Full time residents

[TreeFrog]

In "real" towns, a lot of people rent. Modest rental houses or trailers here aren't that plentiful and will gradually be replaced. There aren't many apartment complexes, either.

Worth asking - do permanent residents here really want SoWal to become a "real" town, or did they move here for the "on vacation" feel that would at least partly go away if that happened?

 

[Chickpea]

In "real" towns, a lot of people rent. Modest rental houses or trailers here aren't that plentiful and will gradually be replaced. There aren't many apartment complexes, either.

Worth asking - do permanent residents here really want SoWal to become a "real" town, or did they move here for the "on vacation" feel that would at least partly go away if that happened?

I for one definitely want Sowal to be a 'real' town as you say. I work here full time and love the beach but am craving more amenities and services that other slightly larger cities have. But I worry about the price the real estate getting to be so high that it drives everyone wanting to run a business out. How can businesses compete with residential sq. ft costs? Untenable.

I appreciate all the helpful feedback. I have been here 2 years but only recently discovered this site and its amazing resources.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I for one definitely want Sowal to be a 'real' town as you say. I work here full time and love the beach but am craving more amenities and services that other slightly larger cities have. But I worry about the price the real estate getting to be so high that it drives everyone wanting to run a business out. How can businesses compete with residential sq. ft costs? Untenable.

I appreciate all the helpful feedback. I have been here 2 years but only recently discovered this site and its amazing resources.

I am so glad you found this site as well!!! Tell me Chickpea...what amenities/services do you find lacking as a full time resident? And one more question...did you ever tell me what the object is in your avatar?

 

[DBOldford]

Seaside was designed for live/work situations from the standpoint of providing spaces conducive to both uses (i.e. retail or studio space with a living unit above), not a provision for affordable housing for service and labor workers. It was always envisioned as a luxury project, by virtue of its location, amenities, and quality of construction. Until very recently, DeFuniak Springs and other points north of the bridge provided almost ridiculously inexpensive housing options, albeit short on the rentals side. Property in and around DeFuniak has soared in value over the past year, which is inexplicable because there are no high-paying jobs there, nor are there many in the South Walton area. The prices will stabilize, then be paid by people living in more expensive areas and who see the higher prices as a reasonable alternative to retirement housing in the cities where they currently live.

Example: In our town in CA, there is not even a condo in the town that can be had for less than $750K and single-family housing starts at $1M. So even with the higher prices, South Walton (and especially areas other than coastal) seems a bargain. Retirees look for quality of life, reasonable housing prices, proximity to good medical services, recreational opportunities (especially golfing), and often proximity to a military base PX (if they're retired military). Del Webb has made a fortune on this formula throughout the country. But these buyers are obviously unconcerned with jobs. And rarely are they concerned with the availability of a reasonably priced labor pool. The bad news is that they care rarely be counted on to vote approval for needed infrastructure and services, especially the school districts. The good news is that many of them don't vote in South Walton because their primary homes are elsewhere.

Look for your labor pool to drive from distances further and further away as time goes by. Expect your future residents to be primarily absentee and part-time owners. Talk to your elected officials about requiring new development to provide an inclusionary affordable housing product aimed at the lower-income jobs that will be in increasing demand as the area develops. Expect the affordable housing to make a very minor contribution towards housing low-to-moderate income workers, and the affordable units will go into a lottery for pre-qualified buyers. The alternative is a community with little diversity and big traffic problems, no matter how many improvements are made incrementally. This is the ugly underbelly of soaring property values.

 

[Chickpea]

I am so glad you found this site as well!!! Tell me Chickpea...what amenities/services do you find lacking as a full time resident? And one more question...did you ever tell me what the object is in your avatar?

Hi Sueshore,
The object in my avatar is a seashell - I tried posting higher resolution pic but site would not accept.

As to amenities and services I find lacking.... before I list them I need to state that I realize I am spoiled because I genuinely dislike driving long distances (I remain amazed at the number of people I meet who regularly drive to Birmingham, Atlanta, etc. and in fact think nothing of it!) and to many people having to head to Destin or Panama City is no big deal but to me it is. I will do it when I need to because living here is worth it but I am realistic in that I feel that even if more families like mine move here as full time residents, because of real estate values, it is unlikely that we get the diversity of services we need (pediatrician, OB-gyns, getting our cars serviced, a broader range of restaurants (including ethnic ones), pursuing hobbies, arts and culture for ourselves and for our kids, etc). I know this is and remains primarily a resort destination so many of the daily needs we may aspire to are not in high demand. So be it. Right now at this point in my life Sowal is great. It still has real limitations to me but it is offset by the magnificence of its natural landscape. One can put up with a lot here.

 

[FoX]

A lot of people were very excited about getting a Publix in Seagrove, feeling it added value to their lives. A small regional supermarket, while quaint compared to the big city, are exactly what we don't need here. Besides, what can you get at Publix that you couldn't already get in SoWal except for firewood wrapped in plastic, grills without lids, and 12 different types of antacids?

Those who are looking for all the things available in larger cities should find themselves in larger cities. Continue to enjoy your vacations here, and we will remain a friendly, laid back, and welcoming place. Why would we want it to become anything else?

 

[Jennifer Steele]

A "regular" person's point of view who has spent 30 years vacationing or living in and around Grayton Beach:

The reason we bought across the bay in DeFuniak Springs is because for what we could afford at the time, we could either buy a crappy trailer in South Walton/Freeport or a refurbished 95 year old, 2500 sq. foot home on almost an acre downtown. My husband and I (both employed in the arts) had lived in SoWal for about six years (renting separately and then together.)

I commute every day to take my son to Butler Elementary (he's been there since Kindergarten so we didn't transfer him) and then to work in Seaside. Similar to what CCK said about the "regular people" commuting to the city? I can only speak for myself, though. A lot of people in my demographic bought when you could still get a great home for under $150k.

But even small "starter homes" in DeFuniak are in the $250k range, hardly affordable housing for most, as SJ pointed out earlier.

Also, we have the luxury of going to the Grayton family house regularly, even for overnighters when we have too much going on in South Walton in a single weekend. No complaints!

 

[Paula]

I think there will be an increasing number of nature-loving, laid back retirees heading to the area for long periods of time during fall/winter/spring and maybe year round in the coming 20 years. It seems pretty undiscovered by retirees and there are plenty who will trade off the warmest weather in southern Florida for the beauty of this area (especially if they're coming from an area that's 20 degrees in the winter, 60 degrees will feel very nice). Renting for long periods of time in the winter is so inexpensive, though, I think many of the retirees will be renters.

 

[SHELLY]

Shelly, I not disputing what you say, but I do have a question for you. In large cities--San Francisco, New York, Miami, Chicago, D.C., Boston--it is much more expensive to live than in SoWal. Yet, these larger cities do not have shortages of teachers, cops, and grocery clerks.

Two reasons: Public transportation and older neighborhoods.

SoWal doesn't compare to those cities you mentioned above...SoWal is a VERY NEW area--carved out of pine trees and filled in wetlands not so very long ago. Older homes/trailers and neighborhoods were bought up or mowed down for new developments. Developers were interested only in one thing--high profits. They couldn't care less if the folks moving to the area could find services--until just recently (as RE is slowing down) they're "thinking" about this issue as prospective buyers and local residents start questioning why decent service is hard to find or local businesses are closing (trouble finding staff?).

As for folks commuting from Alabama to take jobs in SoWal--that will come to a screeching halt when the US government starts releasing $$$ and rebuilding from Katrina kicks into high gear next year.

 

[FoX]

As for folks commuting from Alabama to take jobs in SoWal--that will come to a screeching halt when the US government starts releasing $$$ and rebuilding from Katrina kicks into high gear next year.

People will come from all over to do that.