Story
30 Years of Hard Work Brings Overnight Success for 30A Realty
May 3, 2019 by Manny Chavez
This article's title is of course, tongue in cheek. But there is some truth behind the headline.
Because the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the case of 30A Realty, new owner Jacob Watkins is set on continuing the company's long run (almost 30 years) in the SoWal real estate market.
He’s young, he’s dynamic, and most of all, he’s ALL IN as he looks forward to adding his innovative marketing strategy to the mix. He knows not to “fix it if it ain’t broke” and welcomes the insight and expertise of former owners Alice Forrester and Mickey Whitaker who are now part of the “new” 30A Realty team.
“They are a fantastic source of knowledge and know more about the local area than anyone I know,” says Jacob. “They have an incredible client data base and I learn from them every day.”
The firm now has about 25 agents who are busy helping owners buy and sell property from Destin to Inlet Beach. All Scenic 30A communities (Gulf Place, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove, WaterSound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach) are represented along with the neighboring communities of Inlet Beach, Point Washington, Santa Rosa Beach, Churchill Oaks, Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Destin and Panama City Beach.
The new company headquarters moved across the street from the old location and are now taking up about 3,000 square feet of space next to Goatfeathers in Seagrove Beach. Old timers will remember the upstairs portion of the space as that of artist Maxine Sharp who lived in and operated her art gallery there. Walls have been moved or added and the new space has taken advantage of the large window light that permeates pretty much every inch of the workplace.
The interior really is artistic “eye candy” and is a real pleasure just to walk around in. Bringing the outdoors indoors is surely a good thing and clients won’t feel claustrophobic in this sunny atmosphere! If you weren’t sure about purchasing a property on Scenic Higheay 30A, all opposing thoughts will be put to rest with your visit here.
“We’ve invested a lot of technology into our office so that we can essentially show a customer what’s available in the entire market, sitting right here in our conference room,” explains Jacob. “We have 6 private offices, 25 open-air desks, a team-building collaboration conference room, a customer conference room, kitchen area, our lobby, and an upstairs patio area at our disposal.”
“Scenic Highway 30-A is probably one of the most unique markets in the United States, certainly in the Southeast and we have a lot to offer a diverse group of people coming together in one area. We have so many different communities, different tastes, so many different outdoor activities, and as the community grows so will the opportunities for more entertainment, more dining, more shopping, more outdoor activities, more places to live, and we will continue to grow with it.”
In addition to Alice and Mickey, the 30A Realty team consists of a super-collaborative, diversified staff (veterans, newbies, long-time agents, agents with extensive banking experience, etc.). Serving customers from Destin to Inlet beach, the team concentrates on buyers and sellers in the SoWal luxury market, including vacation rental space. According to Jacob, there are niches within the Scenic Highway 30A area that are unknown to a lot of folks and are great for people who want to live here full-time or to have a second home.
“I really believe Scenic 30A still has something to offer every customer in every price range whether they are looking for a condo or a detached home, a lot or a little space, or a specific community.”
Jacob realizes that much has changed in SoWal since 30A Realty was established back in 1995. He is committed to continued innovation and growth, a focus on the recruiting of quality full-time agents and brokers, adapting to buyers, learning how they serve their customers….staying on top of where the trends live.
Jacob is very involved with the local community…he is on the board of Food for Thought and the Sonder Project, with a lot of time and money made by 30A Realty going right back into the community.
To check out the “new” 30A Realty digs, plan to attend their Grand Opening to be held Thursday, May 9. The party will begin with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting slated for 4 p.m. followed by an Open House until7 p.m.
“We’ll have plenty to eat and drink and have the band “Shakedown” providing entertainment. This will be a great opportunity for networking and enjoying our new space,” says Jacob.
For more information, please call 850-231-5030
Location: 4042 E. County Highway 30A
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Manny has been a working photojournalist his entire career and is now writing stories/taking pix for SoWal.com. He and his wife Kris live in Seagrove and have “seen a lot come and go.” Lots of stories have been told, with lots more to come!
