Sandestin Investments Unveils Renderings of new Sandestin Hotel

 Sandestin Investments, LLC released final external renderings of the Sandestin Hotel which broke ground September 2018.  The new 250-room full-service hotel is located adjacent to the Baytowne Conference Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Completion of the hotel is slated for April 2020.

“The vision for the Sandestin Hotel has always been to reflect an elegant, coastal design. These external renderings convey that luxurious, yet approachable vibe we envisioned, and we’re thrilled to share them,” stated Sara Becnel, vice president of development of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. “As we elevate our image, we will continue to adapt to our guests’ needs and offer exceptional…

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When an offer on a home has been accepted, that home's sale is considered pending. It isn't final until closing, which typically takes place a few weeks later. But, because most accepted offers result in completed sales, the National Association of Realtors tracks contract signings as an indicator of what sales should look like in the near future. In September, the NAR's Pending Home Sales Index showed a slight increase from the month before, though it's still below where it was at the same time last year. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says the month-over-month increase is a good sign. “This shows that buyers are out there on the sidelines, waiting to jump in once more inventory becomes available and the price is right,” Yun said. In other words,…

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If you're shopping for a house to buy, you're probably concerned about affordability. After all, even in a buyer's market, house hunters have an interest in getting the best deal. Which means, most prospective home buyers have an eye on home prices and where they're headed. In today's market, the best way to get a feel for what's happening with home values is to look at inventory. That's because, prices have been increasing lately due to the fact that there are more buyers than there are homes for sale. And the quickest way to slow down rising prices is to build more homes. That's why the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's new residential construction statistics for July offer some encouraging news. According to the…

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The challenge of finding an affordable entry-level home in today's housing market gets a lot of coverage. First-time buyers facing higher rent, difficulty saving for a down payment, and low inventory are an important demographic and their habits have implications for the overall health of the market. But, at the same time as the starter-home market has been hot, demand for luxury homes has also ramped up. In fact, new research shows sales of homes $1 million and higher are up 25 percent over last year – which represents the largest jump since January 2014. In short, the improved economy and job market has also led to an increase in demand for luxury homes, the same way it has elevated demand across all segments of the housing market. Among specific…

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Are you hearing stories flying around Sandestin about things such as a condo on Jolee Island, The Beach House restaurant coming down to make room for a high-rise, and The Village of Baytowne Wharf closing down? Kitty Whitney, SRE Executive Director, separates FACT from FICTION here. Have a question YOU want answered? Send it directly to Kitty at: Kitty@sandestin.com

 

MYTH:

Section of Village closing and condos to be built.

FACTS:

The Village is alive and well. Nothing in the Village is being closed. (see map and directory with new establishments from most recent Shop, Dine, Play)

The adjacent Baytowne Conference Center expansion starts soon and it will take the foot print of the current service parking lot near the loading dock and…

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Have you ever been curious what it is like "below the deck" on one of those incredible fishing boats that enter the annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic fishing tournament? We were able to catch up with Brad Benton, Captain of the Aldente (docked at the Sandestin Baytowne Marina) for a quick Q & A:

 

1.       When you’re out in the East Pass on Thursday and the horn blows to start the ECBC, how do you spend that first day of fishing?

  The strategy has totally changed due to the recent change in start time.  The 12pm leave allows for fishing on the first day.  So, we may not be able to reach our primary destination, but this allows ample time to cross over some good marlin grounds.  This year we spent a little time making bait and fished for…

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 When shopping for a house to buy, it's hard not to fantasize about the homes just out of your price range. Regardless of what you plan to spend, it's fun to imagine buying a house even bigger, nicer, and more feature filled than the ones within your reach. And, with the Internet, it's easier than ever to steal a glance inside the nicest homes in the area. In fact, you can shop real estate in any area. But, while we're all familiar with famous luxury markets such as Beverly Hills or Aspen, Colo., what are the nation's lesser-known, up-and-coming luxury markets? Well, according to a new index from the National Association of Realtors' consumer website, East Coast house hunters looking for a warm weather getaway have propelled Sarasota and Collier counties…

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There are a lot of neighborhood attributes that can affect the value of a particular house. For example, a house with a view of the water may fetch a higher price than a similar house without the view. But among neighborhood amenities, owning a home near quality schools is among the most commonly cited as being good for your home's value. Well, a recent study by Collateral Analytics, looked at this question in an attempt to – not only determine whether or not it's true that homes near quality schools sell for higher prices – but also whether or not it matters if the school a home is near is an elementary, middle, or high school. According to the study, there is some evidence that locations with “higher elementary school math and language scores are…

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First-time home buyers are an important demographic when it comes to the health of the housing market. Because they've historically accounted for about 40 percent of home sales, they garner a lot of attention from experts, economists, and analysts hoping to gauge how the market is doing and where it's headed. In recent years, first-time buyers have been less active than usual. The financial crash and recession led to a long period where Americans of typical home-buying age did not have the economic stability or job security to feel comfortable pursuing homeownership. Then, even after economic conditions began to improve, a lack of affordable, starter homes kept many younger Americans on the sidelines. This year, conditions are still challenging but new…

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Home prices are a top concern for both home buyers and sellers. After all, a lot of the calculus that goes into determining whether or not it's a good time to sell or buy a house is based on where home values are and where they are expected to be in the future. For that reason, it's good to follow the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, as they are considered the leading measure of U.S. home prices. According to the latest data, prices have continued to rise at around the same pace they've been increasing, with both month-over-month and year-over-year data showing little change. In short, prices are going up but no faster than they have been. David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, says things…

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