9 Things to Know About a Home Warranty

by Jenn Heller

Did you know homeowners should anticipate an annual expense of up to 4% of their homes value for annual maintenance expense? Unfortunately, with the current state of the market, many homeowners are left with little or no savings in the bank after their purchase. Experts average that 7 out of 10 homes will experience a "major system or appliance failure" within a year of purchase. This means refrigerator, water heater or HVAC systems will need servicing and/or replacement and that could be very expensive if not detrimental to a new owner. That is exactly why a home warranty is a great purchase in order to offset some of the cost for homeowners. To help explain any misconceptions of what a home warranty really is, how it works and what it…

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A Beach Renourishment Guide for Ponte Vedra Beach

by Gwinn Volen

Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma were the first two hurricanes to hit the Jacksonville area with any consequence in many years. With them came an increased awareness of our changing coastlines. Areas like Jacksonville Beach and St Augustine have had plans in place for renourishment over the years, but Ponte Vedra Beach did not.

I met recently with Lori Moffett and Beth Angelo, two Ponte Vedra Beach residents involved in bringing the issues surrounding our beaches to the forefront of our government officials minds, to learn more about the restoration projects queued up.

The reconstruction of our beach has three potential phases with different requirements needed from the community, said Moffett, founding member of Friends of…

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Oceanfront Condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach

A Lavish Oceanfront Condominium in Ocean Manor II

Set in sought after Ponte Vedra Beach along the Atlantic Ocean coastline with incredible ocean views is this dreamy second floor condominium, just a short walk or bike ride to The Lodge & Club.  No expense was spared when this lavish oceanfront condominium was taken to the studs in 2019, going through a complete transformation, including new a/c and complete ductwork, all new windows, and of course stunning interior finishes.

Why should you buy this home? Location!  Location! Location!

If you love the beach, you will love this condominium!  It’s set in an unparalleled location with amazing renovations to create a contemporary, clean design throughout with glorious sunrise views.  Raised…

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A Slice of New York Here in Jacksonville

by Jenn Heller

I just realized that I haven’t thought about the foods I miss from New York until I had to think about the foods New York is best known for. As a New York girl turned Floridian in 1991, I’ve officially been a southern girl longer than I was a New Yorker, however, you can take the girl out of NY, but you can’t take NY out of the girl. Whenever I think about New York, I immediately get a different accent in my head. Any other NY transplants do that?

There’s a lot I miss about New York and National New York Day (which I have no idea what that really means) is a great day to just reminisce on all things New York and point everyone in the right direction to find all the best NY foods right here in Jacksonville and The Beaches.

#1 – Hot…

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DogBeach Comes to Ponte Vedra Beach

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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Costa Verano Condo in Jax Beach Hits The Market

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.

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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I'm on Top of the World: A Visit to St. Augustine Lighthouse

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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Nature Trails Around Town

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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April Real Estate Update: Are Over Asking Offers The New Norm?

By Gwinn Volen

The average list to sold ratio in the Ponte Vedra Beach (32082) real estate market for the month of April was 100.5% while in Nocatee (32081), the average list to sold ratio was 102.4%. That means, when taking all price points into account, the closed sales prices in April were, on average, .5% above the list price in Ponte Vedra Beach and 2.4% above list price in Nocatee.

Right now, listing prices are functioning more as the "suggested list price" or starting point. If you've seen the Tik Tok "Who Wants to Buy Apple," you'll get the gist.

Key Points For Buyers to Understand

• There really are no deals right now. If you are hoping to have leverage and negotiation power, this is not the market for you.

• There is a…

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The Cultural Corridor in Atlantic Beach

The Cultural Corridor in Atlantic Beach

Have you been to The Cultural Corridor in Atlantic Beach? If you are in Ponte Vedra Beach there’s a good chance you haven’t ventured out to Atlantic Beach and seen this fantastic corridor dedicated to building a space for both culinary arts and creativity on A1A. What’s it all about? The Cultural Corridor is the intersection between community and creativity where individuals, groups and families can connect through local events, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Specifically The Cultural Corridor operates as a 501(c)3 driven to be the catalyst between community and creativity both in Atlantic Beach and Northeast Florida. Every Saturday from 11AM – 3PM you will find a diverse and eclectic selection of local…

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