Restoring and Empowering Veterans in the Community

October 10, 2025

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Every fall, Davidson Realty hosts the annual sport shooting fundraiser, the Jim Davidson’s Annual Clay Day, in honor of the Davidson family’s patriarch, the late Jim Davidson. This year, on October 16, 2025, Davidson will celebrate its 10th Clay Day at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports. The 100-target sporting clay shooting fundraiser hosts individuals and teams, from beginner to expert levels, to raise money for local nonprofits throughout Northeast Florida. This year’s nonprofits include Builders Care, St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), Investing in Kids! (INK!), Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center, Five STAR Veterans Center and Home for Hope. Since its inaugural year in 2012, Davidson Cares, the corporate giving program of Davidson Realty, has donated more than $871,000 to help these vital programs provide families and individuals with the resources and support they need.

 

One of organizations Davidson Cares lends support to is Five STAR Veterans Center, a nonprofit founded in March 2012 to assist veterans in need. Five STAR has a specific focus on veterans aged 22 to 55 who suffer from traumatic wounds, particularly physical injuries that contribute to complex mental health issues, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Depression, Anxiety and others. These wounds when left untreated can prevent veterans from moving forward, enjoying their lives, and successfully reentering civilian life.

 

Five STAR’s goal for veterans is re-integration into society through their Passport to Independence program, which has a 96 percent success rate with over 400 program graduates. ”Passport to Independence” is an intensive 6 to 12 month program that creates individualized plans for veterans to achieve their goals while they Restore, Reconnect, and Rejoin the community. There are 41 residential beds in their on-site housing, with currently 31 residents living and participating in programs to get back on their feet. Five STAR offers 24-hour mental health services, where each veteran is immersed in different modalities of therapy and outreach events, including individual counseling, peer-to-peer counseling and group therapy. Veterans can also participate in K9 and equine therapy off-site.

 

Five STAR is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices combat veterans make during their service, and in providing the support they need, veterans can find success and independence in civilian life. Residents are provided with a room of their own, providing them with the safety and peace they may have lost overseas. They have opportunities to reconnect with family members, military buddies and friends; take business and social skills training; and learn personal finance to get out of debt and understand financial freedom. “The support at Five STAR Veterans Center never ends,” shares Sherry Davidson, president of Davidson Cares and Davidson Realty. “They’re making a huge difference in our veteran community here in Florida, and we’re honored to be able to support them and the important work that they do.”

 

To learn more about Five Star Veterans Center, visit www.5starveteranscenter.org, and to help make a difference today, donate here.

 

Northeast Florida Market Stats | August 2025

September 22, 2025

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Posted by in Uncategorized

“We rise by lifting others.” Robert Ingersoll

 

You can lift others by participating in Jim Davidson’s 10th Annual Clay Day on October 16th. Purchase a raffle ticket and support several great local charities. Go to DavidsonCares.com to purchase.

The latest numbers from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors Market Review are:

Median Sales Price: $350,000 (stable)

Closed Sales : 2,327 (down 7.7% from July and down 9.1% from last year)

Pending Sales : 1,712 (down 29.8% from July and down 26.9% from last year)

Active inventory: 11,609 (nearly flat)

Months’ supply of inventory: 5.0 months (indicating a balanced market)

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Best Day Trips from St. Augustine

September 18, 2025

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Posted by in News

Living in St. Augustine and the surrounding areas – Ponte Vedra, Vilano Beach, World Golf Village and Jacksonville – sure do come with its perks. With some of the best beaches in the state, world-class golf, professional sports and a great culinary scene, Northeast Florida is a spectacular place to live — and it’s only a short drive from some very special places. Just hop in your car, and in a mere 45 minutes to hour-and-a-half, you can be whisked away to find Florida magic, without even having to stay the night.

 

 

Ravine Gardens State Park: 1600 Twigg St, Palatka, FL 32177 (45 minutes from downtown St. Augustine)

Ravine Gardens is a stunning tropical paradise, filled with flowering plants and steep ravines. Located in Palatka, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1999. Open 365 days a year, from 8am to sunset, this beautiful park features ancient, narrow and deep ravines that have been transformed into rustic gardens. The park’s two ravines are 70-120 feet deep, with steep 45-degree angle banks, and a creek at the bottom called Whitewater Branch, a spring-fed stream that flows east into the St. Johns River. Over thousands of years, the ravines have become wider and deeper, and can be explored on foot or bike. In 1933, the ravines were transformed into the gardens we see today, with native and ornamental flowers, including up to 18 different varieties of azaleas. The peak flowering season is from January to March, where hundreds of azaleas bloom simultaneously in brilliant colors of white, pink, purple and coral. Large spans of azaleas can be found along trails and ravine sides, creating a spectacular display each year. A wonderful place to visit any time of the year, the annual Azalea Festival is held the first weekend in March and is a great time to soak in the unique beauty of Ravine Gardens State Park. Admission is only $5 per vehicle. Learn more on the park’s website.

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Northeast Florida Market Stats | July 2025

August 25, 2025

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Posted by in Uncategorized

 

The July 2025 market review from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors shows trends that are very similar to June. Overall, home prices remain stable, sales activity has slowed, and inventory levels are holding steady.

 

Home Prices

 

The median sales price in July was $346,000, down 1.1% from June and 1.6% from last year. Prices are not expected to decline significantly, as most homeowners have strong equity positions and are not under pressure to sell.

 

Closed & Pending Sales

 

Closed sales: 2,425 homes, down 10.1% from June and 10.1% year-over-year. While closings fluctuate month to month, activity has stayed within a consistent range.

 

Pending sales: 1,818 homes, down 25.2% from June and 28.9% from last year.

 

Looking ahead, there are reasons for optimism: mortgage applications are rising, interest rates have eased slightly, inventory is offering buyers more choice, and builders are providing significant incentives on completed homes. Even property insurance rates are showing signs of improvement.

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The Most Unique Homes in Northeast Florida

August 21, 2025

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Posted by in News

Whether you’re looking for luxury, history, modern amenities or architectural design, Northeast Florida has some of the most unique and beautiful homes in the state. As a locally-owned real estate company with over 30 years of experience — serving Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and St. Johns County — we’ve seen a lot of spectacular homes, and here are some of our favorites.

 

Sinclair Lewis’ Vilano Beach Retreat

Located at 177 Surfside Avenue on Vilano Beach, this historic beach cottage was built in 1916 on multiple waterfront lots. The home sits along a tidal creek connecting to the Intracoastal Waterway, and is a cozy, wood-shingled bungalow that exudes Old Florida charm. It features a giant front porch, coquina fireplace and quaint guest house. It oozes abundant natural beauty, with towering oaks and palms, ferns and tropical trees, a woodshed, raised garden beds and even a hen house. This beautiful retreat is a famous one too — once home to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis. In the 1920s, he rented the shingled bungalow to write his novels Main Street (1920), Babbit (1922), Arrowsmith (1925) and his best-known work, Elmer Gantry (1927). Just steps from the beach, this historic property is an outdoor haven in one of St. Augustine’s most desirable locations.

 

Pillars Castle in St. Augustine

Located at 16 May Street in St. Augustine, this one-of-a-kind, pink, historic, luxury estate was built circa 1925. A real-life castle right in the heart of historic downtown, Pillars Castle is a breathtaking and iconic architectural masterpiece. Fully-restored to preserve its historic charm, Pillars is known for its ornate engineering, original stained glass windows, coffered ceilings and stone fireplaces — and recent owners incorporated modern luxury throughout. The beautifully pink castle boasts over 4,400 square feet, a grand hall, formal dining, chef’s kitchen, custom bar and the most perfect private exterior with beautifully landscaped grounds and an elegant courtyard and fountain. Designed by American sculptor C. Adrian Pillars, who lived in St. Augustine between 1919 and 1932, Pillars Castle stands as a symbol of the city’s rich heritage.

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