Have you been dreaming about living in a warm and sunny climate? The Alabama Gulf Coast just might be the perfect spot! Our area in known for its beautiful white sandy beaches, that grace the residential areas of Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach. Condominiums are a popular choice for those seeking beach retreats in Baldwin County. There are a number of high-rise and low-rise condominiums, which offer many amenities and either beachfront or near beach access. Housing choices also include beautiful beachfront single-family homes, and planned communities such as golf communities and townhome complexes. If you want a more laid-back coastal lifestyle, without the high-rises, take a drive down Highway 180 to the beautiful, quiet, pet and family friendly beaches along the Fort Morgan Peninsula. To get the best perspective on the various lifestyles offered with each location, I recently toured condominiums available for sale.
Fort Morgan offers a quiet, and serene location. Access to this area is along a long stretch of road that takes you away from the crowds, the high-rises, and the hustle and bustle of the beachfront restaurants and shops. Living in Fort Morgan would appeal to those who cherish relative seclusion and quiet relaxation, and do not mind driving for shopping, restaurants, or nightlife. The condo that I chose to tour was nestled among a natural landscape of tropical foliage and vegetation in the quiet complex of The Rookery. The complex included only a few gravel lined roads and single story structures divided into condos. The look and feel was much more like cottages nestled in the woods. The front porch of the condo was screened offering a complete private view of natural tropical vegetation. The condo has an open feeling with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The kitchen was relatively small and the setting, but would provide an intimate get away, possibly for one or two couples or a small family. There was a small community pool within easy walking distance. However, the drawback to this complex, despite its serene beauty, is its location and proximity to the beach. Owners would need to travel, likely by vehicle, to public beach access. A perk of the entire Fort Morgan area is its pet friendly beaches. The appeal of this condo is price relative to many offerings in the area. Most units in this complex can be purchased for less than $175,000.
Tour ALL Alabama Beach Condos For Sale from Orange Beach to Fort Morgan!
A second condo in Fort Morgan was located at the The Beach Club, a beautiful destination resort community of both high rises (one of very few on Fort Morgan) and cottage style living. This condominium was located on the first floor with easy access from the parking lot. The living spaces overlooked a beautiful pool with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. The interior offered two bedrooms, two baths, and a kitchen which was well appointed. This unit would likely appeal to a buyer seeking a sense of community and social interaction. Sitting on the back porch offers opportunities to start up conversations with other owners or guests using the pool. It would be hard to seek complete solace and privacy in this unit, making it more appealing to those who thrive off of interaction with others. The complex also offers beautiful beachfront access, tennis, and other recreation. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained, and much more precisely cared for than the natural, rugged surroundings of the previous condo preview. For those seeking a well-manicured environment, this condo at the beach club may be just the right place! But these types of amenities and surroundings will come with a bit higher price. Expect to pay between $250,000 and $500,000, and upwards for units here.
A sophisticated and tasteful buyer would appreciate the well-appointed and luxurious condos available at the exclusive Bella Luna high rise complex in Orange Beach. Two separate units were toured. The first was located on the 9th floor and offered breathtaking views of the back waters and piers, including spectacular views of Ono Island. One can picture themselves on the large outdoor balcony sipping morning coffee watching boaters and birds alike. The interior of the unit is stunning with huge ceilings and an open and airy floor plan. The kitchen boasts top notch amenities such a granite, stainless, spectacular lighting, and a wet bar. Storage is not lacking in this unit, and one can really imagine spending time here. A second unit toured was on the 1st floor. While it boasts similar style and taste, being on the first floor has some disadvantage. The front end of the unit overlooks the parking area, but the back end of the unit makes up for this drawback with its beautiful and peaceful patio overlooking the outdoor pool and harbor area. This complex comes with tons of amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, fitness, boat slips, and covered parking. All in all, the Bella Luna is definitely for the buyer seeking style, taste, and plenty of amenities. Such amenities will come at a price point typically between $450,000 and $1,000,000 and up.
A buyer seeking fun and luxury would do well to check out the Caribe Resort in Orange Beach. Made up of three separate towers, the Caribe is the pinnacle of resort style lifestyle. It boasts tons of activities and features that are sure to please the whole family, including pools, waterslides, lazy rivers, and poolside cafes. This resort overlooks the back waters of the bay, but also has stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico from many units. One of the best features is the ability to quickly get to the waters of the Gulf, via a shuttle run by the resort, but at the same time the Caribe is strategically placed with access to the bay waters, offering marina, restaurant, and backwater fun. Boaters will love the easy access to both the bay and Gulf waters from the Caribe. My tour of the Caribe consisted of two units in two separate towers. Both were efficiently laid out, with stunning views of the bay waters in one, and exceptional views of the Gulf in another. Both units boasted open and airy plans, with good traffic flow. While the amenities were great for the price, the Caribe at times feels more like a resort hotel, instead of a private complex, with all the hustle and bustle in the main areas. This may not appeal to all buyers. But overall, the lifestyle at the Caribe is sure to impress the most discriminate resort lifestyle enthusiast. Prices can range from $400,000 to $800,000 and above.
The Alabama beach condos have so much to offer a buyer in search of our slower coastal lifestyle. Whether you want an active resort experience, or secluded family and pet friendly living, you can find your unique brand of “Salt Life” here!