Think Real Estate

Our Local Community

Think Real Estate is right at home with beautiful Bay County, Florida, our local community. It's where we grew up and it's where we now raise our families. It's a community that provides the ideal location for the perfect vacation trip or the vacation lifestyle that never ends. And while Panama City Beach and the coastal areas offer much to smile about, there are many wonderful areas across Bay County, Florida to explore and consider.

Panama City brings historical charm and a rich heritage for the locals. Lynn Haven retains a small town feel with plenty of modern conveniences. Venturing East, you will find two communities, Callaway and Parker, which are well established and just a few minutes from Tyndall Air Force Base. And driving a little further East you will discover the sleepy community of Mexico Beach, located right on the Gulf of Mexico and years behind the building boom of Panama City Beach. These are just a few of the many communities to enjoy.

Think Real Estate invites you to explore the market possibilities of these communities with us. As local real estate experts, we are here to help you find the perfect property for you.

Local Real Estate Expert

Broker, B. Cody Shields
B. Cody Shields

Think Real Estate

B.Cody Shields is the broker/owner of Think Real Estate and a local expert on buying & selling properties of all types in Bay County, Florida.

Please contact me with any questions or comments about North Florida, Real Estate, Sports, or anything at all. Until we talk, be great and be well.

If you have the time, I hope you will take a moment and explore the The Think Team by clicking the button below.


The Think Team
Think Real Estate Logo, Panama City, Florida

Are you ready to buy, sell, or invest in Bay County, Florida?
Call Think Real Estate and talk with our dedicated real estate team.

850-270-4200
Think Real Estate

Buy Land and Build A Home or Buy An Existing Home in Bay County

Your future home awaits and we are here to help.

Are you in the process of locating your next dream home? If you are, you may be considering the differences between buying land and building new versus buying an existing home. Both of these options can be great, but each has a different journey to completion.

Fortunately, the real estate market in Bay County, Florida is still activity pushing along. And while there is not as much inventory, compared to 2020, there are still land & homes for sale across our wonderful community.

You can buy a neighborhood lot in a beachy or in-town community, or possibly find acres of land in the northern part of Bay County to start your own farm. Lynn Haven has become a very popular community to call home and the Cove has long been a wonderful community for those seeking to be near downtown Panama City. Lots and lots of choices to create a future that is uniquely you.

It is far more complex to buy land and build a home than it is to buy a home that is already built and move-in ready. Someone has to be available to make the continuous decisions that go along with such a project. And it is often times more expensive, too. Land costs, architectural design, permits, foundation work, framing, site work, exterior finishes, interior finishes, mechanical rough-ins— the details can add up rather quick. When building a custom home, $350,000 doesn’t build a palace in Bay County in 2020. Here is an example of what a $350,000 build budget would look like:

  • Architectural Design: $17,430.00
  • Site work. Design, Permit fees, inspections, etc.: $7,810.00
  • Foundations. Excavation, concrete and retaining walls: $38,685.00
  • Framing. Sheathing, trusses, etc.: $44,930.00
  • Exterior finishes. Roofing, windows, and doors, etc.: $75,245.00
  • Interior finishes. Drywall, flooring, insulation, paint, lights, appliances, etc.: $77,840.00
  • Major systems rough-ins. Electrical, HVAC and plumbing: $35,445.00
  • Hardscapes and softscapes. Driveway, fencing, landscaping, shed, etc.: $49,490.00

In contrast, the same budget of $350,000 can buy an existing home or condo, land included, that is move-in ready and waiting to welcome you home. And with the inventory in the Bay County Real Estate MLS, you can likely find your new home or investment project without too much effort.

Whichever your choice may be, Think Real Estate has two convenient offices in Bay County, Florida to serve your real estate needs. Our beach office is on Middle Beach Road, just east of Shipwreck Island Water Park, and our in-town office is on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., about one mile north of the mall. Both of our real estate offices offer the same high-quality service and personable, professional, dedicated Realtors. Contact us today to get started.

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Kids Playing Hopscotch in Driveway
Think Real Estate, Panama City Beach

Are you looking for investment property or your next flip in Bay County, Florida?
Call Think Real Estate and talk with our dedicated real estate team.

850-270-4200