Buying a Condo in Florida? 10 Things to Check Before You Make an Offer
Buying a condo in Florida can be a great way to own a second home, vacation property, or investment near the beach. But buying a condo is a little different from buying a single-family home.
You're not only buying the unit—you’re also buying into the condominium association and sharing responsibility for the building and its common areas.
Before making an offer, here are 10 things I recommend looking into.
1. HOA Fees—and What They Actually Cover
Don't judge a condo solely by the monthly HOA fee.
One association may include building insurance, water, cable, internet, pest control, pools, landscaping and other amenities, while another may include far less.
The better question isn't simply, “How much is the HOA?” It's “What am I getting for it?”
2. Special Assessments
This is a big one.
Ask whether there are any current or upcoming special assessments and whether t ...

What It's Really Like to Own a Second Home on 30A
For many people, owning a home along 30A starts as a dream. But after helping buyers purchase second homes here for years, I've found that what keeps them coming back isn't just the beautiful beaches—it's the lifestyle.
If you've ever wondered what it's really like to own a place here, here's a glimpse into everyday life on 30A.
Mornings Start a Little Slower
Imagine waking up, pouring a cup of coffee, and taking a short walk or bike ride to the beach before the day begins. Whether you're here for a long weekend or a few weeks at a time, there's something about the Gulf that naturally slows life down.
Many homeowners tell me this becomes their favorite part of every visit.
You Spend More Time Outside
Life on 30A naturally revolves around the outdoors.
One day might include a bike ride through WaterColor or Rosemary Beach. Another might be paddleboarding on Western Lake, walking through Grayton Beach State Park, or simply ...

Being a team working in a second home market, we work with people all over the country. One thing this leads to is referrals. When we work with licensed agents that buy in our market, we happily pay a 25% referral fee. This is also true for referring agents that send us referrals we work with and close. Just this week, we had a referral go the other direction also. If you, a friend, or family member is a licensed agent or broker, we would love to work with you. As always, if you have any questions while searching properties online, feel free to text, call, or email any time, and simply remember J30A.com to search properties in Destin, 30A and surrounding areas.

Is Now a Good Time to Buy on 30A? What Buyers Need to Know in 2026
If you’ve been thinking about owning a place along 30A, you’re not alone.
For many buyers, it starts as an idea—something you’ve thought about, saved listings for, or maybe even visited a few times. But timing is usually the biggest question: Is now actually the right time to buy?
The Reality of the 30A Market
The 30A and Santa Rosa Beach area continues to be one of the most desirable coastal markets in Florida. With limited land, strong demand, and a lifestyle that’s hard to replicate, properties here tend to hold long-term value.
While the market has shifted from the intense pace of the past few years, that’s not necessarily a bad thing for buyers. In many cases, it’s created more opportunities to:


Take your time evaluating properties


Negotiate more favorable terms


Find homes that may not have been available before


It’s Not Just a Purchase&mdas ...

The first quarter 2026 was active with $7,090,000 volume closed and two other contract right after with The Jonathan Hill Team on 30a. Those 2 contracts that closed in the start of Q2 would have taken it up over $8,000,000. On the listing side The team had $9,000,000 in volume. For a small team over $16,000,000 in listing and closed deals combined this is a solid volume for the first quarter of 2026. The Jonathan Hill Team also in the last few months has shown properties to another 8-10 buyers who are on timelines that are a little slower, as our market typically is. We look forward to every buyer we get to meet and work with. As you search properties reach out to us for anything we can do for you. Even if it is just to talk about the vibes of the area or where to grab lunch while on vacation. As always, simply remember J30A.com to search properties in Destin, 30A, and surrounding areas.