Ponte Vedra Focus Blog - Gwinn Volen

What Luxury Buyers in Northeast Florida Really Want

Current Trends, Real Listings, and Smart Takeaways from The Volen Group

When conversations turn to real estate in Northeast Florida, the focus often lands on prices, market shifts, and sought-after neighborhoods like Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and the Intracoastal.

But behind every purchase decision is something more personal: a vision of how life could feel in the right home.

At The Volen Group, we help buyers turn that vision into reality—strategically, seamlessly, and with zero guesswork. Here's a closer look at what today’s high-expectation buyers are actually prioritizing, plus examples of how these preferences are showing up in real listings.

What’s Trending Now in Coastal Home Design

Whether relocating, upgrading,…

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Wire Fraud in Real Estate is on the Rise – How to Protect Yourself

by Karen Tyrrell

Buying a home is no question one of the largest financial decisions individuals and families will make. Unfortunately, it has also become a prime target for cybercriminals. In recent years, wire fraud in real estate transactions has skyrocketed, leaving many homebuyers and sellers devastated.

Scammers often pose as real estate agents, title company representatives, or lenders. They send fake emails or texts with fraudulent wiring instructions, tricking buyers into sending their down payment or closing funds to a criminal's bank account. Once the money is sent, it’s often impossible to recover.

How Wire Fraud Happens

Email hacking: Criminals hack into a real estate agent’s or title company’s email account and monitor…

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Marshfront Estate with Dual Water Access in Harbour Island, Ponte Vedra Beach

Dual Water Access. Elevated Living. Iconic Setting.

112 Newport Lane, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

For boating enthusiasts, this is more than a home—it’s a waterfront lifestyle realized. Set on a private marshfront homesite overlooking Cabbage Creek, this Harbour Island estate offers two rare privileges: a brand-new private dock behind the home (completion expected September 2025) and a coveted 60-foot slip in the Harbour Island Marina. With direct access to the Intracoastal, your coastal adventures begin right at your doorstep.

The Residence

Spanning more than 6,700 square feet, this stately home blends architectural grace with modern comfort. Soaring ceilings, custom coffered details, and rich millwork create an atmosphere of timeless elegance,…

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Jacksonville Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

By Gwinn Volen

Q1 2025 home sales in the Jacksonville area were down 7% from Q1 2024. Economic uncertainty, triggered by increasing mortgage rates and a volatile stock market, is suppressing buyer demand.

Housing and financial experts are starting to release their projections for the balance of the year.

Mortgage Rates Expected to Dip Slightly

While a major drop isn’t expected, forecasters call for a slight drop in rates in the months ahead as the economic outlook becomes more certain. Should rates drop, more buyers would likely enter the market.

Currently, 30-year mortgage rates are averaging 7% nationally. The chart below shows where 5 major real estate players predict mortgage rates will be by year-end 2025. Even a small decline would be…

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THE PLAYERS Championship Info and FAQ

Every March, Ponte Vedra Beach becomes center stage in the golfing realm as THE PLAYERS Championship brings golfers, fans and media to our coastal town.  Welcoming this annual tradition is nothing new to residents of Ponte Vedra Beach as the PGA Tour has called Ponte Vedra Beach home to this tournament since 1974.  This event brings hundreds of thousands of fans to our community annually for this world class golf event. If you haven't purchased tickets yet, it's not too late! We've got you covered with ticket information, newer fan experiences and some important Frequently Asked Questions, so you know before you go.

TICKETS

Stadium Pass - A Stadium Pass ticket is for general grounds access and all public areas of the Tournament.  Tuesday’s…

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Top Real Estate Questions for 2025: A Jacksonville Perspective

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?

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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Increases in Traffic in Ponte Vedra Beach: Is It Commuter Traffic? Cut-Through Traffic? Population Increase?

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.

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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Downsizing Options in Ponte Vedra Beach

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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How the Election Might Impact the Real Estate Market

by Gwinn Volen

Regardless of political affiliation, the upcoming election has become a hot topic in real estate discussions. Some buyers feel anxious about making a purchase just before the election, opting to wait for the outcome rather than committing to a decision.  

While it is common to see a slight slowdown in real estate activity before the November presidential election, historically, elections have not significantly impacted the market.

Slight Home Sales Decline Leading Up to Elections

As you can see in the above chart, some buyers do choose to pause their home searches in anticipation of the election, though this trend has not been dramatic in the past. Additionally, this time of year typically sees a seasonal decline in…

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Personal Recommendations: Kathryn Pearson and Team at Boutique Breast Imaging

By Gwinn Volen

I suspect each of us has had a recent medical story where either a) it took months to get an appointment b) you felt like a number, not a human or c) you felt like the CYA culture in our medical universe precludes you from getting real answers. 

I found a lump in my breast a couple of weeks ago. It was alarming, though I tried to keep my cool. I scheduled an appointment with my general practitioner, and he confirmed that he felt what I was feeling and gave me imaging orders for an ultrasound and diagnostic mammogram. 

I left the office thinking I'd take those over to my regular imaging center that afternoon to have the scans done hoping to alleviate my anxiety. I called the imaging center, and after waiting on hold, listening to…

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