Happy New Year from Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast! I’m excited about what 2016 will bring and incredibly hopeful that the economy of LA or “Lower Alabama” will continue to shine. 

Many prospective buyers and sellers ask me what the outlook is for the real estate market in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Should they buy now - should they sell? If the business activity we’ve witnessed here is any indication, I would say the market for condos and single-family homes in the area, including Foley, will likely continue to strengthen.   

There’s a palatable energy and sense of opportunity in the air. You can see it in the new businesses setting up shop, new home and condo construction projects, infrastructure improvements, and investment by local governments in quality of life initiatives.  

Take for example the new 89-room Hampton Inn going up in Gulf Shores or the recently-opened Bywater Bistro adjacent to the Canal Park boat launch in the Waterway Village District. Also in the District, Gulf Shores will welcome its first microbrewery, Big Beach Brewery, at the intersection of East 2nd Street and 24th Avenue across from Tacky Jacks. An indoor trampoline park, The Factory, located at the former Gulf Coast Tennis Club on West Oak Road is slated to open this year. A great venue for birthday parties, the center also will offer air dodgeball, basketball and foam pits. And for bicyclists and walkers, the city is planning some major improvements to the Fort Morgan bike trail. 

In Orange Beach, it’s hard not to miss Best Western’s 86-room The Tides Hotel going up on the beach. The hotel is now accepting reservations for stays beginning June 30. Or, the 140-room Springhill Suites by Marriott expected to open at The Wharf this spring. Construction is underway on the 11-story condo complex Perdido Dunes Tower on Perdido Beach Boulevard. 2016 will also see the arrival of Holiday Inn’s boutique Hotel Indigo across from the beach near the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Improvements to Canal Road, specifically near the entrance of The Wharf, will help ease traffic congestion into and out of this popular destination.

In Foley, the earth-movers continue to prep 520 acres for an entertainment and sports development on County Road 20. Billed as a family-oriented venue with shopping, hotels and dining, the project will also comprise a 108,000 square foot sports tourism complex along with 16 outdoor athletic fields. 

And these are just some of the current and planned projects in our community! Add to this the fact that interest rates are still at historic lows, hovering around 4 percent, and will remain so despite the recent Federal Reserve rate hike. According to leading economists, mortgage rates are expected to rise gradually ending this year at an average of 4.6 percent. Still very attractive!

While no one has a crystal ball to predict the future, if you’ve been contemplating purchasing - or selling - a primary home, a vacation or investment property, 2016 may be the year to catch the beautiful waves of Alabama’s Gulf Coast!

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Christine Slaughter is an associate real estate broker with Realty Executives of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Originally from Australia (she moved to Alabama’s stunning coast nearly 30 years ago), her love of the sand, sun and seafood are deeply-rooted in her soul. 

If you are looking to buy or sell along the Alabama coast (or Florida), you can reach Christine directly at (251) 942-3141 or email her at christine@ChristineSlaughter.com. Be sure to follow Christine online at ChristineSlaughter.com, on Twitter@ChristinesCoast or Facebook at ChristineSlaughterRealtor. Let Christine help you catch the real estate wave in 2016!

28316 Burkart Drive, Orange Beach

$849,000

Relax and unwind in this hard-to-find 3 bed/2.5 bath waterfront oasis on Bayou St. John in Burkart Estates in Orange Beach.

The bright and open floorplan includes a charming living, kitchen and dining area, plus a loft. The large back deck is the perfect spot to entertain and gaze out over Perdido Bay, Bird and Robinson Islands and the Gulf. You can also tie off your boat at your own private dock and pier. And, there's LOTS of storage for your water toys and fishing gear!

Check out this new video of this perfect island getaway!

For a private showing, contact Christine Slaughter at (251) 942-3141. 

***

Christine Slaughter is an associate real estate broker with Realty Executives of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Originally from Australia (she moved to Alabama’s stunning coast nearly 30 years ago), her love of the sand, sun and seafood are deeply-rooted in her soul. If you are looking to buy or sell along the Alabama coast (or Florida), you can reach Christine directly at (251) 942-3141 or email her at Christine@ChristineSlaughter.com.

Be sure to follow Christine online at ChristineSlaughter.com, on Twitter@ChristinesCoast or Facebook at ChristineSlaughterRealtor. Let Christine help you catch the real estate wave in 2016!

With everything going on over the holiday season from buying gifts, attending parties and writing cards, it's not difficult to forget that our cherished, four-legged family members need more-than-the-usual attention, too.

When it comes to safety during this time of year, we often hear about precautions when hanging lights, using candles or stoking the fireplace. Rarely do we hear about specific safety measures for our pets.

Below are safety tips to help keep our furry friends safe and sound - and forever loved. Many of them are not new, but worth repeating:

Rethink your holiday decorations:

Ornament hooks, tinsel and small or large glass items, such as snow globes, pictures frames or grandmother's collection of miniature angels, can pose a threat to your animals if they chew on them or knock them over. Place fragile items up high - on a mantel, for example. Replace breakable ornaments with softer versions. 

Reconsider toxic holiday plants:

Few people realize that typical holiday plants such as mistletoe, holly and lilies are highly toxic to animals if swallowed. Even poinsettias can cause irritation to lungs and skin. Keep these plants out of reach.

Be careful what you give your pets to eat:

With all the goodies gracing your table this season, continue to be mindful of the scraps you give your pets. Small bones can lodge in your pet's throat, and animal meat and fat - cooked and uncooked - can cause intestinal upset, vomiting and diarrhea. Milk and chocolate are no-no's as well as they can cause diarrhea, or worse.

Clean up right away:

If food falls on the floor or an ornament breaks, sweep up the mess right away so that your pets don't get sick or cut themselves. Also, be careful of carpet powder or room spray to freshen up your surroundings. Too much can irritate your pets' lungs or set off an asthma attack, severe coughing or sneezing.

Think about your tree water:

Pets love to drink water anywhere they find it. That includes the water you give your live Christmas tree, which can cause stomach upset or diarrhea. Consider buying a smaller tree, placing it out of reach or surrounding it with a fence.

Create a peaceful, out-of-the-way place for your pets:

The hectic comings and goings of your home during the holiday season may make your pets nervous. They have a keen sense that something is up when schedules begin to change, you're in and out more often than usual or FEDEX becomes a near-daily visitor. This can make already timid pets more nervous. To help calm their nerves, set up a comfy quiet corner where your pets can relax away from all the activity.  One little girl I know turned a large cardboard box into a mini pet motel - outfitted with her cat's favorite blanket and toy.

Finally, give lots of hugs and kisses:

You can make your pets feel more safe by laying on a few extra hugs and kisses this season. Take a minute from your hectic day to show them how much you love them. Of course, you do this already, but a little extra TLC will go a long way in calming nerves - both yours and theirs!

(Partial credit: Buffini)

Perdido Key (or "Lost Key" as named by its early Spanish settlers) is an unincorporated community in Escambia County, Florida, located between Pensacola, Florida, and Orange Beach, Alabama. Known for its pristine beaches, the key stretches nearly 16 miles, with almost 60 percent of it located in federal or state parks.

No more than a few hundred yards wide in most places, Perdido Key consists of abundant wetlands, estuaries and wildlife. These natural conditions and largely unrestricted past development have made future development plans a critical factor for today's Perdido Key leaders, planners and residents.

After a start-and-stop planning process that began several years ago, leaders are now embarking on a "New Urbanism" concept to enhance the quality of life on Perdido Key. Referred to as Perdido Key's "Cinderella Moment", the focus rests on a master plan to address traffic conditions, pedestrian-friendly options and designated town center, all the while enhancing, conserving and protecting the area's natural assets.

Given Perdido Key has been without a master plan for more than fifty years, this new master plan represents a major step in creating a more sustainable, attractive, walker/biker friendly and town-centered community. Such changes undoubtedly will benefit the Perdido Key real estate market by offering the type of community that more and more people look for when considering the location of their primary residence or vacation home.

In addition, the master plan will propose new zoning codes to permit more varied residential options. In a market where single-family homes and high-rise condos dominate, the new codes will create more "in-between" housing types such as townhomes.

Following a community planning and design meeting this past October, a preliminary master plan is now under development based on the community's feedback. Once completed, the plan will be presented to Escambia County officials for review with full adoption of a Perdido Key Master Plan anticipated in early 2016. Stay tuned for any updates!

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate on Perdido Key, give me call at (251) 942-3141.

You can also check out current listings on the key by clicking here.

Sales of Alabama Gulf front condominiums between September 1 and November 30 of this year reveal a healthy fall real estate picture. During this period, buyers snapped up 110 condos.

Key statistics (by number of bedrooms and list price) behind these sales are as follows:

Click on the links below to view waterfront condos currently for sale:

Orange Beach Condos and Gulf Shores Condos

Give me a call at (251) 942-3141 for more information or to view a property!