Anyone care to comment on WaterSound West?

[kimbug]

on WaterSound West Beach?

[Dominoes]

My impression is that it is less than Watersound Beach and Watercolor, but still overvalued. Nothing has sold to my knowledge in there. I would look at Watersound Beach or Watercolor. It may be a few 100k more, but would make a wiser investment/ better place to live

[Babyblue]

Do you want to buy in there?

[kimbug]

Possibly...will be looking at our options when we are in the area this summer. It just looks to be a little quieter than WaterSound or Watercolor. I see how it may not be a great investment given that it's not loaded with amenties.

[tsutcli]

Possibly...will be looking at our options when we are in the area this summer. It just looks to be a little quieter than WaterSound or Watercolor. I see how it may not be a great investment given that it's not loaded with amenties.
and quite a bit further from the beach....

[rapunzel]

The neighborhood would be great for a full-time person. If it were a beach house (and especially if you wanted to rent it out), it is too far from the beach. It's a beautiful beach, but so far to haul all your stuff!

The houses aren't designed for full time living. They have little quirks...like no closets, no storage, master bedroom at the front of the house on the lower level so that the bed is in front of a wall of floor to ceiling windows 2 feet from the sidewalk.

The prices on some of the houses are pretty appealing, but they don't include Beach Club membership. If you lived there, and wanted to go to the beach with kids, you'd need the Beach Club.

[2bohemians]

It's a lovely property with little pathways scattered throughout and the journey out to the beach is extra special too. But as everyone says, it would be quite a haul to the beach and it's definitely not a beach front development. Haven't been in any of the homes, so we can't comment on that first hand.

[kimbug]

Is it farther to the beach than say if you were @ Seacrest North?

[rapunzel]

Probably about the same distance, but the path goes through the state park, so you don't just tram it. A plus over Seacrest North is that once you get to the beach, it is gorgeous and pristine -- and not very crowded.

[beachmouse]

It's one of those places that's going to seem rather crowded and a little bit claustrophibic at build out, I suspect.

[hillsatthebeach]

I sold West Beach for St. Joe for the past 3 years until recently and I just wanted to clarify that anyone who purchases in West Beach from the developer can buy a Beach Club membership. I personally think West Beach is amazing and would like to live there myself. If anyone would like additional information I am more than happy to help.

[hillsatthebeach]

Also you can custom build anything you would like on a lot in West Beach as long as it follows the guidelines provided for that community. Their guidelines are almost identical to WaterSound Beach guidelines.

[dunelover]

I sold West Beach for St. Joe for the past 3 years until recently and I just wanted to clarify that anyone who purchases in West Beach from the developer can buy a Beach Club membership. I personally think West Beach is amazing and would like to live there myself. If anyone would like additional information I am more than happy to help.Thanks for sharing that info. What does a membership cost, and does it include all access?

[sowalgayboi]

Drove by this weekend and noticed something going up to the left of the entrance gates, so I guess some things have sold. :idontno: Doubt that its anything Joe is building.

[DuneLaker]

Probably about the same distance, but the path goes through the state park, so you don't just tram it. A plus over Seacrest North is that once you get to the beach, it is gorgeous and pristine -- and not very crowded.


It would be a fabulous place to live if you built your own house and enjoy walking to the beach. Being next to Deer Lake State Park is a huge bonus. The trick is don't haul everything to the beach but the kitchen sink. Try taking nothing. With little to no crowd, it is a good place to fish.

[dbcooper]

Beach club usually cost 20K
now offering at 5K
paying nearly all closing cost
3 spec homes asking 854-889
no garage no closets tiny
small pool puttering green

i believe it would be a much slower pace than watercolor.

great location best bet would to build what you want. i think it is a good choice for primary residence.

about the haul. .... bike with trailier!

[DuneLaker]

The upside to the beautiful "haul" to the beach along a comfortable boardwalk is that it is also a "haul" for storm surge to reach your house. Nicely situated behind primary and secondary dunes among cozy coastal upland habitat.

[Chickpea]

The upside to the beautiful "haul" to the beach along a comfortable boardwalk is that it is also a "haul" for storm surge to reach your house. Nicely situated behind primary and secondary dunes among cozy coastal upland habitat.

Agreed - I have a friend who just bought a house there and she is thrilled (and she is a full timer here!)

[dunelover]

Beach club usually cost 20K
now offering at 5K
paying nearly all closing cost
3 spec homes asking 854-889
no garage no closets tiny
small pool puttering green

i believe it would be a much slower pace than watercolor.

great location best bet would to build what you want. i think it is a good choice for primary residence.

about the haul. .... bike with trailier!

wonder what the difference between aksing and selling price is?

[iqueequeg]

Beach club usually cost 20K
now offering at 5K
paying nearly all closing cost
3 spec homes asking 854-889
no garage no closets tiny
small pool puttering green

i believe it would be a much slower pace than watercolor.

great location best bet would to build what you want. i think it is a good choice for primary residence.

about the haul. .... bike with trailier!

I think WS West is fantastic for a primary home, or a second home that you don't plan to rent. Really nice community pool, WS Beach Club is available, beautiful (!!) walk to the beach over a long boardwalk over the Lake. You can also bike to the beach as there aren't steps and there's a bike rack towards the end.

I think it will end up much less hectic than WaterSound or Watercolor, if that's what you're looking for. No views. If that's important to you, you'd have to look elsewhere.

I'm curious if folks know of any other neighborhoods that fit the above description (nice pool, south of 30a, beach access)?

[dbcooper]

asking price versus selling price???

I was told to disregard all pricing on the homes available sheet. Also told that it would be cheaper to build than buy existing??????

[sowalgayboi]

I think WS West is fantastic for a primary home, or a second home that you don't plan to rent. Really nice community pool, WS Beach Club is available, beautiful (!!) walk to the beach over a long boardwalk over the Lake. You can also bike to the beach as there aren't steps and there's a bike rack towards the end.

I think it will end up much less hectic than WaterSound or Watercolor, if that's what you're looking for. No views. If that's important to you, you'd have to look elsewhere.

I'm curious if folks know of any other neighborhoods that fit the above description (nice pool, south of 30a, beach access)?

Can't think of anything that matches WaterSound west.

[heathernken]

I think there was a recent sale right down next to the beach access, right across from the pool. UNder 800- great value I'd say and a beatiful development. Just dont plan on moving anytime soon as it will take YEARS to build out.

[sowalgayboi]

I think there was a recent sale right down next to the beach access, right across from the pool. UNder 800- great value I'd say and a beatiful development. Just dont plan on moving anytime soon as it will take YEARS to build out.

I'm sure it is under a build out requirement much like the rest of Joe developments. However as the market stays down they will probably continue to extend it.

[iqueequeg]

I'm sure it is under a build out requirement much like the rest of Joe developments. However as the market stays down they will probably continue to extend it.


I believe they are currently selling lots with an 8 year build out requirement.

[AAbsolute]

This neighborhood is a sleeper. Gated, all South of 30A, Boardwalks to the beach, Least crowded expanse of beach in South Walton, the beach access is no longer than Watersound Beach and shorter than anything in Seacrest Beach, Treetops, most of Seaside, most of Watercolor or anything North of 30A in Rosemary.

We built a home in there and it sold 110 days from the start of construction, which was 1 day after Certificate of Occupancy. Take a good look at this one.

[iqueequeg]

I just wanted to correct a post above that said beach access at Watersound West Beach was much further than Watersound Beach (formerly plain old Watersound) and Watercolor.

Beach access from most of Watersound West Beach is only a little further than Watersound beach. Of course, it depends where you are in each community. The closer houses in West Beach are closer to the beach than the further houses in Watersound Beach, but on average Watersound Beach homes are just a little closer.

Beach access in West Beach is much closer than in Watercolor, except some of phase I. Also, of course, you don't have to cross 30a to get to the beach from West Beach. Not to knock Watercolor in any way, which I think is fantastic, but just to set the record straight.

You can always download google earth for free and get the exact distance yourself using the ruler tool (a very cool program). Watersound West Beach was just a series of dirt paths at the time of the last satellite images, but you can get a pretty good idea.

[egrp]

This neighborhood is a sleeper. Gated, all South of 30A, Boardwalks to the beach, Least crowded expanse of beach in South Walton, the beach access is no longer than Watersound Beach and shorter than anything in Seacrest Beach, Treetops, most of Seaside, most of Watercolor or anything North of 30A in Rosemary.

We built a home in there and it sold 110 days from the start of construction, which was 1 day after Certificate of Occupancy. Take a good look at this one.

i agree....it will be a very nice community although it will definitly take some time to get built out...i think it will do very well as a rental community as well once it matures...would not look at it as just primary and some decent value considering. HOA probably kinda high as in all JOE communites

[dunelover]

This neighborhood is a sleeper. Gated, all South of 30A, Boardwalks to the beach, Least crowded expanse of beach in South Walton, the beach access is no longer than Watersound Beach and shorter than anything in Seacrest Beach, Treetops, most of Seaside, most of Watercolor or anything North of 30A in Rosemary.

We built a home in there and it sold 110 days from the start of construction, which was 1 day after Certificate of Occupancy. Take a good look at this one.
It was built pretty fast......When did it sale?

[sowalgayboi]

This neighborhood is a sleeper. Gated, all South of 30A, Boardwalks to the beach, Least crowded expanse of beach in South Walton, the beach access is no longer than Watersound Beach and shorter than anything in Seacrest Beach, Treetops, most of Seaside, most of Watercolor or anything North of 30A in Rosemary.

We built a home in there and it sold 110 days from the start of construction, which was 1 day after Certificate of Occupancy. Take a good look at this one.

Was it modular/prebuilt construction? Not saying this is bad, but as the above post mentions that is pretty quick.

[AAbsolute]

It was a site built home. 2,450 square feet, 4 bed/4 bath. St. Joe sold me the plans pre-approved through the DRB. I bought the lot on April 1st. It took St. Joe till Aug to move the "pre-approved" plans through the DRB. We started the footings Aug. 1st, framed for a couple weeks, and moved through Certificate of Occupancy real quick, Dec 10. We had so much interest at the price point, 800,000. A real nice couple, end users, from Tenn. gave us a low offer of 750,000 which we were happy to accept in these times and they closed immediate.

We do't do modular homes, but I know there is one being completed at West Beach at this time. I saw the home we built on VRBO. I think it the only VBO in West Beach, but I'm not sure.

It came with a Watersound Beach Club membership with prieleges at Camp Creek and Wild Heron. Watersound West Beach has a great pool and owners have priveleges at the Watersound Fitness Center as part of their HOA dues, about $700 per quarter.

Nice home, fun project and I believe it's a sleeper of a neighborhood.

[sowalgayboi]

Thanks, just curious.

$700 per quarter isn't to bad either.

[egrp]

Not bad at all!! especially considering the HOA at WaterColor and WaterSound Beach

[Ohio Girl]

So this is a stupid question. If you don't join the beach club, can you still use the pool and do you have access to the beach?

[AAbsolute]

Watersound and Watersound West Beach all share the same Beach. They have about 6 different pools. Only Beach Club members or member guests can use the pool at the club.

[sowalgayboi]

So this is a stupid question. If you don't join the beach club, can you still use the pool and do you have access to the beach?

Perhaps there is some confusion regarding the beach club.

The beach club is a private club just East of the Gate House of WaterSound.

WaterSound west beach has a community pool area by the beach access. As long as you own in WSWB you can use the pool there and you would also have beach access.