Need Help Finding Family Neighborhood 0n Scenic 30A

There's only a couple, try the one's between the Bay and Okaloosa county lines.

Seriously though, all of the neighborhoods here are family friendly. For areas with mostly year round residents, try Pt. Washington, Seaside, and Flamingo Village.

:welcome:

I have heard that Grove By the Sea is one of those neighborhoods. It is very cute.

Rosemary seems to be gaining more full-time residents all the time.

By the way --

:welcome:

The people here will tell you everything you need to know. 😀

Sea Dunes - to the west of Gulf Place and close to Butler Elementary is family oriented - does not allow short term rentals.
It is just off 30-A and Allen Loop. I'm not sure how many children are there, but one could find out. Good luck and :welcome:


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Flamingo Village's advantage is that you can walk to the Butler school complex, and for less than $100, you can get an annual state park pass and use it at Topsail Hill right across the road, and Topsail's a lightly enough used park that it's practically a private beach.

Hi everyone! I am so thankful I found this site! We are considering relocating to SoWal within two years. We have 4 kids, ages 6-10. The schools in the area look fantastic, but we are a little concerned about finding a family-oriented neighborhood. Is there an area along 30A where families live year-round? We are hoping to find a neighborhood where our kids can play with friends after school, ride bikes to friends' houses, etc.. Any specific suggestions, especially from anyone who is raising a family in this area, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Lots of great hoods! What might your price range be?

Seabreeze, east of Camp Creek Lake, on the north side of 30a has many full-time residents and families, few rentals. Short walk to beach walkovers (2) on either end of community. Low HOA fees, < $200/yr. Active HOA activities for adults.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! We will look at these communities when we visit next month. Blessings!

February should give you a pretty good idea. However I would say deduct 50% of the elderly population you see. Those are possibly snowbirds.

I agree that Grove By the Sea is a great family neighborhood. I also think the hoods around Eastern Lake are wonderful for full time residents. :welcome:

Hi everyone! I am so thankful I found this site! We are considering relocating to SoWal within two years. We have 4 kids, ages 6-10. The schools in the area look fantastic, but we are a little concerned about finding a family-oriented neighborhood. Is there an area along 30A where families live year-round? We are hoping to find a neighborhood where our kids can play with friends after school, ride bikes to friends' houses, etc.. Any specific suggestions, especially from anyone who is raising a family in this area, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Welcome to Sowal.com Someone told me to drive the full length of 30A and as many of the little streets around it to see it all first hand. That's what I did for my first couple visits and, 11 years later I can still say I'm glad I did it. There's a lot to see and get to know.

My Dad bought just west of 30-a about 30 years ago. With school, kids, work, etc., I didn't get to come down for years until just after Ivan to help Dad clean up. We rented bikes at Seaside and over a few days rode in and out of most every side street and neighborhood east and west. I'd echo AAbsolute's advice but do it on bikes. Worked great for us and my wife and I bought a home in our favorite neighborhood last year as prices have come back to earth. Still trying to get talked into moving down full time, though!

Good suggestions to drive/bike the side streets. You may want to research some homes first and then compare them, at least the neighorhood and home exterior, as you go.

While there are some good buys today, which will likely only get better with time, most homes on the market are overpriced. Grove by the Sea was mentioned and I agree that it is a well-done neighborhood, but IMHO, it may qualify as the most overpriced neighborhood in SoWal.

If you have not discovered it, you can view homes on the market at the following website:

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

Good suggestions to drive/bike the side streets. You may want to research some homes first and then compare them, at least the neighorhood and home exterior, as you go.

While there are some good buys today, which will likely only get better with time, most homes on the market are overpriced. Grove by the Sea was mentioned and I agree that it is a well-done neighborhood, but IMHO, it may qualify as the most overpriced neighborhood in SoWal.

If you have not discovered it, you can view homes on the market at the following website:

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

I know Grove by the Sea and was an Owner there. That's an amazing statement to say it may qualify as the most overpriced neighborhood on 30A. I don't know yet if you are right or wrong, but I'll use your link and others and try and get an opinion too. I bought a lot, built a home and sold it immediately for 250,000 in about '99 - 2000. I had my best Realtor experience ever on that transaction. My Realtor was Krystal Beauchamp. I'll never forget seeing a car drive past the house and pause then come back around and pause again. Krystal must have seen it too, because she came from nowhere and asked them if they would like the keys to go in and take a look. That is my example of a Real Estate Salesperson. So many Realtor's only showed property, then there are true salespeople who convert cold inquiries.

I know Grove by the Sea and was an Owner there. That's an amazing statement to say it may qualify as the most overpriced neighborhood on 30A. I don't know yet if you are right or wrong, but I'll use your link and others and try and get an opinion too. I bought a lot, built a home and sold it immediately for 250,000 in about '99 - 2000. I had my best Realtor experience ever on that transaction. My Realtor was Krystal Beauchamp. I'll never forget seeing a car drive past the house and pause then come back around and pause again. Krystal must have seen it too, because she came from nowhere and asked them if they would like the keys to go in and take a look. That is my example of a Real Estate Salesperson. So many Realtor's only showed property, then there are true salespeople who convert cold inquiries.

Consider the contrast of these two listings. The first is in Grove and the second in Las Palmas. The market in SoWal is tough to figure out because it is all over the map.

http://emeraldcoasthomesonline.com/(g3txtbfv0zqprmbsg1wnqfuq)/propertyDetails.aspx?mls=462705

http://emeraldcoasthomesonline.com/(g3txtbfv0zqprmbsg1wnqfuq)/propertyDetails.aspx?mls=488944

Consider the contrast of these two listings. The first is in Grove and the second in Las Palmas. The market in SoWal is tough to figure out because it is all over the map.

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

Linky no worky. :wave: How about posting the MLS numbers?

AAbsolute, Krystal was the first person to drive us through Grove By the Sea, as it happens. We had a great experience with her in '03 (didn't buy in that neighborhood though).

Linky no worky. :wave: How about posting the MLS numbers?

AAbsolute, Krystal was the first person to drive us through Grove By the Sea, as it happens. We had a great experience with her in '03 (didn't buy in that neighborhood though).

MLS numbers for the two listings:

MLS# 462705

MLS# 488944

Consider the contrast of these two listings. The first is in Grove and the second in Las Palmas. The market in SoWal is tough to figure out because it is all over the map.

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

EmeraldCoastHomesOnline.com

Thanks Chief. IMO, It may be a very long time to get that for The Grove home no matter how nice. I guess you know what Frank and Lynn sold that home for when it was new.?.?.

I love the valuation exercises, but don't like pronouncing my conclusions. It's a lot more fun when I'm talking about creating a home on a vacant lot and talking about it's valuations.

Linky no worky. :wave: How about posting the MLS numbers?

AAbsolute, Krystal was the first person to drive us through Grove By the Sea, as it happens. We had a great experience with her in '03 (didn't buy in that neighborhood though).

TFT, I did what you did too. I looked at The Grove in 1995 or '96 but bought my first one just up the hill instead. I like The Grove though. There's a sustainability about the overall community plan. I wish more of the homes there were more like the authentic one in the woods on the right when you come in. That place always seemed so real to me. I think I heard that Richard Gibbs did that one.

Thanks Chief. IMO, It may be a very long time to get that for The Grove home no matter how nice. I guess you know what Frank and Lynn sold that home for when it was new.?.?.

I love the valuation exercises, but don't like pronouncing my conclusions. It's a lot more fun when I'm talking about creating a home on a vacant lot and talking about it's valuations.

I enjoy the exercises as well but really like where the rubber hits the road.

I love all the statistics and graphs but it is only when I consider/compare specific homes that I can make an informed decision. That is why I will rent down there for the next year or more. When I do buy, I will likely build. Tons of lots on the market and we are experiencing commodity deflation so building materials prices are going down. Probably labor too. Plus by building, I don't have to replace white kitchen cabinets. :lol:

Lumber futures graph:

Lumber futures graph:

I only understand generally how that graph might affect me and my business. Do you ( or anyone else ) know exactly how that graph would translate to price per board foot? That's our focus.

I only understand generally how that graph might affect me and my business. Do you ( or anyone else ) know exactly how that graph would translate to price per board foot? That's our focus.

I don't know how the graph and your prices correlate. Link is to randomlengths.com which includes prices per thousand board feet. May yield some clues for you but not sure. The price trend is interesting.

Random Lengths: Information Services for the Forest Products Industry

I don't know how the graph and your prices correlate. Link is to randomlengths.com which includes prices per thousand board feet. May yield some clues for you but not sure. The price trend is interesting.

Random Lengths: Information Services for the Forest Products Industry

If I could hit Thanks twice I would have. This is exactly what I needed today. We don't buy flooring, we buy the species of wood to mill to flooring pattern and it's measured and priced in board feet. It's that way for siding, cabinet materials and other wood too. The local lumber places for framing are not tieing our pricing to the spot rate enough, but they will.