I Love a Parade

The 51st annual Northeast Florida Builders Association Parade of Homes is now history. And as usual, the region's homebuilders outdid themselves.

This year, new homes were displayed ranging in price from $97,000 to $2.2 million. Having judged other parades in other markets, I can tell you with some degree of confidence Northeast Florida is the only Florida market where you'll find that kind diversity.

We've got more detailed information elsewhere in this issue, but the fact is that the Jacksonville MSA (Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties) remains an oasis of moderation in a time where most Florida markets are seeing housing prices escalate so rapidly that average families are struggling to buy average homes—even with interest rates remaining near historic lows.

Oh, don't get me wrong. New homes in Jacksonville don't exactly qualify as inexpensive. But comparable homes in other markets are higher—sometimes considerably higher—which means you can still get more bang for your buck on the First Coast.

"The Parade of Homes is the best possible resource for anyone thinking about buying a new home," notes Bryan Lendry, a homebuilder and 2005 NEFBA president. "Jacksonville housing remains among the most affordable in the nation, and buyers at all price points reap the benefit of our robust market."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

As always, Parade of Homes entries were judged by industry experts from other markets. In this issue of Jacksonville Homebuyer, we'll show you photographs of the winners—and I think you'll be impressed at the variety represented among the top finishers in every price range.

Also, in this issue, we offer an especially entertaining interior design story. How many times have you looked at a piece of furniture bought some years earlier, when you were enthralled by one fad or another, and asked yourself, "What was I thinking?" To help you avoid that situation in the future, Belinda Hulin talks to local experts about how to pick furnishings that will stand the test of time.

We've also got a moving profile of W. Howard White, president of North Florida Builders/A Woodside Company. If ever there was an example of doing well by doing good, it would be Howard.

As usual, you'll find our comprehensive development directory and our public school section with up-to-date FCAT scores. There are also two special sections I think you'll find informative—one on the array of new condominium developments and one on what's happening at World Golf Village.

In short, everything you need to know about buying a home in Northeast Florida is between these covers. Perhaps that's why Jacksonville Homebuyer has won the Laurel Award as "Best Consumer Magazine" two years in a row. See if you agree—and let me know what you think.