Panama City Florida featured on CNN

Just as we locals are looking at our projected property tax bills (horrifying) and feeling the effects of the slump in the real estate market (a complete contradiction to the proposed real estate assessments), CNN published an interesting article that places Panama City as the number 1 city in their where to buy now column.
Hmmmmnnn....
Locals have mixed feelings about our new airport. Many didn't want to see it happen as it meant more growth in an already fast growing small town. It appears however that our new airport (if all this speculation is true) will indeed throw our local economy into a much needed upward spiral.

Panama City Beach and Bay County offer some of the most pristine beaches I have seen in Florida. As a native I've watched my home state become overdeveloped and beaches destroyed to make way for condos and developers. As a homeowner in Bay County I am excited about the prospect of once again booming real estate values, however, as a local concerned about our beaches I can only hope that we have learned from other counties mistakes.

Waterfront Dining in Panama City Beach

If you are going to dine out....
Why not enjoy a waterfront view?

Due to increased property values in Bay County and the cost of Insurance and Taxes, we have lost many of our wonderful waterfront restaurants. There are, however, still a few local favorites you may want to visit while here:

Uncle Ernies: Good food and one of the best views around. Located in St. Andrews, Uncle Ernies is overlooking the Bay and the St. Andrews Marina. It's a local favorite to enjoy microbrew beer and watch people launch boats and jet skis.
It can be quite entertaining :-)

Schooners: One of my favorites! Fabulous grilled grouper sandwich and hamburgers. Waterfront dining and deck on the Gulf of Mexico.

The Boat Yard: Great for meeting up with friends to share drinks and appetizers. A beautiful view of St. Andrews Bay. You can enjoy watching the yachts and charter fishing boats come in after a day offshore.

Captain Andersons: One of the most popular restaurants in Panama City Beach. Waterfront dining on the Bay, elegant yet casual. Todd and I have been here a few times....the food is always spectacular, however, we have felt a bit rushed to get through dinner.

Panama City Beach Pirate Ship

This past weekend, the St. Andrew Bay Power Squadron had a rendezvous on the Pirate Ship on the Grand Lagoon.
Although I've been in Panama City Beach since 2000, I had never been aboard the Pirate Ship. The captain and crew do a wonderful job in keeping the kids entertained while the adults enjoy watching dolphins and the beautiful scenery along the beach and the grand lagoon.

I was able to snap a few photos along the way...

Panama City Florida Real Estate

The real estate market in Panama City, Florida and Bay County has slowed and now is actually a great time to buy real property.

Todd and I have a couple of rental properties and whenever we are thinking of buying or selling a home I call my friend, Connie and visit her website at: Panama City Florida Real Estate.

Sunrise over St. Andrew Bay

I certainly can't complain about my back yard. As difficult it is to maintain, I never grow tired of watching a sunrise over St. Andrew's Bay. The weather is chilly this morning (upper 50's) and the sky will be clear and offer a wonderful day to be out on the water.

Dolphin Photo

Instead of being another normal homeowner in Panama City Beach, Florida and griping about things that do indeed effect me daily:
Property taxes
Property Insurance
overdevelopement of Condominiums
Property Taxes
The collapse of the Local Real Estate Market
Did I Mention Property Taxes??????
I instead will offer you what you did indeed visit my blog for......
another wonderful dolphin image :-)

Racing Dolphins in St. Andrew Bay

While taking our boat to Miller Marine in South Port, we encountered a school of dolphins. They ran alongside us feeding on shrimp our boat was stirring up off the bottom of the bay in the shallow water.

St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach is a wonderful place to see dolphin, birds and other marine life.