Whether you are looking to buy, or sell, real estate, you need a knowledgeable Realtor who knows the local market, but who also keeps a pulse on the market. What’s selling? What’s not selling? When you decide to work with a Realtor, I sincerely hope that you will select me to assist you with your real estate needs. I build my business, one customer at a time.
Stats:

61 Sales
29% Cash
Total Sales Volume: $36.1 million
Median Sales Price: $420,000
Average Sale Price as percentage of List Price: 78%


Why is inventory slowly decreasing? — there are more listings selling or expiring, than there are new listings coming on the market. (see attached pdf file for more information) One number to notice is that while the median sold price is $420,000, the withdrawn, expired, and new listing median prices are well above that $420,000 level which is selling. If you are selling, it would make sense to know what is selling, and get close with your asking price, otherwise, your listing is likely to expire, unsold.

Looking at the 3-month moving average of median sold prices (black line in the graph above), we see a slight upturn over the last two months, but it doesn’t justify the higher prices of those new listings.

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Sad news for turtle nesting as loggerhead
unable to find place to lay her eggs

South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers continue to struggle to find turtle nest success in South Walton. These photos were taken by volunteers June 17. The above photo shows where a loggerhead turtle attempted to nest but was unable due to obstructions left on the beach. No one knows for sure why she gave up, but it appears the tracks spell out the message. The photo below shows the abundance of items left overnight along the beaches in Miramar Beach. Without a clear path to a nesting area beyond the high tide line, turtles will simply give up and go back to the Gulf. As of June 17, there has been 11 successful nests laid.

WaltonOutdoors.com is an online zine for outdoor enthusiasts in Walton County, Florida and the surrounding area. Lori Ceier can be reached via email at lori@waltonoutdoors.com

Local environmental advocates team up to educate public

Local environmentalist Arix Zalace has a message to share. As the producer of turtle-safe flashlight filters, Arix has teamed up with the South Walton Community Council and created a four-and-a-half minute educational documentary to enlighten both children and adults about sea turtles and the dangers they face.

The SWCC has underwritten the documentary, and the DVD is available for distribution free of charge for local educators and the public.

The colorful and informative video explains the importance of our sea turtles in the balance of the sea, and the struggles they face to survive.

It also describes how humans can ensure a healthy future for the ancient creatures by taking sensible measures, such as filling holes in the sand and not leaving items or garbage on the beach.

Anita Page, Executive Director of SWCC hopes the video will enlighten beach goers to do the right thing when visiting the beach during turtle nest season May 1 – Oct. 31.

“We hope this is educational – empowering people to make the right decisions such as using turtle safe lighting,” Anita said.

Sharon Maxwell, president of South Walton Turtle Group is pleased with the video and getting out the message as well.

“It is so good to see a public minded group in South...

Several of Barrettt's beehives. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

Bears wreak havoc, force beekeeper to install electric fences

Local beekeeper Earl Barrett is not happy. Local black bears have been raiding his beehives in the Pt. Washington State Forest this season, forcing him to put up electric fences to protect his hives.

As he worked on putting up a fence off of CR 83 in Santa Rosa Beach on May 27, Barrett said with a bit of frustration, “this is the third location of boxes I’ve had to fence in.”

“The bears only need to hit the fence once,” Barrett said, as he explained that it only takes one jolt to deter the sweet seekers from coming back.

Barrett explained the bears get into the hives, wreaking havoc, knocking them over, getting into the honey and creating rowdy bees. The result from the disruption ends up taking days for the honey makers to settle down.

Earl Barrett is a third generation beekeeper from Point Washington. Son of Solomon “Otis” Barrett. Earl and his ancestors have been in the beekeeping business for more than 120 years producing wholesale honey for the area.

The family has approximately 350 beehives, down from more than 1,200 from years ago, and house their production operation off of Old Ferry Road.
Barrett’s bees produce several types of seasonal honey; titi, high-bush gall...

Photo courtesy J.L. Castner, University of Florida

It’s that time of year again, and those blood-thirsty yellow flies are here

In Florida, the name “yellow fly” is used to describe about a dozen different species of yellow-bodied biting flies. “Yellow flies” readily attack man and are usually abundant in Florida with peak annoyance occurring in May and June.

“Yellow flies” are in the family known as Tabanidae. All tabanids go through an egg, larva, pupa and adult stage, referred to as “complete metamorphosis,” the same development process that mosquitoes go through. Tabanids lay egg masses containing 50 to several hundred eggs. Most species deposit their eggs around ponds, streams or swamps on overhanging vegetation such as grasses or cattails.

Yellow flies congregate in shaded, humid areas on the edges of forests, rivers and creeks, avoiding large, open, sunny areas. Some species are active in the early morning while other species are more active in the late afternoon.

However, depending upon conditions such as heavy tree canopy, cloudy days or when an animal is moving through an area, yellow flies can become active and bothersome throughout the day. “Yellow flies” prefer to attack man about the head, neck or shoulders, however, any exposed part of the body may be attacked.


Their persistence to obtain a bloodmeal,...