Florida Real Estate News

When it comes to big cities on the East Coast, the top three are New York, Philadelphia and Jacksonville. New York may be the city that never sleeps, but the cooler winter winds are already starting to creep in; upstate they’re talking foliage and getting ready for ski season. Philadelphia is cooling off too and it won’t be long before people start wondering if it was the winter cold that cracked the Liberty Bell.

But in Jacksonville, despite fall favorites like college football games and the NFL in town, it’s possible to keep summer alive longer. In the midst of your favorite fall activities, you’ll still be able to make time to get outside (tailgating in Jacksonville doesn’t mean a heavy coat and hand warmers like it does in Phillie).

Up North, water parks are already closed for the season; in Jacksonville, you’ve still got some time to enjoy water slides and wave pools. Fishing is still good, and if you want to go out for a great round of golf, not only will you have the chance to pick from 70 or so courses in the area but you won’t have to worry about how the early morning frost will affect the way your ball acts on the putting green or when it comes down on the fairway.

Let’s face it, the cold weather isn’t for everyone. Living in Jacksonville gives you the chance to enjoy all the best of living in an East Coast city – shopping, museums, arts and culture, along with sports and just having fun – without limiting summer fun to just a few short months.

Worried that a condo won’t have the number of bedrooms that you need? Have teenage daughters who just can’t share a bathroom? Not willing to compromise on the beauty of the area, the waterfront location of your home, and other characteristics that you’ve been looking for?

When you choose one of the Beach Club Cottages at Ponce Inlet as your Florida waterfront home, you’ll find everything that you need.

• You’ll find that the beauty of the area – the relaxing calm of the sea, landscaped yards and more.
• You’ll find that there is plenty of space – 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths – so that your family can spread out and not get in each others’ ways.
• A guest suite because, well, when you have a Florida waterfront home you know that you’ll have family and friends who want to visit.

Each of the Beach Club Cottages has nearly 3000 square feet of space – some a little more, some a little less. That’s plenty of space for living comfortably and plenty more space for entertaining, relaxing and just being yourself.

Most people have images that come to mind immediately when they hear the word vacation. There are thoughts about beaches, relaxing and generally getting away from it all.

Toss in the phrase Florida vacation and visions of Disney World and Universal Studios and all of the other theme parks and tourist sites like the Kennedy Space Center come to mind. For some, so do those hotel rooms that just didn’t quite meet their expectations.

When you have a Jacksonville Beach vacation home, you won’t have to worry about lackluster hotels. You won’t have to worry about dining out for every meal and you won’t have to worry about long trips to the theme parks and attractions because they just aren’t that far away.

Plus, Jacksonville Beach offers plenty for the family as well – time on the beach, great shopping and restaurants, fishing, boating, nightlife – so if you get up in the morning and don’t feel like traveling for the day, you won’t have to; likewise, you’ll be able to find ways to spend the day if the weather isn’t ideal.

With a vacation home in Jacksonville Beach, you’ll have access to everything you want and more; you’ll have a place the whole family can go back to year after year.

Living in Ponce Inlet, you’ll understand why Ponce de Leon chose to stay and then return back to the area after he initially landed there. There’s a natural beauty, and there’s plenty to explore.

Take for example Ponce Inlet Beach. Not only was the beach rated to be one of the ten best beaches in the US for 2007, but also it offers a many opportunities for discovery – chances to explore, and opportunities to learn more about some of the best features of the area.

Walking among the dunes in early October, you’ll have the chance to see hawks, falcons and other migrating birds of prey that stop in the area during their migration from north to south.

The area’s Marine Science Center offer guided walks that will let you know more about these species, sea birds in the area and other animals, including sea life like squid. Great for kids, families and even adults on their own, guided walks on the beach, through the dunes and even on boat tours.

Why settle for viewing the area – Ponce Inlet, the Atlantic, dunes on the beach – from your oceanfront home? Get out there and discover it for yourself.

Let’s face it: when you start looking at oceanview properties there’s one thing you want more than anything else – a view of the ocean. But that doesn’t mean that you want to look out at the ocean only if you climb up onto the roof and pull out a telescope. You want to be sure that you have real ocean views – from your living room or your bedroom or any other room in your home, just glance out the window and there it is. Can you find an oceanfront home in St. Augustine, Florida with ocean views that are for real? You bet you can – just check out this view from the second floor of the condos at The Abacos at Salt Run:

While it’s true that construction is still in progress, you can’t argue with the fact that you’ll have a clear view of the Atlantic. With a view as crisp and clear as the one above, you’ll know that you’ll be able to watch the sun come up in the mornings, watch as the clouds burn off and the sky clears and know that you’ll have a chance to unwind while looking at the sea any time you choose throughout the day.

Let’s face it: Florida’s climate is ideal for golf. Folks travel there on vacation just to play some of the world class courses – travel companies even book golf vacation packages. But that doesn’t mean that all of Florida’s golf courses are filled with tourists.

In fact, it doesn’t even have to mean that the courses are crowded. It also doesn’t have to mean that the courses are expensive.

When you live in Jacksonville or in Jacksonville Beach, you’ll find that there are some great affordable golf courses right in your neighborhood.

In fact, if you’re looking for great golf that won’t break the bank without having to travel far from home, consider these two courses as featured in an article by travelgolf.com:

Jacksonville Beach Golf Course, Jacksonville Beach: This is the sort of place where the regulars laugh and joke at their favorite corner table in the clubhouse as they wait for tee times on a dreary winter morning.

Thoroughly renovated in 1987 and regularly tuned up since (many of the fairways and greens have been redone in the last four years), Jacksonville Beach G.C. is kept in solid shape.

Bent Creek Golf Club, Jacksonville

At 6,609 yards with a 131 slope rating from the gold tees, Bent Creek is no bear, but nor it is a cupcake. Locals will tell you it plays a few shots easier with the removal of hundreds of trees over the years. But it is also heavily mounded, which adds flavor to the flat Florida terrain and can waylay the wayward.

Both courses will give you a great day out on the greens – and help to keep more green in your pockets.

Those who are considering moving to Jacksonville because they know that the area has much to offer – from the arts to the Atlantic, sports and education – often find themselves wanting to know more. Some want to get more information about the Jacksonville lifestyle. Some want to know more about Jacksonville loft living and finding a great, modern home. Others want to know what sort of events take place in Jacksonville.

For those of you who want to know what you can expect, here’s just a sample of the events that take place in Jacksonville:

• Family art events where parents and kids can get together and learn more about creating art
• Dinner theater events which pair great entertainment with great food
• During football season, you’ll find tailgating events prior to Jaguars games
• Benefit fashion shows
• Screenings of silent films as well as documentary films and more
• Live music concerts ranging from Chamber Music to up and coming rock
• Garden club meetings
• Volunteer organizations that come together to make a difference
• Stage shows and other theatrical performances

Of course, that list is just a small sampling: there are benefit events, Art Walks and more with a schedule that changes all the time. No matter how restless you get – no matter how much you look for activities that will keep you entertained and connected – you’re sure to find something that will draw your attention and keep you coming back for more!

When you're looking for a home, location is often the key: you can't really find a much more beautiful location than Ponce Inlet, Florida. The Ocean Manors at Ponce Inlet are Ponce Inlet oceanfront townhouses that let you view all of that beauty from the comfort of your own home – views of both the ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway. When you're looking for a home, you don't want to merely find a location that's pleasing to the eyes, you want a location that engages all of your senses. From your Ponce Inlet oceanfront townhouse, you'll not just get beautiful views, you'll be able to hear the surf as it rolls in. You'll be able to smell the salt air and feel cool ocean breezes. Of course, you'll also find that you're able to taste the flavors of fresh seafood – whether you go out and catch your own meal or make your way to a local restaurant to try the catch of the day. When you find the right home, you'll know it. You'll feel immediately comfortable. You'll be caught up by the beauty of the area and of your home. You'll know that everything is just what it should be – the beautiful gardens, modern appliances, high end finishes, the views: you'll know that you've found all that you were looking for and more.

As if pristine beaches, plush landscapes, modern design and luxury features weren’t enough to entice you to look into more information about buying Florida coastal real estate, if you start looking into it a bit more, you’ll find that there are additional incentives – especially if you buy during the construction and pre-construction phases.

Want to see more about what we mean? Here’s some discussion of incentives:

There are folks offering boats (and even their own dogs) and other items to entice buyers to purchase their properties. And while Realtors and sellers agree that the more creative incentives grab attention, which is the ultimate goal of offering them in the first place, incentives have been part of the sales equation for a long time – and will continue to be as the residential market strengthens over the next year.

Incentives can range from sellers offering to pay a portion or all closing costs or buying down points off the mortgage loan, to selling wide-screen televisions or offering free upgrades to close the deal.

When it comes to Florida coastal real estate, the incentives don’t just come from boats, pets or upgrades – in some cases the incentives can be as grand as a great Vespa scooter to get you around town in style.

Choosing your coastal Florida home can be made simpler – if you find the right incentives. But even if you aren’t looking for a scooter, a plasma TV or other perks, sometimes you just may find that owning coastal real estate is its own reward; a matter of finding the property that’s just what you’ve been looking for.

When it comes to making an investment in an oceanfront home in Ponce Inlet, Florida, it’s important to know what you’re looking for.

First thing to consider? What style of a home are you looking for? Are you looking for a townhouse or for an ocean manor? Would you love to have a Ponce Inlet home with a Mediterranean feel?

Next thing to consider: will your Ponce Inlet home be prepared to withstand the weather? The Cottages at Ponce Inlet as well as the Ocean Manors and the Beach Club Cottages all have impact approved windows – windows that are tinted for the protection of turtles in the area.

What will your view be like? Will you merely look out over the Atlantic, or will you also have views of the river?

Ponce Inlet Florida is a beautiful community with plenty to offer everyone. No matter what characteristics you would like for your Ponce Inlet, Florida home, you’re likely to find the place that’s absolutely perfect for your needs.