As vacant land becomes harder to find in Destin, builders and developers continue to go to South Walton.
?With the high-rises and traffic, I don?t see how they can build much more in Destin,? said Harry Millsaps, president of ECAR?s South Walton chapter and an agent with Coastal Properties of Northwest Florida Inc.
Millsaps said he?s surprised there has not been more development along Destin?s harbor, such as Peter Bos? development of HarborWalk Village, but he said he is concerned about the traffic new developments will generate in Destin.
He said South Walton has a 50-foot height limit on buildings, allowing for only three or four stories of development.
This drives up the prices for each unit, he said.
?It (South Walton) has got to be one of the hottest real estate markets in the country,? he said.
Lots that sold for $150,000 a few years ago are now going for $600,000 to $700,000, Millsaps said.
He said many properties are selling for $2 million and the vast majority of the million-dollar real estate purchases are cash deals with no financing involved.
The most ?affordable? housing in Walton County starts at about $350,000, he said.
Resales are dominating the Destin market and new development is moving to South Walton, said Ben Anderson, president of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.
There are about 32 new developments between Sandestin and east to Bay County, with about seven more along County Road 30-A, not including those still in the planning stage, Millsaps said.
They include Water-Sound, Alys Beach, Adagio, South Walton Commerce Park, Naturewalk and Grayton Grand.
Millsaps said some of these are major developments.
In spite of the magnitude of development in Walton County, Millsaps said there doesn?t seem to be any shortage of buyers.
OKALOOSA
Single-family homes:
?Average sale price: $614,000.
?Median sale price: $450,000.
?Average listing price: $646,000.
?Average sale price was 95 percent of average listing price.
Condominium residences:
?Average sale price: $445,000.
?Median sale price: $358,000.
?Average listing price: $458,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Residential land:
?Average sale price: $316,000.
?Median sale price: $200,000.
?Average listing price: $330,000.
?Average sale price was 96 percent of average listing price.
WALTON
Single-family homes:
?Average sale price: $845,000.
?Median sale price: $595,000.
?Average listing price: $873,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Condominium residences:
?Average sale price: $690,000.
?Median sale price: $575,000.
?Average listing price: $718,000.
?Average sale price was 96 percent of average listing price.
Residential land:
?Average sale price: $544,000.
?Median sale price: $420,000.
?Average listing price: $561,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Source: Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.
?With the high-rises and traffic, I don?t see how they can build much more in Destin,? said Harry Millsaps, president of ECAR?s South Walton chapter and an agent with Coastal Properties of Northwest Florida Inc.
Millsaps said he?s surprised there has not been more development along Destin?s harbor, such as Peter Bos? development of HarborWalk Village, but he said he is concerned about the traffic new developments will generate in Destin.
He said South Walton has a 50-foot height limit on buildings, allowing for only three or four stories of development.
This drives up the prices for each unit, he said.
?It (South Walton) has got to be one of the hottest real estate markets in the country,? he said.
Lots that sold for $150,000 a few years ago are now going for $600,000 to $700,000, Millsaps said.
He said many properties are selling for $2 million and the vast majority of the million-dollar real estate purchases are cash deals with no financing involved.
The most ?affordable? housing in Walton County starts at about $350,000, he said.
Resales are dominating the Destin market and new development is moving to South Walton, said Ben Anderson, president of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.
There are about 32 new developments between Sandestin and east to Bay County, with about seven more along County Road 30-A, not including those still in the planning stage, Millsaps said.
They include Water-Sound, Alys Beach, Adagio, South Walton Commerce Park, Naturewalk and Grayton Grand.
Millsaps said some of these are major developments.
In spite of the magnitude of development in Walton County, Millsaps said there doesn?t seem to be any shortage of buyers.
OKALOOSA
Single-family homes:
?Average sale price: $614,000.
?Median sale price: $450,000.
?Average listing price: $646,000.
?Average sale price was 95 percent of average listing price.
Condominium residences:
?Average sale price: $445,000.
?Median sale price: $358,000.
?Average listing price: $458,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Residential land:
?Average sale price: $316,000.
?Median sale price: $200,000.
?Average listing price: $330,000.
?Average sale price was 96 percent of average listing price.
WALTON
Single-family homes:
?Average sale price: $845,000.
?Median sale price: $595,000.
?Average listing price: $873,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Condominium residences:
?Average sale price: $690,000.
?Median sale price: $575,000.
?Average listing price: $718,000.
?Average sale price was 96 percent of average listing price.
Residential land:
?Average sale price: $544,000.
?Median sale price: $420,000.
?Average listing price: $561,000.
?Average sale price was 97 percent of average listing price.
Source: Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.