November 16, 2011

Take a Video Tour of a Beautiful Family Home in Sawgrass Players Club

Posted by Peyton Davidson in Neighborhoods, Ponte Vedra, Videos

2011-11-14_10-02-26_911Last month we took you on a tour of the premier master-planned community Sawgrass Players Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. This month we’re bringing you a sneak peek at the variety of homes the golf course community has to offer. Davidson Realty Agent, Jennifer Todd, was happy to show us around her neck of the woods.  Jennifer is an expert on all things Ponte Vedra. View the video to take the tour along with us!2011-11-14_10-18-28_843

We’re visiting a lovely 4 bedroom, 3 bath lakefront home in Sawgrass Players Club that is being offered for $499,900.  It’s in absolutely perfect condition. Jennifer points out some of the most eye-catching features of this 2,889-square-foot home. From the gleaming wood floors to the beautiful up-to-date kitchen there are lots of high-end finishes in this home. The open floor plan and lots of natural light make the home feel warm and spacious at the same time. The sunroom is perfect for relaxing and maybe even bird watching over your lake view. Well-planned custom built-in cabinetry makes the most of the home office/den. Your biggest problem may be the lovely guestroom with breakfast bar is so welcoming that guests may never want to leave! (more…)

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August 29, 2011

Northeast Florida Market Trends in July are Encouraging!

Posted by Sherry Davidson in Northeast Florida Market Trends

Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.
–H. Jackson Brown Jr.

danceIn my opinion, it is time to get on the dance floor. There are opportunities in great neighborhoods for investors, first time homebuyers and anyone in between. I am  feeling encouraged about the real estate market after reviewing the July market stats data produced by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. The pending sales are up; and the inventory numbers continue to improve. Quite possibly in the near future we may reach inventory stability which will lead first to stabilized pricing with a gradual increase in pricing.

The pending sales in July 2011 of 1,661 are up 18% over July 2010. The pending sales year to date for 2011 are 6% higher than year to date 2010. It is encouraging to see more contracts being written despite the continued turmoil in Washington.

Closings in July 2011 are 1% less than July 2010. This is not unusual since closings normally dip in July each year. Closings are also down from the previous month.

The average sales price in July 2011 is up 5% over July 2010; however, the July 2011 average sales price of $177,596 is down from the previous month average price of $184,166. The drop from last month doesn’t concern me because the average price normally varies each month. The overall pricing trend this year continues to be up.

The median sales price in July 2011 is down 5% from July 2010. The July 2011 median sales price of $130,199 is also down from the previous month’s price of $135,364. The July median price is higher than every month this year except June.

The consistent good news is that the inventory of homes for sale is down 30% from July 2010. The available inventory of homes in July 2011 of 11,529 homes is also down from 12,285 the previous month. The months supply of inventory is down to 8.2 months and continues to drop every month. (more…)

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June 2, 2011

Mark Downing from CornerStone Homes Answers Top 3 Buyer Questions

Posted by Alayna Oram in New Home Construction

Mark Downing, CornerStone Homes SiteMany people are realizing the benefits of buying a new home over a short sale or a foreclosure. So we decided to reach out to one of our many builder friends – Mark Downing with CornerStone Homes – to find out the top 3 questions he is getting about new houses in Jacksonville, FL today. Here are the top 3 buyer questions along with Mark’s answers:
 
1. How much does it cost to build per square foot?
 
There are many variables to the per square foot cost, but we generally start at $60 per foot. However, it does vary by plan, county and the personal choices you make for your finishes.
 
2. What incentives do you offer?
 
Unlike a national builder, we don’t have one program for every buyer. We work with our buyers to tailor a program that fits your needs.  That may include a closing cost contribution, a price reduction or a design center option.
 
3. How long does it take to build a home?
 
After we get the permit, we can build your home in 90 to 120 days – depending on size. However, it often takes 60 – 100 days before we get a permit depending on the number of structural changes you make, a community’s ARC approvals, truss and structural engineering, and which county your home is in.
 
If you are interested in learning more about the differences between new construction and short sales or foreclosure – or if you have other questions you would like to ask a builder, please contact any Davidson agent!

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July 30, 2010

3 Tips to Protect Yourself When Renting Your Property

Posted by Elsie Evans in Rentals

What a wonderful time to buy real estate as an investment property! Just take a look around at the properties available right now AND their prices. Not only that, but the rental market is absolutely fantastic and it continues to get better and better! Four to five months ago the inventory for rentals was through the roof, you couldn’t even turn around without bumping into a “For Rent” sign. Now it’s the opposite, inventory is very low, especially for single family homes; condos have also started to rent much quicker. I recently had a property placed in MLS at 2 PM and it was rented by 9 PM THAT night! For an investor in real estate property I don’t believe the time can get any better than this to buy and rent out your investment property or to rent your home if it’s not selling. Here are 3 tips for someone renting their home:

1. I highly recommend using a property management company to manage your property with the tenant. But, in any event, KNOW what your lease says. Florida is a Landlord State, which means the laws of the state of Florida are there for protection of the owner/landlord. This makes Florida, in my opinion, one of the best states possible to own an investment/rental property.

2. Make sure there’s a paragraph on “Use of Premises” in your lease. This paragraph states what the tenant can and cannot do while living in your property (i.e. no trampolines, athletic equipment, etc.) It disallows any items or activities that can cause interference with the insurance coverage. Tenants cannot run a business, daycare center, etc. out of the property. (more…)

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