Nathan Cobb|The News Herald
PANAMA CITY BEACH— Living in a waterfront mansion on the beach can be a very expensive luxury.
Although home prices in Bay County typically spike for buyers who travel west of the Hathaway Bridge, there are three homes for sale in the Panama City Beach area that stand out as the most expensive on the market.
All boast unique designs, extravagant amenities and range from about $4 million to almost $10 million, according to information provided by the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors.
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"I think it's exciting to see property values going up and people moving into our area who can afford things like that," said Amanda Corbin, CPAR president. "When you look at our prices compared to nationwideand being on the water or near water ... we're still considered a fairly good price point."
However, the listings highlighted by the group still top by many timesthe average sale price in Bay County of about $344,000.
Panama City Beach area's priciest home for sale
The most expensiveis "Delwood Manor," a $9.995 million home on Delwood Drive along St. AndrewBay that was built in 2016. It hit the market in November and includes six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, a three-car garage and a lot across the street with four more parking spaces and a workshop.
The almost 23,000-square-foot property sits on more than 3acres.
"It's worth more than $10 million," said Lori Buckalew, a real estate agent for Corcoran Reverie andlisting agent for the manor."It cost almost $18 million to build. If this house was on 30A, it would be $30 million."
Buckalew noted the homealso offers more than 600 square feet of waterfront space, an elevator, heated floors, infinity pool and helicopter pad.
There is even a safe room lined with steel and an entire floor that's underground for protection against hurricanes and tornadoes.
"You can come by plane, by sea or car," Buckalew said. "We have a lot of interest right now."
Farther west near the Walton County line, the second most expensive home in the area is "Wooden Shoe," a $6.95 million property on Beachside Drive in the Carillon Beach community that was built in 2001.
The more than 4,400-square-foot home has been on the market since April and includes five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.
According to Martin Sandel, a real estate agent for Sandels by the Sea and listing agent, Wooden Shoe is the last Gulf-front home inCarillon. It was named by its Dutch owners because it features a collection of antique wooden shoes.
Sandel noted that Carillon residents gain access to community amenities, including a chapel, three pools and tennis courts, a gym and LakeCarillon. He also said the last undeveloped lot in the area sold within the past three weeks for $4 million.
"Carillon Beach is very unique and different from almost all the other communities along the beach in that it is a gated community," Sandel said."Kids are biking safely ... and people want to be part of a family atmosphere. We kind of callCarillon Beach 'Mayberry on the Beach.'"
Third on the list is "Sunset," is a $3.999 million home on Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach that was built in 2019. The more than 5,200-square-foot home boasts nine bedrooms and nine and a half bathrooms.
It's also the only one on the list with four stories. The other two have three stories.
"It's an absolutely beautiful house," said Andrea Farrell, a real estate agent for Engel & Volkers Destin and listing agent for the property."It hasa really strong coastal chic look. When (people) go in there, they want to stay in there. It's definitely geared around entertaining and large families."
Farrell, who added the property has a pool, two kitchens and can sleep about 30 people, also said Sunset would cost at least double if it was in Destin.
Corbin saidthe reason homes are often more expensive in other coastal communities is because Bay County wasn't discovered until recently. This growing interest created a very tight housing market, withsignificantly more people looking to buy than there are homes available.
Corbin said homes in Bay County stay on the market for only about 20 days because of the demand.
"I think it's just been a hidden, little secret that people all over the nation are beginning to discover," she said."We have beautiful weather, the water's gorgeous, people are friendly (and) we don't have a state income tax.
"It's just a great place to live."
