My 30A Story
Hi, I’m Andy Beal — a real estate advisor on Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A. But before I tell you what I do, let me tell you how I got here.
My wife Tracey and I first set foot on 30A in 2012. We were celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and some friends back in Mississippi — where I was serving as a pastor on staff at a local church — told us we had to check out this place called “30A.”
We’d seen the round blue stickers on cars for years. Had no idea what they meant.
We booked a one-bedroom condo in Gulf Place on the west end, first week of November. And just to tell you how clueless we were — we drove into Destin the first night for dinner because we didn’t know what dining options even existed on 30A.
The next day, we got on our bikes and started exploring.
I wish I had recorded our reactions the first time we rode down the Timpoochee Trail into WaterColor and Seaside. We had never seen anything like it.
Our entire experience with “the beach” had been the chaos of the strip — high-rise condos, go-kart tracks, and putt-putt courses. This was completely different. And if you’ve been here, you know exactly what I mean.
That one trip changed everything. We fell in love with 30A and immediately started dreaming about someday owning a home here. But on a pastor’s salary with two young daughters? “Someday” felt more like “never.”
From the Pulpit to the Diamond to the Beach
Before I ever sold a home, I spent almost 14 years in vocational ministry — first as a pastor in the local church, and eventually as a chaplain serving student-athletes at Vanderbilt University. My primary role was as the Team Chaplain to the VandyBoys baseball program.
That role was personal for me. I played baseball at Vanderbilt in the late ’90s and went on to play professionally in the New York Yankees organization. Getting the chance to come back and pour into young men who were chasing the same dreams I once chased — on the field and in the classroom — was one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.
But through all of it, 30A kept calling.
We brought our daughters here every year. We watched them grow up making memories on these beaches. And in 2018, when we still couldn’t afford a full week in a rental house, we bought a little camper and started booking sites at Grayton Beach State Park. Thirty dollars a night to be parked right on 30A. We came down every time there was a break in my schedule at Vandy.
That camper might be the best investment we ever made.
How I Got Into Real Estate (And Why I Do It Differently)
In early 2020, with our girls heading toward high school and college on the horizon, I knew I needed to supplement my chaplain income. I got my real estate license in Tennessee in January of that year.
You probably remember what happened a few weeks later.
When COVID hit, the college baseball season was cancelled overnight. Students were sent home. My role as chaplain essentially vanished. What was supposed to be a part-time supplement suddenly became my full-time focus.
What felt like a devastating chapter turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of our lives. Real estate was a natural fit. After nearly 14 years in ministry, my entire career had been built on listening, serving, and building trust — not selling. That translated directly into how I work with clients, and it’s still what sets me apart today.
I don’t do the typical agent thing. I’m not here to give you a sales pitch, tell you everything is “amazing,” or pressure you into a decision. I’m here to give you real information — the good, the bad, the stuff other agents gloss over — so you can make the best decision for your family.
I call it being an anti-marketing real estate advisor. Instead of polished marketing and empty promises, I give you data, insider knowledge, and honest perspective. That’s it.
Our Dream Became Real
By the end of 2021, with the success I experienced in my first two years in Real Estate, Tracey and I found ourselves in a position we never imagined. We could actually explore buying a home on 30A. In February of 2022, we did exactly that. We’ve owned our home in Prominence for four years now, and it’s been the best decision we’ve ever made.
But once we experienced what it felt like to realize that dream — the one that started on a pair of bikes riding into WaterColor a decade earlier — I couldn’t stop thinking: How many other families are out there dreaming the same dream we had?
There are so many people, especially in the Nashville area, who love 30A the way we do. Maybe I could help them, too.
Before I knew it, I was studying for my Florida license. I’ve now been serving clients in Florida for over three years, and what started as a supplement to my Tennessee business has become my primary focus.
Where I Am Now
Right now, I split my time between Nashville and 30A. My oldest daughter is in college, and my youngest is finishing up high school. With her community and connections in Music City, Tracey and I felt it was important to stay in Tennessee for the time being. But as we send her off to college, we’ll be making the full-time transition to 30A.
Our “someday” is about to become our “everyday.”
That’s why I do what I do. I know firsthand the impact owning a 30A home has had on my family — the memories, the lifestyle, the future we’re building. I want to help you experience that, too.
What You'll Get From Me
I produce weekly content on my YouTube channel and social media accounts — market updates, community deep-dives, property tours, and honest breakdowns of what it’s actually like to live, invest, and own here. I’m not trying to sell you a fantasy. I’m trying to give you the clearest picture possible so you can decide if 30A is right for you.
Whether your dream is years away or you’re ready to make a move right now, I’d love to hear your 30A story. No pressure, no pitch — just a real conversation about where you are and how I can help.