Lisa Barton

Here's a quick overview of the Sandy Oaks neighborhood in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. If you have questions about this neighborhood please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood:  Sandy Oaks
• Nearest Major Intersection:  A1A and Solana Road
• Gated: No
• Clubhouse: No
• How Many Homes: Approximately 50
• Size Range: 2 – 3 bedrooms
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes
• Recreation: No amenities in the neighborhood but conveniently located for great access to Ponte Vedra living.
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Location!  One block from the library, one block to the elementary school, two blocks to Publix, four blocks to the beach.
• Fun Fact: I sold the only blue house in Sandy Oaks.

If you are thinking of joining a country club this year, one option to consider would be a membership to the beautiful Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. Social and recreational opportunities abound.  Features include a main ballroom and a full-service dining room, both with panoramic marsh views of the 9^thhole. There is a fitness center which includes an aerobics room, strength training and cardio equipment, massage room, and locker rooms. The tennis pro shop can help you with all of your tennis needs. Ten Har-Tru tennis courts are available. The centerpiece of the community, the Ed Seay golf course, weaves through pockets of marshes, soaring pines, floral landscape, and is the home to a variety of wildlife.

Here's a quick overview of the Odom's Mill neighborhood in Ponte Vedra Beach. If you have questions about this neighborhood please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood:  Odom’s Mill
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Palm Valley Road and Mickler Road
• Gated: No
• Clubhouse: No
• How Many Homes: Around 200
• Size Range: 2,000 – 3,100 square feet
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes
• Recreation: Community pool
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Children can walk to the elementary school, Ocean Palms, the middle school, Landrum, plus the Winston Family YMCA.
• Fun Fact:  My first tennis partner lives in Odom’s Mill and is one of the original owners.

More information that supports buying a home NOW:  a report by Trulia suggests thats it’s cheaper to buy a home than rent one in 72 percent of the 50 largest U.S. cities, according to their rent vs. buy index, which compares the total cost of homeownership to the cost of renting.

“Since the start of the ‘Great Recession,’ many former homeowners have flooded the rental market,” Pete Flint, CEO of Trulia, said in a news release about the index. “Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets.”

The index compares the median sales price of homes with the median rent on two bedroom apartments, condos, and townhomes that were listed on Trulia as of Jan. 10, 2011.

Here are the top 10 cities where it’s best to buy than rent, according to the index:

1. Miami
2. Las Vegas
3. Arlington, Texas
4. Mesa, Ariz.
5. Phoenix, Ariz.
6. Jacksonville, Fla.
7. Sacramento, Calif.
8. San Antonio, Texas
9. Fresno, Calif.
10. El Paso, Texas

The electric cart network that surrounds Nocatee is finished!  It’s the first of its kind in Northeast Florida.  Electric golf carts, or similar low-speed vehicles, can be used as an alternate form of transportation around the entire community.  Connector roads have been built between communities and amenities to increase the network.  This interlinked Greenway Trail System includes miles of wide, multiuse pathways that wonder between communities, shopping, wetlands, and recreation areas. 

Each year Newsweek Magazine publishes a list of the top high schools in the nation. This year Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville's school system, had three high schools that made the list:  Stanton College Preparatory School was ranked third, Paxon High School was ranked eighth and Douglas Anderson High School for the Performing Arts was ranked number 33. Wow!

Here's a quick overview of the Walden Chase neighborhood in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. If you have questions about this neighborhood please feel free to contact me.

• Neighborhood:  Walden Chase
• Nearest Major Intersection:  Palm Valley Road (210) and U.S.1
• Gated:  No
• Clubhouse: No
• How Many Homes: 550
• Size Range: 3-5 bedrooms
• Pedestrian-Friendly: Yes
• Recreation: Pool, tennis courts, playground, community center
• Nearest Grocery Store: Publix
• LB’s Favorite Neighborhood Feature:  Great community pool and playground and it’s really close to the Nocatee amenities.
• Fun Fact:  First house I ever sold was in Walden Chase!

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach kicked off its newest exhibit, Celebrate Art 2011, this weekend. Celebrate Art 2011 is the fourth annual juried member artist exhibition and will showcase the diverse talents of the Cultural Center's artist members. The exhibit will be on display through February 19th. The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is a wonderful resource for residents of Ponte Vedra Beach. The Center provides a place to understand, experience and create art  through exhibitions of local, regional and national artists in a variety of media; through exciting events for the community; and through quality arts classes, lectures and workshops. Stop by and check it out!

The Florida Times Union just published a great article about the private school options in the Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beaches and Ponte Vedra Beach areas. Many of my customers who are relocating have questions about education options for their children. In Florida, school districts are organized by county and both Duval County and St. Johns County have excellent public schools. Still, many parents prefer to enroll their children in a private school and there are many options for those parents:

1. Trinitiy Christian Academy: (K3 - grade 12) phone: (904) 596-2400
2. Bishop Kenny High School: (grade 9 -12) phone (904) 398-7545
3. Episcopal High School: (grade 6 -12) phone (904) 396-5751
4. Diocese of St. Augustine Catholic Schools: there are numerous Catholic schools in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine with classes from pre-kindergarten through high school.
5. The Bolles School: (preK - grade 12) phone: (904) 256-5030
6. St. Johns Country Day School: (preK - grade 12) phone (904)264-9572
7. San Jose Episcopal Day School: (preK - grade 6) phone (904)733-0352
8. Providence School: (K - grade 12) phone (904)223-5270
9. Hendricks Day School of Jacksonville: (preK - grade 8)

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors held its annual holiday luncheon in The Plantation’s lovely clubhouse. Cathy Brown, Executive Director of the St. Johns Council on Aging, was the keynote speaker and shared some interesting facts about St. Johns County:

• Twenty-five percent of residents with a Florida Driver’s License are over the age of 60. 
• There is one hospital in St. Johns County with 316 beds.
• Twenty-eight percent of those eligible to vote are over the age of 60. 
• Twenty-three percent of county residents are over 60, divided fairly evenly between males and females, and are predominantly white.