OKALOOSA COUNTY
Real Estate
|
2007 |
2008 |
4/2009 |
| Median Price* Single Family Home |
$217,800 |
$204,200 |
$181,800 |
| Median Price* Condominium |
$384,000 |
$342,200 |
$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
Okaloosa County. Median prices shown above are for the Fort Walton/Crestview/Deston 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
Okaloosa County is bordered by Alabama to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Half of the county’s 936 square miles and half of its 24 mile coastline are occupied by Elgin Air Force Base, so it is a popular choice for retiring military because of the fantastic support system the Base offers. The County is home to the popular beach towns of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Crestview, an inland town founded in the early 1900’s is the County Seat. Business Week magazine listed Destin as one of the 18 best new golf places in the country to retire, Southern Accents magazine's readers named Destin the number two beach destination and the number eight golf destination in its second annual Great Escapes Reader Travel Awards, and the Milken Institute listed the area as its top Best Performing City in 2005 for small metros.
Events
Arts & Culture
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) is the officially designated arts agency for Okaloosa County. Its members include:
Parks & Recreation
Okaloosa County's diverse natural environment plays a vital role in preserving its wealth of outdoor activities. Okaloosa County residents enjoy an unsurpassed quality of life and outdoor recreation. Explore the parks listed below for details.
River Parks
Experience the best fishing that Florida has to offer in the warm waters of the Emerald Coast. Sailfish, marlin, wahoo and many more await offshore fishermen in the deep blue of the Gulf, while inshore fishermen cast after cobia, bluefish, tarpon and mackerel. For those looking for a different sort of challenge, Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island also feature bountiful freshwater fishing in the area’s many rivers.
Destin is known as the World's Luckiest Fishing Village. Its famous fruitful waters are internationally recognized. The offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot (30m) depths within 10 miles (16km) -- the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf. Destin has the Widest Variety of Catches in Florida Gulf with Up to four times more than most destinations. 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs. Destin also has the Largest Charter Boat Fleet in Florida. Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more information on fishing and our Guide to Establishing Florida Residency for Florida fishing license information.
Beaches
Delight your senses in the County’s spectacular beaches (voted “safest in the country” and among the top ten in the country) and the expansive waters of Choctawahatchee Bay. Discover miles and miles of pure playground for shell seeking, sun bronzing, sand castle building, soul searching, and surrendering to sun-drenched solitude.
Four renovated beachfront parks – Beasley Park, James Lee Park, Marler Memorial Park and Wayside Park – and six beach mini-parks featuring ADA accessibility, showers and bathrooms are here for all to enjoy. Okaloosa County values and protects its coastal dunes. Erosion is a serious problem along the 30 miles of coastal areas in the county. The dunes are fragile, easily damaged and require special safeguards to ensure their continued protection of inland areas. Coastal dunes range from seemingly insignificant sand hills to formations more than 50 feet high.
For comprehensive information on all Florida beaches check out The Florida Beach Book!. It also contains gift certificates to the best Florida restaurants on or near the beaches.
Golf
Okaloosa offers world premier golf courses with country club class. There are dozen private, ½ dozen semi private and 1 dozen public courses. Golfers can play courses throughout the county that have been designed by famous golf architects.
Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for additional golf information.
Hospitals
Destin Emergency Care Center
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast
Twin Cities Hospital
Visit Florida Medical Resources for comprehensive information including Florida hospital ratings.
Colleges
Northwest Florida State College
For information on Lifelong Learning, visit Your Florida Lifestyle.
Airports
Northwest Florida Regional Airport
Shopping
Outstanding shopping venues are yours to help stimulate the economy! Destin Commons www.destin-commons.com is a unique open air town center featuring upscale shopping, casual and fine dining. The boutiques at Shoreline Village are sure to delight. Santa Rosa Mall is a traditional mall with 100 stores including Dillard’s and JC Penney. The Silver Sands Factory Stores www.silversandsoutlet.com bills itself as the nation’s largest designer outlet mall.
Okaloosa County, Florida, Cities & Towns
Incorporated
Unincorporated
Additional Resources
County Government: http://www.co.okaloosa.fl.us
Emerald Coast Tourism http://www.destin-fwb.com/
Featured Towns/Cities
Destin
The economy in Destin is strong and vibrant and the quality of life is phenomenal! The schools consistently receive the A+ rating from the State of Florida, making them the best schools in the state. A brand new library, an active community center, little league sports for all ages and tastes, and a strong arts and cultural presence make Destin a place worth calling home. It is a quality of life that everyone who lives there has come to cherish!
It’ worth repeating: Business Week magazine listed Destin as one of the 18 best new golf places in the country to retire, Southern Accents magazine's readers named Destin the number two beach destination and the number eight golf destination in its second annual Great Escapes Reader Travel Awards, and the Milken Institute listed the area as its top Best Performing City in 2005 for small metros.
Destin’s population is 12,000+. It grows to 40,000+ in the summer season. It is upscale with many million dollar+ homes, but not to worry, there are plenty of alternatives. Florida beach front condominiums, smaller cottages near the beach, bayfront property and single family home neighborhoods close by are all available.
If you would like to get a feel for home prices in Destin or Okaloosa County, 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 Destin who can provide detailed information and professional assistance.
