Alys, Rosemary, Watercolor

If you would buy a house in one of these communities, which one would you pick? please explain why, if possible. What other communities are worth looking at? Where are the best values?

Those are wide open questions. Expect many answers.

I would choose Watercolor personally. Alys and Rosemary are overpriced in my opinion for what they offer. All three are very expensive regardless. You really wouldn't ever need to leave Watercolor if you didn't want to. I live in Santa Rosa Beach so I am not bias to any of the areas.
The very natural beauty of Watercolor is what really attracts me. There are tons of great trails for walking/biking in the area also. Be ready for high insurance and association dues in all 3 areas.

I would pick Grayton Beach over all of those

I would choose Watercolor personally. Alys and Rosemary are overpriced in my opinion for what they offer. All three are very expensive regardless. You really wouldn't ever need to leave Watercolor if you didn't want to. I live in Santa Rosa Beach so I am not bias to any of the areas.
The very natural beauty of Watercolor is what really attracts me. There are tons of great trails for walking/biking in the area also. Be ready for high insurance and association dues in all 3 areas.

High property taxes too! I'm not really a "development" type person, so none of them really appeal to me, but if I had to I also, would choose Watercolor. Seems more florida beachy and native and there's a smidge more space between the houses. I also like the beach/pool club being on the beach, with access to a restaurant/bar. I don't know how the association fees compare, I hear that they're all pretty high.

Although it's not on your list, I also really like Watersound. Beautiful beaches and homes.

Watercolor for me. I like the beach club, restaurants, nature trails, Western Lake, architecture, Ceruleans and all that Watercolor offers.

I have to say Alys. I love the feeling that it envokes.

But you really wouldn't go wrong with any of the above. It just depends on the particular house/lot you are looking for.

Alys Beach for me, but a few years ago I may have said WaterColor because of my boys' ages - they are now older so our needs aren't the same as far as parks, children's programs, etc. go. (WaterColor is a great place for families with small children). I say Alys Beach for many reasons but I personally love the architecture - oh, the courtyards! It's a green community and the homes are built like fortresses (think hurricanes here), and, once the community is built out, there will be something like 9 restaurants scattered around the community, a town center and a private beach club. I think the community will hold it's value IMO.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Seems like every house is for sale in Rosemary.

How long do they expect before Alys is built out?

Have the prices in these comunities come down from the high?

Which area is likely to hold their value - appreciate?

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Seems like every house is available in Rosemary.

How long do they expect before Alys is built out?

There is much more inventory available in Watercolor than Rosemary, but WC is a bigger community. However, as a percent of homes built or under construction, Watersound may have the highest percentage of homes for sale.

At the rate of sales that occurred in 2007 (there weren't many sales in 2006), Alys won't be built out until probably 2080 as there will eventually be over 800 units. I know some folks like Alys, but I would say that I hear one positive comment about Alys for every 10 negative comments. Seems most people hate the zero lot line that many of the houses have in Alys, plus the staggering whiteness on a sunny day plus the lack of much greenery around the houses due to the zero lot lines. If you want really private quarters, Alys has that. If you want open space between houses, greenery around the houses, color and diversity of architecture, Alys would not be for you.

I hear lots of positive comments about Watersound from folks without kids. However, I hear the most positive comments about Watercolor due to the beach club with dining, bike trails, canoeing, fishing in Western lake, proximity to the shops and dining in Seaside, the proximity to Publix, surrounded on a couple of sides by state park, and the central location on 30A.

Good luck.

How long do they expect before Alys is built out?

10-12 years total.

You want go wrong in any of those communities. I personally like Watersound Beach (home under construction) because its gated, lots are larger and offers much more privacy. Regardless of where you choose, try to get at least an ocean or water view because its more attractive to renters and property appreciation is greater.

My vote is for Rosemary Beach. It is smaller, has one of the largest percentages of permanent residents, has a great pre-school and elementary school (the only neighborhood that has both of these) and a new church.

My vote is for Rosemary Beach. It is smaller, has one of the largest percentages of permanent residents, has a great pre-school and elementary school (the only neighborhood that has both of these) and a new church.

Rosemary has some cool houses.

However, it does back up to highway 98 and is at the very end of 30A with little shelter from what may happen as PCB expands west. I'm not sure where the height restrictions end as you leave 30A headed toward PCB.

10-12 years total.

In 2 years, they have sold less than 50 properties and the vast majority of those sold in the first year. At the average pace of sales over the first 2 years, it will take 30 more years to build out. At the rate of sales over the last year, it will take 100 plus years to build out.

Watercolor, and the prices have come down considerably. We have a home for sale in Phase I, which has been reduced $500,000. Send me a PM if interested.

Watercolor. There are no F*** balconies in the other 2 communities.

Watercolor. There are no F*** balconies in the other 2 communities.

??? Rosemary has balconies.

??? Rosemary has balconies.

:lolabove: Miss Kitty's Watercolor balcony is lovingly nicknamed the F*** balcony. Apparently the view inspires people to curse...sorry to have confused anyone about this joke.

:lolabove: Miss Kitty's Watercolor balcony is lovingly nicknamed the F*** balcony. Apparently the view inspires people to curse...sorry to have confused anyone about this joke.

:floor: ...you are next, you MoFo Dr.!!!!!