Employees Wanted

[SoWalSally]

From Walton Sun

Businesses in South Walton are having trouble finding reliable help. High gas prices, lack of affordable housing and a small workforce are causing problems.
With no affordable housing in the area, employees have to drive from miles away.
“It isn’t convenient for them to drive all the way from Panama City or Freeport to work here,” said Yianni Georgiades, owner of Yianni’s Seagrove Grille. “This is a year round problem. It’s a bigger problem during the summer when things get busier.”
The increase in gas prices only adds to Georgiades’ troubles, he said.
Some businesses have to look outside the country to find help.
During the summer, Rosemary Beach gets many employees from Poland, said Sandy Reynolds, director of human resources for Rosemary Beach.
“Poland has an explorers program for students who want to go over seas,” Reynolds said. “A company over there will handle all their paper work with immigration. They have to find their own housing and transportation.”
With the seasonal nature of work in a vacation community, it’s hard to get employees who only want to work just part of the year, Reynolds added.
With Rosemary Beach situated at the eastern end of County Road 30A, it can draw people from the Panama City area, Reynolds said.
Adams Homes does have housing in the lower end of the price spectrum available in South Walton.
In Driftwood Estates, single-family homes are available in the low $400,000 range, said Virginia Baker, Adams Homes sales manager for the Destin/South Walton area.
Our niche is maybe the middle manger type double-income family, Baker said.
People who are waiting tables would still probably have to drive to the area from Freeport or Bay County, Baker added.
To combat the lack of affordable housing for workers, Sandestin built its own employee housing, said Sylvia Hanks, Sandestin’s vice president for human recourses.
In March of last year several buildings with 462 apartments were built off U.S. Highway 98.
Having the ability to house college students and workers makes it a lot easier to retain employees, Hanks said.

[Allifunn]

Housing could potentially be the reason I don't move to SoWal next year....:(

[SHELLY]

From Walton Sun

Businesses in South Walton are having trouble finding reliable help. High gas prices, lack of affordable housing and a small workforce are causing problems.
With no affordable housing in the area, employees have to drive from miles away.


:idontno:

[Miss Kitty]

I was so pleased to see all of my favorite employees still working here at WC. Finer people cannot be found. They tell me that they are working many double shifts to compensate for fewer hires. They answered yes when I asked if they were happy with the pay...you DO get what you pay for. I continue to tip extra well everywhere I go.

[SHELLY]

Housing could potentially be the reason I don't move to SoWal next year....:(

Oh, but:

"Adams Homes does have housing in the lower end of the price spectrum available in South Walton.
In Driftwood Estates, single-family homes are available in the low $400,000 range, said Virginia Baker, Adams Homes sales manager for the Destin/South Walton area."


For an "affordable" home, if you put nothing down and get a 30-year fixed, that would be in the neighborhood of $2750-ish per month. Add to that tax (ouch) and insurance (double-ouch). Then there is the issue of "food costs" which the government says doesn't really matter anyway when figuring out inflation--oh...car and gas, car insurance, health insurance, utilities...........

[JT]

If you move down my wife and I will cook a meal or 2 for ya.......I really do cook OK. I made Lasagna yesterday and only burned the bread. American Idol was on and I got distracted.

Housing could potentially be the reason I don't move to SoWal next year....:(

[ShallowsNole]

Oh, but:

"Adams Homes does have housing in the lower end of the price spectrum available in South Walton.
In Driftwood Estates, single-family homes are available in the low $400,000 range, said Virginia Baker, Adams Homes sales manager for the Destin/South Walton area."


For an "affordable" home, if you put nothing down and get a 30-year fixed, that would be in the neighborhood of $2750-ish per month. Add to that tax (ouch) and insurance (double-ouch). Then there is the issue of "food costs" which the government says doesn't really matter anyway when figuring out inflation--oh...car and gas, car insurance, health insurance, utilities...........

They didn't say affordable...merely the lower end of the available spectrum.

Facts are - if you are a typical service employee (or law enforcement officer, or anyone who makes less than $50K annually) and you're not already in, you ain't getting in.

What makes it really sad is that you now have to go far north of DeFuniak for there to be an appreciable difference in the price of a decent home.

[dsilvar]

Housing could potentially be the reason I don't move to SoWal next year....:(
http://www.apartmentcities.com/Florida/d/legacy_on_the_bay_FL.asp

[SHELLY]

http://www.apartmentcities.com/Florida/d/legacy_on_the_bay_FL.asp

Another (later?) website for Legacy on the Bay shows prices went up a couple hundred more per month for the 1 bedroom places (784 - 790 sf):

From: $665-690
To: $940 - 915

[SHELLY]

They didn't say affordable...merely the lower end of the available spectrum.


You're right. "Affordable" has been scrapped from the vocabulary down here.

[Kimmifunn]

http://www.apartmentcities.com/Florida/d/legacy_on_the_bay_FL.asp

Another (later?) website for Legacy on the Bay shows prices went up a couple hundred more per month for the 1 bedroom places (784 - 790 sf):

From: $665-690
To: $940 - 915
I was in a 2 br and it was something like $1150 I think...If I remember correctly.

[whiteyfunn]

I was in a 2 br and it was something like $1150 I think...If I remember correctly.

And it was tiny for a 2 br kimmi! At least I thought so.

[Allifunn]

Oh, but:

[QUOTE]
"Adams Homes does have housing in the lower end of the price spectrum available in South Walton.
In Driftwood Estates, single-family homes are available in the low $400,000 range, said Virginia Baker, Adams Homes sales manager for the Destin/South Walton area."


:eek: :eek: OH...yeah.....single female I can afford that....eeeeeeasy!!!:bang::( :idontno: ho well....:biggrin:

[Allifunn]

http://www.apartmentcities.com/Florida/d/legacy_on_the_bay_FL.aspthanks ds...looks like rental will have to be the way I go...at least until I can get my bearings...I own my own home here in SC...so it will be hard to go to a rental:( ...that is the price you pay to be in the place where your soul tells you to be!

[SHELLY]

thanks ds...looks like rental will have to be the way I go...at least until I can get my bearings...I own my own home here in SC...so it will be hard to go to a rental:( ...that is the price you pay to be in the place where your soul tells you to be!

Allifunn,

Once ALL THESE CONDOS finally are built and the owners get desperate for "some kind of return," renters will think they hit the jackpot. The asking rent will still be way too high for average wage-earners, but you'll certainly get more for the money. Just don't come down before or in the height of the tourist season next year, it will be best to come at the end--a season of disappointing cashflow will help softened up the condo owner to your offer.

Those with squeaky-clean credit, a steady job and no pets will find they'll have the pick of the litter.

[dsilvar]

Once ALL THESE CONDOS finally are built and the owners get desperate for "some kind of return,"...
In Ariel Dunes1, with closings to start in June, prices have already fallen $200,000 on some 2br units. Sheesh!!

[SHELLY]

In Ariel Dunes1, with closings to start in June, prices have already fallen $200,000 on some 2br units. Sheesh!!

There was a report on CNBC a few moments ago that essentially said the glory days of the condo are "SO OVER."

The "greater fool" era is over...now comes the shakeout of the "investulators." There is a saying in poker: "If you look around the table and can't tell who the "mark" is...then it's probably you."

[Allifunn]

:lolabove: I think I am going to like you Shelly!!!...in fact, I already DO!!!:clap_1:

[SHELLY]

:lolabove: I think I am going to like you Shelly!!!...in fact, I already DO!!!:clap_1:

Well...that makes one in a row. :cool:

[SHELLY]

In Ariel Dunes1, with closings to start in June, prices have already fallen $200,000 on some 2br units. Sheesh!!

I imagine the investulators are starting to sweat bullets as it gets closer to the developer handing over the keys. A good starting bid for newly minted condos is the original "preconstruction price" plus 10%. Stick your offer on the back of your business card, hand it over, and walk away. ;-)