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Buyers line up for lots
October 1, 2004
Northwest Florida Daily News
By Amanda Brannon, Daily News Staff Writer
Property up for sale Saturday in the Niceville subdivision of Swift Creek is drawing a crowd.
NICEVILLE — When Martina Burns heard on Thursday morning that a line already was forming to buy lots in the newest phase of Swift Creek in Niceville, she was a little shocked.
The lots don't actually go on sale until Saturday at 7 a.m.
"I came here at 11 o'clock, and there were already 18 people signed in," she said Thursday as she sat on the grass beside the sales office at Swift Creek.
By 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, 26 people were in line to buy lots in Phase 5 of Swift Creek, a master planned community by Ruckel Properties. There are 31 lots in this phase of the development, and they range in price from $99,000 for 0.3 acres to $186,000 for 0.7 acres.
The lots are sold on a first come, first served basis. Interested buyers must register to receive their number and place in line. They can't leave the property near the sales office before 7 a.m. Saturday or they lose their place in line.
Someone else — at least 18 years old — can hold their place in line buy the buyer or their representative must be present when roll calls are take every couple of hours.
Camping chairs, coolers, beach umbrellas and other supplies for the wait dotted the lawn beside the sales office.
"It's just a great place to live, but at these prices, it's amazing isn't it?" said Walt Ruckel, the real estate developer.
He said how early the line has formed is unprecedented.
"This is a premier master planned community, and I think people realize the value of building in a community," Ruckel said.
The neighborhood of Swift Creek sits in a wooded area off Partin Drive, near the intersection of College Boulevard. The community features a nature trail, parks and a community center.
Homes in the neighborhood must be a minimum of 2,200 square feet and can cover a maximum of 40 percent of a lot.
After Phase 5, there will be three other phases of the development, with a total of 140 lots left, Ruckel said.
"It will probably be another year before there's another phase," he said.
Tricia Brunson, executive director of the Niceville Valparaiso-Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, was one of the 26 officially in line on Thursday afternoon.
"Good building lots within city limits are very difficult to find," she said. "I just love what they've done in the first four phases."
Burns, a realtor with Century 21 in Niceville, said there is very little vacant land in the Niceville area.
She was waiting in line to buy a lot herself, but she was waiting looking after the interests of her clients.
Thomas Thompson, for example traveled from Randoph, N.J., to Niceville for the sale on Saturday. After arriving in town on Thursday and hearing about the line forming, he claimed his place in line as well.
"We have been working with them for over a year to find something available," Burns said. "That it would be that difficult to actually purchase a lot, we had not imagined."
Thompson hadn't planned on camping out for a chance to buy a lot, so he didn't have some of supplies others had.
"At least it's not raining," he said with a smile.
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