Downtown Pensacola Events in August!

If the hunt for Gulf Coast real estate has planted you in downtown Pensacola, congratulations! We know you will love your new home, not to mention all the awesome upcoming events you now have access to, including many this August.

You will always find great weekly events taking place near your real estate in Pensacola, including the Palafox Market, but late summer and early fall really kick off some great ones. The first is Summer Restaurant Week, hosted by the Great Southern Restaurants. These local dining hot spots are ones you will get to know well while living in your new home and this is a great chance to explore them.

Summer Restaurant Week takes place August 4-8, 2015 and features awesome three course menus from three different restaurants, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Atlas Oyster House and The Fish House. Cost is just $33 per person, per restaurant and offers a delicious tour of what each local chef has to offer. Some of the options include lobster with mascarpone Alfredo sauce, panhandle paella and slow roasted ribeye, along with choice appetizers and desserts.

Don’t miss out on this delicious way to explore your new city! We hope to see you out for Summer Restaurant Week in downtown Pensacola this August.

Upcoming Events at The Wharf

Owning Orange Beach or Gulf Shores real estate provides you ample opportunities for fun. This comes in the form of the beach family festivals, and of course, events at favorite area event venues such as the Wharf!

The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama is a great destination for shopping, dining and festivals, as well as concerts at the amphitheater. This late summer and very early fall there are several awesome events taking place, with one or two sure to make your ‘must-attend’ list.

The first is the Top of the Hops Beer Festival on August 15, 2015. This event will take place on the Marina Lawn and will feature over 150 craft brews located in various beer gardens. In addition to the tasting event, you will find educational seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Food Pairings and How to Brew Beer. There will also be live music and exciting games. Tickets are on sale now for $35.

Upcoming events at The Wharf Amphitheater include concerts from Alabama Shakes, with special guests  the Drive by Truckers on August 22, 2015. Tickets are still on sale for this show, as well as for the September 6 show from the legendary Alabama! If you own property in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, don’t let these nearby events pass you by. Get your tickets today!

Local Area Farmers’ Markets

There is a big trend in today’s world to shop local and handmade. And, if you have recently purchased Pensacola or Perdido Key real estate, you can easily get in on this fantastic movement at our local area markets.

If you own a home in downtown Pensacola, we highly encourage you to step out on Saturday morning and explore the Palafox Market. This local market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9am-2pm at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on North Palafox.

The Palafox Market offers a little something for every shopper, whether you’re looking for fresh produce or handmade goodies. Some items you can expect to see weekly are homegrown garden items, flowers, local meat and cheese, home goods and even antiques. You can even enjoy some music and munch on tasty morning treat from vendors.

If you happen to prefer real estate in Perdido Key, hit up their local farmers’ market before heading to your showings on Saturdays. Located at Baars Field on Gulf Beach Highway, this market opens at 8am and closed at 1pm. Here you will also find a wonderful variety of fresh produce, handmade goodies and treats to choose from, all from local makers and growers. We hope to see you out at these local markets this summer and fall!

Blue Marlin Championship this Weekend!

While you could take a break from shopping for Florida or Alabama real estate to hit up the Pensacola Beach Air show this weekend, some people prefer the sea over the air. If this sounds like you, head for Orange Beach and their biggest fishing tournament of the year!

The Blue Marlin Grand Championship has fast become known as one of the “greatest shows in sportfishing.” This is because it is a weekend packed with great events on land and at sea. Even if you don’t plan to or like to fish, you will still find a ton to do at The Wharf. In addition to great tournament events, you will also be near awesome shopping and dining at The Wharf.

Captain and crew events kick off today, July 7, with the official kickoff party taking place on July 8 at Bimini Bob’s. For those fishing, get ready to set sail on July 9 at noon with a special flare launch! Most trips are overnight, so those staying on land won’t get to enjoy the spectacular weigh-ins until Friday and Saturday evening at 7pm. This is arguably the most exciting portion of any tournament. Watch as boats come to shore and offload their amazing catches!

Don’t miss this fun Gulf Coast fishing tournament of the awesome Blue Marlin, Dolphin, Tuna and Wahoo catches that each crew is sure to bring to shore. See you on the docks of The Wharf!

Have a Safe & Happy 4th!

Today is the day! On behalf of our Northwest Florida and Alabama real estate agents at Pointe South, we would like to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! Your plans are already set, and your days are sure to  be filled with good food, good fun and good company.

If at some point though, those plans involve fireworks and sparklers, we’d like to encourage you to review the National Council on Fireworks safety tips.

For starters, it is important to obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks. And if you plan to light some of your own, it is imperative that you read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting a flame.

While on the subject of creating your own display, remember not to experiment with homemade products and be mindful of your surroundings. Fireworks should only be used outdoors in a clear area, away from buildings, vehicles and homes in your neighborhood.

Blue Angels Air Show in Pensacola Beach

If you haven’t made plans to hit the sand on July 11 for the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show, forget about shopping for Pensacola Real Estate and hit the beach! If you have made plans to head out to Pensacola Beach for the show, let us give you a few tips on how to make the most of your day.

Our biggest tip is to go early! Not only does the beach get packed hours in advance of the 11am and 2pm shows, but parking is precious on this day. If you don’t score a parking spot at Casino Beach, the best viewing spot for the show, we also recommend parking at the east or west end of Santa Rosa Island and taking the trolley.

Another great tip is that you don’t necessarily have to be on the beach Saturday to catch a wonderful air show. If you simply can’t cancel that Perdido Key real estate showing, but want to see the boys in blue in action, just look up in the sky any time during the week. On July 8, after Breakfast with the Blues, the team will take to the skies to prep. On July 9 and 10, practice demonstrations will take place over the beach at 2pm.

No matter when you catch their beachfront aerial show, we hope to see you out supporting our hometown Blue Angels this July!

10 Best Alabama Sights to See

If you have recently purchased real estate in Alabama, or moved into a rental home on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, you may be wondering what there is to see and do around here. The answer: plenty!

Alabama is home to some wonderful attractions and treasures worth exploring while you live on the Gulf Coast.Topping the list of “10 Must-see Places in Alabama” is the Cathedral Caverns in Woodville, followed closely by the US Space & Rocket Center, home to Space Camp, in Hunstville.

Located closer to your real estate on Alabama’s Gulf Coast is Bellingrath Gardens at number five, a 65-acre public garden and historic home known for breathtaking gardens and wonderful annual events. Number 10 on the list is, of course, the amazing beaches of the Gulf Coast, which you should, and undoubtedly will, visit during your time in sweet home Alabama. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island are just a few areas we recommend exploring.

Check out the full list of things to do in Alabama and add them to your list of must-have adventures when you move to the Gulf Coast!

The Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo

Calling all anglers! If you are lucky enough to own real estate in Perdido Key near the famous Flora-Bama, don’t miss the second annual Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo.

Touted as the ‘funnest’ fishing tournament on the Gulf Coast, this is a great tournament to enter if you love fishing the waters of Florida and Alabama. The event kicks off on June 27 and runs for two great days.

This fishing tournament on the Gulf Coast is perfect for those looking for a little family fun in the sun. There are both kid and adult levels of entry. Kids can participate in a 10 category event for just $20, while adults are $40 per entry and can fish across 256 categories.

Prizes for the event include a $7,000 cash prize for the biggest Speckled Trout and King Mackerel, as well as additional prizes for offshore fish such  as Tuna, Swordfish and Wahoo. The kids will also be treated to a bevy of prizes.

In addition to being a good time, with plenty of food, drinks and fun available during the weigh-ins at the Flora-Bama, as well as awards, this tournament also benefits a great cause, the Wounded Warrior Project. Grab your gear and come out for this terrific Gulf Coast event in Perdido Key!

Tour the Pensacola Lighthouse

Even if you already own Pensacola real estate and have lived here for many years, we imagine you may not have been out to tour the Pensacola Lighthouse. We can tell you, however, that it is definitely worth the trip!

Located at Pensacola NAS, the Pensacola Lighthouse is just a short drive from downtown Pensacola homes, as well as more residential areas making it easy to visit and spend a hours. The keepers of the lighthouse currently offer many tours during the summer season, including one of a very special variety – ghost tours!

Tours available include those during the day, such as the Blue Angels practice tour where you can watch as our famed Naval pilots practice their incredible show. But, there are also very impressive tours available in the evening hours such as the Toast at the Top, a romantic climb for couples featuring music, non-alcoholic beverages and a great sunset view.

You can also climb the tower at night as you hear the ghostly tales from keepers past and even hunt ghosts! If you think that’s a little silly, just know that the Lighthouse has been named “one of the most haunted” in America by the Travel Channel and has been investigated by the Syfy Channel! No matter when you choose to tour, we hope you explore and enjoy this local attraction this summer.

Selling Your Home? Avoid these Common Mistakes…

Sometimes, it is helpful to learn from your own mistakes. In most cases, especially when it comes to selling your Perdido Key or Orange Beach real estate, it is better to learn from somebody else’s mistakes. That is really one of the many benefits of hiring a professional agent – learning from their past mistakes and avoiding some of the very common pitfalls to follow…

(1) Pricing Your Home Too High. When it comes to setting a price, it’s important to do so correctly from the start. Listing your home to high and reducing it several times can lead to an even lower sales price than you originally intended. There’s a method to the madness and a savvy Southern Real Estate Agent can help you set a competitive price so that you receive the best possible offer.

(2) Stressing Over the Little Things. Selling your home is a huge decision and an even bigger financial consideration. It’s easy to get wrapped up in dollar signs and repairs, but you shouldn’t let these things derail what you have set out to accomplish.

(3) Letting Emotions Overcome You. Speaking of stress, another common pitfall is allowing your personal feelings cloud your judgment. Memories made in your recently listed home aren’t going to affect a buyer’s decision. Don’t let these heartfelt stories impede your ability to sell strategically.

Avoid these common home selling mistakes and hire a Alabama real estate agent for smooth sailing from start to finish.