Thanks & Giving !

Thanksgiving, like many of the holidays around this time of the year, is time to reflect and remain thankful for what you have. We take the time to appreciate the friends and family that we are surrounded by, as they are the most important to us all. These days of thanks we reflect on the challenges and focus our attention on what really matters. Share your joy and peace.

In the midst of celebrating Thanksgiving, real estate agents, entrepreneurs, business owners and co-workers alike need to build and establish our relationships in one another and give thanks to all of our clients and customers. With out them we would not be successful. Pointe South Real Estate Sales extends this thankful greeting to all of our customers. We appreciate you, your friends and family that you entrust and refer us too.

We are thinking of you all and our entire team. Building our rapport is imperative. This simple gesture is not enough to share the impact that you have on our lives and we hope we reciprocate to you as well. The Pointe South Real Estate Team works extremely hard to provide the absolute best service to all of our customers and we are grateful to you. We aim high for our clients, customers and prospects. We strive to be your choice when in need of any real estate needs. The entire season is ripe with opportunity to take advantage to share and care. With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years before us, we focus on the positive atmosphere of life and business generating professionalism, knowledge, experience, market awareness and building on our desire to provide you with the exceptional service you deserve.

OUR MISSION: To exceed our Customers’ and Owners’ expectations by providing the highest quality experience and service along the Gulf Coast.

OUR VISION: to be the most caring company along the Gulf Coast.
These are our CORE Values. The team is strongly committed to helping you achieve your dreams of playing, staying and investing along the Gulf Coast.

Many THANKS to you all !

4 Reasons Why We Buy a HOME !

REALLY REAL 4 Reasons Why We Buy a HOME!

We often talk about why it makes financial sense to buy a home, but more often than not, the emotional reasons are the more powerful or compelling ones.

No matter what shape or size your living space is, the concept and feeling of home can mean different things to different people. Whether it’s a certain scent or a favorite chair, the emotional reasons why we choose to buy our own homes are typically more important to us than the financial ones. However, the financial security is also an important factor for a good investment.

1. Your HOME sweet HOME offers you the stability to start and raise a family.
Between the best neighborhood and the best school districts, even buyers without children at the time of purchase may have these thoughts in mind for choosing the location that they are looking to buy. First Time Home Buyers with hopes of a growing gamily along the Gulf Coast, the commute to work influences your location, Amenities in a community, or the driving time to your hobbies whether it’s boating or beaching here on the Gulf Coast all are factors.

2. There is NO Place Like HOME.
Owning your own home offers you the safety of your own space, the security of where your family is or will be and the comfort of your place of rest is relaxing.

3. More Space for you and your Family.
Whether you are expanding your family, moving with family or welcoming a family member who will be staying with you, the space within your HOME will all be considered when buying your HOME. It is important that the space works for you or that you can make the space work for you. Interior and exterior of the home.

4. HOME style, renovations and updates are all yours to consider.
You can now consider the DIY room make over or new paint or adopting the pet without extra pet deposits. Owning your own HOME gives you much more freedom to create your style in your HOME and warmth and welcoming of others or not! It’s entirely up to you.

The bottom line is whether you are a first-time home buyer, a VA buyer, a move-up buyer or downsizing buyer or beachfront buyer or condo buyer or investment buyer, this is a new chapter and an exciting one. It is a great time to reflect on all your options, speak and work with the Southern Real Estate Sales Expert Team and professionals in the industry. Buying a home is the one of the largest investments in a persons or families life and having a helping hand is necessary.

With over 20+ years working along the Gulf Coast from Pensacola Beach, Florida to Orange Beach, Alabama and all areas in between, you need to have your questions answered and Southern is just that team. We are genuinely here to assist with your Real Estate needs.

Contact Southern Real Estate Sales at 850.492.1148 | Pointesouth.com | [email protected]

Hello Autumn !

HELLO AUTUMN !

The days are getting shorter. Summer is quickly coming to a close and fall and winter will be here soon, yes even in Florida. It is a good time of year to do a pulse check on your home from the inside out. Here are some quick fall cleaning tips to get you ready for the upcoming seasons:

EXTERIOR TIPS:

1. Inspect all external doors including garage doors. Make sure they close tightly. Install weather-stripping or door thresholds if needed.
2. Wash Exterior & Interior Windows.
3. Check and Clean Gutters and downspouts. Make sure all drainage area are unblocked of debris.
4. Perform a maintenance check-up on your Heating and Air Conditioning system. Filters should be changed monthly. Dirty Filters can strain your HVAC system and possibly your pocketbook.
5. Lower humidity and cooler temperatures make it the perfect time to paint the exterior of your home.

INTERIOR TIPS:

1. Focus on your main living areas like your family room, kitchen, entry way, guest bath. These are considered the high traffic areas needing your attention first. Work on one room at a time.
2. Start from the top to bottom in each room. Clean door frames, window sills, ceiling fan blades, cabinet tops, etc. Vacuum drapes, window treatments and upholstered furniture. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it. Don’t forget to also vacuum al baseboards an corners.
3. Have your carpets/area rugs professionally cleaned.
4. Turn mattresses over front to back and clean all bedding including: mattress pads, pillow duvets, blankets and comforters.
5. Get your kitchen ready for the holidays. Organize cabinets and pantry. Clear your counters of any appliances you do not use on a daily basis. Wipe down the cabinets and clean the refrigerator inside and out. Don’t forget to vacuum behind it.

Helpful tips and assistance are always available from your Pointe South Real Estate Sales Team.  We help people buy and sell real estate every day and we available to help you as well.  Contact us for other home tips and best selling or buying practices.  You need an expert on your side and Pointe South is your expert at hand.

www.pointesouth.com | 850.492.1148 | [email protected]

Property Search at         www.ForSaleOnTheGulfCoast.com     for all your needs.

Don’t wait to sell~Buyers are out now!

Don’t wait to sell your house ~ Buyers are out now !

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) suggests that now is a great time to sell your home. The concept of supply and demand reveals that the best price for an item is realized when the supply of that item is low and the demand for that item is high. Let’s see how this applies to the current residential real estate market.

SUPPLY

It is no secret that the supply of homes for sale has been far below the number needed to sustain a normal market for over a year at this point. A normal market requires six months of housing inventory to meet the demand. The latest report from the NAR revealed that there is currently only a 3.6 month supply of houses on the market. With Supply very low, now is a good time to Sell.

DEMAND

A report that was just released tells us that demand is very strong. The most recent foot traffic report disclosed that foot traffic grew 10.5 points to 52.4 points. Showing that demand is currently high!

BOTTOM LINE

Waiting to sell will only increase the competition between you and all of the other sellers putting their houses on the market later. If you are debating whether or not to list your home for sale, let the Pointe South Real Estate Sales Team discuss your options. You can also view homes and receive a free market review at FORSALEontheGULFCOAST.com

Pointe South Real Estate Sales – 13578 Perdido Key Drive – Pensacola – FL – 32507
[email protected] | 850.492.1148 | Pointesouth.com

Pensacola Bay Passenger Ferry Service

Explore the history and culture of this growing waterfront city after relaxing on the sunny

shores of its award-winning, emerald-green coastline.  Now, it is easier then ever!

Recently announced the National Park Service is set to start a passenger ferry service between downtown Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Fort Pickens which is part of the National Park Services Gulf Island National Sea Shore.

The Park Service estimated that over 65,000 passengers will take advantage of the ferry system each year. The ferry service with two – 150 passenger ferry boats will have an estimated cost per ticket for all 3 destinations is approximately $20.00. Adult and children fares will apply. The ferry tickets will include admission to the Gulf Island National Sea Shore and will offer on/off privileges, allowing passengers to travel to all destinations during the day.

The two – 150 passenger catamaran ferry boats will feature climate-controlled enclosed main deck and a shaded observation upper deck, equipped with a snack bar, restrooms, and some bike racks for those wanting to explore by bicycle. Additionally, Pensacola is always thinking about community and had a contest for all 4th graders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to name the 2 boats. 88 names were submitted and the winning names are Turtle Runner and Pelican Perch. The students were invited including their classes and families to the ribbon ceremony and to be the first to ride.

With such growth and innovation, now is the time to plan your trip to discover Pensacola and surrounding areas whether you are thinking of playing, staying or living in our area. Whether a condo, second home, vacation home, investment, job relocation, military move or whatever you are looking for in real estate, rest assured, our expert staff and real estate agents can help. Our real estate agents have first-hand knowledge of the areas and look forward to directing you to the best real estate opportunities in this growing waterfront city we call the EMERALD COAST! We can help you DISCOVER the best of PENSACOLA!

DISCOVER today!  www.FORSALEontheGULFCOAST.com

Discover Pensacola with Pointe South Real Estate Sales

DISCOVER PENSACOLA with POINTE SOUTH REAL ESTATE SALES

Under the direction of Broker/Owner, Susan Carleton, Pointe South Real Estate Sales has been selling real estate along the Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. Susan continues to lead by example with sales over $22 M SOLD last year http://www.susancarleton.com and sharing her experience and expertise with her team.

Pointe South has grown into an industry leader, offering a variety of properties to satisfy every taste, budget and dream of playing, staying and living along the Gulf Coast. Pointe South Residential Leasing  maintains more than 600 long term rentals in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Fairhope. With continual growth along the coast from Florida to Alabama, being licensed in both states is standard for her team. “We want to provide the very best service to our clients and showing and sharing with them the possibilities in Alabama is an absolute must!” said Susan. “Our team is committed to helping find the perfect piece of coastal living in a condo, investment or family home.” Pointe South does this by being in the business and team effort from Broker to Agent, Client to Lender as well as additional vendors is imperative. The success of the team requires cooperation, listening to all parties, understanding the needs, wants and desires, managing all the parts and scheduling the appropriate appointments in a timely fashion. This synergy and an “ALL IN” mindset is paramount on the Pointe South Estate Sales Team.

Pointe South roots are infused with our southern hospitality that grows outstanding service. Being a native of Pensacola as Susan calls Pensacola home, the team calls it paradise! The Pointe South Team are experts in the real estate field, experts in the area, the market, the developments, events and activities and associations. This confidence is evident when you speak to any of the Pointe South agents. They want you to enjoy the process of buying or selling real estate and want you to discover the Pointe South experience just as these clients have shared.

Customer “A” Sold a Single Family home in 2018 in Pensacola, FL. said, It was an Absolute pleasure to work with the team. Great contact throughout process. I lived in a different state as my house being sold, and not once did I worry about anything. Would absolutely recommend again and again!!”

Customer “B” Bought a Condo home in 2018 in Pensacola, FL. said,  “There were numerous hurdles to overcome and Susan stayed on top of everything. We needed to extend the closing on two separate occasions and Susan stayed on top of everything keeping us fully informed. The team was responsive to every call and email, communication was simply superb! I cannot thank enough as she helped us get into the retirement home of our dreams.”

Customer “C” Bought a Condo home in 2018 in Orange Beach, AL. said, “True professional throughout the purchasing process. We have multiple transactions through Pointe South and always have 5 star customer service.”

Working with EXPERTS is important!  TRUSTING your EXPERT with one of your biggest financial investments is even more important!

When you are interested in buying, selling or investing, Susan and the Pointe South Real Estate Sales Team is ready to assist. Learn more, contact us today!

Acres of Beachfront Development in Orange Beach, Alabama!

Welcome to the beautiful coastline of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Many families have been building lifelong memories along the Gulf for years combining the pleasure of beach life and the quality of life. We are now seeing and exploring more growth opportunities for others to call this gorgeous place home or their home away from home and a developers dream!

As Alabama’s fastest growing county, it’s destined to warmly welcome communities, companies and new development to the heart of the Gulf Coast. The Orange Beach market continues to grow and expand. The tourist business attracts over 5 million visitors per year and the city has continued to upgrade its transportation and infrastructure for even more families, residence, businesses and visitors to enjoy all the beach life has to offer. One incredible development opportunity was just recently listed by Pointe South Real Estate Sales Broker/Owner, Susan Carleton.

This rare and exceptional parcel is in the heart of Orange Beach! Where it all happens! The 690’ of Gulf Front property and over 13.5 acres along the pristine beaches of Orange Beach is situated between the Island House Hotel and Turquoise Place which is considered the perfect location. Currently zoned RS-1, but surrounded by BR-2 zoning allowing 42 units per acre and 84 units per acre for hotel rooms. Acres like this are an opportunity like no other!

This unique beach town of more than 32 miles of gorgeous coast line has amazing entertainment for all ages and world-class seafood caught fresh from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s tremendous natural wildlife resources surrounding sugar sand beaches, Tanger Outlets for shopping, The Wharf for boutique shops and entertainment venue which hosts world renowned artists makes this town unique. But, what makes it exceptionally unique is the array of beautiful trails, award winning fishing, boating, ziplines to zoos and the relaxation that is found on the mesmerizing beaches! There is truly something perfect for everyone. Now is the time for you to discover your perfect piece of Alabama!

For more information on this development opportunity, contact Susan Carleton today! 850.492.1148| [email protected] | SusanCarleton.com http://www.susancarleton.com

Gulf Coast Biggest Beach Party & Annual Mullet Toss

The infamous Beach Party and Mullet Toss is planned for April!  Hmmm….you may be asking what is a mullet toss?  Well, it’s not the 80’s haircut, but it is one of the largest beach parties on the Gulf Coast that has participants throwing this fish called a mullet.  The mullet toss is hosted and organized by Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar to see who can throw a fish the farthest over the state line between Florida and Alabama.  The farthest throw wins and fans and participants enjoy good fun, live legendary music, people watching, dancing, singing and especially enjoy the Flora-Bama famous concoction drink called the “Bushwacker”.

Mark your calendar for April 27-29, 2018.  All this annual fun is a national event with music, good food and contributes to our local youth charities including local school education and prevention programs, CDAC, community support and to the Boys and Girls Club of America.  More then $40,000 was donated last year for this weekend fun.  Come out and enjoy and support.  The fun starts on Friday with the first throw at noon.  So fling your fish.  The cost to toss is $15.00 including a souvenir t-shirt and then you toss the entire fish which weighs just about 1lb. across the border.  All ages and family fun is had by all.  Let the beach bash begin!

Easy Home Improvements that boost home values

It is common knowledge that a great number of homes sell during the SPRING buying season, for that reason many homeowners will be making that decision now and wanting to bump their value with some easy home improvements. But, where do you begin, and what improvements really boost the return on your investment into your pocket? Well, here you go.

One easy way to boost the value of homes by 12% or more according to FloridaRealtor.org is to invest in a few pre-listing repairs. For example, based on a median home price of $205,000. the potential gain is $24,500. Now, that seems worth your time and attention.

Not that we are all listening, let’s see what all this entails in order to gain the most return on investment that you desire.
Some of the fixes that are ranked as most important are also encouraged by our expert Pointe South Real Estate Sales Agents. Our agents share their expert advice and this is why we schedule listing appointments at your home. Our Agents will advise you with specific details to help your selling process in order to expedite the sale of a property.

#1 DECLUTTER will be at the top of the list. The cost is 0 if you do it and have the entire family chip in. This activity alone will produce a 3-5% return and it is a must-do! When potential buyers preview your home that you are SELLING, they truly want to be able to see themselves living there. You have to allow them to visualize themselves there. You can help achieve that by storing some of the family pics and personal items that you cherish in Tupperware. This also helps you start the process of moving. Two birds with one stone as they say!

#2 KITCHEN is King! The kitchen was rated as the most important to have in top shape before selling. Focus on the minor repairs that center on the function of the kitchen should be first. Fix leaky faucets, loose light fixtures, and countertop cleanliness. Not only washing up, but putting away the large kitchen

appliances that hide all the counter space. Put those away or store those in a Tupperware in the garage. Then, enhancements are next. Painting walls, updating cabinet hardware adding new curtains or light fixtures and an organized pantry show care and all the space that is available.

#3 BATHROOM freshness is next! This 2-3% return is simple and an easy improvement with fresh caulking of the shower and tub and floor seams. Updating fixtures and fresh paint will brighten the space. Updating the mirror and lighting can also give a bigger return.

#4 PAINT makes a big impact as the buyer thinks of it as one less step that they would have to do and it shows good overall maintenance of the home. Interior painting is an important part of bringing about a sale of the home. But, as the seller, you likely don’t need to paint the entire home – a refresh of the main rooms curbs big costs in painting the entire interior. Three prime rooms are the kitchen, living room, and bathrooms. Be sure to select neutral tones. Paint with whites or off-whites, grays or beiges as studies show that this helps the buyer focus on the home’s features. Bright colors tend to distract buyers and prompt in immediate cost to them to update.

#5 Lastly, CURB APPEAL and the WELCOMING feeling. With a 2-5% return, concentrate on basic maintenance with lawn care, trimming of shrubs, and adding fresh mulch. A good way to see the home with different eyes is to go stand across the street and look at the home from your neighbor’s perspective. This always shows you things that you may not have seen before and see if the change is cost-effective for you. Additionally, a good pressure washing will instantly brighten your home and increase the “welcome home” feeling. A new mat at the front door with a fresh flower invites your new guests or buyers and this has a lasting effect on them as they are more than likely looking at several homes in one day. Be the stand out – in a good way! This helps you go from FOR SALE to UNDER CONTRACT to CLOSED! If you are thinking of selling, Pointe South Real Estate Sales would love to help you get it done.

CALL | TEXT | EMAIL to find out what your home is worth today! 850.492.1148 FORSALEONTHEGULFCOAST.COM    [email protected].

Sales Team Record Year – 2017!

TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2017 

Choosing a team with a proven track record is paramount and the Point South Real Estate Sales Team is your team. Over the years, our agents have worked to provide buyers and sellers in Northwest Florida and Coastal Alabama with unparalleled customer service that is built on a foundation of drive, experience, education and dedication.

Under the direction of Owner/Broker, Susan Carleton, the Southern Real Estate Sales Team has had a record year with 236 CLOSINGS = $60,764,995 in Sales Volume.

With such experience brings great success and with this proven record, you can trust Southern to help you find the perfect place to call home. Contact us today at [email protected] or visit us online at www.FORSALEONTHEGULFCOAST.com and together we can collaborate on your next real estate endeavor. We look forward to working with you!

Buying & Selling made easy…

Pointe South Real Estate Sales: Your Gulf Coast Real Estate Experts