Look at both developments with Google Earth. The reason both have the name "Cypress", is most likely that they are both directly adjacent wetlands. If you have cypress trees, you have the moist ground.
Cypress Breeze is 35 feet above sea level. There has never been a storm surge that could come close to flooding the community. Cypress Breeze has a paved bike trail directly to Ed Walline Gulf Front Park which is 5 blocks from Cypress Breeze. The Cypress Stands are protected and occur because of the soil hydrology. The pool is criticised by those interested in high architectural design and beloved by children. The lots are oversized on average, mine is 85 x 150. There are about 200 lots in Cypress Breeze and to date there are about 35 completed homes. There are about 22 homes that are occupied regularly. I don't know how the occupancy rate compares to other beach communities in Sowal. The new Publix on 98 is within 5 miles and Sacred Heart is within about 8 miles. Butler Elementary is within 7 minutes and South Walton High is about 9 minutes. There are 2 gas stations within 3 minutes and 3 churches in 4 minutes. There are at least 5 restaurants within 3 minutes and 10 within 10 minutes.
Homes were about 400,000 then went as high as about 1,000,000. The architectural controls are all over the board. This really is a detraction in my opinion for cohesiveness. The upside to that is that a family looking to build the home they want won't have any trouble doing so. You can buy a brand new 4 bed/3 bath with carriage house home for 399,000. There is much speculation about what the developer will be selling lots for in the future. A person may be able to buy a lot and build a new home for as low as 350,000 in the future with some patience. All the streets are paved and it is a child/family friendly community.
Disclosure: I own a home there and it is not for sale. My mother owns a home there that is for sale. Some people I know bought 6 lots in 2004 for about 170,000 each and asked me to build for them for profit, I advised them to sell all 6 lots for 250,000 immediately and be happy with their return. That's what I did with my first lot. The developer worked with Doodle and Seacrest Beach to complete Seacrest's big pool while Doodle was out of town. I bought in Cypress Breeze because I figured it may be like Seacrest Beach with the proximity to the gulf and the enormous pool. I figure when the market stabilizes lots will eventually reach 250,000. In time Cypress Breeze will fill out to be a great beach community and the HOA will organize and mature. I can hear the waves at the beach from where I am typing and yet we are surrounded by State Forest. It's o.k.
I have detailed maps and know quite a bit about the community.
