Jacksonville FL and Ponte Vedra Beach Real Estate Blog

World Golf Village has a great, new way to introduce homebuyers, agents and neighbors to experience the communities that make up this award-winning community. Called “Sneak Peak Saturdays,” this open house event, which starts on October 3, will be held every Saturday, from 1-4pm.

The goal of Sneak Peak Saturdays is to invite visitors and buyers to World Golf Village and allow them to tour a variety of homes throughout the many different neighborhoods of this spectacular community.

Some of the features of Sneak Peak Saturdays, in addition to showcasing different home designs in different neighborhoods, will include seasonal treats, prizes and information about the neighborhoods. Visitors will also be able to ask the staff of World Golf Village questions about the community in a relaxed, informal setting.

Each of the Sneak Peak Saturdays will include a unique theme; for example, all of the open houses in October will feature football-themed snacks and prizes. Both adults and children will be entertained at these open houses, so families are invited to join in on the fun.

World Golf Village, located in the St. Johns County, features over 20 neighborhoods, which serve nearly every type of buyer, from small condo communities to expansive estate homes.

About World Golf Village

World Golf Village, which is conveniently located between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, is a master planned, golf course community that features many neighborhoods. Homes in this community range from $200,000 to nearly $2 million.

In addition to its wide array of home choices, World Golf Village offers many, first-class amenities, including championship golf courses; a year-round Junior Olympic sized swimming pool; lighted tennis courts; children’s playgrounds; a fitness center; miles of walking and biking paths, community parks; and loads of nearby shopping destinations.

With the current state of the national real estate market, the importance of choosing a qualified real estate agent has once again taken center stage for many sellers.

The right realtor can market you property properly and can handle negotiations that can bring you top dollar for your St. Augustine property. However, the wrong realtor can cost you both time and money, and can result in your home sitting on the market for entirely too long.

There are many ways to go about searching for a real estate agent to sell your St. Augustine property, but there are also just as many things NOT to do when choosing the agent that’s best for you.

The following list details the top four reasons NOT to choose a real estate agent to sell your property:

1. Your brother/sister/best friend/second cousin/childhood friend sells real estate.  The first rule of choosing the right real estate agent is to select an agent based on his/her qualifications, not on personal feelings. The bottom line is that you need the best possible agent who can compete in today’s competitive market.
2. The first real estate agent you meet with hands you loads of promises. Although the first real estate you interview could be the one you end up forming a relationship with, it is still important to interview at least a few agents so that you can best compare their qualifications, marketing plan and selling style.
3. The agent agrees with your selling price. Once again, going with an agent who merely agrees with you and tells you what you want to hear may not be the best agent for the job. Instead, look at the business arrangement objectively and choose the agent based on his/her qualifications, not his/her willingness to agree with you.
4. The agent offers you a low commission. Although it may be tempting to go with the agent who is offering the lowest commission, you must remember that, in the end, choosing an agent who is not as qualified as another may end up costing you more than you originally thought. An agent who offers a low commission won’t do you much good if he/she is unable to sell your home in a reasonable amount of time and is not able to get the best price for your home.

There are a variety of beautiful golf course communities popping up all over Florida, particularly in the Ponte Vedra Beach area. A golf course community can be a great place to build or purchase your dream home, as these communities typically come equipped with fabulous neighborhood amenities, as well as great, golf course views.

Of course, like any other type of neighborhood, it pays to consider a few things before purchasing a Ponte Vedra Beach golf course home:

• Homeowners Association Rules - It is important to remember that most golf course communities have a Homeowners Association in place. Because the community is designed around a golf course, the HOA rules may be fairly strict, so it pays to carefully and thoroughly read all of the covenants for the community’s HOA before deciding on your Ponte Vedra Beach home.
• Remember that, in terms of resale value, the location of your home within the golf course community is particularly important. Many homeowners prefer to be located just off the golf course, while others prefer to be on the green for better golf course views.

In addition, choosing to build or purchase a home in a well established golf course community may increase the value of your home more than if you were to purchase a home in a new golf course community.

• The cost of real estate is typically more expensive in a golf course community than a non-golf course community; however, resale values may be much higher in golf course communities.
• It may prove more difficult to snag financing for a home in a luxury golf course community, although most buyers interested in luxury Ponte Vedra Beach homes in golf course communities will likely have the credit and the income to back up such as a large purchase.

Think the process of hiring a contractor is fairly simple? Think again.

There’s one thing we can all agree on: we work hard and we want to get the best, possible finished product for our money. With that said, it is of extreme importance that you take the time to thoroughly review your options so that you can choose the best contractor for your next Jacksonville home improvement project.

The following list details the top, six reasons to NOT hire a contractor:

1. They can’t provide you with quality references. - If your contractor is unwilling or unable to provide you with a nice list of local references, then it probably is best to pass him up. References are like gold to reputable contractors, and they are typically more than willing to hand them out. After all, it’s free advertising! So if your contractor balks at the idea of giving you any references, you may want to balk at the idea of hiring him.
2. They do not have a local address and telephone number. - A reputable contractor will have a permanent business address and telephone number. If he doesn’t, it should immediately raise a red flag. In other words, the lack of a local address and telephone number could mean that he could potentially skip out on the work and take your money with him.
3. They want cash payments. - Again, a reputable contractor will not deal with cash payments. It is important to write a check or use a charge card so that you have records of all your transactions. Many contractors who want cash are not licensed or insured and prefer to do business under the table to avoid paying taxes.
4. They are not interested in obtaining permits. - The only way you can be absolutely certain that your job was done to code is if a borough or city code enforcement official checks the work. Plus, you don’t want to be left with shoddy work that could injure people or create a hazard.
5. You don’t have a good rapport. - A contractor may have the best references, the best price and the best professional demeanor, but if you don’t feel like he understands you or your wishes, or if you simply don’t like him, then it isn’t worth hiring him.

Certainly no one can deny the beauty of hardwood floors, but laminate floors are quickly becoming the flooring of choice for many of today’s Jacksonville homes. If you want to enahnce the overall beauty of your home and aid in the selling process, it may be time to consider laminate flooring.

The Benefits of Laminate Flooring

• Cost effectiveness - Laminate flooring is chosen over hardwood flooring merely because it offers consumers on a budget with a less expensive flooring option. In fact, laminate flooring can cost a fraction of hardwood flooring. Combine the cost of laminate flooring over hardwood flooring, and then factor in the costly installation of hardwood flooring, and it’s easy to see why so many consumers have chosen laminate flooring over hardwood for their Jacksonville homes.
• Durability - Laminate flooring is known for its strength and durability, as it resists scrapes, scratches and burns much better than most hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is therefore an ideal flooring choice for nearly every room in your home.
• Little to no maintenance - Unlike traditional hardwood flooring, laminate flooring requires just a broom and damp mop for maintenance. Laminate flooring requires no sanding, staining or waxing, thereby enabling homeowners to enjoy the beauty of laminate flooring without all the hard work.
• Easy Installation - Most of the laminate floors of today boast a super-easy tongue-and-groove installation, thereby allowing homeowners to easily complete a room installation in just one day. In addition, most laminate flooring is referred to as a “floating floor,” meaning that you can install it over top of an existing floor, provided it is level.
• Beauty - The beauty of laminate flooring has pulled many would-be purchasers of hardwood flooring to the other side. Many consumers, once they see the beauty of laminate flooring, and its strong resemblance to traditional, hardwood flooring, are pleasantly surprised at the quality of the flooring.

Laminate flooring can resemble a wide variety of wood floors, and it also boasts a nice variety of designs, stains and finishes to coordinate with virtually any type of design or décor.

You’re packing, preparing for your move and your life is just plain chaotic. So when you real estate agent suggests that you take a final walk-through before closing, you may be tempted to pass on the request. After all, the closing is in just a few, short days and you haven’t enough begun packing your dishes!

It is important to take a closer look at the importance of a home inspection before you make the decision to not perform this final step in the home buying process.

The Importance of a Final Walk-Through

• To make sure the St. Augustine property has not been changed since you purchased it
• To make sure all repairs and upgrades have been made, as per your contract
• To make sure that all items to remain in the home (such as appliances) haven’t been removed
• To make sure the seller has removed all of his property from the St. Augustine home

Your final walk-through may include inspecting all systems and appliances in the home; inspecting all of the floors and walls and checking for signs of damage; and inspecting the overall condition of the home’s interior and exterior.

If you encounter any issues that need to be addressed, your real estate agent will likely contact the seller’s agent to get the matter resolved before closing. However, it isn’t uncommon for buyers and sellers to address issues at closing. If there are issues to be resolved at closing, the seller will likely set aside an agreed upon amount of money to be held in escrow to cover the cost of repair or replacement.

A final walk-through is an extremely important aspect of the home buying process, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is important to understand that it is much easier to resolve issues prior to closing than afterwards so that you can make sure your home is in move-in ready condition!

When you hire the services of a qualified real estate agent, he or she typically handles all of the research involved with pricing your home, such as performing a comprehensive market analysis. However, when you sell your home FSBO, you are likely left to your own devices regarding the sales price of your home.

Examining other homes for sale in your area is a good, first step to take when pricing your Jacksonville Beach home, as is checking the real estate transfers for recently sold properties. You may also want to hire a real estate agent to perform a market analysis on your home. However, when all is said and done, it is up to you to decide how much you think your Jacksonville Beach home is worth. And in today’s tough housing market, an overpriced home is doomed from the start.

So, you’ve done your research and you’re pretty sure you’ve listed your home for the right price - but it just isn’t selling. How do you know your home is overpriced? There are three, simple signs to look for:

• No second showings - Has your home attracted many showings, but none of them return for a second showing? This could be a red flag that your home is overpriced.
• Lots of showings but no offers - Is the traffic steady, but the offers lacking? Then your home may be overpriced.
• Negative feedback - Have you received negative feedback from more than a couple buyers regarding the price of your home? Then you’re home may be overpriced.

Although these factors may indicate another problem with your Jacksonville Beach home, it may be worth your while to explore your pricing strategy every couple weeks so that you can be sure that you have priced your home to sell.

For the last 20 years Davidson Development, including its sister companies, Davidson Realty and Davidson Property Management, have had a hand developing many areas of Northeast Florida, and have therefore earned many accolades, including:

• Developer of the Year, by the Sales and Marketing Council of Northeast Florida Builders Association
• Northeast Florida’s Best Places to Work, by the Jacksonville Business Journal for the past, four years
• Good Neighbor Award, by the Jacksonville Homebuyer magazine for four, consecutive years
• 2002 Envy Award, from the Florida Association of Realtors for environmental excellence

Perhaps the biggest, and most recognized, development of Davidson Development is World Golf Village, a massive community featuring 6,300 acres, two championship golf courses, 3,465 homes and more than 11,000 residents.  In fact, this master planned community has been recognized as jumpstarting much of the growth in St. Johns County.

Homes in World Golf Village have attracted homeowners from various lifestyles and walks of life, perhaps because of its wide range of real estate. Homes in World Golf Village can be priced from the low $100,000s to well beyond $2 million. Upon completion of the community, Davidson Development anticipates to have more than 7,000 homes and more than 23,000 residents.

Ideally located between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, World Golf Village was originally thought to be located in the “middle of nowhere.” However, since the development of the community, the growth of nearby residential, commercial and retail developments, as well as plenty of growth along the 210 Corridor, has made World Golf Village the desired location for many Northeast Floridians.

Davidson Development, throughout the development of World Golf Village, has committed 45 percent of the available acreage for land preservation.

Dealing with the stressors of a move is enough to make anyone feel a bit anxious. From planning the move, selling your Jacksonville Beach home, relocating to a new area and packing up, selling and relocating can be quite an ordeal.

In the midst of all of the commotion, however, don’t forget about your children’s feelings and how they are coping during this stressful time. Many children do not seem to be phased by a move; but in reality, their emotions are much harder to read.

With that said, there are a few, helpful tips that will make a move easier not only on your children, but on you, as well!

• Remember to stick with your children’s routine as much as possible throughout the move. Established routines and rules will make your children feel safe and secure, and will provide them with a sense of stability during an otherwise chaotic time. From bedtime routines to daily chores, keeping up with your children’s normal schedule will ease the transition between homes.
• Encourage your children to ask questions and offer input. Ask open-ended questions about their feelings, fears and concerns, and encourage them to participate in family discussions. Make it fun by allowing them to decorate their new rooms!
• For older children, encourage them to maintain their friendships. Arrange for play dates, phone calls and sleepovers and encourage them to write letters and keep in touch. Set up an email account for your children so they can frequently chat with their old friends.
• Before your move, travel to your new neighborhood with your children and familiarize yourself with the area, their new school and nearby playgrounds. This often takes much of the fear out of moving to an unknown neighborhood.
• Make arrangements to tour your children’s new school with them. Ask questions about extracurricular activities and encourage your children to join groups and sports to meet other children.

Located along First Street North in the heart of Jacksonville Beach, the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condominiums are beautiful, three-bedroom, two or three-bedroom condominium homes which offer superb, Jacksonville Beach Pier views, plenty of community amenities and loads of high-end features.

Superb, Jacksonville Beach Location

With a prime location just steps from the beautiful beaches of Jacksonville Beach, the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condominiums are beach living epitomized.

The 20 miles of pristine beaches are just moments from these luxury condominium residences, as is the beautiful, Jacksonville Beach pier. The boardwalk, the SeaWalk Pavilion and Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park are also popular destination for visitors and residents of Jacksonville Beach.

The SeaWalk Pavilion is the site of many concerts and events in Jacksonville Beach, and Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park boasts wide stretches of pristine beaches, nature trails and a freshwater lake for plenty of outdoor recreation.

Residents of the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condominiums enjoy a great proximity to many of Jacksonville Beach’s best attractions, restaurants and shops, as well as the beach festival and oceanfront park.

Community Amenities

Just some of the fantastic, luxury amenities of the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condos include a swimming pool, a heated spa and an expansive, marble deck and grill area. Residents enjoy assigned parking spaces, as well as a multitude of builder upgrades and incentives.

The NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condos also offer private resident storage, high-speed elevators, a restricted-access lobby and, of course, fabulous views of the ocean and beaches of Jacksonville Beach.

Residence Features

The amenities of the residences of the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condominiums include nine-foot ceilings, granite countertops, ceramic tile floors, GE Profile appliances, 42-inch maple cabinetry, master bathroom garden tubs, expansive ocean decks, and full-size washers and dryers.

Prices for the NorthShore Jacksonville Beach Condominiums start in the $500,000s.