Merry Christmas!

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped to shape and grow our business. It's been quite a year for us all! We hope that 2014 has been just as memorable for you and your loved ones. We look forward to working with you in the years to come. Merry Christmas!

ParsCo Construction is building Restaurant Iron downtown

Written by Julio Diaz, Entertainment Editor

Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Chef Alex McPhail will open Restaurant Iron at 22 N. Palafox St. around Christmas Day.

Downtown's dining scene is getting one heck of a Christmas present, as Chef Alex McPhail is just a couple of weeks away from opening Restaurant Iron at 22 N. Palafox St. McPhail is bringing most of his seasoned staff with him to his new venture in the space that formerly housed Elise Coastal Dining and, before that, Cafe 22. Assuming timely inspections and completion of remodeling, he says he expects to open just before Christmas, with a somewhat irregular schedule through the holiday week.

Regular dinner hours will be 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. McPhail said he hopes to cultivate a happy hour clientele in the early evening and offer a fine-dining experience, including his famous eight-course tasting menus and a new five-course vegetarian tasting menu. He will be expanding his menu beyond the offerings at Marcus Pointe, using his new kitchen — which he said is "like a Ferrari" — to increase the number of a la carte offerings.

McPhail said anyone seated by 10 p.m. will be served Tuesday through Thursday and that the tasting menu would cut off at that time throughout the week, but copious offerings will be available late nights.

And he said his immediate focus is on perfecting the fine-dining experience at dinner service, but he plans to eventually bring that experience forward into the lunchtime hours.

I couldn't be more excited to have one of the area's hottest young chefs moving into the News Journal's neighborhood. Iron is just steps from our new headquarters at 2 N. Palafox St., and I plan to visit our new neighbor frequently.

Restaurant Iron's website, which has not yet been updated with info on the new location, is www.restaurantiron.com. Check it out for an idea of the goodness that's ahead.

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ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

O:  850.696.7656

F:   850.390.4943

Visit us on the web at

www.parscoconstruction.com

Summer Vista Ground Breaking

ParsCo is proud to be part of the team on a new $16 million senior-living project, Summer Vista. This beautiful project is set to transform the former site of the Pensacola Racquet Club on Wimbledon Drive. The project broke ground today on Nov. 20.

Summer Vista will be managed by SRI Management. 

The 75,138-square-foot development will have 89 apartments, and will offer assisted living accommodations. In addition to providing a carefree lifestyle and round-the-clock support, residential amenities will include a theater, chapel, fitness center, putting green, and spacious community areas indoors and outdoors. It is conveniently located near Pensacola International Airport, Cordova Mall and other shopping and dining options.

Summer Vista will also offer specialized residential memory care services to seniors who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

The project is also expected to create around 60 new jobs.

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ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

O:  850.696.7656

F:   850.390.4943

Visit us on the web at

www.parscoconstruction.com

ParsCo Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings -Pensacola, Navarre, Milton, Pace, Gulf Breeze, Ft. Walton Beach, Shalimar, Destin Panama City

One of the best things when designing a new project is seeing a design in 3D. 

Below are some renderings in 3D that were developed this week for a new project that ParsCo is working on. 

Having a 3D rendering of the project design is a fantastic way to establish expectations of what the final product will look like. 

To discuss your next project and have ParsCo produce a design in 3D along with pricing email us at info@parscoconstruction.com or call 850-695-7656. 

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ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

O:  850.696.7656

F:   850.390.4943

C:  850.776.6265

Visit us on the web at

www.parscoconstruction.com

ParsCo Construction High-End Custom Home 30A - Walton County Florida

ParsCo Construction’s residential division only focuses on high-end custom homes, and our work across the Florida Panhandle shows that we only choose to work on a few select projects at a time so we can focus our time and energy into providing the highest level of customer service. 

Figure 1ParsCo Construction High-End Residential Project - 30A Walton County

 

 

ParsCo Design Build Process

When we are engaged to work on a new residential project from conception, we begin the design process by sitting down with you to discuss your lifestyle and how you will live in your new home. For instance, do you do a lot of entertaining? Do you enjoy theater sitting for movie watching? Are the outdoor living spaces a high priority?

As drawings proceed, we will then begin meeting with you to discuss preliminary selections and finishes for your home. Our interior designer will prepare a comprehensive package for your review, inclusive of all selections such as hardware, plumbing, tile, appliances and lighting. We will include color photos of all selections to best convey the essence of our design direction, including vignettes of individual rooms with selections juxtaposed to help you visualize final results.Once we understand what your needs are, we will begin the preliminary design process. First, we will create a preliminary floor plan and site plan for your consideration and feedback. This preliminary process represents a large portion of the creative design time to create a customized, thoughtful plan and may require as much as 8-10 weeks. Once the preliminary plans are tweaked, based on your feedback, we move on to CAD drawings and design development.

An important aspect of construction documents are the specifications, which detail the "bricks and sticks" methods of construction. A complete set of specifications, inclusive of all selections, will be prepared and presented with each design revision. These specifications are particularly complete because of the additional design time dedicated to selection specificity prior to construction. Only larger scope areas of improvement, such as landscaping or audio/visual, may be reflected as allowances. Even so, our company will lead the conversation with consultants and follow thru with management during construction.

Together with the plans and selections and specifications, we will also prepare an estimate of cost. Since we are the builder, the pricing estimate we provide you is a real estimate. Not a guess or hopeful shot-in-the-dark to keep the process going.  We want to make you aware of what the true construction cost will be at the early stages so if we are over budget we can continue to modify the design to keep the project within your budget.  This cost estimate will be a well studied estimate, based first on preliminary plans and specifications, and updated with each presentation of revised drawings and selections. Unless there are major changes to the overall scope of the project, we can expect that the preliminary cost that we provide at the beginning of design will be very consistent with the final cost at the completion of construction documents.

The entire creative process requires anywhere from 6 to 8 months, depending on how extensive the level of customization and the scope of project.

Architecture

Upon acceptance of the Pre-Construction Agreement, we will begin the process of design. Over a period of approximately 6 months, our architecture team will schedule periodic design meetings with you to review the plan in progress and receive additional feedback. Long distance communication is not a problem; electronic files and overnight mailings work great.

In addition to visiting with the architects, you will also be meeting with the interior designer at intervals to determine selections and finishes for costing purposes. We will prepare periodic cost updates during the design process.

Construction Documents

 

As design development continues and is completed, we will prepare final Construction Drawings, Specifications with Selections, and Final Cost. These Construction Documents are very comprehensive and detailed, and represent our construction commitment to you for improvements. These documents will be attached as exhibits to our construction contract along with contract price. We will be ready for a quick construction start without delays of re-design due to cost overruns.

 

ParsCo Construction Building Process

The ParsCo construction process actually begins well before the construction contract is signed. During the design phase, our project manager will work closely with our design team and estimating, becoming well informed of plans and specifications. Construction start is therefore efficient and timely. The Project Architect and interior designers remain involved during construction, insuring design integrity.

Project Management

 

ParsCo will assign both a Project Manager and Project Superintendent to your project, sharing management roles during construction and serving as main points of contact to the client. The Project Superintendent's priority is work progress on site. He is responsible for insuring the high quality performance of our tradesmen, daily and critical path scheduling, cleanliness of site, scheduling and timeliness of work. Often times, the Project Superintendent will put his expert skills to work as well, by completing intricate tasks in finish carpentry, and other scopes of work to make sure our client’s vision is accomplished and meets every expectation.  Each Project Supertintendent is charged with documenting job progress via daily/weekly photos, enabling team members to respond quickly to any questions or issues.  We setup a custom web-page for our client so they can view progress and share with their family and friends.  This is also extremely useful for our out-of-town clients in tracking the progress. 

The position of Project Manager (PM) is just one of many distinguishing facets to ParsCo.  Amir personally works on every project as the Project Manager, and his team of assistants make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.  Central to the efficacy of project management, Amir is responsible for coordinating purchases, documenting all changes and serves generally as the go-to person for project information.

 

   

 

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ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

O:  850.696.7656

F:   850.390.4943

 

 

Visit us on the web at

www.parscoconstruction.com

 

 

Column base connections for pre-engineered metal buildings

One of the most important structural considerations that is often overlooked when designing or ordering a Pre-engineered metal building is the column base connection. 

Column bases are the foundations for the columnar components of your steel structure. The column base transfers loads to the building foundation and act as a support for the structural loads the columns must meet. Bases come in many sizes and designs but there are two key methods of connecting the column base to the foundation. The foundation must be designed with the specific connection type in mind.

Base plates

The base plate of the column transfers all column loads to a supporting member, the structural frame as a whole or to the foundation. This includes:

• Axial/gravity loads
• Moment loads
• Shear loads
• And axial/uplift loads

Base plates turn the column into a vertical cantilever eliminating the need for guy wires for additional support.

While base plate design is relatively open as far as size, shape and aesthetics, there are manufacturing issues that come into play. Some base plate designs are difficult to fabricate or call for materials that are expensive or rare. Others may not be available in the size requested. All these issues can raise the price of the base plate.

Some base plate designs are not stable enough to support the column without the extra support of guying.

Fixed-Base Columns

A fixed base column is often compared to a flagpole; the entire moment, or bending, load is carried by the supporting foundation. Fixed-base columns are relatively inexpensive but require a much thicker and stronger foundation. This column base type must be specified before the foundation is designed; otherwise the savings from the base type will be eaten up by the expense of reworking the foundation or the columns after installation.

Pinned-Base Columns

Pinned-base columns are fastened to the foundation with anchor bolts and transfer different loads to the foundation than fixed-base columns. Pinned-base columns transfer only transfer vertical and horizontal loads to the foundation. The steel structure carries the other loads.

There is no need for specific foundation design for a pinned-base column building. In fact, a pinned-base column is often assumed when foundations are built. Unfortunately, the column fastening is generally unknown until the bids for steel construction are complete. By this time the foundation is already in. You can imagine what happens if the resulting building type calls for fixed-base columns in this case. The foundation will not have been designed to support fixed column requiring extra support for the columns during erection and the hope that the foundation will not crack under the additional load.

Avoiding Rework

To save money and time, you must specify, before the foundation is designed and installed, what column type will be used. With all in agreement from the beginning, time, money, and aggravation can be saved.

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ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

O:  850.696.7656

F:   850.390.4943

Visit us on the web at

www.parscoconstruction.com

MSU Davis Wade stadium expansion completion

The Certificate of occupancy was issued Friday, August 22nd just in time for the first game of the season on August 30th when Amir's alma mater The University of Southern Mississippi faces the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville,MS. 

Scott Stricklin, the MSU Athletic Director was so pleased with our work that he posted a pic on his Instagram. 

Fluid Metalworks, Inc. and ParsCo made a great team when tackling this large scale project and meeting their strict completion deadline. 

ParsCo's solution to Design and budgeting

A majority of the time, Owners hire a designer to design a project and then the project is priced for construction.

 

When ParsCo is not involved, the architect or designer draws the project unencumbered by a defined budget and excludes the ParsCo's cost assessment. After the design is completed, the job is sent out for bid to numerous contractors who have not been involved in the developing design of the project. The scope of work is generic, MEP design is not finalized, fixtures and products are scoped as allowances and assumptions are made for unknowns. More often than not the bids come in over the budget. Here is where the blame game begins. The Client tells the designer the bids are way over budget, the designer says it must be the contractors fault, call more contractors. You question the contractors bid amounts and they claim the designer over drew the project and you need to cut back or invest more. Maybe you take a chance on the lowest bid who bid per the plans not mentioning what was missing. In the end the client ends up scaling back the design, throwing out the design, or starting over. This triangle includes three separate competing parties who never had a chance to work as a team. Everyone loses. The client loses the most; time wasted, money on design wasted, pressure to work with lowest bid contractor (with reservations), scale back while paying more for design or canceling the project.

When ParsCo is involved in a project after the design is complete and it is determined that the project is over budget, ParsCo brings to the team an approach that allows the project to be constructed utilizing ParsCo's innovative design value engineering process. This process can be avoided though. 

When possible, ParsCo suggests that the process begin with the client hiring a designer or architect to develop a design for a project and involving ParsCo from the onset. The ParsCo approach is participatory and includes design, feasibility, scope development, product selection, construction and project management. The client, ParsCo and designer are all equally involved as partners from the outset. ParsCo accepts single source accountability for the entire process. Instead of the projects budget being the result or afterthought of the project's design with the ParsCo process your design is derived as a result of your budget.  ParsCo works with the architect or designer during the design phase in order to accomplish cost efficiency and function while the design is being developed. ParsCo can either employ or brings in the qualified designer or architect who will agree to draw within the set aside budget range given by the client.

While the set of plans, elevations, and other drawings necessary to visualize the design are proposed, ParsCo simultaneously calculates the estimate, scope of work, a projected schedule, and a detailed warranty for the client before a final contractual commitment to build the project takes place. This gives the client a more accurate and complete picture of what the project entails well before the project starts.

The ParsCo process allows us to do as much pre-planning as possible before the job, so that when things are ready to proceed they are done in a more efficient and orderly manner. This enables greater cost efficiencies by more closely integrating production procedures with the project's intended design.

From concept to completion, you are working with one firm which manages the entire process. This eliminates blame shifting which usually leads to the customer falling through the cracks.

To find out more about ParsCo's Construction process and how it will help you complete your project within budget please email us at info@parscoconstruction.com or call 850-696-7656. 

 

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Pensacola Commercial Construction 

 

Project Budgeting in Construction with ParsCo Construction - Pensacola, FL

Stuff costs money. Construction is stuff. Design is stuff. Clients want stuff. Building costs money. Clients have money. Designers and Contractors need to be upfront about costs and have candid discussions throughout the life of the project. Costs change, selections change,  issues come up, revisions are made, etc... All of these budget issues need to be continually addressed and it can often be a moving a target. 

We're not going to discuss specific costs; there are far too many variables- project location, quality, schedule, materials, design, type of project, etc. The budget pricing items below are not all inclusive, but rather a general listing of the typical items to be included in the budgets. It is crucial to the success of the project, and for the relationship between the architect and the client, that any budget discussed is also specified as to whether it is the Construction Budget or the Project Budget.

 

Construction Budget vs. Project Budget

It is important to note the difference between the Construction Budget and the Project Budget.

The Construction Budget typically includes:

• Providing utilities to the site if not currently present
• Site Preparation (clearing away trees, stabilizing soil, cutting and filling to grade the site, etc.)
• Demolition as may be required
• Construction costs, including foundation, framing, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, interior finishes, exterior finishes, lighting, cabinetry, appliances, etc.
• Construction Management Fees and Site Superintendant Fees
• Sales tax, permitting, and insurance costs
• Hardscape (exterior built items i.e. sidewalks, driveways, patio's pools, etc.)

The Project Budget typically includes all of the above in addition to the following:

• Architect fees
• Professional Services fees (interior designer, structural engineer, landscape architect, etc.)
• Land Costs
• Financing Costs
• Water + sewer tap fees
• Construction Costs
• Contingency monies
• Landscaping

Often when working with a customer, it is difficult to find out what the "Project Budget" is and or the "Construction Budget".  It is normal to be apprehensive and not want to share this information because the client may feel that they want to save as much as possible and divulging that info will give the contractor or architect every opportunity to use the money up.  This is not the case though when you work with ParsCo.  When the client shares the "Project and Construction" budget information with ParsCo, we are able to immediately determine how to best utilize the money to accomplish the client's goal.  This is a team approach and if ParsCo is hired early on, we work with the client to hire the design team and develop an accurate budget for each item to make the project a reality. 

For more information please contact us at 850-696-7656 or email us at info@parscoconstruction.com

 

 

Pensacola ParsCo Construction Disaster Services

ParsCo Disaster Response Services

Call us now at 850-695-7656 to setup your property with pre-loss services or emergency disaster response!

How prepared are you for a natural disaster? Is your business ready to rebound quickly and get back to work? Most companies and organizations find that they are not prepared in the event of a natural disaster. Emergencies strike quickly and unexpectedly, so having peace of mind that a company knowledgable in dealing with insurance claims and re-constructing your place of business is priceless. Lucky for you, the price is very resasonable to have that peace of mind.

ParsCo firmly believes that we will not only meet your needs, but exceed your expectations.  Once we are selected for a project, ParsCo makes a commitment that runs far deeper than its contractual obligations.  It's a deeply personal commitment that goes above and beyond ordinary expectations. 

ParsCo is prepared to perform at the highest standards in order to implement your mitigation plan that can form the foundation for a long-term strategy to reduce the uncertainty associated with disaster losses.  ParsCo looks forward to meeting with you so we can begin the planning process, as it is as important as the plan itself.  ParsCo will work diligently with your organization to provide the framework for managing the steps necessary after a disaster loss occurs.

ParsCo has had a very successful history with Developers, Insurance Firms, and Design Consultants as it relates to Hurricanes, Tornados, Fire, Flood, and other Insurance Claims.  The ParsCo Disaster Response Team Members have been involved in over $30 million dollars worth of disaster related claims and re-construction projects.  ParsCo understands the needs of our clients, especially when they have been affected by a natural disaster.  ParsCo addresses those times with a sense of urgency, providing our clients with lots of attention and the utmost responsiveness.  Time is of the essence, and a short delay in response can mean all the difference in construction costs, and the client's ability to function as a business.  

We have highlighted and summarized some of the key factors that you should carefully consider when evaluating the ParsCo Disaster Response Team:

• ParsCo, LLC regularly self performs the following disciplines:  Site work, site utilities, demolition, framing, drywall, wood trim, painting and plumbing.  Self performing some or all of these disciplines has repeatedly allowed us to control project specific issues related to design, schedule, quality control, and cost.  This ability to address emergency situations with our own forces is a tremendous advantage in times of emergency or disasters.  There is no need to find a subcontractor to perform the work, because we complete these scopes ourselves. 

 

• ParsCo owns property within the SouthEast with materials and storage available for bulk materials that may be required in time of a disaster.  Having the ability to stockpile these materials means no matter what the material shortage may be in the area, we will be ready to address the re-construction effort without delay.

• ParsCo has personally managed single projects as small as $1,000 and as large as $185,000,000.  You will get the experience of larger construction firms while maintaining a small company feel.  The Owner of ParsCo is personally involved in every project we build. 

 

The combined experience, knowledge, and in-house capabilities of our company make us an excellent choice.  We look forward to the opportunity to assist in your needs. 

ParsCo offers pre-loss service along with site survey assessments so we are ready before disaster strikes. Call us at 850-696-7656 to learn more. 

Pensacola Flood- ParsCo Construction - Insurance Policy Interpretation

Pensacola and the Florida Panhandle has recently experienced a historic rain event that has caused preliminary estimates of over $60 million in damages. ParsCo Construction has licensed adjusters and is a full service general contractor and disaster service company based in Pensacola. What pains us is that we are fielding calls from many victims of this flood event that don't have flood insurance and only carry homeowners insurance. So what exactly is the difference?

One of the most common reasons that people make claims on their insurance is for water damage, but what exactly does insurance cover? It depends on what type of insurance you have and what caused the water damage. Of course, it also depends on your specific insurance plan, so you should ask your agent and review your policy to see the specifics and to find out exactly what is covered and what isn't.  In general, however, there are two types of insurance that deal with damage due to water: flood insurance and homeowner's insurance. Knowing the difference between them and what is covered by each can help you make the right insurance coverage decision for you, as well as help you determine what to do and who to call if and when a water-related emergency does occur.

A standard flood insurance policy, written by the National Flood Insurance Program, provides coverage for damage caused by a flood. Flood is defined as an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. This includes damages caused by an overflowing river, or heavy rain seeping into your home. Generally speaking, if the water touched the ground before it entered your home, it is considered flood damage. Flood damage is not covered by homeowner's insurance, so if your home is located in a flood plain, it would be wise to consider purchasing a flood insurance policy. Unfortunately, many in Pensacola never have needed it because the historic rain event that was experienced was never something anyone could imagine.

Homeowner's insurance provides coverage for many other types of water damage to your home. Generally speaking, the damage to your home caused by water will be covered by homeowner's insurance, but whatever caused the damage is not. For example, if a pipe bursts, the damage it causes is covered, but you are responsible for repairing the pipe itself. The extent of your coverage in many situations also depends on whether or not you have performed the necessary upkeep to prevent the accident, as determined by your insurance company. For instance, if you go on vacation in the winter, leaving your house unoccupied and without heat, and your water pipes freeze and burst, your claim may be denied because, theoretically, you could have prevented the accident. If your bathtub overflows, however, you are covered even if it happened because you forgot to turn off the faucet. Sewage backup, on the other hand, is not covered by homeowner's insurance. Another more common water damage related claim might be wind related. Water damage due to wind damage can be covered.

Water-related accidents are common, and generally sudden and unexpected. Knowing what your policy covers beforehand can be enormously beneficial to you when disaster strikes. If you find water damage in your home, your first step should be to call ParsCo at 850-695-7656. You want to get repairs underway as soon as possible to minimize both the extent of the damage and the cost. In case of emergency, you need a reliable company like ParsCo with the experience to help you through the repair process, from removal of property and storage services through mold prevention or removal and complete property restoration.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/deadly-tornado-outbreak/life-threatening-flooding-submerges-pensacola-florida-n93201

ParsCo High-end Residential Remodels - Escambia County Florida

Repairs and replacements of old components and the desire for upgraded amenities were cited as the top reasons for customers to hire a builder to do their remodel, according to a recent National Association of Home Builders' survey.What's more, the NAHB projected that residential remodeling spending on owner-occupied single-family homes will increase this year when the NAHB Remodelers group met at the International Builder's Show in Las Vegas.  All anyone needs to do closer to home is open their eyes at almost any neighborhood in Escambia County Florida. Remodeling – from one room projects to whole-house redos – are on the upswing right along with the economy.

ParsCo new high end residential project in Ft. Walton Beach Florida

When it comes time to knock down those walls, lay tile and give your house the remodel job you've always dreamed of, you want to know you are in the right hands.Renovation and remodeling can be a long and expensive process. A lot of homeowners know what they want but don't have a clue about where to apply for the proper permits, what's required for the design process and how to get started.Finding the right contractor is key, with the ability to openly and honestly communicate with each other the top priority.The average kitchen costs between $25,000-$40,000 to remodel, the average bathroom $20,000-$30,000. With those kinds of numbers being thrown around in today's economy, customer service is of the utmost importance. 

New vaulted ceiling work high end home in Nature Trail- Pensacola Florida

Thats why ParsCo only takes on a select number of residential projects each year. We understand that there is a big difference in being a large commercial builder and a residential builder. We pride ourselves in focusing on select high-end residential projects that require our skill set and professionalism to make the project a success. 

High-end bathroom renovation Shalimar,Fl

"ParsCo sets itself apart from our competition because we can build anything. There are very few builders that can construction a 28-story, $80 million dollar project, and when we apply our level of knowledge and know-how to a residential project there is no comparison with our competition", says Amy Lee, marketing director for ParsCo. 

ParsCo focuses on customer service and utilizes proprietary management tools that are typically only used in large scale commercial projects on the residential projects. These tools make the building experience more enjoyable for the homeowner, eliminating the questions and frustrations that most homeowners deal with when building a project. 

"Over the years I've learned that no matter who our client is, they all want the same three things" states Amir Michael Fooladi, President/CEO of ParsCo, "1) lots of attention, 2) responsiveness, 3) no surprises". 

At ParsCo, our residential customers have the Vision, Integrity, and Professionalism of a large firm that puts the customers priorities first.  One of the biggest items that our clients appreciate is how ParsCo provides a timeline for their project, and access to view pictures and read daily updates on the progress.

To find out more about how ParsCo can make your next residential project a success, contact us at 850-696-7656 or email at info@parscoconstruction.com. 

Real Estate Update - Emerald Coast Realty - New Report Shows Significant ...

Here is some great info regarding local real estate along the Gulf Coast. 

Real Estate Update    March  2014            HOME MLS SEARCH HOMES FOR SALE CONDOS FOR SALE FORECLOSURES CONTACT New Report Shows Continuing Housing Recovery Dominion Enterprises, has released its January Local Market Index, a price performance summary of repeat sales of U.S. properties. Utilizing home pricing data, the Index shows year-over-year gains for single-family properties in all 300 top U.S. markets. Traditionally a slower sales month, January home values for all 300 markets tracked gains from 2013 and opened 2014 with higher year-over-year prices. The number of top 100 markets achieving a full recovery remained the same as in December, 29 markets. However, three markets, Salt Lake City, UT, Madison, WI, and Chattanooga, TN, posted significant gains in January and are close to full recovery. This month, out of the 92 markets that achieved a complete rebound of 100 percent or more, 63 are midsize, an increase of three achieving recovery, compared to last month's report. All of the 200 midsize local markets continued to show gains year over year for the single-family index. For the eighth consecutive month, Anchorage, Alaska and Hilo, Hawaii continue to be the two top-performing markets on a year-over-year basis. Anchorage remains in the top spot, increasing by 16 percent, followed by Hilo with a more than 13 percent increase. The West continues to dominate the midsize markets on a year-over-year basis, with nine of the top 10 markets increasing on an annual basis. 165 midsize markets saw month-over-month increases, down two from last month's report. Midland, TX was the top gaining metro month over month, with a 3.98 index point increase. Markets with strong energy-based economies continue to dominate the midsize markets, with the top 10 of those markets coming from only two states – Louisiana and Texas. The latest Homes.com Local Market Index reports the following: • Year-over-year increases in all top 300 markets. • Monthly increases in 83 of the top 100 markets and in 165 of the 200 midsize markets. • Los Angeles, California is the top gaining market on a year-over-year basis, with a 26.21 index point or 15.75 percent increase. • San Diego bested Honolulu, Hawaii as the second highest gaining market with a 24.77 point or 15.75 percent increase • Honolulu, Hawaii is now the third highest gaining market on a year-over-year basis, with a 24.63 index point gain. • California markets [San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.; Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.] are the remaining two in the top five. Year-over-year, they increased 23.82 and 19.58 index points, respectively, for the top 100. Highlights from the Homes.com Rebound Report for the top 300 markets show: • 92 markets have made a 100 percent rebound, indicating a complete recovery. This is an increase from 89 markets in the previous reporting period. • The most recently fully recovered midsize markets are: Bloomington-Normal, IL (105.01 percent), Appleton, WI (101.13 percent) and Warner Robins, GA (100.71 percent). • Significant gains toward a full recovery were made in Salt Lake City, UT (99.69 percent), Madison, WI (97.54 percent) and Chattanooga, TN (97.22 percent) as they near 100 percent recovery. • The percentage of recovered midsize markets is slightly ahead of the top 100 markets. Of the 92 markets achieving more than 100 percent rebound this month, 63 (31.5 percent) are midsize and 29 (29 percent) are top 100. • The South continues to dominate recovery, with 15 markets seeing rebound percentages greater than 100 percent. The South also saw three new markets enter the 75, 100 percent recovered range. "All 300 markets tracked by Homes.com's housing market reports consolidated their gains from 2013, opening 2014 with higher year-over-year prices. January is typically slower for the housing market, so it is reassuring to see continued steady improvement across the country," says Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com. "January's data shows that 83 of the top 100 markets increased on a monthly basis, with 165 of the 300 midsize markets posting gains year over year. With three midsize markets entering recovery and three more local markets nearing full rebound, 2014 should see continued positive recovery nationwide." To provide insight into local sector housing trends across the country, Homes.com publishes the Local Market Index for the Top 100 markets and the companion Midsize Markets Report for defined areas ranked from 101-300. As a complement to the Local Market Index, Homes.com publishes an exclusive Rebound Report, highlighting how the housing recovery process is unfolding across the country. It measures each market's peak-to-trough decline in index value, which had been attributed to the bursting of the U.S. housing bubble. Interest Rates (%) as of March 21, 2014: 30 yr. Conv:   4.32 15 yr. Conv:   3.32 Source: mortgage-x.com   Pensacola & Destin Property Search Pensacola Area Featured Listings Featured Luxury Homes Fort Walton Beach Pensacola Beach Navarre Beach Perdido Key Destin Featured Properties Gulf Breeze Pensacola Milton $1,425,000 $89,000 $300,000 Pensacola Destin Condo Pensacola Beach $128,900 $109,000 $410,000 NW Florida Foreclosure Properties ERA Emerald Coast Realty Residential foreclosures have been a wild ride in NW Florida.  Peaking in 2009, the total number of foreclosures has been decreasing since mid 2010 and the overall number of distressed properties for sale has also been in decline. If you are looking for properties here in the Destin or Pensacola real estate markets you will find that some areas have few or no foreclosures available. As you can see below, foreclosures are in short supply for Okaloosa Island, Navarre Beach, Gulf Breeze Proper, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.  Foreclosures in our market area are most likely to be found away from upscale neighborhoods. So how does price affect the chance of a house being listed for sale as a foreclosure?  When you look at available foreclosures by county the numbers vary a little but the average is 7.8%.  One thing the over-all averages do not show you is which price segments of the market are most affected.  53% of foreclosed properties selling in our market are listed under $100,000.  Properties in this price range make up only 18% of all properties for sale. There is clearly a disproportionate number of foreclosures affecting properties listed under $100,000. Escambia County:  68% of all foreclosures are under $100k Santa Rosa County: 50% of all foreclosures are under $100k Okaloosa County: 42% of all foreclosures are under $100k Another way to look at this is that only 4% of local properties listed over $100,000 are foreclosed properties, while foreclosures make up 22.6% of the properties listed under 100K. Today's foreclosures are listed at market price.  Banks commission an appraisal or hire real estate agents to determine a suitable sale price for the property through a "Broker Price Opinion" prior to foreclosures being listed for sale.  The lender knows what the property should sell for in today's market and is getting market value for these homes.  As foreclosed and short sale properties decrease, the number of non distressed sales increase.  The best opportunity for buyers in today's real estate market may not be a distressed property at all.  Buyers need to start looking at homes that are priced to sell and be prepared to move quickly on these opportunities.  This is particularly true for those looking for luxury and beach homes. Beach Photo Galleries Perdido Key Pensacola Bch Ft Walton Bch This Month's Featured Article: How do real estate agents get paid     It's a great market for buyers! Foreclosures and Short Sales Short Sales Foreclosures   Current Real Estate Market Conditions for Destin, Pensacola, Perdido Key, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach, FL Home Sales Continue to Grow Click To Enlarge   The sales of Pensacola homes is continuing to grow as seen in the monthly sales on the chart above. 442 residential sales in February 2014 is the highest number of February sales since. February 2007 with 453 sales. This points to continued improvement in the real estate market in Pensacola, Florida. See the latest market information from our Pensacola and Destin Residential Sales Statistics page or our Emerald Coast Real Estate Blog.   Fun April Events Pensacola Beach, FL Bands On The Beach Every Tues starting Apr 1, 2014 7-9 pm Located in the beautiful Gulfside Pavilion overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, this weekly series features regional artists performing a wide variety of music. Bring your lawn chair and join us this summer for hot music, smooth grooves and a whole lot of good times. Gulf Coast Half Marathon Apr 13, 2014 7 am Gulfside Pavillion - Casino Beach Participants must present a government issued ID to pick up race packet. Proxy Packet Pick-up (picking up a packet for someone else) the process is as follows: a copy of that participants photo ID is required and an acknowledgment of proxy pick-up will need to be signed. This copy will be retained until the completion of the event weekend as proof of packet distribution. Perdido Key Perdido Key Wine & Art Festival Mar 4-5, 2014 Arts and crafts, wine tastings! Music by Pat McCann and special featured artist Margaret Biggs. Fri: A VIP event, with music and other entertainment, will be held 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | $25 each or $45 per couple. Sat: food and live music; $15 you will receive a souvenir glass & tickets to taste five wines, 12 - 8 p.m. Interstate Mullet Toss Apr 25-27, 2014 This wacky annual tournament has participants compete in an actual mullet toss. Live music, food and drinks accompany this weekend. A Mullet Toss consists of individuals on the beach throwing a mullet, from a 10-foot circle in Alabama across the state line into Florida. lots of fun activities, great music and food! 850-492-0611