[json61683]

I have some questions regarding okaloosa county and what are some of the best, preferably gated and golf coursed, family friendly neighborhoods to live in? We'd like it to have over 500 homes so not too small but nothing huge like Bluewater Bay. I would also like it to be a 12 month of the year location for the residents and not one with a lot, if any, snow birds. Please help with the name of any communities you think I should research. Thanks!!

[beachmouse]

What's your price range? And how far do you want to be from beach, restaurants, shopping, etc.?

Shalimar Pointe area is gated, though the gate is open daylight hours so that people can reach the (public) golf course. If you don't have to go gated, I'd try the Rocky Bayou C.C. area. Destin is a bit harder in terms of finding that kind of neighborhood that's mostly year round. Indian Bayou GC area seems to have a lot of year round residents, but again it's not gated. You might have some luck with Emerald Lakes (gated, backs up to Emerald Bay GC) since a lot of it was built at a price point more affordable to the locals than Regatta Bay, Kelley Plantation, and the like.

If you don't need the golf, and can start in about the low 400s, Swift Creek in Niceville is nice and kid-friendly.

[json61683]

Do you know which of these neighborhoods have 400-500+ homes? As long as the homes are priced 250k or higher we're set. Golf isn't a requirement either just that the neighborhood be a well known community in the area, homes priced at 250k+ and 400-500+ homes. Also, a community that's more year round than for snow birds. Thanks for your help!

[nwc07]

Why not contact a local realtor--I'm sure they will be chomping at the bit to help you out!!

Theres not much gated to choose from and if you go to Destin many of your neighbors will be gone during the summer months--which could be a good thing...

[beachmouse]

All of the above start in the mid-200s or so, and most will easily go into the $400-$500K range.

When we were looking to buy, a big reason why we didn't buy in Destin was the difficulty in finding a nice street or subdivision that was indeed largely year-round residents, so I know what you mean about community. (That and the city's hurricane bait.) Shalimar/part of north FWB and Niceville-Valparaiso are almost entirely year-round residents.

If you don't mind a bit of a reovation project, you might actually be able to get waterfront in the Kenwood or Longwood-Poquito Bayou areas in north FWB in your price range. Both are established family-friendly areas where even inland properties usually start in the low 200s, and it would be easy to get sucked into the money pit known as boating that way.