Destin, Niceville, Fort Walton FL RE local info

[Matt Devincenzo]

I'm looking for some local info on the area for a friend. He and his wife are Navy and transferring to the area fairly soon. They started looking at rentals, and have since begun the "we could buy" thought process. So knowing I invest they asked for my advice on the idea/area.

I'm doing my normal internet research, but wanted to get some local first hand knowledge if anyone here on the forums has anything to share. They'll probably be in the area for 1-1.5 years, after which they are thinking they'd keep the house as a rental. 

As of now my most basic discussion point with them is, if you want to buy it only makes sense if you're going to keep the house after you leave. Reason being they'll lose any cost saving benefit of owning on the transaction costs otherwise. 

So for those with local knowledge: is it a good rental market in general? If so do you have any local PM contacts you could give for once they leave? They will definitely be using a PM, as RE is not their focus, and I know them well enough to know that will really be in their best interest. 

[William Allen]

Do you know what area they are transferring to specifically?  If he is a navy guy I would suspect it is Pensacola or Milton (Whiting Field).  If not, maybe he will be stationed at Eglin.  That would probably help get you some better information.  If they are going to be at the Navy bases that would be quite a commute from Destin...