Serenata Beach - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL     Serenata Beach is a community of oceanfront condominiums located on the last stretch of undeveloped beachfront property in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Three and four bedroom floorplans are offered ranging in size from 2,035 to 2,500 square feet. Serenata's penthouse is a much larger 4,700 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms. Serenata Beach residents have access to the Serenata Beach Club located on Ponte Vedra Beach. The Club features a 12,000 square foot club with beautiful ocean views and two 4,000 square foot pools. Enjoy dining at the Club's oceanfront restaurant or take a relaxing stroll on the private beach.   Serenata Beach is located in between Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine, giving its residents easy access to either. Ponte ... 11/15/2010

Summerhouse - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL   Summerhouse is a condominium conversion located in Ponte Vedra, Florida, and contains over 400 units ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. There is a variety of floorplans offered but each unit features granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile, and more. Amenities include a new clubhouse, business center, mini-theater, two pools with poolside bar, fitness center, tennis courts, and so much more!   Summerhouse residents receive a discounted golf membership to Oakbridge at Sawgrass Country Club along with tee time shuttle service. Ponte Vedra is well known for its prestigious golf courses and private beaches. Its location in St. Johns County zones its residents for some of the best public schools around, including Ponte Vedr... 11/15/2010

It's almost time - I did a save the date post about this event earlier, and now it's just about here. 10/18-10/24/10 at the all NEW Dye Valley Course - 100% of the proceeds benefit local charities, thanks to the PepsiCo Tickets Fore Charity. Tickets are $25 and give you DAILY admission to the tournament (yes, you read that correctly), on site parking, clubhouse admission, and two vouchers for a reduced fee round on the Dye Valley Course. Too many events that have a charitable focus do not manage to give 100% of their proceeds to local charities, so this is a great opportunity to watch some great golfers, close to home for a great price. More info on the official website here: http://www.winn-dixiejacksonvilleopen.com/ 10/13/2010

                             The Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club The outdoor pool at the Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is a delightful experience. There are grottoes with special jets for guest enjoyment. Try the grotto where you lie down on a bed of gentle jets complimenting your spa experience. Or another, with powerful jets to stimulate circulation. Swim the length, or just bask in the sun. Everything at the Spa is a pleasure. Come see why it is ranked nationally as one of the best.   09/29/2010

Ponte Vedra Beach Real Estate Market Report  Active 594  Distressed:  13 Bank owned 85 Short Sales  16% total Active homes for sale are distressed properties, either bank owned or short sales. Short sales are properties that will sell for less than what is owed to the lender(s). All Sold Properties are for time period 9/24/09 - 9/24/10 Sold 472  Distressed:  70 or 15%  Navigable Waterfront Sold          23 2009          34 2010 4000-5000 sq. ft. Sold 26 2009   48 2010   Activity is up for navigable waterfront properties in 2010 over 2009.  Homes sold between 4000-5000 sq. ft. are up almost 50% year over year. There is over a year's worth of homes for sale in the Ponte Vedra Beach real estate market.    09/27/2010

The Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club ~ Ponte Vedra Beach FL If you have been trying to decide how to pamper yourself for a day or what to ask for Christmas or birthday, here is a perfect solution. The The Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is well known for its luxurious care of guests. You can come for one treatment or a dozen - and enjoy the rest of the day around the pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room or lounge. Eat a scrumptions buffet lunch and your beverage of choice on the loggia overlooking the pool. The Ponte Vedra Spa provides world class services and products for its guests. For instance, the massage table had a gel face rest which was so comfortable I didn't even mind lying face down. It's attention to detail such as this that welcomes and pampers the guests of the Spa. You ne... 09/25/2010

For nature lovers in Jacksonville, The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, provides an excellent fishing spot, over 40 miles of nature trails for biking and hiking, and a boat launch in the Guana River. The GTM Reserve consists of almost 55,000 acres of salt marsh and mangrove wetlands. The park is located on Highway A1A just south of Ponte Vedra Beach.  Visitors may see manatees, storks, ospreys, bald eagles and the endangered right whale during a trip to the park. The reserve is open seven days a week and entrance is only $2 per car.  For more information, call (904) 823-4500.     07/30/2010

GTM  Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, from A1A North(904) 823-4500EDUCATION CENTER "Saturday, August 7th 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m GTM RESEARCH RESERVE BEACH WALK  Learn the importance of the BEACH Habitats--  The GTM Research Reserve will host a beach walk at the Guana South Beach location. "Beaches 101" experience; an informative and fun walk and learn about the sand, the importance of the dunes, and the animals that call the beach their home. Reservations are required. Please call (904) 823-4500 to reserve your spot.Meet at the Guana South Beach parking lot approximately two miles north of the Environmental Education Center. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring water.Regular parking fees apply, $3.00 per vehicle, annual GTM pass hol... 07/22/2010

What: 2010 Ponte Vedra Beach Golf Tournament Where: TPC Sawgrass Dye's Valley Course When: Friday, July 23rd from 11AM-8PM The event will also feature a one hour PGA Tour clinic beginning at 11:30AM. For more info or reservations contact (904) 285-2004.   07/20/2010

In our current economic environment, we have seen an unprecedented increase in foreclosures, deed in lieu of foreclosures and short sales of home mortgages across the United States. Many homeowners are losing their homes due to many reasons including job loss, unexpected medical expenses and life circumstances. Fast forward to changed circumstances, those homeowners are now in a position to buy a home again. The mortgage lender will look at the type of circumstance that led to loss of the home and what the potential buyer has accomplished since the foreclosure or short sale.   What about a short sale?  For buyers who have sold a home previously by a short sale, the guidelines for future purchase are  slightly different and less stringent. • If the short sale occurred due to financial mi... 07/18/2010

If you have parents who are in the process of considering a move to an active adult community, you should consider Brookdale Cypress Village! Conveniently located adjacent to Mayo Clinic on a 120 acre campus, Brookdale Cypress Village offers a Culinary Art Institute and trademarked dining program.  With innovative senior care provided onsite, Cypress Village offers outpatient rehab and home health care services. Cypress Village offers LifeCare on all of their apartments, and on several of the homes they own.  This gives residents the following benefits: Centralized healthcare on one campus Ability to control future long-term healthcare costs. Priority access to Assisted Living, Healthcare and rehab services. Their "Care For Life" guarantee offers: You will never be asked to leave if you... 07/16/2010

Announcement - SOLD & Closed! Your Choice Real Estate is pleased to announce the successful closing of our listing at 124 GLEN COVE PL , PONTE VEDRA BCH , FLORIDA ; 32082 The sellers listed the property with Phillip Jones (904-298-2679 Ext 501) of Your Choice Real Estate using Flat Fee MLS services called MLS Assist. The deal closed on 07/01/2010. The original asking price was $314,900 and the final sale price was $295,000 representing 93.7% of the list price! The home was listed on 03/21/2010 and went into contract in 85 days on 06/14/2010. This is shorter than the national and regional average Days on Market of 209 days. The buyer was represented by TIM W COUTU of KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ATLANTIC (904-247-0059). Special thanks go to everyone involved for pulling together this transact... 07/14/2010

Jacksonville Beach is once again hosting a summer jazz series, and today is the second concert. Tonight is the second concert of the 9th Annual Summer Jazz Series. June's concert started things off with a bang, and July's concert promises to turn up the heat with another multi-talented line-up of performers. Headlining is guitarist Nick Colionne with his unforgettable sound and fabulous on-stage outfits. Nick takes the stage at 7:30 pm. At 6:00 pm the all-star lineup of TIZER featuring Lao Tizer and violinist Karen Briggs will perform. Opening the show at 5:00 pm is alto saxophonist Will Donato. Come out and enjoy this wonderful combination of music, and sea breezes, for free! Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy refreshments and food available for purchase from local vendors. E... 07/11/2010

Here are the January - June 2010 stats and 2009 for comparison - 2010 28 Condos Sold Lowest price: $116,900 Highest price: $1,760,000         Lowest Per Square Foot Sold:$105.57 Highest Per Square Foot Sold: $372.80       Of these, 20 were standard re-sales, 6 were short sales, and 2 were bank owned properties.             2009 24 Condos sold Lowest price: $150,000 Highest price: $2,000,000 Lowest Per Square Foot Sold:$180.07 Highest Per Square Foot Sold: $666.67       Of these, 18 were standard re-sales, 2 were short sale, and 4 were bank owned properties. Pricing is being affected by the amount of inventory in the condo market, although an additional factor is how challenging it is to get loans to purchase condos in today's financial landscape. Most lenders want to see 25-30% down, an... 07/05/2010

 Here are the January - June 2010 stats and 2009 for comparison - 2010 64 Homes Sold Lowest price: $25,000 Highest price: $1,000,000         Lowest Per Square Foot Sold:$25.51 Highest Per Square Foot Sold: $298.18    2009 43 homes sold Lowest price: $48,000 Highest price: $615,000 Lowest Per Square Foot Sold:$40.32 Highest Per Square Foot Sold: $226.77 I know most buyers want to hear more information about distressed sales (REO's/Bank Owned properties) and most sellers would prefer to ignore them - as they make up about 50% of our local Multiple Listing Service inventory, however, they are impossible to ignore, as they do have an impact on pricing, and value perception of the market. Foreclosure sales are up about 50% year to year, which is good, as the sooner we get the distressed inve... 07/05/2010

Ponte Vedra Beach, located in St. John’s County, offers upscale living in Northeast Florida. Beautiful golf courses, pro-tennis courts, and a top-notch school system make Ponte Vedra homes among the most valuable real estate in Northeast Florida. Many people relocating to our area start out looking for Jacksonville homes but just fall in love with the neighborhoods of Ponte Vedra Beach. Ponte Vedra boasts a strong and growing economy, with a per capita income that ranks second in the state. Oceanfront and gated-community Ponte Vedra homes have been appreciating in value, as home buyers are drawn to the quiet and beautiful white, sandy beaches. And while home values are rising, taxes remain low. The excellent public school system attracts families to look for Ponte Vedra homes for sale, ... 05/06/2010

I I almost can't believe it myself. Oceanfront properties, duplex, single family houses, and condos are all being adjusted drastically downward.  Oceanfront considered Prime Real Estate because "location, location, location" is now subject to what all properties are experiencing....the discriminating buyer!  Just the luxury factor for being directly on the ocean doesn't seem to hold the "VALUE" it once did nor does the property condition. It can be totally pristine, never lived in and totally contemporary. And if the property is not worth the land it sitting on, then it certainly is worth at least the land price its sitting on? Right, not necessarily, because the land prices have fallen underneath the house that are built on them. And who can tell where the land bottom is.  I don't know... 03/30/2010

This is the view from the Balcony of the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse. You can see the Grandstands in the distance. Yesterday was quiet, just a few golfers about. But you can imagine the crowds and excitement during the TPC. The Clubhouse even has its own TPC Storyteller, who explains the history of Sawgrass, the TPC, and other fascinating trivia. 03/07/2010

  Beach Blast Off is a great family fun event highlighting the best of St. Augustine located on St. Augustine Beach.  This year was the 4th annual Fire & Ice Competition with local restaurants participating in a chili contest.  There are vendors providing games for children, food and New Year’s Eve party favors, all topped off with awesome fireworks.  The event is located at the local Pier at the Atlantic’s edge.  The fireworks are displayed over the ocean from the far end of the pier.     We live in a magical place with miles of awesome beaches, centuries of history and oodles of diverse heritage.  This event brings the magic close to the heart with the fireworks bursting out over the ocean’s crashing waves.  The fireworks were choreographed to stirring music and all were inspired to o... 01/01/2010

Serenata Beach Club is a private club located on the Atlantic Ocean in South Ponte Vedra Beach, FL between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach.  I enjoy many social events here including Tuesday Trivia, live music on many Sundays during the summer, Ladies Luncheon, the Book Club, the Artist Series, dining, happy hour, the hot tub and the adults-only pool. I also appreciate that they don't have a meal minimum and there is a full exercise facility with many classes at no charge. I keep meaning to exercise and I do my best to avoid Kim Miller, the on-site personal trainer. Kim e-mails me and other members weekly with health information. See how I took the picture below outside of the room---too scared to even enter! Some of the classes held include Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Intervals, Fitness ... 08/05/2009