A downfall of being a "techie" is the insatiable appetite for tinkering with our website.  After half a decade of tinkering with the same technology on the back end of this site, I finally made the switch to a new - bigger - better - faster technology.  

Why is it better?  Well, if you are like most red blooded Americans and even most Europeans, you want your website browsing experience to be uber-fast.  When shopping for a home for sale in Jacksonville or a home on the river, you want the pages to load fast, pictures to be big, and you want it now!  (at least that's what I want).  

Our old site was getting a little too slow with all the pages we hosted.  It was lagging, and the constant tinkering with the old thoroughbred engine behind the scenes…

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2013:  73 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2013.

2012:  63 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2012.

2011:  57 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2011.

2010:  44 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2010.

2009:  36 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2009.

2008:  53 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2008.

2007:  79 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2007.

2006:  119 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2006.

2005:  109 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or more in 2005.

2004:  76 Homes sold in Duval county that were $1,000,000 or…

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I routinely get inquiries from home owners who are seeking relief from their mortgage.  The scenario is similar in each case:

  • Heavily upside down value versus amount owed.
  • Current on payments but barely.
  • Some form of hardship in the past few years that has caused mega-stress on the finances from then till now.

So the home owners call the bank for assistance.

The bank representation is friendly, kind, and happily recommends the home owners apply for a modification.  The home owners are happy too.... finally their is light at the end of the tunnel.

Next isn't quite as good.  The happy, easy process turns into months of back and forth.   Every time they call the bank, they get a new person that often has no clue as to what's going on…

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Reports of inventory (amount of homes on the market available for purchase) creeping up locally and around the country are legitimate, but we still need homes on the market.  I don't go 1 day without a fellow REALTOR commenting on not being able to find one or several of their current Buyer customers a good house.  It seems to be the topic of the quarter.

How is the Jacksonville Housing Market?

or to ask a different way,

Is now a good time to buy a home in Jacksonville?

Absolutely now is a good time!  According to this recent report by one of Trulia's housing economist.  Jacksonville is 14% undervalued!  Even with the increase in purchasing, even with the increase in Median purchase price, we are still below value.  So this continues to be…

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Want to buy a Jacksonville Home?

You've found the right place!

We've made searching in the most popular locations within Jacksonville easy by creating quick links to those hot neighborhoods and hot locations.  Many local residents and relocating home shoppers are using our site to search and buy a Jacksonville home, and we know we are doing a great job as we have so many return shoppers.

A few things to remember on your search:

  1. You will need a mortgage pre-approval or proof of cash.  We have several preferred loan officers we work with, so if you need a quick pre-approval, just send us an email and we will get you connected.
  2. Location Location Location.  Choose location first.  You can always add on, improve, or mow it down and start…

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In my opinion, and many others' as well, it's hard to beat the Vizcaya community.  The community highlights:

  • Gated
  • Location Location Location:  Right off Hodges and JTB next to Jax Golf and Country Club
  • Upscale community with Upscale town homes
  • 5 minutes to the Beach
  • 5 minutes to the St Johns Town Center
  • 5 minutes to golf courses
  • That lush tropical feel that very few Florida communities actually have.

13503 Isla Vista, Jacksonville FL features include:

  • Pulte quality construction of concrete block
  • Super popular Sophia floorplan with all bedrooms upstairs and large open living space on the 1st floor.
  • Upgraded tile and the owners chose to have it run at a diagonal .... which is very nice!
  • Upgraded cabinets
  • …

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Question of the week:  Should I wait to put my home on the market?

Short answer:  No

Short answer with caveats:  No, but sometimes yes.

Timing the market on the best time to put your home up for sale to insure the highest premium price is almost impossible.  I'm in the business, and I see pros and cons at every time of year, but even I sell when I'm ready and not based on a specific time of year.

Points to consider when trying to time a home going on the market:

  • The obvious:  Your home is prettier in the "green" months.  That's the months that your grass is green, so fortunately for us here North Florida, that's every month except for January and February.
  • Your timing:  Do you NEED to move due to a job, family matters, finances…

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To get absolute top dollar for your home, you must prepare your house for sale.  I'm always amazed at the condition of many homes I visit, and it's even worse when my Buyer customers start commenting on the poor condition of homes that are attempting to be sold for a premium price.  Don't make that same mistake!  Take the time and get your house ready for the market.

Top tips to prepare your house for sale:

  1. Start Outside:  Curb appeal can't be stressed enough.  Cut the lawn, edge everything, and trim back hedges and tree limbs.  Now is not the time want a "private" yard.  You want light and high visibility.  Fertilize, water, freshen the mulch, and get some seasonal flowers planted.  The importance of this front picture is everything.  It's…

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Mortgage rates have been bouncing all over the place this year.  This chart shows the increase and decrease, although in the last week rates have dropped back down in the low 4.2% range for highly qualified buyers.  In other news the banks have started loosening up a bit.  The average credit score of borrowers has dropped from the high 700's we had a year ago down to the lower 700's.  This is a clear sign that the banks are becoming a little more aggressive at getting new loans in the door. 

Search Homes for Sale in Hot Communities in Jacksonville FL

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1. Find a waterfront real estate agent.  You want a true waterfront specialist.  The average agent will not have the knowledge needed to guide you through the waterfront buying process.

2. Get financing before you shop.  The mortgage market has heavily changed.  You will either be paying cash or most likely be in a Jumbo Loan.  Jumbo loan limits and down payment percentages are different between lenders.  The faster you can get your financing set up, the smoother your buying and closing process will be.  Contact Brad for our preferred waterfront jumbo loan lenders.

3. Consider the land more than the house.  Location is everything when it comes to waterfront.  You can always add on, renovate, update, or mow down and rebuild.  You can not change…

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