2019 Foo Foo Fest in Pensacola, Florida

It has arrived!

The 6th Annual Foo Foo Festival has been scheduled from October 31 – November 11 in Pensacola, Fla. and offers an acclaimed array of internationally-recognized musicians and performance artists.

Foo Foo Fest is a highly anticipated arts and culture festival, which is one of the largest in the Southeast. Spanning an impressive 12 days, the exciting line-up has something for everyone and includes:

  • Classical piano virtuoso Garrick Ohlsson
  • Renowned jazz band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Multi-Grammy nominated musician Marsha Ambrosius
  • Stomp Fest is based on a 125-year-old African American College Fraternity and Sorority Tradition of “Stepping”
  • “Skulptures” (a display of 3D printable skateable concrete structures)
  • Performance of The Savannah Sipping Society (a new play by The Golden Girls writers),
  • Fire and Rain (a sea of billowing holographic strands suspended above historic Intendencia Street)
  • Historic walking tours, a large farmer’s market, quaint shops, food trucks and brewery tours

Pensacola is the only city on the stretch of the Gulf Coast from Mobile, Ala. to Tampa, Fla. that boasts having the “big five,” an opera, ballet, symphony, theatre and museum. Foo Foo Festival’s roster of events celebrates art, music, dance, opera, theatre and cuisine with programming from grant recipients, throughout the city of Pensacola for nearly two weeks. The 2019 ACE grant recipients will host individual experiences specific to their craft throughout the festival. Strategically positioned in and around some of Pensacola’s most popular and longer-running events, the Foo Foo Fest encourages cultural tourists to make Pensacola an arts destination and enjoy other events those two weeks including The Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival, the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show, Pensacola Eggfest and the 34th Annual Frank Brown Songwriters Festival.

The 12-day event is chock full of inclusive, thought-provoking and mind-extending cultural happenings including:

  • Choral Society of Pensacola – Choir! Choir! Choir! an event that is equal parts singing, comedy and audience participation
  • Downtown Improvement Board/Artel Inc. – Fire and Rain, a suspended sea of billowing holographic strands ripples high over historic Intendencia Street like a quilt of sparkling diamonds
  • First City Arts Alliance – 3DPrintsacola, featuring professional American street skater Rodney Mullen, combines machine generative art with hands-on artmaking practices to create 3D printed skateable concrete “Skulptures”
  • Greater Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Inc – Legendary pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
  • Jazz Pensacola – Jazz Pensacola presents renowned Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a contemporary jazz & swing revival band from Southern California
  • Lamplighters, Inc. – StompFest 2019 will immerse the Gulf Coast in contemporary African-American art, dancing, and stepping blended with a mix of spoken word, live music, and visual artistry with special celebrity guests Marsha Ambrosius, Mannie Fresh and Steven Brown
  • Legal Services of North Florida – Jazz for Justice brings in well-known musicians and local artists for a unique jazz and blues festival in downtown Pensacola.
  • Pensacola Little Theatre – A performance of “The Savannah Sipping Society,” created by the same writers of The Golden Girls
  • Pensacola Museum of Art – A Journalist and Author Talk with Eleanor Randolph. The veteran journalist and author will return to Pensacola to share her experiences as a female journalist and details on her new book, The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg.”
  • The Pensacola Civic Band – The Pensacola Civic Band will be in concert with the world-famous Boston Brass at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre. The concert entitled “Sketches of Spain” will highlight the music of Pensacola’s Spanish heritage including “Malaguena.”

In addition to the plethora of arts and cultural happenings during Foo Foo Fest, Pensacola offers year ‘round historic walking tours, a large farmer’s market, quaint shops, food trucks and brewery tours. Visitors can stroll along the bay, enjoy the beautiful beaches, experience the culinary arts scene, and take in historic sites all staged in the backdrop of relaxed elegance unique to this historic city on the Gulf Coast.

 

For more information about the 2019 Pensacola Foo Foo Festival visit www.FooFooFest.com.

Passion into Profit

Turn your Passion into Profit with Southern Real Estate Sales

The real estate profession has expanded and offers one of the widest career selections in the business world today. Helping people buy and sell residential homes, industrial property, vacation rentals, property management, land development, and real estate leasing are a few aspects of a career in real estate.

A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients.

  • Advantages and Rewards of a Career in Real Estate  

A career in real estate provides flexibility and freedom to set your own pace. Income directly reflects your efforts, with no limits on what astute, hard-working men and women can earn. Successful people in real estate are goal-oriented, persevering, self-motivated, ambitious and people-oriented. The rewards of a real estate career are a potential for high earnings, status in the community, time freedom, helping people, the intellectual challenge and the satisfaction from those accomplishments.

Working in real estate allows for independence and choices of environment in which to work, such as affiliation with a large or small firm as a listed salesperson. With more experience and upon passing of an additional exam, becoming a real estate broker is t

he next step. Brokers can own their own businesses and employ other salespeople.

Entry into the real estate field depends on education, training and interests. Most people begin as sales agents under a well versed company such as Southern Rentals & Real Estate.

  • Continuing Education in Real Estate 

Formal education is available while working in real estate. The National Association of REALTORS® and its Institutes, Societies and Councils sponsor continuing education programs for members, and award designations for specialty areas of real estate. Continuing education increases knowledge and skills, improving earnings potential and enhancing opportunities for success.

  • Careers in Residential Brokerage 

Helping people buy and sell homes is one of the most important and basic services a real estate agent performs. Agents are experts in the process of buying and selling property, financing, government programs, etc. The real estate agent’s expertise facilitates the transaction, saving clients time, trouble and money. Real estate professionals need to have a thorough knowledge of such areas as real estate law, local economics, fair housing laws, types of financing, mortgages and government programs.

In the competitive real estate market along the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida and coastal Alabama, Southern Real Estate Sales agents are posting impressive numbers, thanks in huge part to our dedicated team of internal sales agents. This year to date, the ISA department has already played an instrumental role in closing $ 8,972,823 in sales and has $5,565723 in pending sales with the help of our elite agents. Our highly skilled internal sales department is driven to support you, our realtors, to do what you do best—sell real estate!

Our ISA’s Team strategy to produce, scout new leads, arrange appointments with qualified buyers and sellers and the efficiency in this strategy has increased our agents average transactions per year, out selling other national agencies.

In addition to the benefits of an internal sales department, Southern Real Estate Sales is a full-service brokerage, with 18 select agents, locations in Northwest Florida and South Alabama, and more than 20 years of experience in the industry. We offer state-of-the-art technology to provide only the most relevant lead generations, ongoing training, and a time-tested business model that withstands market trends.

Learn more about joining the dynamic workplace of Pointe South, where the tight-knit attitude of a boutique firm meets the powerhouse capabilities of national franchises.

Real Estate Market Highlights

News Alert for Buyers and Sellers along the Gulf Coast!

RESIDENTIAL MARKET HIGHLIGHTS – JULY 2019

According to the Pensacola Associations of Realtors, Inc.

  • JULY Average Sold Price $256,604 with 2330 Homes on the Market
  • JULY Homes on the Market 2330
  • JULY Homes SOLD in the month 958
  • JULY Combined Days on Market Averaged 55 – which is 13 days less then this time last year
  • JULY Sales were up 10% compared to July 2018

With such good news, you may be considering your options.  Whether you are thinking of buying or selling, the real estate market is continuing to run hot.  The market is considered to be solid.

Southern Real Estate Sales has shared some best buys on the beach for your review.

Please know we are always ready to serve you, your family and friends, answer any questions or run a free market report for your home or condo.

Coming or Going – It’s Time to Plan for Coastal Fun

Whether you are selling a property or buying/investing in the area, your 2 most valuable assets are FAMILY and HOME and we serve them both.

The Southern Team helps buyers and sellers every day and we are always available to assist you, but first before we hit the road looking and planning, we need to plan some time to enjoy the plethora of local events along the Gulf Coast.

NW Florida and Coastal Alabama is Chuck full of event line-ups! The area brings people together to enjoy being together. We welcome you and know it’s time to plan some fun with live music, festivals, sports – celebrations that all folks enjoy make this area even more special from Destin, Pensacola Beach, to Perdido Key and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. These areas have beach front properties that are affordable and exclusive to the Million Dollar Penthouses, Executive Homes, Pool Homes, Condos, Town Homes or Single Family Homes to raise the family, Farm Life, Beach Life, quaint downtown Life; we call it HOME LIFE.

From live music and night life events in Pensacola Beach, major head line music tours singing loud and proud in Pensacola Arena or The Wharf Amphitheatre in Orange Beach, sports fun with the Blue Wahoos Baseball team, organized races and family races, paddle boarding and bike fun. If that isn’t your thing, how about all the exquisite food and drink flavors from Greek, Smokin BBQ in the Square, Emerald Coast Beer and Seafood Festivals your belly is full with home town hospitality and good eats.

For the Art enthusiast, the Gulf Coast has tremendously talented artists on display at local markets, shows, and even exceptional performing arts shows at the theatre, designers, and Broadway events, comedy fun, and local rising artists playing at Vinyl downtown venue and fun street bands. Having fun here is easy. No Exceptions! Ladies nights, Street Parades, Good Eats, Sports, Fishing, did I mention Sugar Sand Beaches and U.S. Navy Blue Angels Air Shows and that is just a few of the tops.

It’s always fun to visit, even better to play, stay and invest. Southern draws upon decades of real estate expertise in the area, in the events, in it all and we offer an asset-based approach to your NW Florida or Coastal Alabama real estate options – licensed in Florida and Alabama because we know your most 2 valuable assets are YOUR FAMILY and YOUR HOME – We Serve them both.
Destination – HOME!

Real Estate in Bloom

SPRING FLING is happening and the Panhandle is in BLOOM!

With miles of sugar white sand beaches and emerald green waters, the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama are popular destinations for vacations, investing and permanent residence.

Before you jump in and start looking at properties, ask yourself a few questions to prepare this exciting phase. It’s a big decision and our real estate team can help.

1. Rank what’s important to you.

We have condos, single family homes, apartments, duplexes and lots of options, but only you can answer what makes sense for you.

2. What’s it all going to cost?

With a little planning and talking with a lender, we can answer this question, configure a budget, itemize down payment, calculate the expenses and suggest options. Working with an expert who knows, will eliminate a lot of stress and that is exactly why our team is here to assist. Even if you have just started browsing or thinking of the purchase in the future, planning and working together is paramount. For both the agent and you.

Additionally, a lender can also share with you different types of loans available, help work on credit to buy your dream home and advise your real estate agent programs that support you! Your loan officer and agent will work to help you prepare and when the time is right, pre-approve your loan so when you start to look at homes with your agent and see the perfect home, you are ready. No stress! You are ready to make an offer. And as your real estate team continues to communicate through the process, all are prepared and this is where your real estate agent is most valuable to you. To help guide, research homes and different properties and how long they have been on the market. As your agent, we negotiate the very best for you, prepare the offer and negotiate the deal so you walk away with keys in hand excited on the best deal and the future memories you will make!

Pensacola and surrounding area market to include Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama has properties for investing, second home purchase, relocating, and retirement and all on the prettiest beaches with plenty of activities, entertainment, lower cost of living and inviting weather.

At Southern, we can answer your questions with confidence, with knowledge and start your property search today of all budgets. Buying and Selling a property can be overwhelming, but not with us. YOU are our TOP PRIORITY. Feel free to contact us.

Call | Text 850.492.1148 or Email | susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com

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 | susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com

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 Southern Real Estate Sales Team discuss your options. You can also view homes and receive a free market review at FORSALEontheGULFCOAST.com

Southern Real Estate Sales – 13587 Perdido Key Drive – Pensacola – FL – 32507
susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com | 850.492.1148 | Pointesouth.com

Discover Pensacola with Pointe South Real Estate Sales

DISCOVER PENSACOLA with SOUTHERN REAL ESTATE SALES

Under the direction of Broker/Owner, Susan Carleton, Southern 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.

Southern 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. Southern Vacation Rentals http://www.southernresorts.com offers more than 250 short term rentals from Navarre Beach, Florida to the Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay area while Southern Residential Leasing  maintains more than 650 long term rentals in Pensacola, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key, 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.” Southern 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 Southern Real Estate Sales Team. Southern Core Vales:

B e Positive
E xcellence
A daptive and Innovative
C ollaboration and Team Work
H onesty and Integrity

Southern roots infused with our southern hospitality grows outstanding service. Being a native of Pensacola as Susan is or a relocator that now calls Pensacola home, the team calls it paradise! The Southern 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 Southern agents. They want you to enjoy the process of buying or selling real estate and want you to have a sweet Southern 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 Southern 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 Southern Real Estate Sales Team is ready to assist. Learn more today at Meet the Team. http://www.southernrealestatesales.com/meet-our-team

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 susancarletonteam@pointesouth.com 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

Welcome Lisa St. Pierre!

lisa headshotSouthern Real Estate is excited to welcome Lisa St. Pierre to our growing team! Lisa specializes in selling and buying real estate in Pensacola, Perdido Key, Navarre and Gulf Breeze and surrounding areas. We are very happy to welcome Lisa to our highly skilled and knowledgably sales team.

With over 20 years of corporate sales and sales management experience, Lisa is an expert at building long lasting relationships based on commitment and trust. She truly takes the time to ask questions and really listen to her clients, in order to have a deeper understanding of what each client needs.

“I live my life by the Golden Rule,” said Lisa. “I always strive to provide my clients with the same level of service that I would expect myself.”

A Pensacola native, Lisa is very familiar with all the details of Pensacola real estate. In addition to being an agent, Lisa has been married for over 20 years and has two grown children. A volunteer for Military Housing of NAS Pensacola, Lisa always goes above and beyond to show appreciation for our military in any way that she can. She also spends time mentoring teenagers in the community and volunteering at her local church.

With so many years of experience in sales and a dedication to building relationships, Lisa is a great real estate agent and a wonderful addition to our Southern Real Estate Sales family. If you are looking for real estate in Pensacola, or any of the surrounding areas, contact licensed real estate agent Lisa St. Pierre today at 850-492-1148!