Looking for the ambiance of a slower Southern lifestyle? Look no further! Magnolia Springs, AL, nestled among aged magnolia trees and sprawling mature oaks, provides the pace of a quaint “small town,” yet is convenient to the advantages of metropolitan life in Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL. Jason Will Real Estate is excited to offer a new listing in this picturesque community! 12660 Oak Tree Drive is the perfect place to call home for someone who values the serenity of country living, privacy and the beauty and elegance of an expertly handcrafted estate home, situated on 7 spectacular acres.
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To give you a more personal perspective on the home and the lifestyle you can expect as the new owners, I have asked the owner to share her personals insights and have provided them to you via the interview below. Please take a moment to read the unedited statements below to gain an in-depth look at the comfort, beauty and functionality of this exceptional residence.
Jason: How did you know this was the home you were meant to buy?
Seller: “ I worked as a production manager at a small custom home builder, so over the years I developed a long list of must haves for our home. I think I drove down every road in south Baldwin County looking for the perfect lot. Since the one we fell in love with slopes down from the road, we found an existing home plan for a very tall structure, with lots of porches. What drew us to the land were both the beautiful live oaks and pines, the pond, and the interesting elevation changes. Not your typical flat acreage! We were able to locate the house so that we only had to remove one tree to build it.”
Jason: What are the top selling features in your opinion?
Seller: “Our favorite feature is the landscape of our own yard, followed by the nice rural feel of the neighborhood. A great road to go for a run or walk without traffic, yet convenient to the highway when you need to go to town. Most days you see no cars at all, but if you do it’s a good way to catch up with the neighbors. We have our choice of three porches to sit out on and enjoy the rain, a balcony, and a nice patio for those clear evenings. We built our fence to keep dogs in and other critters out, but were surprised at the sense of security it provided. We left the large holes at the bottom of the fence wire to allow rabbits, foxes, and other small animals to pass through. And if we ever decided to get a horse. An unusual feature that has been very useful is the baseboard vacuum installed in the kitchen. Life in the country means dirt tracked in, and you can sweep it into the slot before it gets too far. It is attached to a Shop Vac in the crawl space that we empty periodically. Speaking of the crawl space. You don’t really have to crawl down there, because it is pretty tall. Makes it easy to check plumbing, or stash things. Our pest control inspector likes it, too, because he doesn’t have to get his coveralls dirty. There is a whole house air filter down there, as well as a dehumidifier. We do not swim in it ourselves, but the dogs enjoy taking a dip in the pond after a run. It is a spring fed pond, so it is pretty cold. The garage apartment has been great for accommodating our hobbies and gym habit, and provides lots of additional storage space. And the extra bathroom gives us a great place to bathe the dogs. The cypress paneling in the powder room was salvaged from an old boathouse that was dismantled on Terry Cove in Orange Beach. A little piece of LA history.”
Jason: What are your favorite rooms in the house?
Seller: “I am usually hanging out in the great room or kitchen if I’m not playing in the garden or running down the road. My husband prefers tinkering in the garage or doing things outside. We also spend a good bit of time relaxing on the back porch. On clear winter nights, we have enjoyed having a telescope and learning about the stars.”
Jason: Have you made any improvements to the property?
“When we bought the property, there was a slab on the north side of the driveway, closer to the road, where a previous owner’s house stood before it was destroyed in a fire. The slab came in handy as a place for burning the trees that fell during Hurricane Ivan, but it was unsightly so we had it removed and replaced with dirt to create a grassy hill. It was broken up and used as riprap on someone’s riverfront property. We began with the washer and dryer in the garage, which we didn’t like for long, so we changed what was a breezeway between the house and garage into an air conditioned laundry room with extra storage. And it turned out to be a great place for a dog door as well.”
Jason: Where do you prefer to shop & dine near your residence?
Seller: “We do our grocery shopping primarily at Publix in Fairhope because we like their selection. Closer stores (Piggly Wiggly, Winn Dixie, WalMart) are available in Foley. The dollar store in Magnolia Springs is handy for cleaning products and things, and we have been known to buy half and half for coffee, or eggs, at the Shell Station. (Shopping is not the strong point of living here) There is a recycling center in Magnolia Springs down the street from the post office, and another at Weeks Bay Preserve. It is nice to have Jesse’s restaurant nearby for nice meals, and Big Daddy’s for more casual fare.”
Jason: Are there any hobbies you enjoy on or near the property?
Seller: “My husband enjoys brewing his own beer in the garage apartment, which has a sink and an extra refrigerator. I like gardening, running, and working out in the garage apartment gym when the weather is disagreeable. We also enjoy having both the Magnolia and Fish Rivers nearby for kayaking.”
Jason: What are your average utility costs?
Seller: “Garbage collection, quarterly $44.85. We do not use their container because it is too large and heavy to drag up the hill. We purchased our own smaller can at Lowe’s. Electricity (Riviera Utilities): We have a plug-in hybrid, which adds about $25 a month to our bill, as well as two refrigerators. In summer, our bills fluctuate depending how much we run the window air conditioners in the garage and the garage apartment. In the winter, fluctuations depend on how cold (or warm!) the weather gets. Water is included in this number since we have a well. The average cost for the last twelve months has been $238.50. Highest bills are from August and September when build creep into the low $300s. Lowest are in the lovely spring when they are in the mid $100s. We have always had our two heat pumps serviced twice a year by the company that installed them, Middle Bay Services.
Landline/internet: $77.77 (bundle)
Gas: 0. (not available)
Cable/satellite: 0 (do not have)
Yearly termite inspection by Arrow Exterminators (no termites ever found): $155”
Jason: Why have you decided to sell?
Seller: “We want to sell so we can move to the West Coast where most of our family lives.”
Jason: What will you look back and miss most about life here?
Seller: “We will miss the privacy and beauty of living in the country, as well as the nice features mentioned before.”
It is evident that this graceful, southern home, nestled under a canopy of oak trees, has been designed and maintained to provide a haven for its occupants, in keeping with the style and charm of Magnolia Springs. For any questions or to set an appointment for your private tour of this exquisite estate or other Magnolia Springs homes for sale, please call the awesome sales team at Jason Will Real Estate, where we are here to serve YOU! (251) 866-6464
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