Wait, summer’s over? Almost. While August is still hot and plenty of families will continue flocking to the beach through Labor Day, it’s also a transition month. By the end of August, families with school-aged kids will pack up their beach chairs and head into a new school year.
As the heavy summer season gives way to the shoulder season, we will naturally see a slowdown. Smaller, slightly older travel groups will replace families with young kids. How you handle the next few months can be the difference between your year-in-review ending with an exclamation point or just a period!
What Owners, Buyers, and Sellers Need to Consider
Whether holding or selling, owners need to shift their mindset from “putting heads in beds” to cleanup, maintenance, and positioning property for future success.
Sellers.
We see it every year: sellers list their properties at the end of summer after harvesting the high-rental season. The problem? Inventory spikes and competition make capturing a top sale price significantly harder.
The strategy? Be first to market. Beat the crowd, put together a competitive listing, and let everyone else worry about what buyers are doing or not doing later in the fall.
- Get your data dialed in: Know and confirm your rental income and cost-of-ownership numbers. Know the exact age of the roof, HVAC, and water heater. (Need help gathering these? Text me at 850-654-3325 and we’ll show you how to pull them—it’s easy.)
- Condo sellers: If you want to sell faster and for more money, confirm the status of the building’s structural integrity reserve study (SIRS). The HOA will have this information, or we can assist you in pulling it. Shoot me an email if you need help with this. JohnMoran@AtTheBeachTeam.com
- Assess condition: If your property is like ours, it’s showing wear and tear from a busy rental season. Get ahead of repairs now by pricing maintenance into your list price or completing high-impact cosmetic updates between guest stays. Standing out as a great turn-key property is how you land top dollar sales.
Take Action: If this lands with you, let’s schedule a SaleAbility Analysis to see how your property stacks up against current competition so you can sell quickly and with less stress.
Owners
Even if you aren’t selling right now, smart owners do the exact same audit. It’s always good practice to know your numbers and keep tabs on your HOA’s financial health.
- Fill calendar gaps: If you want to maximize rental income for the rest of the year and set up next season properly, look at the holes in your calendar now and map out a targeted pricing and/or promotional strategy to close out the year strong.
- Audit your amenities: How does your house or condo compare to top earners in your building or neighborhood? What high-ROI tweaks can you make to capture higher nightly rates? There is no question that renters gravitate toward new trends and amenities—and will pay a premium for them.
- Proven results: We applied this exact mindset to a vacation rental house we bought last fall and are on track to increase rental income by over 40% compared to what the previous owner generated!
Buyers
If you have clients looking to buy, this may be their best opportunity in a long time—if not ever—to purchase beach real estate. Here is why:
Destin Condos
Historically, today’s purchase prices will look like a bargain down the road:
Destin Area Condo Median Prices:
- Today: $475,000
- 2000: $205,000 (Up 131.7% over 26 years)
- 2010: $240,900 (Up 97.2% over 16 years)
- 2020: $339,000 (Up 40.1% in just 6 years)
- 2030: ? (History suggests the trend continues upward!)
Facts are facts: with a finite supply of beach frontage, ongoing long-term inflation, and consistent buyer demand, prices remain well-positioned for long-term growth.
Destin Houses
For buyers considering a home, today’s prices represent a strong entry point before the next push forward. Supply constraints and historical trends suggest today’s prices will become tomorrow’s “good deal.”
The Median Price for Destin Homes Over The Years
- Today: $1,115,000
- 2000: $185,000 (Up 502.7% over 26 years)
- 2010: $350,000 (Up 218.6% over 16 years)
- 2020: $591,500 (Up 88.5% in just 6 years)
- 2030: ? (No one has a crystal ball, but I’m glad that I own the houses I do.)
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re buying, selling, or holding, our job is to help you see your real position clearly — not guess at it. That’s especially true right now, in a market where the old safety nets (predictable pricing, predictable demand) have thinned out on both sides.
Get your SaleAbility Score above, or reach our team directly at 850-654-3325 to talk through where you stand.
John Moran – CEO
The Smart Beach Investor | Keller Williams Realty At The Beach Team