SouthWaltonScene.com™ - In My Own Words

There are a variety of great buys out there!

By Bert Summerville-Kain
Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A / BIO

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Someone said to me just the other day, "People will always come to the beach" and they are right.  The draw of the water, the sand and the warm sun are magnets that don't wear out.    In fact, it appears that these magnets gets stronger in times of turmoil.  When things seem to be so uneasy and our heads are full of mush, the calming effect of the water rolling onto the sand can wash out most anything in our minds.  Because of this healing effect, I am feeling confident that we will always have people wanting to purchase property and make the beach one of their oasis. 

Today, I went on tour of several homes that are being marketed for sale.  There was such a variety of styles, locations and price ranges that would please a wide spectrum of buyers.  It also dawned on me that our beach has an almost infinite variety of lifestyles that anyone would just love to enjoy.  The problem is that most folks aren't aware of this.  The tour went from a cute small condo with beach views to a spectacular home and carriage house with beach views.  

How many times do you tell yourself that you are going to do something after you retire, or when you have time?  Wake up!  What better time to treat yourself to begin enjoying the rest of your life than right now!  And right now, the prices couldn't be much better.  Sure, the market might drop a tad, but then again it might not.  Maybe this is the bottom......and today you have your health and you can enjoy things.  

Be curious, call myself, or your favortie Realtor today and ask them to give you a list of some good buys.  You will be pleasantly surprised. 

By Bert Summerville-Kain
Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A / BIO

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Someone said to me just the other day, "People will always come to the beach" and they are right.  The draw of the water, the sand and the warm sun are magnets that don't wear out.    In fact, it appears that these magnets gets stronger in times of turmoil.  When things seem to be so uneasy and our heads are full of mush, the calming effect of the water rolling onto the sand can wash out most anything in our minds.  Because of this healing effect, I am feeling confident that we will always have people wanting to purchase property and make the beach one of their oasis. 

The Psychology of Pricing in A Down Economy

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher / BIO

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When I opened my yoga studio a few years ago and the time came to set my prices, I hit a wall. Up until that point I had no hesitation making important business decisions.  None at all.  But this stopped me in my tracks and I began to obsess over it. 

I knew there was psychology behind pricing and an important component in the formula of success is setting prices that have an acceptable price-value ratio in the customer's mind.  I knew that pricing is as much about perception as it's about actual numbers.  I knew that I needed to wear the shoes of the customer (who demands value) while simultaneously wearing the shoes of a business owner (who demands profit).  I needed to consider price optimization, price strategy, price structure and the who, what, when, where and why of how I charged.

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher / BIO

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When I opened my yoga studio a few years ago and the time came to set my prices, I hit a wall. Up until that point I had no hesitation making important business decisions.  None at all.  But this stopped me in my tracks and I began to obsess over it. 

I knew there was psychology behind pricing and an important component in the formula of success is setting prices that have an acceptable price-value ratio in the customer's mind.  I knew that pricing is as much about perception as it's about actual numbers.  I knew that I needed to wear the shoes of the customer (who demands value) while simultaneously wearing the shoes of a business owner (who demands profit).  I needed to consider price optimization, price strategy, price structure and the who, what, when, where and why of how I charged.

Dexter: Season One on Showtime

by KEVIN BOYLE
Contributing Humorist/Pop Culture Critic/Social Commentator / BIO

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Dexter: Season One from Showtime falls under the category, “Should Have Watched This Show When It First Came Out.”  Nonetheless, I bought this DVD with the intention of watching the entire season in one or two days.  My own vacation indoors.  I picked this show on the recommendation of someone that I don’t normally talk to about TV shows or films, but she insisted that I watch it. 

First thing that you hear about Dexter is that the protagonist is a serial killer.  Where’s my receipt, right?  That’s basically all I wanted to know about the show. (I hate when I rhyme like that. Even if that sentence was absurdly profound, the fact that “know” and “show” rhyme immediately takes it down 50 smart-points.) I digress.

How would you spend $700 billion?

by JEFF ARMSTRONG
Chief Financial Officer of Alys Beach on Scenic Hwy 30A / BIO

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This is a question that directly affects many of us in the South Walton real estate industry and indirectly affects many others in our business community.

Despite the fact that foreclosures are at their highest levels since the 1930s, the current administration has not made this issue a priority.  The Treasury Secretary has no plans to use any of the $700 billion to directly help homeowners.  One of my last posts attempted to explain how we got to the point where we needed a bailout of $700 billion.  The perfect storm for Wall Street began in the housing market.  Many believe that we must solve the problems in the housing market or the perfect storm in the financial sector will continue to get larger. 

by JEFF ARMSTRONG
Chief Financial Officer of Alys Beach on Scenic Hwy 30A / BIO

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by JEFF ARMSTRONG
Chief Financial Officer of Alys Beach on Scenic Hwy 30A / BIO

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The Power of Brand Evangelists (and why we should all become them during an economic downturn!)

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher/ BIO

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January 20, 2009 is one of a handful of momentous days that I will use as a point of reference when discussing the past (e.g. "Oh yeah - that was the year Obama became President"). There were just so many unprecedented variables in this Presidential Election.  I am proud to have been able to participate in this election and am grateful to have witnessed history being made.  Wow.

As someone who also followed the election from the point of view of a passionate enthusiast of 21st century marketing, I was blown away by the Obama camp's coup in choosing to embrace and leverage:

1. the power of social media (Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter...);
2. the Internet (for fund-raising amongst other things);  and
3. the concept that "small is the new big" (lots of small donations put together translate into huge amounts of money).

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher/ BIO

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January 20, 2009 is one of a handful of momentous days that I will use as a point of reference when discussing the past (e.g. "Oh yeah - that was the year Obama became President"). There were just so many unprecedented variables in this Presidential Election.  I am proud to have been able to participate in this election and am grateful to have witnessed history being made.  Wow.

As someone who also followed the election from the point of view of a passionate enthusiast of 21st century marketing, I was blown away by the Obama camp's coup in choosing to embrace and leverage:

1. the power of social media (Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter...);
2. the Internet (for fund-raising amongst other things);  and
3. the concept that "small is the new big" (lots of small donations put together translate into huge amounts of money).

Good Old-Fashioned Experience and Hard Work.

By Bert Summerville-Kain
Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A / BIO

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It is said that a true expert can make any task seem like child’s play.  Selling is an art form and if a salesperson has learned the basic fundamentals, all the steps flow easily toward the goal.  With time and continued experience, the salesperson readily becomes an expert.

Daily, I see the hard work and determination that goes into making a sale happen in today’s market and it isn’t for the faint of heart or the individual who is looking for an easy buck.  Buyers are tough.  They want a good deal and sellers are still hoping that the days of Camelot will return.

Our recent statistics from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors shows that between Jan. 1, 2009 and Feb. 15, 2009:

• There were 39 closings on 30A. 
• Of those 39 closings, 13.5% were short sales and 13.5% were bank foreclosures.

So, approximately 27% of the closings the past 45 days have been distressed sales, which also means that 73% of the closed property on 30A have occurred as a result of the good old-fashioned sales dynamics.

Experience really does matter and the experts are once again showing that things can be achieved.

Words of Encouragement

By Bert Summerville-Kain
Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A / BIO

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”Businessmen go down with their businesses because they like the old way so well they cannot bring themselves to change.” - Henry Ford

All of us are experiencing our world going topsy turvy and for a fleeting moment, we could let this economy paralyze us but why?  Is the “old” way so comfortable that we do not allow ourselves to think outside-the-box?  

Of course we were living high on the hog in 2004, '05 and '06, but get over it!  Today is almost 2009 and we have to live in the moment.  My hat's off to those who have decided that they are not letting the negatives of the world dictate their lives, but instead are taking action.

The Sand Between the Toes is Still Calling

By Bert Summerville-Kain
Realtor® with Destin Real Estate Company on Scenic 30A / BIO

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I have lived in the Beaches of South Walton zip code - 32459 -  since 1998.  When I arrived, I was like everyone else…….struck by love -the love of the water, the white sand, and the vacation-feel of old Florida.

We are not really the Florida of the New Yorkers, we are the Florida of the "Old South" and everyday, I am reminded of how unique our area really is.

This past week, the chilly wind that flowed around my feet and pulled at my hair was a reminder that we are not tropical and am I glad.

It is so invigorating  to turn on the gas logs, or light that fireplace and smell the pine wood burning (something you cannot do in the tropics).  It is also enjoyable walking on the white sand with my cheeks tingling while viewing the crystal clear aqua blue water…..my favorite color.  As I was enjoying the nippy air, my thoughts turned to the tourists who really enjoy coming to “my” beach during the heat of the summer, and I felt a tinge of sadness that they were missing one of the most beautiful sights…..our winter gulf.

Buying locally owned is good. But it doesn't mean that if we don't, it is bad.

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher / BIO

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You hear the mantra "Keep It Local" and "Buy Locally Owned" often nowadays, reverberating through the streets of South Walton and other small towns across the country.  We have heard the reasons why it's good to buy from locally owned and operated businesses - it keeps the undercurrent of money within a community circulating.  Money that stays in a community is re-invested back into the local economy, so they say, preserving economic diversity and uniqueness.  That makes total sense and is probably true. 

I imagine, too, there has only been a couple of times in the last century where all businesses - large and small - were faced with as many challenges as they are today. But it's the local Mom and Pop shops - those without the deep corporate pockets and diversified business models - that tend to be exposed most rawly to the complicated dynamics and downward pressures of a recession, especially in seasonal markets where tourist and real estate dollars keep the economic engine churning.  As we are reminded daily, those engines are choking on their own fumes at the moment, making it even more imperative for a locally owned business to be supported by a local customer base.

So yes, buying locally owned is good and I understand why the movement is going strong in these tough times.  But it doesn't mean that if we don't buy locally owned it is bad, either.

by JILL GAUPIN
Web Publisher / BIO

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2008 and the Power of Suggestion

by KEVIN BOYLE
Contributing Humorist/Pop Culture Critic/Social Commentator / BIO

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The power of suggestion is a force to be reckoned with.  2008 was the poster child year for it, too.  If you asked people the simple question, “Was 2008 a crappy year?”  Most would say, “Yes.”  No thinking, just a reflex.  Everything on the news, in social circles, and on people’s Facebook updates back it up.  Stock market crashes, real estate plummeting, layoffs, and something called “Charm School” on VH1 all amounted to a lot difficult times.