Davidson Realty, Inc.

4 Neighborhoods in Northeast Florida You Need to Explore

June 24, 2022

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Posted by in Featured Neighborhood, Neighborhoods, News

Every neighborhood in Northeast Florida has something unique and special to share with its visitors. “Northeast Florida has something for everyone! With so many things to see and do, you are bound to make lasting memories while exploring the First Coast,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. We’re sharing a few of our favorite neighborhoods that are worth visiting and exploring for yourself. 

 

 

Murray Hill

Nestled between trendy Riverside and historic Avondale, you’ll find Murray Hill – an old neighborhood with new treasures to discover. Take a drive down Edgewood Avenue to truly get a sense of the good vibes of Murray Hill. A few of our favorite spots to visit in Murray Hill are Bold Birds Nashville Hot Chicken, Moon River Pizza, and the iconic Dreamette! 

 

Atlantic Beach 

Relax and unwind in Atlantic Beach! From the breathtaking beaches and parks to the quaint town, you’ll be entertained for days. Check out local favorites Poe’s Tavern or Sub Cultured for a bite before hanging out at Jack Russell Park. Of course, you can’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the ocean while you’re in the area. 

 

Ortega

The small and historic community of Ortega offers a quiet neighborhood with waterfront views, while still being miles away from the urban core. Sitting just across the St. Johns River from Downtown Jacksonville makes Ortega one of the best places to view the skyline and watch the sunset. Stockton Park is a promising location to take in the best views… and try catching a fish or two. 

 

Downtown

Where do you even begin with Downtown Jacksonville? A place where you can watch a Jacksonville Jaguar game at EverBank Field, catch a show at the Florida Theatre, or eat and drink at some of the best establishments in town, all within a few miles. Some of our favorite places to sit down for a bite are Indochine, Cowford Chophouse, and Intuition Ale Works. 

 

While all of these neighborhoods have their own unique personality, one thing is for sure, Northeast Florida is the PERFECT place to live!

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Davidson Realty Welcomes New Agents Theresa Connolly, Sharon Mathis, Maurkee Ragin, and Molly Austin to Team of Experts

June 15, 2022

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Posted by in Agent Feature, News, Staff

Davidson Realty is constantly welcoming new faces to its team of real estate experts as they continue to be the go-to brokerage in Northeast Florida. The team at Davidson Realty is proud to welcome four new members to their family. 

 

Theresa Connolly  

Theresa Connolly is proud to be a part of the Davidson Realty team. In 2014, Theresa relocated to the First Coast from Philadelphia. As soon as she explored St. Augustine it was love at first sight. With a background in account management and sales training, Theresa strives to fulfill the needs of her client. She looks forward to sharing her passion and active involvement in the local real estate market. “Theresa is ready to earn your trust while helping you achieve your real estate goals,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. “I have a feeling Theresa will make many lifelong friendships in the process.”

 

Sharon Mathis

With more than twenty years of experience in both new construction home sales and seller and buyer representation, Sharon Mathis is joining the team of real estate experts at Davidson Realty. Sharon’s professional experience combined with her extensive knowledge of the Northeast Florida area will be a true advantage when helping clients purchase a home or investment property. Sharon is a long-time First Coast resident and has worked in Orange Park and the Ponte Vedra Beaches area. “Sharon has sold homes across Jacksonville, from Avondale to the beaches! Sharon’s knowledge of the area along with her passion will be true assets to her clients,” shares Davidson. 

 

Maurkee Ragin

Maurkee Ragin joins the Davidson Realty team eager to help his clients find their first home, second home, or home of their dreams! Growing up in a military family, Maurkee has not only had a few homes across the country, but was taught at an early age the importance of leadership, ethics, integrity, and selfless service. He has continued to develop these values through the Florida Army National Guard and is now one year away from earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Florida. “Maurkee is grounded and focused on the needs of his clients. He is professional and we are proud to have Maurkee represent the Davidson Realty brand,” continues Davidson.

 

Molly Austin

With a vast experience in real estate, Molly Austin joins the Davidson Realty family ready to serve her clients. Molly began investing in real estate in 2005 before starting her own property management company that specialized in commercial properties in 2013. Through these experiences, Molly has always wanted to become a REALTOR ® and chose the Davidson Realty team through a ladies’ network at the Jacksonville Clay Target Sports called Belles with Shells. Molly has a passion for missions and animals. She is a long-time sponsor and team leader for Faithful Servant Missions and is a board member for the Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida. “Molly comes to Davidson Realty with wonderful experiences working with our community. We are proud to share not only a love for real estate with Molly but excitement to serve our neighbors as well,” shares Davidson. 

 

If you are interested in a career in real estate with Davidson Realty, call us today at (904) 940-5000. 

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Best Strategies to Win a Bidding War

June 2, 2022

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

When buying a home in today’s real estate market, be prepared to pull out every weapon in your arsenal. Most agents are dusting off strategies and techniques they haven’t used since the early 2000s to compete in this competitive seller’s market. “Homes are selling fast and for thousands over list price. Homebuyers need to be ready to move quickly and aggressively when they find a home they love,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

Putting together an offer to sellers? Make it strong! With only a month’s worth of inventory up for sale, more and more buyers are making all-cash offers. Cash sales are attractive because the seller has seemingly no risk of financing problems and they save time with the elimination of the underwriting process. 

 

Opt for a shorter inspection period or no inspection. Make an estimate of how much necessary improvements will cost and consider them in your offer. For newer homes, waiving the inspection could be a valid tactic, but the buyer must truly understand and be comfortable with it as it could be extremely risky. 

 

Allowing the seller to rent back the home for a short time is another way to appeal to the seller’s needs. If the seller needs time to find or move into their next home, the buyer can allow the seller to stay for a set period of time and pay rent, usually the mortgage payment, or stay rent-free as the buyer would begin paying the mortgage. Being flexible could be what helps you win a bidding war!

 

Waive the appraisal contingency. The appraisal contingency allows a buyer to get out of a pending sale if the appraised market value of the home is less than the agreed upon contract price. If the contingency is waived, the buyer agrees to pay the difference between what the bank is willing to lend on the appraised value and the contract price. Waiving the appraisal contingency is clearly an attractive strategy, however, the buyer needs to be aware of the risk. 

 

A tool many agents are recommending to buyers to win bidding wars is an escalation or escalator clause which states the buyer will pay a certain amount above the highest bid. This clause makes the offer more attractive because it guarantees it will beat the highest bid. Usually, a limit is set on the clause to avoid the buyer overspending.

 

Footing the bill for closing costs and paying the commission for both sides of the transaction is another way to sweeten the deal for the seller. Additionally, writing a “love” letter could appeal to the emotions of the seller. Trusting your agent to help you select the strategies that work best for your situation is key. 

 

In this real estate market, be ready and act fast! For expert advice on strategies to catch the seller’s attention and put your offer at the top of the list, contact Davidson Realty today at (904) 940-5000. 

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Northeast Florida Real Estate Market Update

May 23, 2022

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Posted by in News, Northeast Florida Market Trends

“You will never see the end, if you give up in the middle.” – Joyce Meyer

 

I can’t wait to see where our housing market is going next.

 

In a recent Business Journal article “Observers and economists are cautiously optimistic that more inventory will hit the market in the coming months, which, combined with potentially fewer buyers because of rising mortgage rates and home prices, should help moderate the market.” We will be watching metrics like active inventory and days on market to see if we see this moderation.

 

Right now, the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors market stats doesn’t show the moderation in our market. The median sales price of $350,000 is up 22.9% from last April and 2.7% from the previous month. There were 41.3% of the closings over list price up from 39.5% the previous month. Our buyer demand is still very strong.

 

The median days on the market is 13 days down from 14 days the previous two months. The properties are still selling very quickly.

 

The active inventory is 3,432 homes which is 24.3% less than last April. There was a slight increase (3.7%) from the previous month. The months supply of inventory is 1.2 months which is down 9.6% from last April but up from 1.0 months in March. We will have to see whether the slight increase in inventory is a change in the market or sellers just pricing their homes over market price causing them to sit on the market a little longer.

 

There are many issues that could affect the real estate market. The rapid rise in mortgage interest rates, inflation, and the continuing supply chain issues could be three of the biggest. Housing prices and wage increases due to the shortage of workers seem to be major factors causing inflation.

 

A recent USA Today article made an interesting point about older workers comprising the largest group of Americans that stopped working during COVID. Many retired early but with the runaway inflation, financial pressures, and an abating pandemic many of them are returning to the labor force. Pew Research believes 1.5 million of the 3.5 million baby boomers who retired during the pandemic did so sooner than intended. The Fed puts the figure at 2.4 million. These workers may help some with the worker shortages.

 

I will continue to watch for changes in our market but if you are considering selling, it is a very good time to get your home on the market.

 

Enjoy all the great spring activities and the sports going on this time of year. If we can assist you in any way with real estate advice, please let us know.

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Everything You Need to Know About SilverLeaf: A Q&A with Riverside Homes

May 9, 2022

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Posted by in Featured Neighborhood, Neighborhoods, New Home Construction, News

If you drive around St. Johns County, you will see new businesses and developments popping up on every corner. A jewel in the highly coveted area: SilverLeaf. SilverLeaf is a master-planned community that is family-friendly and features resort-style amenities with no CDD fees. SilverLeaf is zoned for 10,700 dwelling units, 2,650,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space, and more than 3,500 acres of beautiful conservation land. Once complete, SilverLeaf will be the largest community development in Northeast Florida. We recently sat down with Riverside Homes’ New Home Sales Consultant in SilverLeaf, Brian Thurston, to find out more about why so many homebuyers are choosing to call SilverLeaf home.

 

How would you describe SilverLeaf?

SilverLeaf is the premier “No CDD fee”, master-planned community in the heart of northern St. Johns County. A golf cart-friendly backdrop allows residents to take advantage of convenient access to amenities, retail, restaurants, and the all-inclusive outdoor lifestyle we enjoy year-round in Northeast Florida. Whether a quick commute to Jacksonville, a nice drive to historic St. Augustine, or a trip to the beach, SilverLeaf has you positioned in one of the most accessible communities in our area.

 

What types of neighborhoods are within SilverLeaf?

SilverLeaf is comprised of a wide variety of different neighborhoods. From multifamily luxury apartments and townhomes to single-family estate living, SilverLeaf has it all! We are also excited about the future equestrian properties that will be developed in the coming years.

 

Are there perks for SilverLeaf residents?

From resort-style amenities to an ideal location, SilverLeaf is a family-friendly, new home community where you can live, work, and play. Currently, residents enjoy the use of one main amenity center. A large clubhouse is surrounded by three pool structures, a splash park, an exciting playground, two dog parks, four tennis courts, and six pickleball courts. There are a total of six amenity centers planned for future construction, one of which is just getting started. 

 

One of the most important features to SilverLeaf residents is the fact the community is zoned in the #1-ranked K-12 public school district in Florida, St. Johns County.

 

The highly anticipated new retail space, SilverLeaf Commons will also be opening soon. With 39 individual units for shops and restaurants, it will greatly advance the community vibe and bring more business opportunities just steps away from Courtney Oaks and Silver Landing neighborhoods. Baptist Health will be building a 300,000 square foot Medical office complex to host as an anchor. Future commercial space includes a 165-acre town center, dedicated grocery retail plaza, along with many acres of additional retail, mixed-use, and parks.

 

Where is Riverside Homes building in SilverLeaf?

As of Spring 2022, Riverside Homes is sold out in SilverLeaf Village and wrapping up construction operations. Our residents here will be enjoying a completed neighborhood very soon! Riverside Homes is also actively selling and building in Silver Landing on larger 60 and 70-foot homesites. We are expecting to open two of our most popular and award-winning model homes, the Ortega and Hamilton plans, sometime in June 2022.

 

This month, we are excited to release Courtney Oaks, the up-and-coming exclusive gated section of SilverLeaf. Courtney Oaks will proudly offer our newest and most compelling floor plan lineup on 70 and 80-foot estate homesites. Located close to the northern entrance of the community, this neighborhood allows for easy access to the CR-210 shops and restaurants. We are anticipating opening the door to our incredible Stella II model in the Fall of 2022.

 

Can you describe the popular Riverside Homes floor plans and their features?

Riverside Homes has a brilliant architect who’s always on the cutting edge of what buyers want most. Our plans are known for their tall ceilings, smooth walls, oversized windows and doors, and capture of bright, natural light. All of our plans are designed with function and style in mind. Whether it’s dueling offices for those work-from-home gurus, in-law suites, flex rooms, lofts, bonus rooms (Florida basement), or recreation rooms, there is not much we can’t offer our buyers. Of course, open floor plans great for entertaining are cooked right into all of our captivating plans. If I had a dollar for every smile I’ve seen in our model homes, I’d be retired by now!

 

What is the process to build a Riverside Home in SilverLeaf?

We take great pride in walking our buyers through each step of the building process. First, we begin with a deeper conversation and consultation to understand exactly what floor plan will work best to accommodate a family’s lifestyle. There are of course a variety of different factors that play into this, but we always help the buyer with insight from our experience so they can make wise design and financial choices. Then we counsel them through the structural design process, to dial in just that right fit. Now it gets exciting for buyers, as we are ready to finalize the purchase and get the property off the market!

 

Once we have the property under agreement, the sales counselor will begin working with the office staff, architect, and engineers to plan and permit the buyer’s new home. We take a lot of pleasure in being the builder that keeps their buyers up to date with weekly communication all the way through the planning and building phases of their new home project.

 

During planning, our buyers will have their interior design meeting with a dedicated designer to help them through selecting cabinets, counters, flooring, faucets, lighting, tile work, and more. Our outstanding interior design team stays at the forefront of the latest trends and most timeless design elements. During each design appointment, our designers help homebuyers navigate interior and exterior selections to ensure we design a home that perfectly suits their family’s needs, matches their vision, and turns their house into a home.

 

Once we have permits, we can schedule an orientation with our buyer and their project manager and begin construction. We know this is an exciting time for buyers to see their dream come alive, so we keep them engaged with weekly updates and meetings at critical stages in construction. This allows our buyers to know all of the things we know each week and can keep tabs on their home’s progress.

 

When our buyer’s home is completed, we go through three extensive punch list phases to fine-tune all elements of fit and finish. When we feel as though we have given the new home all of our love, we are ready for the buyer’s new home orientation walk-through so they can learn all about their home. This is also a time for us to further fine-tune fit and finish, but generally, this is a very short list since we have already completed all the heavy lifting.

 

A week later, it’s time for the final walk-through, closing, handing over title and deed, along with keys. New Home Day has arrived!

 

What makes SilverLeaf the ideal place to live?

Premium commutability, resort-style amenities, on-site retail & dining, and no CDD fees are what make St. Augustine’s SilverLeaf community the ideal place to live in Northeast Florida.

 

Can you give us a sneak peek at what’s to come for SilverLeaf? 

Check out the overall site plan below and you can get a sneak peek at what’s to come in SilverLeaf. To follow along with the progress on the Courtney Oaks neighborhood and to be the first to reserve a lot, please click here (link click here to https://myriversidehome.com/communities/courtney-oaks-at-silverleaf/). To stay updated on SilverLeaf Commons and view renderings, please click here (link click here to https://www.colliers.com/en/properties/silverleaf-commons/usa-218-silver-forest-drive-st-augustine-fl-32092/usa1093567).

 

To learn more about building with Riverside Homes in SilverLeaf please visit MyRiversideHome.com or call (904) 530-4720. If you are ready to call SilverLeaf home contact the real estate experts at Davidson Realty today at (904) 940-5000. 

 

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