Bucking the trend for higher and higher insurance premiums for coastal real estate and homes, the new luxury Holiday Isle condominium residences on Dauphin Island, Alabama (a barrier island south of booming Mobile, Alabama) has announced the results of the new insurance coverage.

The new rates are almost 1/2 of previously quoted rates.  This is a testimonial to the superior building principles employed when this 7 story, gated condominium residence with attached parking garage was built.  Included in the coverage are both pools and parts of the unit owners built ins ina total departure from the normal standards.  Information from Holiday Isle LLC

Prices and more info  Marion Laney at ACP Real Estate

Insurance discussion video

A sad testament to the current economy, the heralded SaltAire development has had to retrench like so many developers all over the nation.

I still believe this is a great project for South Mobile County and that it will rise again. 

On a more upbeat note the sales and buyer activity on Dauphin Island has been brisk these last several weeks.

Many of us on Dauphin Island have wondered how the new SaltAire development will impact our sales and rentals.

I believe this well marketed development from some of the folks associated with the stunning JOE company developments at Watersound and Windmark beach can only drive awareness of our beautiful and affordable location in south Mobile County.

Here is snippet from a recent article:

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SNIPPET:

Economist: SaltAire could have $1billion impact on area

SNIPPET:

FULL ARTICLE

Snippit

FULL STORY

For those who know I am involved in various businesses besides Real Estate, here is link to my most recent project. The full series airs in September.  Enjoy!

A little preview of the style of the series.  Each Sunday in September.
FEASTING ON WAVES webisode

Posted from my home base on Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Cheers,

Marion

The power of one photo.  Dauphin Island makes it onto Webshots!

This morning I checked email and saw a BUNCH of emails from WebShots commenting on a photo of "Dune House" I had posted.  At first I thought it was bogus as my account showed no comments.  Then the emails kept coming so I figured out that a photo of the sleeping porch at "Dune House" was the featured shot in the Home and Garden section.  No forewarning from WebShots, I was pleased about the recognition but a note to notify me would have been good.

The moral is the old law of unintended consequences.  I placed this photo on Webshots to ease the chore of imbedding it in multiple sites and in response to renter inquiries.  Certainly never expected it to be chosen as a featured photo with all they have to choose from.  Anyway enjoy looking around all the beautiful photos.  Marion

This has been a great summer for us on coastal Dauphin Island.  Although sales continue to be slow, the home and residential lot market has stabilized with several new closed and pending transactions of homes and lots.

Home construction continues on all parts of the island and inquiries from 2nd home buyers, full timers and investers about local builders continues to grow.

With such a good vacation rental market and a growing residential market in Mobile the prognosis is for continued strengthening and a return to appreciation in the mid-term.

Publicity over our towns new West End public beach on Dauphin Island increases profile among nearby buyers who remain our principal source of home sales.  The press about the billions ThyssenKrump and Northup Grmana/Airbus/EADS are now or plan to invest in our area also generates inquiries.  Even the protest by Boeing generates headlines aound the world directing eyeballs to our little Gulf Coast jewel.

 How are the coastal markets in your areas?

MOBILE AND DAUPHIN SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT WITH AMERICA"S JUNIOR MISS CONTESTANTS

Mobile has had the first dance but today was Dauphin Island's turn to host the beautiful ladies of America's Junior Miss Pageant.  These smart, poised and attractive young ladies, escorted by their Mobile Alabama host families took the short drive to the beaches of Dauphin Island's West End. 

The venue was the just opened West End Beach public beach.  The setting was gorgeous with plenty of sun, sand, salt water and palms.  Unfortunately, the clouds threatened but quickly let the sun shine for the days events of the host family & their contestants building sand castles in the power white sands.

America's Junior Miss on Dauphin Island.

Mobile, Alabama: Where home prices/values continue to rise.

We in Mobile, Alabama are just very lucky to live here during this turmoil in the real estate industry.  We are in one of the few places where buying a home does not mean loosing value the day after you close on ownership.

The recent Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight report continues to show Mobile and this narrow section of the Gulf Coast as a bright spot in home value appreciation.

All the good news from industry and technology entering our area is driving these positive trends.  For a link to the report click on this link:

http://www.ofheo.gov/newsroom.aspx?ID=435&q1=1&q2=None

In Mobile, Alabama Airbus under the guise of EADS North America is lobbying to build the planes at the former airbase and seaport Bookley Field.

If EADS wins the contract then Mobile, nearby Mississippi, Dauphin Island and parts of Florida will reap the rewards of 1500+ high tech jobs and salaries.  EADS already has a military contract to construct helicopters in Mississippi.

This week the Paris Air show highlighted Mobile's high profile in the race to land the contracts.

In reception rooms filled with southern drawls could be heard the Gallic tones of top officials from EADS and Airbus.  Sharing the dais with Governor Bob Riley was Louis Galois, co-ceo of EADS (Parent of Airbus), Ralph Crosby, the chief executive of EADS North America, and Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus North America.

Also, attending were Senator Jeff Sessions, senator, Richard C. Shelby, members of the State Legislature and a majority of the members of the Mobile City Council.

The contact by the European aerospace and military giant wants to secure a $40 billion contract to provide 179 aerial refueling tankers to the US Air Force.

As excited as I am for the project I am concerned about the vulnerability of the location.  The State of Alabama, Mobile County, Senators and local media seem to have a vendetta against a critical element in protecting Mobile Bay, the harbor, shipping channels, oil and gas infrastructure and the invaluable Mississippi Sound Intracoastal Waterway. The element in question is Dauphin Island, Alabama which as a barrier island is the first and most important structure protecting the low-lying mainland, bays and nearby rivers from a devistating storm surge.  These entities are tunnel visioned upon the petty subject of private ownership of some of the municipalities waterfront.  Instead of seeing the forest for the trees, or a region for a beach, or protect billions by investing few million for rebuilding they focus on doing nothing to restore the damage to this vital natural storm barrier because a few folks were lucky enough to build a beach cottage 20-30 yrs ago when land cost a few $1000.  I do not understand how businesses can RISK building in the Mobile basin until the decision is enacted to protect and minimally restore this barrier to its Pre-Ivan/Katrina form.

There are many areas to live on the island but the West End and East End areas must be restored to continue their valuable function as a storm speed bump.