Moving to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

What to expect when planning a move to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, including the best real estate agent, insurance, and so much more.

Moving to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

We first visited Gulf Shores and Orange Beach about seven years ago. During that trip, we kept looking at each other and saying, "We could live here," and then we would go about our trip.

Over the past seven years, we kept returning and falling more and more in love with the area. This past winter, when Spokane, Washington, had feet of snow for months on end and our pipes froze, we decided it was time to make the move.

We started to look for houses online, and my Husband happened to enter his name, phone number, and email into one of the real estate sites. This turned out to be the greatest gift of meeting the best real estate agent in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach we could have hoped for.....Aly Hegwood.

Aly would end up being not only our real estate agent but a great friend. She truly helped guide us through the ups and downs of buying a house in the area. I hate to say it, but it was a roller coaster ride.

We ended up flying down to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach four times before settling on the house that we bought (not pictured).

Throughout the entire process, Aly was there to answer our questions, calm our nerves, and step in when we needed another voice during the process.

Her knowledge of the area was priceless. If you are planning a move to Gulf Shore, Orange Beach, or nearby, please contact Aly! She will truly make your experience buying a house so much easier.

Things we learned about buying a house in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach

Moving from Spokane, WA, to the Gulf Coast turned into a big learning curve for us, so I want to share some of the things we learned so you can prepare for the process.

Home Owners Insurance

We learned very quickly that the price of homeowners insurance and the ability to get it can make a huge impact on the house that you are able to buy.

The price of homeowners insurance greatly varies if you are "on island" or "off island". The way to know this is if you are over the bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterway or onto Ono Island.

If you don't have to cross a bridge to get to the house, you are most likely off island. This ended up being a $10,000+ decision for us when buying a home.

We also found out that one of the houses we were really interested in would be a struggle to get insured because of its location on the island and the age of the house.

Location, Location, Location

Location is always a big factor when looking to buy a house. One thing to know about the Gulf Coast is location also plays a big impact on the price of the house.

Ono Island

Ono Island is a private island with security at the entrance. In order to get onto the island you need to be visiting someone who lives on the island and have their permission, be looking at a house with a real estate agent who has an appointment, or doing work there.

There is a security gate and agents checking each vehicle that enters the island. This is amazing if you are looking for a private area with extra security.

One thing we learned is there is an HOA fee involved with paying for the security and amenities. We also learned that the location of the house on the island can make a big impact on cost and flooding.

We looked at a few houses and realized they were in the bowl of the island and it looked like all of the water would rush down the sides and straight into the house.

If you decide to look on Ono Island make sure you take into consideration flooding, closeness to your neighbors, and the impact of having every visitor need to go through security.

"On Island"

As mentioned above, moving "on island" means crossing the Intracoastal waterway into Gulf Shores and/or Orange Beach, AL.

This area is filled with amazing beach front and lagoon front homes, older homes tucked away in quiet neighborhoods, and new builds.

We looked at multiple houses that were considered on island and loved them. A few things we learned to ask about these houses include

-What is the house elevation? This will make a big impact in being able to get homeowners insurance?

-Is the house considered gold fortified or silver fortified?

-What damage did the house incur during Hurricane Sally?

Foley, Alabama

If you don't mind being a few minutes from the beach, there are some fantastic new developments in Foley, Alabama.

This is also a great place to look if you want to have a larger plot of land. You will also be able to enjoy the majority of chain restaurants and major stores that are based in Foley.

Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope is a bit of a distance from the Gulf Shores area BUT it is so cute and fun it may just be worth it.

We have fallen in love with Fairhope and would think about living there in the future. This small city exudes so much charm, has epic restaurants and shopping, and feels like you are in a fairy tale.

Florida

We learned that crossing the state line into Florida can have huge impacts in cost and homeowners insurance.

If you are interested in living in Florida you will want to make sure that you can get insurance and ask about the price changing.

Home Builders

The major home builder in the area is D.R. Horton. They recently purchased Truland Homes to expand their neighborhoods and home options.

They have multiple neighborhoods in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, and beyond, and you will hear varying thoughts and opinions on their homes.

One thing we learned is to take the time to walk the homes and see how they feel to you. D.R. Horton is the largest builder in the country so statistically someone is always going to be upset or not happy but there are also hundreds/thousands of happy customers.

We heard a lot of mixed reviews during the home buying process and had to move past them to see how the houses looked to us.

Moving Costs to Plan For

Movers

We used Robinson's Moving Company to unload our moving truck when it arrived. They were absolutely fantastic!

Termite Management

Plan for a cost for termite management/contract. Depending on the builder, many new builds come with a year-long contract.

We learned that there is a species of termites that loves this area and they use termite "traps" to help manage them.

There is also a time of year when the termites fly out of the ground and into the air at night looking for light.

They warned us that we are most likely not prepared for the influx of termites from Mothers Day to Fathers Day when they take to the air in the evenings.

With the termite contract you can upgrade to additional bug spraying for ants, spiders, mosquitoes, and all of the other fun things that surround the house.

I will say we have seen a couple of big spiders since moving and lots of tiny little ants.

Is Gulf Shores Alabama a good place to live?

100% yes! Gulf Shores is an amazing place to live! We are thankful every single day that we made the move to Gulf Shores.

It's hard to put into words how much we love living on the Alabama Gulf Coast. We can now walk the beach any time we want to, explore a new area, and have met great new friends.

Gulf Shores is known as the Small Town, Big Beach for a reason. It still feels like a small town but there is so much to do in the area.

What is the population of Gulf Shores? Approximately 17,173 people

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Lodging

If you are visiting and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations. We have stayed at each of these lodging options:

The Beach Club Resort and Spa (Fort Morgan): This resort offers beachfront condos with amazing amenities and a great spa. Don't miss dinner at Coast Restaurant.

Use Code - GULFJOURNEY for a discount when booking with Spectrum Resort.

Turquoise Place Luxury Vacation Rentals (Orange Beach): This is our favorite resort in the area! It offers luxury amenities, epic beachfront views, and unbelievable condos.

Use Code - GULFJOURNEY for a discount when booking with Spectrum Resort.

Springhill Suites Orange Beach: Located next to The Wharf, it is an excellent location near shopping and dining. We enjoyed their gorgeous pool.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park: Located on the beach in Gulf State Park, this Hilton Hotel offers epic beach views, a sustainable hotel experience, and great restaurants.

The map below shows the current hotels and vacation rentals available in the area. You can select the dates you are visiting to see current availability.

Additional Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Information

What's New in Orange Beach & Gulf Shores - Check out all of the new restaurants, attractions, hotels, and things to do in town.

Things to do in Gulf Shores + Orange Beach with Kids -These are the best family-friendly activities and are great for all ages.

Family friendly Orange Beach Restaurants - The best Kid Friendly Restaurants in Orange Beach & Gulf Shores, Alabama! These restaurants have something for everyone, including games, sandy beach areas, and great food.

Great Italian Restaurants Orange Beach & Gulf Shores - The best Italian food we have found as locals in town.

Fine dining in Gulf Shores - Where to go for a great date night or celebration in Gulf Shores.

Things to do for Couples in Orange Beach - The best date days and things to do for couples.

Don't miss our other Gulf Coast destinations, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Fort Morgan, Foley, Mobile, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and so many more!

We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, and more.

Keep an eye out for articles on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida!

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