Our very own Amanda Abbott, lovingly known as “The Surfing Realtor”, was recently featured in a short video by Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

Amanda is a fantastic real estate agent who enjoys exploring all that Northwest Florida has to offer. Amanda and Nathan’s dad and uncle started one of the first real estate companies in the area—Abbott Realty. Nathan jumped into the real estate business soon after college, but Amanda explored a little before returning home and becoming an agent in her own right.

Somebody once called her “the Surfing Realtor,” which is a good fit. “My favorite thing is to be in the water,” says Amanda. “That’s when I feel most at peace.”

If you grew up in Northwest Florida like the Abbotts have, it can be easy to take the beauty around us for granted. However, Amanda is constantly exploring. She surfs, paddleboards, and motorbikes all around the area. “I’ve traveled all over the world, and I still think it’s one of the nicest places to be,” she says.

Amanda really believes in finding a balance between working hard and taking time for herself. She tries to encourage everyone else to do that, as well. She also does a great job helping her clients find amazing homes that encourage a wonderful lifestyle.

Please enjoy the video and blog below, courtesy of Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

It’s early morning.  The sun is creasing the skyline, as if peeking from its blanket to see if it’s time to get up.  Its slow disposition sets the tone for the sleepy beach towns of Northwest Florida, but not for everyone.

Amanda Abbott, a local to the beaches of Northwest Florida and an adventurer at heart, sips coffee outside her quaint coastal cottage in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, getting ready to stroll down to the beach on her electric bicycle to check out the waves.

Growing up in Destin, FL, Amanda says she always had an adventurous spirit and curious nature. The Abbott name is a staple in the real estate market here, and Amanda is part of the third generation of her family to work in real estate.

“Somebody called me ‘the surfing realtor’ the other day,” says Amanda, “which has a nice little ring to it.”

Amanda’s quest for adventure in her personal and professional life has taken her many places, but Northwest Florida is the place she calls home.  She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Studio Art and a minor in Business Marketing, and felt compelled to follow her heart to the big city of Chicago. After working in the fashion industry there, she moved to New York City and worked for an apparel showroom, traveling the entire East Coast to work with buyers of specialty boutiques and department stores. It was in this role that Amanda realized her passion and talent for sales, and she returned to Northwest Florida to continue her family’s real estate tradition.

Luckily for her, there is no shortage of adventure in Florida.  As an avid stand up paddle boarder and free diver, Amanda shares one of her favorite dive spots, Cypress Springs, which is just north of Santa Rosa Beach. “People just don’t take the time to actually find these places that are untouched and beautiful and unique, but it’s right around the corner,” says Amanda, “It makes you realize how special this place is.