fort walton beach: Top 4 Stars Continue to Push for Military Pay Caps - 04/21/14 07:53 AM
 
While this isn't new news for many, it will be for some. You normally won't hear about it until after they announce a military pay cut on the evening news. Budget cuts are required in every area across the nation.  But why is it that when the military is forced to reduce costs, it appears our military members are hurt the most.  TriCare costs keep going up, housing is becoming privatized and members are continually told to do more with less. Meanwhile behind the scenes what you have is the Joint Chiefs of Staff literally trying to persuade Senators that … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Get Your Insurance in place ASAP when Buying A Home! - 07/09/12 11:11 AM
When you think about the homebuying process, your consider Realtors, Lenders, houses, interest rates, monthly payments and more right?  But what about your insurance?  I tell my clients to have insurance in place within 7 days of contract acceptance.  It doesn't matter that your closing date isn't for another 30-60 days.
Lack of insurance in a timely manner WILL DELAY YOUR CLOSING!  That's right. Insurance plays a bigger part in the home buying process than you might realize.  Some of the factors that affect insurance and rates are:
The age of the home                    Flood Zones                       Wind mitigations
The age of the … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: How to Identify Mortgage Fraud? - 12/28/11 12:57 PM
As I continue to receive calls and e-mails asking the question, “is this for real” or “is this a scam” I’m amazed at the lengths companies will go through to make homeowners think the information they are receiving is from their own mortgage lender or the VA or another legitimate entity.  While there are some companies out there that are trying to help, there are twice as many out there with ill intent.
While I try to advise people carefully, on these things, I was happy to find that Freddie Mac has identified the same things to people.
Following are six … (1 comments)

fort walton beach: Retired and Have Questions About Storage of Household Goods? - 11/09/11 11:33 AM

When you retire from the military, you have the option of making one final move free of charge (courtesy of the military) back to your home of record. Speak to TMO (Traffic Management Office) about your plans to move back to your home of record, so that arrangements can be made to pack up your belongings and move you and your family back to your home of record. You have one year in which to complete your “final” move.  You are entitled to keep your household goods in storage for 12 months from your original date of retirement if you … (1 comments)

fort walton beach: Northwest Florida Is Still Growing - 01/25/11 02:17 AM
Last week I told you about the new WalMart opening in Niceville, there is also another one under construction in Santa Rosa County which will be smaller and not a Super WalMart.  Now they are opening another Family Dollar Store in Fort Walton Beach.  Renovations have started on the old West Marine building at 4 Eglin Parkway S.E. to transform the building into the new Family Dollar store.  It is schedule for completion sometime around July-Sept 2011. 
And they will be announcing jobs availability soon, stating they would like to hire from the local area.
People don't spend money if they … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Federal Agencies Introduce Online Mapping Tool to Track Gulf Response - 06/17/10 05:17 PM
The world knows the BP oil spill has been a catastrophe affecting several states along the Gulf Coast.  The impact affects industries from hotels and condo tourism, to fishermen, charter boats to local community beach tourism.
The NOAA has launched a new website meant to answer many of the questions people have been asking more accurately than the spin on television. It provides an operational picture that allows the American people to see how the government is responding to the crisis, and not what the bobble heads are running around saying "nothing is being done". This appears to be pretty detailed in almost … (2 comments)

fort walton beach: If I Shop Around For A Better Mortgage Rate Will It Affect My Credit Score? - 04/10/10 07:39 AM
Actually there was a time when shopping around did affect your scores severely when you shopped different lenders and online lending institutions as well.  Numerous inquiries gave the appearance that you were trying to open new lines of credit, which impaired your ability to buy a home.  So does that mean you are stuck with the first interest rate you are quoted?
Most people don't realize that everytime a bank runs your social security number to check to see if you are "credit worthy"  there is a ding to your credit.  Ever been car shopping?  How about that big ticket item … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Upcoming Events in and Around Fort Walton Beach - 01/24/10 01:45 PM
Jan. 26  Sonny's  Bar-B-Q restaurants in Fort Walton Beach and across the Southeast are holding a fundraiser to collect money for the devastated people of Haiti. This Tuesday, participating Sonny's locations will donate a portion of the day's proceeds to the Red Cross, to aid in the rescue and support efforts in Haiti.
If you would like to make a contribution in addition to dining at Sonny's on Tuesday, you can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at redcross.org or by calling 800-RED-CROSS.
Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief. You can also donate $10 … (1 comments)

fort walton beach: Looking for REO's (Bank Owned Properties) in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? - 01/12/10 01:16 PM
If you  have been considering investing in some bank owned properties in the Fort Walton Beach /Eglin AFB area, here is a quick link.  Bank owned properties will close much quicker than short sales.  I closed one recently in 30 days.  Click here to view a quick list of available homes, townhomes and condos. 
  http://ecarmls.com/EmeraldReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=1921205341    
If you would like a listing of REO properties in the surrounding areas of Niceville, Navarre, Crestview or Destin let me know.

… (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Blackstone Northwest Florida's Newest Golf Course - 12/11/09 05:19 PM
Blackstone Golf Course located less than 30 minutes North of Eglin AFB near the triangle of Niceville, Crestview and DeFuniak Springs, sits near the intersection of State Road 285 and U.S. Highway 90 is ready for business.  The course, features an 18-hole course with a clubhouse, pro shop and bar and grill, and it's expected to draw most of its players from the three communities within a 16-mile radius.   The initial plans for the 1,300-acre site called for not only a golf course and clubhouse, but to sustain it, it also included more than 3,000 single family homes, town homes and condominiums; Over … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Even Hollywood Actors Find Value in Northwest Florida Real Estate - 12/05/09 05:28 PM
Wayne Rogers who makes his home in our area of Northwest Florida, better known as Trapper John from the tv series MASH recognizes that it's a great time for real estate.
In Florida he is developing a 500-home subdivision, just north of Eglin Air Force Base, which is located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He says the property is worth more than he paid three or four years ago.
Real estate will always have peaks and valleys.  Five years ago, (doesn't seem like it was that long ago) we saw a real estate boom, or a peak.  But just like with … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: So How Is The Real Estate Market in Northwest Florida? - 10/04/09 03:34 PM
The REALTORS in Northwest Florida have been rocking and rolling. At the beginning of the year 2009, the Fort Walton beach and surrounding areas had over 3 years worth of combined real estate inventory on the market for sale. That inventory includes single family homes, townhomes as well as condos.While the news channels will only acknowledge improvements marginally, the buyers and sellers in our area need to know, that your REALTORS are working hard to infuse our economy. The facts speak for themselves. Year to date we have sold over 2600 properties, with a sales volume of 607,662,984. Besides the numbers, … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: How to save on your homeowners insurance - 09/15/09 05:36 PM
As the summer comes to a close, and we start buckling down for the fall and winter.  Many are still faced with the challenges of where to save money.  Well, as many homeowners pay their car insurance semi-annually, now might be a good time to review your homeowners policy as well for an updatebefore it's time to renew that as well?  hadn't thought of that one had you?
 Whether you are renting or one of the lucky people who have invested in their future as a  homeowner, you'll find these few tips on lowering your homeowner's insurance rates very useful. And I'd … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Storm Warnings on your computer - 08/30/09 11:22 AM
I've got the coolest tool on my laptop.  It's called the weather channel desktop.  Now what sits down in the bottom corner of the screen looks like this:   
So as I'm just typing away, all of a sudden I hear, a thunderstorm, except it's not coming from outside, it's coming from my computer.  Except the first time I hear it, I don't realize it's actually emanating from my computer.  The second time I hear it, my attention is drawn to the fact that the little box registering the temperature has turned yellow and is flashing at me!  So I clicked on … (4 comments)

fort walton beach: FORT WALTON BEACH COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS - 08/24/09 03:37 PM

FORT WALTON BEACH
Public lectureThe Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute at Northwest Florida State College will host Dr. Patricia "Tricia" Kelley, a National Association of Geoscience Teachers Distinguished Lecturer, at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 on the mainstage of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Niceville campus. She will present a free public lecture on "Evolution and Creation: Conflicting or Compatible?" Call 729-5376.Teen DanceThe Destin Community Center will hold a Teen Dance for middle school students from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28. Cost is $5. Call 654-5184.College Surplus SaleNorthwest Florida State College will hold a Surplus Sale from … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Still Sitting on the Rental Fence on Buying a Home? - 07/18/09 11:18 AM
If you are still sitting on the fence on buying a home or refinancing a mortgage, waiting for some special sign from the heavens or better still, "waiting for the  market to hit bottom" ? Well my first response is,  you won't know that the market has reached the bottom until you see the prices coming back up again, and that's called being behind the power curve.
Do you remember the one where the man is told the flood is coming and to leave the area, and they offer him a ride, and the man said "The Lord will make a … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Directory of 55+ Housing Communities in Florida - 07/18/09 09:26 AM
As the Fair Housing Chairman for our board of realtors, I give a briefing every month in orientation on Fair Housing. People have often asked me about adult only communities.  But 55+ housing communities have to be registered with the State, and identified as such.  There are only a couple in the Fort Walton Beach area, and I've included them here: 

 
 
 
 
Requirements for a community to be considered "housing for older persons":
* The housing is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons and is intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older or
… (0 comments)

fort walton beach: 4th of July Events in and Around Fort Walton Beach - 07/04/09 09:57 AM
July 4th Extravaganza on the Harbor The July 4th Extravaganza at HarborWalk Village on Destin Harbor will feature live entertainment by the Zydeco Bad Boys and a 21-minute firework display sponsored by the City of Destin. Live entertainment will be on the HarborWalk Village stage from 7-9pm. Fireworks at 9pm. 850.337.8000Additional InformationPhone: (850) 337-8000Website: www.harborwalkdestin.comEvent Time: See above Event Type: Fireworks, Holiday Events Party in the Open Market Artists, vendors, friends, neighbors and customers come together in The Fountain Square in Fort Walton Beach to celebrate the 4th of July. Bring a covered dish to participate. Followed by fireworks at The … (2 comments)

fort walton beach: Fort Walton Beach June Real Estate Market Update - 07/02/09 02:15 PM
This is good news for Fort Walton Beach, as it reflects an increase in the number of single family homes sold in May.  There is additional good news, because these numbers also reflect a decrease in the number of days on the market previously 130 days, as well as the price per square foot has increased  from $103 to $118, which will be great news for homeowners trying to sell or considering selling their homes, Or people thinking about buying.  You still have until 30 November 2009 if you qualify for the first time homebuyers tax credit.  While this chart only … (0 comments)

fort walton beach: Florida's New Seat Belt Law - 06/29/09 11:22 AM
Starting Tuesday 30 June 2009, you may find that you won't have to be speeding or swerving for that matter  to be pulled over by a Law Enforsement Officer in Florida.  Thats right, drivers can now be stopped for failing to wear a seat belt and be receive a ticked for $93 as part of the new primary seatbelt law.    Before June 30, failing to buckle up wasn't reason enough for an officer to pull a car over, but now you can be pulled over for that if for no other reason.
Did you even know that there were two seatbelt … (0 comments)