Edwin Oaks Subdivision in Gulf Shores – 7 New Construction Homes Near Little Lagoon

Edwin Oaks Subdivision, Gulf Shores: First Look at a Seven-Lot Coastal Enclave

My quick overview

The City has granted preliminary plat approval for Edwin Oaks Subdivision, a seven-lot single-family neighborhood on 2.47 acres along State Highway 180 West, just west of Mo’s Landing City Park in Gulf Shores. The site is currently wooded, including six heritage live oaks, and carries a BN (Neighborhood Business) zoning designation. Plans show home sites fronting both Highway 180 and Little Lagoon, served by a pervious brick paver driveway—a detail I love for stormwater and aesthetics.

The design preserves all heritage trees and sets a 30-foot natural buffer along a small wetland on the southern edge, with a conservation easement…

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Rayley Farms Phases 5 & 6 in Gulf Shores – Final 23 Acres, 51 Lots, Trails & Open Space

Rayley Farms (Phases 5 & 6), Gulf Shores: My First-Person Take on the Final 23 Acres

My quick overview

A preliminary plat has been approved for the final phases of Rayley Farms in Gulf Shores, located north of Coastal Gateway Boulevard (CR 8). These last phases add 23 acres to the community and are planned for 51 single-family homes—50 lots in Phase 5 and one lot in Phase 6—with a conditional R-1-5 zoning framework. Average density is noted at ~2.2 dwelling units per acre, with minimum lot sizes of 8,400 sq ft and minimum lot widths of 65 ft.

What stood out to me is the emphasis on open space and conservation. This phase is slated to preserve about four acres of wetlands and twenty heritage trees, and to designate ~31% of the…

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The Colony in Fairhope, Alabama – 432-Home Mixed Neighborhood: My First Look

The Colony, Fairhope, Alabama: First Look at a 432-Home Concept

I reviewed the Fairhope Planning Commission’s informal discussion of The Colony, a proposed 148-acre mixed neighborhood at Highway 181 and Highway 104, across from The Verandas. The early concept shows approximately 432 residences across a spectrum of home types—townhomes, cottage lots, manor homes, and estate lots—arranged around walkable streets, a large north–south wetland corridor connected to the Pensacola watershed, and about 51 acres of preserved open space including pocket parks, a central greenway, and a 3-acre “Colony Park” for active recreation. The item was informational only; no formal action was taken. Level Homes is named as the proposed builder.

As…

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Modern Gulf Coast Homes on Ono Island — Forward-Thinking Materials & Contemporary Construction

Modern Gulf Coast Living on Ono Island: Forward-Thinking Materials, Contemporary Lines, and Resilient Construction

Modern by Intent: What I’m Building Toward on Ono Island

When I talk about a “modern” Gulf Coast home, I’m not just describing a look. I’m describing a way of living that blends aesthetics with durability and ease. On Ono Island, contemporary design meets our marine environment every day—sun, salt, wind, and water. My role is to help you specify a home that exudes Gulf grandeur with clean lines, resilient materials, and a systems-first approach so your investment holds its value and your daily life feels effortless.

Meredith Amon is an expert real estate advisor on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama.

The Envelope:…

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What Today’s Buyers Want in New Construction on the Alabama Gulf Coast—Now With a Boater’s Edge

What Today’s Buyers Want in New Construction on the Alabama Gulf Coast—Now With a Boater’s Edge

When I walk new construction sites in Orange Beach and on Ono Island, I’m constantly asked what separates a high-quality coastal home from the rest. After years of helping buyers and sellers along the Gulf Coast, it comes down to durable building envelopes, effortless indoor-outdoor flow, livable floor plans—and, for many of my neighbors and friends, serious boating functionality baked into the design. Below is how I guide buyers and builders to meet that bar.

Meredith Amon is an expert real estate advisor on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama. Explore Ono Island homes, lifestyle, and updates: https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/ and the…

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Ono Island Canal Etiquette & Waterway Tips — Smooth Navigation, Happy Neighbors

Ono Island Waterways & Canals: A Friendly Boater’s Field Guide

Welcome

I’m Meredith Folger Amon, a Gulf Coast real estate advisor and Ono Island homeowner. Neighbors and friends often ask how to be great stewards of our canals and connecting waterways. Below is the upbeat, plain-English guide I share so everyone enjoys smooth, courteous navigation from the first turn of the key.

Waterway Orientation at a Glance

• Old River runs along the south side of the island toward the Florida line.
• Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway sit to the north.
• Perdido Pass is to the west, providing Gulf access.
• Bridge-locked canals include small sections of Turtle Key Drive, Sandpiper, Yellowfin Drive, and Sandy Key.

Canal Courtesy…

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Gulf Coast Garage Planning: Single Wide vs Multiple Doors and Taller Heights

Garage Doors on the Gulf Coast: One Wide Door vs. Multiple Bays and Modern Height Planning

I’m often asked whether a multi-bay garage should use one large door spanning all bays or individual doors for each bay. Below are practical notes shared with me by local Gulf Coast builders—paired with what I regularly observe around Orange Beach and Ono Island.

One Large Door (spanning all bays)

Advantages

• Maximum maneuverability: Easier to back in larger SUVs, trucks, golf carts, or a trailer without threading between posts.

• Flexible space use: Open span is ideal for workshop layouts, home gyms, or boat detailing.

• Cleaner facade: A single, wide door can read modern and simplified on contemporary elevations.

• …

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Perdido Key Beach Mouse & New Construction: Guide | Meredith Folger

Perdido Key Beach Mouse 101: What It Is, How It Affects New Construction, and What a “No-Capture” Letter Really Means

In My Words: What the Beach Mouse Is

I’m Meredith Folger, a Gulf Coast real estate advisor who helps people navigate coastal property from Orange Beach to Perdido Key. The Perdido Key Beach Mouse (often shortened to “PKBM”) is a small, nocturnal mouse that lives in the dunes. It depends on native dune plants, seeds, and insects—and on dunes themselves remaining intact. Because the population is limited and sensitive to disturbance, it is federally protected. Protecting this species also protects the dunes that buffer our islands from storms and erosion.

Why This Matters for New Construction

On barrier islands,…

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Gulf Coast New Construction: Reservation & Payment Guide

How a Reservation & Payment Schedule Works in Gulf Coast New Construction

I’m Meredith, your Gulf Coast real estate advisor. Below is a clear example of how a reservation and payment schedule can work for a new construction development on the coast. Every developer has their own process and documents, so consider this a helpful guide, not a substitute for your specific contract. This walk-through also assumes a cash buyer. If you’re using financing, the flow usually tracks the same milestones through a construction-to-permanent (C2P) loan with lender-funded draws.

If you’d like to compare active opportunities, start here:
Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/
Gulf Shores — https://www.searchthegulf.com/gulf-shores/
Ono…

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North Hills at Fairhope | 2025 Baldwin County Parade of Homes

2025 Baldwin County Parade of Homes: North Hills at Fairhope Spotlight

Why I’m Highlighting North Hills at Fairhope

Each year, the Baldwin County Parade of Homes is my chance to walk through fresh design thinking and construction craft across our coast. This season, North Hills at Fairhope earned a special place on my list. The neighborhood’s setting—tall pines, gentle elevation, and a measured, architectural aesthetic—feels pitch-perfect for buyers who want privacy, intention, and a community that quietly yields timeless elegance. The collective design language is masterfully blended: thoughtful streetscapes, well-scaled homes, and outdoor living that captures Fairhope’s breeze and light. On an October afternoon you can catch the scent of…

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