Waghalter readies new office site
Sherlyn Waghalter, Broker/Owner RE/MAX on the Coast Gulf Breeze

Broker/Owner Sherlyn Waghalter excitedly discusses the plans for her new offices at Sea Shell Collections with Julie Chastain. The offices will open in late 2008.

At a time when many real estate offices are closing their doors, RE/MAX on the Coast is making a substantial investment in the future of the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach real estate market. They are currently in the process of building out their new office space in the Sea Shell Collections Center, and expect their move to be final before the beginning of the new year in 2009.

"Since we opened our doors at RE/MAX on the Coast in early 2005, we've always tried to take a progressive attitude and be forward thinkers," explains Waghalter. "With today's economic times, everything could be seen as a risk. We feel like this move is one that will pay off down the road for us and our clients.

"One family who has bought a home with us, and whose home we also sold for them, read in the Gulf Breeze News that we are moving over to Sea Shell collections, and they were excited for us. I joked with her that our move will help her move - but it really is true," Waghalter says with a smile. "The new location is so accessible for our agents and our customers, and both visitors and locals will see our sign next to the very popular Marble Slab and they can drop in for up-to-date real estate information and advice any time!"

Waghalter stands in the framed out space that will be her office, right. Her office adjoins a space that will be used for virtual tours of homes and neighborhoods.

For those clients who are listing homes for sale, the new location at Sea Shell Collections affords a highly visible location that affords increased walk-in traffic from tourists and visitors. Increased traffic and interest can frequently translate in to a sale, according to Waghalter. Waghalter is also pleased that the new space will be more efficient. Agents will share work stations, and common space was created to be open and large, or separated by sliding doors into smaller spaces.

"A lot of people drop by our offices to just ask questions, see examples of what is available and at what pricing," she adds. "We have every high tech advantage to give them virtual tours of homes and neighborhoods and often we hear from them that they had no idea how many good values there are out there. The market is still moving, though prices are back to about 2003 prices before the big boom and the poststorm adjustments. 300 homes sold January through October 2007 and 279 have sold to date."

One of the things Waghalter is most committed to is the ready availability of her agents to the clients and the public. "We are here and we know this market inside and out - it is especially important with all the volatility in the economy to be fully informed. We frequently sit with people who just want to know what the options are, what price would their home garner, and should they rent a home and wait to sell it? If a seller has time, we tell them to wait. We are not here for a one-time commission, we are here for a long-term relationship."

Waghalter remains a proponent of home ownership and real estate investment as well. "I know we hear a lot about the market, about loans not being available," she chides. "Well that's not true for our area. Local lenders are bending over backwards to serve our clients, and homes are going under contract and closing in our area. I remain a proponent of real estate ownership even in these challenging times."

To find out what your house would be worth, or to talk to Sherlyn or one of the RE/MAX on the Coast agents about the possibility of selling your home any time in the future, call her at 93-COAST (932-6278). And if you are looking to purchase during this market down-turn, give them a call - Sherlyn definitely has her finger on the pulse of this area, and she and all her agents are willing and ready to serve you!

"We have awesome agents in our office," Waghalter says. "We send out customer surveys after every transaction we close. It is very exciting to read all of the wonderful comments about the professionalism and hard work each agent puts into helping our local people buy or sell property."