Summer Ridge

Developer perfects the art of outdoor living

A time-tested real estate adage states, ?To compete in a tough market, you need to be a low-cost provider and/or have a unique feature identified and desired by your buyers and not found in your competitors? product.?
In the Santa Rosa Beach area, one real estate developer found a creative feature that sells homes. Three years ago, Sun Cor Development planned a small-gated community, Summer Ridge, just off County Road 393. The homes were coastal style cottages designed for permanent residents and non-rental second homes.
Looking for a niche, the developers added a secluded, elevated courtyard deck that created an outdoor living hideaway for private sunbathing, casual dinner under a deck umbrella or entertaining friends under the stars.
Jim Benson, developer, and Mike Klein, architect and construction manager for Sun Cor moved here from Minnesota eight years ago.
?Coming from Minnesota where most homes are on large lots with plenty of seclusion, we soon realized that privacy was not a given and almost rare anywhere south of Highway 98 in South Walton,? Benson said.
The duo devised a development plan that increased the size of the lots, saved all the natural coastal landscaping, controlled quality and design of each home, and hid a secret courtyard deck between a detached garaged and the home.
Sun Cor also created distinctive features inside each home ? vaulted tongue and groove cypress wood ceilings with beams in the great room and floating wood plank stairways leading to the second floor.
?We love homes with lots of windows to bring in the sunshine and fresh air during spring and fall,? Klein said.
A typical cottage has 30 windows and includes a pair of French doors from the master bedroom to a private courtyard deck.
The courtyard decks range from 600 to more than 1,000 square feet.
?Every courtyard has a different design and they all have access to an enclosed hot and cold outdoor shower. Some decks are single level and others have multiple levels. We position every home and garage on each lot maximize the natural landscaping and privacy for the deck. Many of the courtyard decks have a natural tree growing out of the deck,? Klein said.
The unique design and quality of construction won a first place award in the 2006 Parade of Homes. A virtual tour of Sun Cor homes can be viewed at www.summerridgehomes.com. Homes are priced from $725,000.
Article submitted by Jim Benson, Sun Cor Development.