Part of this blog is assigned to describing various services for renters in the Gulf Coast area, and this includes general vacation packages to lure people into the area for a few days to a week. But what about Five Star Gulf Rentals’ own services? Various rental companies in Destin, Five Star included, expanded their guest offerings during this past spring and summer, as the rising wave and demand of renters for rental properties has been increasing steadily since the start of 2009. Some companies may offer vacation combination packages, with reduced-price passes, but what about planning your vacation for you?

If you’re planning to use Five Star Gulf Rentals for a summer beachfront property in Destin or South Walton, the vacation package deals the company carries essentially assists with planning your vacation to the Emerald Coast. Destin and other Emerald Coast communities saw an increase of new visitors this summer, including many from outside the New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama area, and if you’re unfamiliar with the area, Five Star can offer recommendations when planning your trip. At this point, why use guide books when locals from the area can give you recommendations?

Some of the more specific services offered in Five Star’s rental arrangements are outlined in the page for Destin rental concierge services. On a basic level, though, this includes arranging and making recommendations for various activities and entertainment around the area, including appointments at spas, golf lessons, and chartered fishing trips. Arranging for dining is another service offered, and this can include basic services like having groceries already in the refrigerator in your rental when you arrive to having a private chef come to your rental to prepare dinner for your family or guests. If you want to explore the culinary offerings of Destin, we can recommend and make arrangements at area restaurants.

One of the issues with renting a property in any beach, Destin and the rest of the Emerald Coast in this case, is getting from the house to the beach. Not every rental property is directly on the beach and, if the rental house isn’t within walking distance of the beach, many drive there. In Destin recently, one issue this past summer – as well as during this past decade in general – has been on the overcrowding of beaches in the summer due to the large amount of renters. Another issue has been vacationers trespassing on private beaches for people who own beach houses all year long. Although some trespassers may not know if the beach is public or private, the mayor of Destin has put into planning a solution for overcrowded Destin beaches.

The solution, according to the article linked above, is to have a trolley line to give renters in Destin accessibility to Henderson Beach state park, a free beach that isn’t experiencing as much traffic as Crystal Beach. Crystal Beach, during recent summers, has experienced overcrowding, as well as vacationers trespassing on beachfront properties, but, being the more convenient beach, locals and renters flock to it. Henderson, which is somewhat out of the way, has experienced less traffic but the trolley line is designed to drive more traffic there.

The other benefit of going to Henderson Beach state park as a renter is that the beach is free. Currently, the price to access Henderson is merely six dollars for parking, but by trolley, going to the beach is free. As Destin is known for its beaches, going to a fully-free beach is one way to make a vacation package even better. The white sands and green water of the Emerald Coast can be found on all beaches in Destin and South Walton, and this trolley idea will be convenient for renters not with a beachfront property and will distribute beach traffic for evenly.

Colder weather often means lower rates, and if you’re considering renting a properly through Five Star Gulf Rentals, the rates in the fall are lower than during the warmer months. Five Star has seen an increase in rental properties over the year, but this reflects the increase in rental demand on the Emerald Coast. From about three properties, our offerings have increased, and now we have options ranging from larger beach houses to condos. For large groups of ten to fourteen people to a small family, all types of rental properties are available on the Gulf Coast. Also, as the atmosphere in various Gulf Coast towns varies, the rentals open in the fall months include properties in Destin and the various communities of South Walton along route 30A.

Why is it an ideal time to come to the Emerald Coast? While most of the east coast and Midwest in the United States are experiencing colder temperatures with the start of September, the Gulf coast is still warm. Destin’s famous beachscape of white sands juxtaposed with bluish green water is still intact and, with lower prices, the fall makes an ideal time to rent a property for three days to a week to experience this natural wonder. The beach isn’t Destin’s only attraction, and all of the other aspects of the Emerald Coast, from hiking and yoloing to shopping and concerts, are still in effect during fall.

What can you expect to pay for a property rental during the fall? The rates for Five Star Destin rentals are listed under the link, but, overall, the rates are lower than that during the summer. Although the drop isn’t significantly lower, many properties that were only open during for weekly rentals during the summer are now available for weekend rentals. When you can’t take a weeklong vacation during the fall, a weekend excursion to Destin and other Emerald Coast towns now has more options.

Back in the spring and early summer, when this blog just got started, articles by local Destin and other Emerald Coast publications were touting the fact that, despite the economy, the area was seeing more tourists. The result of attracting more outsiders to the Emerald Coast was seen as the result of two factors: less money to travel resulting in “stay-cations” and resorts and rental communities offering discounts for renting but also entertainment and dining options. A recent article published in Northwest Florida Daily News, however, states that the area saw a drop in revenue but increase in the amount of tourists in the area.

The drop isn’t a significant concern, however. In the long term, more at this economic point traveled to Destin than before as the result of modifying vacation destinations – Destin, Florida as opposed to the Riviera. Vacation time was modified, in addition, as various rental property associations saw more customers wanting to rent for shorter periods of time. Instead of one or two weeks, this meant that tourists were staying around just for a weekend. But, although rental visits increased steadily since January (and some had to expand their offerings to accommodate the demands), what about the entertainment options?

The entertainment and dining options ranging from restaurants and bars to concerts and golfing seemed to experience fewer visits, according to the article. Although various resorts and rental associations offered tourist packages that combined lower rental rates with passes to entertainment and dining locations, visiting entertainment destinations like amusement and water parks seemed to be down. Destin’s primary attraction is the white sands and turquoise-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and those coming to stay for a few days may only stay on the beach and explore other free options like hiking through the area or biking down 30A.

Miramar Beach is one of the over a dozen communities making up South Walton. As one of the beaches closer to Destin, Miramar, aside from being primarily an oceanfront community, is known for its shopping destination, the Silver Sands Outlet Mall, one of the high-end shopping options the Emerald Coast has to offer. The communities of South Walton are often considered a more laid-back alternative to the business of the city of Destin but, even so, many of these communities like Miramar Beach are still vacation destinations and are a short drive away from Destin on route 30A.

As a beach town, Miramar Beach has both extensive rental and property ownership options. For the former, Miramar beach has both rental houses and condos. Beach communities are considered a hot commodity along the Emerald Coast and, as Miramar sits right on the Gulf, most rental properties here are going to be right by the beach. In terms of price, this means that rentals will be higher in other communities but the beach itself is closer no matter where you decide to stay in Miramar. Miramar Beach rental properties are listed in the descriptions on Five Star Gulf Rentals, and this includes both large houses for ten people – or two to three vacationing families – and condos.

If staying in South Walton is more than just a vacation, owning a home by the beach may be the ideal location for you. The current economic climate and real estate downturn has resulted in more than average amounts of foreclosed and short sale properties. Although foreclosures and short sales are less than the original amount of the home, this doesn’t mean that the price will be cheap. For single homes and condos in Miramar, this means prices from $1.5 million and downward. Townhomes, however, offer a more affordable options, and, in the Miramar Beach property listings on JoshMcLeanHomes.com, this includes properties up to $600,000.

Home inspections aren’t always done on foreclosed properties but, if you’ve just acquired a foreclosure, doing a home inspection might be a good idea, as minor repairs may need to be done for everything to work properly. About.com has some suggestions about doing a home inspection, the main point being that a professional home inspector may be needed. The surface of the house may appear in top condition, but something may lie beneath the surface. Even if you’re planning to sell your home, doing a home inspection is essentially a prerequisite before getting an estimate home price.

While About has detailed suggestions about what a professional home inspector will look for, here is a rundown of what to expect:

• A mold and mildew check. Toxic black mold must be taken care of, as this is a detriment to anyone’s health. Any mold, however, is a sign that your basement has too much moisture. Any sign of dampness in a home indicates that the property may attract insects or that the structure may deteriorate. Mold and dampness are often a result of exposed earth and crawl spaces, and this will need to be fixed.
• Various gutter and drainage lines checked to see that nothing is blocked.
• Roof and chimney checks. Shingles and the material underneath will be checked for deterioration, as will any bricks and mortar. If the home has a fireplace, this will be checked, as well.
• A plumbing check.
• An electrical systems check. The electric panel and circuit breaker will be examined for proper functioning.
• A heat and cooling check.
• A structure and foundation examination, and;
• Examining all permanent appliances.

Most home inspections don’t come back perfect, as explained on About.com, but certain defects devalue a property more than others. If you’re living in a foreclosed home or if you plan to sell a property not as a foreclosure, any significant repairs should be addressed to have a fully functional home.

A recent column by writer Tommy Stevenson discusses how the changing skyline of Destin, essentially, reflects the current state of Destin real estate. Stevenson discusses in the column how that every summer he returned to vacation in Destin, the area had new buildings and was continuing to build new buildings. The prices, in addition, of homes and condos listed in the paper were generally around the million-dollar mark while, to reflect the current state of real estate, the prices hover at about 15-percent of the amount from three years ago for a condo. For a more detailed description of prices for Destin condos, look at the current Destin condo listings on JoshMcLeanHomes.com.

Not that the skyline changing in Destin is a bad thing, as this change allows the city some stability. Stevenson mentions that Destin went from being a fishing village to a city with a skyline much like that of Miami Beach, and, considering this was done over a 25-year period (when Destin became a city), the change is significantly more drastic than that of other resort communities. But, aside from a change for the better in the scenery, what does the changing skyline reflect, exactly?

As mentioned in this blog previously, one aspect that 2009 has seen for Destin is various new properties not sold in the area and, instead, standing vacant. What have been on the rise has been rentals, and some rental businesses in the area have even needed to expand their offering to accommodate the influx of customers that would rather rent for one to two weeks instead of owning a beach house. While new properties went unsold, even with prices dropping due to the drop in the real estate market, foreclosed properties increased and many properties currently being sold in Destin are foreclosures and short sales. As a result of less demand for new properties, the building of new homes and high-rise condos has stopped – at least for now.

Although the name of this route 30A property may be a pun, the pun is rather accurate, as this beach house in Seagrove is only 50 yards away from the sea. Those staying in this property for a week will be able to walk to the ocean and have a view of it, too. Located in Seagrove, As Far as the Eye Can Sea is a two-story ocean front rental house located near one of the many Emerald Coast beaches. If you’re looking to rent in Destin but don’t want to be near one of the crowded beaches, this property has all of the amenities of a large beach house and the intimateness of a private beach atmosphere together.

As Far as the Eye Can Sea is a beach house designed for ten people to rent for an entire week of vacationing. The rental house has four bedrooms, all with their own private bathrooms. Aside from a combination of king size and queen size beds in the various bedrooms, one feature of this beach house is a private pool. The pool with As Far as the Eye Can Sea is a standard home-size pool with an attached waterfall. If you plan to have a cook out or outdoor party, a grill is included by the pool area.

As this rental property is located in Seagrove near 30A, all of the towns of South Walton and the city of Destin are within driving distance. If you’re planning a vacation to Destin with your family or a large group of people, this beach front house can be rented out for one week at a time at rates ranging from $2000 to $3500 for a week.

One thing that this past economy has shown is that many entertainment, dining, and luxury fields have had to adjust their rates and, in some cases, offer packaged deals to attract customers. Whether it’s a two-for-$20 meal at a restaurant or special lower vacation rates, with activity packages included, many businesses have had to adjust themselves in order to get repeat business. Destin, as one of the premiere vacation destinations in the South, is not different, and various hotels, rentals, and resorts have been offering packages to attract customers. And, in many cases, it appears to be working as, coupled with stay-cations, many are coming to Destin because of the lower rates and activity packages available.

One option, even for regular elderly vacationers or snowbirds, has been the Sandestin Snowbird Program. For the winter, many elderly “migrate” to Florida – hence the term “snowbirds” – and spend about four to six months in the city. To attract more, or the same, customers, the Sandestin resort has created a lower fare package for elderly customers that includes lower rental rates and fares for various recreational activities, including golf. For the latter, this discount plan gives vacationers the opportunity to be a member of the Sandestin Golf Club.

How has this plan been working? Apparently, the Sandestin Resort has seen a ten percent increase in snowbird guests since the package was offered. Similarly, other resorts and rental services in Destin and along the Emerald Coast have been offering similar packages to attract guests. And, as seen in previous posts, these efforts are working for rental properties, as many from out of the area are coming to Destin and South Walton to rent a beach house or condo for three days to a week.