Take Note
CLAY COUNTY
A new 2,139-square-foot home by CornerStone Homes is ready for move-in at Eagle Cove at Eagle Harbor. The Julington floorplan features four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a flex space that could be used as a living room, dining room or office. The home, priced at $249,900, also has a covered lanai overlooking a lagoon.
Home sales are under way at Two Creeks, a single-family community by D.R. Horton in Middleburg. Homes, which range in size from 1,540 to 3,402 square feet, are priced from the mid-$150s. The builder’s first model, the Sebastian, was set to open early this year.
DUVAL COUNTY
Two new homes soon will be ready for occupancy at Palermo, a European village-style community developed by The Pineapple Corporation. The semi-custom, two-story homes, which are part of the Bellissimo Collection, are priced from the low $400s and feature Country French elevations. One plan offers a first-floor master suite and three more bedrooms in 2,222 square feet. The other plan has three bedrooms, a study and a flex room in 3,398 square feet.
Developer American Land Ventures recently launched a redesigned Web site, www.thepeninsulacondos.com to sell the last 53 units available at The Peninsula. The Web site includes virtual tours, a photo gallery, floorplans and an interactive area map. The 38-story residential tower offers views of the downtown skyline and the St. Johns River.
Collins Builders’ new text messaging campaign will allow homebuyers to text “home” to 51864 and receive information about a home’s interior layout, square footage, price and availability. The builder also has Facebook fan pages for several communities and sales agents, and a newly launched blog on its Web site, www.collinsbuilders.net.
SRG Homes & Neighborhoods has unveiled a 1,282-square-foot model home in Jacksonville’s historic Springfield neighborhood. The Benjamin, priced at $199,900, has two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms as well as an unfinished second floor.
Lennar Homes is building a new model in Wynnfield Lakes. The Talbot offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in 3,179 square feet. It’s one of a dozen designs offered at the community, with sizes ranging from 1,488 to 3,300 square feet and prices starting in the $220s.
Beazer Homes is expanding its eSMART initiative to include three progressive levels of high-performance homes, all engineered to achieve greater energy efficiency, conserve water and improve indoor air quality. All new Beazer Homes will include additional air sealing and framing techniques that allow for more insulation as well as energy-efficient windows—at no extra charge. High-performance features also include a home energy monitor, a programmable thermostat, compact fluorescent light bulbs and an Energy Star-rated dishwasher.
In other news from Beazer, the company is planning to open new model townhomes at Verano at Bartram Park this spring. The 1,496-square-foot townhomes will have three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a covered lanai and a one-car garage. The price: $141,990.
FLAGLER COUNTY
ABD Development Company, which is developing Toscana in Palm Coast, plans to enter the Courtyard model in the Flagler County Parade of Homes this spring. The home has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a bonus room, a loft and a lanai in 3,500 square feet. The home’s most unique feature is a private interior courtyard that can include a swimming pool.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
Taylor Morrison has extended its popular Stimu-Plus program, which combines the federal government’s tax credit program and a package offered exclusively by the builder. First-time homebuyers and buyers who haven’t owned a home in three years will receive up to a $16,000 credit—$8,000 from the government stimulus tax credit package and up to $8,000 from Taylor Morrison—toward the purchase of a new home. Existing homebuyers will still receive up to $8,000 Stimu-Plus credit from the builder in addition to the $6,500 government tax credit, if qualified.
Construction is well under way on the first home in Madeira, located in St. Augustine. The builder, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, will open two models: The Seabrook, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 2,250 square feet; and the Tradewinds, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms in 3,000 square feet. The builder’s homes include many Energy Star features such as tankless gas water heaters and energy-efficient windows.
D.S. Ware Homes recently opened two new model homes in Durbin Crossing. The Tuscany II is a one-story design with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms in 3,237 square feet. The Venice I offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms in 2,782 square feet. The community features 13 floorplans ranging in size from 2,072 to 3,200 square feet.
PROGRESSIONS
Realtor Wendell Davis was installed as president of Florida Realtors—formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors. Davis, who also is a Clay County commissioner, has been president-elect for the past year. He is regional vice president of Watson Realty’s Property Management Division and president of Watson Maintenance.
Pace Builder Services has been awarded the exclusive sales and marketing contract for Ocean’s Edge, a condominium community in Jacksonville Beach.
Glenn East, chief executive officer of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR), has earned the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation.
Davidson Realty has been tapped by ICI Homes to market its properties in Palencia. Ted Tyndall and Carol vonRabenstein will be assigned to the Bella Terra neighborhood. Speaking of ICI, the company has appointed sales associates for two Jacksonville-area communities. Connie Moore will be at Highland Glen and Jon Gaskins will be at Victoria Lakes.
Mercedes Homes’ Sales Manager Melissa Matthews has been named 2010 local chapter president for the Women’s Council of Realtors. The council assists women in professional and personal development, networking and reaching their potential in the real estate industry.