Destin firm specializes in overseas properties for local buyers who want that home away from home

DESTIN - Living the outdoor lifestyle is a dream for many people. Whether it is waterfront property in Northwest Florida, land for hunting use in Kansas, a resort in Belize, or a fishing camp on one of the Great Lakes, owning sporting or recreational property is a way for those enthusiasts to fulfill that dream.

Emerald Coast residents looking to buy or sell sporting or recreational property, nationally or internationally, have a local connection to a global network of professionals who specialize in these types of properties.

Aquatic Resort Properties of Destin celebrated the first anniversary of their affiliation with Cabela's Trophy Properties in January. Perhaps best known as a national retailer of sporting goods, Cabela's Trophy Properties division is a recreational property listing service that markets recreational properties for sale worldwide by independent participating real estate brokers.

The service, established in 2004, lists properties in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Aquatic Resort Properties is one of four Cabela's participating brokers in the state, and the only one in Northwest Florida, covering seven counties.

"CTP has been a great marketing tool for our company, allowing us to offer what only a select few can," said Peggy Morgan, broker associate for Aquatic Resort Properties.

"When a customer contacts a CTP participant, they can be assured that they are dealing with a professional who lives the outdoor lifestyle, understands what makes a great recreational property and has been endorsed by Cabela's," said Jeff Phelps with Cabela's Trophy Properties.

"CTP participants know the area and territory they service whether it's waterways, wildlife species, climate, hunting and fishing or people. They understand soils, water, climatic factors, access, public lands, state lands and national forest lands."

CTP listings are advertised on Cabela's Web site, which receives more hits than any other Web site in the outdoor industry, according to Phelps.

Becoming a Cabela's Trophy Properties participant is not a simple task, Morgan added.

"All of the participating brokers and landowner service providers have gone through a detailed application, interview and training process at Cabela's World Headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska," Phelps said.

Aquatic Resort Properties is working with another Cabela's participating broker, Hayden Outdoors of Colorado, to market the Hopkins Bay Resort in the Central American country of Belize. Morgan, who is a Certified International Property specialist, said she is very excited about the latest CTP listed venture. She is handling the marketing of the project for northern Florida.

Morgan and Brent Winjum, sales manager/broker for Aquatic Resort Properties, traveled to Hopkins, Belize this past November to get a first-hand look and experience this tropical resort up close. English is the country's official language, property taxes are low, and the way of life is slow and easy, according to Morgan.

The configuration of the Hopkins Bay Resort enables people to make the most of this ease of life. The current phase includes 30 units that are currently under construction, 108 lots containing waterfront and marina-front villas and 70,000 square feet of commercial space with lofts above. The total project will include 6,200 units with everything from schools to a hospital. Canal front lots start at $105,000 and ocean front villas are up to $900,000.

"They are building a dream from the ground up," Winjum said.

"It is a great place for someone who wants privacy. The way they have it set up, you would never know who was there," said Morgan. "You really go down there and live the lifestyle, you are welcomed."

The Belizean dollar has a two to one exchange rate to the U.S. dollar, according to Seth Hayden, associate broker for Hayden Outdoors and sales manager for Hopkins Bay Resort. Property transactions are "North American" style and property owners have a registered deed just like the United States, he added.

The project began in 2002 with the Belizean Dreams resort, and the Hopkins Bay Development was started late 2004. The goal is an eco-friendly space, and Hopkins Harbor Developments is working with Audubon International to ensure sustainability.

"Our goal is to become an example for the rest of the world to follow in designing a master planned, sustainable development," Hayden said.

The developers want to maintain a good relationship with the local people, according to Morgan. They even built a water and sewage system from scratch, but pay the city to use it.

"They want to make sure that the local people are not only happy to see our initial funds come in, but that they also are happy to see the future growth of the resort, it's a long term relationship" said Morgan.

FOR INFORMATION

For information about Hopkins Bay Resort, contact Peggy Morgan at 877-485-3229.