We discovered Watercolor over a decade ago when we stayed at the Watercolor Inn for a long “parents-only” weekend. That led to taking an interest in the PRC for a few years which then led to many days of walking through random open houses and lots of “what if” and “shoulda coulda woulda” discussions over Beach Club mai-tai’s. Then (like many of the stories I’m reading in the blog) we ran into Karen at an open house. (I would say that Karen was “tending” the open house but she isn’t much for tending she is very much a get-it-done kind of chick). One thing led to another and now we are at our home on Wiregrass Way every opportunity we can take!

Stacey and I spent a lot of time working with Karen to find the perfect second home for our family with three young children. We did the normal decision making process to try to figure out which development we liked best (Rosey, Alys, Watersound and Watercolor). It was not an easy decision by any means, and Karen helped us work through all of the pluses and minuses.

We settled on Watercolor because it is so focused on kids and the bike trails and proximity to Seaside were all great assets. Then, after searching for a year, Karen contacted us and told us to put an offer in on a house. It was gulf front, and it was exactly what we had been dreaming about. She then walked us through the short sale process and got us to a closing.

We are looking forward to many, many years in our new home and have Karen to thank for every bit of it!

Our 30-A Story

More than 17 years ago we began our love affair with the beaches of 30-A during our first trip to Seaside for a family vacation. We returned with our extended family every summer for annual reunions. Our photo albums are full of memories of little ones on bicycles, croquet games, tennis, picnics at the beach, birthday celebrations, and relaxing nights on the porch. Now the kids are in college and driving cars, so those carefree times spent at the beach are priceless.

Two years ago, a chance meeting with Karen Holder at an open house brought destiny to our doorstep as we purchased our home in Watercolor. Our friends in Texas thought we were crazy to have a second home more than 800 miles away, but we’ve proved them wrong. We made 8 trips to Watercolor last year, and the new airport and Southwest Airlines make long weekends a breeze. Sometimes the house is full, and others it’s just the two of us…we love it either way.

We always dreamt of having a home on 30-A; Karen and Randy Holder helped make the dream come true. Thanks for your invaluable support (and your friendship!). While we spend most of our time “deep in the heart of Texas”, a piece of our hearts is always on the beach at Watercolor.

Kelley & Pat

The interesting part is we actually thought we’d hate Watercolor… our first visit was with friends who were big fans and we just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to stay a half mile off the beach. After the first day, we “got it.’ It’s easy to fall in love with the family-biking-everywhere theme, Seaside close at hand, the Beach Club, Tennis Center… the amenities are of course world-class. We got lucky meeting Karen at a random open house on that first trip, and a few trips later we were owners in Watercolor!

I am thinking this over…..let me see…. something like… my wife is Italian and Italians live for the beach. The most precious thing in the world to an Italian is sugar white sand. All is ok until I drink a couple of bottles of Proseco and my wife meets Karen Holder. So, if you don’t want a beautiful house on a beautiful beach… don’t drink Proseco with a beautiful Italian woman and meet with Karen…. If that universe lines up, you will own a house in Watercolor. But, i love it here…

Mike

Maybe a more serious one is called for

I found 30A through my wonderful wife. She was born and raised in Alabama and had been coming to 30A before it was 30A! I am from New York and thought of Miami and Palm Beach as Florida. Luckily, I found my sweatheart and one thing lead to another, and we were married in WaterColor. It was an amazing experience — obviously the wedding — and the beaches were just magical. Prior to the wedding, we had come to WColor a few times and I just both fell in love w/it as well as the very large smile that was created on my wife’s face each time we were there. I kept thinking that it would be a game-changer to buy a house down on 30A. And that is where Mrs. Wonderful, Karen Holder comes into the picture. She and I spoke a few times and it was pretty much a done deal! We looked at about 12 houses over the course of a day and a half and w/Karen’s help we were able to land our dream house. My wife and I love it on 30A. it is a game-changer. It is a life-changer. Every time we are at the house — which is A LOT — we constantly ask ourselves if the magic about 30A will ever decrease. I just can’t imagine it. not possible. Thanks Karen for helping making our dreams come true

After rentng in the 30A area for five years we decided to buy in Watercolor. Our active children and grandchildren include golfers, fishers, tennis players, hikers, bikers, swimmers, soccer and basketball players. They are all happy in Watercolor as are the grandparents who can enjoy the area 12 months a year.

I discovered 30A by accident… I was on vacation with my family from Texas and we were attempting to vacation in Destin. However, there was no room in Destin at that time. The rental agency suggested Seagrove Beach. The first day we stayed in Seagrove there was a tropical storm just off the coast that produced some of the most beautiful surf I had ever seen. As a hobby surfer I was hooked and kept coming back year after year to the relaxed country atmosphere, beautiful beach and occasional nice surf. Now I live here full time with my wife, working as a graphic designer, web designer and artist. I love it and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else at this time in my life. We find the people here to be just as great as the beach. Being from Texas, the friendliness of the southern culture made this area really feel like home. AND I can drive back to Texas in one day fairly easy to visit the fam.

Peace, A