Homes for Sale on Ono Island

The ultimate customized residence awaits. If you have been searching for homes for sale on Ono Island, our Owner/Broker, Susan Carleton has just the place for you! Recently listed and newly constructed, 30485 Ono Loop North sits on a large, canal front lot in Orange Beach, Alabama.

This five bedroom, four-and-half bathroom home comes with a variety of upgrades and enhancements. From hardwood floors, 10 foot ceilings, crown molding and high-end trim, it is safe to say that no detail has been overlooked when it comes to this incredible property. The rooms are spacious and open with neutral finishes that help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout the 3,396 square foot residence. Outside, there is a beautiful 706 square back deck with a large brick fireplace with views overlooking the canal.

In addition to an incredible location and fabulous upgrades, this home comes with a new boat house with power and lift that holds up to 9,000 pounds.

For more information on this and other Orange Beach, Alabama real estate opportunities, contact Susan Carleton at 850.516.7238.

Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores

If you have recently moved to the Gulf Coast or are thinking about buying real estate in Gulf Shores, you are undoubtedly itching to get out and see what the area has to offer. Allow us to help with our top things to do in Gulf Shores!

We know the first thing you will want to do in your new hometown is hit the beach, but it may still be a little chilly for that. If so, try hitting up a Gulf front restaurant instead. That way, you can enjoy the awesome beach views, as well as try out some local seafood. We recommend Bahama Bob’s or the Pink Pony Pub. Another great place to try is LuLu’s on Homeport Marina. Located off the beach, this fun restaurant is known for their great food, fun family activities and onsite attractions such as a ropes course and arcade.

Speaking of activities, if you love the outdoors, Gulf Shores offers your ideal attractions in the form of the local state park. Explore it from high above via a seven mile ziplining tour, or hike the available trails, including the popular birding trails. Once it warms up, grab your paddle board or kayak to explore the water ways. If fishing has caught your eye, head out to the state park’s fishing pier.

You may be thinking you want to steer clear of the tourist destinations now that you’re a local, but they are so much fun and spring is a perfect time to try them out before the summer crowds arrive. Our best bets include Waterville USA, the local water park, as well as the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Dolphin and boat tours are also a popular and fun activity the entire family will enjoy. And, of course, be sure to enjoy a sunset walk on the beautiful beaches as soon as it warms up!

Buyer Mistakes to Avoid

So you are shopping for condos to buy in Pensacola Beach and found one that you think has it all. Now it is just a matter of negotiating the terms. More often than not, people overestimate their skills in this department. Negotiating is an art, which is usually why we recommend you work with someone who is well versed in this trade… ahem, a Pointe South Real Estate Sales agent.

Before you write the idea of hiring an agent off entirely, you should know that they bring a wealth of knowledge to the table that can make all the difference when rounding third and heading for home. Typically, a real estate agent will provide you with a detailed price analysis of local market conditions, comparable homes and recommendations so that you can decide on the best possible price.

Speaking of price, keep in mind that the end goal is to purchase your ideal home at an ideal price. You don’t want to get so caught up in the negotiation game that you lose out on a great deal. That is actually another reason to hire an agent – they can offer you an unbiased perspective based off the numbers alone.

Still thinking about buying or selling? Contact one of our Pensacola Beach real estate agents today to go over the details of your transaction. They will be more than happy to help you find the right deal at the right price!

Gulf Shores Named “Hot Spot” by HomeAway

Are you ready to take the plunge as a real estate investor, but still deciding on where, and what to buy? Well, usually our answer would be anywhere along Florida and Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Thankfully, HomeAway – an online vacation rental marketplace – has given us EVEN more reason to suggest buying a condo or home along these waters…

The group just released its “Hottest Spots for Spring Travel,” so visitors can start planning their vacation before spring has officially sprung. Of their six most sought-after destinations, Gulf Shores, Alabama ranks third.

But why does this mean you should buy beach homes for sale in Gulf Shores? Because the demand for inventory is not going anywhere any time soon. That answers the number one rule of buying an investment property – could you rent the property when you are not there? Sounds like if it is in Gulf Shores, Alabama you won’t have any problems.

Still have questions about buying real estate on the Gulf Coast? Or, are you interested in learning more about our property management services in Gulf Shores? Contact Pointe South today at 850.492.1826 for more details on how we can help!

Congratulations, Rhonda Landrum!

Our Orange Beach, Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach real estate agents at Pointe South make it a goal to go above and beyond, not only to meet your buying and selling expectations, but to exceed them. Between the lot of them, it is stiff competition. Each brings something unique to the table. This month, however, we are pleased to announce that Rhonda Landrum has stood out from the pack with an overly impressive January, and for that reason she is our Agent of the Month to start the New Year!

Rhonda is originally from the greater Pensacola area, offering her clients a wide array of local knowledge. With twin boys to keep her busy and in the loop, you can bet that Rhonda is very familiar with the school system and the role it plays in helping customers find a home that meets their needs. She serves her clients with honesty, integrity and attention to detail. We are so proud to say she calls Pointe South Real Estate Sales home!

For more information on Rhonda Landrum, and how she can help you buy or list your home for sale in Pensacola, please contact her directly at 850.206.9617.

The Big Beach Marathon in Gulf Shores

Love to run? Grab your sneakers! If you have recently invested in Gulf Shores real estate and are looking to enjoying running events on the Gulf Coast, this is one you don’t want to miss.

The Big Beach Marathon will take place on January 31, 2016 at 8AM at The Hangout, a favorite Gulf Shores restaurant and event venue. This half and full marathon course is a Boston qualifier and follows the paved pathways of Gulf State Park for the majority of the route. The last three miles, however, follow three scenic miles of Beach Boulevard and lead you to the finish line with the sites and sounds of the Gulf of Mexico.

On the Saturday before the race, head to The Hangout for the kick off party and race expo at noon. At the conclusion of that event at 6PM, grab a seat with your race buddies and carb load for the big day during the pasta buffet dinner. The Hangout will also host the awards and post-race party on Sunday from 11AM-4PM. You won’t want to miss out on the food, beer, music and fun – after all, you’ve earned it with those 26.2 miles!

Registration for this event is still open. Signup today and good luck!

Top 5 Pensacola Restaurants

So, you’ve just purchased real estate in Pensacola. Congrats! Now that you’re all moved in, and totally over pizza delivery, it’s time to start exploring your new city. Let’s start with all the good eats in town – and there are many!

We could literally go on and on about the various restaurants in Pensacola. Between downtown and Pensacola Beach, you will never go hungry here. But, we decided to narrow the field to the top five. It was very difficult, but here we go.

#5: Five Sisters Blues Cafe – Offering classic southern creations, this is the place to acquaint yourself with area favorites such as fried chicken, fried okra and fried green tomatoes. Yes, everything is better fried. The nightly jazz band is an added bonus.

#4: The Great Southern Restaurants – We’re cheating here. The Great Southern Restaurants are actually three restaurants: Atlas Oyster House, Jackson’s Steakhouse and The Fish House. Their names say it all and you won’t be disappointed, no matter which one you choose!

#3: Pot Roast & Pinot – The Tripadvisor reviews say it all, a “gem of a place with a twist.” Step inside to find a sleek interior, food made from scratch and an incredible wine selection. For added fun, have a seat at the bar to watch your food prepared.

#2: Joe Patti’s Seafood – While their is only a small area to sit down to eat, this lands on our list for being the best fresh seafood market in town, hands down. Even if you order your seafood and take it home to eat, you will still consider this one of your best meals. But, whatever you do, don’t forget to order beignets.

#1: McGuire’s Irish Pub & Brewery – Delicious food, beer brewed in-house and years of tradition literally stapled to the wall, this is the impression you will leave with after a visit to McGuire’s. Head on over, order an Irish Red and an order of reuben eggrolls – a personal favorite – and don’t forget to leave a dollar bill on the wall (or kiss the moose!).

2016 Mardi Gras Celebrations!

Mardi Gras was born right here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, so you know we love to let the good times roll. If you’ve recently purchased real estate near Mobile, you won’t want to miss these upcoming festivities!

If you want big parades and truly incredible celebrations, Mobile is the place to be. The events kick off as early as January 23 and take place almost daily leading up to Fat Tuesday, which falls on February 9 this year. The Mobile Mardi Gras parade schedule is quite lenghty, but we encourage you to experience as many as possible.

If you live in Gulf Shores or own a home in Orange Beach, consider visiting The Wharf on February 8 for their Mardi Gras on Main Street party. Performers, floats and live music will begin at 6pm and culminate with a spectacular Spectra light show.

In Pensacola, parades begin on Friday, February 5 with the illuminated Krewe of Lafitte parade in downtown. Saturday afternoon, line the streets of downtown for the annual Grand Mardi Gras Parade. You can also find much revelry in downtown on actual Fat Tuesday.

Orange Beach Named a Destination on the Rise

Are you considering investing in Alabama real estate in the new year? You may want to think about buying a beachfront rental in Orange Beach, as Tripadvisor has just named it a top travel destination for 2016.

Tripadvisor recently released their list of “Destinations on the Rise in the U.S.”and named Orange Beach to their #2 spot. As a dominant source of travel information, it is likely that our white sand beaches and green cascading waters will, in fact, continue to draw more and more visitors in 2016 and beyond. This will certainly increase the likelihood that your new Orange Beach investment property will be an overwhelming financial success.

In addition to the scenic highlights of the area, visitors also flock to Coastal Alabama for the many attractions and water sports activities, delicious gulf to table dining and the incredible fishing.Fun festivals and family-friendly events make Orange Beach a year-round vacation favorite.

If you’re shopping for beachfront real estate in Orange Beach, call our agents today! 850.492.1148

America’s First Settlement Found in Pensacola!

Property values in Pensacola may have just risen in the East Pensacola Heights neighborhood. Trending in today’s news is the fact that University of West Florida archaeologists discovered the site of the de Luna settlement.

The location of de Luna settlement has been a mystery for centuries – since 1559 to be exact. That is when the first multi-year European settlement was established somewhere in the Southeast. Well, it is a mystery no longer.

Archaeologists from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, “discovered and can support the statement that the land settlement of site Tristan de Luna has been located within the city limits of Pensacola, Florida.” That is according to University President, Dr. Judy Bense.

The unearthing began in early October when Pensacola native, Tom Garner uncovered Spanish colonial and Native American artifacts at a privately owned residential lot in Pensacola. Since then, and with the cooperation of residents and property owners, UWF began to text excavations at the site and recovered remaining artifacts. The team will continue to examine the neighborhood to determine the extent and organization of the site.

We should know more within the next few weeks what all these archaeologists dig up! For more details on America’s first settlement and the excavation in Pensacola, visit uwf.edu/luna.