Thanks, Good Neighbors

Our company works closely with builders and their organizations in every part of the state. And I can tell you that Jacksonville's builders are second to none when it comes to generosity of spirit and their incredible charitable endeavors.

Why? One theory I've heard is that Northeast Florida still boasts a significant number of local builders who have deep, personal roots in the community. In other parts of the state, large national companies dominate the market, and their priorities are more about achieving a satisfactory bottom line than helping people in need.

Maybe that's part of the reason, but in Jacksonville, many of the national builders seem just as concerned about paying their civic dues as the homegrown operations have been.

No, I think it has more to do with a culture of giving. And that, inevitably, goes back to the Northeast Florida Builders Association. NEFBA, perhaps more than any other trade or professional association in the region, has set an example of "doing well by doing good."

The association, led for more than 30 years by its legendary executive vice president, Arnold Tritt, has been an unmatched force for community betterment. There have been the high-profile undertakings, such as the 101 Home Build project and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition collaboration. There have also been countless lesser-known good works accomplished through NEFBA and its charitable arm, Builders Care—everything from renovating dilapidated homes to adopting needy grandmas for the holidays to buying bicycles for underprivileged children.

But the good works done through NEFBA tell only part of the story. On an individual basis, Jacksonville's builders support countless great causes. They build facilities for abandoned children. They raise money for cancer research. They buy books for elementary schools. The list goes on and on.

No builder I know of dedicates time and resources to such causes with the expectation of a pat on the back—but I think it's high time they got one anyway. That's why Jacksonville Homebuyer is sponsoring the First Annual Good Neighbor Awards, through which builders get the kudos they deserve for making Northeast Florida a better place in which to live.

In this issue, we spotlight 20 of the region's most generous builders and the causes they support. I think you'll be impressed when you consider the number of lives these companies have touched through the activities and organizations they assist.

Also in this issue, we look at the issue of entry-level housing. It's become increasingly difficult to find a new home priced at under $200,000 anywhere in Florida—even in Jacksonville. But if you know where to look, there are still homes out there that a young family starting out can afford.

We've also got the local Aurora Award winners, updated FCAT scores for local schools and much more. In fact, everything you need to know about living in Northeast Florida is between these glossy covers.

Enjoy your homework!