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January 2014 Issue

Northeast Florida has been called an undiscovered gem, but more people are recognizing the Jacksonville area for its southern hospitality, its rich history, its natural beauty and its unspoiled beaches. Lovely historic neighborhoods and amenity-rich master-planned communities offer an array of housing options and the arts are emphasized. Football fans can't enough of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

FROM THE EDITOR
More Than Warm Weather is Drawing Northern Relocators.
The image of Florida as "Heaven's waiting room" still hangs on. And while this is clearly a great place to spend one's golden years, the Sunshine State's growth is hardly dependent on the older generation fleeing chilly winters.

FEATURE
The New Normal
Even though they cross their fingers when they say it, economists and industry experts predict the 2014 homebuilding market to continue to improve for both buyers and sellers, steadily climbing back to "normal" after years of distress.

Navigating the New Mortgage Market
If you're planning to buy a house next year - and unless you're able to make an all-cash offer - you could be impacted by changes that have just taken place in the mortgage application process.

It's New for You
If you think your first home has to be somebody else's fixer-upper, think again. You can likely buy a new (or almost new) home with all the modern bells and whistles - and not spend any more per year.

Living Large
In the middle of the housing recession, most builders shrunk the size of their homes and industry pundits declared that McMansions were out and smaller "jewel box" homes were in.

PROFILE
Publisher's Pick: Builder
While other builders have come and gone, Standard Pacific Homes has shown an unwavering commitment to Northeast Florida.

Publisher's Pick: Community
Crosswater at Pablo Bay, located near the Intracoastal Waterway and just five miles from the Beaches, brings together four of the region's most respected homebuilders to create an upscale community that's close to everything - but feels far away from the hustle-bustle.

Publisher's Pick: Floorplan
Nocatee, one of the Top 10 bestselling communities in the U.S., gets a lot of attention for its extraordinary natural beauty, its resort-style amenities and its burgeoning retail and commercial areas.