1. Medford, Ore.

Annualized expected growth from third quarter 2012 to third quarter 2017: 9.7 percent

2. Santa Fe, N.M.

Expected growth: 9.1 percent

3. Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, Fla.

Expected growth: 9.1 percent

4. Sebastian-Vero Beach, Fla.

Expected growth: 8.9 percent

5. Carson City, Nev.

Expected growth: 8.5 percent

6. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.

Expected growth: 8.4 percent

7. Reno-Sparks, Nev.

Expected growth: 8.1 percent

Source: “15 Best Housing Markets for the Next 5 Years,” AOL Real Estate (March 2013)

to search homes in the #3 market, - www.thebeaches360.com

All of these are great thoughts, but most people I talk with have done little or no planning about the purchase. They have the vision of a carefree time of playing on the beach with their kids/grandkids or reclining in a lounger on the deck overlooking the emerald green Gulf waters as the sun sets. We can get you closer to that dream if you understand some basics about condos that allow you to select the property that best fits your budget and meets the expectations you have for the property.

Rule of Thumb Guidelines

We categorize condos into 3 general areas:

Condotels: A motel converted into a condominium with very few amenities or a new condo that that offers basic amenities such as a pool and may a pool deck food service.

Condominium.: A complex offering multiple pools, some indoor or outdoor, fitness facilities, tennis courts, small meeting rooms, and on-sight food service.

Condominium Complex: A complete complex with multiple pools, conference facilities, tennis or golf on site, restaurants, fitness facilities, and marinas.

Association fees are dues paid by the condo owner to cover a number of items that include the cost of the common areas, building insurance, and a for reserve for replacement for common area depreciation. Other items can be included such as cable TV., phone, water, sewer, garbage, etc.

Note: make sure you understand what your association fees cover. The State recommends that 20% of your dues be placed in reserve for replacement, It does not require it. If your association uses this money for revenue short falls, when items like the pool or building HVAC require maintenance, the association could impose special assessment.

Most lenders require 20-30% down when financing and most will not allow fixed mortgages. Terms are higher than residential rates and limited to 10-15 years. If you intend to place the unit on a rental program and have the rental income pay all expenses for mortgage, insurance, association fees, rental company fees, and depreciation, plan to put 40% or more down.

The 4 sources of income from a condo are: rental income, appreciation, tax deferment, and perks to clients or customers of a business. It is highly recommended you consult your tax advisor or financial planner to discuss the best solution for your financial circumstance that provides protection and takes advantage of all tax allowances. We also recommend you discuss leverage ratios (the use of borrowed capital and the benefits through tax deferment).Paying cash for a unit might not provide the best solution for tax deferment and investment strategy.

That's a lot of stuff to consider. Some you may not have thought about. That's why selecting the right realtor who understands these issue could save you money from day one! It could make the difference of that dream about reclining in the lounge on the deck of your dream condo come true or prevent the nightmare of a money pit!

You can start your search for a Gulf Coast Condo today

A comparatively new industry in Florida, residents are poised to take advantage of the burgeoning industry of nature-based tourism. Florida's abundant state parks and forests notwithstanding, relatively few private businesses have taken advantage of the idea of nature as tourism, and future entrepreneurs have the potential to monetize and exhibit Florida's unique natural attractions. Environmentally speaking, the Florida Panhandle is unique to the state. Many animals and plant species that co-exist here are found nowhere else on the planet, a fact that is sure to draw many nature minded tourists to the area.

One of the fastest growing travel trends (growing annually by 1015% worldwide), eco-tourism combines education and conservation, offering socially responsible travel to destinations where cultural heritage and unique flora and fauna are the main attractions. The goals of this small scale, low-impact form of travel are to give tourists a greater appreciation of the natural world, as well as to offer insight into our environmental impact. The other objective of course, is to showcase Florida's abundance of natural resources while building a business. Fishing, hiking, biking, bird-watching, swimming, diving & snorkeling, skimboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, and canoeing & kayaking are all activities geared towards the ecologically minded traveler.

Panama City Beach offers an abundance of natural attractions, showcasing over 1,200 species of plants native to the area. Sabal Palms and Southern Magnolias sway on the horizon. Wild Azalea, Wax Myrtle, and Oak Leaf Hydrangea dot the landscape. Sea Oats jut out of the brilliant white sand along the coast, forming long flowing dunes that ripple in the wind. Endangered sea turtles, a unique and vital part of our coastal environment, come ashore to lay their eggs on our pristine beaches during the summer, drawing thousands of visitors each year in search of experiencing this wonder of nature.

Some of the eco-tourist friendly destinations of note in the Panama City Beach area are:

St. Andrews State Park: Over 1.5 miles of Gulf of Mexico beaches adorn this water sports enthusiasts dream. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming. Fishing opportunities via the boat ramp, twin fishing piers, and jetty provide ample access to land the big one, and winding nature trails provide visitors with a relaxing walk or bird-watching excursion through a diverse flora community.

Econfina Creek: This small Florida Panhandle waterway flows through a hilly limestone karst landscape, emptying into Deer Point Lake, the reservoir for Bay County and Panama City. Econfina is named after the now collapsed natural bridge that crossed the river up until the 19th century. Econfina Creek's 24 mile long paddling trail has the steepest fall of any Florida canoe trail. It has been described as one of the most exciting canoe trails in Florida, and is only recommended for experienced paddlers.

For Panama City Beach residents who are looking for a fun way to celebrate the upcoming end of summer, this weekend offers the 23rd annual Lobster Festival & Tournament at Schooners Last Local Beach Club. This great local event includes lots of great lobster dishes, a sand sculpting contest, DJs & live music, raffles, and a lobster diving tournament.

Set to take place during Sept 13 - 16, this is reportedly the biggest lobster festival in Florida and involves fun on the beach for the whole family for the entire 4 days of the event. Nightly raffles top off the activity each day, with chances to win upwards of $300 each night.

Proceeds from this event go to support the Florida Aquatic Marine Institute and Toys for Kids Foundation. The Florida Aquatic Marine Institute is a non-profit organization that supports environmental education for kids, community development, and ocean habitats. The Toys for Kids Foundation provides toys, clothes, and school supplies for under-privileged children in Bay County.

During the building boom of the early 2000s, domestically produced drywall because increasingly scarce due to the high demand for the product. To alleviate this issue, many companies turned to imported drywall manufactured in China to fill the gap. Unfortunately, some of this drywall was allegedly contaminated with something that was causing it to give off sulfurous gases. It is theorized that possible causes could be pyrite, large quantities of fly ash, or bacteria.

For residents of these homes, the effects of the tainted drywall included corrosion of copper wiring; irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes, throat, and lungs; nausea; shortness of breath and asthmatic symptoms; insomnia; irritability; headaches; and chronic fatigue.

Taishan Gypsum had previously had a judgment levied against them by US District Court Judge Eldon Fallon due to their failure to appear in a case 2 years ago over this issue; this week he has ruled against the companys attempt to have four lawsuits against them dismissed.

For those people who have had to deal with homes full of corrosion from the emissions from their drywall and the resulting health problems, this is good news that will hopefully lead to some fair resolutions for all of those involved.

Its pretty easy to look back on an incident and say that it wasnt as serious as anticipated by government agencies and meteorologists, but when it comes right down to it, its better to be over-prepared than under.

Whether you need to get prepared to hunker down in your own home to ride out a storm, or evacuate to a safer area/facility, its important to remember that there is little regret in being cautious. There is, however, a great deal of regret that can be had due to not being cautious enough.

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life surrounding us day in and day out, many home owners are looking at taking advantage of current low prices and purchasing vacation homes to add some much needed rest and relaxation to their lives.

Vacation homes can fill a variety of needs for home buyers. Some people prefer to have a vacation home for only their own familys use, while others opt to use their vacation home as an investment property in addition to their own enjoyment. In addition, over a third of vacation home owners eventually move into their second home for their retirement years.

Where is the best place to buy?

Whichever usage is more important to you can influence what sort of vacation home youll want to purchase. If you and your family are going to exclusively utilize a vacation property, you can pick any location that appeals to you in your price range; if you are looking to buy a vacation investment property, youll want to look into which areas are most popular for vacationers to rent in so that you can be sure that youll have a good return on the investment.

What kind of home should I buy?

The type of home that you buy will also hinge somewhat on if this will be a home to share or not. While some home features may be desirable for your own familys use, they might be high maintenance or expensive to repair and better avoided in a rental. Often, investment properties for rent on a weekly basis are set up to allow for a large number of people to stay on the premises; this allows for more than one family to rent one location. This means that you may want to aim for a 3 or 4 bedroom home to purchase for an investment property, instead of a smaller home for just your own family or a future retirement home.

How can I pay for it?

Depending on usage, the process of financing a vacation home will differ. There may be tax breaks for buying a second home for your family that wont apply for an investment property, so check with a mortgage broker to find out all the facts first. If you are purchasing an investment property, talk to a tax specialist to see what you might be able to write off.

Whichever focus you decide on for your vacation home, make sure that you work with an experienced REALTOR to help you through the process. Vacation home purchases can be more work than buying a primary home, especially if your vacation destination is far enough away to be inconvenient to travel to for home tours or inspections. Your REALTOR can help weed through potential listings for you so that you make the most of your valuable time.

Hurricane damage on land takes the form of water damage or wind damage. Water damage can be due to heavy rains, flooding, storm surge, and/or storm tide. Wind damage is caused by sustained high winds or tornados formed within the hurricane.

Being Prepared

• Consider buying a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver. These devices are recommended for keeping informed during a storm about hurricane watches and evacuation alerts.
• Make your home ready well in advance.
  • Make sure that you have adequate supplies on hand in advance of storm season. Your stock should be able to last you a minimum of 3 days.
  • Basic supplies you'll need include:
    • 1 gallon of water per person per day.
    • Canned or pre-made packaged foods. Ideally, these should be things that you can eat cold if need be.
    • First aid kit & prescription drugs for any family member who requires them.
    • Flashlights, with extra batteries
    • Sleeping bags/bedding
• Know where you need to evacuate to.
  • When a storm is bad enough that there is an evacuation, its best to have a good idea where you need to go. To discover your zone and evacuation route, check out the Florida Disaster site
• If the call comes to evacuate, do it.
  • While you should only evacuate your area if the authorities tell you to do so, it is vitally important that if they call for evacuation that you go.

Being prepared for a hurricane can make a huge difference in how safe that you and your family feel during the storm season. Being unsure of what you need to do can make the whole situation much scarier than it needs to be. Check out the Tropical Cyclone preparedness guide for more information about how you can prepare for storms this season.

The St Andrews Bay Yacht Club was originally set up in the early 1930s and is one of the oldest in the North Gulf Coast region. The current club house was built in the years following that first meeting and has only seen one renovation until now.

These recent renovations included restoring the original wood floors of the ballroom, as well as the ceiling and original woodwork. The popular outside deck was replaced with a much larger one to provide members and guests with more space for events. Also, the main hallway has been updated with a charming nautical theme.

The yacht club is a great historic element in a community that is actively restoring and renovating to celebrate its past. Other revitalization projects that have been done in the community include: St Andrews School (1926), Bank of St Andrews building (1907), St Andrews Church (1887), and the Panama City Publishing Company building (1920).

Home in St Andrews are already quite popular with home buyers due not only to the great ambiance of the community, but also because of the reasonable real estate prices. While there are many newer homes for sale in this community, there are also charming character homes built in the 1940s and 50s as well.