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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
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    <guid>https://www.30arealty.com/blog/hamptons-of-the-south-known-for-its-scenic-stretch-of-beaches-attracts-influx-of-homebuyers.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.30arealty.com/blog/hamptons-of-the-south-known-for-its-scenic-stretch-of-beaches-attracts-influx-of-homebuyers.html</link>
        <author>jacob@cireec.com (Blankenship | Watkins)</author>
        <title>'Hamptons of the South' known for its scenic stretch of beaches attracts influx of homebuyers</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
A stunning 26-mile stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast, known as 30A, has been dubbed the 'Hamptons of the South' as it attracts an influx of homebuyers.


The quiet slice of paradise has turned into America's latest luxury hotspot, attracting wealthy buyers from as far as Chicago and Montana.


The once-hidden gem strip of beaches, including picture-perfect towns like Rosemary Beach and Seaside, features Caribbean-like waters, powdery white sand, and classic Southern charm.


Local real estate agent Beau Blankenship emphasized the dramatic shift that's taken place in recent years.


'Now you're seeing people from the Northeast, people from the West, Salt Lake City, Utah, Colorado,' he told Business Insider.





 





 


In 2023, visitor spending during the peak summer season increased by $500 million compared to 2019, he explained. 


'A decade ago, those visitors were mostly from Southern cities within driving distance, like Atlanta and Nashville,' he added.' Now you're seeing people from the Northeast, people from the West, Salt Lake City, Utah, Colorado.'


The area's popularity has sent property prices skyrocketing as median home price soared from $1.1 million in 2019 to a jaw-dropping $3 million this year in Rosemary Beach.


Rosemary Beach is a popular high-end beach community with a European flair complete with plenty of dining and shopping options, that is situated off scenic highway 30A.








Luxury vacation rentals are also now asking for up to $2,500 per evening.


Kemp Stewart, a luxury rental owner, witnessed the transformation firsthand


'There'd be a few vacant lots, and then a house surrounded by trees and brush,' he told Business Insider. 'Then all of sudden, you'd see individual developments of monster homes being built on the beach.'


The pandemic accelerated the trend, with Florida's early reopening attracting those seeking sun-soaked locations from locked-down states.


Steward claims its appeal has stayed consistent.


'This is a place for families to go on vacation and connect with one another in one of the most beautiful environments in the world,' he said.


 
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    <pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 22:55:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.30arealty.com/blog/beau-blankenship-jacob-watkins-sign-onto-christies-real-estate.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.30arealty.com/blog/beau-blankenship-jacob-watkins-sign-onto-christies-real-estate.html</link>
        <author>jacob@cireec.com (Blankenship | Watkins)</author>
        <title>Beau Blankenship, Jacob Watkins sign onto Christie's Real Estate</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
 



The 2 top producers from Engel &amp; Völkers 30A Beaches and Corcoran Reverie have launched a new flagship location in northwest Florida: Christie's International Real Estate Emerald Coast:







Two of the top broker-owners located on Florida’s Emerald Coast have shed their former affiliations to join Christie’s International Real Estate, the firm has informed Inman.


Beau Blankenship, formerly of Engel &amp; Völkers 30A Beaches, and Jacob Watkins, formerly of Corcoran Reverie, are teaming up to found a new flagship location in northwest Florida called Christie’s International Real Estate Emerald Coast.


“Their tech platform, their luxury brand and just [all] they do I feel is a level up and is going to help us in our market,” Blankenship told Inman. “I think the Christie’s brand is synonymous with luxury and the auction house and everything — it is just a really, really good brand that spoke to us. And then their tech stack is phenomenal. So those two [paired] together just made for a very good partnership.”


At his previous firm, Blankenship led the Blankenship Group, the No. 1 team in Walton County. Engel &amp; Völkers 30A Beaches in 2024, while owned by Blankenship, was also ranked the No. 4 Engel &amp; Völkers affiliate across the country by RealTrends with $558.5 million in sales volume across 393 sides. Blankenship alone has closed more than $3 billion in career sales, a small feat given that he formally launched his real estate career in 2018 at the age of 27.


Watkins worked as an Ernst &amp; Young finance consultant before transitioning into real estate about 10 years ago. He launched a small firm, 30A Realty, which merged with Corcoran Reverie in 2020. In the less than five years that Watkins was affiliated with Corcoran Reverie, the firm closed about $4 billion in sales, about $870 million of which can be attributed to a team Watkins was on.


Together, Blankenship and Watkins will co-lead the new affiliate as equal partners. The company’s major markets will include neighborhoods stretching from Destin to Panama City, including Santa Rosa Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside and Alys Beach, and will start off with around 130 agents.


The duo have also created a large team called the Blankenship Watkins Advisory Group, which is launching with a portfolio of more than $265 million in listings.


The timing of Blankenship’s reaching out to Wong was perfect, the CEO said, as a contract the company had with a previous affiliate on the Emerald Coast was expiring. He also knew of Blankenship’s reputation as a top-performer in the market.


“So when Beau called, it was just a fantastic surprise, because if you were to ask me prior to him reaching out, if I would have had one person to fly the Christie’s flag, it would have been Beau,” Wong told Inman. “And adding Jacob to it is huge, considering the number of deals they’ve done over $10 million there.”


Together, Blankenship and Watkins have closed 21 transactions above $10 million. They are currently marketing the highest-priced listing in northwest Florida, which is asking $26.5 million.


Blankenship said that he and Watkins had been friends for the last decade, getting to know one another as fellow top-performers and business owners in the same market, and eventually vacationing together since they both have young families.


  



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    <pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:42:00 -0500</pubDate>
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