Underpinning on the Gulf Coast: What I Tell My Orange Beach New-Construction Buyers

Underpinning on the Gulf Coast: What I Tell My Orange Beach New-Construction Buyers

When people aren’t familiar with coastal home building, the term underpinning can be confusing. I recently had a couple of buyers ask me about it while I was describing homes, so I thought I’d write a simple, shareable explanation—especially for those exploring new construction in Orange Beach and Ono Island.

What Underpinning Usually Means in Coastal Listings

In our market, underpinning typically refers to the finished perimeter enclosure or skirting around the open space beneath an elevated home—often louvered panels, Hardieboard/composite slats, or breakaway walls that screen pilings, keep gear out of sight, and still allow airflow. In FEMA flood…

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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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Assumable Mortgages on the Gulf Coast — A Practical First-Person Guide by Meredith Folger Amon

Assumable Mortgages on the Gulf Coast: How They Work, What to Watch, and When They Make Sense

As a Gulf Coast real estate advisor serving Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/, Gulf Shores — https://www.searchthegulf.com/gulf-shores/, and Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/, I’m often asked whether an assumable mortgage is a smart path for buyers and sellers. When rates are higher than a seller’s existing note, the answer is sometimes yes. The key is knowing how assumptions really work, how the down payment and equity are handled, and what the lender will require.

What is an assumable mortgage?

An assumable mortgage lets a buyer take over the seller’s existing home loan—same interest rate,…

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How to Build Equity with New Construction on the Gulf Coast

How to Build Equity with New Construction on the Gulf Coast

Along the Gulf Coast, building a home isn’t just about creating a place to live—it’s about crafting equity from the ground up. I’ve spent years helping investors and homeowners turn land into legacy.  In markets like Orange Beach and Ono Island, new construction offers one of the most rewarding paths to long-term appreciation. Whether it’s a spec build, a second home, or a custom coastal retreat, strategic construction can significantly outperform the resale market when planned thoughtfully.

My Investment Strategy: Buy, Build, Hold (or Sell)

The strategy is simple in principle but powerful in execution: purchase the right parcel of land, build smart with proven…

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Red October: Tales of the Gulf Coast’s Fall Fishing Season

RED OCTOBER: TALES OF THE GULF COAST’S FALL FISHING SEASON

Come October, the Gulf turns a shade of silver-blue that’s hard to describe and impossible to forget. The breeze shifts from south to north, the bait runs thick through Perdido Pass, and every friend with a boat starts trading text messages before dawn: “They’re biting at the jetties.”

It’s what locals call Red October — that sweet stretch when the bull reds school up and the fall bite hits its stride from Terry Cove to Bayou St. John. The water cools, the air sharpens, and conversations around the marina turn from summer crowds to tide charts and tackle talk.

The Gulf in Her Autumn Mood

Neighbors often tell me October is their favorite time to be on the water —…

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Building a Waterfront Home in Orange Beach, Alabama: Where Architecture Meets Southern Salt Air

Building a Waterfront Home in Orange Beach, Alabama: Where Architecture Meets Southern Salt Air

There’s a quiet poetry to homebuilding along the Alabama Gulf Coast. The light here bends differently — softer in the morning, golden by late afternoon, when the sun slips low over Bayou St. John and the air carries just a trace of salt. In Orange Beach, where architecture meets water and hospitality meets heritage, building a home isn’t just construction — it’s an act of devotion.

As someone who has spent years walking job sites with builders and homeowners, I’ve come to believe that coastal architecture here is less about square footage and more about soul. A waterfront home in Orange Beach should feel like it’s always belonged — rooted in…

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Top 10 Offshore Center Consoles (33–36 ft) for Orange Beach, Alabama

Top 10 Offshore Center Consoles (33–36 ft) for Orange Beach, Alabama

On a good Orange Beach day, you can idle out of Terry Cove, slide past the markers to Perdido Pass, and decide—bluewater dash or Robinson Island raft-up. In this size class, a deep-V center console with triple power gives you the flexibility to do both. The hull softens the afternoon chop, a second-station tower helps thread crowded anchorages, and the range is there when the Gulf window opens. If you’re pairing a boat like this with a home, plan for a 20k–25k lb lift, double-check beam and piling spacing, and think through fuel and shore-power access at the dock.

Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/
Ono Island —…

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Top 5 Boats for the Gulf Coast Lifestyle

Top 5 Boats for the Gulf Coast Lifestyle

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

When you live on the Gulf Coast — especially in places like Orange Beach, Ono Island, and Gulf Shores — your boat becomes more than a vessel. It’s an extension of your home and lifestyle. Whether it’s a calm cruise through the back bays, a Saturday anchored off Robinson Island, or a long offshore run to chase the bite, the right boat brings both comfort and capability to every adventure.

Here are my top five boats that perfectly capture the essence of Gulf Coast living.

1. Grady-White Canyon 336

Grady-White remains one of the most respected names in…

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1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges in Alabama & Florida | Gulf Coast Real Estate Guide

1031 Exchanges and Capital Gains Taxes on the Gulf Coast

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Introduction: Why This Matters to Gulf Coast Investors

Over the years, I’ve worked with many investors along the Gulf Coast, and one of the biggest questions I get is: How do I minimize my tax liability when buying and selling property? The answer often comes down to one strategy — the 1031 tax deferred exchange.

If you’re investing in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Ono Island, or crossing into Florida markets like Destin, 30A, or Pensacola, understanding how capital gains taxes differ between Alabama and Florida can make a major impact on…

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Stucco Homes on the Gulf Coast: Termite checks, maintenance, and prevention in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Ono Island.

STUCCO HOMES ON THE GULF COAST: KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND BULLET POINTS

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

I help buyers and sellers evaluate stucco homes from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores and Ono Island. Here are the most important points I coach clients on when it comes to stucco performance, maintenance, and prevention on the coast.

Big Idea

• It’s not about “stucco vs. EIFS.” Performance comes down to installation and detailing: terminations at grade, flashing at roof-to-wall, window/door sealing, drainage paths, and ongoing maintenance.

Immediate Red Flags

• Stucco touching the ground (soil or mulch)…

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