Watersound ("north") ...

[casey]

We are from Atlanta ... and we will be visiting South Walton this summer for two weeks. We have had a long term dream to own a house near the beach as our 2nd home. But because of land/home prices, we have resigned ourselfs to the fact we cannot own beachfront.

Tis summer we want to look at land in a few communities. Primarily, we are interested in WaterSound "north" and WindMark Beach. We are attracted the the wide array of amenities at these properties. But, we have some concerns:
- seems nothing is selling at Watersound
- Watersound's access to the beach
- Windmark's beaches and ocean not as pretty as 30a

Does anyone have any recent info and/or opinions on these developments ... are they selling ... are they priced fairly ... is one a better investment that the other?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

 

[TooFarTampa]

Casey, there is a BIG difference between WaterSound North and "beachfront." Lots and lots in between. Are you willing to share your budget and must-haves? If so, lots of people here would be willing to steer you toward things you probably don't know about.

 

[casey]

Thank you for the quick reply. I am still learning how this board works, so I appreciate your guidance. Here are our decision making factors:

- budget = $250K for land
- build within 5 years
- nice amenities ... especially swimming pool
- good long term investment.

THANK YOU AGAIN!

 

[egrp]

WSN mite be a good play for you...its within a couple of miles of the beach and access should be granted through WaterSound Beach club (granted u mite be expected to pay for that access). if you don't want to pay many public beaches or can park at seaside, greyton, whatever. will be a nice community at full buildout. very little selling in WSN, but then again very little selling anywhere...but pricing is pretty fair imho.

that being said...if you're budget for land is $250K, i'm not sure you couldn't find something pretty darn close to 30A right now. check some of the other threads but i think you are in the ballpark. check watersound west beach they have cottage lots for under 300k...will have a nice pool etc and has a loooong boardwalk access to the beach.

don't know much about windmark...the biggest dif i see is that windmark feels more isolated/rural. not that sowal is a booming metropolis but destin and pcb are close and plenty to do outside of WSN within sowal. don't think this is the case with windmark.

hope that helps

 

[Babyblue]

Thank you for the quick reply. I am still learning how this board works, so I appreciate your guidance. Here are our decision making factors:

- budget = $250K for land
- build within 5 years
- nice amenities ... especially swimming pool
- good long term investment.

THANK YOU AGAIN!

How about a lot in Seacrest Beach, next to Rosemary. No build out time. South of 98 and one big swimming pool all for 250k?

 

[mf]

How about a lot in Seacrest Beach, next to Rosemary. No build out time. South of 98 and one big swimming pool all for 250k?

WOW! that sounds like a great deal! where do i sign up?:shock:

 

[Babyblue]

WOW! that sounds like a great deal! where do i sign up?:shock:

Send me a PM and I can sign you up.

 

[gardening1970]

Phase I of Windmark is directly on Port St Joe bay. I love Port St. Joe as I have family there and have spent much time there, but it doesn't have the same feel as the neighborhoods on 30A... very quiet. Windmark does have great access to Cape San Blas (which I LOVE), and the marina is close by. While there are big plans for the old paper mill site, I'm not sure that the nearby chemical plant is going any where soon (the town needs those jobs). I read that plans for the St. Joe Company development Bonfire Beach to be built in Mexico Beach near Tyndall have slowed considerably due to the market downturn. I think there are some locals on this board who live in or near St. Joe and who may be able to weigh-in on price and movement.

Good luck to you, and enjoy the hunt for just the right place!

 

[PalmBeach]

I checked out some model homes at WSN last week. Good amenities and a lot of house for the price. Also good lot prices. They have several builders on board and some awsome prefab houses. Don't be fooled by the fact that they are prefab. They are VERY nice and priced right. They are marketing to permanent residents and true second home buyers rather than as a resort. So if you want to feel like part of a community it is a good choice. When you are close to the beach you may just have a different set of neighbors every week during the season and none the rest of the time.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Phase I of Windmark is directly on Port St Joe bay. I love Port St. Joe as I have family there and have spent much time there, but it doesn't have the same feel as the neighborhoods on 30A... very quiet. Windmark does have great access to Cape San Blas (which I LOVE), and the marina is close by. While there are big plans for the old paper mill site, I'm not sure that the nearby chemical plant is going any where soon (the town needs those jobs). I read that plans for the St. Joe Company development Bonfire Beach to be built in Mexico Beach near Tyndall have slowed considerably due to the market downturn. I think there are some locals on this board who live in or near St. Joe and who may be able to weigh-in on price and movement.

Good luck to you, and enjoy the hunt for just the right place!

The last I heard about Bonfire Beach was that Tyndall AFB did not want it to be developed stating that there was potential for misguided drone planes to crash in that area. I'm serious.

WaterSound (formerly, North) has lots starting around $140K. Construction must begin within 4 years and has to be completed by year five. They are scrapping a few holes of golf which they had originally planned and are building a centrally located park with outdoor ampitheater similar to WaterColor's Cerulean Park. They will have a swimming pools as well. As Palmbeach stated, they are marketing WaterSound as a community for year-round residents. There are discounts on the BeachClub and Camp Creek memberships if you buy in WaterSound. I think WaterSound has some potential for a year round residence. Did I mention that they are also building retail stores at the western side of the entrance, which will be close to the same size as currently seen in Destin Commons?

I've been to Windmark and cannot say that I was wowed. I can think of too many other places where I would rather live