Blog -

602 Pelican Dr., Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, FL – Sold in 3 Days!

September 14, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick Leave a Comment

602 Pelican Dr., Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, Florida just sold! This attractive Mid-Century Modern home was on a quarter-acre lot that backs up to the the dedicated path to Santa Rosa Sound and intracoastal waters, and across from the Gulf of Mexico beach access. A popular neighborhood, Okaloosa Island is well-known by locals. It retains an old Florida charm with many classic beach homes. Military service members from Eglin Air Force Beach often remember it fondly from being stationed on the Emerald Coast of Florida, and want to make a retirement home on Okaloosa Island. Okaloosa Island is captivating and pedestrian friendly, with seven beach and sound access points. Further east on the island, giant sand dunes are as white as snow, startling to a first time visitor.

602 Pelican Dr. was an older home, as typical of Okaloosa Island, built in 1968, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and had an addition with a master bedroom and bathroom. There was a carport with architectural breeze blocks. Set back from the road, the home site offered privacy, but was only one lot away from Santa Rosa Boulevard and across the street from the beach. There were six offers within 72 hours of listing 602 Pelican Dr. for sale. The final sales price was $329,000.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, sells real estate in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Crestview, Sandestin, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Florida.

Filed Under: Fort Walton Beach Florida

Market Update – Emerald Coast of Florida – Summer… It’s Hot!

August 14, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Real estate pending sales on the Emerald Coast of Florida in August 2020 are going full throttle compared to last year and early April this year. Looking at the entire region, including Destin, Niceville, Santa Rosa Beach, 30-A, Miramar Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Crestview, there were 20% more units under contract in the three month period from May to July 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. 2750 houses, condos, lots, townhomes and commercial properties went under contract, compared to 2289 last year, an increase of 461 sales. Pending sales are a good indicator of the current pulse of the market, as opposed to closed sales, which show the result of activities a month or more prior. Pending sales track where the market is going.

In addition, average sale prices for the Emerald Coast real estate market are up by 24% compared to a year ago and median sale prices are up by 15% in the Metropolitan Statistical Area. Why is the market so much in favor of the seller? There is limited inventory of properties for sale. COVID-19 has caused reticence in some owners to sell their homes, reducing the number of properties for sale. That, coupled with very low interest rates, averaging under 3%, have caused a strong demand for housing and a corresponding increase in selling price.

Where is the market going heading into Fall and Winter? Keep an eye here for the latest info.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Things to Know

Executive Office for Lease – Miramar Plaza, Miramar Beach, Florida 32550

August 13, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Executive office for lease in Miramar Plaza at 12889 Emerald Coast Parkway, Ste. 107A, U.S. Highway 98 East, Miramar Beach, Florida 32550.

Approximately 150 square feet, this work space is elegant with ample privacy, a large hall window and glass door with shades. There are only three private offices on first floor and three on second floor, allowing plenty of room for distance from the other few lessees, who generally don’t step out of their own offices. The atmosphere is kept well-ventilated and air conditioned. The office is cleaned thoroughly and regularly. Masks and hand sanitizer are provided for your clients, if desired, at the front lobby desk.

This commercial shared office space for rent in Miramar Beach, Florida, south Walton County, is adjacent to Destin Florida, and the beach is at the end of the street.

Share professional space with other respected firms in a quiet, upscale atmosphere. Use the large “you mean business” conference room with flat screen monitor at your disposal. The kitchen pantry, microwave and refrigerator are yours for your executive snacks and meals. Starbucks coffee, a selection of teas and a variety of snacks are complimentary. There is a dramatic lobby space to welcome your clients. Wi-Fi, water, electricity are included.

The Rulnick Executive Center in Miramar Plaza is 2.9 miles west of Silver Sands Premium Shopping and 2.5 miles east of Destin Commons. Drive two minutes to the end of the street to the Gulf of Mexico beach. Have lunch in your car watching the crystal, aquamarine waters, or eat at Pompano Joe’s for a relaxing pause in your productive day.

Conference Room
Free Wi-Fi
Free Coffee and Tea
Sky-high Lobby
Hall glass

Hall window

Shades
2 minutes to Beach
Professional Atmosphere

Fulfilling all your after-work needs, there is a plethora of shopping and restaurants in Miramar Plaza. Restaurants include Pedro’s Cantina Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and Sushi-Moto. Miramar Plaza has a variety of shops, such as Ava’s Attic, Boca Boutique, KM Jewelers, a physician and more. Call to see if your business will be a fit with this group of ultra-professionals at the Rulnick Executive Center.The executive office is $489 a month for lease.Watch the virtual tour.

For details contact Broker/Owner, landlord:

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Things to Know

Free Home Selling E-Books for Emerald Coast of Florida Residents

July 22, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Getting ready to sell your Emerald Coast of Florida property? Get your free copy of my “Preparing Your House for Sale” booklet. My advice ranges from light bulb moments (literally) to clutter and major remodeling projects (those may need a personal look). I can email you or mail you the hard copy magazine.

Thinking of selling “by owner”? That’s dangerous and I wouldn’t recommend it, however, if you do, I have a booklet packed with sincere advice on how to be a “FSBO” for you. I’ll email or mail you a hard copy (or drop it off).

Finally, if you do want to list your Emerald Coast real estate, “Wendy’s Home Seller” booklet can be yours, free. Let me know what format you want, email or hard copy.

Do you want all three home selling booklets? Email or call me today, and I’ll get them to you!

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: For Sellers, Things to Know

Crestview VA Compromise Short Sale Approved – 769 E Chestnut Ave.

July 21, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

This VA Compromise short sale was recently approved in Crestview, Florida. If you are a veteran or active duty military stationed at Hurlburt Field, or Eglin Air Force Base, you may very well have a Veterans Association home mortgage loan. If you are unable to make your mortgage payments and your home value is less than your mortgage payoff, there may be assistance available. Reasons for inability to make mortgage payments include: PCS to another duty station, death of a breadwinner, divorce, medical obligations, caretaker expenses, etc. It’s also not uncommon for Eglin AFB service members to rent out their homes after PCS orders. When there are problems with tenants or the property itself, selling the home becomes a priority in order to avoid foreclosure. The solution for upside-down homes (mortgage payoff and selling expenses are greater than sale proceeds), may be VA Compromise Sale.

This property at 769 E. Chestnut Ave., Crestview, FL was challenging to sell. The main issue was a neighboring house with multiple barking dogs that put off many of the potential home buyers. To complicate matters, the loan was also transferred to a new servicer when an offer was received. Originally with Chase Mortgage, the file was transferred to Carrington Mortgage Services. After the offer was submitted, Carrington ordered a VA appraisal. Interestingly, the buyer’s original offer price was raised at the buyer’s lender’s request. The buyer’s loan was also VA, and it was his second VA mortgage– the first was still active. The minimum VA mortgage amount in those cases is $144,001. This exceeded the VA liquidation appraisal value, and the required net proceeds of a minimum 84.05%, per VA guidelines. The short sale was approved.

If you are in a situation with a VA home loan in the Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Freeport or Navarre areas, and need to sell, but your mortgage balance is higher than market value, give me a call. We can explore VA Compromise short sale as an option.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, sells short sale, pre-foreclosure, REO and traditional real estate in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Miramar Beach, Crestview, Sandestin, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Florida.

This site, Wendy Rulnick or Rulnick Realty, Inc. is not providing legal or tax advice. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. It is recommended that sellers considering a short sale should consult an independent legal and tax advisor for more information.

Filed Under: Short Sale Approvals

Emerald Coast of Florida Real Estate Makes Booming Rebound

July 6, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Real estate sales on the Emerald Coast of Florida have overcome the COVID effect downturn of March and April 2020, and far exceeded the year over year sales figures compared to 2019. The chart above illustrates the trend of pending sales each month for the areas of Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Destin, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Crestview, Freeport, Point Washington and Miramar Beach, Florida.

Properties going under contract increased from March 2020 through June 2020 by 654 units. That’s a 49% increase in number of pending properties, including houses, condos, town homes, lots and commercial properties.

Destin Pending Sales increased from 92 to 239 units.

Miramar Beach Pending Sales increased from 95 to 212 units.

Santa Rosa Beach, North of Hwy 98, Pending Sales increased from 63 to 89 units.

30-A Santa Rosa Beach, South of Hwy 98 Pending Sales increased from 159 to 517 units. (WOW!)

Fort Walton Beach Pending Sales increased from 222 to 270 units.

Niceville Pending Sales increased from 105 to 139 units.

Crestview Pending Sales increased from 216 units to 238 units.

Navarre Florida Pending Sales increased from 213 to 223 units.

Reviewing year-over-year real estate sales changes on the Emerald Coast, there were 2501 total properties under contract between March – June 2019. In 2020, there were 4815 units under contract during the same quarter. That’s an increase of almost 93%. Clearly 2020 sales are strikingly improved over last year.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, sells real estate in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Miramar Beach, Crestview, Sandestin, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Florida.

Filed Under: Things to Know

Emerald Coast of Florida Real Estate Market – Pending Sales Increase

May 26, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Real estate pending sales on the Emerald Coast of Florida in May are returning to the start of March levels, after an early April plummet. Looking at the entire region, including Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, 30-A, Miramar Beach, Freeport, Crestview, Niceville, Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, pending sales of real estate were almost 96% of the earlier March count. Pending sales are a good indicator of the current pulse of the market, compared to closed sales (solds), which show the result of activities a month or more old. Pending sales track where the market is going.

Here is a recap of the Emerald Coast pending real estate market statistics for May 1- May 15, 2020, as compared to March 1 – March 15:

Properties going under contract decreased from 790 units to 755 total units.

That’s 96% of of the previous number of houses, condos, town homes, lots and commercial properties going under contract. It’s a great sign of buyer interest.

Destin Pending Sales increased from 51 to 64 ( +25%).

Miramar Beach Pending Sales dropped from 67 to 45 (- 33%).

Niceville Pending Sales increased from 57 to 61 ( + 1%).

Fort Walton Beach Pending Sales dropped from 123 to 108 ( – 12%).

Santa Rosa Beach, North of Hwy 98, Pending Sales dropped from 37 to 26 (- 30%).

30-A Santa Rosa Beach, South of Hwy 98 Pending Sales increased from 102 to 107 (+5%).

Crestview Pending Sales increased from 120 to 128 (+7%).

Navarre Florida Pending Sales dropped from 131 to 115 (- 12%).

The Coronavirus economic effect has impacted local real estate sales, but since the Florida re-opening began on May 4, the number of sales have continued to grow. Check back here for future analyses of the Emerald Coast of Florida real estate market.

If you find that during or after the COVID-19 crisis, you must sell your Emerald Coast real estate, consider your options. Let me know if you have any questions about real estate, whether traditional or short sale.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Etc., Things to Know

Growling Dogs, Mops, and Calm, Assertive Energy

May 21, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

The dogs were growling behind the chain link fence, pulling right up to the wire, low and threatening. They were gathered together, two or three of them, their heads perched over the top, staring at me. I don’t know what kind of dogs they were, mostly black with light brown splotches, and large. I had parked the car across the street on the side of the road, in front of the house I was going to inspect. It was vacant, a short sale property I had just listed in Crestview, Florida. The driveway was steep, so I didn’t want to pull up to the garage. That would have been safer. Nor did I want to turn around and go back home, I had come all this way.

After I made the decision to go in, I got out of the car and did not look back at the dogs. I walked directly up to the front door. Trying to act confident with my body language. Petrified. There was an electronic lock, a tricky lock, called a KABA. I’m usually not successful the first time I attempt to open one, so I was panicked. I had the code and was shaking, praying that it would open, as I heard the dogs growling in the background. I got inside, wondering how I would leave. First things first. I looked around the house and took notes. It was empty except for some things left on the counters by the tenants, and a few cleaning items. I couldn’t tell if anyone was coming back. I finished up quickly.

Then I called my husband (like what could he do? He was at work!). I told him I was really scared and did not know how I would get back to my car with those dogs acting like they wanted to attack me. He told me to find something like a stick, so I would look bigger to the dogs. Ok, there was no way I was going outside the house to look for a stick! I thought of the mop that I saw inside the house.

I took the mop, and a deep breath, and strode decidedly to my car. Not too fast, but not slow. I was trembling inside, holding my body straight with the mop at the ready. I got in the car and slammed the door, the whole time imagining the dogs making it through the crack of the door and getting to me! Then for some dumb reason which I cannot explain, I threw the mop out the passenger window onto the yard! (If anyone came back to the house, they would surely wonder about that.)

Sweaty and victorious, with my heart still pounding, I drove off to get a Starbucks!

What can you do if you are in a similar situation, with growling dogs threatening you? Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, states in “What to do When Dogs Attack”: “Once you have successfully used calm assertive energy to keep that dog back, claim your own space. If you happen to be carrying anything in your hands, like a cane or an umbrella, place it out in front of yourself to appear bigger and be more in command of your space.” Or, better yet, leave!

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Etc.

How a little bird told me to change my perspective

May 18, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Day after day, year after year, I have been sitting at my computer, lost in a world of google searches, websites, email checking and other automatic behaviors. Caught in the minutia of the daily routine. Doing the same thing every day. As if by rote, life passing by.

After the pandemic hit, things changed. Like, working from home. Spending weekdays with my husband. And of course, exercising at home. This was all different.

Then, the bird came.

I was working out on my total gym in a little used bedroom. It is normally locked to keep the cats out, in pristine condition, reserved for the once-every-two-year visit from my brother. But now, the room’s use was changed. We had moved the work-out machine into it, along with some old dumbbells we had in the garage. That morning, I opened the blinds so I could see out the window and started my cable pulls, when my eye caught a blue spark flitting on the ground. No, could it be? My husband had said that he thought he saw the elusive bird a few days prior, but I had doubted him. After all, I was the true birder in the family, even though he had caught on well after being married to me.

But, there it was. An Indigo Bunting. As a birder would know, joy leapt, and I ran for the binoculars. The bird was hopping around on the ground underneath our feeder. It was a place we rarely saw, because we have a low brick wall blocking that perspective from our normal bird-watching spot in the sunroom. It had been seven years since I last saw an Indigo Bunting (I keep a journal). They are dazzling birds. They are an Atlantic Ocean blue. They are also hunted and caught in Central America for their beauty.

For the next week, I pulled chairs into a new location in front of the window (one for me, and two for my cats, plus my husband when he gets home). After work, I wait for the Indigo Bunting to come back. I saw it one more time.

This little story made me think. Maybe, if we keep doing the same thing we’ve always done, we will never see what else there is, or what else can be. If I hadn’t been working out at home, looking out a different window, I would have never seen that bird. With the same perspective, we always see the same thing, but maybe there is something more.

Wendy Rulnick

Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!
850-259-0422 | itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Etc.

Emerald Coast Florida Pending Sales Down, But Signs of Market Improvement

May 13, 2020 by Wendy Rulnick

Real estate sales on the Emerald Coast of Florida are starting to rebound after an early April 2020 decrease. Looking at the entire region, including Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Freeport, Crestview, Niceville, and DeFuniak Springs, pending sales of real estate on the Emerald Coast of Florida are down overall from one to two months ago, near the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Pending sales are a good indicator of the current pulse of the market, compared to closed sales (solds), which show the result of activities a month or more old. Pending sales track where the market is going.

Here is a recap of the Emerald Coast market statistics:

Properties going under contract decreased from 790 units to 650 total units from the first two weeks of March 2020 to the last weeks of April 2020.

That’s a drop of 18% in the number of houses, condos, town homes, lots and commercial properties going under contract.

However, it’s an increase of 31% from the first two weeks of April 2020.

Comparing March to April overall, there was a drop in total units under contract from 1336 to 1096, or 18% fewer sales.

Individual Pending Sales by area from the period of March 1 – March 15 as compared to the period between April 16 – April 30 were as follows:

Destin Pending Sales increased from 51 to 52 ( +1%).

Miramar Beach Pending Sales dropped from 67 to 45 (- 33%).

Niceville Pending Sales dropped from 57 to 55 ( – 3%).

Fort Walton Beach Pending Sales dropped from 123 to 77 ( – 38%).

Santa Rosa Beach, North of Hwy 98, Pending Sales dropped from 37 to 36 (- 2%).

30-A Santa Rosa Beach, South of Hwy 98 Pending Sales dropped from 102 to 74 (- 28%).

Crestview Pending Sales dropped from 120 to 109 (- 9%).

Navarre Florida Pending Sales dropped from 131 to 100 (- 24%).

Decidedly, the Coronavirus economic effect has had an impact on Emerald Coast real estate. but the trend is now upward in terms of new sales. We will take a look at the market again soon.

If you find that during or after the COVID-19 crisis, you must sell your Emerald Coast real estate, consider your options. Let me know if you have any questions about real estate, whether traditional or short sale.

It’s Wendy… It’s Sold!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call 850-259-0422
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Filed Under: Things to Know

It’s Wendy on Destin!