Where To Buy In '08
The region still boasts plenty of open space where self-contained, master-planned developments can take shape. Indeed, the First Coast has become something of a mecca for impressive mixed-use projects incorporating live/work/play elements.
In addition, there are numerous creatively themed boutique communities that are rich in amenities and ambience. And several exciting developments that are just getting under way promise to raise the bar even further next year and beyond.
How do you choose a community just right for you and your family? Jacksonville Homebuyer recently reviewed the vast array of projects under way or soon to launch in Duval, Clay, Flagler, Nassau and St. Johns counties and selected what we consider to be the best based on the following criteria:
Planning. If the community is a mixed-use project, is it well-designed, incorporating an appropriate balance of residential, commercial, recreational and natural elements?
Theming. Do the individual elements of the community combine to form a cohesive whole, from the architecture of the homes to the design of the amenities and common areas?
Amenities. Are the amenities creative, inviting and adequate for the size of the community? Are they in keeping with the community’s overall ambience? Are any of the amenities unusual?
Value. Are prices reasonable considering the location, the amenities packages and the home styles offered? Does it seem likely that an investment in the community will be a solid one?
Variety. If the community offers multiple neighborhoods, are a variety of price ranges and home styles offered? And if so, is the overall impression still of a well-planned community in which the elements work together?
Quality. Is the developer reputable with a track record of success? Are the participating builders well-regarded? If the community is new or relatively new, is the master-plan you’re buying into likely to unfold as it’s been advertised?
Using these criteria, the editors, in consultation with industry insiders and real estate professionals, compiled the following list. It isn’t definitive, of course, and what you consider essential others might find superfluous. But we can say this much—it would be hard to go wrong in any of the communities listed to the left.
For additional information about these communities, please consult Jacksonville Homebuyer’s Community Directory beginning on page 107. In addition, many of the communities are spotlighted on the following pages.