Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Pros

• Tonya Kennedy from Bay Community Management provides the best experience and guides applicants through the process with ease.
• Tonya is kind, available, and responsive to any questions.
• Tonya is incredibly knowledgeable about all Bay Community Management properties.
• Teresa Village is a quiet 55+ community with accessible facilities that allows small pets and provides basic cable and water.
• The staff are very nice, and the community offers a center with activities and private patios for residents.
• The grounds are beautifully kept.

Cons

• The office staff are disrespectful and do not care about tenants who pay rent.
• There is no website to request a home/apartment checkup, which is ridiculous.
• The overall experience is unacceptable and changes are needed.
• The rent is perceived as unnecessarily high.
• Management and owners show no respect for elders and use profanity to deal with people.
• It is hard to reach someone or get information, with doors locked and staff unavailable.
• There is no pool or access to a workout room.
• The facilities are older and have frequent appliance and electrical issues.

Review

Teresa Village in Fort Walton Beach, Florida is best suited for independent seniors who want a quiet, 55-plus setting with accessible apartments, a pet-friendly policy, and a built-in social life. The community emphasizes a low-stress, neighborly atmosphere where residents can move between a community center, casual outdoor spaces, and a veranda or patio that feel like personal retreats. Utilities and basic cable are bundled, and the grounds are described as well-kept, reinforcing a sense of order and routine that appeals to those who prefer stability over sparkle. For households prioritizing simplicity and peer-driven activity, with a priority on practical accessibility, Teresa Village fits the bill.

Yet Teresa Village is not a fit for everyone. Reviews cluster around inconsistent management and limited, sometimes frustrating contact options. Several comments accuse staff of disrespect and indifference, while others point to a confusing lack of a central online channel to request service or information. The absence of a pool, gym, or readily accessible on-site health or fitness resources will be a deal-breaker for those who equate value with resort-like conveniences. Rent is questioned by residents who feel the price does not align with the age of the building or the amenities offered. For families or individuals who need quick, proactive problem-solving from on-site managers, Teresa Village may feel like a mismatch, especially when doors to the office appear locked or hard to reach.

On the upside, the property delivers a quiet, manageable living environment with tangible accessibility aids. The 55-plus designation fosters a peer network, and residents praise the bright spots of daily life - courtesy interactions, a functioning community center, and organized activities you can choose to join. The fact that small pets are allowed and that water and basic cable are included reduces ongoing monthly decisions about bills. Individual patios or verandas give residents private outdoor space, reinforcing a sense of home. For mobility, the presence of handicap rails in the unit's bathrooms and clear interior circulation can make day-to-day tasks easier. These advantages create a livable base that works if maintenance and upkeep stay predictable.

However, the flip side is persistent maintenance fragility tied to an older building stock. Reviewers point to frequent calls about dishwashers, dryers, and electrical issues, alongside ongoing upkeep demands associated with long-in-the-tooth plumbing and fixtures. Landscaping crews arrive early, sometimes waking residents who value quiet mornings. The most troubling theme is management inconsistency: some residents report disrespectful treatment and poor communication, while others find value in a specific, responsive manager from outside the property who helps with applications and moves. The latter example - Tonya Kennedy from Bay Community Management - illustrates what a well-briefed, accessible point of contact can do to smooth a move-in, but it cannot entirely compensate for on-site failure to deliver dependable service.

Decision-makers should weigh the realities of price against the reality of amenities. The rent level draws skepticism when priced against the absence of a pool, gym, or robust on-site wellness offerings, plus ongoing mechanical hiccups. Yet for residents who want a predictable, pet-friendly, community-driven environment with visible care of grounds and entrances, Teresa Village offers a foundation that can feel like home. The presence of a quiet, accessible interior and a resident-led social calendar can offset some frustration, provided staff responsiveness - on-site or through a capable management partner - remains steady. In short, Teresa Village is a viable option for independent seniors who value quiet dignity and social connection more than glossy facilities.

Practical next steps: visit in person to assess the pace and tone of management, test the accessibility of common areas, and speak with current residents about response times. Request a clear rent breakdown, confirm what utilities and services are included, and verify pet policies and any caregiver arrangements. Ask about planned improvements to the building, and get a sense for how maintenance requests are tracked and resolved. If these checks align with the need for a calm, pet-friendly, older-property experience - and the budget allows for possible upkeep concerns - Teresa Village can be a solid choice. If not, consider communities with stronger on-site management and more modern amenities to match stricter expectations.

Restaurants

• Corner Cafe (0.3 miles)
• Wendy's (0.7 miles)
• Burger King (0.7 miles)
• Stewby's Seafood Shanty (1.1 miles)
• AJ's on the Bayou (1.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.2 miles)
• Panda Express (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Dress Cosmectic Surgery P.A. (0.5 miles)
• Family Eyecare Center (0.5 miles)
• Jason R Boole, MD (0.8 miles)
• Destin Family Medicine (0.8 miles)
• Dr Leo C. Chen, MD (0.8 miles)
• Northwest Florida Orthopedic Services (0.9 miles)
• Emerald Coast Urology (1 miles)

Parks

• Sunset Park (0.6 miles)
• Vesta Heights Park (1.5 miles)
• Ferry Park (1.8 miles)
• Liza Jackson Park (2.7 miles)
• Fort Walton Beach Landing (2.8 miles)
• John Beasley Park (3.9 miles)
• Mattie Kelly Park (7.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Kidney center (1 miles)
• Fort Walton Beach Medical Center OB OR (1.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.3 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Genoa-Qol Healthcare Co. (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) (5.5 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (5.6 miles)