Assessing Second Home And Rental Potential At Summer Place
April 16, 2026
April 16, 2026
If you are looking for a beachfront condo that can double as your personal getaway and a vacation rental, Summer Place deserves a closer look. On Okaloosa Island, that balance matters because you are not just buying square footage. You are buying into a location, a guest experience, and an ownership model that needs to work on paper as well as in real life. This guide will help you assess Summer Place’s second-home appeal, rental potential, and the due diligence steps that matter most before you buy. Let’s dive in.
Summer Place is a Gulf-front condominium at 1111 Santa Rosa Blvd on Okaloosa Island. Current building data describe it as a 6-story, 53-unit condo completed in 2003, with commonly available 3-bedroom layouts including about 1,228 square feet for some 3BR/2BA units and about 1,424 square feet for at least one 3BR/3BA layout, according to current building and listing data.
For many buyers, that layout mix is a big part of the appeal. Three-bedroom Gulf-front condos tend to fit both personal use and vacation stays well because they can accommodate family trips, friend groups, and multigenerational travel. That flexibility can be helpful if you want a property that supports your lifestyle while still making sense as a rental.
The amenity package at Summer Place supports the kind of experience many second-home buyers want from a coastal condo. Current listings consistently note direct Gulf frontage, private beach access, two pools with one heated, a hot tub/spa, a fitness center, elevators, barbecue and picnic areas, and pet-friendly policies, based on current listing sources.
Those features matter for two reasons. First, they can make your own visits easier and more enjoyable. Second, they line up with what many beach travelers look for when choosing a vacation rental, especially if they want easy beach access without needing to drive around once they arrive.
One of the biggest questions buyers ask is simple: Can this condo actually work as a rental? Based on current listing data, Summer Place is shown as short-term rental allowed, which makes it relevant for buyers exploring income potential alongside personal use. That said, building-level summaries are only the starting point, and you should always confirm the exact rules for the specific unit you are considering.
Current third-party vacation rental listings also suggest the property is actively positioned for short-term stays. The Vacasa Summer Place page shows 3-bedroom units marketed for 8 to 10 guests with average nightly rates around $468 to $516 before fees and taxes. A current Vrbo listing also highlights seasonal beach service from March through October and free parking, which supports the building’s vacation-rental profile as described in the research report.
That does not guarantee performance for any individual condo. Still, it gives you a useful benchmark for how the property is being marketed in the current rental environment.
A condo’s rental outlook is tied to more than the building itself. You also need to understand the destination. Okaloosa County describes Okaloosa Island as a seven-mile barrier island between Fort Walton Beach and Destin, and county beach-safety operations estimate the island draws about 1.8 million visitors annually, according to Okaloosa County beach safety operations.
That level of visitation helps explain why beachfront condos on the island continue to attract second-home and vacation-rental interest. The same source notes seasonal beach-safety operations run from the second Saturday in March through October 31, which is a useful indicator of the core beach travel season.
The local tourism picture also supports repeat leisure demand. Okaloosa County’s tourism department describes the area as a destination with family-friendly experiences, and notes that tourism funding supports beach safety, beach access, visitor services, special events, and environmental improvements, based on the county tourism overview.
Based on the unit sizes, beachfront setting, and nearby attractions, Summer Place is likely a strong fit for families, multigenerational groups, and short leisure stays. This is an inference from the property setup and destination profile, not a promise of occupancy.
Nearby attractions reinforce that guest profile. Okaloosa County highlights The Island Pier, The Boardwalk, and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park as major draws in the area. The destination material notes the pier is a place where visitors may spot dolphins and sea turtles, while the Boardwalk emphasizes family dining, free entertainment, and kid-focused activities right on the Gulf.
There are also broader access and regional demand factors worth noting. Okaloosa County says the area is home to military members and families connected to Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field, and the county notes that Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport offers direct service to more than 50 cities, according to the county overview. For some buyers, that can support both personal travel convenience and a broader pool of visiting guests.
If you are assessing Summer Place as a second home or rental, it is smart to look beyond the list price. Current listing data show monthly HOA dues in the range of about $1,313 to $1,608, with at least one listing noting that fees may include accounting, ground keeping, insurance, utilities, repairs and maintenance, and cable TV, according to building and listing details.
That can be helpful, but you still need the full cost picture for the exact unit. Your ownership costs may also include:
This is why it helps to compare the full cost stack, not just the HOA number. A condo can look strong at first glance, but your actual net performance depends on all recurring expenses working together.
If you plan to rent out your condo for short stays, compliance matters. Okaloosa County states that its Tourist Development Tax is 6% and applies to short-term rental income for stays of less than six months, according to the Tourist Development Tax FAQ.
The county also says these returns are typically filed monthly and are due by the 1st of the month. The tax is calculated on the total rental charge, including items such as cleaning fees. If filed online, owners or operators may keep a 2.5% collection allowance on the first $1,200 of tax due.
Okaloosa County’s short-term rental guidance also notes that Florida overnight rentals of less than six months are considered short-term rentals, that a vacation-rental license from the state’s DBPR is required, and that the county may regulate items such as occupancy limits, registration, parking, inspections, solid waste, onsite postings, and evacuations.
The same county guidance also encourages owners to review Okaloosa Island protective covenants and restrictions, and notes that non-primary residences can create homestead exemption issues. If rental use is part of your plan, these are important details to confirm early.
Because Summer Place is a Gulf-front condo, flood and insurance review should be part of your purchase process. Okaloosa County provides address-specific flood tools and elevation resources that can show a property’s flood zone, Base Flood Elevation, Design Flood Elevation, and available elevation certificate information.
The county also notes that it participates in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and maintains floodplain mapping resources for owners and insurers. For a beachfront purchase, these details can affect insurance planning, ownership costs, and overall risk assessment.
Even if you like the building, the unit itself will drive much of your ownership experience and rental performance. Before you move forward, ask focused questions that help you compare one condo to another.
Start with the revenue side. Ask for trailing 12-month occupancy, average daily rate, gross rental revenue, seasonality by month, cancellation trends, and booking channel mix. Marketed nightly rates can be useful, but actual unit performance will vary based on floor, view, condition, furnishing quality, and management approach.
Then review the operating side in detail. Confirm what the HOA covers for that unit, whether there are any owner-use restrictions, how parking works, and whether pet rules or rental procedures differ from broad marketing summaries.
Finally, review the physical condition. Because Summer Place dates to 2003 and sits directly on the coast, it is sensible to review items such as HVAC age, balcony condition, water intrusion history, reserve strength, insurance deductibles, and any hurricane-related repair history.
One of the best ways to assess Summer Place is to decide what role the condo needs to play in your life. If your top priority is personal enjoyment, you may value a comfortable layout, easy beach access, and a quieter owner experience more than squeezing out every possible rental dollar.
If your top priority is rental performance, you may focus more on sleeping capacity, interior updates, guest-friendly design, and the strongest possible view or floor position. In many cases, the right choice is somewhere in the middle. Summer Place appears well suited to buyers who want both personal use and income potential, but the right unit depends on your goals.
If you are weighing Summer Place against other beachfront options on Okaloosa Island, working with a local team can help you compare HOA structure, use rules, rental positioning, and resale potential with more confidence. If you want a second opinion on a specific condo or help evaluating whether a unit fits your goals, connect with The Chris Carter Team for local guidance tailored to your purchase strategy.
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