9265 Fairway DriveA Glen Lakes Starter Home

Summer is the ideal time for families to relocate before the kids start back to school. Today we spotlight a perfect family starter home in Lakeview Estates at Glen Lakes in Foley, Alabama

This three-bedroom, two-bath home is within walking distance of the beautiful Lake Muriel in Foley in a desirable golf community just minutes from the beaches, schools, and shopping.

Amenities of Lakeview Estates include a fishing pier on the lake, a clubhouse, a new game park for the kids, and an 18-hole golf course at Glen Lakes for mom or dad. 9265 Fairway Drive in Lakeview Estates features a brand-new roof, new energy-efficient windows and thermal doors, granite countertops and new flooring, a fireplace, and a massive backyard…

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A Few Featured Listings

Today’s blog features three unique Gulf Coast properties with locations and amenities that will appeal to very different buyers! Each has distinct characteristics that set it apart from other communities in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and each will appeal to that certain someone! 

Parkview 202-C

Parkview 202-C

The first stand-out development is Parkview Condominiums. Parkview occupies a spot in the beating heart of the community of Gulf Shores. Its location across the street from the Bodenhamer Recreation Center and Johnny Sims Park gives this condominium complex its name. Within walking distance of this spacious second-floor, two-bedroom condo, one will find the Gulf Shores museum, the public library and other municipal buildings…

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Phoenix Gulf Shores

Phoenix Gulf Shores

Plans for the exciting new Phoenix Gulf Shores condominium development are reportedly moving along steadily. As of the latest October update on the official website for the project, it was reported that, following the site plan approval, piling and foundation work is slated to begin shortly. This is great news as Gulf Shores anticipates welcoming its first luxury Phoenix building next year. The development is a sign of continued optimism and growth in our coastal Alabama community. 

Phoenix Gulf Shores promises to be the most elegant of all of the Phoenix condos so far. With just eighty units total, each of the four choices of floor plans features Gulf-front master bedroom suites and expansive balconies at nearly three…

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Cool and Crisp Beach Days

It’s that time of year again! The heat of summer has transitioned to the blue and blissful days of fall. The white sand on the beaches is visibly smoother, and it beckons for an autumn stroll along the shore. On September 22nd, 2014, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the Alabama Gulf Coast welcomed the Autumnal Equinox. On this day each year, the sun shines directly on the Earth’s equator, heralding days that will grow shorter, the nights colder.

The yearly migration of dragonflies arrived early this year, and we are currently witnessing the influx of slowly-lilting love bugs, our slightly bothersome yet amusing seasonal visitors. I was delighted to see a few monarch butterfly scouts in the past week. No doubt these fluttering…

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Windemere Condos In Perdido Key, FL

WindemereWindemere Condominiums in Perdido Key, Florida recently underwent a massive renovation. This development has been provided a major facelift to the tune of over $5,000,000, and virtually every inch of Windemere has been upgraded and brought to the highest of building standards. At the same time, because of the addition of hurricane protective materials, such as windows, and doors, reduced insurance costs for owners led to a thirty percent reduction in condo dues as of January 2014. 

New And Improved

As part of Windemere’s renovation, all windows and exterior doors were replaced with “missile-proof” products intended to withstand heavy wind and storms, while the entire stucco exterior was refurbished and…

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Cypress Village Of Orange Beach

On August 8, 2014, Lorraine and I were given a very special personal tour of the new single-family homes being constructed in Cypress Village of Orange Beach, Alabama. As we previewed the floor plans and got a first-hand look at the activity, we learned that Cypress Village is set to be the first Gold Level Fortified residential development in all of Baldwin County, Alabama. This means these new homes will comply with the 2010 Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s highest building standards to withstand high winds, wind-driven rain and hail, and other storm damage. These standards were compiled based on two decades of testing and investigation following major storms. With Gold Level being the top level on…

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Gulf State Park Pavillion

Three of Alabama's beaches were recently awarded the title of "superstar beach" in the Natural Resources Defense Council's 24th annual "Testing the Waters" report.

From a list of hundreds of contenders, the NRDC ranked only thirty-five national beaches as consistently outperforming the others because their 2013 readings did not exceed previous standards by more than two percent between 2009 and 2012. In addition, this year's "superstars" also did not exceed the EPA's new, more stringent water quality thresholds, or "Beach Action Value (BAV)" by more than two percent in 2013.

And now, without further adieu, the awards for the 2014 Superstar Beaches in Alabama go to: 

The Gulf Shores Public Beach in Baldwin County
The Gulf State Park…

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BBQ TRADITION in Orange Beach

Forty-eight years ago, in 1966, an Orange Beach tradition, the annual Orange Beach Fire and Rescue "Cookout on the Coast," was born.

In the early years, pork was slow-cooked over open stone pits, and firemen used shovels to rake the coals and turn the meat in the heat of the summer sun and flames. A bit later, the Department commissioned the largest available custom grill on three axles from Klose BBQ Pits in Houston, Texas. This is the same behemoth you would see belching out fragrant smoke in front of the Community Center on Canal Road today. 

On June 14, 2014, I sat down and talked with Lt. Craig Stephenson, Orange Beach Fire Marshal, about the fundraiser. He spoke with pride about how the event draws people from…

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Condo Buying Tips

If you're planning to buy a condo in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, Alabama, there are certainly many fantastic options to choose from! Each building will have a different combination of recreational amenities and features, its own unique views, and various degrees of waterfront and beach access. If you are downsizing or retiring, or maybe buying a condo as a rental investment property, here are a few important things to know and review as a smart condo buyer! 

1. The most important thing when buying a condo is to read and understand the condo association by-laws, covenants, restrictions, and regulations. You will be provided a copy of the "condo docs" to review as a buyer. These are the be-all and end-all when it comes to life in a…

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Gulf-front in Gulf Shores, Island TowerIsland Tower Condo in Gulf Shores, AL

Island Tower is a truly exceptional condo community on West Beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Condos in Island Tower have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a truly stunning view of the Gulf of Mexico. Many condos boast high-end finishes, including stainless steel appliances and beautiful granite countertops. In addition, the condos are typically sold fully furnished! The complex features both indoor and outdoor pools, along with fitness facilities. It comes with plentiful covered parking and a wonderful central Gulf Shores location.

Great Amenities Nearby

Island Tower is in a fantastic location within walking distance o many shops and restaurants. Also close by are several spas, and even a water park. Many…

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