Lisa Barton

Here's a quick summary of the Lakeside neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: Lakeside
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities. Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: Lakeside has less than 20 residences.
• Size Range: Two to four bedrooms
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Houses in Lakeside sell quickly.
• Fun Fact: Most houses have cute interior courtyard entry ways.

In a recent article in the Florida Times Union, the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) reports a strengthening real estate market in our region with improvements in year-over-year sales, pending sales, median price, and inventories.

Review of data over a longer term suggests that the Jacksonville real estate market hit bottom earlier this year and is beginning to recover. Closed sales are up about 1.5% from this time last year and pending sales (sales that have not yet closed) shot up 24.4% from this same time last year.

Median sales price, which has been decreasing in recent years, increased 2.2% since August 2010. And, the average sales price has also increased by 6.6% in the same period. Inventories of available homes have started to decline, another positive indicator of an improving market.

Here's a quick summary of The Players Club Villas neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: The Players Club Villas
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities.  Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: The Players Club Villas has 101 condos.
• Size Range: These units range in size from approximately 1,500 to 2,500 square feet.
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  The Players Club Villas community has its own pool.
• Fun Fact: You can fish from your deck from many of these condominiums.

Good news for residents of Palencia! I was showing properties to home buyers this weekend and we were pleased to see that the new Clubhouse is open AND the facility is beautiful! Available to all Palencia residents, the Clubhouse feels like a resort and the amenities are great! You'll find an olympic size pool with swim lanes, a huge fitness center, men's and women's locker rooms, and a childcare facility. The Palencia Clubhouse is located in the center of the community, so it's an easy walk or bike ride from most homes. 

Here's a quick summary of the Salt Creek neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: Salt Creek
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities.  Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: Salt Creek has nearly 177 residences.
• Size Range: These homes range in size from 2,400 to nearly 5,000 square feet and have various combinations of bedrooms and baths.
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Salt Creek is in the newer part of the Sawgrass Players Club and homes are set on large lots.
• Fun Fact: My children like to fish in the lagoon.

Good news for first-time home buyers who are veterans or are currently serving in the military! There is a new program available offering financial help in the forms of grants. Active duty personnel, veterans, retired members of the military and employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security may be eligible for a grant up to $5,000 to use toward downpayments and closing costs if buying their first home. The grants can be applied to a mortgage issued by any financial institution. Requirements: military affiliation - (active duty, reserve, National Guard or veteran); Department of Defense employee or a Department of Homeland Security employee; first-time homebuyer or not owned a home for the last three years or a home has been lost through divorce or disaster. Gross household income, including allowances, used to qualify for a mortgage loan is a maximum of $55,000 per year, or 80 percent of a community's median income based on family size. For more details, visit this website.. 

Source: "Veterans and Active Duty Can Get Financial Help When Buying Their First Home," Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation (July 25, 2011) Copyright 2011 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688. 

Oh no, it's that time of year again. Officially, hurricane season is June 1 - November 30, but it seems that September through October I'm glued to the Weather Channel. We've been lucky in Jacksonville, Florida and haven't had a hurricane in almost 50 years. Hurricane Dora struck in 1964. That hurricane actually came from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the state and then came back over Jacksonville again. 

There are things you can do to keep you, your family and your home safer during a hurricane. Considering your home and real estate are most likely your biggest investment advanced planning is crucial, especially if you have an ocean front home, river front home or a house on the Intracoastal Waterway. This article has some tips you might find helpful.

Here's a quick summary of the Sawgrass Island neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: Sawgrass Island
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities.  Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: Sawgrass Island has nearly 60 residences.
• Size Range: These residences tend to be quite large with smaller homes approximately 3,900 square feet ranging upward to more than 8,000 square feet.
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  This is the most upscale neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club.
• Fun Fact: Many of the homes are on the TPC golf course and have spectacular views of THE PLAYERS Golf Tournament.

Here's a quick summary of the Cypress Creek neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: Cypress Creek
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities.  Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: Cypress Creek has approximately 200 residences.
• Size Range: Medium size rooms with three to four bedrooms with approximately 2,000 to 3,500 square feet.
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Nice neighborhood on big wooded lots with interesting home styles.
• Fun Fact: The Cypress Creek neighborhood hosts the best Halloween party.  

Here's a quick summary of the Water Oak neighborhood in Sawgrass Players Club. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood: Water Oak
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Solano and TPC Parkway
• Gated: Yes
• Clubhouse: The Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club (formerly known as Oakbridge Country Club) has tennis, a pool, golf, and dining. You must be a member or a member guest to access these facilities.  Only a few blocks away is the TPC Clubhouse which is open to the public. There are a variety of membership categories available depending on how much you want to play golf.
• How Many Homes: Water Oak has over 80 residences.
• Size Range: Residences in this neighborhood typically have between 2,500 and 4,000 square feet.
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes, very.
• Recreation: There is a very large playground with basketball courts, soccer fields, jungle gym, walking trails and covered picnic tables in Oakbridge. 
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix, Winn Dixie, and Fresh Market are all close.
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  This neighborhood has a great tree canopy.
• Fun Fact: If you go on an adventure on a hot day, pick Water Oak.  You can stay in the shade the whole time.