The city of Gulf Shores and Neighbor Orange Beach are ready with the Holiday season officially upon us.  Events have been scheduled for all ages, and with the wonderful weather forecast so far, there is no reason not to get out and enjoy some of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Holiday Events!    This Saturday December 2nd, 2011 marks the 2nd annual Gulf Shores Christmas Parade.  The parade starts at 4:00 and will run down Highway 59 from the Bridge to the Beach.  Last year the parade was graced with the Budweiser Clydesdales along with a wide variety of area business sponsored floats, The Gulf Shores High School Band, and more.  This year should be a similar string of participants, with candy, necklaces, and the like for your children (or even YOU) to scamper for.  According to the... 12/02/2011

As many are aware, the current housing market has created a large number of foreclosure properties. For people who would like to live in or own property in the Gulf Shores or Orange Beach area, this can be the opportunity of a lifetime. A spectacular Gulf Shores beach bargain can seem like just a dream. By getting assistance from a knowledgeable source familiar with not only the physical area but also the foreclosure process, your dream could come true! Potentially acquiring a house, even if it is a foreclosure, is still a major purchase with many possible pitfalls. With the proper guidance, however, it can be quite a sensible decision. One of the first steps you should consider is contacting a Gulf Shores  real estate agent. An agent can assist you from the beginning and give you advic... 11/30/2011

    Residents in the Gulf Shores and surrounding areas, and even those just visiting, you are going to want to mark your calendars! With the holidays sneaking right up on us, be sure to make time to celebrate and enjoy the season. The Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 26th Annual Nautical Night of Lights parade of lighted boats. It is a wonderful way to spend time with the family and really get into the holiday spirit. The Nautical Night of Lights will be held on Saturday, December 10th at 5:30pm. It will end at approximately 8pm. Admission is FREE to the public, so Orange Beach/Gulf Shores residents, bring even your extended family! The participating boats will assemble at LuLu’s in Homeport Marina. The route the boats travel will be east down the Intracoastal ... 11/24/2011

New Zoo and Waterpark in Gulf Shores   If you have been to Gulf Shores recently, you have probably noticed the sign on Highway 59 announcing the location of our “New Zoo.”   The very exciting project has been underway for a little while now, and people are surely getting anxious.  The project promises to be something new and exciting, not only to our area but also for zoo’s in general.  Our New Zoo in Gulf Shores proposes to be the first self sustaining zoo in the United States.  The new zoo in Gulf Shores has crowned itself the “amazing green zoo.”  The current home of the zoo sits on just over 7 acres.  Gulf Shores new zoo location was donated by Gulf Shores business man Weir, and will now sit on over 40 acres.  What many people aren’t aware of is the plans for a new Waterpark in Gulf... 11/22/2011

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach travel and tourism brings in record revenues! 2007 was the top revenue year for our Gulf Coast community, but not anymore!  Gulf Shores and Orange Beach banded together to boost their travel and tourism efforts with marketing dollars and new campaigns to see that 2011 went over 2009s top numbers.  And it did! The summer season has brought in 18% more than the 2007 precedent, and year to date numbers are in line to be a 17% increase overall. Of course The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach travel and tourism numbers from 2010 were sagging due to the BP Gulf Oil spill.  The 2011 numbers are towering over 2010 by an encouraging 51%!  Without a doubt Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism would have seen an increase over last year with little effort.  But to triumph ove... 11/21/2011

We are fortunate in Gulf Shores to be near the home base of the incredible U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and soon we welcome them home from their 2011 tour! The homecoming will be held on November 11 & 12 at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. The admission is free, the show is super, and there are several other events at the show to enjoy - so pack up the family and plan to attend. If you are interested in reserved seating, those seats can be held for a fee or purchased as available on the show dates. You are also allowed to bring your own chairs or lawn blankets. Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. each day of the show, and the events begin at 9:45 a.m. The Blue Angels will fly at 2:00 p.m. and will be available to sign autographs after the show. The public is invited to join military and show ... 10/22/2011

The 27th annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival will come to the Florida/Alabama Coast on November 10-20. This 11-day festival has been declared the largest gathering of songwriters at one time in the world and voted as one of the 20 best events in the Southeast. Last year's festival had 190 songwriters in 26 venues with 378 separate performances! The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is an event developed to support songwriters and musicians from around the world.  New songwriters can have their songs heard and also the attendees can enjoy songs they know, performed by the writers who created the songs.  Songwriters range from proven Grammy Award winners to the up and coming stars of the future.  Not only is the music and talent a draw for the crowds who com... 10/16/2011

Bring a hearty appetite and get ready to enjoy some of the best German sausage and sauerkraut on the Gulf! The Elberta German Sausage Festival has been held every year since 1978 and draws over 30,000 people who consume about 7,000 pounds of delicious sausage. This Gulf Coast sausage recipe has changed slightly over the years, but it is still based on the original secret recipe of Alfred Stucki, who managed Elberta’s Locker Plant from 1953 until his death. Other tasty food selections include German-style stuffed cabbage, goulash, potato salad, red beans & rice, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, ice cream, popcorn, and peanuts. Baked goods and canned goods will be sold at various booths. All ages will find entertainment to enjoy. Music and dancing is provided by the Bellview Stumpfid... 10/08/2011

October in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach means perfect weather, bountiful fishing, and three major events along with several local events. One of my favorite months here is also a great month for you to visit! Kick off the month of October with a visit to the 61st annual Baldwin County Fair and continue the fun with at least one major event each week for the rest of the month. Thunder on the Gulf Powerboat Races begin with a welcome party at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5. This event is rated one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. You can find more details in my previous blog, "Get Ready for Thunder on the Gulf." Orange Beach Market Days start on October 6 and run through October 16. Special events and promotions will be he... 09/29/2011

Over 300,000 people will head to Gulf Shores, Alabama, this October 13-16 to focus on shrimp- - shrimp prepared in a zillion delicious ways! Along with plenty of shrimp dishes to feast on, the festival features music, arts & crafts, sandcastle/sand sculpting competitions, other festival foods and drink, and a children's village. One of the most amazing facts about our Annual National Shrimp Festival is that after all these years, it is still FREE. Enjoy four days of fun with no admission charge! The Festival has become one of the nation's premier outdoor festivals. Over 300 vendors participate in the marketplace, and two stages present non-stop music and entertainment the entire time.  The full schedule is listed on AlaGulfCoastChamber.com. You don't have to take my word for how great t... 09/22/2011

I have decided to repost this information that was blogged on al.com in the real estate section.  This is the same information that we walked away with last week at our monthly RE/MAX of Gulf Shores sales meeting.  It's nice to see that it's being reiterrated here as well. -Kristy www.kristydoggett.net   "2011 (Baldwin County) Closed Volume 1/1/11 - 8/31/11:                     $1,241,637,662 # of Transactions 1/1/11 - 8/31/11:                   6,188 Closed Volume 6/1/11 - 8/31/11:                     $507,172,014 # of Transactions 6/1/11 - 8/31/11:                   2,448 2010 (Baldwin County) Closed Volume 1/1/10 - 8/31/10:                     $998,789,328  # of Transactions 1/1/10 - 8/31/10:                   4,962 Closed Volume 6/1/10 - 8/31/10:                     $356,369,438  #... 09/12/2011

The pristine beaches of Orange Beach will be alive with "thunder” when the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships begin on October 6. This event is rated as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast according to the Southeast Tourism Society and rated even higher on my list! The State Park Pavilion becomes Race Village during this event and will be open to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.  On Saturday, October 8, there will be a boat parade that starts at Race Village and ends at the Orange Beach Event Center. This is a great chance to get photos of the boats and autographs from the race teams. After the parade, a gala will be held in the Event Center with music by the Tip Tops, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and silent auction. For four days, the roar of "thunder" wi... 09/08/2011

Not all short sales work out, we agents know that. However, it agitates me and the buyer greatly when the listing agent will not make it a priority to get the earnest deposit release signed. I am writing this post in Gulf Shores, while dealing once again with the frustration of a listing agent taking way too much time to get the seller's signature on the earnest deposit release form. I have lost a client previously over this issue because in the eyes of the client we are holding his earnest deposit, and I should be able to get it back to him. My hands are tied because the rules of the Alabama Real Estate Commission require both the buyer's and seller's signatures. I have been calling and emailing the listing agent with no response. I understand this agent is busy (aren't we all?!), but... 09/01/2011

Revenue from sports in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has skyrocketed this year. Only half-way through 2011, the revenue reported by the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is $13.8 million, which exceeds the total 2010 revenue by $1 million. "When you've got a beach and you can come play ball at the same time, it's hard to compete with that," states Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon at AL.com. Mayor Kennon hopes to see Gulf Shores and Orange Beach become the youth sports capital of the South and possibly the nation.  Families appreciate the fact that the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas are family-oriented vacation destinations. Both the Gulf Shores Sportsplex and the Orange Beach Sportsplex have had excellent schedules this year. The Orange Beach Sportsplex located at 4385 Will... 08/23/2011

Since 1987 Alabama has been part of the international efforts to remove marine debris from coastal waters.  According to the Alabama Coastal Cleanup website, volunteers have removed a total of 1,169,844 pounds of debris and cleaned 3,917 miles of coast during this time. The debris is not only removed, but it is studied to determine the causes and sources of debris in a region. This year the Alabama Coastal Cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 17 from 8:00 a.m. - noon.  Here is contact information to help "Get The Trash Out Of The Splash" in  our local areas: ●     Orange Beach - April Boone: 251-970-5907 ●     Gulf Shores - Lisa Kennedy: 251-747-6706 ●     Gulf State Park - CJ Jarmon & Kelly Reetz: 251-948-7275  x124 Volunteers are reminded to come prepared with sunscreen, hats, ... 08/17/2011

A total of $3.35 million changed hands as bidders got the properties they wanted at the upscale Florencia in PerdidoKey this month. The condo units were sold at absolute auction, and the event attracted 81 registered bidders. Bidders came from 10 states, and each of the bidders had to submit $35,000 by check or certified funds. Eleven condominium units sold at the auction, including a 6-bedroom penthouse that sold for $550,000. According to  Al.com, William Bone, president of The National Auction Group, stated, "Having this many bidders attend, shows the pent-up demand for high-end GulfCoast condos."  He also commented on how many prospective sellers were at the auction, and he predicts that there will be more auctions in the future. The Florencia developer originally planned to sell 7 ... 08/11/2011

Lodging revenue is the best indicator of tourism growth, and this year GulfShoresandOrangeBeach Tourism reported that spring 2011 brought in more than $64.9 million in lodging rentals. That is 13% higher than the record set in 2007! One of the kick-off events for our spring tourism season is the Hangout Music Fest. (I wrote about the musicfestival in February.) This year Hangout Music Fest  was sold out with crowds of 35,000 daily. The promoter of the festival, local businessman Shaul Zislin, stated that it was, "an absolutely windfall year."  Gulf Shores Councilman Steve Jones, feels that positive media focusing on GulfShores' success in restoring the area to a level better than it was before the oil spill combined with our perfect spring weather, were both factors in the huge increase... 08/03/2011

The Alabama GulfCoast is a great fishing spot all year, and this summer the reports have been especially good!  Alabama has the largest charter fishing fleet on the Gulf Coast, and anglers can choose from inshore, offshore, or pier fishing.  Alabama also has the largest artificial reef program in the United States. The reef program started in 1953 in OrangeBeach. In 1987 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit to create specific artificial reef areas offshore. Later, the need for inshore artificial reefs was realized, and in 1996 rubble from the replacement of several river bridges was placed inshore to promote the growth of a natural oyster reef community. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ program represents one of the best recycling efforts in the country. Obsolete military c... 07/30/2011

Headlines tell us that foreclosures are dropping, and local real estate agents agree. According to RealtyTrac’s latest report, Alabama saw a 17% drop in foreclosure filings in the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2010. The same report shows that the number of foreclosure filings in Alabama for the month of June 2011 was 1,458. This is 20.4% decrease from the same month last year. It is good news that the numbers of foreclosures are dropping in GulfShores and the rest of the state. This is certainly healthy for the real estate market.  However for those in the market to buy, my advice is to move quickly to take advantage of great bargains and wise investments. Many 3-year adjustable mortgages were given out in 2008 and these have resulted in some of the foreclosures ... 07/22/2011

The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is great for many reasons – beach, beautiful gulf waters, and other natural beauty. Another benefit of this location is the opportunity to watch the incredible U.S. Navy Blue Angels practice overhead.  The U.S. Navy Flight Exhibition Team, the Blue Angels, is made up of 16 officers who voluntarily apply for this honor.  The officers typically serve for 3 years with the team. These pilots are career-oriented Navy and Marine Corp jet pilots with a minimum of 1,250 tactical jet-flight hours. The Commanding Officer, who flies the number 1 jet, is selected by the Chief of Naval Air Training. The “Boss”, the Blue Angels Commanding Officer, is required to have at least 3,000 tactical jet-flight hours and also have experience as a tactical jet squadron commande... 07/16/2011