Can you still get a mortgage on a Gulf Shores or Orange Beach condo in 2026? Yes — but the building now has to qualify, not just you. For loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, applications dated on or after August 3, 2026 in established condo projects with more than 10 units generally need a Full Review of the association, no matter how much you put down (some waivers apply). A building that fails may be ineligible for those loans, which usually means cash, a portfolio loa

How do Baldwin County, Alabama property taxes compare to the rest of the U.S. in 2026? Alabama runs a 0.43% effective property tax rate, the 4th-lowest in the nation, with average annual bills under $800 — a fraction of the $4,400+ national average homeowners are now paying. Why property taxes are suddenly a ballot issue Voters in Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Wyoming will decide measures this November aimed at slowing down or reducing property tax bills. More than t

Do Orange Beach/Gulf Shores condos have hidden insurance costs beyond the HOA fee? Yes. Rising master insurance premiums are pushing some coastal condo associations to levy special assessments on top of regular HOA dues, sometimes hundreds of dollars a month. Here's what I found while digging into this for clients: one Orange Beach building recently faced an insurance renewal that came in well above the prior year's budget, and the association responded with a temporary month