Recently seen on Hwy 331

What's the story behind this display?

:shock:

It may be extreme but it is not far from the truth . It is ridiculous to try and get anything accomplished in South Walton properly and in an expeditious manner . It averages on close to a year or better to complete a moderate size home . The level of service ( Contractors , Restaurants ,Everything !!! ) in SoWal has plummeted to new lows . And for all this , you will be charged an ultra premium price across the board - please save the excuses why it is so expensive . The SoWal money printing machine has shut down .It is time to get back to reality and take care of the customer and not just take advantage . I love SoWal and am a multiple property owner but I see an alarming and frustrating trend .

It may be extreme but it is not far from the truth . It is ridiculous to try and get anything accomplished in South Walton properly and in an expeditious manner . It averages on close to a year or better to complete a moderate size home . The level of service ( Contractors , Restaurants ,Everything !!! ) in SoWal has plummeted to new lows . And for all this , you will be charged an ultra premium price across the board - please save the excuses why it is so expensive . The SoWal money printing machine has shut down .It is time to get back to reality and take care of the customer and not just take advantage . I love SoWal and am a multiple property owner but I see an alarming and frustrating trend .

We're now seeing the flip side of the "rah-rah real estate phase" we just went through. The area economy has been turned on its ear as a result...expect more of the same.

His sign would look cooler if his smilies were animated like this:

It may be extreme but it is not far from the truth . It is ridiculous to try and get anything accomplished in South Walton properly and in an expeditious manner . It averages on close to a year or better to complete a moderate size home . The level of service ( Contractors , Restaurants ,Everything !!! ) in SoWal has plummeted to new lows . And for all this , you will be charged an ultra premium price across the board - please save the excuses why it is so expensive . The SoWal money printing machine has shut down .It is time to get back to reality and take care of the customer and not just take advantage . I love SoWal and am a multiple property owner but I see an alarming and frustrating trend .

Atlanta Bo, until home prices in SoWal drop to an entry level of $100K, you will not have many options for service. You get the service which is here -- some above the curb and plenty below.

The only thing I recall about the subject property was from a Planning Committee Mtg probably a year ago. The property owner across the street was concerned about the diverting of water from the subject property to the property across the street. If I correctly recall, Mr Thomas's engineers were going to bring in fill to raise the level and the other property owner stated that the entire area was very flat and he noted that his property would suffer damages from water run-off. I believe the county went forward and approved the project, but I cannot say for sure. Mr Thomas would not have written his name on the sign if he was not willing to speak his mind. I just hope he doesn't slander anyone -- could be dangerous waters. Someone call him and get the scoop. Where is SoWalSally when you need her? This could be a front page story for the Sun.

Where is SoWalSally when you need her? This could be a front page story for the Sun.

I think he's counting on it.

Why do prices have to drop so low to expect a certain level of service or value for your dollar . Practically no one that owns property in SoWal paid anywhere near 100k . There are still plenty of people with $$$ to spend .
I more was making a blanket statement about the area , not this specific instance .

Why do prices have to drop so low to expect a certain level of service or value for your dollar . Practically no one that owns property in SoWal paid anywhere near 100k . There are still plenty of people with $$$ to spend .
I more was making a blanket statement about the area , not this specific instance .

Because when the unemployment rate is the lowest in the state, the pickens are slim for good employees. If more service staff were able to live here, the choice would not be between below avg and nobody. That is not to say that all are below avg, but the avg is probably below the curve. ;-)

The "market" always corrects excesses and also creates opportunities. In Walton county the "market" is working its will.

Why do prices have to drop so low to expect a certain level of service or value for your dollar . Practically no one that owns property in SoWal paid anywhere near 100k . There are still plenty of people with $$$ to spend .
I more was making a blanket statement about the area , not this specific instance .

Atl Bo,
I think what SJ was getting at was that the rapid increase in housing prices in the area obliterated the chances for anyone pulling a median-or-below wage to rent or buy a home within reasonable commuting distance to SoWal.

With big box stores, retails malls, fast food joints and restaurants popping up overnight like mushrooms, in areas surrounding SoWal (and closer to more "reasonably" priced housing), service-sector employees are not willing to make the extra 2+hour horrendous commute into SoWal--at $2.75 per gallon--when they can roll out of bed and find a job a few blocks from their "affordable" apartment or Mom's house.

Not so very long ago, folks of modest means lived in SoWal and took jobs in the few shops and stores that dotted the coast--so it wasn't a problem.

The recent real estate money-grab and the "gentrification" of SoWal that mowed down the modest homes and trailer parks was cheered by many who welcomed the new "upscale" lifestyle. Now they're surprised how hard it is to find folks willing to bus dishes, serve coffee or repair a flat tire for $12.50 per hour--and they wonder why. (Hint: $12.50 doesn't go a long way in SoWal to pay for housing, taxes, insurance, car payments, buying groceries, paying utilities and maybe renting a movie once a week to entertain the kids.)

Until they build "guest worker housing" and open up the tap of migrant workers to flow into SoWal, folks living in this area will have to get used to paying a higher premium for labor or start getting used to accepting a reduced level of service. The "affordable housing" ship has sailed for SoWal--and the community may very well have to be run much like a cruise ship with a staff of migrant workers who live on board.

Atl Bo,
I think what SJ was getting at was that the rapid increase in housing prices in the area obliterated the chances for anyone pulling a median-or-below wage to rent or buy a home within reasonable commuting distance to SoWal.

With big box stores, retails malls, fast food joints and restaurants popping up overnight like mushrooms, in areas surrounding SoWal (and closer to more "reasonably" priced housing), service-sector employees are not willing to make the extra 2+hour horrendous commute into SoWal--at $2.75 per gallon--when they can roll out of bed and find a job a few blocks from their "affordable" apartment or Mom's house.

Not so very long ago, folks of modest means lived in SoWal and took jobs in the few shops and stores that dotted the coast--so it wasn't a problem.

The recent real estate money-grab and the "gentrification" of SoWal that mowed down the modest homes and trailer parks was cheered by many who welcomed the new "upscale" lifestyle. Now they're surprised how hard it is to find folks willing to bus dishes, serve coffee or repair a flat tire for $12.50 per hour--and they wonder why. (Hint: $12.50 doesn't go a long way in SoWal to pay for housing, taxes, insurance, car payments, buying groceries, paying utilities and maybe renting a movie once a week to entertain the kids.)

Until they build "guest worker housing" and open up the tap of migrant workers to flow into SoWal, folks living in this area will have to get used to paying a higher premium for labor or start getting used to accepting a reduced level of service. The "affordable housing" ship has sailed for SoWal--and the community may very wll have to be run much like a cruise ship with a staff of migrant workers who live on board.

Well said, Shelly. :clap_1:

Well said, Shelly. :clap_1:

I agree completely. :clap_1:

pigs are flying and there's free ice in Hell!!!

David Thomas is an Attorney in Defuniak Springs. I wonder what happened.....

Well said, Shelly. :clap_1:

Ditto.

David Thomas is an Attorney in Defuniak Springs. I wonder what happened.....

Curious also. He must have got b*tch slapped.

Are you sure he is an attorney in Defuniak and not the founder of Wendy's? Maybe he was trying to build a Wendy's. :funn:

Are you sure he is an attorney in Defuniak and not the founder of Wendy's? Maybe he was trying to build a Wendy's. :funn:

That David Thomas is DEAD, isn't he?

That David Thomas is DEAD, isn't he?

Yes and so is "where's the beef" lady.