Luxury living: Top 5 most expensive Bay County homes sold in January

PANAMA CITY BEACH − The luxury housing market in Bay County got off to a hot start this year.

Ranging from $1.25 million to $1.75 million, these are the top 5 most expensive homes sold in Bay County during January. All are in the Panama City Beach area, with three located in Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort, a booming resort community off Front Beach Road that opened in 2022.

The list was provided by the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors, a local organization that oversees about 2,000 real estate agents in Bay, Calhoun, Washington, Holmes and Jackson counties.

Looking back on August:Living large: Top 5 most expensive Bay County homes sold in August

212 Carillon Ave., Panama City Beach

Leading the list is this 2,333-square-foot property that sold for $1.75 million, which was $245,000 less than its asking price.

Built in 1995, the home boasts three floors, four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom, a hot tub and pool. It is just a short walk from the Gulf of Mexico.

It also sits in Carillon Beach, a high-end, gated community on the west end of Panama City Beach.

"What makes this home stand out is the pool, proximity to the beach, (and) location in the exclusive gated community of Carillon Beach," Martin Sandel, a real estate agent for Sandels by the Sea and listing agent for the property, wrote in a text. "It also has ... a guest house."

The property's buyers plan to use it as a short-term rental.

100 Paradise Found Circle, Panama City Beach

Coming in second on the list is this 2,130-square-foot property that sold for $1.55 million, which was $235,000 less than its asking price.

Built in 2023, the home boasts two floors, five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom. Located a short walk from the Gulf, it is the first of three homes featured in Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort.

"My sellers had (this home) in their possession for a handful of months, and I think in that short amount of time they made over $40,000," said Scott Kirkman, a real estate agent for Exp Realty and listing agent for the property. "There was always a lot of interest in the property, but finding a buyer was challenging because of the unknowns of a new community.

"At that price point, those folks are making wise business decisions."

The property's buyers plan to use it as a short-term rental.

3672 Preserve Blvd., Panama City Beach

The No. 3 spot on the list goes to this 2,909-square-foot property that sold for $1.4 million, which was $50,000 less than its asking price.

Built in 2019, the home boasts two floors, four bedrooms, three half bathrooms, one half bathroom and a pool. It sits along the coast of Saint Andrew Bay in the Preserve On The Bay neighborhood.

"It has an expansive view of the bay," said Trish Wheeler, owner broker of Salty Marlin Realty and co-listing agent for the property. "The home is in very good condition, very well maintained and in a great neighborhood.

"It's a beautiful waterfront home, and people are looking for the waterfront lifestyle."

The property's buyers plan to use it as their primary residence.

139 Paradise Found Circle, Panama City Beach

Fourth on the list is this 2,130-square-foot property that sold for its asking price of $1.295 million.

Built in 2023, the home boasts two floors, five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom. It sits a short walk from the Gulf in Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort.

"This is our breeze floor plan, and it's been our most popular floor plan in the whole resort," said Karen Jones, lead sales agent for the resort and listing agent for the property. "From the back of the home, you do get a little bit of a partial Gulf view, especially from the upper balcony on the back of the home.

"It is decorated with Margaritaville style nautical themes, so coastal blues and grays, and it has a gourmet kitchen with a huge island."

The property's buyers plan to use it as a short-term rental.

119 Paradise Found Circle, Panama City Beach

Closing out the list of the top five most expensive homes sold in Bay County during January is this 2,130-square-foot property that sold for $1.25 million, which was $50,000 more than its asking price.

Built in 2023, this home also boasts Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort's breeze floor plan, with two floors, five bedrooms, four full bathrooms and one half bathroom. Like other homes in the resort, it also sits a short walk from the Gulf.

"It's the exact same floor plan as (139 Paradise Found Circle)," said Jones, who also was the listing agent for this property. "The big difference between this one and 139 is (its) interior package has more of a coastal cottage package. It has some fun bright colors in there like a bright coral accent wall and some brighter blue accent walls."

The property's buyers plan to use it as a short-term rental.