We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I have been wanting to make this happen since basically the week we moved to Southeast Alabama and today I am excited to share that we finally did it!
We own a condo on 30A in Florida! And while we have been using it most of July, I am mainly here remodeling it and getting it ready to list on Airbnb.
I am planning a series of blog posts, starting with this one, sharing our news and talking about why we choose where we did, the process of buying a condo (read: very different than a traditional purchase), our renovations with links and small space design tips, the listing / rental details and then guides to the area. I hope you enjoy following along. I know that like me, most of you have wondered if this is possible and what the process is like, so I hope to be transparent and share our honest experience with you!
I have been posting a lot on my Instagram and Instagram stories over at @ourlittlelifestyleblog!
Also, if you are not yet familiar with 30A, it’s a gorgeous strip of small communities set along the white sand beaches of Northwest Florida. I actually wrote a post about the area awhile back and you can click here to read more! We have already made so many memories here and are looking forward to more in the years to come.
Where We Bought and Why
All of 30A is beautiful and if you ask anyone where the “best area” is you will get a whole bunch of very passionate responses because the various areas are all so different and there is truly something for everyone. We have fallen in love with the East end of 30A, specifically Rosemary Beach and Seacrest Beach. When we come down here and park the car, we typically don’t get back into it until we are leaving. The walkability is awesome and there are dozens of fantastic restaurants and shops within a 5-minute walk. And the new urbanism design of Rosemary Beach allows for biking with ease and the whole area just gives off the best vibe. It truly has become my happy place. And those that know me, know that I love going to new places. It is rare that I keep going back to the same place over and over again like I am with this area.
So where is our condo? Good question! It is in Seacrest Beach and literally 20 steps to Rosemary Beach. The communities are adjacent and Seacrest Beach is nestled between Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach which is gorgeous. There is also an area just west of Alys Beach called Seacrest in case that gets confusing. It’s just over an hour and a half from our home in Dothan, Alabama, and a very easy drive down. We don’t even have to get on the freeway, it’s just two and four-lane country roads and some good music.
For Thanksgiving 2018, we came down and stayed at the Village of South Walton for the first time. We were hooked! There are two pools for the kids, a tram to the deeded beach access across the street, Peddler’s Pavillion out from with live music nightly (in-season), and around a dozen options for food and drink right here. Live music is my love language. This July, I have found myself out there almost nightly and it hasn’t gotten old yet!
This shows the backside view of the complex. As you can see it’s located directly on 30A and not far from the Gulf. PS: Gulf Front properties are very expensive down here, so we are happy with being this close!
In the year and a half+ since that first visit, we have stayed here probably 12 times, and each time I left knowing that we wanted to come back. We never run out of things to do! We have been here over Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year over the past few years and while it’s busiest in the summer, most things stay open in the off-season and there are typically some great festivals and activities around the holidays.
Why a Condo?
While having a home down here would be amazing they are obviously a lot of upkeep and we wanted to get our feet wet with a condo. At the Village of South Walton, the HOA fees are reasonable in my book and even cover all utilities except electricity. So, having the pool but not having to maintain it and everything to do so close seems like a good way to go this first time. I say the first time because we hope to have more properties down the road! And a condo actually works fine for us as a family of 4. Some people enjoy the more sleepy areas along 30A, but when we come down here we are looking to eat, drink, and get out so this location fits the bill for us.
The Village of South Walton has 140 units and they are either 3 bedroom units, one-bedroom, or studios. We choose a studio for a few reasons!
And Why a Studio Condo?
Well, obviously they are the cheapest and have the least expensive HOA fees. And we can make it work as a family of 4 with a queen bed and sleeper sofa. We don’t spend a lot of time in our room when we travel so it’s not a big deal to be in a cozy space. Would I like one of the 3 bedrooms? Yes, but I have a few good reasons why we went with a studio other than the price.
First, our target rental market in a studio will be couples, couples with a baby or with 1-2 small children. This market tends to travel more throughout the year and isn’t tied to school calendar breaks as much as a bigger or older family may be. So, we have hopes of keeping it occupied throughout the year. I have found that many of the properties that sleep 8+ are most in-demand summers and school holidays and if we had to rent out those at 100% to make up money for the rest of the year then I would be sad because we also want to use it then some ourselves.
Second, it’s a quick job for the cleaning crew which lets us do shorter rentals vs Saturday-Saturday as most larger units do. There aren’t highrises and only a few boutique hotels, like The Pearl, for people to stay for a quick visit. I like to say that Seacrest Beach lets you experience Rosemary Beach, without the Rosemary Beach prices. Don’t get me wrong, it’s so beautiful but we couldn’t afford to buy there or probably even stay there very often.
Third, I am hoping that by having couples and a max of 4 people we will weed out some of the party renters. You know, the ones who trash the place and steal anything they can. But, I hear that no matter how hard you try you always take a risk. I am a bit territorial so this part is hard for me. So, this should be interesting.
Lastly, I am not an interior designer but I felt like I could transform this place. It had been owned by a couple since it was built and was a fun Margaritaville green with lots of extra furniture. I can’t wait to show you the transformation.
Oh yea, and while all of the 3 bedroom units have balconies, only 8 studios in the complex have a private balcony and we really wanted one. Our unit is in the building by the pool and has a balcony! It’s actually on the side here and faces toward the south, so I can hear the live music at night. I thought that parents with a young one who naps would enjoy having this space to still have a cup of coffee or glass of wine while the baby sleeps.
And see that zero-depth pool? It only goes up to like 18′ or something so it’s so perfect for the little ones. The pool closest to the building is 6ft deep and my kiddos love that. There is a hot tub and grills out there too!
Coming Up Next
If you are thinking about buying a condo in Florida my next post is for you! Of course, if you pay cash you don’t have do deal with this but if you want to finance any or all of a condo, you will quickly learn the phrase non-warrantable condo and the information that follows is kind of mind-blowing. So, I’ll spare you the headache of finding this out yourself and share everything I have learned and how we bought a non-warrantable condo in Florida. Click here to read that post!
