by Gwinn Volen

2024 saw the lowest number of home sales since 1995, according to the National Association of Realtors. Locally, with 26,877 homes selling in the greater Jacksonville area, that meant we saw a 2.8% decrease in home sales. Prices were essentially flat for many areas here, though the greater Jacksonville area shows a modest overall annual appreciation of 3.5%. So what does 2025 have in store?

Aerial view of Ponte Vedra Beach

Will We See a Drop in Prices in 2025?

No clear indicators are pointing to a significant drop in prices for 2025. In 2024, the market remained relatively stable, with some areas of Jacksonville experiencing slight increases while others saw minor decreases as the market adjusted from the 2022 surge. Nationally, experts project a typical 4%…

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by Jenn Heller

Imagine a lifestyle where your time is truly yours—no more weekends spent mowing the lawn, fixing a leaky faucet, or dealing with endless home tasks. A lock-and-leave home lets you close the front door and leave without worry, allowing for a hassle-free living experience in a low-maintenance community that handles all the chores homeowners dread doing. Whether it's traveling more often, picking up a new hobby, or a quick trip, lock-and-leave living provides the freedom to enjoy life without concerns about your home.

Pablo Cove in Jacksonville, Florida

More Time for Travel

Forget about the stress of leaving your home unattended while you are gone for a day, a week, or even longer. Lock-and-leave living gives you the freedom to take spontaneous trips, albeit a…

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by Gwinn Volen

Is it cut-through traffic that clogs Palm Valley Road? Has construction in Nocatee and St Johns County caused increased commuter congestion on A1A?

The Citizens Traffic Task Force in Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley commissioned a study to understand where traffic originates for some of our more congested roads. Since I moved here in 2006, traffic has definitely picked up, and yet, having lived in large cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, and DC, the traffic still feels pretty minimal to me, albeit sometimes annoying.

A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida


Using Streetlight data, which pulls from cellular carriers, car movement and where the car came from can be tracked.  Here's a link to the report, and here are the key findings on where the traffic comes…

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By Gwinn Volen

With just one kid left in the house, the 'empty nest' is on the horizon, and with it, thoughts of downsizing are starting to creep in. Honestly, the idea of maintaining a large home as we get older isn't exactly thrilling. Who needs the hassle of a pool, with its monthly upkeep, not to mention the inevitable (and expensive!) pump replacements and the need to re-surface it every decade or so. There's also the constant exterior maintenance – the yard, the never-ending list of repairs, the inevitable "Oh no, what's that sound?" moments as yet another system decides to give out. Maybe it's not even about the work; maybe it's the desire for a simpler life, the freedom to travel more. Whatever the reason, the time feels right for a change. But…

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