ESCAMBIA & SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Real Estate
|
2007 |
2008 |
4/2009 |
| Median Price* Single Family Home |
$164,800 |
$155,800 |
$143,300 |
| Median Price* Condominium |
$276,800 |
$239,000 |
$250,000 |
* Median Price of 101 homes sold would be that price which is lower than 50 of the prices and also higher than
50 of the prices. In other words, there are homes and condominiums available in every price range in Escambia
& Santa Rosa Counties. Median prices shown above are for the Pensacola MSA. The statistics are meant to
give you a feel for the area as compared to others you may be considering and to show the direction of the
market.
Taxes
Visit
Buy a Home in Florida for comprehensive property tax information.
Weather
Average High/Low in January 66/41, in July 92/71
Escambia County and Santa Rosa County are the two westernmost of Florida’s Counties in the Panhandle. Escambia is bordered by Alabama on two sides. Pensacola, in Escambia County, was Florida’s first territorial capital. Escambia County has 40 miles of white quartz sand beaches. Much of the shoreline belongs to Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Resting on the banks of Pensacola Bay, Pensacola will take you back in time. Pensacola offers a rich heritage, fresh coastal cuisine, art and culture, unique shopping and many festivals throughout the year celebrating everything from music and food to the arts and Mardi Gras. The National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Historic District are favorite spots. Pensacola is home to the world-famous Blue Angels and if you’ve never seen one of their air shows, you are in for a thrill! There are many thousands of military retirees in the area who chose to return because of the fond memories they carried with them for years, of the time that they spent in service here.
Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key are popular beach areas in Escambia County as is Navarre in Santa Rosa County. Among Florida’s treasured barrier islands, Navarre Beach is a natural retreat. It is situated on Santa Rosa Island, surrounded by protected natural coastline. Navarre Beach is one of those rare places that quickly feels like "your" beach. It is a small family-friendly beach community with a total of two restaurants and waterfront bars where locals and visitors alike meet to toast the sunset, play a round of beach volleyball, or reflect on the day while watching the sparkling water.
Not too far inland you’ll find hills, rivers, bayous and a more rural atmosphere. Milton, one of the oldest towns in Florida, is located just north of Navarre along the shores of the Blackwater River. Established in 1825 as a trading post on the Blackwater River, Milton's rich history is matched only by its small-town charm. If you want to mix history and nature, Milton is the spot for you.
Events
Here’s a sampling of the fun that awaits you:
Arts & Culture
Serious collectors, curious window shoppers and those anxious to try their creative side at everything from
glass blowing to belly dancing at hands-on working art centers are drawn to Pensacola’s dynamic art scene.
Boasting ballet, opera, symphony, theatre and an accredited museum of visual arts, Pensacola is the only
city between Mobile, Alabama and Tampa, Florida to offer the "big five."
With festival and art shows year-round, locals and visitors alike have access to art in all styles, from
traditional to edgy. A night out in Pensacola can be equally diverse. Dress to the nines and dine on
world-class seafood before taking in a traveling Broadway show or slip into your boots and blue jeans
before enjoying some of the best live bluegrass and country music entertainment. An increasingly popular
event, Gallery Night opens downtown Pensacola art galleries, eateries and shops several times a year for
an after-hours evening of arts and culture. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, Gallery
Night brings together live music, special menus and art to create a unique, local and unmatched social
scene.
Art Galleries
Music & Theater
Parks & Recreation
There are many parks in the Counties. Here’s a sampling:
Bay Bluffs Park along Scenic Highway and Escambia Bay sit atop the only natural bluffs in the state and provide the highest natural elevation in the city.
Big Lagoon State Park offers a fabulous view from its 40-foot observation tower and ample opportunity to explore terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Blackwater River State Park offers biking, camping, boating, and nature trails in nearby Milton.
Fort Pickens at the Gulf Island National Seashore was originally designed to protect against invading armies. The massive brick fort stands across Pensacola Bay from Fort Barrancas aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station.
Gulf Island National Seashore was the second national seashore upon its creation in 1971. It's the largest tract of protected shoreline in the state, providing a safe home for flora and fauna.
Outdoor opportunities stretch from the shimmering Gulf of Mexico to the rustic woodlands and creeks of the "Canoe Capital of Florida" in Milton. Whether it's fishing, camping, para-sailing, enjoying a dolphin cruise, or exploring hiking trails, this area provides the perfect setting.
Three popular bays - Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, and East Bay provide hours of fishing pleasure with 120-pound cobia running less than a mile off the beach as well as ample quantities of flounder, speckled trout, and mullet. Divers can spearfish off numerous artificial reefs, concrete pilings, and wrecks, including a favorite dive called "The Russian Freighter,” a Navy target ship 84 feet beneath the sea.
Saltwater fishing is only half the story in Pensacola. Freshwater fishing doesn’t get any better than nearby Escambia River. This fourth largest river in Florida boasts 85 recorded species, the richest variety of North American freshwater fish of any Florida river, and includes game fish such as channel catfish and largemouth bass. Numerous local landings provide easy access.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more information on fishing and our Guide to Establishing Florida Residency for Florida fishing license information.
Beaches
The area’s beaches have been ranked among the best in the country by TripAdvisor, Dr. Beach and the Travel Channel. The beaches however, are narrower than they once were. Local governments are working on acquiring funding for major beach renourishment to replace the sand that was washed away by Gustav in 2008. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is the longest tract of protected seashore in the country.
For comprehensive information on all Florida’s beaches check out The Florida Beach Book!. It also contains gift certificates for the best Florida restaurants on or near the beaches!
Sports
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for additional sports information
Hospitals
Visit Florida Medical Resources for comprehensive information including Florida hospital ratings.
Colleges
For information on Lifelong Learning, visit Your Florida Lifestyle.
Airports
Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport http://www.flypensacola.com
Shopping
Traditional malls include the Cordova Mall in Pensacola, anchored by Parisian and two Dillard's department stores. This mall is the largest and most upscale shopping center in the Pensacola area and features over 140 specialty stores. The University Mall, also in Pensacola is anchored by JCPenney, McRae's, and Sears.
For antiques, venture out to T Street. Fourteen shops line twenty-four blocks of T Street and offer antique furniture, glassware and a wide variety of other collectibles. Some shops also offer furniture restoration services. The Blue Moon Antique Mall is an award-winning antique mall that offers 65 shops within a 13,000 square foot mall, the largest in Pensacola.
The Quayside Art Gallery, in the Historic District, www.quaysidegallery.com is the largest cooperative gallery in the Southeast with over 100 artists on display. The Blue Moon Antique Mall, is the oldest and largest antiques mall in Pensacola. It has over 65 shops selling antiques and collectibles at reasonable prices.
Escambia County, Florida, Cities & Towns
Escambia County
Unincorporated
Santa Rosa County, Florida Cities & Towns
Incorporated
Unincorporated
Additional Resources:
Pensacola Tourism www.visitpensacola.com
Escambia County Government http://www.co.escambia.fl.us/
Santa Rosa County Government www.santarosa.fl.gov
Featured Towns/Cities
Pensacola
- Having been ruled by Spain, France, Britain, the Confederacy and the United States, Pensacola has earned the nickname City of Five Flags.
- Emmanuel Point II is the second-oldest ship wreck in the country. Discovered in 2007 by University of West Florida archaeology students, the ship belonged to Spanish sailor Don Tristan de Luna expedition, dating back to 1559.
- Pensacola was the original capital of Florida, and it was here that Gov. Andrew Jackson changed flags with Spanish Governor Jose Callava, bringing West Florida under the control of the United States.
- The first Catholic Mass in the United States was held on Pensacola Beach shortly after the sailors arrived in August 1559
If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy Pensacola. If you are retired military you will enjoy the camradarie of 30-40,000 fellow military retirees who have settled here. And, if you’re neither of those, you may still enjoy Pensacola’s miles of white beaches and natural beauty!
Housing is varied and reasonable. Preservation districts offer beautifully restored homes, condominiums are plentiful as are gated communities.
If you would like to get a feel for home prices in Pensacola, visit www.zillow.com and search for recent homes sold.
If you would prefer to save precious time and would like personalized assistance, call or email us today to take advantage of our free Florida Relocation Services. We’ll answer all of your questions and if the timing is right for you, we’ll introduce you to one of the best real estate agents in Pensacola who can provide detailed information and professional assistance.
