Hi, SoWal pals,
Just a note to let you know that as of this morning, Ye Olde Conch Out is no longer up for grabs. It was taken off the real estate market. I am really happy about this, as many of you can imagine. And here's my prediction for the future of well located beach estate at SoWal...
The market is not going to "tank." We are going through a correction period that is actually healthy for the sustainability of the area. The rampant speculation had ratcheted prices up to an artificially high level that was not sustainable. The cumulative impacts of a record storm year, record high insurance rates (and unpredictability for the future), and the County speculating about actually raising property taxes now (Are you nuts?) translated into a major erosion of buyer confidence. The highest of these on my list was the insurance situation, which I am thankful that Gov. Crist has introduced some sanity into. (We wuz robbed, folks!) Anyway, a check for nearly $5K arrived here several weeks back from the insurance company. We know that property taxes will be reduced after the 2005 reassessments kick in. All we need now is a storm year that is not Biblical by nature. Smilin' Joe, can you put in a good word for us? And there is that international airport in 2009, in spite of Shelly's dire predictions to the contrary. Shelly, will you please take a powder?
Well, all that $$$ talk aside...I am so thrilled that Conch Out is still mine. And she actually also belongs, in a sense, to all the people who have enjoyed time there for all these years, too and have taken such good care of this big house.
With any luck, I will see some of you in April. Unfortunately, I have winery hearings in CA and library business in Bainbridge to attend to. But hopefully there will be time for a week Conching Out at SoWal. Yes, yes...I know that you are way overdue for a story and I'm working on it. Donna :clap_1:
Replies
20
quirty
Hi, SoWal pals,
Just a note to let you know that as of this morning, Ye Olde Conch Out is no longer up for grabs. It was taken off the real estate market. I am really happy about this, as many of you can imagine. And here's my prediction for the future of well located beach estate at SoWal...
The market is not going to "tank." We are going through a correction period that is actually healthy for the sustainability of the area. The rampant speculation had ratcheted prices up to an artificially high level that was not sustainable. The cumulative impacts of a record storm year, record high insurance rates (and unpredictability for the future), and the County speculating about actually raising property taxes now (Are you nuts?) translated into a major erosion of buyer confidence. The highest of these on my list was the insurance situation, which I am thankful that Gov. Crist has introduced some sanity into. (We wuz robbed, folks!) Anyway, a check for nearly $5K arrived here several weeks back from the insurance company. We know that property taxes will be reduced after the 2005 reassessments kick in. All we need now is a storm year that is not Biblical by nature. Smilin' Joe, can you put in a good word for us? And there is that international airport in 2009, in spite of Shelly's dire predictions to the contrary. Shelly, will you please take a powder?
Well, all that $$$ talk aside...I am so thrilled that Conch Out is still mine. And she actually also belongs, in a sense, to all the people who have enjoyed time there for all these years, too and have taken such good care of this big house.
With any luck, I will see some of you in April. Unfortunately, I have winery hearings in CA and library business in Bainbridge to attend to. But hopefully there will be time for a week Conching Out at SoWal. Yes, yes...I know that you are way overdue for a story and I'm working on it. Donna :clap_1:
Will you be there for the soiree? Please say "Yes!"
Beach Fanatic
:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:
Beach Fanatic
Soiree! Soiree! Soiree! Would love to see you, Donna. It's going to be a wonderful long weekend and you'd be the icing on the cake. I'm glad you'll continue to have Conch Out. You'd be a SoWaller anyway since you have roots here, but Conch Out seems to be part of the SoWaller history so it's good to keep it in the SoWal family for a while more anyway.
Meow
:clap_1: ...music to my ears. I can hear Conch Out sighing with relief. ;-) I do hope you are still able to make it for a break in the South...would love to see you!
picky
This is happy news. I was so hoping you wouldn't cut the SoWal ties and look how well everything has worked out! Conch Out is back with its mama and all is right with the world. :clap_1:
Beach Fanatic
Great news ~ I for one am happy not to lose you! 
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
:clap_1: YEAH!!!! I so want to stay there sometime. I hope I can talk the "group" into it sometime. Great news Donna!!!!!
SoWal Insider
Great Donna. Your love for Sowal and Conch Out are so obvious it made me sad to think of you selling.
SoWal Insider
Hi, SoWal pals,How about a timeshare owned by SoWallians?
Just a note to let you know that as of this morning, Ye Olde Conch Out is no longer up for grabs. It was taken off the real estate market. I am really happy about this, as many of you can imagine. And here's my prediction for the future of well located beach estate at SoWal...
The market is not going to "tank." We are going through a correction period that is actually healthy for the sustainability of the area. The rampant speculation had ratcheted prices up to an artificially high level that was not sustainable. The cumulative impacts of a record storm year, record high insurance rates (and unpredictability for the future), and the County speculating about actually raising property taxes now (Are you nuts?) translated into a major erosion of buyer confidence. The highest of these on my list was the insurance situation, which I am thankful that Gov. Crist has introduced some sanity into. (We wuz robbed, folks!) Anyway, a check for nearly $5K arrived here several weeks back from the insurance company. We know that property taxes will be reduced after the 2005 reassessments kick in. All we need now is a storm year that is not Biblical by nature. Smilin' Joe, can you put in a good word for us? And there is that international airport in 2009, in spite of Shelly's dire predictions to the contrary. Shelly, will you please take a powder?
Well, all that $$$ talk aside...I am so thrilled that Conch Out is still mine. And she actually also belongs, in a sense, to all the people who have enjoyed time there for all these years, too and have taken such good care of this big house.
With any luck, I will see some of you in April. Unfortunately, I have winery hearings in CA and library business in Bainbridge to attend to. But hopefully there will be time for a week Conching Out at SoWal. Yes, yes...I know that you are way overdue for a story and I'm working on it. Donna :clap_1:
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
How about a timeshare owned by SoWallians?
:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:
SoWal Insider
Ok, 2nd or 3rd week of October. Someone's got to take hurricane season.
bean
Grayt to hear from you and with such good news! :clap_1: We'll be looking forward to a story soon... or whenever you post one for us. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
So happy to see your post Donna....you have always had such terrific (and WISE) things to say.....you've been missed!! Look forward to meeting you one of these days!
SoWal Insider
:clap_1: :clap_1: Grayt news! Now...when are you having everyone over to celebrate?!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Getting closer all the while. Just checked out my airline schedules and looks like arriving on 20 April and then leaving to return to Bainbridge Island on April 29. Did someone say soiree? Bonfire? Oyster? Be still, my heart! Oh, and those weeks during hurricane season? That would be me, friends...boarding up all those big windows overlooking the Gulf and getting ready for my date with Jimbo Cantore...ouch!
and 
and 
SoWal Expert
Getting closer all the while. Just checked out my airline schedules and looks like arriving on 20 April and then leaving to return to Bainbridge Island on April 29. Did someone say soiree? Bonfire? Oyster? Be still, my heart! Oh, and those weeks during hurricane season? That would be me, friends...boarding up all those big windows overlooking the Gulf and getting ready for my date with Jimbo Cantore...ouch!
Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:
SoWal Insider
:clap_1: :clap_1: Grayt news! Now...when are you having everyone over to celebrate?!
What she said.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Confirmed! I am nipping down to Grayton for April 22-29. Look forward to seeing at least some of you then. :clap_1:
SoWal Guide
Confirmed! I am nipping down to Grayton for April 22-29. Look forward to seeing at least some of you then. :clap_1::clap_1: great news! there will be a big ole herd of sowallers at the beach on the afternoon/evening of the 28th... see some of the soiree threads for details donna!
Meow
Confirmed! I am nipping down to Grayton for April 22-29. Look forward to seeing at least some of you then. :clap_1:
YAW HOOOOOOO!!! This is some good news!!!!
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