent so IMO rah-rah comments come with the territory and are accepted with a grain of salt. Being in the "business" I would think <hope> she's quite capable of defending her position.

[tivoli]

[QUOTE=SHELLY]Ya can't have it both ways.

Personally, having the wide, uncrowded beaches lined with dunes (not houses and condos) all to myself--with the only "downside" being the dice house? Where do I sign up?? You can keep your Prada and "louis vaton."[/

It's Louis Vuitton and it's too late for SoWal. I promise you won't even
have to get out of your car. Drive from Grayton to Rosemary on 30-A,
check out the cars driving past you....that will tell you the whole story...
You won't even have to get out of your car to know what's going on!!!
While driving down 30-A, try to avoid all construction trucks on the road too.
Stop by the Seagrove Beach Mkt. Real Estate office and pick up the "new"
Hotel Viridian literature. Note the architect's rendering of the development.
Make note of the Hotel Lobby.......their using a CHANEL store in the back-
ground. Too late to keep your Prada, Louis Vuitton & Luella crowds away.
The Carole King song is here to stay!! It's Too Late Baby!!!

[Camp Creek Kid]

[QUOTE=tivoli]

Ya can't have it both ways.

Personally, having the wide, uncrowded beaches lined with dunes (not houses and condos) all to myself--with the only "downside" being the dice house? Where do I sign up?? You can keep your Prada and "louis vaton."[/

It's Louis Vuitton and it's too late for SoWal. I promise you won't even
have to get out of your car. Drive from Grayton to Rosemary on 30-A,
check out the cars driving past you....that will tell you the whole story...
You won't even have to get out of your car to know what's going on!!!
While driving down 30-A, try to avoid all construction trucks on the road too.
Stop by the Seagrove Beach Mkt. Real Estate office and pick up the "new"
Hotel Viridian literature. Note the architect's rendering of the development.
Make note of the Hotel Lobby.......their using a CHANEL store in the back-
ground. Too late to keep your Prada, Louis Vuitton & Luella crowds away.
The Carole King song is here to stay!! It's Too Late Baby!!!

Shelly knows it is "Louis Vuitton." She was referencing the first post in this thread in which the poster misspelled it as "Louis Vaton."

[SHELLY]

[QUOTE=Camp Creek Kid]

Shelly knows it is "Louis Vuitton." She was referencing the first post in this thread in which the poster misspelled it as "Louis Vaton."

WHAT?? That's the way it's spelled on my luggage! Can I file a complaint with the BBB on a guy in a '82 Chevette? His tag number was SAX 5TH--so I thought he was trustworthy.

[Paula]

Frankly, I've always been treated very well by realtors, including the two realtors I worked with in SoWal (thank you to them, I'm happy and found a great fit for a vacation place) and in my home town (twice). So, my experience is that realtors, like people in any other business, do good work and, in general, serve us and their communities well. Sure, there are people who try to take advantage of people in any field, but in general, I like to hear what realtors say about an area, particularly the future of an area. Of course, I know there will be biases, but I like to learn what I can and I hope I'm wise enough to keep the biases that every profession has in perspective when making decisions. People, in general, deserve respect and, as I've said before on this board, stereotyping people rarely leads to anything productive for anyone. It's just way too simplistic for my taste.

[Unplugged]

Frankly, I've always been treated very well by realtors, including the two realtors I worked with in SoWal (thank you to them, I'm happy and found a great fit for a vacation place) and in my home town (twice). So, my experience is that realtors, like people in any other business, do good work and, in general, serve us and their communities well. Sure, there are people who try to take advantage of people in any field, but in general, I like to hear what realtors say about an area, particularly the future of an area. Of course, I know there will be biases, but I like to learn what I can and I hope I'm wise enough to keep the biases that every profession has in perspective when making decisions. People, in general, deserve respect and, as I've said before on this board, stereotyping people rarely leads to anything productive for anyone. It's just way too simplistic for my taste.

_____________________
SoWal REALTOR®

[Beach Runner]

Paula, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Also, more civility and less sarcasm is needed on message boards. This is a fabulous forum for expressing concerns and ideas. When someone expresses a heartfelt thought, it is not helpful when it is met with sarcasm and condescension. Just my opinion.

The problem is that quite frequently when someone disagrees with you on this board, they attack you personally instead of disagreeing with your point of view. I have best friends with whom I strongly disagree on many issues, but I would never attack them personally. Some people on this board don't roll like that, and it's just not civil.

For example, recently I made a not-well-thought-out comment on another thread. We're not publishing for a professional journal - hell, this is just a message board - but when you make a mistake, some people are just ready to pounce. Someone even rudely and sarcastically tried to put me down by calling me "Mrs. Ph.D." Well, I wasn't pretending to be an expert on that subject or an expert on *every* subject - my expertise is only in math and computer science. Again, I made the mistake of making a post (a) on an area in which I have no expertise (not that this is a prerequisite for this board) and (b) which was not well thought out. I apologized profusely, and still I got a sarcastic reply.

It's easy to fire off a post. Yes, I have made posts I have regretted, but I am known as a person with integrity. If I have inadvertently offended you and not apologized, please accept my sincere apologies.

As an aside, I've learned from my uneducated mother that people love to put down Ph.D.'s - she does it to me all of the time - it makes her feel superior because she is intimidated by it. Frankly, I don't feel superior because I have a Ph.D. - rather, I was just stupid enough to stay in school long enough to get one. And that only makes me have expertise in one small area of my discipline, not expertise in all of the world's knowledge. BOTTOM LINE: I AIN'T NO SMARTER THAN NOBODY. I JUST GOT ME A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS I BE A DOCTOR.

[SHELLY]

Kirsten clearly loves the area and makes her comments not to tease people or annoy people, but to express a heartfelt hope and desire to have some say in the future of the area.

Note the TITLE of the thread...it speaks volumes.

[Smiling JOe]

Go to your rooms, now! ... and take the sandbox fight with you.

Come on grown ups. This thread is supposed to be about the Wallstreet Journal's negative publicity and what "our" reaction should be to the bad press going around regarding SoWal. Any suggestions, as Kirstenon30A asks? Do you write a protest letter defending the beauty here or let nature shine through the ink on the paper? Should rental agents and owners of rental units be more concerned than a second home owners or year round residents who don't rent? Should Realtors and Brokers step up to the plate and pay and say, buy here, we love this place and you will too? etc.

Care to share?

[Mermaid]

Go to your rooms, now! ... and take the sandbox fight with you.

Come on grown ups. This thread is supposed to be about the Wallstreet Journal's negative publicity and what "our" reaction should be to the bad press going around regarding SoWal. Any suggestions, as Kirstenon30A ask? Do you write a protest letter defending the beauty here or let nature shine through the ink on the paper? Should rental agents and owners of rental units be more concerned than a second home owners or year round residents who don't rent? Should Realtors and Brokers step up to the plate and pay and say, buy here, we love this place and you will too? etc.

Care to share?

Well said, SJ. Some of the drivel posted here is getting tiresome. But back to the original subject of the post, I'm happy to say that in the Sunday Travel section of the Indianapolis paper, there was a very positive article about the beaches of South Walton. The article stressed the beauty of the white sand and the interesting architecture along 30-A. Panhandle beaches don't often get a mention in Midwest papers--it's usually Sanibel and Naples that grab our press. Perhaps this will be the start of some recognition for SoWal as more and more Midwesterners discover it and word gets out. It was, after all, a Sunday article about Seaside nearly 20 years ago that got me interested in SoWal.

[Paula]

SJ: My reason for getting in the sandbox is that I wanted to be sure that we don't drive people who are well-intentioned away through sarcasm and insults and trivializing their sincerely felt concerns. (I try to teach my kids not to stand by and watch someone get trampled, so I was simply trying to do the same). That said, let's move on to trying to address the issue that was raised:

Here's what I said earlier on this thread (I only had a few minutes before work this morning, but I couldn't resist...):

"I have to go to work now so can't reply now with specific ideas (other than get the boardwalks up quickly after storms and/or have the kind of boardwalks that can be pulled up before a storm is predicted). I think my comments would have to do more with protecting many of the good things we already have (bike trail, nature, parks, etc.), managing traffic, life guards in some areas (which we'll have), supporting local businesses including restaurants/galleries/taxis/physicians. I also think having more books of all kinds about the area published (with the great photos by our growing number of photographers in this area) would be useful (e.g. history, cookbooks, poetry, photographs, children's books, etc.)."

To build and preserve loyalty to SoWal, people need to find meaningful connections to the area. So collecting and telling the history of the area will be important so people feel connected to the past. Even a history of the hurricanes, along with stories and photos, would be fascinating. The history of hurricanes seems to tell several things: (1) the area and the people in it are resilient; (2) nature has many types of beauty (a cliff and dark beach can be as beautiful as a white sand dune if that's what Mother Nature intends for a while); (3) people help each other out when faced with a crisis (For example, Criolla's offering a free picnic to the workers who worked so hard during the hurricane -- they also opened it up to passerbys and collected donations for the Red Cross). In short, the stories told about SoWal should make people feel proud to be a part of it.

So, this suggests that realtors would want to tell stories that get the kind of people who serve the community best here. For example, if we tell "buy and flip" stories, we get investors. If we tell, "this is a special places to love and preserve and build memories in", we get people who will want to connect to the area. I was told "this is a special place" stories (but then again, I actually got to buy my little piece of heaven here by "buy and flip" people...).

And, of course, stories can be published in many different places, so from a marketing perspective, collecting and publishing stories serves us well.

SJ: Since you wanted to get us on track again (thank you), what do you think?

.

[imasunbum]

Go to your rooms, now! ... and take the sandbox fight with you.

Come on grown ups. This thread is supposed to be about the Wallstreet Journal's negative publicity and what "our" reaction should be to the bad press going around regarding SoWal. Any suggestions, as Kirstenon30A asks? Do you write a protest letter defending the beauty here or let nature shine through the ink on the paper? Should rental agents and owners of rental units be more concerned than a second home owners or year round residents who don't rent? Should Realtors and Brokers step up to the plate and pay and say, buy here, we love this place and you will too? etc.

Care to share?

You tell em SJ. I agree with Beach Runner though, however, I don't think people that do the attacking necessarily mean to "attack" - some definitely do and some don't. They just have their own opinions and are entitled to them.

BTW just noitced your new avatar SJ - very peaceful

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks for asking Paula.

(brief note: feel free to talk about respect for other posters, but do it on a new thread so all can learn and share. This will be helpful to new users as well as current users. Imagine logging in as a new user to the real estate thread and all you see is personal attacks rather than useful info. Just ask Unplugged, who felt this way after joining and almost stop using the board. Glad you are still with us.)

Paula, I think you bring up excellent points about creating the sense of community rather than fluffing the buy and flip market. The stories and history will make people smile and cry and want to be here for the long term, not run up the market, before pooping on it and taking the profits and leaving at the expense of the beautiful environment. I wish I was a writer sometimes, and that my writing could pay the bills. I would be eating PoorMan's Oysters for the rest of my life if I had to survive on my writing skills. (PoorMan's Oysters are freeSaltines topped off with cocktail sauce).
Several books on the history of Walton County have been written and are available at the local Library, Grayton Corners General Store, SunDog Books (Seaside), and other places. They are facinating reads.

I can understand why vacation renters, most Realtors, and short term investors want to read ample stories regarding the good side of coming to SoWal. I smile too, when I read such things, just like I do when I post a photo of the sunset from Grayton Beach. I smile because I live here and see it for myself on a daily basis. Believe me, words and photos never do the real thing justice -- never.

One reason that I joke about me paying the WSJ to run the negative stories is that I hate seeing this beautiful refuge from the busy world, getting included in the busy world. I dislike seeing it destroyed for the sake of the almighty greenback. Many of the developers do care somewhat for this area, and a few care greatly. Unfortunately, some could care less and will do whatever it takes to make it work for themselves.

Do I want to see SoWal in a no-grow box? Of course not, but I would like to see developers go to environmental classes before they are allowed to develop land. Much of the growth in this area is affecting other things in the area. Look no further than the new developments being built around Big Redfish Lake, one of which tried to get started with blatent disregard for the rules in place. I want to see growth of this area, but I want to see it managed, not the tail wagging the dog syndrome which is currently ongoing.

Without the tools of education which Paula refers to eg- local history of area, hurricanes, etc, people will not know and will not care, and we are all doomed. IMO, having good press does not help to bridle the unmanaged growth. Instead, it spurs it on.

[Unplugged]

...So, this suggests that realtors would want to tell stories that get the kind of people who serve the community best here. For example, if we tell "buy and flip" stories, we get investors. If we tell, "this is a special places to love and preserve and build memories in", we get people who will want to connect to the area. I was told "this is a special place" stories (but then again, I actually got to buy my little piece of heaven here by "buy and flip" people...).

Excellent point - as a SoWal REALTOR® these are the personal stories we like to relate to our clients and the type of client we prefer to deal with
_________________________

[Beach Runner]

I'm happy to say that in the Sunday Travel section of the Indianapolis paper, there was a very positive article about the beaches of South Walton.

And while I was getting my hair done yesterday in Buckhead (Atlanta), I read Atlanta Homes magazine. I couldn't believe how many advertisements there were for SoWal rentals, including the rental management company that we use. SoWal is getting some major ink in the press! Love it! And love SoWal!

[Paula]

I have seen very positive articles about the area (restaurants, people, places) in Southern Living and Coastal Living (at least 3 times in the past 2-3 years).

Regarding history, I've read one of the books about the history of SoWal, as well as the book that was written about St. Joe's impact on the Panhandle. They were both very useful in giving a sense of history and perspective. I think a beautiful photo book with some interesting facts and stories about SoWal nature -- e.g., chapter on turtles, dunes, history (how was it founded), hurricanes, preservation efforts, alligators, ocean life, shells (not too many but there are some), sunsets, the formation and changes in the beaches (e.g., how they used to be a cyrpess (sp?) forest and that's why we have the peat "sand" and "stones", before/after photos of the growth, etc.

It would be a labor of love for someone (Joe, Kurt, Katie Blue?) and, though it wouldn't pay a salary, it would bring in some po'boy $ I'm sure. More importantly, it would be a meaningful thing to do, would bring in some income, would be a significant contribution to documenting important information about the area, as well as gorgeous photos. I think I'm talking myself into it. If I was retired or if I lived in the area, I'd definitely pursue this.

People would buy it to put in their rentals, for their homes, as something to bring home, etc. Again, mostly one would do it as a labor of love and a desire to contribute to the history of SoWal. It should not be written as a marketing tool, otherwise it will feel like a marketing tool.


It could be fun to have sections about how to talk like a local (whether local means :

Poorman's oysters: saltines with cocktail sauce
Teatime in SoWal: Having a few drinks at the beach while watching the sunset.
What else?

And a section on favorite recipes from local restaurants or food recipes from the panhandle.

Oops... I've got to go to work again... sorry for any typos, etc.

[Jdarg]

I would buy copies for everyone I know. What a great idea Paula!

[John R]

As you are aware, bad press, and bad weather are cyclic(sp). And, some chucklehead up in NYC has a deadline to meet, and a minimum number of stories to produce. A little bump in the road may not be a bad thing to temper the frenzy that was last year. I agree with some of what Kristen says, but i feel we need to focus here, and not there. there are many discussions on this board regarding the ethics of some of the 'hit and run' developers who treat this area like carrion birds. we(our local govt) are unable to regulate what color sand our own neighbors are using to backfill their 'temporary' retaining walls. and, we allow vehicles to drive on said sand, quaint, but honestly, not environmentally conscious. the turtle's might as well find a place on the moon, and the dune mouse was in trouble years ago. let's direct our attention locally to get our house in order, and demand our local govt. to enforce it's own regulations, and plan for the future(something they've conveniently forgotten to do). People will come here despite bad press, word of mouth is much stronger. i feel we could use a little cooling off period. i might then actually be able to buy and build then. this being said from someone who makes my living from growth.


jr

[SHELLY]

Go to your rooms, now! ... and take the sandbox fight with you.

Come on grown ups. This thread is supposed to be about the Wallstreet Journal's negative publicity and what "our" reaction should be to the bad press going around regarding SoWal. Any suggestions, as Kirstenon30A asks?
Care to share?

Personally, I'm not concerned about what the WSJ, CNBC or Penthouse says about the area in the least...but then I don't have big bucks riding on the outcome.

While it's true that nature messed up the panhandle (its happened in the past) it does repair itself very nicely if given the chance.

Over-development and the real estate money-grab <IMO> also has messed up the panhandle--but I just don't see it getting any "better" with more and more development.

Visitors to South Beach (Miami) may have a need for wall-to-wall "designer" shops...the area is lined with "places to be seen" (bars, nightclubs, high-end eateries). Personally, I don't see the folks who love and enjoy the area having the need to rush out at the last moment to buy an emergency Prada handbag to swing for an evening out at the Red Bar.

I just have issues with developers and investors who want to go-for-the-gold and turn <what's left> of our area into a "South Beach Mini-Me"....that's all.

[Paula]

I would buy copies for everyone I know. What a great idea Paula!

thanks... We'll see what develops... I'd love something like this myself.

[Sandcastle]

thanks... We'll see what develops... I'd love something like this myself.

Paula:

We keep a copy of The Seaside Times on our coffee table at home. Our friends who stop by can't keep their hands off of it. We'd love to buy "your" book!

[Paula]

It would be fun to do (I'm sure it would be more of an "our" book), we'll see what happens. I'd love to learn about the area, as would many other people. I've learned so much in the few years since we joined the SoWal community (e.g., turtles, dunes, beach changes) with so much more to learn about the area.

[John R]

from bldgblog this could be us if we're not careful.



jr

[Smiling JOe]

from bldgblog this could be us if we're not careful.



jr

I thought this was a fake image at first. Please Lord, not me.

[Santiago]

Someone please let me know when it is proper decorum to call someone on this forum a "know it all bitc_", or an "opinionated jerk" or maybe an "economist wannebe". I really don't know how to act because I am a "money grabbing" "condo-flipping" "beholden to BOSS JOE" a-hole who wouldn't know a "doctoral thesis in economics" from a "hole in the wall".

In fact, don't bother. I'm outta here until I know the person described above accumulates enough gold bars to never have to spout her mindless diatribe on here again. Otherwise, I'm going to have to shoot myself in the head.

[Bob]

from bldgblog this could be us if we're not careful.



jr

Hey, isn't that Village in Blue Mountain Beach??

[Smiling JOe]

Hey, isn't that Village in Blue Mountain Beach??

I don't think so, Bob. I recall the roofs being green in color.

[Gypsea]

Someone please let me know when it is proper decorum to call someone on this forum a "know it all bitc_", or an "opinionated jerk" or maybe an "economist wannebe". I really don't know how to act because I am a "money grabbing" "condo-flipping" "beholden to BOSS JOE" a-hole who wouldn't know a "doctoral thesis in economics" from a "hole in the wall".

In fact, don't bother. I'm outta here until I know the person described above accumulates enough gold bars to never have to spout her mindless diatribe on here again. Otherwise, I'm going to have to shoot myself in the head.

I feel your pain but don't let 'em get you down because then they will have won. My satisfaction is that wherever they go they travel with a dark cloud over their head and that can't be a good thing. We know that we have bought at a special beautiful place and that should be enough. Enjoy it with family and friends and create wonderful memories!!!

[Bob]

I don't think so, Bob. I recall the roofs being green in color.

You're right SJ, plus the homes are too far apart in that picture.

[Paula]

I agree with Gypsea, Santiago. I enjoy reading many of the posts (including your posts) and I learn much from them and enjoy the good will and information that comes from. I don't let negative, one-track-simplistic thinking and insulting language push my buttons (Ok, I do now and then, but for the most part I simply ignore these posts because I'm not learning anything from them). I read the many, many posts that are helpful and goodwilled and ignore the rest. As for negative/hostile versus positive/supportive comments on this board, to make you feel better, here's what the research suggests about postive/supportive versus negative/cynical thinking and behaving:

People who are repeatedly cynical or who like to find flaws without offering positive solutions and without being part of the solution tend to be rated lower by their managers and tend to be promoted less and paid less (And it's not because the employers don't want to hear bad news. It's because decision-makers need more complex thinking and can-do people rather than complainers. It's probably also related to the fact that employers know that cynics tend to put people off and employers need people who are team builders and who draw people toward them and the organization, not push them away.)

People who feel and express positive emotions tend to be more productive, get promoted more, and get paid more. They also tend to be healthier, happier, and have longer lives than people who feel and repeatedly express negative emotions (this is based on decades of solid academic and medical research -- of course it doesn't hold true for everyone, but the trends are supported). People who express positive emotions tend to set higher goals (it's hard to set high goals if you assume things will turn out badly), think in more complex ways and build on the ideas of others (positive emotions "broaden and build" whereas negative emotions "narrow and tear down -- stereotyping, for example, can be seen as narrow thinking caused by negative emotions), give and draw support from other people rather than cause people to avoid them -- which makes them more valuable employees. People who express positive emotions don't avoid negative information, but they don't let it dominate their thinking and they are better able to get support for their solutions (which contributes to their success). People who feel and express positive emotions tend to deal better with stress and tend to be more resilient. They also have a lower incidence of Alzheimers (positive emotions and complex thinking seem to have a protective effect even if the brain shows physical damage similar to that which leads to Alzheimers). People who are hostile have a higher risk of heart disease as well.

Here's a good summary of the research on positive versus negative emotions and their consequences on effectiveness, success, health, happiness, and longevity:
http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm...y&type=subject

In short, Santiago, my point is that I hope you stay on this board enjoy the many goodwilled and thoughtful posts on this message board (There are probably 50 positive/supportive posts to every negative/cynical/insulting post), contribute as you always have, and ignore the few posts/posters that are negative and one-track-thinking. Too much negative energy (as you pointed out) isn't good for you, and there's ample research that it's not good for the negative thinker/hostile person/cynic either.

Sorry, SJ, I just couldn't help responding to Santiago's comment even though it's not really part of this thread... It would be too bad to lose Santiago!

[Unplugged]

Someone please let me know when it is proper decorum to call someone on this forum a "know it all bitc_", or an "opinionated jerk" or maybe an "economist wannebe". I really don't know how to act because I am a "money grabbing" "condo-flipping" "beholden to BOSS JOE" a-hole who wouldn't know a "doctoral thesis in economics" from a "hole in the wall".

In fact, don't bother. I'm outta here until I know the person described above accumulates enough gold bars to never have to spout her mindless diatribe on here again. Otherwise, I'm going to have to shoot myself in the head.

To Kirsten's original point: I think this area received some bad press during last year's hurricane season, but it was short-lived and I am reading good things about SoWal and the Panhandle.

Hang in there Santiago - many of us can relate. We enjoy your thoughtul posts, unique point of view and reasoned thinking. Take heart - amidst all the bloviating, there are some words of wisdom.
___________________________________________

[Bob]

Stay Santiago, Paula likes you. The HR copy proves it. Where else do you get this much entertainment while learning at the same time...ok, maybe the History channel, but negativity is only a portion of it. It's good we all don't think alike. When we start to think alike, the Nasdaq goes to 5000, starting wars seems reasonable, and high rise condos begin sprouting like weeds.