Area Press

Hugging the Gulf Coast and flanked by sandy beaches so snow-white the shore looks like a balmy blizzard, Pensacola—the westernmost city on the Florida panhandle—often gets overshadowed by its well-trod compatriots: your Miamis, your Tampas, your Orlandos. But what it lacks in Mickey Mouse and South Beach (which frankly might be for the best), it more than makes up for in vibes that conjure dreams of New Orleans or even Salem, Massachusetts—all while Navy jets soar dramatically overhead….

Paradise is affordable right now, and many are fighting to buy their little piece of it. New homes sales on the gulf coast of the Florida Panhandle are as hot as beach goers in the middle of August. According to the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors (CPAR), which is the multiple listing service for five counties in the Florida Panhandle — Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington — the residential sales volume as of June 7 was $1.99 billion. Sales for June are already up 60.8 percent over last year and there is another three weeks left in the month…

FLORIDA, March 3rd, 2022 – As published at Roofstock. Several cities in Florida – including Spring Hill near Tampa, Lehigh Acres near Fort Myers, and Palm Bay in Brevard County – are listed as some of the best cities to invest in real estate in 2022, according to Policygenius. The website analyzed key real estate investment data points including home value index, home price growth, rent index, and gross rent multiplier…

NEW YORK, August 17, 2021 – Inc. magazine today revealed that The Abbott Team is No. 2485 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000…

To say we are proud of our team in 2020 is an understatement. Wow!! What a journey. Our team is small, but mighty!! We accomplished $108,000,000 in successful closings with another $45,000,000 in pending contracts. We continue to grow our team adding several amazing agents to our family based culture and have more joining us soon. We are super excited of our partnership with eXp Realty as the fastest growing real estate company in history…

Today, the Abbott Team is proud to announce its partnership with eXp Realty while delivering a record-breaking $16 million sale of a residential single-family home on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The newly formed partnership with eXp Realty allows the Abbott Team to expand their business and provide customers with even more resources to help them with their real estate needs, bringing more buyers to the Emerald Coast…

Today, Abbott Realty Services is proud to announce the launch of a new military division, called “Abbott Realty Military Detachment.” The new division is spearheaded by Michael and Cindy Sakalauski delivering exceptional real estate services to military families in Northwest Florida. “With a combined 29 years of military service, it is in our DNA to serve. Representing both the Active and Reserve components, we are in a unique position to help military and civilian families alike because we understand the dynamics of life in and out of uniform…

Abbott Realty Services has earned the rank of 2851 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

This achievement puts us in rarefied company. The elite group we have now joined has, over the years, included organizations such as Microsoft, Timberland, Vizio, Intuit, Chobani, Oracle, and Zappos.com…

The Florida Panhandle -The soft quartz beaches of the Florida Panhandle are more beautiful than what you’ll find on most Caribbean islands and undoubtedly among the best in the United States. Chilly winters limit year-round vacationers, but those who venture down will experience a region that feels more Southern than the Latin-influenced culture of South Florida. Fresh seafood is uniformly excellent, and the virtually unimpeded 100-mile stretch of beach from Pensacola to Panama City feels endless…

Destin Beach: Between Pensacola and Tallahassee, Destin is one of the most popular beaches on what is known as Florida’s Emerald Coast. Right on the Gulf of Mexico, Destin actually sticks out into the water slightly; the small town is situated on a strip of land that separates the Gulf from Choctawhatchee Bay. Originally a fishing village, Destin is now known for its clear water…

Why go: Midwestern and Southern families flock to “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” for its white sands and frequent sunshine. Destin is one of Florida’s most affordable beach towns, though temperatures, visitor volume and room rates are at their highest in the summer…

5. Santa Rosa Beach – White sand, blue waters, and a healthy dose of quirkiness add up to a winning combination for this artsy northwestern Florida beach town. Santa Rosa scored near the top of the survey for being family-friendly. Consider the WaterColor Inn and Resort, which offers paddle-boarding, kayaking, beach bonfires and outdoor movies. Readers also liked Santa Rosa for its design finds…

1. Sandestin: You’ve probably done Miami, maybe even Tampa. But what about the Florida panhandle? You gotta know, some of the best Florida beaches are right here, and fall brings the perfect 75-degree weather to enjoy the white sand and turquoise water. If you need a break from all that relaxing, rent a boat and visit Crab Island, a sandbar with a waterslide and floating restaurants…

Enjoy sipping a glass of wine while relaxing on the Emerald Coast? While there are many restaurants with beautiful Gulf views and wonderful wine selections, only one has been recently recognized in a national magazine for their wine selection alone. South Walton’s own Fish Out of Water at WaterColor Inn and Resort received an “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine. Fish Out of Water is one of the less than 3,000 restaurants world-wide awarded for offering at least 90 quality wines…

6. Niceville, FL: With a population of 13,000, Niceville, FL is a northwest Florida town located on Choctawhatchee Bay. Only 20 minutes from white sandy beaches in Destin, Niceville offers the security of a small town, with low crime, minimal traffic and proximity to amenities like great shopping, cultural centers, recreation, restaurants and more. It is the only north Florida city to make our list…

1. Gulf of Mexico – Destin, Florida: Destin is perfectly situated to celebrate in style the aquatic wonder known as the Gulf of Mexico. Located on Florida’s Panhandle midway between Pensacola and Panama City, Destin offers snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, light-tackle fishing, trolling and deep-sea bottom-fishing. Sugar-sand beaches and barrier islands are as abundant…

2. Club KZ, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort — Miramar Beach, Fl: From horseback riding to ghost-crab hunting, Club KZ has plenty of opportunities for kids who are fascinated by creatures big and small. Kids who are keen on climbing will be over the moon on Adventure Zone Thursdays when Club KZ visits nearby Baytowne Adventure Zone to take on the Baytowne Zipline, the Eurobungy, the Sky Trail Ropes Course and the Tower Climb…

6 – Crystal Beach, Destin: At Crystal Beach, the sand is soft and white, the water is clear and turquoise and the atmosphere is completely calm, with little crowds to be found. Several lifeguards are stationed throughout, though the water is delightfully shallow for little ones — you can walk fairly far out in the water. Restrooms and parking add to the appeal, as do nearby attractions, restaurants and shop…

3 – Destin: On northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, Destin is famous for white beaches and emerald waters. Thanks to its harbor location in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s also called “the world’s luckiest fishing village,” and anglers consistently report the best catches of their fishing careers in this Panhandle town…

SoWal local Emeril Lagasse just kicked off season two of Emeril’s Florida on the Cooking Channel, and our beloved South Walton takes center stage. This season, SoWal is featured in nine different segments, with the first airing Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. CST. Two episodes focusing solely on South Walton Beaches air Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. CST and Sunday, Mar. 2 at 1:30 p.m. CST.

Google has announced Santa Rosa Beach in South Walton as Florida’s Digital Capital. Santa Rosa Beach is the postal city designation for most of South Walton and serves as a catch-all for most of the area south of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Determining the designation is a two-stage process based on data relating to Google adwords and the online presence of local businesses…

HGTV designer Vern Yip has dreamed of building a beach house for years, and he finally did it! HGTV Magazine got to take a tour through his ultimate family retreat. Long before he appeared on HGTV, Vern Yip was an architecture intern who fantasized about one day living in Rosemary Beach, FL, a resort town on the Gulf of Mexico with thoughtfully planned, pedestrian-friendly streets. Vern was so fixated on owning property there that he started collecting furniture for his…

3. Destin: Destin is located on Florida’s Emerald Coast, which gets its name from its beautiful, clear green water. Beaches here have extremely fine, soft sand, so if you’re a beach-walker or your kids enjoy building sand castles, this could be a great destination for you…

4. Santa Rosa Beach: Is this the Bahamas? Nope. These turquoise swells come courtesy of Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, home of Santa Rosa Beach. With a shoreline this hypnotic, you probably won’t stray, but just in case, you might want to check out Santa Rosa’s upscale artists’ enclave of Gulf Place…

5. Destin, Florida: With the summer months behind us, many of us hold on to more permanent dreams of paradise by considering the purchase of a vacation home. According to the National Association of Realtors, this dream is increasingly becoming a reality for buyers with a 10 percent increase in the sale of vacation homes in 2013 vs. 2012. Many factors are at play when assessing…

2. Destin: Famous for its sandy white beaches and beautiful, clean waters, Destin is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets. More than a destination for sun, sand, and surf, Destin is home to some of the finest golf courses and amusement parks in the United States, and the city and surrounding area enjoy beautiful weather all year round…

1. Destin with 43% of all votes: Located in the Florida Panhandle, Destin traces its history back to 1845, when Captain Leonard Destin settled in Northwest Florida. He pioneered the fishing industry. Today, this fishing town — known as “world’s the luckiest fishing village” — is a hot spot for trolling, jetty fishing and deep sea fishing. Charter fishing is very popular; so we suggest you book your family fishing adventure…

2. WaterColor Inn & Resosrt – Santa Rosa Beach, FL: WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach made the #2 spot for Travel & Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Awards for family hotels…