By Brad King, Private Wealth Mortgage Banker with US Bank

Buying a home can be an entire mix of emotions from excitement straight through to sheer panic, that's why it's always best to have a REALTOR by your side. A REALTOR will point you in the right direction every step of the way and stay by your side through to closing. Homebuyers, especially first time homebuyers, can feel overwhelmed in the process especially if they don't know what to expect. The REALTOR is your advocate, your concierge, your advisor, your 'manager' and sometimes even your therapist. Once you find the right agent, they will also connect to you a few of their most trusted lenders who can tell you everything you need to know about a home mortgage and what it takes to get…

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By Joe Carlucci

So let’s get one thing straight, insurance is not boring! Says the insurance guy who loves talking about insurance and was asked to write a blog about it. Now let’s get real – it is boring – BUT it is important to know what you’re buying and what may not be covered and included on your policy. 

For guys like me who read through the entire insurance packet, I’m intrigued by the fine print. Because it matters. Reading this blog will allow you to bypass reading through that fine print and learn some interesting things you did not know! Keep in mind, the insurance industry is rapidly changing, so don’t use this as an excuse to not ask your agent questions. 

hurricane tropics

In Florida, I bet you think the #1 claim insurance companies deal with is…

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by Jenn Heller

Let's face it, our dogs ARE family and there's nothing more comforting than coming home after a long day and "Man's Best Friend" is there wagging his tail and showing us all the love, affection and loyalty that makes us forget about our wretched day.

I'll be completely honest, the best part of lockdown in 2020 was being home with my dog! Then suddenly I was faced with having to return to the office and looking into those sad eyes as I grabbed my keys and headed out for the day. Anyone else remember this or is it just me? It was the worst feeling ever! And somehow the days seemed even longer as I wondered what Joker (yes, that's my dog's name) was doing while I had ventured outside without him. I somehow knew he was sadly sitting on…

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by Gwinn Volen

There are oceanfront condos and then there's Costa Verano; it's like nothing you've ever seen or imagined. Costa Verano, located on the ocean in South Jacksonville Beach at 1031 1st Street South, includes unmatched, first-class amenities for their residents. It's truly "luxury living" with 91 condos within the 15 floors of the tower building plus 9 homes in the townhome building.

aerial view from ocean to costa verano building

Amenities in Costa Verano include:

  • Oceanfront, heated, resort style swimming pool
  • Poolside fire pit
  • Social Room with bar, kitchen and balcony
  • Beach view state-of-the-art fitness facility
  • Indoor heated and jet spa
  • Sauna and steam room
  • Theater Room with full channel line-up + NFL Ticket and Netflix
  • Billiards Room
  • Business…

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Perfect multi-generational home in Ponte Vedra’s most desirable neighborhood

With inventory remaining incredibly low at just 1.2 months supply in Ponte Vedra Beach (six months of supply is considered a balanced market), we don’t expect this new listing to last long.

Built on a high and dry lot in the Old Ponte Vedra neighborhood, this classic Florida home at 314 Pablo Road offers a plethora of conveniences including walking distance to the clubs and the beach.  

Why should you buy this home? Location, size and finishes.

The home is perfectly perched on the 9th fairway of the renowned Ponte Vedra Inn & Club's Lagoon Course with five bedrooms, four full baths and one half bath in one of Jacksonville’s most highly sought after communities.  

…

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by Jenn Heller

A lighthouse tower is meant to serve as a location beacon for those navigating the waterways. Given that we live among a multitude of waterways in Northeast Florida, we are gifted with many lighthouses to serve our maritime pilots as well as provide historic background to tourists and locals alike.

As a former New Yorker from Long Island I had visited Montauk Point with my family more times than I can count on both hands and was always fascinated by the Montauk Point lighthouse. In fact, the day after prom in 1986 (yes, I'm dating myself) I chose to drive out to Montauk from my Brentwood, Long Island home to visit the one place that brought me such peace and perspective in life. No, I wasn't much of the "party animal" on prom weekend…

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By Lyn Gabrielsen

I first tasted a Bees Knees on Thursday, March 12, 2020, the sad day we canceled THE PLAYERS Championship. My husband, Jimmy, and I left TPC and headed to Valley Smoke for dinner.  I love gin, and I love honey, so when the drink arrived with one of those big, fat ice cubes with a fancy lemon twist, I was in heaven. But, as we all know, I was not to taste a Bee’s Knees for many months, and boring red wine became my choice of beverage as my waist will testify.

restaurant medure

Fast forward a year….back at the bar at Valley Smoke.  “A Bee’s Knees, please.” It was just as I remembered.  Perfect. 

Because I’m a nerd and have lots of free time, I decided to research my resurrected, favorite cocktail. 

The Bee’s Knees was a Prohibition…

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By Gwinn Volen

We are six months into 2021. Unless you just don't pay attention to the news, the real estate market in Northeast Florida and across the US is on fire. Buyers and buying agents are exhausted, and here is why.

Inventory remains impossibly low in all beach areas. If we look at the last six months compared to 2020, housing supply is down 44-77% depending on which beach community you analyze.  Nocatee has the lowest inventory levels and is down a whopping 77% from last year, while Neptune Beach is down 44%.

Economics 101 Applies to Real Estate

With that decreasing supply and continued high demand equals, we have, you guessed it, increasing competition and rising prices.  

In looking at the median home sale price over the last six…

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By Gwinn Volen

Many a homebuyer interested in buying out there is asking, "is there an end in sight?"

Unfortunately for buyers, and the bleary-eyed agents trying to help them find homes, the data, as well as expert opinion, suggests there is no immediate end coming to this frenzied market.

First, the data.

Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee: Real Estate Over The Last 15 Years

If you look at the graph below, the trend is clear. Our area is at an all time low in terms of supply. Back in the bubble days of 2006-2007 in Ponte Vedra Beach there was a range of total inventory showing a low of 5 months and a high of 19 months. Currently, there is just 1 month of inventory. Though you see a slight upward tick as we closed out May, there has not been a…

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by Jenn Heller

June 5 is National Trail Day, a day of service and advocacy for hometown trails! Did you know that there are many "hidden gem" trails in our area? Nature seekers love the thrill, peace and beauty of a hike with scenic views along the waterways and marshes offered in the Ponte Vedra Beach, Intracoastal and Marsh areas that provide the majestic landscape of our area. But incredible hiking areas extend out to the western parts of Jacksonville too, so many are willing to hop in the car and explore all that the surrounding area has to offer. Whether it's your first or one-hundredth hike, there's undoubtedly something new to see along the trails of Jacksonville and the coast. Lace up your favorite hiking shoes and plan to explore the trails of…

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