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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Choosing a perfect home to settle in is tough on its own. You have to weigh in on very many factors including a house’s price, size, features and amenities, number of bedroom and baths, design, and so on. However, all these factors are not enough to give you a great home ownership experience if you fall into the wrong neighborhood.

Picking the right neighborhood not only guarantees you happiness and comfort, but also helps with home appreciation for the sake of future re-sale. In most cases though, it can be tougher to find the perfect neighborhood than the right house.

Here are some factors that can help you find the right neighborhood:

Schools

If you have kids and definitely care about the quality of their education, consider a neighborhood…

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Sandestin Friends and Neighbors,

I have lived in Sandestin for 16 years. For the last 4.5 years, I have enjoyed working for Sandestin Investments and have been an active member of the SOA board (as a commercial representative) and BWNA (Baytowne Wharf Neighborhood Association, as an owner representative) for the majority of that time.

My husband and I own businesses in the Village and my son goes to school in Walton County.

Long before our move to Sandestin, Todd and I had wonderful careers: Todd as an electrical engineer, allowing us to live and work worldwide, and me as an ICU nurse. Todd and I opened the first ambulatory infusion centers in the USA in the early 1990s.

Upon our move to South Walton, we became developers and I then worked as…

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New Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin
Record Set with 899.6-Pound Blue Marlin
 
Miramar Beach, Fla. (June 23, 2015) – For the captain and crew of Cotton Patch, the 13th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) was anything but unlucky. Lance Hill from Orange Beach, Alabama labored for almost five hours on Friday afternoon before reeling in an event record 899.6-pound blue marlin. The record billfish was measured at 134.5-inches with a girth of 74-inches to earn Team Cotton Patch first place and a payout of $195,277 for a tournament that doled out more than $1.5 million in winnings. The Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is the host venue for the event which took place June 17-21.
 
For captain/owner Johnny Dorland, this…

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NEW SANDESTIN WELCOME CENTER GREETS FIRST GUEST

$7.5 Million Facility Officially Opens for Guest Registration and Resort Operations

Miramar Beach, Fla. (Dec. 15, 2014) – Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort welcomed its first official guests at its new facility on Monday, according to resort officials. The new $7.5 million, 40,000 square foot Sandestin Welcome Center is now the main guest registration location for all overnight guests at the 2,400 acre resort. D.C. Mickle-Bee and her husband, Terry, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. were the first persons to officially check-in at the Sandestin Welcome Center.

“This is a great day for Sandestin (Golf and Beach Resort),” said Mark Hodgdon, senior vice-president and general manager of the resort. “This…

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