What’s That Smell – Good Food & Good Times at Stinky’s Fish Camp
August 21st, 2007 Categories: Restaurant Reviews, South Walton Living
Chef/Owner Jim Richard has bounced back from the tragic fire and closing of The Lake Place in Santa Rosa Beach with the opening of the adjoining property and now wildly popular Stinky’s Fish Camp. Richard had physically moved in to the kitchen at Zampieri’s on the Destin Harbor (formerly Harry T’s) after the fire and is still involved with that operation, but the folks on CR-30A are very happy that he has returned to our neighborhood with Stinky’s. Â
There are several rooms to dine in, but I like the bar area. Be forewarned that on Thursday through Sunday nights it can be hard to hear more than the person next to you with the live music playing, the happy and talkative mood that seems to engulf everyone upon entry and delighted diners cleaning their plates and toasting to the vibe of Stinky’s.Â
Stinky’s does all kinds of oysters that are shucked right at the bar. There are four raw offerings (different toppings) and five preparations to choose from for their baked oysters. I like the Ceviche topping for the raw and the Smoked Cheese, Bacon and Horseradish on the baked. But my guest and I opted for their most popular appetizer – the Jumbo Lump Stuffed Squash Gratin. The half fried squash was jammed with the sweet lump crabmeat in a wonderful creamy sauce. Stinky’s has a very, very good wine list, and it’s fairly priced.  We chose a bottle of Erath Pinot Gris from Oregon, and it worked beautifully with the squash appetizer and our upcoming fish dishes.Â
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Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire – Restaurant Grayton Beach
August 17th, 2007 Categories: Restaurant Reviews, South Walton Living
New Orleans loss is South Walton’s gain as Fire Restaurant has transplanted from the Big Easy to Grayton Beach. This outstanding little restaurant excels at both lunch and dinner.
There is a lot of restaurant competition in the little hamlet of Grayton Beach. At last count there are about a dozen restaurants in this tiny commmunity, and many of them are very good. I’m hoping that the people who have homes in Seaside, homes in Watercolor and homes in The Lake Place in Grayton and others will support this unique little restaurant as often as possible.
Fire opened in New Orleans a few months before Katrina and then reopened fairly quickly after the storm, but the unsteadiness of the market took its toll.
So the owners, who vacationed here, took nine of their employees and came to Grayton Beach. And boy are we glad they did.
There’s a great little bar area with flat panel televisions for sporting events and enough tables/seats for about 30 or so people. There are several small dining areas if you want things a little more private.
The upbeat attitude of the waitstaff is a real positive, but the food is the real star of the show. The unique Dip Trio is an excellent starter. You have the choice of six dips in which to choose your trio. On a recent lunch excursion my guest and I were with our clients and friends, Laura Blumberg and Ruth Horn, and we started with the Apricot-Habanero, Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Peanut Cilantro and Sun Dried Tomato dips. The really fresh chips and grilled pita bread are excellent accompinaments. (Click Above ^ to Enlarge Picture).
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Condos Sold & Condos for Sale Grand Dunes – July
August 14th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, South Walton Living
Four condos sold in July in Grand Dunes. They ranged from a three bedroom, three bath unit on the 19th floor of the North Tower for $1,050,000 to a four bedroom, four bath, 3150 square foot unit on the seventh floor in the South Tower for $2.5 million.
Condos Sold in Grand Dunes – July
Total # of Listings 4
Lowest Price Listing $1,050,000
Highest Price Listing $2,300,000
Average Price $1,497,500
Avg. Price/SqFt $540
Avg. Days on Mkt 228
(Click on the graph below to enlarge)
At the beginning of August there were 50 condos for sale in Grand Dunes in Miramar Beach. At the low end is a second floor unit in the North Tower with three bedrooms, three baths for $1,049,000 and at the high end are two units priced at $2.2 million – one on the third floor of the South Tower and the other on the 23rd floor of the North Tower. Both have four bedrooms and four baths.
Condos for Sale in Grand Dunes – Beginning of August
Total # of Listings 50
Lowest Price Listing $1,049,000
Highest Price Listing $2,200,000
Average Price $1,535,550
Avg. Price/SqFt $577
Avg. Days on Mkt 269
(Click on the graph above to enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Sandestin – July
August 14th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Sandestin Living
There were eight single family homes sold during July in Sandestin. They ranged from an older home in Sandestin (built in 1982) with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 1,896 square foot for $365,000 to a 4,000 square foot home with five bedrooms and four baths for $1.9 million. The latter home overlooks a lake and the 13th tee of the Burnt Pine Golf Course.
Homes Sold in Sandestin – July
Total # of Listings 8
Lowest Price Listing $365,000
Highest Price Listing $1,900,000
Average Price $970,063
Avg. Price/SqFt $326
Avg. Days on Market 244
(Click on the graph below to enlarge)
At the beginning of August there were 196 homes for sale in Sandestin. They range from one of the older homes in Sandestin (built in 1976) that is 1121 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms for $299,000 to a bay front home with four bedrooms, six baths and 5,800 square feet for $5.4 million. This home, as pointed out in last month’s post, is on the lot of the original developer of Sandestin Bay Estates and has 112 feet on the bay.
Homes for Sale in Sandestin – Beginning of August
Total # of Listings 192
Lowest Price Listing $299,000
Highest Price Listing $5,400,000
Average Price $1,170,032
Avg. Price/SqFt $412
Avg. Days on Mkt 200
(Click on the graph below to enlarge)
The above indicates slightly over a two year supply of inventory – 196 homes for sale in Sandestin divided by eight homes sold) and does not take in to account the huge volume (581) of condos for sale in Sandestin at the beginning of August.
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Watercolor – July
August 14th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Watercolor Living
Watercolor had a good month of sales in July with six homes sold. They ranged from a four bedroom, four bath, 2376 square foot home for $1.25 million to a six bedroom, seven bath, 5100 square foot home that sold for $3.5 million. The latter home is nearing completion of construction and has views of Western Lake and to the gulf in the distance.
Homes Sold in Watercolor – July
Total # of Listings 6
Lowest Price Listing $1,125,000
Highest Price Listing $3,500,000
Average Price $1,695,833
Avg. Price/SqFt $546
Avg. Days on Mkt 296
(Click on the graph above to enlarge)
At the beginning of August there were 156 homes for sale in Watercolor. They range in price from $569,000 for a three bedroom, four bath, 1796 square foot home to $4.995 million for a four bedroom, five bath, 2538 square foot home that fronts the gulf. The homes that front the gulf in Watercolor still have a good deal of foliage between the house and the water, but there are board walks to lead you to the sand and water.
Homes for Sale in Watercolor – Beginning of August
Total # of Listings 156
Lowest Price Listing $569,000
Highest Price Listing $4,995,000
Average Price $1,808,305
Avg. Price/SqFt $673
Avg. Days on Market 212
(Click on graph below to enlarge)
The bad news for Sellers is all this translates to 26 months of inventory on hand (the 156 homes for sale in Watercolor divided by the six homes sold in Watercolor). On the positive side, the six homes sold in July mark the most homes sold in any given month (except for seven homes sold this March) in the past 27 months.
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – July
August 13th, 2007 Categories: Panama City Beach Living, Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
There were three single family homes sold in Rosemary Beach in July. It was an interesting mix that produced the least expensive sale of a full size home (cottage in this case) in Rosemary Beach in 2007, a short sale and a unique home featured in “Romantic Home Magazine”.
The smallest of the three – 1500 square feet – sold for $925,000, and while another home did sell for slightly less in March – it was a Carriage House with less than 1000 square feet.
The “Romantic” home (blue shutters) is 2686 square feet, three bedrooms, four baths, a beautiful gulf view and went for $3,350,000. Not only is this home one lot back from the gulf front lots, it also has a great view of the Western Green and on to the gulf. It also includes a private elevator, two fireplaces, a private courtyard with fountain and more. Nice…
Homes Sold in Rosemary Beach – July
Total # of Listings 3
Lowest Price Listing $925,000
Highest Price Listing $3,350,000
Average Price $2,091,667
Avg. Price/SqFt $737
Avg. Days on Market 558
At the beginning of August there were 85 homes for sale in Rosemary Beach. They range in price from a two bedroom, one bath, 710 square foot carriage house that is under construction for $809,000 to a 4356 sf home with six bedroom, six and a half baths for $5.495 million.
While this is the most expensive of the homes for sale in Rosemary Beach, it does have great gulf views and the square footage includes a 484 square foot carriage house. It was featured in Decor Magazine and in South Accents Magazine twice including once when the kitchen (red cabinets and stainless steel appliances) was featured on the front cover in March, 2004.
Graph of Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – Early August
(Click on graph above to enlarge)
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Sandestin – June
August 9th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Sandestin Living
Sandestin had an average month in homes sold (compared to the last couple of years average sales) with six homes closing. They ranged from a three bedroom, two bath, 1300 sf home in Linkside for $300,000 to a four bedroom, four bath, 3000 sf home for $1,126,500 in Genoa – a newer subdivision surrounded by The Raven and Baytowne golf courses.
Homes Sold in Sandestin – June
Total # of Listings 15
Lowest Price Listing $300,000
Highest Price Listing $2,100,000
Average Price $694,427
Avg. Price/SqFt $323
Avg. Days on Market 192
(Click on the graph below to enlarge)
At the beginning of July there were 190 homes for sale in Sandestin. This included an entry level, two bedroom, two bath, 1121 sf home in Linkside listed at $310,000.
The top end of the spectrum had a four bedroom, six bath, 5800 sf home in Burnt Pine being offered at $5.4 million. That’s a lot of dough, but it does include 112′ on the bay and a tropically landscaped 1.52 acres of land. This is the original lot of the developer of Sandestin Bay Estates.
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale Watercolor – May & June
August 9th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Watercolor Living
Watercolor had very good activity as it relates to the overall market with four homes sold in June. On the low end a three bedroom, four bath, 2383 sf home sold for $1.1 million and on the high end a five bedroom, six bath, 3760 sf home sold for $1.995 million.
There were also two homes sold in Watercolor in May especially of note a five bedroom, six bath, 5100 sf home sold for $2.7 million.
Homes Sold in Watercolor – May and June
Total # of Listings 6
Lowest Price Listing $800,000
Highest Price Listing $2,700,000
Average Price $1,504,958
Avg. Price/SqFt $508
Avg. Days on Mkt 274
(Click on the graph below to enlarge)
At the beginning of July there were 153 homes for sale in Watercolor. This is a large inventory and unfortunately for Sellers and fortunately for Buyers this puts the Buyer in a stronger position.
There are some good buys out there for the Buyer amongst all the homes for sale in Watercolor. The successful Seller will have to come in at an aggressive price point and/or have a really unique home and/or location within the development.
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Homes Sold & Homes for Sale in Rosemary Beach – May & June
August 9th, 2007 Categories: Real Estate News, Rosemary Beach Living
June was a very good month for homes sold in Rosemary Beach. There were only three, but the dollars fetched for a couple of them really catch your eye. Those two were a five bedroom, six bath, 4297 sf home that sold for $4.16 million and a seven bedroom, seven bath, 4500 sf home that sold for a casual $7.88 million.
Two homes in Rosemary Beach were also sold in May for $2.5 million and $3.25 million. These sales (and the price points) underscore the firepower and appeal of Rosemary Beach.
Homes Sold in Rosemary Beach – May & June
Total # of Listings 5
Lowest Price Listing $2,143,000
Highest Price Listing $7,880,000
Average Price $3,986,600
Avg. Price/SqFt $1,064
Avg. Days on Mkt. 277
(Click on graph below to enlarge)
At the beginning of July there were 84 homes for sale in Rosemary Beach. The least expensive home is actually a carriage house with one bedroom, one bath and 599 sf for $899K. The home plans have been approved for a three bedroom, three and a half bath main home on a pretty large lot by Rosemary Beach standards.
The upper end of the spectrum in homes for sale in Rosemary Beach from that group include a six bedroom, six and a half bath, 4356 sf home listed at $5.495 million. This incorporates a 3872 sf main home with a 484 sf carriage house.
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Sold Homes & Homes for Sale in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – July
August 6th, 2007 Categories: Destin Living, Real Estate News
There were four homes sold in Destiny and Destiny by the Sea during the month of July. They ranged in price from a 1900 sf three bedroom, three bath home on Papaya in Destiny that sold for $545,000 to a 5,946 sf seven bedroom, eight bath home in Destiny by the Sea that sold for $5,150,000.
Homes Sold in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – July
Total # of Listings 4
Lowest Price Sold $545,000
Highest Price Sold $5,150,000
Average Price $1,843,500
Avg. Price/SqFt $463
Avg. Days on Mkt 204
(Click on the Graph > to Enlarge)
There are currently 53 homes for sale in Destiny, and there are 23 homes for sale in Destiny by the Sea. The Destiny by the Sea listings range from a 2503 sf four bedroom, three bath home with good rental income at $1,295,000 to a 5,696 sf gulf front seven bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms for $6.5 million.
Homes for Sale in Destiny & Destiny by the Sea – August
Total # of Listings 77
Lowest Price Listing $499,500
Highest Price Listing $6,500,000
Average Price $1,716,392
Avg. Price/SqFt $512
Avg. Days on Market 223
(Click on graph below to enlarge)
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