FOREST LAKES PH I
Homes for Sale in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
True comps, carrying-cost math, and listings before the portals.
Forest Lakes Ph I sits inland in Santa Rosa Beach with a median around $1,255,500 and homes built between 2006 and 2024, so the median year built of 2015 tells you this is a newer-construction pocket, not an older resale tract. With roughly 2,710 square feet at the median, price here is driven mostly by build quality, condition, and square footage rather than any shared amenity package — the current MLS listings show none identified.
The posture right now favors patient buyers. Median days on market is 53, which is not fast for this price point, and year-over-year the median is down 19.6%. That combination means sellers should price to the current reality, not last year's, and buyers have room to negotiate on homes that have been sitting. A well-presented, correctly-priced home still moves; an aspirationally-priced one waits.
FOREST LAKES PH I right now
🔴 Off the recent peak. The trailing-12-month median ($1.26M) is down 19.6% from the prior 12 months ($1.56M). With about 4 sales a year, a single closing can swing this number, so read the level and the decade, not one year's move.Momentum Research, record-level emeraldcoast closed sales, 12-month windows ending July 25. Confidence: Medium (6 and 8 sales in the two windows).
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Updated July 25, 2026 · Live data: emeraldcoast, refreshed twice daily · MLS facts carry their source; interpretation lines are Momentum Research · Data sources & freshness
The 60-Second Overview
FOREST LAKES PH I market snapshot (as of July 25, 2026): the median sale price is about $1.26M, and a median 53 days on market for closed sales. The trailing-12-month median is down 20% from the prior 12 months, computed from record-level emeraldcoast closed sales (6 closings in the current window).
FOREST LAKES PH I is a community of 101 homes in Santa Rosa Beach, Walton County, built between 2006 and 2024 (median 2015.0), with a median living area of about 2,710 square feet. 40% of parcels are homesteaded, the owner-occupancy proxy in the Florida DOR assessment roll (2025 roll, public records).
This is a newer-build, inland community of about 101 homes where value tracks square footage and finish level rather than resort-style amenities. With a homestead share near 40%, it reads as a mix of primary residences and second-home or investment ownership.
Who FOREST LAKES PH I is best for.
Best for
- Buyers targeting newer construction around 2,700 square feet who can transact near the mid-seven-figure median
- Patient buyers who want negotiating room in a slower, softer market
- Owners planning a primary residence who value an inland location over beachfront proximity
Probably not for
- Buyers who need resort-style or shared community amenities on site
- Anyone expecting a fast, multiple-offer resale market
- Buyers seeking a lower price point, since the median sits well into seven figures
Price History: What Homes Here Have Actually Sold For
Median sale price over the trailing 12 months ending July 25 of each year, from record-level emeraldcoast closed sales. Same methodology as every appreciation figure on this page: the 2026 point ($1.26M) IS the median in the snapshot above, and the move from 2025 ($1.56M) IS the -19.6% one-year change.
Windows contain 0 to 8 sales each (6 in the current window); every figure carries its sample size, and thin markets swing on single closings. Listing data provided by the Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS®. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed by the MLS to be accurate. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
The real cost & risk here
Before the list price, the Florida math the portals skip. These are Walton County typicals — your exact home, flood zone, and insurance quote will vary, so verify each before you offer.
Check it for your address: look up your flood zone (FEMA) · insurance by county · true-cost calculator · Walton County scorecard.
County typicals from Momentum’s Florida housing data (Zillow & Realtor.com aggregates, Census, FRED), updated monthly; insurance modeled. Flood zone is property-specific — always confirm via FEMA.
The FOREST LAKES PH I buying strategy.
If we were buying in FOREST LAKES PH I today, this is the order of operations we would run for our clients.
Underwrite the condition first. Price the roof, HVAC, and systems honestly before judging any list price; condition swings value here more than square footage alone.
Match the home to real comps. Recent sales of similar condition and lot, not the asking price, tell you what a home is worth.
Move deliberately, not desperately. Neither side has a decisive edge, so a well-prepared, fairly-priced offer wins without overpaying.
Line up financing and inspection early. A pre-approval and an inspection plan let you act fast and negotiate from evidence.
Keep an agent in your corner. The listing agent works for the seller; we represent you and prepare a hand-built valuation before any offer in FOREST LAKES PH I.
What actually moves price in Forest Lakes
With no community amenities identified in current listings and a fairly tight build window, the differentiators here are the house itself — square footage above or below the roughly 2,710 median, the year built within that 2006 to 2024 range, and overall condition. Two homes at similar size can price very differently based on updates and finish, so the single median figure hides a real spread.
The 19.6% year-over-year decline in the median deserves context: with only six closings in the window, the median is sensitive to which homes happened to trade, so treat it as directional rather than precise. Still, a 53-day median on market points to a market that rewards realistic pricing and punishes overreach.
The location and the amenities are priced into every listing in FOREST LAKES PH I. The deal is won or lost on condition, the comps, and the renovation math.
Momentum Buy Score.
Our proprietary 0 to 10 read across the factors that decide how a home in FOREST LAKES PH I buys, holds, and resells. Momentum Research; not an appraisal.
Momentum Intelligence Scores are our proprietary, qualitative assessment on a 0 to 10 scale, built from the record-level market data on this page. They are a framework for comparing communities, not a guarantee of future value and not advice on a specific home; unlike an automated value estimate they do not price your home, they grade the community on evidence you can inspect. Composite is the plain average of the 3 factors (3.4). Basis: Recent Direction -19.6% year-over-year; Owner Commitment 40% owner-occupied; Pricing Power 92.6% sale-to-list. Refreshed with each data update.
Why work with Momentum here
In a thin-volume, newer-build community where the median swings on a handful of sales, pricing is everything — and the wrong list number can cost you weeks. We read each home on its own merits, size, condition, and finish, instead of leaning on a community-wide average, and we set expectations honestly for both sides of the table.
FOREST LAKES PH I in 15 seconds.
HOA, CDD & Fees
- Mandatory HOA — confirm current dues
- Any club/amenity membership is billed separately
Confirm the current HOA dues, exactly what they cover, and any CDD bond or special assessment for a specific address before you offer.
Tools for a FOREST LAKES PH I buy.
Free calculators to pressure-test the real cost before you tour.
Selling here is won on condition and pricing to real comps, not an automated estimate. The right number comes from closed FOREST LAKES PH I sales matched to your home.
Price it to the comps and condition, not an automated estimate.
If you are thinking about selling in FOREST LAKES PH I, the right list price comes from recent comparable sales matched to your home's condition and location, not an automated estimate.
What is your FOREST LAKES PH I home worth?
Get a no-obligation home value based on real comparable sales in FOREST LAKES PH I, not an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in FOREST LAKES PH I?
How long do homes in FOREST LAKES PH I take to sell?
How many homes are in FOREST LAKES PH I?
What share of FOREST LAKES PH I is owner-occupied?
When were the homes in FOREST LAKES PH I built?
Do cash buyers compete in FOREST LAKES PH I?
Who is the best real estate agent for FOREST LAKES PH I?
How do I find a top Santa Rosa Beach real estate agent who knows FOREST LAKES PH I?
Can Momentum Realty connect me with an agent for FOREST LAKES PH I?
Should you buy in FOREST LAKES PH I?
An honest fit check. We will tell you when it is not your community.
Data sources & freshness
| Community market stats | emeraldcoast closed sales, 12-month windows ending July 25, 2026 |
| Housing stock & ownership | Florida DOR 2025 assessment roll (street-list match (5 streets, ZIP 32459)) |
| Historical depth | Closed-sale records back to 2013 (47 transactions analyzed) |
Verify the primary sources yourself: Florida DOR · U.S. Census · FEMA flood maps · Citizens Property Insurance.
Momentum Research figures are our own analysis of emeraldcoast records; MLS data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Methodology: how Momentum market scores are computed. Market metrics describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.
Own a home here?
You just read the data. Now see what your home is worth.
The numbers on this page move markets in the aggregate. The number that matters to you is what a buyer pays for your address. Momentum sells for 1.25% above the emeraldcoast member average and 8 days faster, and we’ll price yours against live your area comps.
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See how FOREST LAKES PH I fits the bigger picture — live prices, inventory, and Momentum Scores:
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