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Who We Are

Who We Are

Home  /  Who We Are

A locally owned, family-run vacation rental company on Florida's Emerald Coast, built on three generations of hospitality.

Our story

Hospitality runs in the family.

We were built on three generations and more than 75 years of hospitality on Florida's Emerald Coast.

Coastal Vacation Rentals is a locally owned and operated property manager on the Emerald Coast, from Panama City Beach to the beaches of 30A. That heritage shapes how we work today: we treat every home like our own and every guest like a returning friend, pairing big-picture pricing strategy with the hands-on, local care a national manager simply can't match.

James & ZackThe family behind Coastal Vacation Rentals

Coastal Vacation Rentals home on the Emerald Coast
75+years of hospitality
75+Years of family hospitality
100%Locally owned & operated
30A-PCBEmerald Coast coverage

Three things we don't bend on.

No call center, no start-up invoice, and nobody else's crew deciding whether your house is ready.

01

Local, never a call center

We live and work on the Emerald Coast. When something comes up, the person who picks up knows your property and can be standing in it the same day, not reading it off a screen three states away.

02

Start-up costs are on us

Nothing to get going, a $4,000 value waived. We price each season by hand rather than setting a rate and forgetting it, and the monthly statement is one page you can actually read.

03

We check the house ourselves

Our own team preps before arrival and walks the property after every checkout. We don't subcontract the part that decides whether your home gets a good review.

Meet the team

The local owners and operators behind every stay, every booking, and every home we care for.

James Keltner, Co-Owner

James Keltner

Co-Owner

A University of Florida graduate with a master's in international business, James grew up in hospitality, with more than 75 years of family history in the hotel industry. He leads Coastal Vacation Rentals' strategy with a focus on smart pricing and marketing in a competitive vacation-rental market.

Zack Seltzer, Co-Owner

Zack Seltzer

Co-Owner

Co-founder of Coastal Vacation Rentals, Zack brings a real estate and property-management background and became a licensed broker in 2018. With a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Florida, he focuses on maximizing revenue, protecting owners' assets, and creating a seamless experience for owners and guests. Off the clock, you'll find him offshore fishing, on the golf course, or with family.

Chandler Gilligan, Property Manager

Chandler Gilligan

Property Manager

A Panama City Beach native, Chandler grew up on the same stretch of coast he now looks after. He started his first business, a landscaping company, while still in high school, studied marketing at Florida State, and earned his real estate license in 2023 under Zack's mentorship. As property manager he handles the day to day: guest communication, turnovers, and being the person who can stand in a home the same afternoon something needs attention. Off the clock he plays pickleball, golfs, fishes offshore, and spends every spare minute with his niece and nephew.

Catherine Seltzer Mitchell, Accounting & Operations Manager

Catherine Seltzer Mitchell

Accounting & Operations Manager

Originally from Panama City, Catherine brings a strong background in banking and nonprofit finance. She holds a Finance degree from the University of Florida and an MBA from Emory University, and has worked in Atlanta, New York, and overseas. Today she oversees financial management and operations alongside her brother Zack, keeping everything running smoothly for owners and guests.

Reviewed by the guests who stayed.

Five-star reviews from verified guests, in their own words and unedited. We don't write these. We just try to earn them.

5/5

“We love our stay at the Aquavista. We have stayed at this condo more than once and will continue to return. Unit was clean, great layout and awesome balconies. We will certainly be back.”

Verified Airbnb review
October 2025 · Aquavista E406
5/5

“Was a great stay with at a great home that had everything we needed and its close to everything. The House was nice and Pool was nice plenty of space for our family of four.”

Verified Airbnb review
May 2026 · 708 Landing Circle
5/5

“Very nice place to stay with great views of the water and sunsets. James was very attentive and his communication was excellent. Look forward to staying here again!”

Verified Airbnb review
September 2025 · 707 Sterling Reef
5/5

“This townhouse was perfect. The view was unbeatable - amazing sunsets! Our main contact James was very responsive and helpful. And again, those sunsets!”

Verified Airbnb review
January 2026 · 9614 Beach Blvd
5/5

“The place was excellent. Lots of stuff to do with a very short walk. Easy access for going and coming out about. 10/10 would recommend.”

Verified Airbnb review
June 2026 · 1002 Sunrise Beach
5/5

“One of the children left their favorite blanket. They opened the condo back up so we could go get it!”

Verified Airbnb review
July 2026 · Harbour Villa 4219
5/5

“We love our stay at the Aquavista. We have stayed at this condo more than once and will continue to return. Unit was clean, great layout and awesome balconies. We will certainly be back.”

Verified Airbnb review
October 2025 · Aquavista E406
5/5

“Was a great stay with at a great home that had everything we needed and its close to everything. The House was nice and Pool was nice plenty of space for our family of four.”

Verified Airbnb review
May 2026 · 708 Landing Circle
5/5

“Very nice place to stay with great views of the water and sunsets. James was very attentive and his communication was excellent. Look forward to staying here again!”

Verified Airbnb review
September 2025 · 707 Sterling Reef
5/5

“This townhouse was perfect. The view was unbeatable - amazing sunsets! Our main contact James was very responsive and helpful. And again, those sunsets!”

Verified Airbnb review
January 2026 · 9614 Beach Blvd
5/5

“The place was excellent. Lots of stuff to do with a very short walk. Easy access for going and coming out about. 10/10 would recommend.”

Verified Airbnb review
June 2026 · 1002 Sunrise Beach
5/5

“One of the children left their favorite blanket. They opened the condo back up so we could go get it!”

Verified Airbnb review
July 2026 · Harbour Villa 4219

Let's talk about your property.

Whether you own a beachfront home, a Gulf-view condo, or a 30A gem, we'd love to show you what a local, family-run team can do for your property.

Call 833-854-4177Learn about management

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