Home to over 22,000 residents, Fort Walton Beach can be found in Okaloosa County on the Santa Rosa Sound in Florida's western panhandle. A resort community, Fort Walton Beach is within proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the sugary white sands of the Emerald Coast. Pensacola is about 40 miles away while Eglin Air Force Base is only about five miles away.
The economy of Fort Walton Beach is based upon tourism, the high-tech industry and the military. Fort Walton Beach's favorable climate, featuring very mild winters, is ideal for year-round outdoor recreation and beach fun. The city has approximately 20 parks, three recreational centers and 12 championship golf courses. Fort Walton Beach is also a haven for water sports lovers. Residents journey to nearby Henderson Beach State Park and Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park for numerous recreational activities. A further trek to Blackwater River State Park, near the Alabama border, provides yet another recreational option.
Fort Walton Beach is home to the Gulfarium, the nation's second oldest marine park. This marine park provides education and entertainment to a wide variety of ages. Okaloosa County Schools serve the community's educational needs.
Students attend classes at approximately six elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools in town. Real estate is affordable, with single-family homes available along with a wide variety of low-maintenance condominiums and townhouses. The relaxing lifestyle, ideal climate and healthy economy of Fort Walton Beach make it an excellent place to call home.
Fort Walton Real Estate Market - Price Range of Fort Walton Beach Houses
The real estate market in Fort Walton Beach offers a mix of condominiums, townhomes, beachfront homes, estates, and single-family homes. Interested buyers can expect Fort Walton Beach's home prices to range anywhere between $100,000 and $875,000, while condos and townhomes are priced from $105,000 to upwards of $2 million. Land parcels are also available for purchase in Fort Walton Beach with prices starting as low as $125,000.
Fort Walton Beach Real Estate Stats and Trends for the week of March 26th, 2018: homes priced around $225,537 compared to $228,291 the previous week, showing a decrease of less than -1%. For Thursday, March 29th, the current national mortgage rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage is 4.25%; the 15 year fixed rate is at 3.66%. For a loan larger than conventional conforming loans, or 'jumbo' loan, the 30 year rate is 4.40%, while the 15 year jumbo rate currently is at 4.12%.