Benefits of a VA Loan

Veterans Day 2014Realtors who specialize in selling real estate in Navarre, Pensacola and Perdido Key have to familiarize themselves with the VA loan. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. With such a strong military presence here, knowing the ins and outs of the program just comes with the territory. The irony of it though, lies in the fact that most of the military members who qualify for the benefits of a VA loan are usually unsure of its value.

A recent study conducted by Florida Realtors, found that only 36% of 2,000 IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) surveyed had applied for a VA home loan. When they were asked why, some felt that it was inferior to a conventional mortgage, which isn’t true. Plain and simple. So, to help, Southern Real Estate Sales agents have complied a list of two major benefits to applying for a VA loan.

1. Down Payment Advice Isn’t Equal: One of the biggest draws to a VA loan is the fact that the buyer doesn’t have to put any money down. This can be slight disadvantage if a property receives multiple offers mainly because most sellers will use a portion of the down payment as a deposit.

2. Low Rates: Even though mortgage rates are at historic lows, interest rates associated with VA loans tend to be among the lowest of them all.

Learn more about applying for a VA loan and finding a military realtor in Pensacola who can help you find the right home at the right price with the right loan.

Our Southern Stars!

Southern Star WinnersIt’s about to be a very busy time along Alabama’s Gulf Coast and the beaches of Northwest Florida. Summer is when tourist hit our shores, both on relaxing vacation and to shop Gulf Coast real estate. So, we recently treated our employees to a little pre-summer kickoff party!

In addition to kicking off summer, we also took time to recognize a few of our truly outstanding employees and name our first Southern Stars! The Southern Star program is new to the Southern family of companies and allows employees to nominate coworkers they have witnessed go above and beyond the call of duty for each other, a client or our guests.

The Southern Star is awarded to one member of each division of the Southern family which includes real estate sales, vacation rentals, residential leasing and association management. Pictured here are three of our four winners for the first part of the year: Kathy Martinez of Southern Vacation Rentals, Donna Adams of Southern Residential Leasing and Teri Burke of Southern Association Management. Not pictured is Mandy Muncy, who took it home for real estate.

As a thank you for their service and achievements, each winner was awarded several prizes including an extra day off, cash bonus and trophy. We are so proud of each of them!

Grand Caribbean Condos For Sale

grandcaribSusan Carleton, Owner/Broker of Southern Real Estate Sales recently closed on a one bedroom condo at Grand Caribbean in Perdido Key. This ground floor, pool view unit sold fully furnished in less than 10 days.

Are you surprised by the quick sale? Don’t be! Condos at Grand Caribbean are a hot commodity right now. To make matter worse, there’s only one unit currently for sale… Which means, now is a great time to sell your property if you are Grand Caribbean owner.

Currently on market is a one bedroom, one bathroom condo, priced affordably at $139,000. For those who don’t feel like doing the math, that’s about $199 per square foot. Year-to-date market stats at Grand Caribbean show one active condo (which was previously mentioned), one under contract (which is one of Susan Carleton’s newest listings), and two units sold that have sold between January 1 and May 31.

For the two condos sold, the average price per square foot was $186.76, with two days on market for the one bedroom unit and 65 days on market for the two bedroom unit. We weren’t kidding when we said these condos are selling quickly.

Potential rental income likely feeds the demand for these popular vacation rentals in Perdido Key. With summer right around the corner, it’s an easy way to generate revenue, which consequently also makes it a great time to sell.

You can have your cake and eat it too, but in this case have your condo listed for sale, and continue rent it out until it does sell – which doesn’t seem like it will take too long!

To schedule a complimentary listing appointment or consultation, contact Southern Real Estate Sales at 850-492-1826.

Vote Southern as Best of the Bay!

Vote (2)It’s that time of year again! The Pensacola News Journal is on the hunt for the best of the best. Restaurants, boutiques, realtors, doctors – the list of categories goes on and on. Needless to say, the competition is stiff. To make things a little easier for you though (hopefully), Southern has entered the “Best Vacation Rental,” “Best Property Management,” “Best Realtor,” and “Best Real Estate Company in Pensacola” categories.

We’d like to encourage you, your friends and your family to vote for Southern in across the board. That might be a lot to ask, but we want you all to know how hard we work in all divisions of Southern Rentals and Real Estate to be the most caring company on the Gulf Coast.

Our property managers, guest service agents, realtors and support staff are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to provide you with a truly sweet Southern experience. Our goal is to go above and beyond for you, whether you are looking to stay for a few days, or make the move of a lifetime.

So, if it’s not too much trouble, grab this weekend’s issue of the “The Weekender” in the Pensacola News Journal, or visit www.bestof.pnj.com to cast your vote in this year’s Best of the Bay!

Voting kicks off at 9am this Friday (May 27) and runs through June 3 at 5pm. Good luck and thanks in advance for taking the time to vote Southern!

Southern’s Vacation Rental Management Program


If you have recently purchased an investment property in Northwest Florida or Coastal Alabama, your next big decision is who you are going to let manage it and help you make it a success. Our answer? Southern!

Southern Vacation Rentals is locally owned and has operated along the Gulf Coast for over twenty years. They currently offer management services for many condo rentals and vacation homes in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach, as well as other Northwest Florida destinations such as Navarre Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Scenic 30A and Panama City Beach.

So, what makes Southern Vacation Rentals property management program different from all the others? As Richard Lamar, General Manager states in the video above, service. Our owner’s enjoy an open line of communication with our staff, including their two dedicated managers.

One manager, the Owner Relations Manager, is responsible for ensuring the financial success of your property and is there to address any needs or concerns you may have. The second, your Property Conditions Manager, ensures that your investment is properly cared for while on our program. This includes coordinating any needed maintenance, as well as working with housekeeping staff to make sure your rental is tip top for arriving guests.

These are just a few of the reasons why Southern should be your choice for property management in Coastal Alabama and Northwest Florida. To learn more, such as how our robust marketing and advertising plan, in-house maintenance team, and central housekeeping, can work for you, give the Southern team a call today!

Beach Condos for Sale in Pensacola

PCOLA-RESAD-499244-12Searching for beach condos for sale in Pensacola? How about ones under $250,000? If so, you might have noticed how limited inventory is at the moment, and how quickly properties going.

Lucky for you, you don’t have to miss out on the condo of your dreams! Southern Real Estate Sales’ Owner/Broker, Susan Carleton, recently listed a one bedroom condo at Perdido Sun. This incredible ground-floor unit offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico and is just steps (literally, steps) away from the world renowned Perdido Key beaches.

Unlike most one bedroom condos, this one is oversized and spacious enough to sleep up to four people. Easy-to-clean tile lines the floors of this 832 square foot showplace, connecting the main living areas together. Enjoy having access to an added half bathroom in the hallway, as well as convenient access to the onsite, gulf-front pool. Speaking of amenities, Perdido Sun offers homeowners and vacationers alike a wide array of things to do. From days spent on the beach to nights by the pool, Perdido Sun is the best of the best. The complex also features an indoor pool, fitness facility and community grill.

Upgrades, resort amenities and a $25,000/year rental potential. This condo has all of the makings for a great investment. Learn more about it and other Perdido Key real estate opportunities when you contact Susan Carleton at 850.361.4154.

Top 5 Things to Do in Pensacola for Mother’s Day

HAPPY (1)Mother’s Day usually comes with certain expectations: breakfast in bed, flowers, maybe even a dinner out on the town. All of which will probably thrill your mom, but this year we want to treat mom to something a little extra special, simply because she deserves it. So, here are the top 5 things to do in Pensacola on Mother’s Day:

(1) Surprise Mom with a vacation, or if you live around here, a stay-cation. Let’s face it, mom needs a break from cooking and cleaning. Nothing does the trick quite like a little salt and sand therapy. Lucky for you, May is a great time to find a deal on an Pensacola Beach vacation rental…

(2) Treat Mom to brunch. We all love a good Sunday Brunch, but not all of us are willing to fight the crowds (and the long wait) on Mother’s Day. Do yourself and mom a favor and make reservations early on at one of her favorite places. The Fish House in Pensacola is always a local’s favorite when it comes to Mother’s Day Brunch Specials…

(3) Take a walk down memory lane. Nothing beats a day spent reminiscing. Wherever you are, be sure to whip out the old photos and embarrassing home videos for a few good laughs…

(4) Unwind at the spa. At some point during the day, you and your Mom may need a little dose of “treat yo’self,” in which case, have the appointments made at a nearby spa in Pensacola for manicures, pedicures, facials, the whole nine yards…

(5) Schedule some beach time. Vitamin D and quality time with your family is all most mom’s need, and around here it’s pretty easy to find a beach to sit on, walk on or picnic by with the ones you love most…

Happy (we can’t live without) Mom’s Day!

The 2016 Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores

GuitarThe 2016 Hangout Music Fest is coming up this May. And, if you have just purchased real estate in Gulf Shores, you will want to purchase your tickets for this favorite annual music event immediately!

The Hangout Music Fest is three days of incredible live music that takes place on multiple stages along the beach at, where else, The Hangout. This year the music will begin on May 20, 2016 and run through the evening of May 22, 2016. Each day, the music will kick off at 11AM and the party continues for 12 straight hours.

Appearing at this years event are huge names such as The Weeknd, Calvin Harris and Florence and the Machine. You can also catch performances by Alabama Shakes, Ellie Goulding, Lenny Kravitz, Cage the Elephant and so many more incredible bands and talented artists. In fact, we recommend you check out the full lineup for the show. If you are on the fence about attending, this will surely sway you.

Even if you own a home in Alabama, we can understand if you want to make a full stay-cation weekend out of an event like this. We recommend you call Southern Vacation Rentals to book a condo for the Hangout Music Fest. While most of their rentals have booked, there are still a very few condos available in Gulf Shores and Alabama available. These include fantastic properties such as Phoenix X #312 and Summerchase #603.

Don’t delay; buy your Hangout Fest tickets today to experience one of the best beach events along our shores. And, be sure to reserve your beach condo rental if you want to make a weekend out of it – they are going fast!

Andy Ross Sets Gulf Coast Lionfish Record

gulfcoastlionfishcoalition_logoThe annual Gulf Coast Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day is quickly approaching, and with that we could not be more proud to sponsor such an event. This year, we have even more reason to celebrate as Perdido Key real estate agent, tournament host and fishing captain, Andy Ross found himself with a record-breaking catch. Just last week, Andy caught a seventeen foot long lionfish off the shores of Pensacola Beach.

Andy is a captain with Nihui Dive Charters has been an active member of the Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition for years. The fish was caught just in time for the group’s festivities, helping to hype the upcoming events and festival. With the festival, the Lionfish Coalition aims to educate the public on how to control the influx of the invasive species and further protect the Gulf Coast fishing industry.

On Friday, the Coalition will host a lionfish tasting at West Marine on Davis Highway in Pensacola. (Yes, you can eat these invasive boogers, and yes, they are delicious!) May 14 and 15 are considered the main event days, where the Coalition gathers with food and entertainment at the Plaza de Luna in Pensacola. Be there from 10:00 – 5:00 pm for a full day of fun, education and support. We will most definitely be there!

 

Orange Beach, a Developer’s Dream Land

PCOLA-LNDDV-497630-1Those who live here all ready know that Orange Beach, Alabama is dynamic city oozing with potential. Combining the pleasures of a relaxed, coastal quality of life with limitless opportunities for economic growth, the city itself is an Orange Beach real estate developer’s dream land (which would have to make Susan Carleton’s newest commercial listing heaven on earth).

The nearly 5 acre parcel of land is nestled in the heart of Orange Beach, Alabama, situated directly between the Island House Hotel and Tidewater Condominium. The lot offers over 200 feet of Gulf frontage, making it the perfect place for the future site of a new hotel or condominium complex. Current zoning requirements will allow up to 42 units per acre, or 84 hotel rooms per acre, but to be verified by the City of Orange Beach planning and zoning.

The payback here could be exponential as the Orange Beach market continues to expand. The area’s tourism industry alone attracts over 5 million visitors per year, injecting over $3 billion of visitor spending into the local economy. As more and more people vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama, tax revenues increase, as does the need for improved infrastructure. Alabama’s fastest growing county realizes this, and intends to keep up with the pace of growth it has set to remain top of mind for visitors.

New construction, Orange Beach real estate development and improved roads are just a few of the many things we can expect to see over the next few years. Lots like this, will become rarer, now is the time to buy!