Archive for the 'Pensacola Beach' Category
The Condo Market Upswing On Pensacola’s Beaches
January 5th, 2010 Categories: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Market Data
The Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, and Perdido Key condominium markets have begun to see some increase in sales. The total number of sales for these three areas, two of which are on Santa Rosa Island and the third on Perdido Key have increased from 211 units sold in 2008 to 298 units sold in 2009 for an almost 30% increase. During the same period average price per unit dropped from $566,000 to $383,000.The continuation of near historically low interest rates, and the falling prices are getting the attention of many more buyers.
I provided a report on the condo and beach real estate market back in mid-2008. You can check out that real estate condo report to get an idea of just how much prices have dropped and sales have increased in 2009.
Pensacola Beach’s core area has returned to its pre-hurricane Ivan condition, and actually has more to offer than ever. Most of the year there are 5 to 10 venues with live entertainment and a wide variety of restaurants including everything from fine dining at Hemmingway’s at the end of the Portofino Boardwalk, to Hooters, to Sidelines Sports bar.
The newly rebuilt Pensacola Beach fishing pier is back for fishing as well as sightseeing. The road to Fort Pickens has reopened, along with the road through the national seashore that connects Pensacola Beach with Navarre Beach. The picture below is a view of Pensacola Beach from the pier.
All of the annual events that take place on Pensacola Beach have resumed, bigger and better than ever, including the Blue Angels air show, and the world famous Pensacola Beach bushwhacker festival, as well as the huge Pensacola Beach Memorial Day celebration.
Here is the schedule of events for January through March from the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce:
January 5, 2010
January
Annual Polar Bear Dip, Flora-Bama, (850) 492-0611
Navarre Half Marathon 5K/10K, (850) 476-7434
All American Chili Cookoff, Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211
Youth Art Focus, Pensacola Museum of Art, (850) 432-6247
Annual Antique Show & Sale, Fairgrounds
February
Pensacola News Journal Double Bridge Run, 15K/5K, (850) 434-2800
Mardi Gras Street Party, Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211
Mardi Gras Parades
Blue Angel Marathon
Cajun Fest, Pensacola Beach, (850) 932-1500
Heart of Gold Ball, American Heart Association, (850) 473-0411
Mardi Gras Parade, Pensacola Beach, (850) 932-1500
Lust for the Arts, Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211
Gumbo Ya-Ya, Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211
Pensacola Children’s Chorus, (850) 434-7760
March
Beulah Sausage Festival
Business Expo at Civic Center, (850) 438-4081
McGuire’s 5K Run, (850) 433-6789
Rockabilly Festival, Seville Quarter, (850) 434-6211
Pensacola Junior League Bargain Sale, (850) 433-4421
Santa Rosa Celebrates the Arts, (850) 623-2339
Magnolias and White Linen, (850) 435-2533
Gulf Coast Renaissance Festival, (877) 429-8462
Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival, Milton, (850) 626-9567, (850) 623-8493
Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts
| Currently No Comments »
Pensacola Ends The Year With Gorgeous Weather
January 2nd, 2010 Categories: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Pictures
You couldn’t ask for better weather to end the year. I spent some of my day of New Years Eve at Pensacola Beach. I took a few pictures which show just how beautiful the weather was. People were on the beach catching some sun, but only surfers were in the water, in full wet suits and boots. Air temps were in the upper 60’s, but water temps were in the lower 60’s.
While you don’t see too many people in these shots, there were people all up and down Pensacola Beach enjoying the beautiful weather. These pictures were taken at the beach in front of the Portofino Condos.
These guys below were glad to get out of the cold water and onto the nice warm beach.
I would love a few more days like New Years Eve, but instead we are looking at lows in the 20’s for the coming week. Brrrrrr!!!! Not very Florida-like. Hopefully the Pensacola Real Estate Market will warm up more than the weather.
But it appears what’s really hot on Pensacola Beach are the Portofino Condos. Since October 1, 2009 (the past 3 months), 27 units have sold, with an average price of $395,000. The average price per square foot was $254.
Compare these numbers to the end of 2008 when only 9 Portofino units sold in the same time frame, with an average price of $521,000 and an average price per square foot of $353. This is a huge change within a year’s time frame. More on Portofino later.
There are currently 176 active listings for condos on Pensacola Beach. That’s a lot less than the 279 active listings 2 years ago. Things are starting to normalize a little.
Related articles:
Pensacola Real Estate Market Data – October 2007
The Improving Pensacola Real Estate Market
| Currently No Comments »
Pensacola Beach Water Quality Scores A Great Rating
August 2nd, 2008 Categories: Local Stories, Pensacola Beach
The Natural Resources Defense Council issued its 18th annual report on beach water quality, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches.”
Overall, our nation’s beaches are not doing well, but the main swimming area of Pensacola Beach known as Casino Beach received a 3-star rating. This designates it as one of the cleanest beaches in the nation, as far as pollution and bacterial content in the water.
In the photo below, you can see the crystal clear beautiful waters of Pensacola Beach, looking west from the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier.
While a 5-star rating is possible, 5-star ratings are only given to beaches where the water is tested more than once per week. Casino Beach is tested weekly. And every test showed that the water on Pensacola Beach met EPA standards.
The full report can be viewed in PDF format at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Fortunately, there is no stormwater runoff, or sewage runoff into the waters of Pensacola Beach. Rain water generally just puddles on the beach and soaks in, or is drained from the roads into Santa Rosa Sound. This keeps the Gulf side of Pensacola Beach nice and clean.
However, Quietwater Beach wasn’t as clean as Casino Beach. There were nine weeks in 2007 when the water quality was so poor that beach advisories had to be issued.
This is unfortunate, especially for families. Many parents like to take their young children to Quietwater Beach to avoid the dangerous wave action of the gulf, hence the name Quietwater. You also see a lot more boats and jet skis around Quietwater Beach.
When comparing Pensacola to other areas of the country, we are doing quite well. The beaches on the California coast can be scary at times. I remember reading a report from local professional surfer Sterling Spencer that he was sick for days from surfing in the waters of California. We are truly blessed to have such beautiful, clean and uncrowded beaches.
Now if we could just get ECUA to get our water quality improved.
Related Articles On Pensacola Real Estate News:
Could Pensacola Beach Be Facing A Tourism Disaster?
The Crimson Tide Rolls Onto Pensacola Beach
Many thanks to the Pensacola Beach Blogger for bringing this story to my attention (along with many other great local stories)
| Currently No Comments »
Pensacola Real Estate Beach Market Report For The First Half Of 2008
July 20th, 2008 Categories: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Market Data, Perdido Key
Pensacola Market Data For Residential Properties
On Pensacola Beach And Perdido Key Florida
January – June 2008
The numbers in the table show the Pensacola real estate sales on the beaches for the first 6 months of 2008.
As of the writing of this report there are 11 Perdido Key Condo sales Pending and 6 Pensacola Beach Condo sales Pending. The total number of homes and condos for sale on the beach has not increased since January, so we are holding steady on inventory in the mid 700s.
The table above just gives a snapshot of the market at this time, which does not really tell a story. The table below is much more interesting.
Pensacola Market Data For Beach Homes and Condos
On Pensacola Beach And Perdido Key
For the First 6 Months Of Each Year
Be aware that the numbers showin in the table are only for the 1st 6 months of each of the years listed. This was the only way to make a good comparison to 2008. At the end of 2008 I can give you a full years worth of data on the beach real estate report.
What we can see in this table is the way the real estate markets on the beaches have moved since 2000. Here are some observations:
-
If you purchased beach real estate from 2000 to 2004, you are doing well as far as the value of your investment
-
2002-2004 were the hottest years as far as beach real estate sales volume. During this period, the beach homes and condos were much more affordable and we saw sales from 180 to almost 300 units.
-
2005-2007 saw decreasing sales and increasing days on market as prices rose sharply.
Now in 2008 we see sales up just a little above the 2007 levels and prices holding steady. Many Pensacola real estate agents believe that prices on the beaches have pretty much bottomed out. I will provide future reports on the beaches and we’ll see if that is indeed true.
- The table shows real estate market data for Pensacola condos and residential homes on the beaches.
- Vacant land or lots are not included.
- The numbers above are created using data from the Pensacola MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed
Click on Pensacola Real Estate News for a list of articles indexed by category.
| Currently 1 Comment »
Manatee on Pensacola Beach?
July 15th, 2008 Categories: Local Stories, Pensacola Beach
That’s what it looks like in the photos.
Apparently before the Blue Angels performed at Casino Beach, a very special event was taking place down on the east end of Pensacola Beach.
Check out the pictures taken by the Barrier Island Girl on her blog; Manatee Pictures
I don’t think I would have had the patience to take pictures. I would have been running for the water just to see how close I could get.
Click on Pensacola Real Estate News for a list of articles indexed by category.
| Currently No Comments »
A Cold Windy Day on Pensacola Beach
December 23rd, 2007 Categories: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Pictures, Pensacola Real Estate News
December 23 was a cold and windy day on Pensacola Beach. I saw plenty of real estate for sale on Pensacola Beach as I drove towards Portofino Condos, but I doubt anyone was out looking at houses, lots or condos on the beach today. The wind was blowing hard from the north at around 20mph with gusts up to 25mph. Temperatures were around 48 degrees, with a windchill below 40 degrees. The water temp is around 65 degrees. Here are a few pictures of a Pensacola real estate agent at the beach on this cold windy day. The location was the parking lot in front of the Portofino condos.
This real estate agent was smart enough to know that the Portofino condos helped block some of that hard cold northerly wind. Notice how rough the Gulf Of Mexico looks in the background.
The Portofino Condos have 107 units listed for sale in the Pensacola MLS. Prices range from $455K up to $1.85 million. The average days on market for these condos is 290.
Properties on Pensacola Beach are moving slowly these days. There are currently 74 vacant lots for sale on Pensacola Beach. The average price per acre is $3.9 million. The average days on market is 391.
Obviously this down real estate market is having an effect on beach properties in Pensacola. That makes now the time to get some good bargains on properties on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. If you are interested in purchasing any properties in Pensacola Florida, including beach condos, Contact Me . I will answer any questions you may have and help you in any way I can. Hey, if I will go out in these types of conditions (Yes, that is me in the pictures), imagine how hard I will work for you in helping you find just the right home or condo in Pensacola.
Visit my Pensacola Market Update archives to get information on the Pensacola Real Estate Market, including condo and home sales on the beaches. OR, click on Pensacola Real Estate News for a list of articles indexed by category.
| Currently No Comments »
Building A Hurricane Resistant Home Of The Future In Pensacola With ICF Will Save Money For Years To Come
October 26th, 2007 Categories: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Real Estate News
If you plan to build a new home on the Gulf Coast, you should learn about ICF. ICF stands for Insulating Concrete Forms and is far superior to traditional construction methods in many ways.
According to the ICF industry, ICF is the wave of the future in building, both commercial and residential. It has been used in other countries for over 40 years, but is only now gaining popularity in the United States. Some of the benefits associated with ICF homes are especially applicable to Pensacola and the Gulf Coast. Here is a short list of some of the benefits: 
Energy Efficiency: I’ve seen different claims on the energy savings ranging from 30% up to 70%. Even the low end of the range can amount to significant savings during the hot Pensacola summers.
Termites Don’t Eat Concrete: ICF homes are highly pest resistant. If you have paid the price of termite treatment, you know this feature alone can save you a few thousand dollars. We all know termites love to feast on our Pensacola homes.
Peace and Quiet: The material is more insulating, so it results not only in energy savings, but also in a more sound proof home
Mold Is History: You are much less likely to have mold growth on concrete. After hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola, we could have all used more ICF and less mold growth.
Lower Home Insurance Premiums: ICF homes generally have lower premiums due to the fact they are more resistant to fire and storm elements. Speak to your homeowners insurance agent first if you are considering building an ICF home.
Thanks to one of my favorite real estate bloggers, Sellsius, for his great article. You can check it out at the Sellsius blog.
And since I didn’t have a picture of an ICF building, I included a picture of the Dome Home on Pensacola Beach. The owner weathered hurricane Ivan in this home. I wouldn’t have done that.
Here are more references for information about ICF homes.
Sources of ICF Information: ICFA, BuildersWebsource; ICF Builder; PCA;
Other Articles of Interest:
Concrete Homes are Energy Efficient (The San Diego Union Tribune)
How to Build a Fireproof House (This Old House)
Enlisting a Fortress to Battle the Elements (The New York Times)
For information on ICF Builders in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama, go to the ICF Builders web site.
Click on Pensacola Real Estate News for a list of articles indexed by category.
| Currently No Comments »
Saturday Was Beautiful On Pensacola Beach
October 21st, 2007 Categories: Pensacola Beach
I’ve been running a series of posts on the red tide conditions at Pensacola Beach during the week of October 14-19. Here are the links to my previous posts if you are interested.
Pensacola Red Tide Update Posted on Friday
Pensacola Red Tide Update Posted on Wednesday
Pensacola Red Tide Update Posted on Monday
Conditions were just plain miserable this week, all along the Gulf Coast, from Navarre to Perdido Key (possibly all the way to Panama City and Orange Beach Alabama). Saturday, however, was gorgeous. The weather on the beach was cool and the water was a beautiful emerald green.
The shot below was taken from Pensacola Beach Pier looking west towards Fort Pickens and Perdido Key.
There is a guy in the water teaching two young kids how to surf. The water looks warm and inviting. Notice the lack of crowds.
I checked Pensacola Beach from the Portofino condos down to the Cross. I was amazed to see most all of the dead fish killed by the red tide gone from Pensacola Beach. I wondered if they had been eaten by birds, but there were very few birds around. Maybe the gulf reclaimed them. I wondered.
Then I saw a white truck moving slowly down the beach with guys picking up the last of the dead fish. Here are some bigger ones down by Portofino just a few minutes before the men in the white truck took them away.
I think when these fellas picking up the rotting fish got their community service orders, they were thinking of a nice day picking up litter at the beach. Instead, stinky fish was the order of the day to pay their debt to society.
In looking at some of these pictures, what amazed me was how beautiful it was to look down the coastline from the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier, but at the same time to realize that there was little or no life at all in the water. It will take some time to recover from the red tide invasion. The last time I walked on the pier with my wife, we saw schools of dolphins playing and feeding. Not today.
Notice this picture of the end of the Pensacola Beach Pier. 
On a typical beautiful Saturday it would be packed with fisherman. Looked pretty empty today. All in all, a very nice day at the beach, but it was also sad that so much wildlife was lost to the red tide. Let’s hope the redi tide is gone for a long long time.
The purple flags usually mean jellyfish in the water, but this last week they indicated the red tide. Nobody likes the Purple Flag. Especially not the fish.
| Currently No Comments »
Red Tide Update for Pensacola Beach
October 21st, 2007 Categories: Pensacola Beach
Here’s a red tide Pensacola Beach update for Friday, October 19.
After 2 days of intense non-stop rain (around 14″ measured in Pensacola, and even more in Gulf Breeze), we finally got a break today. I took the chance to head for Pensacola Beach. 
The wind had switched northwest. Walking down to the water, I passed a line of dead things. Lots of dead things. Hundreds of dead snake-like creatures, most likely eels, and plenty of assorted fish.
After crossing the dead line, the stench was overwhelming. Remember, northwest wind, blowing toward the Gulf, cross the dead line and the wind blows the deadness right in your face. I went into the water for a few hours and saw no life. Red tide is still there, but tolerable. With the north wind, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key residents should have a more comfortable breathing environment, at least for the weekend.
I saw mostly small dead fish and eels, but saw that very large fish were washed up down by Portofino, as you can see in the photo. Very nasty. Let’s hope the red tide recedes and we can enjoy these last few weeks of beaching before the winter hits. This is by far my favorite time of year to go to the beach. Warm water, no jellyfish, no crowds, and not too hot. (Sort of like our current real estate market).
| Currently No Comments »
Rain May Not Kill Red Tide In Pensacola
October 17th, 2007 Categories: Pensacola Beach
My article yesterday about rain possibly taking care of the red tide does not appear to be valid. It was based on word of mouth from a long time Pensacola resident and avid local surfer. Maybe it will just take some time.
But today, the Red Tide is still on the beaches. There are dead fish everywhere on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, and the stench is horrendous. Not a great week for the beach.
Check out this Red Tide Alert site. Scroll down a little to see an incredible picture of the red tide approaching the shoreline on Little Gasparilla Island. Let’s just pray it leaves our area soon. For now, the Gulf along the coast is pretty much dead.
| Currently No Comments »