Florida Real Estate News

When you’re looking for a Florida home, especially in light of the recent tropical storm, and you’re thinking about buying a condo, one of the things that you’re going to want to be sure of is that you are looking at Florida condominium construction and whether or not it will help you to weather storms as they come through.

Simply given the challenges of a tropical storm, you’re going to want to be sure that you are looking at the way glass is chosen for the windows as the buildings have been made. You’re going to want to be sure that the way in which the walls of the building are constructed will withstand the wind and other challenges that storms can bring.

In other words, you’re going to want to be sure that you are looking for well-constructed Florida condominiums when you are considering those areas where you think that you might like to live. You’re going to want to be sure that efforts have been made to create safety within the homes that you are thinking about buying and you’re going to want to know that, should another storm lodge itself directly over the First Coast, you will be able to have the security that you need.

Jacksonville, Florida  The latest oceanfront residential project by Cranewoods Development, The Cottages at Ponce Inlet, took more work than usual to create. For the past three years, the town of Ponce Inlet has been working to control future development in this conservative and sophisticated area south of Daytona Beach. 
 
There has been significant pressure on the Council to control real estate development in the area.  The town council was only approving projects that would be sympathetic to historical preservation and sympathetic to the town’s vision. (more…)

Many people spend copious amounts of time, money, and energy on home beautification projects but settle for standard concrete walks and driveways of asphalt, concrete, or even gravel. Such conventional drives and walks are unlikely to detract from a home’s appearance but they add very little to the overall aesthetics. Using period pavers for drives and walks will turn them into elements of the landscape rather than just utilitarian necessities.

  While stamped concrete can enhance the look of a walk or drive, the modular installation of pavers offers several advantages. They are less likely to crack because of ground changes, and when this does happen individual piece can be easily replaced, or in some cases simply flipped over. The pattern and layout of pavers can also be easily altered to fit better with landscaping additions and changes.

  Pavers are available in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and most can be arranged into different patterns to reflect historical or regional standards. Many different materials have been used to pave roads, walks, and drives through the years, but brick and stone are by far the most durable and popular. Stone pavers can be divided into two general categories—cobblestones and flagstones.

  Traditional cobblestones are created from smooth stones, usually granite or basalt, found in riverbeds. They are worked into rounded square or rectangular blocks of a relatively uniform size before being used for paving. Cobblestone roads are still found in many European cities, making them the perfect choice for homes with an “old world” motif.

  Flagstones are made from sedimentary rocks such as shale or limestone that can easily be split into flat slabs. Flagstones tend to be rather heavy, and therefore were historically used primarily in regions where appropriate types of rock were found. The shape of flagstones is not usually altered, which makes them more difficult to install and pattern than other types of pavers.

  Brick was a popular paving material for roads in early 20th Century America, and in recent years some cities have begun restoring or reconstructing brick roadways. While brick drives are bumpier than asphalt, they never develop potholes and usually last 50 years or more before requiring serious maintenance. Brick is a perfect choice for homes featuring early American architecture. 
 
 Pavers to match most historical styles can be purchased from landscaping stores and paving companies. For homeowners who want true authenticity, a number of companies deal in brick and stone reclaimed from historic streets and buildings. Using such reclaimed materials allows a homeowner to preserve and recycle historic building materials, and, if the source of the material is known, provides and anecdote that adds to the home’s allure.

  Using period pavers for drives and walks can help to reinforce the architectural and design themes of any home. If the homeowner is willing to do a bit of research, they can also reproduce styles from particular regions or historical eras. Even if the choice of period pavers isn’t part of a grand design concept, they can enhance the overall appearance and value of any piece of property

Jacksonville, Florida (bookwired.com) November 13, 2006 — It is always challenging creating luxury ocean front homes and ‘The Ocean Manors’ at Ponce Inlet was no exception. Cranewoods Development of Jacksonville, Florida had to negotiate local and State planning rules which restrict the building to a height of 35 feet and preserve the site lines of neighboring residences by drawing a line between structures to the North and South of the lot – beyond which you cannot build. The project also required coordination with “Coastal Control Line” which is imposed by the State of Florida to control design in beachfront areas. Cranewoods has considerable experience in building luxury waterfront homes and was able exceed buyer’s expectations while staying within the various regulations to create this spectacular design. Andrew Howe, Manager of Cranewoods Development, stated, “We recognized a niche in the market for upscale oceanfront town homes, without sacrificing luxury and privacy and went about finding the perfect oceanfront location – that was Ponce Inlet, Florida.” The design of these town homes is unlike the high-rises that dominate the Miami coastline. Each home is a minimum of 4,000 square feet with unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, and lush Conservation land, which stretches to the Intra-coastal Waterway. The development is within an easy commute of Orlando for second homeowners or those wanting to make this their primary residence. Cranewoods decided on exquisitely detailed Mediterranean architecture as the best fit for the project’s majestic site. In this case, the natural oceanfront dune system worked to the project’s advantage, by raising the development to a sufficient elevation to maximize on the location and views. To implement the project plans, the developer chose award winning HCM Construction as the builder for their considerable expertise in implementing sophisticated architectural details on oceanfront homes. Internally, buyers will not be disappointed by the one of three vignettes they may chose from to best reflect their lifestyles and tastes. Private internal elevators, State of Florida approved impact windows, media room/guest suite, ocean deck off master bedroom, two car garages and private dune walkover come as standard. Private Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean is optional. These magnificent waterfront homes enjoy a sophisticated locale minutes from all the activities associated with coastal living yet around the corner from nightlife, restaurants and the financial center of Orlando. Howe continued, ‘In a market where lifestyle is king, I feel confident we have hit upon a niche for our projects that has barely been tapped. Sales support this theory.”

PONCE INLET, Fla. — Gopher tortoises in Florida may soon have their status changed to threatened, which would give them more protection. 

But they are still in decline, falling to developers who can get a permit and destroy them. However, a new procedure gives developers new incentives to save the tortoises, WESH 2 News reported.

“Too often, gopher tortoises in this state are actually buried alive,” said Jen Hobgood of the U.S. Humane Society. “They are entombed and they died a slow and inhumane death.”

The developer who will put the cottages of Ponce Inlet on the site has hired a team to excavate the 17 gophers who live deep in the sand in long, narrow burrows. It is expensive and intricate work, but the payoff is that the tortoises will live. (more…)

WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States and volunteers from local animal rescue groups are removing gopher tortoises at the HCM Construction/Cranewoods Development site at the Cottages at Ponce Inlet in Florida. The tortoises will be relocated to a permanent home at Nokuse Plantation in Walton County.

(more…)

By R.P. WHITTINGTON, Special to the Times-Union

The residential home market continues to normalize after a three-year period of staggering sales and record home appreciation. An exception to the rule is waterfront property, which seems to defy the odds compared to other homes on the First Coast’s market. “Within the general market of home buyers, those attracted to waterfront properties are really a different breed,” said Randy Long, chief operating officer of custom home builder J.A. Long. “The house can be on a pond or overlooking a lake at a golf and country club, it doesn’t matter. There will always be a market for those properties because there is such a limited supply available. They are always a hot commodity.”

Water views, along with trees and the surrounding landscaping, are some of the features J.A. Long now uses in determining which lots they select for their custom homes. The company also keeps an eye on the views from inside the home when they build, typically incorporating lots of glass and large open areas on the first floor of the house.

“Waterfront properties, whether they are located within a country club or just near water, don’t follow the same trends as other homes in the marketplace,” Long said. “Since waterfront opportunities are more limited, the market tends to remain strong regardless of what is happening in the overall real estate market.

“Watson Realty Corp./Fleming Island Realtor Neil Avery recently resold one of J.A. Long’s houses for $734,500; a four-bedroom, three-bathroom 3,450-square-foot home located on Romeo Point on Doctors Lake.

The St. Johns River and its tributaries, the Intracoastal Waterway and miles of oceanfront put the First Coast in a unique competitive position when it comes to waterfront properties, Avery said.

“We have many more opportunities for waterfront here compared to a lot of areas in Florida, and many beautiful lakes in the outlying counties that many people haven’t even heard of,” said Avery, who works extensively in Clay, Duval, Putnam and St. Johns counties. “When you compare our waterfront prices to other markets in the state, while most are not cheap, you generally can get more for your money here. And with the slowdown in the market, they offer even more of a bargain for buyers now.”

About 1,000 people relocate to Florida each day and many want to follow their dream of living near the water. There also are Florida residents looking at the First Coast.

“Our property values are significantly lower than similar properties in South Florida,” he said. “I recently had an instance where a buyer who lived in the Florida Keys got sick of the hurricanes and decided to buy a home on the water here. The family sold their house there, bought here, and pocketed the difference to bank for their retirement.

“Prudential Network Realty’s Michelle Cummings concurred, adding that most waterfront properties are retaining their resale value better when compared to other inland areas of Jacksonville.

“As is the saying in real estate, it all goes back to the location,” Cummings said. “The property doesn’t have to necessarily be on the water. It can be located blocks off the actual waterfront and still offer a good view, which is what most waterfront buyers want more than anything.

“Cummings has two very different waterfront properties she’s marketing – a four-bedroom, two-bath condo at Ocean 22 at Jacksonville Beach priced at $925,000, and a condo at Marina San Pablo priced at $675,000.

“It is a great time for buyers to be in the market for waterfront, especially the resale market,” Cummings said. “They have more properties to choose from and buyers have more room to negotiate with sellers. For homeowners who have always dreamed of living near the ocean or the Intracoastal, the market has some great opportunities out there for them to move up to waterfront living.” Waterfront properties also tend to have more variety when it comes to architecture and interior amenities.”The exclusive aspects of waterfront living tend to make developers add more flair to what they are building because of the unique environment that comes with it,” said Andrew Howe, manager of Cranewoods Development LLC.”As a developer, I know the location will support the additional investment in architectural design inside and out,” said Howe, whose company is currently building the Northshore Condominiums in Jacksonville Beach and The Abacos, a 15-home Caribbean-style residential development that will have two single-family ocean manors, five three-story townhome cottages, four two-story townhomes and four penthouse-villa flats.
“When the time comes for resale, our initial buyers typically find that their waterfront properties hold up well, despite what the overall real estate market is doing,” Howe said. “And when you have these unique design elements, subsequent property owners also tend to make additional upgrades over time, which certainly helps them when they put their property back on the market.”

Amy Cataland is selling her home at Tiffany by the Sea, the only gated oceanfront community at the Beaches. She purchased an oceanfront property and built a three-story, 5,000-square-foot home, complete with an elevator, on the site in 1996. It’s now valued at nearly $3 million.

“It’s a fabulous home, and being in the only gated community on the oceanfront makes it even more unique,” Cataland said.

She has enjoyed the benefits she discovered in a gated community, including security, less traffic and less noise.

“The homes have such beautiful architecture that I can see that we would have a lot more traffic from people wanting to look it over if the gates weren’t there,” Cataland said. “With the gates, we don’t have to worry about people just zipping through the neighborhood.”

Chris Prescott, who now lives in Atlanta and is selling his home on Beach Avenue in Atlantic Beach, bought the property and completely razed the house that was there to create a beach home that was more “urban and open,” which he said better fit his personality.

“I grew up in the Beaches, and that’s the way it was here when I was a kid and I love that about this area,” he said. “To me, living in an open, active environment with a lot of hustle and bustle is whole point of living at the Beaches.”

Phil Pierce, a Prudential Network Realty Realtor representing both sellers, said there is a wide selection of waterfront properties available to buyers of all types.

“As with any home sale, it’s up to the personal preference of the buyer,” Pierce said. “There are pluses and minuses with all waterfront properties. For those who are looking for an added degree of privacy and security, or a more exclusive style of living, they can find it on the water. For those who lead more active lives and want to be closer to entertainment or nightlife, they can find waterfront living that captures that, too.”

link to original article

Site clearing and construction for Chelsea LoftsHCM Construction, Jacksonville Beach; agent is Andrew Howe, manager; owner is Riverside Loft Developers LLC, Jacksonville Beach; architect is Cronk Duch Architects. (No. 7202) link to original article

As real estate sales slow, home sellers are cooking up some creative incentives.

Forget the closing cost kick-in or free blender: At least one local developer is throwing in free Vespas, the glitzy Italian motor scooter, as bait. “The damn things are just cool as hell,” said Andy Howe, president of HCM Construction in Jacksonville Beach.

Cool being the key word. (more…)

HCM Construction and Cranewoods Development, LLC broke ground on The Chelsea Lofts in Riverside Tuesday morning. The 20-unit loft condominium development will combine “open loft” artistic interiors with high-end finishes. Among those on hand to toss the first shovels of dirt were David Barton of AmSouth Bank, Andy Howe, president of HCM Construction, Cliff Duch, director of architecture for Cronk Duch Partners and Chris Donovan, director of sales for Lifestyles Realtors. Anyone who purchases a loft will also get a Vespa like the one Lifestyles sales agent Ingrid Greene is sitting on. link to original article