Ponte Vedra Focus Blog - Real Estate

Neighborhood Spotlight: TPC Sawgrass

by Jenn Heller

One of the most established and highly coveted communities in Ponte Vedra Beach is also home to THE PLAYERS Championship every spring. Sawgrass Players Club, lovingly known as TPC Sawgrass, is an established planned unit development that comes with a boatload of history.

TPC Sawgrass History

• Early 1970s: TPC Sawgrass was developed by Jimmy Stockton
  • Developer, Jimmy Stockton, toyed with names like Sea Spray and Dune Village before landing on Sawgrass
• 1974: The PGA Tour relocates from Washington DC to Ponte Vedra Beach
• 1984: Sawgrass Village was constructed in the mid 80's adding nearby local shopping and fine dining
• 1982: The PGA Tour hosts THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass for the first time
• …

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Mortgage Gift Funds: What You Need To Know

by Aaron Bacus

Gift funds have been a hot topic recently for those looking to buy a home. So what exactly is a gift fund and can a buyer accept funds from anyone? Let’s dive into the nitty gritty! Gift funds are funds given to someone buying a home by an acceptable donor to be used as a down payment, towards closing costs, or other fees.  They can only be used on a primary residence or second home and are not allowed to be used for an investment property. 

An acceptable donor can be a relative such as a spouse, child, dependent or other relative that is related by blood, marriage or adoption.  A non-relative can be considered as an acceptable donor if they share a “familial relationship” with the borrower such as a domestic partner, fiancé,…

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Top Real Estate Questions for 2023

Is the Market Crashing? 

No. The balance between supply and demand is what affects prices, and in the greater Jacksonville market, we are at 3 months of supply which still indicates a seller’s market (6 months is a balanced market). We expect inventory to rise some in the Spring, but supply will still remain relatively low. We don’t expect homes to appreciate at the pace it has for the last two years. For 2022, the greater Jacksonville real estate market median sale price saw an 18% increase over 2021, and 2021 was up 18% from 2020. Historical average appreciation nationally is 4%, while our area enjoys a slightly higher historical average of 6%. Keep in mind, Florida is still a tax friendly destination state so we should continue to reap the…

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Uncovering the Best Mortgage Possibilities

by Aaron Bacus

Are you in the market for a new home but unsure of the best mortgage options for you? Let’s explore the different mortgage options available, discuss the benefits of each option, and provide tips for a smoother home buying process.

Introduction to Mortgage Options

When it comes to buying a home, there are many different mortgage options available. From fixed-rate mortgages, to adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM), each option offers its own set of pros and cons.

Types of Mortgage Options

The most common type of mortgage is a fixed-rate mortgage. With this type of mortgage, the interest rate stays the same throughout the life of the loan. This makes it a great option if you’re looking for stability.

An adjustable-rate mortgage…

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To Sell or Pass Down a Family Vacation Home?

By Gwinn Volen

My childhood memories of being in the country are vivid. Whippoorwills singing and frogs croaking in the pond at night. The smell of horses, cows and freshly bush hogged pastures. Sleepovers with cousins and friends, and even after-prom parties in high school. Once my kids were born, they too got to experience some of the joy I felt running in the woods, building forts, and fishing in the pond. ATV three wheelers were replaced with golf carts for them, but the sounds of the woods and idyllic South Carolina country life were still felt by them. My oldest son was nine when my mom decided to sell the "pond house" also referred to as "the country." My mom was 73. The upkeep was unmanageable. She no longer enjoyed going there. And the…

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What is a Homestead Exemption?

What is a Homestead Exemption?

In the state of Florida, if you own a home that is your primary residence, you can file for a Homestead Exemption. This exemption places a maximum property tax increase on your home of just 3%. It's important to note that there are other exemptions you may be eligible for as well depending on your current situation.

If you purchased a home in 2024, the deadline to file for your Homestead Exemption is March 1, 2025. 

When do I need to file for Homestead Exemption?

The deadline for filing for Homestead is March 1. You need to be a Florida resident and reside in your new home by January 1 to take advantage of that Homestead Exemption for the upcoming year. Otherwise, Homestead will take effect the following year.…

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Beaches Real Estate Market Finds Its Equilibrium

By Gwinn Volen

We are moving towards a balanced market in Ponte Vedra Beach and its nearby communities.

Real estate market health is best measured by months supply of homes. Months supply measures the number of months it would take to sell all the current homes on the market given the current sales pace. Six months of supply is considered a balanced market where home prices are appreciating at a moderate pace. Lower supply causes home prices to appreciate more rapidly (demand high, supply low). Months supply for single family homes in 32082 for September 2022 was 5.1 months, in August it was 3.6 months and in September '21 it was 1.7 months. 

As supply increases, appreciation is slowing. In the Beaches area, median home prices are up 22%…

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Mortgage Broker vs Banker: What's the Difference?

By Aaron Bacus

Why Mortgage Brokers may be better…from the perspective of a mortgage broker!

Wholesale Loan Shopping vs. Retail Loan Shopping

Brokers can shop multiple lenders. Opposed to big bank retail lenders, mortgage brokers have a diversity of lenders to choose from which allows them to find the absolute best rate for the client. 

Brokers have access to multiple loan programs. Again, big bank lenders have their loan program, that’s it. Brokers on the other hand, can shop many loan programs to find the best fit for YOU and YOUR CLIENT. This ensures complete control, confidence, and customization for each client’s unique needs. 

Mortgage Brokers Give Customers More Choice

Brokers give your clients choice and multiple options.…

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The Perfect Three Season Home in Ponte Vedra Beach

The Perfect Three Season Home in Ponte Vedra Beach

By Gwinn Volen, The Volen Group at Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners

Introducing 352 Ponte Vedra Boulevard in Old Ponte Vedra Beach:  Directly Across from the Ocean with a Pavered Beach Access.

Just one block from the prestigious Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is a Cape Cod style home with unique character and design. Bright, warm and inviting, this property is a true “three season home” with a special place to enjoy every mood and weather. 

The front porch is perfect for morning coffee and listening to the waves while the southern facing pool and yard is a great respite from the winter breezes. And then, of course you have the back deck where you can sit and watch the sunset over the 3rd…

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Is the Sky Falling in Jacksonville's Beaches Real Estate Market?

by Gwinn Volen

There is a lot of buzz about where the housing market is going.  A quick Google News search on the term "real estate market," shows there were over 2400 articles about the housing marketing in the last seven days.

We have seen some changes in the real estate market in the last few weeks, but nothing earth-shattering or dire is happening. And if you click past the headlines in most of these articles you will see that experts are not predicting a housing market crash. A stabilization? Sure. A crash? No. There may be some Chicken Littles out there who feel differently, but the experts and the data aren't on board with the crash theory.

Year Over Year and Month over Month Statistics at the Beaches

The Market is Normalizing But…

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