Hurricane season begins June 1 and technically lasts to November 30…Once a tropical storm or hurricane finds its’ way through the Yucatan Peninsula, the natural path is into Gulf of Mexico. Looking at the shape of the Gulf one can see why somewhere along the coastline anywhere from the tip of Florida to Mexico. When purchasing a home, the first year homeowner insurance must be paid up front. During the summer and fall months insurance companies suspend issuing those policies one a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico.

Closings will be delayed until the storm has an undeniable direction as to where it will hit. I have lived in many different areas and would rather go through a hurricane than months of tornadoes spawning with little to no warning or what seems to be endless cold, snowy, dreary winters or earthquakes and rivers that overflow and flood fairly regularly.

Finding a home or condominium along the Panhandle from Perdido Key and Pensacola to Seaside and east that you will enjoy is easy. With so many homes to choose from the problem anyone has is “which one?”

For first time home buyers (not owning a home for the past 3 years) this is the year to make that purchase. The government is giving an $8,000 credit, prices are down and mortgage rates are great.

Buyers looking for higher priced waterfront or golf course condominiums now is the time to make that purchase also although financing is a bit more challenging. Units with gorgeous views along powder sugar white sand beaches are numerous. You don’t have to go south to have clear, emerald green water which, when the sun sets in the west, casts a hypnotic scene having the appearance of “diamonds dancing on the waves”. Living in Pensacola with sunshine more than 300 days a year and beaches that stretch for miles, makes this area as close to Paradise as one can be without leaving the states.

For information on Hurricane Preparedness in our area, click here.