Florida panhandle

[NEO]

I know there was a thread about this years ago but can’t find it.

My question is simple:

Where would you buy a home on the Florida pan handle if you planned on actually living there a few months at a time?

I am looking at Watercolor, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach.

I plan on staying there end of December to first of March and then just sporadically after that maybe a week at a time every other month. I will probably need to fly out once every few weeks just to be in the office as needed.

I like Watercolor a lot but am afraid it will be very desolate during the winter, and my wife would freak out.

I am open to homes or condos but I would like to be in the area that is more surrounded with year round locals. Maybe Emerald Bay?

I do not plan on renting the place out.

I would love any advice.

Thanks!

 

[1972 Grad]

I know there was a thread about this years ago but can’t find it.

My question is simple:

Where would you buy a home on the Florida pan handle if you planned on actually living there a few months at a time?

I am looking at Watercolor, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach.

I plan on staying there end of December to first of March and then just sporadically after that maybe a week at a time every other month. I will probably need to fly out once every few weeks just to be in the office as needed.

I like Watercolor a lot but am afraid it will be very desolate during the winter, and my wife would freak out.

I am open to homes or condos but I would like to be in the area that is more surrounded with year round locals. Maybe Emerald Bay?

I do not plan on renting the place out.

I would love any advice.

Thanks!

I bought on Cape San Blas. It WAS a wonderful place until last week. It will be again in a year or two.

 

[Go aeiou]

I know there was a thread about this years ago but can’t find it.

My question is simple:

Where would you buy a home on the Florida pan handle if you planned on actually living there a few months at a time?

I am looking at Watercolor, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach.

I plan on staying there end of December to first of March and then just sporadically after that maybe a week at a time every other month. I will probably need to fly out once every few weeks just to be in the office as needed.

I like Watercolor a lot but am afraid it will be very desolate during the winter, and my wife would freak out.

I am open to homes or condos but I would like to be in the area that is more surrounded with year round locals. Maybe Emerald Bay?

I do not plan on renting the place out.

I would love any advice.

Thanks!

If you are not renting it you can rent cheaper. I was a real estate developer and CPA, and I have never been able to make the numbers. Work. We!l Only around 2009-10. Worst of the collapse. Rent and remodel when you are ready to retire. Maybe.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

I bought on Cape San Blas. It WAS a wonderful place until last week. It will be again in a year or two.

I need to meet you 72’. I’ve been going to CSB, PSJ and Mexico Beach area for years. I love it down there. I can never remember the name of the place but the ice cream shop right across the street from Saint Joe Shrimp Co., we visited four times last week before the storm. Beautiful place, beautiful bay and perfect for families.

 

[1972 Grad]

I need to meet you 72’. I’ve been going to CSB, PSJ and Mexico Beach area for years. I love it down there.

My first visit was in 1994. I remember being there and watching the 50th anniversary of D-Day on June 6. It rained cats and dogs for about 3 days , and I was stuck inside watching tv.

 

[joevol33]

I need to meet you 72’. I’ve been going to CSB, PSJ and Mexico Beach area for years. I love it down there. I can never remember the name of the place but the ice cream shop right across the street from Saint Joe Shrimp Co., we visited four times last week before the storm. Beautiful place, beautiful bay and perfect for families.

Agree with it being perfect for families. All the years we've went to pcb, or even Clearwater we had situations I didn't like the kids being around. The week we spent at MB, not a single problem.

 

[NEO]

Agree with it being perfect for families. All the years we've went to pcb, or even Clearwater we had situations I didn't like the kids being around. The week we spent at MB, not a single problem.

My wife likes the outlet mall and Destin commons a lot. Is there shopping here?

I have never been to PCB due to the vibe but it appears that would be closest shopping which is 90 minutes away. Is there local shopping here and enough restaurants and grocery stores?

 

[joevol33]

My wife likes the outlet mall and Destin commons a lot. Is there shopping here?

I have never been to PCB due to the vibe but it appears that would be closest shopping which is 90 minutes away. Is there local shopping here and enough restaurants and grocery stores?

There were a couple of small local shops, and a couple of restaurants. There's also port St Joe's image east of it, and some town that was pretty big, had a super Walmart, between MB and Panama. Toucans was the big restaurant in MB, but it got destroyed. It's a great vacation spot though.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

My wife likes the outlet mall and Destin commons a lot. Is there shopping here?

I have never been to PCB due to the vibe but it appears that would be closest shopping which is 90 minutes away. Is there local shopping here and enough restaurants and grocery stores?

You can get to PCB in a little over an hour. We drove to Saint Andrews to snorkel each trip while staying in MB. Callaway has a super Walmart right outside PC. If your in MB, Port Saint Joe has a Winn Dixie and a couple of really nice outdoor outfitters. They also have some awesome seafood, small bakeries (Sweet Bunz is awesome) and the best cigar bar right on the land side of the marina. The best blackened grouper I have ever eaten was at Dockside in PSJ.


I love it there.

 

[joevol33]

You can get to PCB in a little over an hour. We drove to Saint Andrews to snorkel each trip while staying in MB. Callaway has a super Walmart right outside PC. If your in MB, Port Saint Joe has a Winn Dixie and a couple of really nice outdoor outfitters. They also have some awesome seafood, small bakeries (Sweet Bunz is awesome) and the best cigar bar right on the land side of the marina. The best blackened grouper I have ever eaten was at Dockside in PSJ.


I love it there.

I thought it was Callaway, but didn't wanna guess. Haha. Have you ever stayed at the El governor? We rented a house, but I've thought about staying there in the future.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

Never. We rent every time we are there in October. The GOV is always packed out!

We can go in October and rent a 5 bedroom three 1/2 bath house on the beach with a pool for $200 a night. It’s a steal and the reason we never go to Destin, PCB, FWB or Gulf Shores anymore. You can stay so much cheaper with such a better atmosphere for the kids and us. I fished everyday from shore and couldn’t see anyone on the beach. It was awesome.

 

[1972 Grad]

I thought it was Callaway, but didn't wanna guess. Haha. Have you ever stayed at the El governor? We rented a house, but I've thought about staying there in the future.

Not sure if it survived.

 

[1972 Grad]

You can get to PCB in a little over an hour. We drove to Saint Andrews to snorkel each trip while staying in MB. Callaway has a super Walmart right outside PC. If your in MB, Port Saint Joe has a Winn Dixie and a couple of really nice outdoor outfitters. They also have some awesome seafood, small bakeries (Sweet Bunz is awesome) and the best cigar bar right on the land side of the marina. The best blackened grouper I have ever eaten was at Dockside in PSJ.


I love it there.

The grocery store in PSJ is a Piggly Wiggly.

 

[joevol33]

That's awesome. I sure hope they get it rebuilt for that community, lovely place.

 

[joevol33]

The grocery store in PSJ is a Piggly Wiggly.

The dollar general there sold meat, it blew my mind!

 

[1972 Grad]

My wife likes the outlet mall and Destin commons a lot. Is there shopping here?

I have never been to PCB due to the vibe but it appears that would be closest shopping which is 90 minutes away. Is there local shopping here and enough restaurants and grocery stores?

There is ( or was ) shopping in Panama City. It will be back sometime. Panama City itself is fine. There are several neat little local shops in Apalachicola and Port St. Joe.

 

[Carl Pickens]

I know there was a thread about this years ago but can’t find it.

My question is simple:

Where would you buy a home on the Florida pan handle if you planned on actually living there a few months at a time?

I am looking at Watercolor, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach.

I plan on staying there end of December to first of March and then just sporadically after that maybe a week at a time every other month. I will probably need to fly out once every few weeks just to be in the office as needed.

I like Watercolor a lot but am afraid it will be very desolate during the winter, and my wife would freak out.

I am open to homes or condos but I would like to be in the area that is more surrounded with year round locals. Maybe Emerald Bay?

I do not plan on renting the place out.

I would love any advice.

Thanks!

Between Destin and Ft. Walton, I believe I'd go for Destin. Last summer we stayed in Ft. Walton/Okaloosa Island and it appeared the area had declined a bit.

What kind of work do you do?

 

[1972 Grad]

Between Destin and Ft. Walton, I believe I'd go for Destin. Last summer we stayed in Ft. Walton/Okaloosa Island and it appeared the area had declined a bit.

What kind of work do you do?

I used to go to Destin back in the 70's and 80's . It got too crowded for me, although it's a great place. I don't like crowds, so I headed for the Cape. I'm sure it's not for everybody.

I really liked going down there last November and December when it was mid-high 70 degrees, and being able to walk up or down the beach for 500 yards before I ran across another person.

 

[Carl Pickens]

I used to go to Destin back in the 70's and 80's . It got too crowded for me, although it's a great place. I don't like crowds, so I headed for the Cape. I'm sure it's not for everybody.

I really liked going down there last November and December when it was mid-high 70 degrees, and being able to walk up or down the beach for 500 yards before I ran across another person.

That's what I'd like as well, but the wife and girls like to go shopping and etc.
friends of ours love Cape San Blas and I anticipate us going there once my two youngest get a little bit older.

 

[wildnkrazykat]

Indian rocks

 

[Coug]

My wife likes the outlet mall and Destin commons a lot. Is there shopping here?

I have never been to PCB due to the vibe but it appears that would be closest shopping which is 90 minutes away. Is there local shopping here and enough restaurants and grocery stores?

I completely understand the PCB vibe. It's literally the spring break capital of the world. We weren't impressed and have mostly stuck to areas in and around Destin. There is no shortage of shopping, eating, pharmacies, etc. Closest airport to the Destin area is VPS(Valparaiso). 30 to 50 minute drive depending on where you are in the Destin area. That being said you might find cheaper housing more towards the Fort Walton area and the drive between FW and Destin is not long at all.

 

[NEO]

Between Destin and Ft. Walton, I believe I'd go for Destin. Last summer we stayed in Ft. Walton/Okaloosa Island and it appeared the area had declined a bit.

What kind of work do you do?

We got a 3 bedroom penthouse on the bay side at Destin West last time. We absolutely loved the place, best condo there we have stayed at yet by far, but I agree Fort Walton appears to have went down hill. Fuddpuckers is gone.

None of the condos in Destin or sandestin can compete with either Destin west or waterscape though when it comes to kid stuff like lazy river and pools though...which really sucks.

I like staying in the heart of Destin but we stayed st Sundestin twice and while the lobby was updated last time the pool is still a joke. It was nice to be able to walk to the water park and to the back porch though for lunch.

We may try Silver Dunes next time...think it was silver dunes. Anyone stayed there?

I don’t golf so the Hilton doesn’t appeal to me.

Has anyone stayed in the condos close to the outlet behind the Winn Dixie?

Those look nice.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

The grocery store in PSJ is a Piggly Wiggly.

You’re right! Next to Bluewater !

 

[Zues1]

1972 sent me information on a beach house rental in the Port St Joe area, One of the best family vacations we've been on. Plenty of room for the entire crew. No one on the beach, fished on the shore everyday and had a ball. This ole guy needed that. Thank you sir.

I sure hope that area can come back, their economy seemed to already be on shaky ground.
I read an article last night that there are still 250 people unaccounted for, wow. Can that be correct?

 

[gordonr24]

I always stay on old 98 in Miramar Beach. I absolutely love the vibe and atmosphere there.