Enjoy secluded country living at Walsh Glen Estates

CRESTVIEW — It’s easy to get to Walsh Glen Estates, just moments off of State Road 85 south of Crestview.

Once you’re there, the neighborhood is so peaceful you can easily imagine you’re out in the country.

In fact, you are.

Perched on a natural bluff above wetlands on three sides, Walsh Glen offers the best of secluded country living with a convenient location. The wetlands, in fact, assure that the view from this natural setting will never be spoiled by development.

Homes are built in what the developer, Key Lime Homes, describes as a “craftsman” style. The homes offer the amenities expected by today’s homebuyer.

“The theme that we’re going for is a craftsman design,” said Brian Walsh, vice president and real estate broker at Key Lime Homes. “They have large front porches, HardiePlank exterior siding, and we’re going to have board-and-baton siding and shake sidings as well.”

Each home in Walsh Glen gives the appearance of a charming country cottage, adding to the sense of a cozy neighborhood.

Yet when you step through the front door into the tiled entryway, they open up into surprisingly roomy houses.

Key Lime Homes emphasizes their willingness to welcome customers into the design process of their homes to create the look they want.

“We allow anything the customer wants if they get in early enough in the building process,” Walsh said. “That’s the thing that we think separates us from other builders.

“We really focus on customer service. We’re amiable to changes,” said Walsh. “We let customers select more amenities. All the houses look different. It isn’t a cookie-cutter subdivision.”

A palette of earth-tone exterior colors, such as the muted green of the model home now available for inspection, allows the houses to fit into the woodsy neighborhood.

Only 18 lots are available on the gently curving Key Lime Place cul-de-sac off P.J. Adams Parkway that services Walsh Glen.

“Really, it’s almost like a private neighborhood, but it’s not gated. You won’t have any thru traffic,” Walsh said, “and the neighborhood is situated above wetlands, so you won’t have any development behind you.”

Shopping opportunities, restaurants and services are available just north on State Road 85, yet Walsh Glen’s convenient location means residents who work at Eglin and other south county locations can bypass the frequently congested intersections near Interstate 10.

Antioch Elementary School is also just minutes west on P.J. Adams Parkway.

The largest exterior lot around the perimeter is five acres.

“They’ve very large, nice lots,” Walsh said. “You can’t go out there and raise horses, but you won’t have a neighbor behind you,” he joked.

The smallest lot is .15 acres. On average, most lots range between .2 and .5 acres in size. Six lots are 1.43 acres or larger.
“We’re going to use some green building practices,” Walsh assured buyers, “anything we can do to go green and still keep the prices down, we’ll do.”

Prices range from $176,000 and $220,000, with many floor plans to choose from.

“We have professionally landscaped yards with irrigation systems,” Walsh said, “but we are trying to leave as much natural vegetation as possible.”

Typical amenities include 17-inch floor tiles in entries, kitchens and bathrooms; and generous backyards with a patio by the back door.

As with Key Limes’ nearby Shadow Pines subdivision, Walsh Glen’s homes also feature solid surface “Livingstone” countertops; custom wood cabinets with included designer hardware; 8-pound carpet pad (versus standard 6-pound) to prolong carpet life; ceiling fans with light kits throughout; and a microwave/range hood that vents outside.

Construction features include:
• DuPont Tyvek Housewrap moisture barrier;
• 30-pound roofing felt (versus standard 15-pound);
• 3,000 p.s.i. concrete slabs (versus standard 2,500 p.s.i.);
• 5/8-inch Type X rated drywall on all ceilings (vs. standard half-inch); and
• Superior energy efficiency, with an R13 rating in the walls and blown-in attic insulation with an R38 rating.

The homes are built to 140 mph wind code. It’s not required in Crestview, but “it gives the buyer a better product,” Walsh said.

The homes boast 9-foot ceilings throughout, making the rooms feel more spacious than competitors’ typical 8-foot ceilings.

“For our price point, that’s something a little different,” Walsh said.

Another attribute is Key Limes’ typical generosity with closets. Master bedrooms include both a huge walk-in and a full-size closet. Generally, at least one other bedroom has a large walk-in closet as well.

The master bathroom also features another Key Lime standard: separate water closets.

Unable to resist, we asked Walsh about the coincidence between his surname and the name of the development.

Brian Walsh chuckled and explained, “My father-in-law thought it was a nice name to mark his retirement from Key Lime several years ago when we were in the process of buying that property.”

To view the Walsh Glen Estates model home or for further information, call (850) 682-8652.

For further information, call listing agent Celia Walker at (850) 974-0672 (cell) or (850) 897-4663, or e-mail celia.walker@cox.net. Visit their Web site at www.keylimehomes.com.