Realty-Builder March 2017

REALTY~BUILDER MARCH 2017 C O N N E C T I O N

Vol. 17 • No. 3

Picture-perfect shots sell homes Real estate photographers know how to capture those images

Photo courtesy of Kim Lindsey

By Maggie FitzRoy, Contributing Writer

“Flipping through listings,” he said. “I could tell which were taken with a cellphone and which were professional.”

When professional photographer Mike Liddell decided to specialize in shooting real estate, he went to homes.com and took note of the pictures.

When he contacted the real estate agents who used the cellphone pictures and offered his services, he picked up his first 20 clients.

Good pictures are important when it comes to selling homes, the Jacksonville-based photographer said.

“Nice bright, wide photos make a house look clean, but if they are dark and shadowy, they are very unflattering,” he said.

Photography has long been an important marketing tool in the real estate industry, but it is even moreso now in the age of the internet.

Almost all customers go online first to look for homes before they contact a real

Westcott Photo courtesy of Jeff

Photo courtesy of Jeff

See Photographers, Page 8

Westcott

Different path in construction than father Bachara makes career in legal side of the business

By Caren Burmeister Contributing Writer

Chip Bachara built his reputation as Jacksonville’s Construction Lawyer of the Year from the ground up.

Bachara has been swinging a construction hammer since he was 10 years old, working every summer for his father, Henry Bachara, stacking wood, painting and nailing down roofing felt paper.

“I intended to follow in my dad’s footsteps and be a builder,” Bachara said. “My parents wanted me to go into anything but construction.”

They didn’t need to worry.

i n s i d e

Leona Brown took winding path to job as St. Johns Builders Council director.

Page 17

Bachara was proud of his father’s reputation, which earned inclusion in the Florida Housing Hall of Fame. But Bachara had bigger plans: construction law.

“I knew that’s all I wanted to do,” he said.

“I wanted to do commercial construction and for a bigger company.”

A board-certified construction lawyer and founder of the Bachara Construction Law Group, he has been named multiple times in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Florida Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

In 2012 and 2017, Bachara was designated as Jacksonville’s “Construction Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, a peer-review publication.

Builders Care makes quick repair so cancer patient can stay in his home.

Page 38

The economy was suffering when Bachara graduated from The Bolles School in 1978.

Despite his parents’ wishes, he got a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida.

Four hard hats hanging from his office wall remind him of his early jobs. He briefly worked for JEA, then accepted a project management position with The Haskell Co. Within a year he was accepted at Mercer University School of Law. He graduated from that Georgia institution in 1986.

See Bachara, Page 12

Chip Bachara has a great view of Downtown from his 18th-floor office in the Wells Fargo Center.

Mirtha Barzaga says there are a lot of touching stories in real estate sales.

Page 2

Photo by Caren Burmeister

UNF construction management program building next-generation workforce.

Page 4

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March 2017

Barzaga’s early choice led to great success Davidson Realty agent took on short sales

By Caren Burmeister Contributing Writer

Mirtha Barzaga got into real estate at the worst possible time.

It was 2006, the peak of a real estate market bubble that was about to collapse.

As the recession deepened and hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, people could no longer afford their expensive homes, often purchased with interest-only loans.

By the end of 2008, the CaseShiller home price index — a national index sponsored by Standards & Poor’s — reported the largest price drop in its history. Foreclosures would soon hit an all-time high.

My friends would say to me, ‘Are you nuts?’” said Barzaga, a Realtor with Davidson Realty at World Golf Village. “But I knew I needed time to learn the business and the region and to develop customers.”

In her first year, Barzaga saw a dire need to specialize in short sales and distressed properties and became certified in those areas. A decade later, her decision is still paying off.

“A lot of the business I do today is based on referrals from those people,” she said. “That was the best time for me to have started this business. It was worth every bit of aggravation I went through.”

By 2013, when short sales had nearly come to an end, “business was flowing,” Barzaga said.

That year she set a goal to sell $15 million in real estate. She

Photos by Caren Burmeister

Davidson Realty’s Mirtha Barzaga entered real estate just as the market was collapsing.

bettered that goal by $500,000 and received three Davidson Realty awards.

Last year, Barzaga was named the company’s top sales agent, top producer and top listing agent with more than $15 million in sales and over $13 million closed.

Barzaga notes one of her early short sales has led to seven additional transactions and more than $2 million in sales.

She was richly rewarded by another short sale for a man and wife — both U.S. Marines — who were being reassigned to Washington, D.C., in 2009.

They were broken-hearted about having to sell their World Golf Village home and the loss

THE ABIGAIL 2851 SCOTT MILL PLACE, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32223

they would take. But her efforts to get the greatest return earned their loyalty.

The couple came back to World Golf Village when they retired in 2013. With Barzaga’s help, they bought an even nicer home.

The day of closing, they presented her with an American flag that had flown in Afghanistan.

The gift brought her to tears and she has since framed it and mounted it on her office wall.

“There are a lot of stories that touch you,” she said.

Born in Cuba, Barzaga grew up in New Jersey, married and owned a construction company with her husband. After divorcing, she moved to Miami

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Barzaga was named Davidson Realty’s top sales agent, top producer and top listing agent for 2016.

and started an import business, delivering fresh cut flowers from South America to top supermarkets across the country.

Ten years later, she moved to Jacksonville to help raise her three grandchildren. Her only regret was she didn’t stop in Jacksonville on her way to South Florida.

“If I’d have stopped here, I never would have made it to Miami,” Barzaga said, noting she likes to be able to wear a jacket in the winter and witness a bit of autumn color. “This offers the best of both worlds. It’s perfect.”

Barzaga said her construction experience is invaluable. It equips her to evaluate quality and see the home from the builder’s perspective.

Open the front door and she can spot the telltale signs that point to individual builders across the region, revealing a depth of knowledge that builds trust with clients.

“It’s good to recognize the builders because you know where they’re coming from and their history,” Barzaga said.

That experience also attracts See Barzaga, Page 6

REALTY~BUILDER C O N N E C T I O N

Realty-Builder Connection is published monthly and serves the real estate and construction industries of North Florida.

This is an independent publication mailed monthly to licensees in the professions and is the official publication of the Northeast Florida Builders Association.

How to contribute news and top producers Realty-Builder Connection encourages the submission of news and photographs of interest to real estate and construction industries. Deadline is the 20th of each month for the next month’s edition.

Real estate agencies may submit names of their top producers by 3 p.m. on the fifth of that month’s publication.

Submissions can be made via email, editorial@realty-builder.com; fax, (904) 353-2628; or mail, 10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.

Matt Walsh James F. Bailey Jr. Marilyn Young Publisher Publisher Emeritus Editor

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Each month, Realty-Builder Connection reaches more than 7,500 licensed professionals in the real estate and construction communities.

Rates for print and website (realty-builder.com) advertising are available upon request. The deadline to reserve advertising space is the 12th of the month for the next month’s edition; advertising copy is due the 19th.

Deborah Anderson, Director of Advertising (904) 356-2466 /danderson@realty-builder.com Realty-Builder Connection is a division of:

10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 (904) 356-2466 • Fax: (904) 353-2628 jaxdailyrecord.com Affiliate Members

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March 2017

#NocateeNews Welcome to the Monthly Section of “What’s Happening at Nocatee.”

Below are insider’s tips and resources for our valued Nocatee agents. As always, feel free to stop by or call the Nocatee Welcome Center if you have any questions!

Best, Donna Lundgren Nocatee Welcome Center Manager 904.924.6863

neighborhood Updates

town Center Updates Timoti’s Seafood Shack, Bicycles Etc. and Primrose School will be opening in the Nocatee Town Center later this year. timoti’s seafood shak is no ordinary seafood shack. This fastcasual, family-friendly restaurant serves only wild caught seafood.

Every meal is cooked to order freshand their shrimp are all local or domestic. The menu will include healthy salads and rice boxes, in addition to Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten-free options. Timoti’s will be located in the western end-cap of the new Nocatee Town Center Building- opposite of Jersey Mike’s and OrangeTheory. The restaurant will include an outdoor play area, connected to a patio with outdoor seating. Timoti’s Seafood Shak anticipates opening their new Nocatee location in Fall 2017.

There is lots of activity happening across the Nocatee neighborhoods! Here are a few highlights: New Nocatee neighborhood, daniel Park at town Center, is the newest addition to the Nocatee Town Center!

Priced from the high $200s, Daniel Park will feature 2- to 4 bedroom single-family homes by David Weekley Homes. New home-designs will range from 1,300 – 3,000 square feet, and include alley-loaded garages and spacious front porches.

Designer-decorated model homes are slated to open Fall 2017.

The 105 home-site Nocatee neighborhood offers families a more “urban lifestyle” setting, where new homes are located within walking distance of dining, shopping and services. For more information on Daniel Park at Town Center, visit www.nocatee.com the ranch at twenty Mile, with homes by David Weekley and Dostie Homes, will be hosting a St. Paddy’s Day Happy Hour for realtors. Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 16 from 3:00-6:00pm. Enjoy some refreshing cocktails and lite bites while you tour models and move-in ready homes. To RSVP, visit www.ranch-realtors.eventbrite.com.

Bicycles etc. has remained a family owned and operated business for more than 22 years. From our modest beginnings we have grown into the largest bicycle retailer in Jacksonville. Their objective is to provide customers with the right bike, the right accessories and the right information to begin enjoying the sport of cycling. Bicycles, Etc. will be located next to Gwen Berlin, and will be opening in Spring 2017.

Primrose school on Crosswater Parkway will feature the exclusive Balanced Learning approach which blends purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion.

The 18,000+ square-foot school is poised to serve more than 250 local children and families in the Nocatee community. Primrose School on Crosswater Parkway will feature 15 private classrooms with wireless technology and four secure, age-appropriate playgrounds. The school will also feature a Primrose Patch garden for gardening and nature study activities, as well as a water play area and a pavilion for events. The new early education and care provider will be located at 785 Crosswater Parkway, on the northeast corner of the Nocatee Town Center roundabout. The school’s construction is expected to be completed by late July, and is scheduled to open in August.

Calendar of events

thursday, March 16 The Ranch at Twenty Mile St. Patty’s Happy Hour – 3-6 PM

saturday, March 18 Nocatee Farmers Market w/ Lisa Kelly and Legacy Irish Dance – 10 AM-2 PM

saturday, March 18 The Ranch at Twenty Mile Grand Opening – Noon-3 PM Thank you all for everything you do to contribute to the success of Nocatee. We value our Realtors!

Nocatee Welcome Center 245 Nocatee Center Way Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 904.924.6863

Welcome Center Hours Monday-Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday 12 PM - 6 PM

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March 2017

UNF program helping build up workforce sion in a competition hosted by the National Association of Home Builders.

At this contest, which occurs every January and rotates location between Las Vegas and Orlando, competing teams are given a piece of property that has been purchased and in turn, must create and present a business plan for this land.

This business plan includes budget, permits and materials and is made completely by the students on each team.

In this year’s competition, UNF’s team placed sixth out of 35 teams.

While achieving a good place in the competition is important, what’s more important is the opportunity the competition yields to students.

“What students gain from this is not only great exposure to local and national companies that are looking to hire them, but a very in-depth education on the real-world environment of this job field,” said Shee.

Beyond competitions like this, students in the Construction Management program get handson experience less by being in the field and more of what they do in the lab. They also work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to complete community service projects.

“Our students get their handson work in the form of labs, community service projects, study abroad programs and we even sometimes have industry leaders and professionals come in and speak to the students,” said Sorce.

UNF’s Construction Manage-

By Wesley LeBlanc Contributing Writer

For five years, the University of North Florida’s construction management program has maintained a 100 percent placement rate, meaning every single student in the program graduates with a job in the field.

“The industry is booming and we can’t put enough students out at this point but really, that’s nothing to complain about at all,” said the program’s adviser, James Sorce.

How do they do it?

Career fairs, which come once a semester, include more than 100 companies looking to employ students after they graduate and sometimes, even while they’re still in school.

These career fairs are made up of local companies such as MasterCraft Builders and W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor as well as national companies such as Disney Imagineering.

Chris Shee, a cofounder of MasterCraft Builders in Fruit Cove, knows first-hand the benefits of hiring someone from the program.

“It’s a huge benefit to any construction company, national or local, to hire from this program,” said Shee. “These students learn the real-world picture of how to start with just dirt and build on it, turning nothing into something for the community.”

He also serves on the UNF Construction Management advisory board, specifically working on the Student Competition Committee. As part of the group, Shee oversees UNF and its inclu-

Some students in the University of North Florida’s contruction management program study abroad in places like Brazil where they can learn construction management skills from locations around the world.

ment program is just like any other program offered at UNF: it’s four years, has an outlined curriculum and includes some form of interning.

The program is unique in its own way though.

The University of North Florida’s Construction Management program is the only construction management program in the world that is accredited by two accreditation councils. Those two accreditations come in the form of the American Council for Construction Education and the Applied Science Accreditation Commission.

These accreditations guarantee that students who graduate from the UNF Construction Management program are not only prepared for the field, but will likely find success in it as well.

Shee hired a student from UNF’s Construction Management program who now works for him at MasterCraft Builders.

“Scott Sullivan was in the program a few years ago and is really outstanding at what he does,” said Shee. “He was a part of the team that competed one year and they got second place.”

The UNF Construction Management program also takes pride in their rising percentage of women involved.

“We’ve gone from under 10 percent to now 15 percent just in the past few years,” said Sorce.

Women tend to get hired quicker with higher salaries and are more sought after in the field, when compared to men, according to Sorce.

Mag Malek, chair of the program, believes misconceptions

stop women from entering the field.

“The biggest change will be in the way women think of construction management,” said Malek. “Construction management involves more than construction labor.”

She said construction management involves scheduling, budget, design and much more.

Some, though, know from an early age that construction management is what they want to do, like UNF student Kayla Burtner.

“My family took a trip to Chicago, and when we climbed the Sears Tower, I decided I wanted to build a skyscraper someday,” said Burtner.

When the time came, she knew exactly where she needed to be: in the UNF Construction Management program.

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Grand event for RiverTown community’s big reveal

Photos by Bobby King

Mattamy Homes hosted the grand opening of RiverTown, its community along the St. Johns River in St. Johns County.

The event was to showcase the community’s new Welcome Center and six new decorated homes. Above, Angela Galletta answers questions for the Jones family; Jennifer, Samantha and Timothy.

Guests were free to tour six decorated model homes. They also learned about The RiverClub, the community’s $6 million amenity center.

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Gen X recovering, millennials still living with mom

BARZAGA from page 2

partnerships with developers and builders. While Barzaga’s real estate market stretches from Daytona Beach to Nassau County, roughly half her business comes from World Golf Village, which was developed by Davidson Realty.

In 2013, she sold the remaining lots in the King and Bear subdivision to Standard Pacific Homes (now known as CalAtlantic Homes), which is completing the GroveWood neighborhood.

Barzaga’s warmth and hospitality come into play as she follows up with clients, past and future, with personal notes and holiday cards and by hosting her annual appreciation party, an indulgent shindig that treats about 100 customers, lenders, appraisers, builders and others to food, drinks and music.

Her heart is revealed in community service, particularly her work with the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County.

Twice a year, Barzaga oversees a food drive, urging homeowners association members to donate food in bags delivered to their homes and collected by volunteers from Nease High School ROTC and band.

She also donates furniture discarded by home sellers to the homeless coalition’s transitional housing program, a campus of 18 small homes in West St. Augustine.

“It’s a good thing to do,” Barzaga said about her work with the homeless. “It gives them a hand up and helps them progress forward in life.”

Over time, Barzaga has earned

March 2017

From floridarealtors.org

Photo by Caren Burmeister

Davidson Realty’s Mirtha Barzaga focused her early career on short sales.

a reputation as a Realtor’s Realtor, the person colleagues go to for advice.

Now she’s training and mentoring new agents and taking on clients from partners who plan to retire or move away from the area.

“You go where the business takes you,” Barzaga said. “I’m at full blast.”

This American flag flew in Afghanistan and was a gift from a husband and wife, who were Marines. They presented it to Barzaga after buying two homes from her in World Golf Village.

Photo courtesy of Mirtha Barzaga

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Overall nationwide, an improving economy, multiple years of strong job growth and a notable increase in home values fueled a greater share of purchases from Generation X households over the past year, according to the National Association of Realtors 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study.

The survey also found: • A growing number of millennials and younger boomer buyers have children who still live at home • Student debt is common among Gen X and boomer households • More millennials are buying outside the city • Younger generations are more likely to use a real estate agent The challenges faced by millennials has been widely reported, but Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says little has been said about the many Generation X households who bought a first home and started a family only to be rattled by job losses, falling home values and overall economic uncertainty.

Recent Gen X buyers delayed homeownership longer than millennials because of debt. They’re the most likely generation to have sold a distressed property and the generation most likely to be locked into their current home because it was worth less than their mortgage. Gen X buyers also had the most student loan debt ($30,000).

The uptick in purchases from Gen X buyers this year (28 percent) was the highest since 2014 and up from 26 percent in 2016.

Millennials were the largest group of recent buyers for the fourth consecutive year (34 percent), but their overall share was down slightly from a year ago (35 percent). Baby boomers were 30 percent of buyers, and the Silent Generation made up 8 percent.

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This year’s survey also suggests that the soaring cost of rent in many areas is likely convincing middle-aged parents to buy a home with their young adult children in mind.

Younger boomers were the most likely to purchase a multigenerational home (20 percent; 16 percent in 2016), and the top reason for doing so was that children over 18 years old either moved back home or never left (30 percent; 27 percent in 2016).

“The job market is very healthy for young adults with a college education, but repaying student debt and dealing with everincreasing rents on an entrylevel salary are forcing many to either shack-up with several roommates or move back home,” says Yun. “This growing trend of delayed household formation is one of the main contributors to the nation’s low homeownership rate.”

Student debt not just a millennial problem Debt, particularly from student loans, appears to be a portion of the household budget

of buyers in every generation.

While millennials were the most likely to have student debt (46 percent), their typical balance ($25,000) was lower than Gen X buyers ($30,000).

A combined 16 percent of younger and older boomer buyers also had student debt, with a median balance of over $10,000 for each group.

Among the share of buyers who said saving for a downpayment was the most difficult task, millennials were most likely to cite student loans (55 percent), followed by Gen X (29 percent) and younger boomers (9 percent).

“Repaying student debt also appears to be slowing some current homeowners who went to graduate school and now can no longer afford to sell and trade up because of their loans,” says Yun. “Nearly a third of homeowners in a NAR survey released last year said student debt is preventing them from selling a home to buy a new one.”

Millennials moving to suburbs Similar to previous years, roughly two-thirds of millennial buyers are married. One aspect of their household that has changed is the number of children in them. In this year’s survey, 49 percent of millennial buyers had at least one child, which is up from 45 percent last year and 43 percent two years ago.

With more kids in tow, the need for more space at an affordable price increasingly pushes millennial buyers outside the city. Only 15 percent of millennial buyers bought in an urban area, which is down from 17 percent last year and 21 percent two years ago.

“Millennial buyers, at 85 percent, were the most likely generation to view their home purchase as a good financial investment,” says Yun. “These strong feelings bode well for even greater demand in the future as more millennials settle down and begin raising families. A significant boost in new and existing inventory will go a long way to ensuring the opportunity is there for more of them to reach the market.”

Using online agents Regardless of age, buyers and sellers continue to see real estate agents as an integral part of a real estate transaction. In this year’s survey, nearly 90 percent of respondents said they worked with a real estate agent to buy or sell a home. This kept for-saleby-owner transactions down at its lowest share ever (8 percent).

Online and digital technology use during the home search has increased in recent years.

Although millennials and Gen X buyers were most likely to go online during, they were also the most likely to buy their home using a real estate agent (92 percent and 88 percent, respectively).

On the seller side, millennials were the most likely to use an agent (90 percent), followed closely by Gen X and younger boomer sellers (each at 89 percent).

MATJACKSON-MH_RG_RealtyBuilderConnection_Magazine File Name: MATJACKSON-MH_RG_RealtyBuilderConnection_Mag Trim: 10.125” x 15.5”

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March 2017

Want to shoot your own photos?

MIKE LIDDEL

JEFF WESTCOTT

KIM LINDSEY

• Shoot as wide as possible; to do so, get into a corner.

• Use exposure compensation, if your camera allows it, to brighten the photo.

• Make sure the room is not cluttered. Request the homeowner remove personal nicknacks and photographs.

• Don’t feel like you need to include the entire room in the shot. Sometimes aim for the most interesting part of it.

• Make sure your camera is completely level; ideally use a tripod.

• Always make sure the room is clean and de-cluttered.

• Use angles and lighting to show the room as big and bright as possible.

• Try to showcase the house like a story by taking pictures with its lifestyle in mind.

jeffwestcottphotography.com

Mikeliddell.net

PHOTOGRAPHY from front page

estate agent. In addition to the Multiple Listing Service, many sites showcase homes, with still photos and increasingly sophisticated videos.

Liddell said professional photos can highlight a home’s architectural details, due to the techniques, lenses and lighting used.

He uses a Nikon full-frame professional camera with very wide angle lenses and specialized software to combine multiple images to obtain the perfect shot.

He also shoots videos, which he said are becoming increasingly popular as marketing tools. And as a Federal Aviation Administration-licensed drone operator, he shoots some of his videos from the air with a drone, also a growing trend.

“They tell me that videos help sell and lead to more listings,” he said. “Neighbors will see the video online and ask for that agent.”

Professional photographer Kim Lindsey knows that to be true.

Her services are in demand all over the First Coast, in part because she specializes in Mat-

terport photography, which gives potential buyers a virtual reality 3-dimensional online tour of a home.

The Matterport system features a box camera with nine lenses and produces a product that is completely interactive.

It functions as a video, but one that viewers can control, giving them the experience of walking through the house.

It is more expensive than regular video or still photos because it takes about three or four hours to photograph an entire house, she said, but it sets the real estate agent who uses it apart.

Increasingly used with higherend homes and some mediumpriced ones, “it still has the wow factor,” she said. “People are impressed.”

Marketing a home is telling its story, said Lindsey, who also shoots regular still photos.

She doesn’t shoot video, because Matterport “trumps” video.

“You are selling a lifestyle,” she said.

If a home is in a community with a golf clubhouse or near the beach, she can include images of those as well in her overall package.

“It depends on what the agent

Kim Lindsey Photography

Rooms should be photographed without clutter, says Kim Lindsey, who shot this pristine bedroom.

wants,” she said.

Real estate agents, however, are not the only ones hiring real estate photographers.

Almost all of Jeff Westcott’s clients are architects, builders and developers who use his

CONSTRUCTION TO PERM, FHA, VA, CONVENTIONAL

images in marketing and advertising materials.

Westcott specializes in highend still photography, and his images are featured in the glossy pages of brochures and magazines, so they need to be as close to perfect as possible — in composition and lighting.

Photos used by real estate agents document the space, Westcott said. “My mission is highlighting the most compel-

ling aspects of that space.”

For that reason, he usually only shoots the three or four most important rooms of a house — the living room, family room, kitchen and master bedroom and/or master bath — because for buyers, those are usually the most important.

For each photo, “it’s all about the composition,” he said. “I have to choose the composition that is See Photographers, Page 9

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Photographer Mike Liddell says bright and wide photographs made a room look clean.

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realty-builder.com

March 2017

A bedroom photographed by Mike Liddell.

PHOTOGRAPHY from front page

the most aesthetically pleasing.”

With traditional real estate photography, wide-angle lenses are used to capture the entire room, he said.

Westcott often chooses to only highlight part of a room. For example, part of a kitchen island rather than the entire thing.

He also uses enhanced lighting for interior shots — umbrellas and speed lights — which he moves around a room to get a variety of effects, varying the exposures.

He uses a Nikon D750 camera with professional Nikon lenses and often combines several images with photo software to get the best composite image.

Dusk is Westcott’s favorite time to shoot the exterior of a home, for artistic effect. Especially if he is lucky enough to get a “stunning” sunset, he said.

It takes a lot of advance planning, because there is a 10-minute window “when everything is ideal.”

He never uses a drone, but he does often shoot from a ladder to get a slightly elevated perspective.

And for interior shots, he always uses a tripod to keep the camera steady and level.

“In every shot, whether it is interior or exterior, you have to make sure your vertical lines are completely vertical,” he said.

“The camera must be completely level, which means you usually have to use a tripod.”

Westcott said he enjoys doing real estate photography because it is both an art and a science.

“The technical aspect appeals to the geek in me, and yet the beauty in so many designs makes the artistic side of me want to capture it and show it off,” he said.

Liddell, who likes to use natural light for interior shots when possible, said he likes real estate photography because the subject — the house — “is not going anywhere.”

Unlike wedding photography, where you dare not miss the decisive moment, if you don’t like a shot, you just try again from a different angle or with a different exposure.

He said at first he tried using flash but quickly found he preferred natural daylight because camera flash can make a room look flat.

Liddell also learned quickly that staging is important with a home. He provides homeowners a check list for de-cluttering. “If a house is cluttered, it won’t look good no matter what camera you use,” he said.

He got into real estate photography about a year ago because he saw a need. And he is glad he did.

“I really enjoy it,” he said. “The market right now is extremely busy and I don’t see it slowing down.”

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March 2017

‘Game of Thrones’ theme at CB Vanguard rally

Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty’s annual sales rally at the Prime Osborn Convention Center featured a “Game of Thrones” theme. Above, broker/owner Pete Dalton (on the “throne”) with some of the agency’s managers: Grace McCurry, Jamie Huggins, Tina Harp, Mona Gardella, Eric Hanson, Kathy Wiegmann, Jennifer Tossavainen and Laura Ranneklev.

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Clark LaBlond, center, director of career development, with Lori Gunn, left, and Parveen Hughes, both from the Fleming Island office.

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March 2017

Possible changes for flood zone maps FEMA updates could impact insurance requirements

By Maggie FitzRoy Contributing Writer

The Mortgage Bankers Association of Jacksonville and the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals held a joint luncheon and membership meeting last month to discuss pending changes to Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone maps.

At the event, a panel of industry experts discussed the upcoming changes, with Tom Reber, branch sales manager of EverBank, acting as moderator.

The experts were Timothy Blackmon, vice president of surveying with IME Civil & Surveying LLC; Dan Arlington, building official with Atlantic Beach; Jennifer Fox, marketing director for Exacta Land Surveyors & Lien Search; and Jeff Stoneking, agency owner of Brightway Insurance.

“There are changes coming that FEMA is putting in place and we are educating members here about them,” MBA President Michelle Glass said before the meeting. “The subject matter is important to all of us.”

Reber led the discussion with an anecdote that explained when and why the subject became important to him.

At a recent closing, it was discovered the property that was being purchased was in a flood zone and flood insurance was needed.

The seller didn’t know the property was in a flood zone, because the FEMA maps had been changed since he bought it.

Reber said the buyer got upset because he was suddenly faced with buying flood insurance he didn’t know he would need.

When calls were quickly made to insurance companies for quotes, the first one was for $12,000 a year.

The closing was in jeopardy at that point, because the buyer balked at paying that. After more calls to other insurance agencies, the price came down to $2,000 a year, which the buyer was OK with. “It was a scary conversation,” Reber said.

Arlington explained that new maps are expected to go into effect in February and plans to

update them already were in progress before Hurricane Matthew last fall.

He said when the last maps went into effect in 2013, many people in Atlantic Beach discovered they had to buy flood insurance. He said it is a good idea to “get ahead of the curve” and let people know changes are coming and they might be in a flood zone.

Flood plans and maps change because technology is allowing for greater accuracy in determining which areas are threatened by flooding, Arlington said.

“They are finding places that should have been in a flood zone” that previously were not, he added.

Other concerns also were raised during the question-andanswer session.

Stoneking pointed out a house not deemed to be in a flood zone when it was built might not be elevated enough to meet flood zone standards if the home’s status changes.

Even if a homeowner has flood insurance, their rates could skyrocket.

He said up until two years ago, the only flood insurance available was from FEMA. But state law now allows private insurance companies to offer it, and on average, private insurance rates are less.

“Technically, all of Florida is in a flood zone,” Stoneking said.

“I’d be very cautious.”

Blackmon said his surveying company always advises if a home is in a borderline zone, the homeowner should have flood insurance.

Allen Touchton, branch manager with Skyline Home Loans, said after the meeting it is usually better for a homeowner to buy flood insurance before their home is rezoned, because having a policy in place usually makes it more affordable.

Once a home is rezoned, the mortgage lender will in most cases require them to get flood insurance, he said.

Glass said that as soon as FEMA makes the new maps available, MBA and FAMP will both put links to them on their websites.

Eddie Hilliard, president of the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals, and Michelle Glass, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Jacksonville, lead a joint meeting and luncheon that included a panel discussion of upcoming changes to FEMA flood maps.

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A Masterfully Planned Community Timothy Blackmon, vice president of surveying with IME Civil & Surveying LLC; Dan Arlington, building official with Atlantic Beach; Jennifer Fox, marketing director with Exacta Land Surveyors & Lien Search; and Jeff Stoneking, owner of Brightway Insurance and president of the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals, discuss potential changes in flood maps.

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Members of the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and Mortgage Bankers Association of Jacksonville attended the panel discussion at the Sheraton Jacksonville Hotel.

Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. All rights in these materials are reserved. All products and company names marked as trademarked (™) or registered (®) are trademarks of their respective holders. Copying, reproduction and distribution of materials without prior written consent of Freehold Communities is strictly prohibited. All information, plans, and pricing are subject to change without notice. This information does not represent a specific offer of sale or solicitation to purchase property within Shearwater. Models do not reflect racial preference.

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KB Home unveils Southshore community

Photos by Caren Burmeister Photos by Fran Ruchalski

Melissa Futch Revels of Coldwell Banker Premier Properties looks over the master bedroom in the Kinglsey model at Southshore at Bannon Lakes during last month’s KB Home broker VIP preview.

Chip Bachara started helping his father on construction sites when he was age 10. He stuck with the business but through the legal field, ultimately opening Bachara Construction Law Group.

BACHARA from front page

Bachara’s first job doing legal work for Blosam Constructors would lay the foundation for his legal career. Twice, legal adversaries in construction law cases witnessed his diligence and depth of knowledge and asked him to join their team: Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault & Pillans hired him in 1987, and Baumer, Bradford & Walters brought him on in 1993.

After two decades, Bachara opened his own law firm in 2007, which employs four lawyers. Representing government agencies, private developers, owners, contractors and insurers, Bachara said the firm is the only one in Jacksonville that focuses only on constructionrelated disputes.

The office, on the 18th floor of 1 Independent Drive, has a bird’s-eye view of the St. Johns River and the Main Street Bridge.

A large, bold abstract painting done by his son and daughter hangs on the wall across from Bachara’s desk. Now in their early- to mid-20s, they painted it as children, taking their teacher’s advice to each work on one half of the canvas then switch sides so the piece appears to have been done by one person.

It’s a pleasant distraction for Bachara as he tackles some of the region’s most complex construction disputes. The most complicated involved his representation of one of six subcontractors sued

by Berkman Plaza II after the partial collapse of its parking garage in 2007, which killed one construction worker and injured two dozen others.

The dining room, kitchen and living area of the KB Home Westin model at Southshore at Bannon Lakes.

Initially, Bachara was asked to resolve insurance coverage issues for the Harsco Corp. Eventually his role expanded into what, if any, liability that corporation held in the garage’s collapse.

While the collapse was primarily attributed to a structural engineering flaw, Harsco — which had designed the layout drawings for the building’s shoring and reshoring — ultimately paid $325,000. That was a significant reduction in Hasco’s legal exposure in the $60 million lawsuit, Bachara said.

He also helped the Jacksonville Port Authority recover $10 million last year, working with Jacksonville’s general counsel in a case against contractors and engineers responsible for the flawed pavement at the Dames Point container terminal.

His office partnered with Jacksonville’s lawyers again in a legal dispute over the completion of the Duval County Courthouse, refining a litigation process that divides duties based on the lawyers’ greatest strengths.

“We are best at reviewing expert witnesses and reporting and knowing what the law is,” Bachara said. “We join forces with in-house counsel to make a very effective team.”

The Bachara Group also represents clients in bid protests, administrative complaints and with mediation and arbitration services. Bachara advises clients it’s often more cost -to identify and repair the source of the construction problem than to fund a costly legal chase over who is at fault.

“The approach we like to take is, let us help you find out what’s wrong, how to fix it and how much it will cost,” he said.

SM

The hats on Bachara’s office wall track his early career from graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in building construction to working for JEA, The Haskell Co. and Blosam Constructors.

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Industry News

Sponsored by:

Davidson Realty creates Beaches team

During the past year, Davidson Realty has expanded its locations and agent base, and now is expanding its reach with a new Beaches team.

The agents specialize in homes throughout the area, including the Beaches, Intracoastal Waterway area and Jacksonville’s Southside.

The team is based in Davidson’s new Jacksonville Beach location, 1500 Beach Blvd., Suite 215.

“Collectively, the group has extensive knowledge of their market and an exceptional service record,” company President Sherry Davidson said in a news release. “Individually, their specialties cover all the bases; this is truly a dynamic group of agents.”

The team’s website DRIJaxBeach.com includes listings of available properties and an advice blog for buyers and sellers.

For more information, visit DRIJaxBeach.com or call (904) 940-5000.

Beaches senior living community opens Anthem Lakes, a senior living apartment community in Atlantic Beach, welcomed its first residents.

The facility has 91 independent and assisted-living residences and 28 memory-care units.

It is a new concept in senior living that incorporates a vision for wellness enhancement in senior housing on a 14-acre site, according to a news release.

“Loneliness, isolation and depression can easily and slowly develop as people age, almost unobserved,” said David Kirkland, principal and adviser to Anthem Lakes. “Residents almost always improve after a transition to senior housing, often as a result of better nutrition, hydration, medicine management and increased social opportunities.”

The facility at 905 Assisi Lane includes a dog park because, Kirkland said in the release, “Pets can be a meaningful part of wellness, so we welcome pets.”

The four levels of care are independent living, independent plus, assisted living and memory care.

Amenities include a bistro and full bar and a dining room led

by chef Veronica Majors, formerly of the University Club.

BerkshireHathaway opens Murabella office Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty has expanded its St. Johns County presence.

The real estate firm opened an office at the Shoppes at Murabella, 196 Capulet Drive, Suite 3, near the intersection of Florida 16 and Pacetti Road/ World Golf Village International Parkway.

A grand opening was held last month.

“Our new office offers buyers a convenient setting for real estate consultation and provides sellers with access to a larger pool of buyers who walk into the office looking to purchase a new home or condominium in the area,” said Ann King, broker/ manager of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s St. Augustine and Murabella offices.

The firm’s other St. Johns County sites are a full-service branch office in SeaGrove Town Center on Florida A1A and a satellite office at Villages of Seloy, a 55-and-up community.

Members of the new Davidson Realty Beaches team are, from left, Brian Martin, Amanda Houser, Justin Hahn, Jennifer Todd, Franco D’Orazio, Caitlyn Hawkins, Ethel Henry and Matt Roberts.

Davidson launches WG Speaker Series Davidson Realty and Realtor Shelley Nemethy launched a World Golf Speaker Series to provide real estate information to the growing St. Johns County community.

The first event was March 7, with subsequent dates on June 6, Sept. 5 and Dec. 5.

All are 6-7 p.m. at Davidson Realty’s headquarters in World Golf Village, 100 E. Town Place.

Each will include a featured speaker and refreshments provided by Bank of England.

“Attendees can expect a casual environment free of sales pitches where they can learn and share thoughts about their community alongside neighbors and friends,” Nemethy said in a news release.

Speakers will be announced on davidsonrealtyinc.com. The firm aims to include builders, real estate experts, interior designers and others.

For information, call Nemethy at (407) 739-5359 or email Snemethy@davidsonrealtyinc.com.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s St. Augustine and Murabella offices are under the leadership of Broker/Manager Ann King.

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March 2017

How will housing change over next decade?

From floridarealtors.org Your 10-year outlook: Expect business to get busier, but be ready for some major demographic shifts in housing.

Housing demand over the next decade will be significantly higher than today, predicts Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, in his latest column at Forbes.com.

Rising populations and a growth in the job market likely will release a pent-up

demand in housing over the next 10 years.

The population is rising and more housing will be needed to meet demand, Yun says. About 325 million people live in the U.S., and population projections forecast a 27 million increase in 10 years.

However, not all age groups are expected to see an increase: The number of young adults in their 20s is expected to drop, Yun says.

The ages predicted to see the strongest housing market activity over the next

decade? Adults in their 30s and 40s.

The population of people in their 30s is expected to grow by 5 million over the next decade, reaching 48 million.

Yun says 12 percent increase likely will lead to more first-time homebuyers. Plus, the number of Americans in their 40s will increase by 3 million, and he predicts they’ll be looking to trade up in real estate as their finances improve.

On the other hand, the number of Americans in their 50s is forecast to drop

by nearly 4 million, which could signal a lower demand for second homes, Yun adds.

Meanwhile, “those in their early 60s, before the commonly recognized retirement age of 65, are a stable bunch with no change in their number of the next decade,” Yun writes.

Housing demand in warm weather areas, and income tax-free states like Florida, Tennessee and Texas are set to boom over the next decade, Yun says.

Top Producers

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Davidson Realty Tayler Quick (top producer), Lynn Whitley (top sales) and Suzy Evans (top lister)

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Top salesperson and lister for Jacksonville region: Jan Shields, Atlantic Beach Top sales team for Jacksonville region: David and Clair Team, Mandarin North and San Jose Top listing team for Jacksonville region: Palmer Marketing Group, Atlantic Beach Top salesperson for North Central region: Elaine Wallace, St. Augustine Beach Top lister for North Central region: Elaine Wallace, St. Augustine Beach Top sales and listing team for North Central region: CrumGachet Team, St. Augustine Beach Intracoastal: Paula Powell (top sales) and Angie Clausen (top lister); Teams Sandy Miller Team (top sales and top lister) Atlantic Beach: Jan Shields (top sales and top lister); Teams: Palmer Marketing Group (top sales and top lister) Hodges: Tammy Meyer (top sales) and Sharon McMullen (top lister); Teams: Paula Pou Team (top sales) and Sharon Mills Team (top lister) Mandarin South: Joanie Heighes (top sales) and Lisa Benedict (top lister); Teams: Debbie Shagnea Associates (top sales and top lister) Ponte Vedra: Thomas Ham-

mond Jr. (top sales) and Missy DeKay (top lister); Teams: Luxury Leaders Team (top sales) and Atkins/Leapley Team (top lister) Mandarin North: Heather Granby (top sales) and Paige Covington (top lister); Teams: David and Clair Team (top sales and top lister) Fleming Island: Neil Avery (top sales) and Rhiannon Myers (top lister); Teams: Sallie Ross Team (top sales) Sunbeam/Baymeadows: Juliette Vaughn (top sales) and Juliette Vaughn (top lister); Team: The Get Smart Team (top sales) Hidden Hills: Sherry Martello (top sales) and Harold Isgette (top lister); Teams: DeCastro/ Erickson Team (top sales and top lister) OP Blanding: David Faehnrich (top sales) and Michael Robinson (top lister); Teams: Holm Team (top sales and top lister) Fort Caroline: Jean McCormick (top sales) and Rick Beeson (top lister); Teams: Foster-Nelson Team (top sales and top lister) Duval Station: Kay Stalvey (top sales) and Sara McGraw (top lister) Avondale/Ortega: Kim Kowal (top sales) and Russell Grooms (top lister) St. Johns: Stephanie Olsen (top sales) and Betsy Picot (top lister); Teams: Kevin Evans Team (top sales) and MentonBallou Group (top lister) Southside: Lane Manis (top sales) and Regina Sooey (top lister) San Marco/San Jose: Joseph

Brag about your firm’s top agents

Let everyone know who your top producers are. Submit names by 3 p.m. on the fifth of the month by email, editorial@realty-builder.com, fax: (904) 353-2628 or mail, 10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.

Poletto (top sales) and Karen Ashley (top lister) West/Chaffee Road: Susan Krawczyk (top sales) and Shirley Dugger (top lister) North Jacksonville: Don Oxley (top sales) and Teri Mason (top lister) OP Oakleaf: Cathy Baird (top sales) and Gerard Nicholson (top lister South Beach: David Gatto (top sales) and Jenny Curtis (top lister); Teams: Impact Team Middleburg: Deborah Hatcher (top sales) and Karrie Forrester (top lister) Keystone Heights: Melissa Pellerito (top sales and top lister) Putnam County: Sandra Smith (top sales) and Chris Fields (top lister) St. Augustine: Bob Million (top sales) and Debby Duenow; Teams: Tatro-Marine Team (top sales) and Pat LeRoy Team (top lister) St. Augustine Beach: Elaine Wallace (top sales) and Elaine Wallace (top lister); Teams: Crum-Gachet Team (top sales and top lister) Amelia Island: Joshua Humphrey (top sales) and Scott Friedlander (top lister); Teams: McEwen/Marshall Team (top sales) and Farnsworth Team (top lister) St. Marys: Rita Hall (top sales) and Melaney Spencer (top lister) Palm Coast: Sherry White (top sales) and Sharon Gronning (top lister); Teams: Exceptional Performance Team (top sales) and Johanson Team (top lister) Gainesville: Jonathan Colon (top sales) and Jonathan Colon (top lister) Tioga: Shelley Chappell (top sales) and Daniel Brenneman

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(top lister) Nocatee: Judy Lassiter (top sales) and Curtis Whiting (top lister); Team: Pondo/Miller Team (top sales)

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty January Avondale: Josh Nugent (top listings), Leslie Fraleigh (top sales), Lisa Bobeck (top transactions) and Allison Streilberg (top production) Beaches Intracoastal: Al Kekec (top listings, transactions and production) and Lea Underwood (top sales) Fleming Island: Kathy Coletti (top listings), Lauren Cole (top sales and production) and Kathy Davenport (top transactions) Mandarin: Hazel Tweedale (top listings, sales and transactions) and Shonda Campanaro (top production) Ponte Vedra: Joan Dickinson (top listings), Priscilla Johnson (top sales), Holly Hayes (top transactions) and David Anderson (top production) San Marco: Anita Vining (top listings, transactions and production) and Lynne Ferguson (top sales) St. Augustine/Murabella: Stefanie Bernstein (top listings, sales, transactions and production) February Avondale: Dylan Rigdon (top listings and transactions), Lisa Ly Nguyen (top sales) and Bill Fannin (top production) Beaches Intracoastal: Lee Elmore (top listings), Al Kekec (top sales and transactions) and Jennifer Sexton (top production) Fleming Island: Connie Owen (top listings), Catherine Beaver (top sales and transactions) and Lauren Cole (top production) Mandarin: Paula Miller (top listings), Patti Namey (top sales and transactions) and Rob Guy (top production) Ponte Vedra: Kristine Mercel (top listings), Priscilla Johnson (top sales and transactions) and Diane Farmer (top production) San Marco: Anita Vining (top listings and transactions), Kim Kessler (top sales) and Lynne Ferguson (top production) St. Augustine/Murabella: Rebecca Romaine (top listings), Stefanie Bernstein (top sales and transactions) and Shelley Trela (top production)

ERA Davis & Linn Andria Palgut (top producer), Tammie Gentry (top agent), Jane Bracken (top lister) and Paul Bowers (top sales)

Keller Williams Jacksonville The Welch Team (top listings team), Cara Ferreira (top listings individual), Sellin’ With CC (top closings team) and Amy Corob (top closings individual)

Coldwell Banker Premier Properties World Golf Village: Vince Fattizzi (top lister), Michael and Melissa Daugustinis (top sales-number and volume) and Dottie Lay (top producer)

Re/Max WaterMarke DJ Shell (top transaction sides), Robin Abraham (top sales volume) and Ryan Nix & George Sitgreaves (top new listings)

Keller Williams Atlantic Partners Southside: David Lane (top producing agent), Barbara Tufts (top listing agent) and The Edge Group (top producing and top listing team) Jacksonville Beach: Jessica Hall (top lister), Debbie Tufts (top producer) and Tom Gibbon and Margie Petitt (top producing team) Amelia Island: Brett Aroneck (top lister and top producer) and The Miller Group (top producing team) St. Augustine: Erin Meehan (top lister), Dawn Humphrey (top producer) and The John Whitesell Team (top producing team)

Century 21 Lighthouse Realty January: Melissa Lenertz (top lister) and PeggieWattron (top seller) February: Peggie Watron (top lister) and Wayne Altman and Rob Bachtold (top sales)

Re/Max Unlimited Ponte Vedra Beach: Cheryl Gillespie (top producer) and Malia Finger (top lister) Nocatee: Naomi & Matt Wilkinson team (top producer and top lister) Vilano Beach: Debby Craggs (top producer) and Ron Horst (top lister)

Norville Realty Bart Colbert (sales leader)

15

realty-builder.com

March 2017

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MLS 852034 852024 164786

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MLS 167882 165190 166099 167766 165208 166280 165215 166922 167999 168006 166308 166316 165249

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MLS 850214 850218

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16

March 2017

our website is Relocating! sMC content is moving to the Council Page on

nEFBa.com

April SMC BreAkfASt Meredith oliver, Sales Training April 14th

Meredith Oliver, CSP, MIRM works with organizations who want to drive more traffic, leads, and sales.

She is the founder and creative director of Meredith Communications, a digital marketing agency in Raleigh, NC. She has been speaking professionally for 15 years and holds the prestigious CSP designation, the highest designation conferred by the National Speakers Association.

Meredith Oliver Breakout Session

She has spoken to audiences from 10 to 2,000 at prominent industry events such as the International Builders Show.

Sponsored by:

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8:00-9:30am • UNF/University Center 9:45-11:15am • Tickets $45 Directly Following Breakfast

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Palmer Kuder at Palmer@nefba.com

SMC Member Spotlight

2017 Upcoming Calendar of Events

Ross Fanti, LMH Realty

6:30pm • Alhambra Theater “There’s No Place Like Home”

“Obstacles create opportunities.” That’s what I have always believed in since I began my career in new home construction over 10 years ago. I started working as a site agent in 2007, right as the real estate market was approaching its worse downturn in decades. While many agents were complaining about how great things “used” to be, or leaving the industry altogether, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and so excited to begin my career, working in a beautiful model, meeting wonderful families and helping them find their homes, and having no idea that this was a “down time.”

When the new home industry was at its lowest point in 2009, I was fortunate again to join LMH Realty, which was created specifically focus on builder’s needs to have expertise new home representation, without the overhead and costs of hiring employees directly.

March 17

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March 27

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11:15am-12:30pm • Members Only RSVP Requested 62 Woodview Court, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 Navigating the Maze of Energy Efficiency & What it Means to Your Buyer 8:00-9:30am • UNF/University Center Speaker: Meredith Oliver, Sales Training

Meredith oliver Breakout session 9:45-11:15am • Directly Following Breakfast UNF/University Center • Tickets $45

May 5

sMC Breakfast 8:00-9:30am • UNF/University Center Speaker: Steve Horner, VP of Title Sponsor Relations, PGA Tour

I’ve had amazing opportunities to represent incredible builders here in Northeast Florida and work with our industry’s best and finest, meeting many of them through the Sales & Marketing Council, which I’ve been involved with since beginning my career. SMC has helped educate me to become a better agent, connected me to wonderful people and friends through their networking outreach, and shared recognition for the successes I’ve been able to be part of.

Please prepay for all events on our website

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realty-builder.com

March 2017

A winding, but still connected path to job Brown enjoys working for members of SJBC

By Carrie Resch Contributing Writer

Leona Brown has always considered herself a “people person.”

Her career trajectory was positioned mostly on what jobs were available.

But ultimately, Brown’s path has woven a web of interconnectivity that has prepared her to be director of the St. Johns Builders Council, a position she has held for 15 years.

“My years of work have been very enlightening, as to a learning experience for different avenues, but all really combined,” she said.

Gregarious by nature, Brown started her career in the hospitality business. She believes her role as director is similar because her top priority is making members happy.

Brown has approached the position as members pay dues to essentially have her work for them.

“If we didn’t have the members, I wouldn’t have a job,” Brown said. “We are a membership organization. You pay dues to put me here to do stuff for you. That’s the way I’ve always felt.”

An undulating career path Brown was born and raised in the Bahamas. It was there she met her first husband, an American, and the two moved to Miami when she was 22.

In 1972, they began working at the Flamingo Lodge Marina and Outpost Resort in Everglades National Park. Her husband managed the resort and she managed the hotel.

Three years later, the couple relocated to Lake

Worth where Brown attended Palm Beach Junior College, studying business administration and management.

A year and another relocation later, Brown went to work for the ITT Community Development Corp. in Palm Coast, managing the Sheraton Palm Coast Resort for two years.

She enjoyed the hospitality business — especially the challenge of satisfying disgruntled customers — but running a hotel while raising two young kids became too much.

Brown requested a transfer and was moved to sales administration, where she processed real estate contracts for the next 10 years.

The other side Brown left ITT, moved to St. Augustine and took a yearlong sabbatical that included a visit to her parents in the Bahamas.

When she returned, she went to work for the St. Augustine Beach Building Department.

“I had the background in real estate, so when I switched over to the building department, I’m seeing the other side of it,” Brown said.

The builders came in and applied for permits. “The first person they saw was me,” she said.

See Brown, Page 22

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18

March 2017

Round 2 of work begins after deal reached ‘Make sure everything is tied up nice’ before closing day

By Maggie FitzRoy Contributing Writer

A fully executed contract is always celebrated by Realtors, whether they are the seller’s agent or represent the buyer.

But that’s just the beginning of much hard work, because it’s time to prepare for the closing.

Many people and companies are pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that will need to be put together to get to the happy day when the keys to the home can be handed over to the buyer.

Joanne Chando, a Realtor from Fort Myers, detailed the gettingto-the-closing process during a Florida Realtors continuing education course last month.

Roadmap to Closing was offered at the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors office in Jacksonville Beach as a webinar, monitored by NEFAR Education Coordinator Ruth Bonfante.

Chando taught the class live from a studio in Orlando to Realtors throughout the state.

She presented it in conjunction with a 17-page handout and students could ask her questions by texting a message to a number on the screen.

Leonard Cannarozzo of Florida Homes Realty said he found the class as effective as if Chando had actually been in the room.

“The sound quality is good, the projection is good,” he said.

“It’s just like she is here.”

The course presented options in the event of failed inspections

for roof, wood-destroying organisms and electrical or building code deficiencies.

It explained how to differentiate between the closing activities of a conventional contract, a cash purchase and a HUD/VA financed transaction.

It provided options for getting to a timely closing in the event a property is found to have a correctable title problem.

And it presented a timeline outlining every step between a contract’s acceptance and the closing, as well as the duties of the listing broker, selling broker, the buyer and the seller.

Throughout, Chando continually stressed the importance of paying attention to and heeding deadlines and dates for each step of the process.

“A deadline is a deadline and a date is a date,” she said. “It’s not a suggestion, in the same way that a stop sign is not a suggestion.”

Over the course of three hours, students learned to verify the proper paperwork; the time constraints for inspections, approvals and title searches; and about possible additional inspections and concerns.

With the verification of proper paperwork, students learned how to go through all forms lineby-line to be sure everything is properly signed and dated.

In addition: • All addendums should be signed and dated.

• The correct, most current

Students at the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors Beaches office watch a webinar on the work required for a smooth closing, which originated in a Florida Realtors studio in Orlando. Joanne Chando was the instructor.

forms should be used.

• If the property is a condominium, documents, bylaws and other pertinent forms must be included.

• The property’s legal description should be verified.

• The seller’s net sheet must be prepared.

• The seller’s signed disclosure must be included.

• Appropriate homeowners’ association documents must be completed and included.

• If VA financing is involved, the real estate agent should know if the contract that is being used requires a VA rider, addendum or separate contract.

P o n t e Ve d r a . N a t u r a l l y.

• If FHA is involved, the real estate agent must check to see if the contract includes the FHA rider addendum or separate contract.

• Proof of deposits must be verified.

With time constraints for inspections, approvals and title searches, Chando said there are likely to be a number of contingencies and other critical dates that must be met in order to keep the contract binding.

These include: • Mortgage application: Most contracts call for it within a specific time frame.

• Toof inspection, which is “as much an art as it is a science.”

• The wood-destroying organisms inspection, previously called termite inspection.

• General inspections: The buyer’s agent should recommend they be performed by a professional home inspection company.

• Pool inspections should be done by a reputable company.

• Seawall inspections should be done by specialists.

• Title searches: If there are problems, the agent should check the specific contract as to the time limits the seller has to clear them.

Realtors also may be responsible for additional inspections and concerns, Chando said, and should be proactive regarding them.

“Gone are the days when you could say, ‘I’m the buyer’s agent and that’s not my job,’” she said.

More and more people are get-

ting their real estate license, she said, “which means we are working with some people who don’t know what they are doing.”

She suggested agents prepare a checklist when the contract first becomes fully executed and to construct a timeline for each item on the list.

Additional concerns might include: • Who pays for what • Recommending vendors: Try to recommend at least three per specialty.

• Rented or tenant-occupied property: Generally the lease goes with it and must be verified.

• Inventory in rented property: The purchase contract should include.

• Building permits should be verified.

• Sewer or septic and water supply should be verified.

• Condominium approvals must be obtained.

“We’ve covered a lot of material,” Chando said at the end of the class. When it comes to closings, “you want to make sure everything is tied up nice.”

Chando is a regular NEFAR instructor, Bonfante said, and teaches many in-person classes as well as webinars. She also has spoken nationally.

Bonafante said this year NEFAR will host 11 more webinar-style classes, all taught at the Beaches location and also in either the Palatka or the St. Johns County office.

They will be held once a month, except in August.

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NEFAR Education Coordinator Ruth Bonfante was the local monitor at the seminar.

19

realty-builder.com

March 2017

Beautiful day for SJBC charity golf tournament

Todd McMillan leans over backward as he watches the direction of his putt on the first hole while Ron Duryea and Jon Woods follow its progress at the St. Johns Builders Council annual charity golf tournament last month.

Landon Drye reacts to his shot across the water on the fifth hole.

w ram! e N ur Prog o t ou Loan b ka e As Hom eam r D

Ellen Brooks, left, and Bethany Faulk man the BMC sponsor table by the seventh green at Marsh Creek Country Club.

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20

March 2017

It pays off to keep documentation yearlong Realtors learn tips on tax deductions at monthly WCR luncheon

By Carrie Resch Contributing Writer

Photos by Carrie Resch

About 55 Women’s Council of Realtors members and guests attended the February Business Resource Meeting and Luncheon.

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Documentation is key.

That was the point guest speaker Janice Nichols drove home time and again during her tax strategies for business professionals presentation at last month’s Women’s Council of Realtors Business Resource Meeting and Luncheon.

Nichols is a senior program manager of the Tax Reduction Institute, a research and educational organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. One of the institute’s areas of expertise is providing tax strategies for real estate professionals.

“You’re in a profession you can practically write-off everything you do,” Nichols advised the packed room of about 55 members and guests.

However, most independent contractors are unaware of deductions available to them and often end up overpaying their taxes, Nichols said.

Acknowledging that documentation can seem like a daunting and time-consuming task, Nichols inspired attendees to consider taking advantage of tax breaks in areas including home office deductions, automobile mileage, client and associate lunches, and even vacations.

Home office deductions One of the most distinct ways independent contractors, such as real estate agents, can save money on their taxes is through a home office deduction.

The rules and regulations for those deductions relaxed several years ago, If you do 90 percent of your administrative home from work, you’re eligible for the deduction, Nichols said.

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Automobile mileage Nichols said one of the most common methods utilized to deduct vehicles — the IRS method — will not maximize your deduction because the standard deduction does not take into account the cost to operate automobiles based on vehicle size.

For instance, operating costs for medium-sized cars will vary from operating costs of large cars, trucks or SUVs. Instead, she recommends using the actual expense method where all of the money spent on an individual’s automobile is tracked.

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Nichols stressed. Receipts for money spent on the car can be stowed in an envelope you keep in the vehicle, she suggested.

There are several options when it comes to tracking mileage. The first is to track your mileage on a daily basis.

The daily method is generally the method most people are familiar with.

However, mileage also can be tracked for one week out of the month, as long as it’s the same week every month or three consecutive months out of the year.

“If we do it right, our automobiles are a tax-deductible gold mine and it all begins with the actual method,” Nichols said.

Mabel Nunez, a Realtor with Exit Real Estate Gallery, said she will definitely apply the mileagetracking tips she learned at the meeting.

Nunez attended the meeting with her longtime partner, Dru Hawkins, founder and CEO of Mas Casa LLC, a real estate renovation and investment company.

It was the couple’s first time attending the Women’s Council of Realtors meeting.

“We have two businesses going, so this is very applicable to both,” she said.

Elizabeth Hand, also with Exit Real Estate Gallery and a firsttime guest, likewise was excited to learn about mileage-tracking.

“That’s going to be very beneficial to me not having to keep up with every single mile that I drive for my business,” she said.

Meals There is an existing tax rule that 50 percent of businessrelated meal and entertainment expenses can be deducted, but there also is a new rule the Tax Reduction Institute refers to as the “Dutch-treat rule.”

Going out to eat with a family member, friend, colleague or associate and paying for your own portion would qualify for a deduction, Nichols pointed out.

Any one of them could be a potential client and generally, you talk business when you sit down for a meal anyway, she said.

To figure out your average personal lunch expense, track what you spend on your lunches when you eat by yourself for 30 days out of the year.

The IRS allows 100 “Dutchtreat” lunches per year, Nichols cautioned, but they also allow 100 Dutch-treat breakfasts and 100 Dutch-treat dinners.

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Diane Cook, 2017 Women’s Council of Realtors Jacksonville Chapter president, said her goal for the year is those who attend the luncheons to leave with something that benefits their business.

21

realty-builder.com

March 2017

D.R. Horton opens model in Magnolia West community

D.R. Horton Express Homes hosted a new model opening in its Magnolia West community in Green Cove Springs, which included a luncheon for Realtors.

Tammie Gentry of ERA Davis & Linn with Kayla Wilder and Nancy Beaudry, both of D.R. Horton.

Photos by Deborah Anderson

Kim and Matt Caperton of Keller Williams.

Emily Carter, Watson Realty Corp.; Pamela Matthews, Vision Realty Professionals; and Don Bowman, Brian Grund and Doug Tackett, also of Watson Realty.

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22

BROWN from Page 17

Brown would check the permit to make sure everything was there to give to the plans examiner.

After about five years, she was lured away by Tom Coates, owner of St. Augustine-based Coates Construction Co., to be the office manager. She worked there for four years.

It’s hard to always be cheerful, but Brown is, Coates noted.

She’s also efficient, has a great memory for detail, always returns phone calls and is concerned about her job and her people overall, he said.

“I really wanted someone like that to work with me and for me and represent my company,” Coates said.

A call from the builders council In 1999, Brown moved back to Palm Coast and went to work at SeaGate Homes, a homebuilder in Palm Coast.

About a year into the job, Brown got a call out of the blue from Debbie Pacetti, the director of the St. Johns Builders Council, to see if she would be interested in interviewing for the job.

Hesitant at first because of the commute from Palm Coast to St. Augustine, she started getting phone calls from council board members, including Coates, who encouraged her to interview.

“It’s a one-person operation and that person has to be totally independent and responsible,” said Coates, adding he knew Brown was more than capable of running the council.

She has been the director of SJBC, a builders’ council under the Northeast Florida Builders Association, since 2001.

Her background in both real estate and building made her qualified because she understood both sides.

“Builder/Realtor is all connected,” she said.

As director, Brown plans and puts together events and oversees committees for the annual events, including the coun-

cil’s golf tournament, fishing tournament and the St. Johns County Parade of Homes.

“It’s a lot of planning, phone calling, meeting with members,” Brown said. “And it’s fun; I enjoy it.”

Her enjoyment stems from seeing successful events. She meticulously plans so members “get the best bang for their buck and enjoy themselves.”

The biggest challenges, Brown said, are not only convincing people it’s worthwhile to join NEFBA, but also informing members that they get out of the membership what they put into it.

“There are a lot of people that join and think, ‘Well, just because I’ve joined, I’m going to get all of this business,’” she said.

Not so, says Brown.

“We give you the tools — membership meetings, functions to go to — but you need to go and sell yourself,” she said.

The majority of the council’s members are associates, who join to get business from the builders.

Most of the time, the builders already are doing business with other companies, so it’s up to new members to sell themselves, Brown said.

“That’s the challenge of any of the new members that come in — to convince them to give it everything you’ve got,” Brown said. “You’ve got to go to these meetings.”

Besides networking, membership has a number of other advantages, according to Brown, one of which is advocacy.

A portion of members’ dues goes to the Florida Home Builders Association and the National Home Builders Association.

When an issue arises that would negatively impact builders, the associations will advocate for the industry.

“You have three organizations (including NEFBA) there that are looking out for your interest in the building industry,” she said.

March 2017

Photo courtesy of Leona Brown

Brown received flowers from Dennis Ginder, 2016 chair of the St. Johns Builders Council, at the group’s holiday party and board installation in December.

A family affair On the flip side, Brown’s daughter, Lise Tomlinson, is the membership and education coordinator for the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors.

Like her mother, Tomlinson is outgoing See Brown, Page 28

Tom Coates and Brown at the Make a Difference Day project in October where they helped clean up damage at the St. Francis House in St. Augustine caused by Hurricane Matthew.

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24

SAM Tram stops at Markland

March 2017

NAIOP honors Crosby with lifetime achievement award

Group also recognizes top projects

By Karen Brune Mathis kmathis@jaxdailyrecord.com

Markland welcomed the Sales & Marketing Council’s SAM Tram to the community on International Golf Parkway, a mile east of Interstate 95. More than 55 guests toured Markland’s six model homes and several readyto-move-in houses. Prices range from $280,000-$700,000 in the homes build by Providence Homes, Drees Homes, Riverside Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Dream Finders Homes and The Cottage Home Co. For information about Markland, which is a Hines community, visit markland. com or call (904) 513-5740.

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Commercial real estate brokers and developers recognized industry professionals and projects last month, honoring Steve Crosby with the lifetime achievement award.

The NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Northeast Florida Chapter presented the awards at its annual industry celebration, held this year at the Aetna Building on the Downtown Southbank.

Crosby, a member of NAIOP for 30 years, chaired the national group in 2004. He remains active on that board and in other parts of the organization.

For the past 32 years he has been with CSX. Crosby became president of CSX Real Property Inc. in 1999, where he worked until late 2014, when he became an executive-on-loan to lead InvestJax. That is an effort of the JAX Chamber and the Jacksonville Civic Council to create a capital fund to accelerate Downtown redevelopment.

At CSX Real Property, he led an organization that generated more than $3.5 billion in revenue for the company.

NAIOP gave the Jesse B. Smith Award to Tom Goldsbury, chief of the city Building Inspection Division.

The award is given to someone outside the real estate industry who has had a positive impact on the community and the industry.

Smith, who died 21 years ago, was a veteran city employee who served in economic development, planning and development.

The Klechak Award for Downtown advocacy went to City Council President Lori Boyer.

The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in a significant impact on the development of Downtown.

Dr. Lew Klechak was first honored with the award for his vision and efforts for more than 15 years to the revitalization of the urban core while chairman of the Downtown Development Authority.

The 2016 industry winners included: • Office lease: 701 Riverside Park Place (121 Financial), Colliers International, Robert Selton, Bart Hinson and Jason Hinson • Industrial lease: 14500 Hyatt Road (Dynarex), Colliers International, Guy Preston and Robert Selton • Construction project: Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Downtown (EverBank Center), Auld & White Constructors • Redevelopment project: Intuition Ale Works, Iconic Real Estate Investments • Design of the year: St. John & Partners (Riverplace Tower), OE&S • Land sales of the year: Ama-

Crosby

Boyer

Goldsbury

zon.com in North Jacksonville, Cushman & Wakefield (for the buyer) and Colliers International (for the seller).

• Office broker: Chuck Diebel with Colliers International Northeast Florida.

• Industrial broker: Tyler Newman, Cushman & Wakefield • Developing leader: Katie Kirchner, Strategic Sites • Distinguished service: Brittany Culbreth, Emerald C’s Development • Chapter merit award: Dave White, BankUnited NAIOP’s area chapter of 240 members is a trade association of developers, owners and professionals in the commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate industries.

It covers Northeast Florida from Jacksonville west to Tallahassee, south to Daytona, southwest to Gainesville and north to Ware and Glynn counties in Georgia.

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LUNCHEON from Page 20

If the business-related meal or entertainment expense is under $75, you do not need to keep the receipt, Nichols said, but you do need to document the meals in your daily planner.

The planner can serve as documentation proof in the event of an audit.

According to Nichols, five things have to be present when you document a meal: the date, with whom you went, the location, the cost and the purpose.

Hiring relatives and vacations Hiring a spouse or your children can be financially beneficial, Nichols said.

Children ages 7 and up can work for you doing simple tasks, but you have to be sure to set up the contracts correctly — something your accountant can help you with.

Children under 18 can earn up to $6,300 in tax-free income, according to 2016 and 2017 rules. An account can be set up for the child and money from that account can be used to pay for anything that benefits him or her.

“You still have to report their income, but that’s the amount of the standard deduction, so it zeroes out,” Nichols said.

Vacations are another area that can be taken advantage of for tax breaks.

If you combine work with your vacation, it becomes tax deductible, Nichols said. Just be sure to document it.

Prior to taking a trip, she recommended sending an email to agents in the area, telling them of your visit and that you’d like to talk about setting up a referral business.

The email will serve as documentation of intent for the trip. Write the appointment in your daily planner, print and save the email as well as the fliers and business cards you collect on your trip in a file for additional documentation.

At the end of the presentation, Women’s Council of Realtors Jacksonville Chapter President Diane Cook asked for a show

Guest speaker Janice Nichols, senior program manager of the Tax Reduction Institute, shared tips on tax deduction strategies.

of hands from attendees who learned something.

Nearly every hand in the room immediately shot up to Cook’s delight.

“I think everyone enjoyed it,” she said of the presentation, adding she wanted to have Nichols as a guest speaker to demonstrate some tips that will help everyone save money and keep more in their pocket.

Cook said her goal for the year is for members, business partners and guests at every business resource meeting to be able to walk away with something they can use to benefit their business.

“I’d say we accomplished that today,” she said.

Photos by Carrie Resch

Dru Hawkins, founder and CEO of Mas Casa LLC. and Mabel Nunez, Exit Real Estate Gallery, were among the dozens at the meeting.

realty-builder.com

26

March 2017

commercial roundup

Lingerfelt buys Downtown Southbank hotels space as well as some ancillary properties.

From the Daily Record Lingerfelt CommonWealth Realty Partners LLC bought the dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites in the Downtown Southbank area.

The property comprises a 123room Hilton Garden Inn and a 98-suite Homewood Suites at 1201 Kings Ave. Richmond, Va.-based Lingerfelt CommonWealth, a commercial real estate investment firm, said the hotel was built in 2009.

Commonwealth Lodging Management, the company’s hotel management affiliate, will operate the eight-story hotel.

Lingerfelt CommonWealth did not disclose the price or the seller. Property appraiser records show its 2017 assessment-inprogress is $18.9 million.

Those records show the hotel is owned by San Marco Hotel Partners LLC and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, in care of Alex. Brown Realty Inc. of Baltimore, Md. San Marco Hotel Partners LLC is associated with Alex. Brown Realty.

Alex. Brown Realty says it a privately owned real estate investment manager, organized in 1972, that co-invests with clients and joint-venture partners in properties throughout the country.

Lingerfelt CommonWealth has become a well-known landlord in Jacksonville.

It owns Riverplace Tower and the Stein Mart Building on the Southbank. It also manages 2.1 million square feet of suburban

DRA Advisors buys one complex, sells another Fort Family Investments sold the 1,112-unit Paradise Island Rental Communities for $120 million.

DRA Advisors LLC of New York bought the apartments, at 8787 Southside Blvd., for $107,914 a unit.

“We were approached by them and we were able to make a deal,” said Abe Fort, director of development for Fort Family Investments. He said it was an off-market deal.

Fort said the project was built over four phases from 1990-97.

It comprises 60 buildings on about 160 acres.

The property was sold through Park Avenues Rental Community Two Ltd. Fort Family Investments owns seven other communities totaling 1,860 units, including the new Palm Bay Club in Flagler Center.

The same day as that acquisition, DRA Advisors sold another Jacksonville complex.

Through G&I VII Bartram Park LLC, the investment firm sold Carlyle at Bartram Park, a 336-unit community, to JWC Bartram LLC of Providence, R.I., for $45.76 million. That works out to $136,177 a unit.

Property records show Carlyle at Bartram Park was developed in 2009 on 18.9 acres at 14701 Bartram Park Blvd.

JWC Bartram LLC and JWC Jupiter LLC were issued a $29.95 million mortgage by New York

Special to Realty-Builder

The dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites property is at 1201 Kings Ave.

Life Insurance Co. They are part of Preston Giuliano Capital Partners of Providence.

The sales price per unit in both deals is much higher than the average $81,000 for the apartments sold in the area last year, according to research from Colliers International.

One Enterprise Center for sale Downtown Downtown’s 22-story One Enterprise Center is for sale.

An offering flier says the 317,571-square-foot tower is

Paradise Island Rental Communities was sold by Fort Family Investments to DRA Advisors for $120 million.

See Commercial, Page 27

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TriBridge building $49M apartments

COMMERCIAL from Page 26

51.2 percent occupied. Built in the mid-1980s, the structure is on 1.15 acres at 225 Water St. John Bell, managing director of Transwestern in Miami, is marketing the property.

“We are expecting strong turnout,” he said, citing amenities Downtown like having the Omni Jacksonville Hotel next door, offering a strong parking ratio, being near the redevelopment along Laura Street and being steps from the Riverwalk and the Jacksonville Landing.

The flier calls it an iconic local landmark with an opportunity for signage and naming rights, making it “highly attractive to large users.”

Cash flow is stable and there is minimal near-term rollover of tenants, it says.

Two years ago, the building ended up in the lender’s hands following foreclosure.

Wells Fargo, its major bank tenant, left in 2011.

A certificate of title was filed in May 2015 transferring ownership of the office tower to 225 Water Street West Holdings LLC. That company’s sole member is U.S. Bank National Association, the trustee for the lenders.

CWCapital Asset Management of Bethesda, Md., was the special servicer and controls the property.

Bell said being under a special servicer can be a leasing challenge.

“There is the expectation that One Enterprise will be leased up in a pretty quick fashion once it has stable, committed ownership,” he said.

Its major tenants include Smith Hulsey & Busey, First Tennessee Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Gresham Smith and Partners, U.S. Legal Support and Gunster.

Property records show its market value at almost $16.7 million.

Wawa breaking ground on at least 2 sites April 6 Wawa will break ground April 6 on at least one site in Duval County and one in Clay County, but has not announced the addresses.

The company issued “Save the Date” announcements for 10 a.m. in Duval County and 1:30 p.m. in Clay County.

The Pennsylvania-based gas station and convenience store chain has said it will open three locations in Northeast Florida this year, 10 more next year and

27

realty-builder.com

March 2017

By Karen Brune Mathis The Daily Record

One Enterprise Center is for sale.

then two to four each year annually until it reaches capacity.

He said Wawa thinks Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties can support 40 stores.

The three this year would comprise two in Duval and one in Clay, said Brian Duke, Wawa regional real estate manager.

He would not confirm the sites that will open this year.

TriBridge Residential started work at the end of February on a $49 million apartment community at Town Center Promenade, opposite St. Johns Town Center.

Through TBR Town Center Property Owner LLC, TriBridge paid $6.8 million for about 9.06 acres at 4450 Tropea Way for construction of a 287-unit apartment community.

It is expected to be completed in 24 months, said Katherine Mosley, TriBridge Residential vice president of development.

TriBridge is partnering with Sefira Capital for the project.

Sefira Capital partner Mijael Attias said by email the “tremendous migration and job creation” in the area in recent years along with trends for housing needs drove the decision to step into

the market.

Attias also said the site is near 8 million square feet of office space, the University of North Florida and major roads and interstates.

He said those factors make the location a work-live-play environment.

Mosley said the community, which has not been named, will include a resort-style pool including a lounge and lap pool with a rain curtain; a fitness center; a dog park with dog wash stations; and an outdoor party porch.

Rents will average $1,450 a month.

The city issued a permit for site-clearing March 1 at a job cost of $100,000.

TriBridge Residential Construction has applied for permits totaling $2.2 million to build the footings and foundations for the

three-building community.

Atlanta-based TriBridge Residential, a multifamily owner, operator and developer, has a Jacksonville area track record. It developed the Uptown project in St. Johns Town Center as well as the BluWater Apartments, Seagrass Apartments and Cottage at North Beach, which is under construction.

The Promenade project is along the west side of Town Center Parkway between Brightman Boulevard and Midtown Parkway.

TriBridge bought its site Feb. 7 from CPC Jacksonville SJTC LLC and CPC Jacksonville SJTC Hospitality LLC. The permit applications show the project team includes Dwell Design Studio LLC of Atlanta as the architect and interior designer and Prosser Inc. of Jacksonville as the civil engineer.

Hines names project Southside Quarter Hines said last month it broke ground on what it has branded Southside Quarter, a 105-acre mixed-use property along Gate Parkway at Interstate 295 and Butler Boulevard.

It will include office, residential, hotel, retail, commercial and other uses.

The company also released preliminary design and site plans for the first Class A build-to-suit office sites that are available for corporate tenants.

The international real estate firm said office sites in the first phase include up to two 125,000-square-foot buildings with signage opportunities and parking.

Southside Quarter is designed so residents, visitors and employees can walk to their destinations within the development.

Hines said more announcements are pending for the residential and other sites.

Some parcels are available for retail, high-density single-family residential, commercial, hotel and additional office uses.

The development is at southwest I-295 and Butler Boulevard, south of St. Johns Town Center.

Hines called the location “the epicenter of Jacksonville’s key entertainment, retail, transportation and employment areas.”

The company set up the southsidequarter.com site to provide more information.

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March 2017

New real estate school considering expansion

BROWN from Page 22

and enjoys working with people.

Tomlinson had just moved to St. Augustine from Alaska when the job opportunity became available.

Brown, whose office used to be in the St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors building, heard about the position and gave her daughter a glowing recommendation. That was nine and a half years ago.

“I grew up with a wonderful role model, so it was kind of easy to follow in her footsteps,” Tomlinson said. “If I need anything or have any questions, she’s always there for me.”

The pair sees one another quite often — at least once a

By Maggie FitzRoy Contributing Writer

When someone wants to become a real estate agent, he or she first must pass a 63-hour pre-licensing course before taking the state exam.

There are many online real estate schools. But for those who prefer to attend a class taught by a live instructor, there are only a few in the Jacksonville area.

No matter where the course is taken, the final exam is created by the state. The course can be challenging, with about a 50 percent pass rate on average.

Since most classes are offered in an accelerated fashion, making a career change to real estate can be especially challenging for people with day jobs or childcare responsibilities.

That is why the First Coast School of Real Estate was launched last fall.

Classes are spread out over a 10-week period, held 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first class graduated Jan. 5 and the second one began Jan 24.

“We saw a need,” said instructor Rory Dubin, who also is a full-time Realtor with Exit Real Estate Gallery.

The school is located in a building next to Exit Real Estate Gallery’s Orange Park office, but it is a separate business, as required by state law.

Its instructors are not permitted to solicit students to work for the agency.

Even so, students do benefit from learning from agents who “are practicing real estate on a day-today basis,” Dubin said.

The other instructor, Noel David, also is a fulltime Realtor with Exit.

The course is challenging because there is a lot of material to cover, including real estate laws, the penalties for breaking those laws and how the industry is structured in the state, Dubin said.

The course manual, which almost every school uses, is 475 pages, divided into 19 chapters.

Studying that “over a 10-week period allows stu-

David

Dubin

dents to absorb the material easier,” he said, “and they can study longer.”

There also are other schools in the region, including the Florida Real Estate Institute and the Watson School of Real Estate.

But traditionally, real estate school classes are held during the day, for hours each day, graduating those who pass the exam in a little over a week, said First Coast School of Real Estate administrator Kallie Goodwin.

Those that are offered in the evenings also tend to be accelerated, finishing in a few weeks.

Since licensed real estate agents must take and pass a post-licensing 45-hour course to stay licensed, the school also offers that at night. Classes are 6-9 p.m.

Monday and Wednesday with the same instructors.

The cost for the prelicensing course is $350 and the post-licensing course is $200. Both include the manual, exam and exam preparation materials.

Dubin said the school is considering expanding, perhaps to the Beaches.

He sees a need for expansion because an average of 100 agents join the 7,500-member Northeast Florida Association of Realtors every month.

“The reason is the economy,” Dubin said. “It’s a very good time to get into real estate. It’s a very active market.”

Some of the graduates from the pre-licensing class that graduated in early January wrote testimonials that Goodwin said she plans to post on the school’s website, firstcoastschoolofrealestate.com.

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She also has a stepson by her husband, Jerry Brown, a retired construction network manager for AT&T in St. Johns County, whom she married in 2000.

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30

March 2017

Will immigration reform impact Florida real estate?

From floridarealtors.org

“

“

Orlando real estate broker Rosana Almeida, who specializes in sales to international buyers, met with investors in Mexico last year, but said the business climate there isn’t ripe for a return this year.

Potential buyers at a sales expo three months ago in Mexico City raised concerns about purchasing real estate in a country with shifting travel, immigration and trade policies, Almeida said.

Brazilian buyers have voiced similar concerns, she added.

“People are asking more questions than they used to,” said the longtime agent, who surveyed her agents. “They ask: ‘If I buy a property in Florida, can I have a different kind of green card?’

And I tell them one thing has nothing to do with another.”

Supporters of President Donald Trump say his experience with foreign capital in real estate ventures will benefit the U.S. Others, though, question whether his policies will send a message that the U.S. is not as friendly to people from other countries as it had been in the past.

Without question, said Margaritaville Orlando Resort Partner James Bagley, vacation homebuyers from other countries have become more cautious about spending time and money in Florida and the U.S. as a whole.

“The international market is very sensitive to political overtures, and there’s a growing sense of caution,” he said.

“When political leaders create

Obviously, our Mexican clientele is cautious.

They want to understand what the new administration policies mean for them.

James Bagley Margaritaville Orlando Resort partner

an atmosphere of populism and nationalism, our international visitors take note. And as people become cautious, they put the brakes on their wallet.”

Orlando, and Florida in general, are among the few U.S. markets that have been flush with international buyers. Last year, the state garnered 22 percent of U.S. purchases made by foreign buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors.

With foreign buyers purchasing an estimated $102 billion of U.S. real estate in 2016, the market is sizable.

Foreign buyers have helped

hoist Florida’s real estate market into recovery at a slightly faster rate than domestic buyers, according to a study by Trulia.

The state’s homeownership rate for foreign-born buyers increased 5 percent during a five-year period that ended in 2014, a greater increase than 41 other states.

Meanwhile, Florida’s homeownership rate for buyers from the United States increased by just 4 percent during that time.

For now, Bagley said, traffic and sales have not changed markedly, “but we’re getting a lot of questions on the sales floor.”

“Obviously, our Mexican clientele is cautious,” Bagley said.

“They want to understand what the new administration policies mean for them.”

A strong dollar and rebounding home prices have already begun to diminish the state’s star power among international buyers.

Even though Florida was still the top state for those buyers last year, the Sunshine State’s share of U.S. sales to foreign buyers slid to 22 percent last year from 31 percent five years earlier, according to reports by the National Association of Realtors.

In Celebration, LaRosa Realty agent Victor Nawrocki said Central Florida’s appeal to foreign buyers is particularly important because they typically purchase second homes, and those aren’t essential if times get tough.

“I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude myself,” said the agent based in Osceola County. “But anytime there’s uncertainty, people get concerned. If the

economy crashes, their second home is the first thing to go.”

Almeida and other real estate agents say it’s too early to tell if Trump’s select travel bans, tougher immigration policies and proposals to increase trade tariffs could impact Central Florida’s slice of the international real estate market.

She said she expects to know more after upcoming visits to countries including Colombia in March, Brazil in April and Europe in May. Orlando real estate agent Theodora Uniken Venema said she caters to buyers from the Netherlands and they are more interested in bottom-line returns on investment than currency exchange-rate fluctuations and rhetoric about foreign policy.

“They’ve been investing in the

U.S. for 400 years,” she said.

“They come to U.S. for opportunity. There are tax advantages regardless of whether the dollar is high or low. For commercial investors, the numbers have to work. They don’t care what the media says or what’s on CNN.” Trulia Chief Economist Ralph McLaughlin said international buyers are likely to be “spooked” by the uncertainty around immigration and travel policies, even though their decisions are based more on the movement of capital than immigration.

“Thus far, there are few, if any, signs that the federal government will restrict movement of dollars into the U.S.,” McLaughlin said. “In fact, the new administration is more concerned about the movement of capital leaving the country.”

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WE’RE READY FOR YOU IN RIVERTOWN Show your clients why they’ll love life on the river

Publication: Realty Builder Connection DPI: 300 Built: 14/02/2016 – JND

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realty-builder.com

Mattamy’s affordable, family-friendly community of RiverTown is now open and we can’t wait for your clients to see what all the excitement is about. Visit our brand new Welcome Center and tour our 6 new Model Homes.

Your clients will fall in love with our stunning designs and signature streetscapes in the only master-planned community on the St. Johns River. With homes starting from the $240s, RiverTown is the best value in St. Johns county.

Amenities like lap pools, tennis courts, playing fields, playgrounds and cabanas, make RiverTown perfect for your active lifestyle.

Don’t miss the chance to see why RiverTown is a place people are proud to call home.

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME AT MATTAMYRIVERTOWN.COM

Mattamy Jacksonville LLC: Richard Egger – License No. CGC1523769, Scott Paige – License No. CGC1523142, David Koon – License No. FRO6526 Mattamy Rivertown LLC: D.J. Smith – License No. CGC1517223 All illustrations are artist’s concept. All dimensions are approximate. Prices, specifications, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. Builder #CGC1523769

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March 2017

We are a network of successful REALTORS,® advancing women as professionals and leaders in business, the industry and the communities we serve.

“

“

My goal for 2017 is to provide member value at each and every event, whether through education, network, or support of each other, everyone will walk away with something that they can use in their business to grow their business.

Diane Cook, President

DID YOU KNOW? COME CHECK US OUT!

Women’s Council is the 12th largest U.S. Women’s professional organization and 10% of our members are MALE! Contact Cynthia Givens, VP Membership for more information on joining this amazing network. 904-444-9784 or CynthiaSellsJax@gmail.com

“SELL the SIZZLE!”

Business Resource Meeting Thursday, April 20

2016 Calendar of Events MARCH 28 – 29

Great American Realtor Days in Tallahassee

APRIL 6

April Social

Deercreek Country Club • 7816 McLaurin Road North

5:00-7:00 p.m. • Blue Fish Restaurant (Avondale)

Join us for this fast paced, fun networking event! Get to know Realtors and affiliates, share ideas on building winning partnerships to increase your business.

Special guests from Best Buddies will join us! Space is limited!

APRIL 12

Preregistration is required. Members only event.

Governing Board Meeting at NEFAR 9:00-10:00 a.m. • All WCR members are welcome

APRIL 20

Business Resource Meeting at Deercreek Country Club

Go to www.wcrjax.org to register.

11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. • Preregistration is required

March Member Spotlight

Kathy Karr-Garcia, The Beaches Realty Group A little known or unknown fact (past or present) about yourself?

At the age of 20 I was director of a KinderCare in Savannah, Ga. I was hired to open up a brand new Center outside an affluent subdivision, Wilmington Island. This was about 1976, a period of time daycare was not as acceptable as it is today. The first quarter the center was open we made a profit and I actually earned a ‘commission.’ It was so much fun working with the ‘little people.’

Actually, it gave me an opportunity to play most of the day! Parents would walk out to the playground looking for a staff member and there I was in the sandbox playing with a couple of the kids.

Kathy Karr-Garcia The Beaches Realty Group

What is your passion in the office? Outside the office?

I love working with first time home buyers, they are always so excited to own their ‘home.’ I enjoy guiding them along the process of purchasing a home, holding their hands. Sharing my knowledge and helping people has always been something I truly enjoy.

I love to spend time at the beach! In the winter as well as the summer, I enjoy an excellent book, a cocktail, snacks and sitting/baking in the sun with my husband or meeting friends in the evening for impromptu gathering. My favorite past time is going to the islands and scuba diving every day.

How has WCR benefited you personally and professionally?

I have met some of the most professional agents, lenders, inspectors and closers through WCR, which has helped my transactions close more smoothly. I make a point to attend the WCR meetings because I always feel I have learned something to help me professionally as well personally. The speakers/or functions are worth the time I take away from my business.

MAY 4

May Mixer 5:00-7:00 p.m. • Jaxon Social in Jacksonville Beach

MAY 10

Governing Board Meeting at NEFAR 9:00-10:00 a.m. • All WCR members are welcome

MAY 15-20

WCR Legislative Days Washington, D.C. Business Resource Meeting Reservations MUST BE MADE by the Friday before the event due to final count needed for the venue.

Visit www.wcrjax.org to register.

Or contact Diane Cook at (904) 773-3894.

facebook.com/ groups/wcrjax/

Our brokers foster success for every Associate - at every location!

Call Today to Join our Team: 844.448.7495

We’re in your neighborhood.

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection realty-builder.com

March 2017 Builders Care makes repairs to help cancer patient be able to remain in his home. Page 38

St. Johns Builders Council Director Leona Brown enjoys working for the group’s members. Page 17

33 Check out our updated Spike list to see where you and your colleagues are. Page 35

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

NEFBA spring events whip up enthusiasm

The team from NEFBA meets with Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, during the 2016 Florida Home Builders Association Spring Legislative Conference. Last year’s NEFBA team included Josh Garrison, Jim Arsenault, Denise Wallace, Jessie Spradley, Tim Adkinson, Rick Morales, Michael Bourré, Sen. Bradley, Matt Ciupak, Lee Arsenault, Chris Dostie, Sen. Bean, Harlan Bost, Jason Dugger, Jim Webb and Janet Herrick.

The Expo is 3-7 p.m. at the University of North Florida’s University Center.

At the end of the month, March 27-29, the Florida Home Builders Association Spring Legislative Conference in Tallahassee attracts many NEFBA members, who have discovered this event as an opportunity to meet and compare notes with FHBA members from across the state.

Spring Continued on page 34

NEFBA’s annual spring event, the Parade of Homes, is heralded as “the area’s largest open house.”

Build Smart. DreeSmart.

Drees Homes goes above and beyond to build smart, more efficient homes.

In fact, Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,663 on their utility bills compared to a typical existing home. That’s because we build with our DreeSmart, energy efficiency program.

Call (866) 257-9321 to learn more *Annual energy cost comparison was correlated from the HERS Index score provided by a third-party certified Home Energy Rater and was calculated for a "Palmetto" plan in Climate Zone 2 using Energy Gauge v4.0.01 software. Results are projected, not guaranteed, and will vary depending upon utility rates, actual square footage of plan selected and homeowner's individual usage.

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The weather forecast at NEFBA this spring includes whirlwinds of activity as members and the staff prepare for and attend some of the year’s most popular events.

This is not unusual for NEFBA, and everyone seems to thrive on the excitement and the opportunities.

The Sales & Marketing Council’s Laurel Awards on March 17 launch the season with a ceremony to honor the brightest and best sales and marketing professionals in Northeast Florida.

NEFBA’s Construction Industry Trade Expo is next on the schedule for March 23. This longstanding expo features vendors of products and services related to construction and is designed to primarily attract builders and remodelers.

It is free to builders, remodelers, developers, architects, interior designers and building officials.

For years, members have enjoyed the opportunity to network with each other, make new friends and create new business relationships.

They also enjoy a chance to win prizes at the booths, collect information and do business with other members.

The monthly NEFBA Board of Directors will be at the expo so members can spend time at the show and attend the meeting.

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

34

March 2017

Pinnacle Award Builders A Pinnacle Builder is a NEFBA member company that maintains 90 percent of its active subcontractors as NEFBA members and actively recruits two new members every year.

Congratulations and thank you to the builders below who have achieved this high standard of commitment to the association and the industry.

Adams Homes Bourré Construction Group CornerStone Homes Dostie Homes Dream Finders Homes Drees Homes D.S. Ware Homes Glenn Layton Homes ICI Homes Landon Homes

Lennar Homes MasterCraft Builder Group Mattamy Homes Morales Construction New Leaf Construction Providence Homes Sandifer Custom Homes Thomas May Construction Toll Brothers Vintage Estate Homes

For more information about becoming a Pinnacle Award builder, call the NEFBA office at (904) 725-4355.

Enjoy the benefits along with this select group. Pinnacle builders receive a permanent place on the Pinnacle Builder wall in NEFBA’s lobby and a certificate of recognition for display in the company’s offices.

The Pinnacle Builder is honored at Board of Directors meetings, major events and functions and listed in association publications.

Other rewards include complimentary entrance to all council meetings, SMC breakfasts and one ticket to the annual charity gala.

NEFBA’s Construction Industry Trade Expo is valued for its networking opportunities and presentation of the latest products, services and technology. This scene from last year’s expo reflects its popularity.

SPRING Continued from page 33 The conference focuses on regulatory activities and is a chance for NEFBA to be heard

by Florida’s legislators on matters of concern to the industry.

(See more details on Page 39.)

Next up is an event that has a direct impact on homebuyers in Northeast Florida — the NEFBA Parade of Homes.

This annual event, which began in the mid-1950s, has grown into what is now known as “Northeast Florida’s largest open house.”

Local residents look forward to the Parade, which includes Nassau, Clay, St. Johns and Duval counties, and offers free tours of the area’s new construction homes and neighborhoods built by NEFBA members.

Visitors have a chance to meet and compare home-

Discussion of the 2016 membership drive draws the serious consideration of NEFBA members at a board meeting last year. The drive is a concerted team effort to bring in new members as NEFBA retains its rankings as largest association in Florida and fifth largest in the nation.

builders, features, prices and amenities, as well as keep up to date on trends in interior design.

Planning and coordinating the Parade begins months before the event. This year the parade preview party is April 20 and judging is April 21. The parade itself is April 22-30.

Winners are announced and awards presented at the Parade of Homes banquet

May 18.

Although it’s in May, which seems like a long time from now, it’s not too soon to be planning your strategy for the annual Membership Drive.

This year the drive is May 1-18, and competition between teams is fierce.

Prizes and the satisfaction of adding new members are strong motivators, so begin planning your strategy now.

OVER 70 EXHIBITS OF INDUSTRY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ON DISPLAY

Thursday, March 3,, 316 UNF University Center

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Quick move-in homes are available.* Call 904.541.2555 or visit RichmondAmerican.com today to learn more about these remarkable Jacksonville-area communities. *Closing dates are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Homebuyers may be limited in the structural changes, options and upgrades which can be made to homes. Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. Square footage is approximate. ©2017 Richmond American Homes; Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, CBC1257429.

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

March 2017

35

Where are you on this month’s updated Spike list?

ALL-TIME BIG SPIKE 1,500+ “Buddy” James

1,965

Doug Wenzel

1,142

GRAND SPIKE 1,000-1,499 STATESMAN SPIKE 500-999 Omar Farhat

907.5

ROYAL SPIKE 150-249 Marie Griffith William Cellar Rick Morales III Gregory Matovina Robert Porter Glenn Layton Richard Browdy Raymond Nasrallah Walter Williams Dennis Ginder

240.5 221.5 200 188 181 177.5 158.5 154 152 151.5

SUPER SPIKE 250-499

RED SPIKE 100-149.99

Richard Dostie Bryan Lendry Carmel Morris Ray Inman Rita Williams Glenn Harrell Vicky Zelen Tony Raso Ron Coppenbarger Bobby Walton Joan Pattison Jonny Moore Curtis Hart

Hawley Smith Keith Ward Judy Hicks Andy Chambers Warren Powers Sean Junker

464.5 425 419.5 405 370 330 317.5 316.5 315 306 303 291 250.5

139 136 136 130.5 113.5 103

GREEN SPIKE 50-99 Bill Wilson Mark Downing Matt Devereaux Margaret Arrowsmith Elwood Collier

97.5 93 92.5 86.5 79.5

Gene Rover Lee Arsenault Robert Marshall Barbara Moore Jack Demetree Sr Sandy Semanik Christopher Dostie Jon Lyon Maxine McBride Robert Anderson Jeffrey Brecko Deryl Patterson

73 71.5 69 67.75 66.00 65.5 65 60.5 55.5 53.5 52.5 52

LIFE SPIKE 25-49.99 Harlan Bost Chet Skinner Theresa Swanson Herbie Wiles Leed Silverfield Ross McWilliams David Hacker John Molyneaux Gerry Boeneman Charlie Arnold Arnold Tritt Jr Lawrence Murr

49.75 49.5 48.5 47.5 47 45.75 45.5 44.5 44 43 42 38.5

Tom Trout III AJ Beson Dan Dekay Matt Carlton Brad King Joseph Blanco Tyrone Alexander Nathan Day Tom Dodson Tobi McGuigan Fitzhugh Powell Steve Johnson Cate McCauley Edward Burr John Cogdill Jr Michael Brown Larry Wittmer James Lamoureux Peter Steinmetz

37.25 37 36.5 35 35 33 31 30.5 29 29 28.5 28.5 27.75 27.5 27 27 25.5 25 25

BLUE SPIKE 6-24.99 Daniel Blanchard Michael Bourre Jerry Linder Susan Beaugrand Jason Dugger

22.75 22.5 19.5 18 17

Ron Harris Lockwood Holmes Mike Lilly Tim Adkinson Katrina Hosea Cole Slate Bill Genovese Bill Lazar Chris Shee Crystal Coons Mike Atzert Ryan Davis Bruce Gartley William Jackman Howard Sheffield Deborah Anderson Jerry Dean Glenn Miller Nathan Moore Michael Munn Tim Deck Charles Jimerson Chris Kinley Patricia Kolosky Janna Thomas

16.75 16.5 15.5 14.5 14.5 13.75 13.5 12.5 12 11.75 11 10 10 10 9.5 9 9 9 9 8.5 8 8 8 8 8

Spike Continued on page 42

New member spotlight Ready Seal, Ginger Borgman Ready Seal wood stain and sealant contains all the essential elements of a quality coating for exterior wood projects.

Ready Seal is a professional-grade wood sealant that is superior to other sealant products when compared in ease of application, maintenance and beauty of the finished project.

Ease of application was in mind throughout the formulation of Ready Seal to ensure a hassle-free application, saving time for the contractor and promising a Goof-Proof process for homeowners.

Call Ginger Borgman at (469) 763-6527 or visit www.readyseal. com.

Sponsor spotlight MicroTech Solutions, Brian Sobolewski When you choose MicroTech Solutions, you are not only choosing a great restoration specialist who can provide you with unprecedented results, but a company that goes above and beyond for its customers.

Whether you are dealing with water or fire damage, water extraction and drying, mold remediation or carpet cleaning, you can expect the company’s core values to be demonstrated throughout your experience.

Call Brian Sobolewski at (904) 448-1030 or visit www.teammicrotech.com.

Welcome, new members The following companies became NEFBA members in January.

ADT Security Systems

Ready Seal

Jon Hicks

Ginger Borgman

Americrest Luxury Homes

Rizzetta & Co.

Pat Coomer

Scott Smith

BrandMortgage

Royal Green Lawn & Ornamental

Ben Stephens

CHASE

Mark Green

Travis Underwood

SG Jones International LLC

DWV Plumbing

Fegor Umolo

David Veres

Smith Appraisal Services

EIC (Earned Internet Consulting)

Mark Smith

Chris Himel

Jerry Stageman

Doug Davis

Wedi Corp

Franklin American Mortgage

Ryan Carrasquillo

Bryan Royal

The following individuals became NEFBA Affiliate members in January:

Hunter Hayden

Heekin Litigation

Lisa Daniel

Huber Engineered Woods

Matthews Design Group

Steve Hooker

Alex Acree

International Decor Outlet

Petticoat-Schmitt Civil

Bill Connerly

Kimberly Bryan

Lewis, Longman & Walker

Watson Realty Corp.

Manning Custom Works

Nichole Smith NMLS#665295 (904) 316-5292

Holly Yelton NMLS#656722 (904) 302-0853

Burnie Burnsed NMLS#1012448 (904) 403-6304

Wendy Moatz NMLS#623211 (904) 403-6314

Shea Williams NMLS#30972 (904) 629-7176

We’ll pay up to

$5,000

of your client’s closing costs for purchase or refinance.

Ask us how.

We never forget that it’s your money.

SERVING ALL RESIDENTS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA. Certain restrictions and limitations apply. All loans are subject to credit approval. No Closing Costs offer available only when obtaining a VyStar Credit Union First Mortgage Loan and is not available on VA, FHA & Reverse Mortgages. Available for purchase or refinance. VyStar will pay borrower closing costs up to a maximum amount of $5,000 excluding origination fee, discount points, private mortgage insurance, prepaid interest or funds to establish the member’s escrow account. If the borrower pays off the mortgage within the first 36 months, they will be required to reimburse VyStar for a portion of the closing costs paid by VyStar. Offer available for a limited time and subject to change without notice.

SOME TITLES REQUIRE LONG HOURS OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.

OURS DON’T.

VyStar Title Agency* knows that closings can be exhausting. So, whether you’re a buyer, broker, Realtor, or lender, we’ll be there step-by-step to help make the process as fast and painless as possible. You’ll get the personal attention you deserve from the moment the file is opened until the last document is signed and delivered. Rely on VyStar Title Agency for precise, prompt, and professional service until you cross the finish line.

David Weekley Homes

Tracy Valente

John Wallace

Carrol Leonard NMLS#623238 (904) 303-0728

Sunset Specialty Groundcovers

Fletcher Davis

Hayden Hawk Investment Group

Mary Holcombe NMLS#371871 (904) 403-6303

Patti Atwill Carol Light Manning

Joshua Manning

Special thanks to these members for recruiting and sponsoring a new member: Andy Chambers, Bill Watson, Jr., Bob Porter, Brian Sobolewski, Dick Browdy, Judy Hicks, Lee Arsenault, Leed Silverfield, Lenny McAneny, Rob Matthews, Ryan Schmitt, Susie Austin and Victoria Hale.

For more information about the benefits of membership and how to become a NEFBA member, call Hans Krieg at (904)725-4355 or email him at HKrieg@nefba.com.

phone: 904-908-2874 • fax: 904-908-2873 • vystarcu.org *VyStar Title Agency, a division of VyStar Financial Group, LLC is a subsidiary of VyStar Credit Union and an agent of First American Title Insurance Company, which is a registered service mark of The First American Financial Corporation, its parent company.

VYS 1705 MortTitle Ad_6x11_MECH.indd 1

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Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

36

March 2017

Government advocacy update duval

NEFBA’s Government Affairs Committee: The next Government Affairs meeting is 8:30 a.m., Thursday, March 23, at the NEFBA offices, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100.

Human Rights Ordinance: The city of Jacksonville approved the expansion of its Human Rights Ordinance to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of nine characterizations such as race, age, gender and religion already protected from discrimination.

Under the expanded law, businesses are prohibited from discriminating against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons in the context of employment, public accommodations and housing, with some exceptions. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees and religious organizations would be exempt from the law’s employment discrimination prohibitions, as they are with the other nine protected classes. The small business exemption does not apply to public accommodations or housing discrimination.

NEFBA special interest councils

Sales & Marketing Council Director/Nassau Builders Council/E-Council Palmer Kuder Palmer@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

Duval County issues: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355 New school approved: The Clay County School Board unanimously approved the construction of a new elementary school in the OakLeaf area for an estimated cost of $20 million to $25 million.

Despite the system operating at 79 percent capacity, school board officials said the new school is needed to replace older portables and to ease future overcrowding in OakLeaf-area elementary schools. The school was originally planned to be built in 2021.

Impact fees: The Clay County Commission contracted with TindaleOliver Associates, for a term not to exceed 12 weeks and at a cost of $122,375, to conduct the impact fee study necessary to reinstate the impact fee in Clay County.

clay

Builders Council: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

hns . Jo St

Land development code update: The St. Johns County Commission is considering several items for possible changes to the Land Development Code including measurement of fence height when on or near a grade change or erected atop a retaining wall and allowing storm water ponds to account for a specified percentage of open requirements within a Planned Unit Development.

Builders Council: Leona Brown, sjbcouncil2@aol.com and (904) 725-4355

Events Coordinator/ Remodelers Council/ Education Corey Hacker CHacker@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

baker Baker County issues: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

Conditional Use & Variance Board: Nassau County is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Conditional Use & Variance Board, representing District Three. The board conducts public hearings and decides on applications for variances from the literal application of the zoning code when specific standards for review are found to be met. They also conduct public hearings and decide on applications for conditional use. If you have questions regarding the board, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300.

nassau

Member Services Director Hans Krieg HKrieg@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

Governmental Affairs Director/Clay Builders Council/Young Professionals Jessie Spradley JSpradley@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

Builders Council: Palmer Kuder, Palmer@nefba.com and (904) 725-4355

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www.drhorton.com/nfl *Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. See your new home consultant for details. **4% (3% commission plus 1% bonus) available on select inventory homes only in D.R. Horton North Florida communities. Offer valid for new buyers only on new contracts written on 1/1/17 through 03/31/17 and must close. Total commission paid is subject to limitations, if any, on total broker compensation imposed by homebuyer’s lender. Real estate agent must be present on first visit. Total commission/bonus earned and paid at closing. See a sales representative for a complete listing of qualifying homes. **All square foot dimensions are approximate. Pictures, elevations, features, sizes and colors are approximate for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. CBC058997 ©2017 D.R. Horton, Inc. All rights reserved. MAR 2017

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

March 2017

Upcoming events Local events are listed first, then NEFBA events. Council and committee events are listed in alphabetical order by event name for convenience in tracking your area of interest.

FHBA Spring Legislative Conference March 27-29 Tallahassee Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

NEFBA Lunch & Learn With Napoleon Fireplace March 22, 11:30 a.m. lunch; presentation at noon NEFBA office Topic: Hot Spots RSVP: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com

With Stealth Bond April 12, 11:30 a.m. lunch; presentation at noon NEFBA office Topic: Metal Roofing Installation Systems & a new Concealed Adhesive RSVP: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com

NEFBA Trade Expo & Board of Directors meeting March 23, Expo 3-7 p.m; BOD 3:30-4 p.m.

University of North Florida University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

NEFBA Membership Committee April 6, 11:30 a.m.

NEFBA office RSVP: Hans Krieg, HKrieg@nefba.com

Clay Builders Council A Thirsty Thursday Shrimp Night April 13, 6:05 p.m. gates open; 7:05 p.m. first pitch Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, 301 A Philip Randolph Blvd.

Cost: Adult $20 and Kids $10 Details: Includes unlimited hamburgers and hotdogs Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

Clay Builders Council breakfast April 12, 8:30 a.m.

Island Life Grill, 2245 Plantation Center Drive, Fleming Island Cost: $10 Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

Government Affairs Committee March 23, 8:30 a.m.

NEFBA office Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

Remodelers Council Luncheon April 20, 11:30 a.m.

NEFBA office Cost: $7 Remodelers member, $10 all others Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

Sales & Marketing Council Breakfast

April 19, 8:15 a.m.

NEFBA office Contact: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com

April 14, 8 a.m.

UNF University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive Speaker: Sales Training with Meredith Oliver Sponsors: King & Bear and Wells Fargo Cost: $15 in advance for SMC members, $20 at the door Contact: Palmer Kuder, Palmer@nefba.com

NEFBA 2017 Parade of Homes preview party

St Johns Builders Council social

NEFBA General Membership/BOD meeting

April 20 Time: TBD Location: TBD Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

NEFBA 2017 Parade of Homes judging April 21 Time: TBD Location: TBD Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

NEFBA 2017 Parade of Homes April 22-30 Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

Builders Care Board meeting April 11, Noon NEFBA office RSVP: Justin Brown, JBrown@builderscare.org

Golf in February is one advantage of living and working in the Sunshine State.

The St Johns Builders Council Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Feb. 13 at the Marsh Creek Country Club is a prime example.

This popular event was sold out and was a busy day for golfers, visitors and organizers.

At the end of the day, everyone was a winner — spending the day outdoors, enjoying lunch, friendly competition and networking. Some were skillful (or lucky) enough to take home cash prizes, too.

The winners were: • First-place team: Greene Quality Construction • Second-place team: Franson, Isley & Rendzio • Longest drive, men: Jeff Knauff of Straight Shooters • Longest drive, women: Katherine Povek of Sherwin Williams The charity tournament benefitted the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund The tournament’s banner sponsor was 84 Lumber. Fidelity Bank and BMC were gold sponsors.

SJBC also thanks Greene’s and other individual prize sponsors: Harbor Community Bank, Bates & Hewett, LP Building Products (Mark Rose), Franson, Isley & Rendzio, FBC Mortgage, Cornerstone Home Lending, Mattamy Homes, VyStar Credit Union, Ready Seal, Mercedes-Benz of Jacksonville, Mobile Mini, D and D Garage Doors, Moses Creek Realty and Providence Homes.

Mike Greene and Jason Herndon hold the first-place trophy awarded to the Greene Quality Construction team which also included Donnie Thomas and Tanner Tipton.

Second-place team winner Franson, Isley & Rendzio with Kraig Carmichael, Tyler Fugitt and Wesley “Snowflake” Hunt.

Jeff Knauff of Straight Shooters took home the trophy for the longest drive in the men’s division.

Just Minutes from City Attractions Yet Miles Away from Family Distractions!

Young Professional Group & Professional Women in Building Beachside Mixer April 6, 5 p.m.

Pussers Caribbean Grill, 816 Florida A1A N., Ponte Vedra Beach Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

Please call the NEFBA office at (904) 725-4355 to confirm details of any NEFBA calendar event, or contact the event coordinator by email. Check the NEFBA website calendar at www.nefba.com.

The Northeast Florida Builders Association provides industry-wide representation to strengthen and foster the continued growth of construction trades and services in Northeast Florida.

Serving the region since 1944, NEFBA is an affiliate of the Florida Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. Builder News is a newsletter for and about NEFBA members and industry issues at local, state and national levels.

The newsletter is published and distributed monthly by Daily Record & Observer, LLC in Realty-Builder Connection.

For membership information or to contact NEFBA, call (904) 7254355. Follow us on: bit.ly/FacebookNEFBA

Katherine Povek of Sherwin Williams won the individual competition for the longest drive in the women’s division.

Live the Island Lifestyle

March 21 and April 18 5:30 p.m.

Location: TBD Sponsor: TBD Contact: Leona Brown, SBJCouncil2@aol.com

About NEFBA

@NEFBAMembership

SJBC golf tournament benefits at-risk newborns

37

Dunes of Amelia from $279,990 With homes ranging from 1,862 to 2,956 square feet Dunes of Amelia has the perfect fit for you and your family. This new community is located in the highly desirable, picturesque and historic area of Amelia Island. It’s just 30 minutes North of downtown Jacksonville and convenient to the Jacksonville International Airport via Interstate 95.

Dunes of Amelia is less than one mile to the most beautiful beaches in Northeast Florida, conveniently located near Championship golf courses, a lively historical district and shopping. Discover what this quaint beach town can offer you! There are NO CDD FEES in Dunes of Amelia!

Come visit this beautiful community and explore our modern, open floorplans for yourself, won’t you?

Call 904.624.7747 today

for more information to find out how you can build the perfect home for yourself in the middle of it all!

302 Dunes of Amelia Drive Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

DreamFindersHomes.com

CGC1521832

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

38

March 2017

Quick fix by Builders Care keeps cancer patient at home Curtis Kelly has a diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer.

When he called Builders Care, he also had a rotting bathroom floor.

That presented a very real threat for Kelly. The weight of the bathroom fixtures on the rotting wood posed the possibility the toilet would fall through the floor.

It was a straightforward solution.

Builders Care reinforced the floor joists and installed tile that was donated to the project. A new sink and vanity also were donated for the bathroom.

When the repairs were made, Kelly once again had full use of the bathroom without fear of falling through the floor.

Builders Care received a voice mail.

“Hi Justin, this is Curtis Kelly. I just wanted to call you and tell you how much I appreciate everything you and the people over at your company have done for us. That new floor was a lifesaver and the gentleman was very courteous.

“I greatly appreciate everything, I really do. I can’t tell you how much it means to me, because we were starting to worry about having to move out.

So you guys saved me, and I really thank you. I will never forget it. Have a good day. Bye-bye.”

Justin Brown, executive director of Builders Care, said the organization feels privileged to be able to come to the aid of people in distress, whether the project is large or small.

Caring Builders

“We are grateful to the growing number of Caring Builders who’ve committed to joining us to restore safe condi-

tions and peace of mind to the most vulnerable of our neighbors. Together, it’s what we do,” he said.

At Embrace, you get a lot more than just a Loan Officer

You get processors, underwriters, closers, techies and your own personal marketing team to name a few. Our specialists take care of every detail from approval to closing, including: • Closing disclosures delivered three to 10 business days prior to closing • Loans reviewed in 24 hours or less • Credit decisions made by cross-trained underwriters • Wires released one to two days prior to closing Succeeding is easy when you have the right team.

www.embracehomeloans.com Embrace Home Loans, Inc. NMLS ID # 2184 is licensed in FL. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Dave Spencer Branch Manager NMLS ID # 177102 800.333.3004 x3236 Call or stop by our Jacksonville office today!

7860 Gate Parkway, Unit 109 Jacksonville, FL 32256

Providence Homes Lennar Homes Eagle View Windows & Doors Wells Fargo CSX MasterCraft Builder Group Wood Development Chet and Sarah Skinner Miranda Contracting Matovina & Co. Synovus Bank McAneny Builders First Coast Supply LP Building Products New Leaf Construction Doug Wenzel Hillcrest Title & Trust John Owen, Movement Mortgage Judith Sisler Johnston Aurora Custom Homes The Cole Slate Team at Exit Real Estate Gallery Pro-Tile & Marble Corner Lot Properties TD Bank Beson4 Media Ian McDonald, Regions Mortgage 84 Lumber Pillar Construction Garmon Trucking CornerStone Homes Realty CC Underwood, Sellin’ w/ CC Team

Your participation is key to our success For those of us who tend to measure time in quarters, we are ending the first quarter of 2017.

My hope is this quarter has been a busy, successful one for all of you. We’ve had good news about the economy and employment nationally, and we are optimistic that trend will continue.

NEFBA exists to strengthen our industry and the individual members who share our goals of contributing to the local community as well as the overall progress of our country.

Since January we have had the opportunity to join builder association members from around the world at the International Business Show in Orlando.

Locally, we have conducted educational workshops, attended committee meetings, sponsored social events, held fundraisers and added new members. We also have been planning for a very busy spring.

A quick glance at our calendar and the major events on it should instill even more confidence in the direction we are headed. The Laurels (SMC), the annual Construction Trade Expo and the FHBA Legislative Conference in Tallahassee dominate an already-full calendar this month.

April, of course, is reserved for the area’s largest open house — NEFBA Parade of Homes.

The membership drive follows on its heels in May. As busy as you are, you will want to participate in as many of these events as you possibly can.

Each one is beneficial and instructive in its own way.

Your participation plays an

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Lee Arsenault

New Leaf Construction important role in their success, and their success in return supports and promotes your business and your role in the growth of our local economy.

Let me thank all of you for the enthusiasm and interest you have shown so far this year.

I’m indebted to the executive committee, the leadership and staff of the association and all our members for help and encouragement when I needed them and the wisdom of experience and expertise at every decision making opportunity.

Sincerely, Lee Arsenault Founder, president of New Leaf Construction

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

March 2017

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

39

The Brantley & Associates Team celebrates its first-place win with NEFBA’s Training Vice President Keith Ward. Pictured are Lane Day, Ward, Greg Brantley, Victor Jubran and Daniel Teague.

Hundreds enjoy annual apprenticeship shoot

By Christina Thomas

NEFBA training director

Local & Long-distance Model & market homes Packing services & Supplies Furniture disassembly & assembly

by NEFBA carpentry apprentices, Yeti products and other items.

Mike Moore was the winner of the shotgun.

This year’s 12 Gauge Sponsors included Thomas May Construction, Haskell Corporation, Auld & White Constructors, Florida Comfort, True Blue People Ready, Bender & Modlin Fire Sprinkler, Magnum Painting Services, Coastal Electric Company of Florida, Air Solutions Heating & Cooling, Adkins Electric Company, LP Building Products, All Quality Painting, SherwinWilliams, Campbell Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Southeast and FCC Cabinets.

A special thank you from the NEFBA apprenticeship office is extended to Billy Smart of GrillBilly’s Catering for the barbecue chicken and ribs lunch and to Ann Hicks of Stephens Advertising for designing promotional signage for the event.

Be a part of the FHBA Spring Legislative Conference Join fellow NEFBA members as FHBA hosts the 2017 Legislative Conference on March 27-29 in Tallahassee, where members and leaders in Florida residential construction and remodeling industry participate in legislative training, engage with elected officials and meet to address organizational agendas.

Legislators and Capitol observers use this event as a barometer of FHBA member intensity regarding our legislative initiatives.

Last year, the group from NEFBA visited with local legislators advocating for a variety of bills, including HB 535, which would update the

904.745.0705

Mike Moore proudly displays the grand-prize shotgun with Keith Ward.

twomenjAX.com

Each franchise is individually owned and operated.

St. Augustine | U.S. DOT No. 2861624 | IM2608 Jacksonville | U.S. DOT No. 2861603 | IM2611

Create a Lasting Impression

‘‘

‘‘

On Jan. 27, 208 shooters gathered at Bradford Sportsman’s Farm for the fifth annual NEFBA Apprenticeship Clay Shoot.

Each year, supporters of the program gather together for a day of collegial competition to support the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program.

This year’s event had more than 55 foursomes compete in the shoot for the honors of top male shooter, top female shooter and top team.

On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-scoring individuals also receive an honorary trophy — a customized toilet seat.

The winners were: • Highest scoring team: Brantley & Associates consisting of Lance Day, Greg Brantley, Victor Jubran and Daniel Teague.

• Top male shooter (threeway tie): Victor Jubran, Daniel Teague and Lance Day • Top female hooter: Chandra Capobianco Participants also could purchase raffle tickets for door prizes and the grand prize, a Weatherby Athena 12-gauge over-and-under 28-inch shotgun.

The top prize was donated

by Keith Ward of Thomas May Construction and Magnum Painting Services.

Additional door prizes included cedar adirondack chairs crafted by Orange Park High School’s carpentry program, corn hole games made

My experience with the Mancini group has been exemplary! Their professionalism and knowledge of products was excellent. Installation, service and follow-up has been outstanding.

I would rate the Mancini team a 5* (star) company for any and all design purposes.

– E. McKnight

BUILDERS • DESIGNERS • HOMEOWNERS Florida Building Code, and SB 660, which would allow local governments to impose a documents tax in lieu of imposing an impact fee.

A strong push was also made for the full funding of the Sadowski Affordable Housing trust fund, which supports the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program and the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program.

Make plans to attend the conference, which will take place at the Challenger Learning Center, 200 S. Duval St. in Tallahassee.

Visit our showroom for fabulous selections in furniture, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, artwork, accessories, fabrics, wallpaper and more. Consult with our Interior Designers for space planning, color concepts, window treatments, renovations and new construction selections.

(904) 810-2027 141 Hilden Rd. #202 Ponte Vedra, FL 32081

www.DonnaManc iniI nt e r ior s AndF loor ing .c om

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

40

March 2017

St. Johns increase in permits starts year off even The January permit statistics for the four-county area in Northeast Florida, consisting of Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, indicate a smooth transition into the new year. The total for December was 523 and the total for January was 524. It’s not unusual to see slightly lower numbers in January and three of the four counties bore that out. St. Johns County, however, increased by 96 to make the monthly totals nearly even. Experts are looking to the general upturn in the stock market and anticipated changes in the regulatory environment to project another good year for homebuilders.

120

C lay C ounty permits 2015-2017

90 60 30

64 47

89

114

103

93

96

90

90 66

57

F eb

Mar

41

70

66

68

J un

J ul

90 45

104

2015

92 63

76

66

54 44

2016 2017

48

0 J an

400

100

May

Aug

S ep

237

251

O ct

Nov

Dec

255

236 207

Duval C ounty permits 2015-2017

300 200

Apr

214

269 132

152

244

227

214

224

27 273

324 267

202

161

193

208

184

178

187

Aug

S ep

O ct

Nov

97

92

77

72

153

142

J un

J ul

82

79

2015 2016 2017

0 J an

160

F eb

Mar

Apr

May

Nas s au C ounty permits 2015-2017 122

80

51 41 38

0

J an

400 300

64

50

62

2015

115

120 40

Dec

56

52

77

78

May

J un

J ul

Aug

323

321

328

354

46

F eb

Mar

Apr

S t. J ohns C ounty permits 2015-2017 279

306

262

284

222

177

100

289

327

292

145

200

51

216

170

170

Apr

May

J un

741

804

788

2016 45

67

64

58

S ep

O ct

Nov

35 Dec

255

258

216

243

254

243

191

188

2017

2015 2016 2017

0 J an

1,000

250

Mar

J ul

Aug

S ep

O ct

Nov

Dec

689

751

677

622

567

529

2016 2017

Total permits 2015-2017 751

750 500

F eb

645

572

737

524 453

407

J an

F eb

539

536

498

Mar

Apr

May

2015

516

592

606

564

523

523

J ul

Aug

S ep

O ct

Nov

Dec

0 J un

*The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is strictly the product of NAHB Economics and is not seen or influenced by any outside party prior to being released to the public. HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics also is available at housingeconomics.com.

YOUR TRUSTED MORTGAGE LENDER Thank you to our supporting partners, realtors, and builders!

Because of you, we continue to grow!

STABLE. STRONG. AND GROWING.

(Back row left to right)

(Left to right)

Mike Warner | NMLS #1013616

Vicky Gardner

SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.534.0564

SR. LOAN PROCESSING SPECIALIST

Eddie O’Keefe | NMLS #257483

Carla Hernandez

BRANCH MANAGER | CELL: 904.813.2945

SR. LOAN PROCESSING SPECIALIST

Rick Holmes | NMLS #267426

Susan Doane

SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.545.2193

SR. LOAN PROCESSING SPECIALIST

Robert Fleischmann | NMLS #659606 SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.239.8308

Travis Gibbon | NMLS #657289 SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.424.5328

Donald Ster | NMLS #450499 SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.887.1101

(Front row left to right)

Tina Habhegger | NMLS #518474 SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.349.3480

Rhonda Hobby | NMLS #1033031 IN–HOUSE LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.440.2956

Alex Holmes | NMLS #1262755

Discover the SWBC MORTGAGE DIFFERENCE Contact us today for all of your mortgage needs!

SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION JACKSONVILLE NMLS #372412 7807 Baymeadows Road East Ste. 405 Jacksonville, FL 32256 Office: 904.641.5100 Fax: 877.655.1811

SR. LOAN OFFICER | CELL: 904.349.3150

© 2016 SWBC. All rights reserved. Loans are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. Programs and guidelines are subject to change without notice. Rates are subject to change daily. SWBC Mortgage Corporation. Corporate office located at 9311 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78216. NMLS #9741 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 8540-6393 05/16

Source: Permit data provided

by Wolfe Jackson, The Resource Group LLC

Lender understands benefits of NEFBA Travis Underwood is a lending manager with Chase.

Because he had been a NEFBA member with another company, Underwood was familiar with the benefits and advantages of membership.

“Although we have just signed up, I’m aware of the benefit of being a NEFBA member not only for myself but for our customers and coworkers,” he said. “I believe it’s important for success in this market.”

Underwood is looking forward to taking advantage of the education and networking opportunities and to becoming an active participant in committees and activities From his prior experience with NEFBA, Underwood cites the knowledge of the building industry, the abundance of resources for friends, family and customers as benefits of being an involved NEFBA member.

“It’s also a great place to build personal and professional relationships,” he said.

“Keeping up with political and regulatory issues is important to me. I want to grow my business and NEFBA is an important element of reaching my goals.”

Underwood offers a word of advice to anyone considering

NEW MEMBER PROFILE

Travis Underwood Chase Mortgage 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville (904) 607-5144 NEFBA membership.

“If you are in the building, real estate or mortgage related industries, you are losing ground every day you are not a member of NEFBA,” he said.

For upcoming events visit www.nefba.com

realty-builder.com

March 2017

41

TRU-GUARD COMPOSITE EDGE. TAKING FLORIDA BY STORM. TM

choice among builders *

Tru-Guard Composite Edge TM

for Fiber-Classic , Smooth-Star & Pulse Fiberglass Doors ®

®

®

Tru-Guard composite edges are engineered to help protect against the damaging effects of Florida’s extreme climate conditions. You get the same uncompromising quality of a Therma-Tru fiberglass door, plus six sides of protection to ensure your door’s lasting beauty. ®

Our Tru-Guard composite edges help prevent water absorption and enhance resistance to warp, rot, mold and wood-ingesting insects. Plus, they’re backed by a lifetime limited warranty and a Florida Warranty Rider. Take that, Florida weather. www.thermatru.com/tru-guard-composite-edge

WBDR / HVHZ Options**

*Brand Use Study, 2016 Builder magazine. **Must be installed as part of a Therma-Tru door system in compliance with a Therma-Tru Impact-rated product approval.

Not impact tested for use in multi-lite door style configurations.

Note: See your Therma-Tru seller for details on available product sizes and options, limited warranties and exclusions, and the Florida Warranty Rider. ©2017 Therma-Tru Corp. All rights reserved.

TTD298_10.125x15.5_TTD-0023.indd 1

2/21/17 10:44 AM

TTD-0023

Builder News N o r t h e a s t F l o r i d a B u i l d e r s a s s o c i at i o N

A publication of Realty-Builder Connection

42

March 2017

SPIKE Continued from page 35

9th Annual SJBC Fishing Tournament Northeast Florida Marlin Assoc.

Camachee Cove

Awards FISH CATEGORIES (ANGLER COMPETITION) Redfish, Sea Trout & Flounder $1000 Each 1st Place $500 Each 2nd Place

(BOAT COMPETITION)

Heaviest total weight of one of each fish in above categories wins

1st Place - $1500 2nd Place - $1000 3rd Place - $500 YOUTH DIVISION—14 YRS AND UNDER

Call or email to reserve your spot asap, they go fast!

FISH CATEGORIES

(If captain is under 18, Parent must sign release/waiver)

Redfish, Sea Trout & Flounder $200 Each 1st Place $125 Each 2nd Place $75 Each 3rd Place

Donate your Promotional Items!

Captains Bags Items for Captains Bags Prizes for Raffle

REDFISH WITH MOST SPOTS—$550 All awards are based on entries and Sponsorship participation

Contact Leona Brown if you would like to provide any of the above. 904-540-8151

Schedule of Ev ents CAPTAINS MEETING AT NORTHEAST FLORIDA MARLIN CLUBHOUSE (DOWNSTAIRS) CAMACHEE COVE FRIDAY, APRIL 21ST 2017

7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7 7 6.75 6.75 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6 6 6

SPIKE CANDIDATES 1-5.99

$250 Each 3rd Place

TRIPLE CHALLENGE

Pud English Linda Hutchins Bill Lisecki Howard White Sharon Davidson Joshua Garrison Denise Patricolo Franchesca Swierz Mike Bianchi Roger Day Justin Hart Mike James Fred King Linda Moore Jim Doyle Stephen Edmonds Kerry Soltis

Entry Fee: $250 per boat For more information please contact Leona Brown at SJBC 904-540-8151 sjbcouncil2@aol.com.

To download boat registration or sponsor form Visit www.stjohnsbuilderscouncil.com

6-8 P.M.

Captain’s can launch their boat from anywhere but fish to be weighed in must be brought to the NEFMA clubhouse by boat.

You Shouldn’t Have to Jump Through Hoops to Get the Right Mortgage.

That’s Where We Come In.

Trudy Clark Leonard Mcaneny Shawn Starr Amelia Sterling Harry Trevett Denise Wallace Victoria Robbins Christopher Iseley Linda Keith Jeff King Mitchell Montgomery David Wakefield Ross Fanti Joseph Labrato Jim McDade Andy Allen Charles Atkerson Jr Matthew Birdwell David Edwards Ronnie Fussell Cheryl Graham Dale Hewett Tammy Minor Herb Morris Brian Paul Gary Silverfield Kristi Wyndham Andy Fremento Andy Reynolds Linda Sherrer Victoria Ashcraft Henry Bachara Jr Seward Broussard Chris Cazzolli Rodney Christensen Jeff Ferguson Cora Johnston Chris Jonsson Susan Landreth Naomi Lumley Lee Morris Sr John Myers Michael Osteen Gene Ponder Chris Rusbuldt Beverly Smith Charles Smith James Smith Donna Van Puymbrouck Timothy Whitehurst Don Wilford Christine Williams Patrick Zaplupski Carrie Budds Janie Ade

5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.25 5 5 5 5 5 4.75 4.5 4.25 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3.5 3.5 3.25 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2.75 2.5

Paul Axtell Tiffany Galione Dan Gordon John Long Ian MacDonald Barbara Moore Brian Register Christina Welch Rick Welch Ken Whyrick Todd Willis Catherine Lee Nancy Love Brandy Agee Bill Auclair Steve Auld Steve Grigsby David Hobbing Chuck Horn Todd Knowles Scott McLaughlin Mike Murphy Andrea Patton Jody Phillips William Powell Alan Setzer Donald Ster John Unkefer Robert Weeks Rose Bock Donna Bavier Jaime Bavier Dale Crisp Veronica Della Porta John Griffin Jr Peter Helton Dan Hovis Michael Kruszynski Michael Lenahen Raymond O’Steen Joseph Pellegrino Chuck Powell John Ruggeri Zach Scott Randall Smitty Smith Jamie Warrington Katrina Watkins Alaina Batts Cherya Cavanaugh Jim Delvecchio Millie Kanyar Ken McCauley Laurie Alvich Sandra Bryant Jerome Davis Bill Flack Joseph Flask Rob Fleischmann Chris Hagan Jay Hall Carole Hendricks Chris Hussey Tara Jinks Stanley Kantor Rob Kearney Will Krieg Cristian Moore Ellen Moore Ed Paucek W. Garrett Pepper Tim Robinson Lisa Sawyer David Shacter Bruno Silva Ben Stephens Bill Stone Jim Sumner Karen Sutherland Bruce Wehner

PrimeLending is a name that’s been known for strength, stability and commitment to customer care for more than 30 years. When it comes to helping you get the home you love, we’re on the ball -- you can count on us to help find the right loan product for you and your budget.

Our home financing programs come with personal attention and guidance through each and every step.

Get in touch today and let us help you make buying your dream home a slam dunk.

Jacksonville Branch

Amelia Island Branch

904-296-0301

904-261-3739

jacksonvillefl.primelendinglocal.com NMLS: 395809

ameliaisland.primelendinglocal.com NMLS: 348631

NEFBA and the Clay Builders Council Present

A Thirsty Thursday Shrimp Night April 13th, 2017

Gates Open:6:00pm–First Pitch:7:05pm Tickets are $20 for Adults, $10 for Kids* Unlimited Hotdogs and Hamburgers Included To purchase tickets please email jspradley@nefba.com

Sponsored by:

All loans subject to credit approval. Rates and fees subject to change. Mortgage financing provided by PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company.

Equal Housing Lender. © 2017 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company (NMLS: 13649) is a wholly owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in FL. V021216.

*Tickets must be purchased in advance and will be available the day of the game at the NEFBA will call table. Kids ticket good for 10 and under. Kids under 3 do not require a ticket for entry.

For more information please contact Jspradley@nefba.com

2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.25 2.5 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1.75 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

realty-builder.com

March 2017

Homes BUILDING

NOT HOUSES

Find your dream home in these fine Florida communities.

Amelia National Country Club - 200’s

Markland - 400’s St. Johns, FL

(904) 503-7055

Amelia Island, FL

(904) 716-1872 or (904) 710-3636

Gran Lake - 200’s

Atlantic Beach Country Club - 600’s

St. Johns, FL

Atlantic Beach, FL

(904) 504-8883

(904) 476-4236

Ocean Breeze - 400’s

The Preserve - 600’s

Amelia Island, FL

Amelia Island, FL

(904) 624-0047

(904) 624-0047

Oyster Bay - 400’s

Madeira - 200’s

Fernandina, FL

St. Augustine, FL

(904) 503-7055

(904) 503-7055

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Coming Soon

Ocean Ridge - 500’s

Amelia Park - 400’s

St. Augustine Beach, FL

Amelia Island, FL

(904) 476-4236

(904) 624-0047

The Surf - 500’s Amelia Island, FL

(904) 716-1872 or (904) 710-3636

(904) 503-7055 | www.myriversidehomes.com From the time you walk in our door to the day you move in and beyond, we will make sure all the details are correct.

When it comes to purchasing your new home, do not settle for anything less.

43

And the way you sell.

See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements.

Copyright © 2017 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, LLC. Jacksonville, FL (JACO83729)

Coming Soon!

Daniel Park at Town Center – Discover Series 904-416-0041

New homes from the $245s

When it comes to selling homes, your name matters. That’s why we stake our reputation on helping you enhance yours. Selling a new David Weekley home to your Clients means more than simply giving a family a place to live. It means providing a rewarding home building journey and creating an inspiring space where their dreams can come true. That’s how reputations are built – one exceptional experience at a time – and it’s why we make our Team a seamless extension of yours.

That’s The Weekley Way.

David Weekley Homeowners Martha, Chad, Parker & Hutchinson Cates

Page 33

Spring filled with NEFBA events

Page 20

Tips to take advantage of all possible tax deductions

Photographers have mastered techniques, styles for captivating real estate photos

‘‘

Try to showcase the house like a story by taking pictures with its lifestyle in mind.

Page 1

The perfect shot will sell a house

March 2017

Page 1

Bachara took different path in construction than father

Other tips on Page 8

‘‘