Real Estate Information

This weekend, September 19-20, come to Pensacola Beach for our world class "Taste of the Beach" Event.  You'll find local chefs preparing a great variety of dishes in the Gulfside Pavillion.  Enjoy samples of the best of Pensacola Beach cooking from 11-4 on Saturday.  There will also be entertainment for children, a Corvette show on Saturday, a Motorcycle show on Sunday, and plenty of good times!

"Signature Dishes" from Pensacola Beach include Muffalettas, Shrimp dishes, Crab and clam chowders, and a host of gulf coast treats.  A complete list is here. 

Just another fun and flavorful weekend in paradise! 

It's hard to believe, but 5 years ago Pensacola Beach was just beginning the recovery from Hurricane Ivan, and the second punch from Hurricane Dennis which followed in 2005. Today, we have much to be proud of. Pensacola Beach is now a vibrant resort area, with new development underway, and our position as a world class luxury gulf coast resort still intact.

Here are some of the highlights of the new development spurring our physical and economic recovery:

The $3.6 million Escambia County fire house was opened in July. This replaced the one that was destroyed by Dennis in 2005.

Financing is being sought to rebuild the Best Western.

The Grand Marlin Restaurant and Yacht Club is near completion. This is on the site of Coconuts by the Sea. It is an $8 million project.

Hotel Indigo is being built on the site of the former Holiday Inn. The $50 million 160 room hotel is expected to open in May.

A new $60 million 206 room Holiday Inn is being built on the former site of Beachside resort.

Our roads and pathways are open too. Fort Pickens has reopened, and so has Opal Beach. The road connecting Navarre Beach and Pensacola beach reopened in March.

Even in an economic downturn, Pensacola Beach has rebounded from two devastating hurricanes in a record amount of time. The new buildings are up to the most stringent codes, reflecting a plan for disaster should another hurricane strike. The optimism in rebuilding, even during a bad economic time, shows that Pensacola Beach holds value as a destination, and as a location.

Take a look at these prime Pensacola Beach properties:

721 Pensacola Beach Blvd #501

1100 Ft Pickens Rd # C8

Vacant lot - 1003 Ariola Drive

Other beach area properties:

8522 Gulf Blvd #7 Navarre Beach FL

While Florida still has many foreclosures and short sales on the market, there are signs that sales are on the rebound.  Many buyers who had been waiting for "the bottom" are now making offers and getting back into the market, fueled by the $8000 tax credit, and affordable pricing. 

Sales overall in the state of Florida were up for the fourth consecutive quarter.  Prices remain low. Condo sales statewide rose 29 percent over the past year.  The median statewide existing condo sale price is down 38% from a year ago. 

Prices are low, but so are interest rates.  We are beginning to see with increased sales a dent in the inventory of foreclosures and distressed properties which pressure the market. 

Whether you are buying or selling, we at Americas Top Realty can give you expert assistance in all areas of real estate.  We are top buyer agents because we know the local market in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and the surrounding area.  We are full service realtors, and offer you the best marketing, advising, and overall service.  We also advise our clients about real estate investment opportunities.

The grand finale of Pensacola's 450th birthday party will take place this coming week. What a celebration it has been with the visit in June of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, our annual reenactment of the Don Tristan de Luna landing, and now our final week long birthday party.

The events will begin with an unveiling of the Spanish Conquistador statue at Plaza de Luna on Thursday at 5 pm. On August 14, there will be an art auction at Plaza de Luna, featuring 10 historic paingints of Pensacola by Dean Quigley.

The main events are August 15. There will be a renactment of the landing ceremony of Don Tristan de Luna at Fort Pickens Gate Park. The party really gets going that evening. Palafox Place will host a large street party. Come for local and regional bands, birthday cake, restaurant specials, more historic re-enactors, and fireworks! Bring the kids - small Spanish plates prepared by the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs will be available for $4.50, and children can try to dunk their favorite chef in a dunking booth! All this and the world's biggest birthday card too!

It's It's official. Pensacola is definitely your place in the sun if you are looking for a sunny and pleasant place to retire to in the next few years. According to the MoneySmart column at USA Weekend, Pensacola is among the top 5 locations for young retirees (55 to 59) to plan a retirement. The rankings were compiled for USA Weekend by Coldwell Banker and Onboard Informatics.

The wisdom of buying now and retiring later certainly holds true for Pensacola. Our prices are the lowest they have been in years, and the area will hold value. Our beaches, safe communities, active lifestyle, and convenient location make us a very desirable location that will build value in the coming years. We're a community that maintains demand for housing on several levels - second homes, retirement homes, and housing for military families and people working for government contractors. We truly boast the world's most beautiful beaches, and we are comparatively inexpensive when you consider our costs with the rest of the country.

Buying now for future retirement is a good strategy for financial planning. You continue to gain equity while having a secure home for your retirement, a vacation home, and a potential income generating seasonal rental. One of the best places for owning a second home while generating rental income from vacationers is Portofino, the luxury towers on Pensacola Beach. You can view our Portofino video here. Many owners make their condominiums available for vacation rentals, managed by an onsite management company.

Take a look at these great opportunities for Portofino living on Pensacola Beach:

2 PORTOFINO DR 1406 PENSACOLA BEACH

4 PORTOFINO DR 2008 PENSACOLA BEACH

4 PORTOFINO DR 506 PENSACOLA BEACH

3 PORTOFINO DR T506 PENSACOLA BEACH

5 PORTOFINO DR 905 PENSACOLA BEACH

2 PORTOFINO DR 1804 PENSACOLA BEACH

4 PORTOFINO DR 1108 PENSACOLA BEACH

3 PORTOFINO DR 1409 PENSACOLA BEACH

3 PORTOFINO DR 1909 PENSACOLA BEACH

We've had some good news this week from Washington and in the local area regarding the housing market. Sales of previously occupied homes ROSE last month - and it was the THIRD consecutive month that they went up, and didn't decline.  Also, foreclosure sales and the number of homes on the market nationally declined. 

We have a way to go yet, but there are signs that as far as housing goes, we are on an upswing.  Prices are still low.  For first time home buyers, your window of opportunity to buy a home that qualifies for the $8000 tax credit is still open - you have to close on the purchase by November 30 in order to claim the credit. 

There's a renewed optimism.  The Dow is up, and big businesses are starting to recover. Good news about housing could influence the rest of the economy as well.

Here in the Pensacola/Gulf Breeze area, we have plenty of great opportunities for buyers who want to live near the beach, and enjoy our wonderful Emerald Coast.  Like many Florida communities, we have seen our share of foreclosures and short sales.  Gulf coast residents are still seeing some hard times.  However, we have not seen the glut of foreclosures and short sales pressing the market that some communities in south and central Florida have experienced.  The strong presence of military families and the jobs that bring them here has insulated us from the worst of the Florida crash.  And now, things seem to be looking up, not only in Florida, but around the country. 

Take a look at some of the great opportunities for home ownership here in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola Beach.

3360 EL PRADO ST GULF BREEZE

1616 MAUNA KEA CT GULF BREEZE

1522 LIGHTHOUSE CT GULF BREEZE

1100 FT PICKENS RD C8 Pensacola Beach

209 BARCELONA ST PENSACOLA

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The Housing and Economic Recovery Act contains some new regulations for Truth in Lending disclosures for borrowers which will go into effect July 30, 2009  This helps you to understand the terms of your loan, and it's important to know how this affects your closing date. 

Lenders and brokers must give you the initial Truth in Lending disclosure at lease seven business days before your closing. No closing documents can be signed earlier than seven days after the first Truth in Lending disclosure has been issued.  When you interview lenders for a mortgage, have them provide you a Good Faith Estimate and a Truth in Lending Disclosure in writing. 

Sometimes there are changes to loans.  If these changes affect the Annual Percentage Rate on the Truth in Lending Disclosures, the lender must provide a comparison with the original.  If the change raises the APR greater than .125%, the lender must provide a corrected disclosure to the borrower.  Borrowers must have at least three business days to review an amended Truth in Lending Disclosure prior to closing. 

No fees can be collected from the borrower except for the initial credit report, until the initial Truth in Lending Disclosure has been given.  That means until they give you the disclosure, they cannot charge you up front for fees associated with the loan. 

These changes benefit borrowers, and prevent lenders from adding on fees, or changing the APR at the closing table.  It's important that home buyers can go to their closing confident that they know what to expect from their lender. You can find more information about these changes from the FDIC.

For more information about types of home loans please look at our information for buyers, or call us with any questions.

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We have a wonderful treasure here on the Emerald Coast.  The Gulf Island National Seashore Naval Live Oaks area is just east of Gulf Breeze Proper, and is a fabulous resource for family fun, fishing, hiking, boating, and swimming in the calm waters of the Santa Rosa Sound.  Located just off Highway 98, the park is open every day except Christmas from 8:30 am to sunset. 

More than 7 1/2 miles of trails are in this park behind the Visitor's Center, and they include the .8 mile Breckenridge trail and the historic Andrew Jackson Trail. You can fish here, and there is a group camping area on the north side.  With showers and rest rooms available, this park is very family friendly. 

You'll find a rich assortment of animal species in the park, and it is a great place for bird watching.  Here you can see herons, black skimmers, and sandpipers, and dozens of other species, as well as watch for ospreys.  If you love the outdoors, this is the place! 

Check out these homes in Gulf Breeze:

1522 LIGHTHOUSE CT

1305 GRAND RESERVE CT

3480 TIBET DR

3803 TIGER POINT BLVD

1081 LAGUNA LN

1162 GRAND POINTE DR

1124 SUNSET LN

3951 MADURA RD

2946 CORAL STRIP PKWY

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The Blue Angels are flying this weekend at the best air show in the world.  Lucky residents will be able to see their dress rehearsal this afternoon.  Tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, The Blues will fly at 2 PM.  Take a look at the full information here. 

This is always a crowded but enjoyable event for Pensacola Beach.  Thousands of people turn out for this annual celebration, to see the best Naval flight demonstration squadron there is! 

Come and visit us on Pensacola Beach this weekend, and have a great time! 

Many people relocating to Florida want to know about driver licenses, and establishing residency. Here is some information from the Escambia County Tax Collector's office:

1. A driver license is required for anyone who becomes a resident of Florida, registers a child in a Florida school, or is employed in Florida. First time applicants for a driver license are required in Florida to present an original birth certificate and a social security card. First time drivers must be at least fifteen years old and completed a state approved drug alcohol traffic education course to obtain a restricted license or learner's permit.

2. Driver license services in Escambia county are provided by the Escambia County Tax Collector at the Warrington and Century locations only. You may make an appointment by calling 850-438-6500 ext 252. Find answers to many of your questions here.

3. Road tests are conducted by the Florida State office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In Escambia County, this is located at 100 Stumpfield Rd. Call 850-484-5016 for appointments, or make online appointments at www.hsmv.state.fl.us. You can also find locations in other Florida counties on the website.

Pensacola is a wonderful place to live and work.  Take a look at some of our featured listings here:

3 PORTOFINO DR  506 PENSACOLA BEACH Florida

17 W GALVEZ CT PENSACOLA BEACH FL Florida

210 ALCANIZ ST PENSACOLA Florida

4924 VIZCAYA DR PENSACOLA Florida