The Best Places to See Christmas Lights on 30A

Ask a local and they will tell you…it’s the most wonderful time of the year on 30A. And to get into the holiday spirit, simply drive down 30A after sunset to take in all the sparkle and shine of the festive holiday lights. From Rosemary to Baytown Wharf and in between, all the beach towns and communities do their best to put on quite a show throughout the holiday season.

Here’s where I recommend you go to see some of the best holiday lights this year:

In Rosemary Beach Christmas lights drape the oaks on both sides of Barrett square, giving the town a soft-lit, magical glow. The highlight of the community’s decorations is the 25-foot Norwegian Spruce set against the backdrop of Town Hall.

Not to be outdone, a 24-foot tree stands tall at the Seaside amphitheater and the entire town is lit up with festive holiday lights making it a great spot for an evening stroll to get into the holiday spirit.

There is also the towering 30-foot Christmas tree at Alys Beach amphitheater, which is the centerpiece of their holiday decorations. And you can’t miss the string of garlands that crosses over Scenic Highway 30A. It’s the perfect spot for a pre-sundown photo opp.

And some say the most beautiful sight on 30A is the 30-foot tree located in the town center of Watercolor. When the sun sets and the lights begin to twinkle and shine -- it’s a wonderful place to meander around.

If you want to wander off the 30A path a bit, be sure and check out:

The Village at Baytowne Wharf really puts on a show — literally. All through the month of December, you can enjoy a fun, family-friendly light show over the lagoon set to popular holiday tunes. Visit www.baytownewharf.com for more information.

Grand Boulevard also gets into the spirit with lights and decorations, the highlight is the Festival of Trees -- located in the center’s courtyard. Twelve beautiful trees have been decorated by local non-profits and will be on display through Christmas.

So, there you have it! Come on down this holiday season and be sure to take our 30A “fancy-lights tour.” And I hope all your days and nights are merry and bright!

Property Left Overnight on the Beach - Did You Know?

I’ve recently been asked what the rules are as far as leaving personal property on the beach overnight – tents, beach chairs, towels, etc. Here is an article that provides detailed information as to what’s allowed – and not allowed.

Walton County’s current Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance [No. 2016-16] addresses unpermitted personal property left on the beach overnight. Overnight is defined as the hours between one hour after dusk and one hour before sunrise.  The Waterways and Beach Activities Ordinance also prohibits obstructions on the beach, including ropes, chains, signs or fences, at any time of day.  The beach is defined as the soft sandy portion of land lying seaward of the seawall or the line of permanent dune vegetation. 

Unlawful personal property left on the beach overnight may be considered abandoned. Items such as coolers, umbrellas, chairs, etc. are currently being removed and disposed of by Walton County staff nightly.

In June, notifications were sent by the Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) Code Enforcement Department to beachfront property owners informing them that as of July 15, 2016 unlawful obstructions on the beach including but not limited to ropes, chains, signs or fences, are subject to citations. The civil penalty is up to $500.00 per violation.

Items such as ropes, chains, signs or fences left on the beach overnight may also be deemed abandoned and become subject to removal and disposal.

For more information or questions about the ordinance, contact Office of the County Attorney at 850-892-8110. For ongoing code enforcement operations, contact Walton County TDC Code Enforcement Department at (850) 622-7895.

Certified Residential Specialist Designation

In my ongoing quest to provide my customers with the best possible service and the highest level of professionalism, I am extremely pleased to announce that I have earned my CRS designation. This designation, which stands for Certified Residential Specialist, is the highest credential awarded to experienced residential agents and of the utmost importance - the only one based on production and education. The Council of Residential Specialists represent the most successful realtors in the U.S. that have completed advanced training and demonstrated professional achievement. In fact, only 3% of all realtors earn the CRS designation.

So, how does this benefit my customers? The council focuses on results-driven best practices on both the selling and buying side. I have access to those tools and practices, putting me and my customers a step ahead of the competition. I am also part of a national referral network of fellow CRS realtors which translates into my ability to connect you with someone to assist you in real estate anywhere in the United States. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share my good news with you. As always, I am available to assist you in any way that I can. So please call or email me and let me know how I can be of service to you. 

--Robin

Top 10 Apps for Home Buyers and Sellers

Digital technology has made significant inroads in practically every facet of socity, so why should buying and selling real estate be any different? When trying to decide the best way to go about buying, selling, moving to and/or remodeling a home, there are countless apps to help with your decision-making that can be accessed for a fee or free. But what are the best? The following list provides the top 10 . . . 

1.  Homesnap. See a home for sale that you like? With Homesnap, you just take a photo with your smart phone and the Homesnap app can pull the home's interior photos and data from the Multiple Listing Service. iPhone and Android.

2. Dwellr. Developed by the US Census Bureau, this app drills down to the neighborhood level to provide home values, education statistics, commuting information and more. iPhone and Android.

3. Realtor.com. Search for the home of your dreams with an app that has the most accurate listing information available.

4. Houzz. Found the perfect home? Here's an app that will provide the inspiration you need to make it on your own. Includes more than 8 million photos of homes that you can search by room, style, location, and more. iPhone and Android.

5. MagicPlan. Not sure how you're going to fit all your furniture into a new home? Pull out your smart phone. MagicPlan can quickly measure rooms and create floor plans from the photos you take. iPhone and Android.

6. GreatSchools Finder. Get detailed ratings, test scores and reviews of schools in the areas where you're looking to buy. iPhone and Android.

7. AroundMe. See how close a home is to banks, bars, grocery stores, entertainment and other key locations that may influence where you guy. iPhone and Android.

8. Mortgage Calculator Plus. A top 100 financial app in the United States and 30 other countries, Mortgage Calculator Plus quickly estimates your mortgage, then provides analytics and graphs to show you principal payments over time and much more. iPhone.

9. Family Handyman DIY Tip Genius. If you're preparing your old home for sale or improving your new one before moving in, this app can save you time and money. iPhone and Android.

10. Real Estate Dictionary. Having trouble deciphering all the real estate jargon? This app from Lingodiction covers more than 2,000 common terms, concepts and fundamentals. iPhone and Android.