Q&A with Luxury Home Specialist Destin Lowery

Haute Residence: Take us back to the deal you’d do again. What was it, and where were you in your career?

Destin Lowery: In 2003, I represented the original buyer of Lot 33 on Woodland Bayou Drive in Santa Rosa Beach, a discreet waterfront parcel along one of the Emerald Coast’s most coveted bayou corridors. The lot closed at $139,900, at a time when Santa Rosa Beach was still an emerging luxury market, largely under the radar but rich with long-term potential.

I was early in my career, having launched in 1999 under the mentorship of Susie Kirkland at RE/MAX Southern Realty. Even then, I was instinctively drawn to land and waterfront opportunities, properties that reward vision and patience. That instinct later became foundational to my work representing high-net-worth buyers, builders, and investors across the Southeast.

That deal confirmed something I still believe today: truly exceptional properties show their value long before the market headlines do.

Haute Residence: Why did that transaction resonate on a personal level?

Destin Lowery: What began as a land sale evolved into something far more meaningful. The buyer was preparing to launch Gold’s Gymnastics in Miramar Beach, a business that would become a cornerstone for families along the Emerald Coast.

At the time, I didn’t yet have children. My son, Rocco, was born in 2005, and years later, he became deeply involved in boys’ gymnastics. Suddenly, that original transaction became part of my own family’s story. I first knew the buyer professionally, and later as a fellow parent watching our children grow in the same community.

In 2005, she built her personal residence on the lot and lived there for nearly a decade. When she decided to sell in 2014, I represented the property again — this time placing it with a long-standing client and friend who immediately understood its value. The alignment was seamless, even though neither party knew the other. That’s where experience and intuition matter most.

Haute Residence: What from that deal still informs how you work today?

Destin Lowery: Stewardship. I don’t think in terms of transactions — I think in terms of chapters.

A perfect example is 523 Woodland Bayou, a residence I’ve now represented across three distinct ownership cycles. Most recently, in July 2025, Premier Trust contacted me to manage the sale following the passing of a long-standing client. It required discretion, empathy, and continuity. Not just pricing strategy.

While preparing the home, I discovered my client’s pet turtle with nowhere to go. I rescued her and named her Sela — short for SoutheastLuxuryAgents. It may sound small, but those moments speak to how I approach this business.

We listed the property at $839,900 and are scheduled to close on January 29, 2026. That’s relationship-based real estate — and it’s the same approach I’ve taken for over 26 years, selling along the Florida Panhandle.

Haute Residence: Tell us about the deal that nearly broke you.

Destin Lowery:That would be 4500 Bellbuoy Landing in Destin, a Parade of Homes–winning waterfront estate I sold new in 2010 for $2.8 million. The transaction was flawless. The clients were thrilled and even purchased the neighboring bayfront property shortly afterward.

Years later, I received a call from their estate manager. The owners traveled extensively, and the home was professionally maintained, yet unexplained deposits of sand kept appearing on the floors after cleanings.

When I inspected the home myself and found the same formations with no access points, no vendors, and no explanation, I knew something was wrong. In luxury real estate, your responsibility doesn’t end at closing. Sometimes, you’re the only one who can read what a house is trying to tell you.

Haute Residence: What was the underlying issue?

Destin Lowery: After extensive investigation, we discovered the cause: dormant beetles embedded in exotic Brazilian hardwood flooring imported during construction. Years later, they hatched, leaving what looked like small piles of sand.

It was emotionally heavy. These were long-time clients who trusted me deeply. While the issue wasn’t detectable or preventable at the time, I stepped in fully — coordinating specialists, overseeing fumigation, and staying present through every phase.

Haute Residence: What did that experience ultimately teach you?

Destin Lowery: It cost me sleep and, briefly, the fear of losing trust. But in the end, it strengthened the relationship. I later represented and sold both properties again in 2016 with full transparency.

That experience cemented my philosophy: the best agents don’t disappear after closing day. They show up when things become complicated, inconvenient, or emotional.

Today, that mindset shapes how I lead my team across the Southeast with 1st Class Real Estate. Luxury real estate isn’t just about market knowledge — it’s about protection, advocacy, and integrity.

On the Emerald Coast, being the best isn’t about volume alone. It’s about trust. And trust is built long after the ink dries.