Meanwhile, back at the thread, here are my tourist-type comments. I'm basing this on houses we've rented for the last dozen years in Gulf Trace.
Flooring: I don't like staying in houses that have tile or carpet in the living areas. It's easier to get sand off hardwood or laminate. Sturdy doormat rugs at the doors to get that last bit of sand off the toes. Nice to have carpet in the bedrooms, but hardwood is good there, too.
I'm seriously allergic to yellowflies, so a screened-in porch is a must. If no screens, then plenty of powerful fans on porch. Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, those cool sling-type swings (a one-butt sitting hammock?) are all nice.
I also like to have lots of ceiling fans in a house so that I can turn down the A/C.
I don't care if the couches & furniture are the leftovers from another house as long as they're comfortable enough for a nap or to curl up with a book. (Boo for wicker or bamboo couches in the living room.) Someone also said something about enough eating space--it's cool with me if the eating areas are broken up--a large dining room table, a smaller 4-seat table, a table on the porch.