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'DIAMONDHEAD PROPERTY VALUES WHAT’S RKiHT WITH DIAMONDHEAD?
E. Lee Bennett
October, 1993
(Lee Bennett, Hancock County Appraiser, is asked to prepare an article on property lues and county taxes on property in antondhead. 1'his is the first of a series to he blished. Lee has been a Diamondhead resident '■10 years.)
Diamondhead will continue to maintain c leading position in residential develop-enl on the Mississippi Gulf Coast because is the best place to live on the Coast. It is the sidenlial growth area lor Hancock Counly id a large, enduring part of the County's ad iloretn tax base, representing 22% of the umly's and 41 % of the school district's real operty assessment.
Why is Diamondhead growing? The >90 Census shows a population of about 700. Factoring the 1993 utility hookups, c. indicates a popuial ion approaching 5,(X)0. i 85% increase in 3 years. By comparison, ancock County increased total population f 7,943 from 1980 to 1991 (24.537 to 2,480), an increase of 32% in 11 years.
Why are the properly values increasing? i 1989 the real properly assessment was
18,626,000	and in 1993. $23,659,236 -27%).The phenomenal growth in housing arts over the last few years is even larger in 993! There are several opinions on the lswers lo the questions of growth and value, he answers are all related (o the "appraiser's
___xsiion": What arc I lie lliree most important factors determining properly value? Location, Location, and Location! That's slightly facetious and plagiarised, but basically true. I lere are len other good reasons for growth and value increases that an appraiser considers: (1) Churches -Diamondhead has 6 active churches witli several others nearby: (2) Employment -Diamondhead provides housing lo many employees at the Slennis Space Center in addition to several other large industries at close hand; (3) Income level - The income level is in the upper ranges. However, the housing market is diverse enough to pio-vide housing to a wide range of incomes. A statistical sample (96 sales totaling $8,733,850) of our 1992 sales file show sales ranging from a $25,000 condo lo a $275,000 residence. The median sale price is$83.000. The mean sale price is $91,000; (4) Education - The younger parents moving lo Diamondhead have a high priority to provide quality education for their children. Diamondhead Academy is one of ihe best privaleelemcnlaryschoolsonlhecoasl and Hancock High School has recently opened a brand new facility. There arc several oilier fine parochial, private schools and community colleges in easy commuting distance; (5) Climate - The average temperature in the.summer is 81, the record is 102. Winters are warm (avg. 52) and rarely interrupted by incursions of cool air from the norlh (record: 10). The Iasi hurricane lo hit Diamondhead was Elena, in 1985. However most of Diamondhead is protected from Hooding by its elevation (ihehighesl property on the Gulf of Mexico); (6) Recreational activities - Golf is the activity in Diamondhead. There is also a
.lity tennis facility, several pools, biking, boating/fishing, a walking (rail, a health and racqucthall club, and a bowling alley is proposed: (7) Sliopping/diniiig/conimerce
-	All of the necessities (groceries, pharmacy, clothing, etc.) and most of the "extras" are right here in the neighborhood; (8) Transportation and access - Access is not a problem due lo I nterslate 10 Iransversing the community. There is a private airstrip. A limousincservice providesconvenienl transportation lo the New Orleans aiiport and elsewhere; (9) (lovernmentand publicser-vices - Of llic 23,232 registered voters counlywide, 2,284 (9.6%) are from Diamondhead's two precincts and they usually turn oul in excess of 90% on election day. The roads and drainage systems are maintained adequately by a reasonable dues slnic-lure. Police protection is provided by a private security service and the Hancock County Sliei iff. The neighborhood is relatively crime free. The well-trained fire department has earned an insurance rating of "7" soon to be a "6". A new dental clinic was recently completed and nearby Hancock Medical Center has begun construction on a medical clinic near the new nursing home. The clinic will be stalled by a full time family practice physician; and (10) Utilities - Diamondhead Water and Sewer District has a modern wastewater facility completed in '91, three water wells (one completed in ’93) and
500.000	gallon storage lank. Garbage collection is contracted and Diamondhead is the first community on the coast to begin curbside recycling. Diamondhead is served by Coast Electric Association, a rural electric co-op. TV cable service is available lo all residents.