Selling Destin

Buying the Beach REAL ESTATE | PROPERTIES | FOR SALE

Selling the Beach

This Emerald Coast REALTOR® is glad she followed her passion

BY NICK COREY

SHANNON HELMUTH LOVES HER JOB. Helmuth worked in the hospitality industry before making the leap into real estate six years ago. She’d been somewhat content working in her former career, but the allure of matching buyers and sellers with real estate opportunities along the Emerald Coast eventually won the career-change tug-of-war in her heart.

Now, as a REALTOR® with Realty ONE Group Emerald Coast, Helmuth is sure she’s found her passion.

“I wish I would have done this 20 years ago,” Helmuth said. “All the people I’ve met, the support and mentorship I’ve received from people in the industry, like Realty ONE’s Jacqui Luberto. Plus, the different experiences, and the fact that this has given me financial freedom.

“It has truly been the best career change,” said Helmuth.

“When buying a property in Destin, or nearby Miramar Beach or Santa Rosa, it’s hard to go wrong,” Helmuth said. “If you want, you may stay here yourself in a beautiful area, or rent it out if you wish — all while having others pay your mortgage while you build equity.”

Originally from Arkansas, Helmuth has been a Destin resident since 1983.

“Destin literally has everything that anyone might want while on vacation,” she said. “We have the scenery, the world’s luckiest fishing, various pontooning opportunities, Jet Skiing, dolphin cruises and snorkeling. There are seafood-festival weekends with a variety of food tents, jewelry sales … the list goes on.”

Much of Helmuth’s workload depends upon her clients’ own experience, particularly regarding whether they are seasoned vacation-home investors or not. If not, educating her clients becomes a primary role.

“Things like informing them on this or that property’s comparative market analysis,” Helmuth said. “Why this property sold for this amount, but since you have upgrades, yours can sell for that amount. Guiding clients through the process is key, and one of the challenges is that there are all kinds of different investors.

Shannon Helmuth of Realty ONE Group’s Emerald Coast location makes informing her clients a key effort. From market analyses to interest rates, knowledge is power for both buyers and sellers.

Current Interest Rates

Find out what Realtor.com reveals regarding the current mortgage interest rates in and around popular vacation sites in the Florida Panhandle, including Destin, Miramar Beach and Santa Rosa Beach, by visiting Realtor.com/mortgage/rates/ Destin_FL.

Buying the Beach REAL ESTATE | PROPERTIES | FOR SALE

“It’s obviously not their fault, but first time investors are usually not mentally prepared for all the details involved. Even when you do all you can as an agent — meeting with them, showings, working on projections, pulling out the calculator and adding in appreciation, talking on the phone with them, exchanging emails, going through what the rental income will be. Even though you inform clients as much as you can, some back out. Some get cold feet at the last minute. It’s all a part of the job.”

Which makes successful ventures that lead to closings all the more satisfying. While a lot of time and work on each sale is the norm, occasionally Helmuth is gifted with relatively easy sales, with great results from sharing videos of her properties on YouTube.

“Once in a while, you’ll get clients who know exactly what they want,” Helmuth said. “I had clients who never actually visited the property they ended up buying. One of my video walk-throughs of the home was enough, and they let me know that it was the one!”

I asked Helmuth about the recent climb in interest rates and how much that affects her industry.

“They affect the market by slowing it a little,” she said. “Homes that are overpriced are sitting a little longer and buyers are not as motivated to buy with interest rates still climbing. Also, some sellers are waiting to sell because they don’t want to pay the interest on a new home. However, there are still options for buyers, such as buying down points at closing, and I make sure I inform them of that when they ask about interest rates.”

One of Helmuth’s recent-favorite transactions had her representing a buyer who saw a property on Realtor.com and sent it to Helmuth to view.

“They immediately fell in love with the gorgeous home (92 Ciboney Street, Miramar Beach, Florida) and requested the rental numbers,” Helmuth said. “We put in an offer of $5,000 over the asking price with an escalation of $100,000. We won the offer but the seller put in a 72-hour kick-out clause to cover any financing contingency fall-through — basically gambling with our $12,500 earnest money deposit,” allowing that if someone entered with a better offer, Helmuth’s clients had three days to back out or drop their financing contingency.

Long story short, our offer held strong and we closed on time.” And as a result, Helmuth expertly guided them through a multiple-offer situation that the buyer ultimately won with a purchase price of $1,205,000.00.

As a result, one of Helmuth’s favorite parts of her second career — meeting new people who become friends — has blossomed.

“Since then they have come down, we’ve gone to dinner and we’re developing a great friendship and trust for any future properties they may want to buy,” she said.

Indeed, Helmuth loves her job.

Destin Real Estate

Keep tabs on updated real estate information, new listings and investment opportunities by visiting DestinFlorida.com/ real-estate.

Need a reason to stay? The Emerald Coast beaches sell themselves, but maybe you need more convincing before relocating. With so much to do year-round, in Destin and beyond, there’s no question that this is the perfect place to call your new home. Check out some of the great events offered in the Destin area at DestinFlorida.com/events.