Louisianans will flock to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach over the next few months, drawn to the 32-mile stretch of sugar-white sand and blue water less than a three-hour drive from New Orleans.
But while the Alabama Gulf Coast remains popular with beachgoers and many parts of Baldwin County are booming, the massive condominium complexes that line the shore are having a harder time attracting buyers.
Condo sales in Baldwin County, which includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, were down 17% last year compared to the year before, and are half what they were in 2021, according to the Alabama Center for Real Estate, which is part of the Culverhouse College of Business at the University of Alabama.
So far this year, the trend has continued. From January through March, there were 24% fewer condo sales than during the first quarter of 2024, though prices are up slightly…