“The biggest change is sales prices of homes have really gone up sky high and there’s not much more land. The beaches are hot and highly priced.”
— Jacquie Parillo
of First South Bank
“I’ve lived in Jacksonville all my life and have at different times, lived in Neptune, Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra beaches. My family has also resided in both Atlantic Beach and the South Ponte Vedra Beach area, and also used to own a vacation condominium in St. Augustine. Needless to say, I’ve witnessed a lot of change at the beaches, both in Duval and St. Johns Counties.
“Obviously, property values at the beaches have skyrocketed in recent years, first in Ponte Vedra Beach, then Atlantic Beach, now Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and the South Ponte Vedra Beach areas. While some say these escalations peaked two years ago and are now leveling off, I don’t agree. It may be harder to invest simply because the available property is so scarce, but the fact is that there will always be more people coming to this area and naturally, everyone always wants to be close to the beach. Investment in the home/property is also becoming a preferred alternative to investing in equities as well, so this is sure to increasingly become a factor.
“As far as specific changes, I’ve watched the Atlantic Beach ‘corners’ area transform from a sleepy commercial area anchored by Pete’s Bar and Hixon’s Surf Shop, to one of the city’s most vibrant entertainment districts with restaurants, bars and specialty retail shops.
“I’ve witnessed the condominium boom [that we are currently in the midst of], that has coincided nicely [in terms of timing] with the national trend of retiring baby-boomers and the revitalization of the beaches areas.
“I’ve seen a strong local government redevelop Jacksonville Beach into a real ‘destination’ area [at least on a regional basis], not only through the redevelopment of the downtown area, the creation of multiple festivals and addition of a new amphitheater; but also with the support of private business owners and investors.
I’ve seen a great old wooden fishing [and surfing] pier wash away under the force of Mother Nature, taking a lot of great memories with it. I’ve seen new parks built [and rebuilt], with land lent by churches and donated by private individuals helping to make the beaches a more comfortable home for families (though I suppose Jacksonville Beach in particular will always be ‘the spot’ to reside for our area’s young people and singles). I’ve watched the development of CR 210 in Palm Valley — my favorite road in all of North Florida — as it has transformed from a once quiet country back road into a growing corridor of new family communities; and while I hate to see it lose its peaceful country charm, I must say that I’ve met many new friends who reside in these communities that I otherwise never would have. I also enjoy new amenities like the Winston Family YMCA, that likely never would have materialized, if it weren’t for the need created by these families.
“I’ve seen a favorite old haunt, Mickler’s Landing (‘Crossroads,’ to surfers), become a busy public beach with an expanded parking lot, showers, lifeguards and better access for more people — especially families.
“Further south, I’ve watched the development of the South Ponte Vedra Beach area, which is now spilling into Vilano Beach, with its own redevelopment plans. The Serenata Beach project is a fabulous addition to this area and it is increasing property values all around it. I think one day you’ll see a lot of the nearby smaller beach cottages purchased and removed to pave the way for more people with more money, wanting to build bigger, nicer homes there.
“Each of the beaches areas truly has its own unique personality and over the past 20 years, each has undergone significant change. What’s more, this is only the tip of the iceberg, compared to what’s coming with the associated influence of things like the Nocatee project, the push to further develop A1A’s reputation as a national historic highway, national attention gained from the Super Bowl, etc. North Florida is a dynamic area and its beaches are one of its crown jewels. And while there’s always comfort in the status quo and uncertainty in change, one thing that I’m certain of is that I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
— Tim Hamby,
Renaissance Creative Services
“I have lived in Ponte Vedra for over 12 years. When I moved here, it was a sleepy little town and didn’t seem to really even need a stop light. There was no McDonalds, no tire stores, and room to breathe. Now we are overpopulated with strip shopping centers, banks, and dentists. I wish the growth could have been better controlled. Even so, I love where I live and realize I can’t halt progress.”
— Carole Martin,
Ponte Vedra Club Realty.
“Being a native of Jacksonville, and a beach resident for the past 20 years, it is hard to even begin to say how much everything has changed. I still have to pinch myself everyday on the prices that are now being realized at the beaches and town as well. Of course, the new beach pavilion is something that had been promised and
has now finally been delivered and the beautification that is in progress in the formally ‘blighted area’ is also welcoming. The sheer numbers of cars on the streets, of course, is the down side of growth and also, even though I am a real estate agent, the disappearance of land is sad. All in all, we are changing from our one-horse town, into a blossoming city and although we can feel the aches and pains from the growth, I think overall it is exciting to see what’s happened and is continuing to happen here in ‘ole Jacksonville’.”
— Connie Mabry, Coldwell Banker Walter Williams
Realty, Inc. Ponte Vedra Office
“The retail development here in Ponte Vedra Beach is the biggest change I have seen. When I first sold real estate in 1981, A1A was two lane and there was nowhere to get a quart of milk. In fact, if you weren’t a member of a private club in the area you had to go up to Jacksonville Beach to get a sandwich at lunch time.”
— Rob Kearney,
Kearney Real Estate
Services, Inc.
“By far the factors that are leading to growth changes is new construction along the ocean front. With appreciation increasing each year, the value of the property dictates down with the old up with the new.”
— Wayne M. Jones,
Watson Realty Corp.
“The biggest growth changes that I have seen in the beaches in the past 12 years, since this is how long I have lived here is many corporate stores have moved here. For example, in the past five years alone, we have added a Walgreens, Eckerd, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday, Target, Books-a-Million, Panera Bread, Starbucks and several others. Also, we are seeing upscale oceanfront condos going up mostly in Jacksonville Beach.”
— Paul Wilson,
Watson Realty
“The biggest change that I’ve seen at the beaches since coming here 10 years ago is within the condominium market. I have been both a condominium association manager and real estate broker here in Ponte Vedra Beach during the past ten years and have noticed a huge increase, not only in the prices, of course, but in the popularity and variety of units available. Condominium properties are attractive to people looking for a primary residence, a second home or even an investment. This type of property works for people in their senior years, looking to get away from a lot of maintenance, as well as younger people whose lifestyles do not afford them the time necessary to maintain a single family home. I believe we will see this trend continue at the beaches in the years to come.”
— Sue Ann Ogden, of
Suncastle Properties, Inc.
“I consider the beach everything east of the Intracoastal Waterway. In Ponte Vedra, I think that Palm Valley has experienced significant change over the last 20 years. What used to be dirt roads, and a low-key country lifestyle has become home to multi-million dollar homes. I remember riding the bus home from Nease High School in the 8th grade (when Nease was 7-12th grades) and moms would sometimes pick up their kids by horseback along Wilderness and Neck Road. Now, students are picked up by impressive ‘horse-power’, hidden beneath the hoods of their luxury cars.”
— Justin Clark,
The Charles Skinner Company
”Lines at stop-lights!! Hands down, no question!”
— David MacInnes,
Oceanside Bank
Mortgage Dept.
“We are in the hottest market that most people have seen in a long time. What does this mean to the newcomer real estate versus the more established people? It certainly does make pricing interesting. Many times, there are many bids, so it is difficult to explain to buyers that ‘deals’ are just not out there at this time. I think the buyers are going through this price/sticker shock and want to try to “get a bargain” and the sellers are standing their ground. Seems properties sell immediately or just stay out there (way high prices.)
“For homeowners, the values are almost a ‘disbelief’ sort of topic (pricing values). but they do seem to love it in many ways. For investors, cash flow is not what the risk is about, but more important is the appreciation. Just like the market, it’s a gamble on the future. I still laugh when people talk about ‘what they should have bought 10 years ago.’
“Why not start buying now so in the year 2012? You can show people how smart you were to pay attention to what you already know!!! Are there deals out there? Of course, and that’s when it is best to have a real estate agent to work for you, as they keep on top of this and get you the best deals around.”
— Fred and Jenet Cattar,
Cattar Realty
“After growing up in Jacksonville and spending time at the Ponte Vedra Club, I was happy to, in adulthood, be able to choose to make Ponte Vedra my home in 1980 at a new development called L’Atrium. When we chose our lot in 1979, A1A was two lanes, there was no gas station, and the only grocery of sorts was ‘The Store,’ owned by the Ponte Vedra Club. It sat at the south end of the Club tennis courts and if you wanted anything much more than their specialty, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, you might have to make the trip to Jacksonville Beach!
“Next door to The Store was The Post Office. This was the social gathering place for the residents of Ponte Vedra Beach. I would go by there daily when I worked for the Ponte Vedra Recorder and leave the motor of my MG running and my purse on the seat, and go visit and take care of my business. I think we had three sheriff’s deputies, and they drove Audis because one of the residents was the local dealer. “Twenty-plus years later, we have not only many grocery stores, but numerous other shops and stores, four lanes for traffic, high-end restaurants, and houses priced in ranges we used to think were probable only in south Florida. Our population has grown five or six times or more in the past 20-something years, and our previously hard-to-fill schools filled to capacity, so we built new schools.
“Most of the beaches area is now built out. This has changed the way we do business. Nearly gone from the beaches are model and spec homes; homes are now custom or resale. In the early ‘90s, when I worked for Marsh Landing Realty, agents would bring their customers into the realty office, we would do a tour of the community and club, and introduce them to builders. Now there are almost no lots left in Marsh Landing; the last vacant land, some estate lots, will be brought on line this year.
“Ponte Vedra Beach has gained many more multi-family home-buying opportunities in the past few years, particularly with the transition of several apartment developments into condominiums. So, what was a sleepy more or less retirement area 25 years ago or so has grown and thrived into one of northeast Florida’s most desirable places to live, with all the commercial development to support this growth. The mainstream owner is now a family, 30 or 40 something, rather than the retired (60-plus something) executive who plays golf or tennis every day. Boy, have we changed, but overall we still enjoy a quality of life matched by few.”
— Clare Berry,
Berry & Co. Real Estate