Buying on the Gulf Coast

Buying on the Gulf Coast

Retirement Move Planning

Moving to the Gulf Coast in 2026: A First-Person Guide to Water Views, Boat Slips, Condo Living, and Storm Readiness


 Moving to the Gulf Coast in 2026: A First-Person Guide to Water Views, Boat Slips, Condo Living, and Storm Readiness

Quick context: I hear from many homeowners who start their Gulf Coast plan exactly like this, with a clear timeline, a budget, and two strong lifestyle options: inland lake living with a slip, or coastal condo living with a view and boating access. This guide is how I help you compare both paths in a way that protects your time, your comfort level on the water, and your long-term cost of ownership.

In this guide 1) Pick your two paths, then define what “boating access” really means 2) Where people boat, and how to enjoy the water without feeling pressured offshore 3) Condo privacy and…

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Capital Gains Home Sale Exclusion (Section 121) for Coastal Owners: The Exceptions People Don’t Know



By Meredith Amon, Licensed In Alabama and Florida


Practical tax planning for Gulf Coast homeowners

Important: This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Section 121 outcomes can change based on filing status, timing, and documentation. Your CPA or attorney should confirm your specific plan.

 

Capital Gains Home Sales Gulf Coast Real Estate

Disclaimer 

General information only. This content is provided for general educational purposes and should not be relied upon as tax, legal, accounting, or financial advice. Nothing in this content creates a client relationship, fiduciary relationship, or professional services engagement of any kind.

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BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA: 1031 EXCHANGE ATTORNEYS 


Local note from Meredith Folger Amon: A 1031 exchange is all about deadlines and documentation. I like to see investors choose counsel early, confirm who is acting as the qualified intermediary (QI), and make sure the purchase contract language supports the exchange.

1031 Gulf Coast Attorneys Tax Deferred Exchanges

Two dates drive almost every 1031 conversation: the 45-day identification window and the 180-day closing window. If your team is not organized before you sell, it can feel like a sprint with expensive consequences.

Well-known 1031 exchange attorneys and closing counsel in Baldwin County

Jule Herbert | Herbert Law Firm, LLC (Gulf Shores)

Phone: (251) 968-4764
Address: 218 Professional Ct, Gulf Shores, AL…

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Gulf Coast Real Estate • Investment Property Strategy • 1031 Exchanges

1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges on the Gulf Coast, Plus the Delaware Statutory Trust Explained

1031 tax deferred exchanges gulf coast delaware statutory trust

When investors ask me about buying and selling along the Gulf Coast, the conversation often turns to one powerful tool: the 1031 tax-deferred exchange. Used correctly, it can help you reposition equity from one investment property into another while deferring capital gains taxes. A newer term many people are seeing online is “Delaware Statutory Trust,” and it is directly connected to 1031 strategy for investors who want more passive ownership.

“A 1031 exchange is not about gaming the system. It is about making a thoughtful, rules-based move from one…

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Buying an Income Property on the Gulf Coast: A Smart, Practical First-Step Guide

Real estate investing is different from most investments because your equity and profitability usually build slowly, especially early on. Between borrowing costs, reserves, and the reality that repairs happen on real timelines, an income property is often a long-term strategy, not an overnight win.

If you want to browse opportunities and track neighborhood trends, I keep it simple for buyers here: Search Gulf Coast real estate on SearchTheGulf.com.

Do You Have What It Takes to Own a Rental

A quick self-check before you shop

  • Are you comfortable with marketing your rental and handling showings, or hiring someone who will
  • Are you willing to…

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Pensacola Investor Strategy: Two Small Multi-Unit Properties I Keep Coming Back To

I’m helping an investor in Pensacola compare two small multi-unit opportunities with one big non-negotiable: avoid high flood exposure wherever possible. These two properties rose to the top of my list because they offer two very different (and very workable) paths to cash flow and resale strength.

My underwriting rule for small multi-units: the best “deal” is the one that still works after you build in vacancy, repairs, and insurance reality, not the one that only works on paper.

Top Pick #1

A fully renovated Navy Point triplex built for immediate cash flow

This one is positioned as a turnkey triplex with three 1-bedroom, 1-bath…

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Pensacola Neighborhood Guide for Real Estate Buyers and Investors


When I’m helping buyers evaluate Pensacola, I look at two things first: long-term resale demand (who will want this home later) and the “friction costs” that can quietly eat returns (insurance, flood exposure, deferred maintenance, and renovation surprises). This guide covers core downtown-adjacent neighborhoods plus the west and north areas buyers ask about most, including Navy Point and Myrtle Grove.

In my experience, the best Pensacola investments are the ones that stay easy to resell, even when the market cools. If a neighborhood has durable demand, constrained supply, and manageable ownership costs, it tends to age well. Jump to sections
Downtown-adjacent and…

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BOATING IN ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA: A REAL ESTATE GUIDE TO HOMES, CONDOS, BOAT SLIPS, AND LIFE ON THE WATER


If you’re drawn to Orange Beach, there’s a good chance you’re also drawn to the water. Around here, boating isn’t a bonus feature, it’s a lifestyle driver that shapes where people buy, what they pay for, and which properties hold long-term demand. In this guide, I’m sharing how I think about boating-focused real estate in Orange Beach, from condo slips and marina access to canal depth, bridge clearance, storage, and resale strategy.

Orange Beach Alabama Boating

“If the boat has a place to live, the whole property feels easier to own.”

— A longtime Orange Beach homeowner describing why slips and storage influence buying decisions

Why boating changes…

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Pensacola, Florida · Investment Strategy

Pensacola Investment Neighborhoods by Price Point: Navy Point to East Hill, With a School-Zone Lens

When investors ask me where to buy in Pensacola, I build the plan in layers: price point first (cash flow, maintenance, insurance), then neighborhood demand, then a school-zone lens that can influence long-term resale momentum. Below is a practical “entry level to premium” framework you can reuse on every listing.

Search Pensacola listings: SearchTheGulf.com/pensacola Pensacola area articles: Pensacola area blog category Talk strategy: Contact Meredith

Quick Navigation

  • Neighborhoods by price tier
  • How I use middle and high schools as a resale-demand lens
  • My “buy box” checklist…

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ORANGE BEACH, ONO ISLAND AND GULF SHORES MARKET UPDATE

Market Update Gulf Coast Ono Island Orange Beach

Single-Family Market Update (Baldwin MLS): Ono Island, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores | Through November 2025


November Market Snapshot (Single Family Homes)

New Construction vs Previously Owned in Orange Beach, Ono Island, and Gulf Shores | November 2025 compared to November 2024 What I’m seeing at a glance
  • Inventory tightened year-over-year in most segments, especially previously owned homes on Ono Island and Gulf Shores.
  • Closed sales increased in November 2025 across the board for previously owned homes, and Gulf Shores new construction also showed a noticeable jump.
  • Prices are telling a “mix” story: averages moved sharply in a few places because luxury…

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