Scott Cobine is a Re
I caught up with Scott online recently for this week's SoWal Scene Q & A:
You guys have been in South Walton quite a long time. How long – and where did you move from?
Cindi & I moved here in January of 1996 from Marina Del Rey, California, just outside of Los Angeles.
Why South Walton?
We had family in the area and every time we came to visit them we would drive over to 30-A and dream about moving here.
And good memories about the area from when you first moved here?
Pretty much all the memories have been good ones. The area has changed, but most all has been for the better. It is much easier being a full time resident on 30-A now. When we first moved here Butler Elementary had not been built, the closest grocery was Winn Dixie near the outlet mall, Ft. Walton was the closest hospital and many restaurants closed down during the winter months.
A memory that I will never forget is when we first moved here. We were looking for a place to rent while our house was being built. We stopped in at Patrones, which was in Grayton Beach, to have a bite to eat. We saw a 3-legged dog wandering down the main road by himself, there was a huge pig and a peacock at the restaurant and beer was a buck. It was quite the contrast to Marina Del Rey.
What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in South Walton in the last 10 years?
Improved infrastructure, better access to amenities, more full time residents and an improved, very strong sense of community.
How long have you been selling real estate?
I got my real estate license in 1999 and started working full time in January 2000.
What is your specialty?
My specialty is trying not to have a specialty. There are so many unique neighborhoods along 30-A. I really enjoy showing property in all of them. My customers are locals, new full time residents, future retirees, 2nd home shoppers, up-sizers, down-sizers, golfers, boaters, beach goers, fishermen and are looking for a wide array of products. It is exciting finding the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, for them.
Any comments on the real estate market boom and bust over the last several years?
I don't care much for the term boom and bust, but it definitely has been up and down, and interesting to experience. There was so much to be excited about that I think basic fundamentals were overshadowed and a correction was inevitable. I do feel some stability beginning to return.
The reality is our area is truly unique in myriad ways, distinguishing it from any other locale in the world. I have no doubt that, if someone purchased their primary or vacation home they have been dreaming about today, they will not regret that decision in the future.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off in South Walton?
Enjoying the beauty of the area with my family and good friends. Whether on the beach, or the boat, at Bud & Alleys or Pizza by the Sea, on our dock or a friends porch, a concert at Seaside or Trivia Night at Fonville Press. It's all good.
Thanks, Scott!
Scott can be reached at 850.974.9055 or at cobinesells@aol.com. Visit his website at www.sellingsand.com.
