Kerry Veach

Destin Beach was recently ranked the second best beach in Florida by US News – Travel.  Known as “the world’s luckiest fishing village,” this hotspot is known for fishing, white sand, and golfing.

Destin, FL has a year-round residential population of 12,000, giving it an intimate, family atmosphere.  With a heavy influx of tourism during peak season bringing this number closer to 40,000, Destin, FL is a great place for investors to purchase rental properties for vacationers.

However, vacation is not the only draw to this beautiful beach-side town.  The fishing resort community has taken careful measures to balance environmental preservation and heritage with quality of life for its residents.   Besides beautiful views along the Emerald Coastline, Destin, FL offers residents and visitors a variety of amenities, activities, shopping, restaurants, events and entertainment for the entire family.

If that wasn’t enough, Business Week listed Destin Beach as one of the best 18 new golf locations in the country.  Destin, FL was also named by readers of Southern Accents Magazine as the number two beach destination, and the number eight golf destination in its second annual Great Escapes Reader Travel Awards.  And last, but not least, the Milken Institute listed Destin as the top Best Performing City in 2005 for small metros.

As a result of this, real estate in Destin Beach maintains its value better than surrounding areas in the state.  The household income median is one of the highest in Florida, as are property values.

If you have been thinking about purchasing real estate in Destin, now is a great time to do it.  While the area has maintained its value relative to its neighboring regions, prices are still far below peak.  In addition, mortgage rates remain historically low and housing affordability is at a record high.

If you are interested in searching homes in Destin, FL, contact Kerry Veach.  Kerry is an experienced Realtor who can help you buy or sell Destin, FL real estate.  With over 1,000 closings and a full-time real estate team, it’s no wonder that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you’ve been searching Emerald Cost homes, then you might be interested to learn that home affordability is currently at the highest level we’ve seen in decades.  Nearly 78 percent of homes sold during the first quarter of 2012 were affordable to individuals who earned the national median income of $61,000 – this according to a report released yesterday by the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo.

Here are some general figures to give you an even better idea of what this means:

• To purchase a home at the national median price of $158,000 with 5 percent down, the loan applicant would need an annual household income of $34,700.
• To purchase a home at the national median price of $158,000 with 10 percent down, the loan applicant would need an annual household income of $32,900.
• To purchase a home at the national median price of $158,000 with 20 percent down, the loan applicant would need an annual household income of $29,300.

These figures are assuming a 4 percent interest rate, good credit, and 25 percent of gross income allocated to principal and interest.

There are few reasons for this historic affordability index.  For starters, home values are still about 36 percent away from their peak, while the annual median income has increased by about 10 percent on a national level.  Mortgage rates also remain at record lows, hovering around the 4 percent mark.

While homes in Emerald Coast have never been more affordable, mortgage lending guidelines are far tighter than they were before the housing bubble burst.  Lenders are also requiring more documentation to verify that the borrower can afford the monthly mortgage payments associated with their loan program.  For borrowers with average credit, FHA may still be the best option, but this often comes with a higher interest rate and private mortgage insurance, making monthly payments higher than conventional loan programs.

If you are interested in searching Emerald Coast homes, contact Kerry Veach.  Kerry is an experienced Realtor who can help you buy or sell Emerald Cost real estate.  With over 1,000 closings and a full-time real estate team, it’s no wonder that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As many sun-seeking folks head down to vacation at an Emerald Coast home, gas mileage (and prices) might become a concern for those taking to the road.  No worries though.  I’ve created a handy list of ways you can conserve gas and money during your trip.

1. Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

By simply maintaining your vehicle correctly, you can save anywhere from 4 percent (for repairing minor emission issues) to 40 percent!

1. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

You’ve probably heard this one before and for good reason.  By simply pumping up those tires, you can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.  It might not be much if you’re driving only a few miles, but it adds up for those serious road trips.

1. Use Your Vehicle’s Recommended Motor Oil Grade

Improve your gas mileage 1-2 percent by using your manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.  Even better, use motor oil labeled “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol.

1. Replace Your Air Filter

This may not directly affect your gas mileage on newer cars, but it does affect your vehicle’s overall performance.  This quick and inexpensive change can improve your acceleration time by 6-10 percent.  If you have an older car with a carbureted engine, this can improve your gas mileage by 2-6 percent.

1. Cruise Control

Since most road trips involve lots of highway miles, give your foot a rest and set your cruise control.  Doing so will not only prevent excessive gas guzzling, but also foot cramping.

1. Avoid Excessive Idling

Contrary to popular belief, you do not use more gas starting your car than idling.  So, if you’re taking a pit stop for the kids’ potty break, turn the engine off.  This will save gas in the long-run, since idling can use up to a half-gallon of fuel per hour.

1. Drive Sensibly

Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway.  You can also assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.31 per gallon for gas.

1. Don’t Over Pack

A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent, while 100 pounds in the trunk reduces it by 1-2 percent.

1. Plan

While it might be difficult to follow it to a tee, mapping out your pit stops and breaks will make your trip more efficient.  Driving around aimlessly while you search for a place to eat is a waste of time, gas, and money.

1. Have a Blast!

OK, this one doesn’t save you any gas, but it sure saves stress!  And while you’re visiting the beautiful Emerald Coast, contact Kerry Veach to see some Emerald Coast homes.  With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Don’t forget to check the Veach View Blog frequently to get more energy related news and money saving tips.

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the biggest challenges to renewable energy has been energy storage – harnessing the technology of a battery and applying that to a much bigger scale, such as our electricity grid.  Doing so would enable increased generation of renewable energy, primarily produced from wind and solar power.  This would not only be a huge benefit for homes in Destin, FL but for homes around the nation as well.

Wind and solar power provide a clean and renewable source of energy.  However, when the sun goes down and the wind stops blowing, reliability decreases.  Energy storage would enable produced energy to be contained until it is needed, thus providing a continuous flow of energy all day and in any weather condition to Destin, FL homeowners.

The ultimate goal would be to incorporate this technology into Destin, Florida’s electricity grid, which currently has very little electricity storage.  The storage facilities that do exist are located in only a few regions due to the specificity of their operational requirements.  The goal is to develop new storage technologies that can be used anywhere in the country.

Not only would such technological advancements save money and reduce pollution, it would create several other benefits, such as:

• A more secure and efficient grid that is less susceptible to disruptions.
• Boost US competitiveness in environmental innovations on a global platform.
• Create jobs.
• Generate tax revenues for development areas.
• Advance educational demand in manufacturing, engineering, transportation, construction, and finance sectors.

Make sure you check the Veach View Blog frequently to get more energy related news and money saving tips.  And as always, if you or anyone you know would like to buy a home in Destin, Florida or sell a home in Destin, Florida contact Kerry Veach online or call 1.800.879.0309. With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net