Destin Florida Real Estate Blog, Karrie Rose

Anyone who has driven along 30-A between Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach may have seen this home. Emerging behemoth-like amid a neighborhood of Seacrest luxury beach estates, is the Hilton Residence.

Most folks are curious about the history regarding this unique Seacrest home in Paradise by the Sea.

Background

It all started in the early 90s when, after a lengthy search for the right designer, Panama City businessman, Charles Hilton and his wife, commissioned the reknowned Fresno architect, Arthur Dyson to create their beachfront dream home in Paradise by the Sea. Work began in 1999, and construction resumed for at least ten years.

The intended design was to integrate seamlessly into the surrounding dunes and oceanfront setting. The home would

This is the time of year when schedules get even busier with Christmas parties, bake exchanges, secret Santas, vacation plans and more! So where do we find the time to get all of our Christmas shopping done? If you're one of the 2 % who shops for gifts throughout the year, we salute your forward-thinking organizational skills.

For the rest of us that tend to leave things to the last minute, the holiday spirit can sometimes waiver when shopping in the throngs of other final-hour buyers, as the enjoyment of the season turns to anxiety and tug-of-wars over final stock items. A good way to avoid this stress is to form a plan: try setting a countdown goal or creating a to-do list and get shopping once a weekend from now until the big day. To make it all

Taking a page from many of the forward-thinking migratory birds that escape the northern chill of winter every year and head south to nest, so do the Destin Snowbirds. Shivering folks from Ontario, Canada to Michigan have been flocking to our emerald coast every season for some rest and respite in the gloriously warm, beachy landscapes. But that's not all we have to offer, this is a friendly city where all the folks "have time to say hello" according to poem "I've Fallen In Love With Destin," by LTC. Ret. Samuel Lombardo. The full poem can be found on the Destin Snowbird Club website.

The Club began during the winter of '73-74, when "Red" Lyon and his wife Virginia found sanctuary in their first retirement winter here, and during the season

It’s all about being green these days, and Destin beach homes are no exception. From the completely electric Nissan Leaf to the expanse of wind farms producing electricity in West Texas. Being green and increasing sustainability is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Perhaps it’s because going green actually saves you green – money that is. If you want to avoid having a heart attack the next time you get your utility bills, consider putting into effect some of these green tips for your Destin beach home:

1. Clean and replace filters

This goes for clothes dryers as well as your air conditioning vents. Anything with a filter has to work harder when it’s being blocked by a buildup of dust, dirt, or lint, so clear it away and start

The team at Karrie & Company have had a busy summer. Here is a showcase of our Destin home sales for the last couple of months. If anyone is considering selling their Destin or surrounding area home, list with us and it could be your home that we showcase in the near future.

Eat, drink and be merry at this annual tribute to the local fisherman and the marine heritage of Destin, Florida.

On October 3, 4 & 5 celebrate 3 days of free musical entertainment, amazing fresh seafood, arts, crafts, fireworks and lots of fun for everyone at the Destin Seafood Festival. Stretching over 1 mile along the harbor board walk in Destin, well over 60,000 people will be joining in the festivities at this popular event. There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted at the soda and beer tents and Fishermen's Raffle tent.

Here is a list of some of the great events and activities you can expect to find:

Entertainment

Dozens of performers will be showcased on each of the three days in various venues along Harbor Walk, as

The timing has never been better to purchase a vacation home or investment property in Destin, Florida.

The Destin area has over 5,000 vacation rentals that are frequented by tourists year after year. June 2014 brought in the highest revenues for lodgings that Destin and Okaloosa County has every seen. According to Governor Rick Scott, "24 million visitors came to Florida in the second quarter of 2014 (April-June), an increase of 3 percent over the same period in 2013."

This in turn set records for visitor spending, good for local businesses and great news for anyone with a Destin rental property.

Many of the tourists we see are repeat visitors, booking for the next season upon checking out. When you find a good rental that is convenient and fits

As you're driving along 30A and passing Seaside, yet another beach community, instantly you'll realize that there is something unique about this area. Maybe it's the old-school water tower, the clad homes with elaborate porches, fencing and trim. Maybe it's slightly familiar... this was the filming location for the "The Truman Show," a 1998 Jim Carrey movie. In any event, it's well worth the stop to turn in and check out this funky little community.

Seaside - Planting the Seed

It's one thing to build a house, or maybe a subdivision, but an entire town - that takes vision. J.S. Smolian loved the Gulf Coast and the time spent here with his family and grandchildren. He dreamed of creating a summer camp where he could share this same enjoyment with

The residents in Destin, Florida know how to enjoy life. There is always some sort of festival, free concert or celebration going on - here is the list of not-to-be-missed fall events in Destin:

August 23: Fudpucker's - The Fudpoker Run

Jet ski poker run around Choctawhatchee Bay - perfect for the whole family.

August 29-31: 23rd Annual Greek Festival at the Emerald Coast Convention Center

Eat, drink and be merry at the annual Greek Festival, famous for the amazing cuisine, live music, dancing and crafts.

August 29-31: Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam 2014, Panama City, Florida

Three days of country music on the Gulf Coast with headlining acts: Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Randy Houser, Big & Rich and Casadee Pope. Dozens of

The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) held its 9th annual auction and this year they managed to raise a record breaking total of just over $2 million. This is a 57% increase from last year’s results of $1.3 million, with the funds being raised for children in need and allocated to 12 different children’s charities in Northwest Florida.

The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s mission is to connect wine enthusiasts in order to raise money to benefit children in need. It was founded in 2005 and since its inauguration it has donated over $6 million to Northwest Florida charities through hosting world class wine and culinary events. It has impacted the lives of over 50,000 youth and, according to Wine Spectator Magazine, it is recognized