Realty-Builder August 2018

VOLUME 19, NO. 8

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AUGUST 2018

Realty-Builder CONNECTING NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS & HOMEBUILDERS

WHAT $1 MILLION BUYS The look, feel and location of a seven-figure home varies widely in the region.

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Lisa Barton sold this Marsh Landing Country Club home in April for $1.24 million.

INSIDE

Realtor’s path to millions in sales

The final gallon

Like many Realtors, Michael Starling went into real estate cold, but he had $1.5 million in sales in his first nine months on the job.

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Beachwalk Lagoon’s 37 million-gallon water feature is now full.

Realty-Builder’s new editor debuts Veteran journalist Jay Schlichter’s path to Northeast Florida.

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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

The Royal treatment NEFBA, Builders Care help man swindled by roof contractor.

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Hello from the new editor of Realty-Builder My name is Jay Schlichter and I’m pleased to report that I am joining a fantastic cadre of fellow journalists at the Jacksonville Daily Record, which has been publishing a variety of important newspapers in Northeast Florida since 1912.

JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Well, hello there, RealtyBuilder reader. It’s an absolute pleasure in making your acquaintance.

Since this obviously is a oneway conversation and I can’t see or hear you, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.

My name is Jay Schlichter and I’m pleased to report that I am joining a fantastic cadre of fellow journalists at the Jacksonville Daily Record, which has been publishing a variety of important newspapers in Northeast Florida region since 1912.

Along with accepting a job as an associate editor of the Daily Record, I also have been asked to take on the role of managing editor of Realty-Builder, the monthly publication that serves a large and steadily growing audience interested in the ongoing growth, development and expansion of the greater Jacksonville area.

I know that I have big loafers to fill, especially considering

that the gentleman who sat at this desk prior to me — Andrew Warfield — is an accomplished writer and editor. I hope that I am able to at least match his expertise and bring this community the news it deserves.

But first, let me give you a brief background about me. I am a 48-year-old man, married to an incredibly beautiful woman and blessed with two gorgeous children (luckily for them, they got their good looks from their mother). I was born in Colorado but raised in Wyoming (yes, I know, I’m probably one of the first people you’ve met who actually lived in the Equality state. I get that reaction from folks all the time).

After high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy where I spent four years as a radioman aboard two large ships, the USS Midway and USS Belleau Wood. I was serving on the Midway when she played a key role during the first Gulf War in both the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in the early 1990s.

After being honorably discharged, I enrolled at Miami-

Dade Community College, earning my associate’s degree in journalism and graduating with honors. I transferred to the University of Florida to finish my training to be a newspaper journalist, where I earned my bachelor’s (not with honors that time, but darn close).

Days after graduating from UF, I was hired at the Fernandina Beach News-Leader, one of the state’s oldest weekly papers, where I worked for two years as a general assignment reporter, photographer and web producer.

For a small town, Fernandina Beach sure had its share of major controversies and tragedies worthy of front page news. I was there when the Nassau County Commission moved its courthouse from its historic downtown location to a boring facility out west toward Yulee, a decision not favored by a majority of the populace.

A sister newspaper, Palatka Daily News, owned by the same parent company, discovered my work and asked me to help them.

I spent a year there and covered everything from a prostitution

sting in the wee morning hours during a ride-along with the local police force to a murder trial that resulted in the accused being sent to death row.

When we were informed that the Palatka newspaper was being sold and its future looked bleak, a good chunk of the staff bolted.

I was among those who searched and found a new job. I was hired by the Naples Daily News in 2000, where for the past 18 years I served in too many positions to list here. But one of the jobs I am most proud of was being the editor of the Collier Citizen the past several years. It’s a weekly community newspaper that won numerous awards and covered everything from the heroin/ opioid crisis to homelessness in Southwest Florida.

One of my proudest moments as a journalist is the first story that was assigned to me. Before I switched from being a computer science major at Miami-Dade Community College to journalism, my English professor told me that I was one of the best writers she had ever taught. She suggested that I give journalism a try. She was friends with the editor of a newspaper in Homestead and she was able to secure an unpaid internship for me.

It was right before Christmas and the editor suggested that I contact a local mother whose daughter had just been in a horrific car crash. The accident left her 17-year-old daughter paralyzed from the neck down.

The mother had always lived

paycheck to paycheck but now the medical bills and expenses to renovate her home to make it wheelchair accessible were weighing her down.

I was extremely moved by their story. I typed up and submitted my article, thinking that it might get some play in the paper but not front page. I was shocked to see the story and the photograph I took of them on the front page just a couple days later.

But what happened afterward is what changed my life — and theirs. The town of Homestead and a bunch of community organizations and businesses rallied together to raise funds for the family. There were canned food drives and other major fundraisers that ended up allowing the mother to fully renovate their home and even purchase a special van that lifted her daughter’s wheelchair into the vehicle.

Upon witnessing the incredible power of the written word, I knew what I had to do. I immediately switched my major. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, I hope to bring that same enthusiasm and tenacity to my new job. I ask for your advice, insight and input as we forge ahead together.

Finally, since I haven’t heard your story yet, send me an email with your details and what you’d like to see covered in the Daily Record and Realty-Builder.

JAYS@REALTY-BUILDER.COM @JAY_SCHLICHTER (904) 356-2466

Realty-Builder AUGUST SPECIAL! ADDITIONAL $1,000 FREE OPTIONS FOR Military, Teachers & First Responders

CONNECTING NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS & HOMEBUILDERS Custom homes in Duval, Clay, and St. Johns counties or building on private lots.

Realty-Builder is published monthly and serves the real estate and residential construction industry of North Florida. An independent publication, Realty-Builder is mailed to 8,000 licensed Realtors and homebuilders in Northeast Florida.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE NEWS AND TOP PRODUCERS NEW COMMUNITY IN FALL 2018 Clay County Traceland

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Realty-Builder encourages the submission of news and photographs of interest to the 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.

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HOW TO ADVERTISE

Each month, Realty-Builder reaches more than 8,000 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.

Jay Lesowitz, Director of Advertising (904) 356-2466 /jlesowitz@realty-builder.com Realty-Builder is a division of:

Daily Record & Observer

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

AFFILIATE MEMBERS CRC# 1330797

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JAX Chamber president: It’s time to renovate and sell Downtown Daniel Davis says urban core will be “absolutely transformed” within the next five years.

BY JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis has a stern warning for the city’s builders, developers and real estate professionals.

“If we don’t grow, we die,” he said.

Davis added the Downtown area is in desperate need of redevelopment to attract new, young talent that enjoys working, living and playing in an urban environment, rather than the current trend of most employees living in the suburbs or on the outskirts of town.

The 45-year-old married father of four has history in Jacksonville.

Davis served on the Jacksonville City Council, including as president in 2007-08; he represented the area in the Florida House of Representatives; and he was the executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association.

He shared insights at the NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council’s monthly breakfast meeting July 13

at the University of North Florida.

Davis said that he and other chamber members have been visiting metropolitan cities, such as Cincinnati and Denver, with success in restoring their downtown zones.

“We have got to create that here,” he said. “But we should all be pumped about the cranes in Downtown Jacksonville.”

As soon as the first redevelopment projects kick off, Davis said the momentum will bring in even bigger proposals and projects. He estimates that Jacksonville will be “absolutely transformed” within the next five years.

His message was mainly uplifting, catering to an audience comprising about 50 sales representatives, marketing experts, developers and bankers.

“Every day, I am working with my team (at the chamber) so people can buy your product,” he said. “We have site selectors and CEOs in town every week. You all should be very encouraged about the direction the city is going.”

Davis added that the greater Jacksonville area has been seeing tremendous growth, which is reflected in the employment numbers.

Photo by Jay Schlichter

Speaking at the SMC breakfast in July, JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis said Downtown Jacksonville needs to redevelop to attract new, young talent to the city.

He said the chamber doubled its goal of 3,000 new jobs last year and the group is on track to meet or exceed this year’s goal of 2,500 new jobs.

Davis answered questions after his presentation, including one about the ongoing discussions

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on tearing down a portion of the Hart Bridge overpass near TIAA Bank Field and rebuilding it at the street level.

“When that bridge was designed, it was for getting people into Downtown as fast as possible and out as fast as possible,”

Davis said, adding that developers there have been “very clear” that they don’t want to build under an overpass.

JAYS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466

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WHAT $1 MILLION BUYS IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA From mansions to oceanfront views: “If you have a million dollars, you can live anywhere in Jacksonville.”

BY MAGGIE FITZROY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

buyer with a million dollars to spend on a home is every real estate agent and builder’s dream.

In the Northeast Florida region, customers coming to the negotiating table with a couple of million burning a hole in their pocket have their choice of a variety of luxurious homes.

Whether they are looking for an oceanfront condo, a mansion on the Intracoastal Waterway or a stately home overlooking the golf course in a gated community, “if you have a million dollars, you can live anywhere in Jacksonville,” said Realtor Wes Monk, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Beachesbased luxury specialist.

But the amount of square footage, the size of the yard and the types of view you can get varies widely around the region.

In Jacksonville Beach, during June, several beachfront condominiums closed for more than

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$1 million, including a threebedroom, three-bath unit at 15th Street South for $1,025,000 and a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath unit at 14th Street North for $1,015,000.

If a buyer doesn’t care about being directly on the beach, in South Jacksonville Beach, there is a lot of new construction of single family homes in that price range, Monk said.

Moving north, in Neptune Beach, he said homes east of Florida A1A are priced higher than those west.

A property at 203 Lemon St. closed in June for $1.8 million.

The two-story, four-bedroom, two-bath single family home is two blocks from the ocean and was built in 1955.

Buyers can get new construction in Atlantic Beach Country Club for around $1 million, depending on the builder, Monk said. He recently closed on a 2,800-square-foot home in that price range that featured a view of the golf course.

In other areas of Atlantic Beach, a 3,400-square-foot home four houses away from the ocean sold for $1.795 million. On 10th Street, a home on a 50-by-150 foot lot sold for $1.4 million. Modest homes in Atlantic Beach with desirable locations near the beach are being torn down and replaced with larger homes, Monk said.

The value lies in the land.

Marsh Landing: $1.24 million Lisa Barton, a Ponte Vedra Beach-based Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, sold this Marsh Landing Country Club home in April.

Photos by Maggie Fitzroy

In June, most of the homes in St. Johns County that closed in the $1 million to $2 million price range were in Ponte Vedra Beach.

For a million dollars, “you can definitely be in a gated community, any of them, including The Plantation and Marsh Landing Country Club,” said Berkshire Hathaway luxury specialist Lisa Barton. “My million dollar buyers are people looking for at least four

bedrooms and probably a pool. A million dollars still buys you a lot of house.”

Closer to the ocean, in the Municipal Services District, also known as Old Ponte Vedra, homes are going for between $1 and $2 million. Barton sold several homes in the area in March: a 3,800-square-foot partially renovated home on San Juan Drive for $1.3 million; a 2,500-square-

foot fully renovated home on San Juan for $1.4 million; and a “tear down” on Le Master Drive for $975,000.

A million dollars will not get you on the ocean in Ponte Vedra Beach, or even across the street from it. In March, Barton sold a property on the west side of the 500 block of Ponte Vedra Boulevard for $1.8 million. The buyer tore it down and removed the

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pool to build “something gigantic on the half-acre lot with a lagoon in back and the ocean across the street,” she said. At that location, “when you’ve spent that much for the lot, you have to build a large house to justify it.”

West of Ponte Vedra Beach, in Nocatee, new construction is beginning to attract some luxury buyers, Barton said. Families are drawn to custom-built homes with a lot of square footage for the area. A 3,892-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bath home sold for $1,044,426 in March. It is one of three homes in the million-dollar range to sell in 2018 in Nocatee, where Barton said “highend builders had not been before.”

Homes in St. Johns County become more affordable moving south. St. Augustine-based Berkshire Hathaway Realtor Stefanie Bernstein sold a 2,900-squarefoot oceanfront home in Crescent Beach for $1.2 million in May. Located on a 50-foot-wide lot, it was fairly new construction, built in 2007. She sold another oceanfront home on a 105-foot lot for $1.5 million. Built in 1994, the 2,000-square-foot home sat on a 700-foot deep lot, so the land contributed greatly to its value, she said. Elsewhere in Crescent Beach, a 1,700-square-foot home on the Intracoastal Waterway, built in 2008, was listed at about $1 million.

In Duval County, several homes in Jacksonville’s Ortega area closed for around $1 million in June. Berkshire Hathaway Realtor Jane Slater sold a 4,682-square-foot home in Ortega Forest for $1.15 million. With four bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths, the backyard faced a canal leading to the St. Johns River, and came with a pool and boat dock.

In Nassau County, as in Jack-

Jacksonville Beach condo: $1.03 million

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Ponte Vedra: $1.85 million 24716 Harbour View Drive at Marsh Landing Country Club Harbour Island in Ponte Vedra Beach sold in June.

A three-bedroom, threebath unit oceanfront unit at Eastwinds condominiums sold in June.

Atlantic Beach: $1.19 million

sonville Beach, most of the million-dollar homes that recently closed were oceanfront condos.

“We have quite a few milliondollar condos on Amelia Island,” said Robert Davis, an area specialist with Watson Realty.

They usually are located on the third or fourth floor or higher, with two or more bedrooms and 1,100 square feet and up, he said.

To the west, on the Intracoastal Waterway, a 5,000-square-foot single family home on a little more than an acre with a pool and dock went for $1.2 million.

“It depends on what your tastes are,” Davis said. Regardless, in Amelia Island, “you can definitely get a very nice view for a million dollars.”

Marsh Views

Incredible Values

This three-story, three-bedroom, three-bath home at 387 8th St. in Atlantic Beach closed in June.

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Realtor discovers perfect new career After only a few years in the real estate business, Michael Starling achieved success.

BY MAGGIE FITZROY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Like many Realtors, Michael Starling went into real estate cold, with no experience and no customers.

But from the get-go, he achieved impressive success, hitting the million-dollar sales goal early and then following that up by selling enough homes to reach the multimillion mark.

Starling credits his achievements to the fact that he loves his still fairly new “24/7” career, adding that he went into it as if he had just finished college as a young man. He soaked up as much information as he could at his brokerage’s training program.

“After that, you really have to work your network,” he said.

Fortunately for Starling, being born and raised in Jacksonville and then working in the region for many years helped him, since he already knew so many people.

Starling transitioned to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, after three years with First Coast Sotheby’s.

He had what he called “a good start” at Sotheby’s. In 2015, he realized $1.5 million in sales between April and December.

In 2016, he sold almost $5.3 million. In 2017, he sold $6.1 million.

And since switching to Berkshire Hathaway in March this year, he is on track to exceed last year’s sales.

At 61, Starling said he happily works seven days a week, with “no desire to retire. It keeps your mind sharp,” he said. And “I’ve finally found my passion.”

Being reared in Northeast Florida, Starling said that gave him a big network of potential customers. But from the beginning, he found real estate was a great fit for his personality.

“I had always been thinking about it,” he said, even during his 25 years in sales in the cellular industry. He just wishes he had gotten into it earlier in his life.

“This matches me,” he said.

“I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been. It’s been amazing.”

Starling grew up in Jacksonville’s Southside, attended Bishop Kenny High School, then graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism.

Photos by Maggie Fitzroy

Realtor Michael Starling started as a Realtor in 2015, realizing $1.5 million in sales in his first nine months in the profession.

After graduating from UF, he went to work for The Florida Times-Union, where he was hired to write and sell ads for the newspaper’s special sections. He moved to retail advertising sales in 1979, and spent four years there, when Downtown Jacksonville had a lot of retail businesses.

When the city’s department, jewelry, clothing and specialty stores began moving to the suburbs, Starling made a career move that in retrospect proved perfect timing. He was offered an opportunity to get into the cellular industry at its beginning, when the first cellphones were car phones.

After watching the industry mushroom to the point where everybody had a cellphone, he took a position with a company that designed and built cellular networks for the government.

That job took him to New York City after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. And after 18 years, he said it gave him the financial cushion to go into commissiononly real estate sales.

“I consider myself very lucky,”

Starling said. In his career in journalism, he was there when newspapers were the No. 1 medium in their “glory days.” In cellular, he watched it expand greatly during the rise of the digital age.

And finally, in real estate.

Soon after getting into real estate, his first listing was on the Arlington River, the property of a friend of a friend.

His first sale was new construction in Middleburg. A friend and his wife wanted to buy after years of renting, and he took them house hunting.

“I found them a gorgeous new home,” he said. “A lot of agents struggle to get a listing and a sale.

To have both handed to me made my entry into real estate tremendous.”

He gets a lot of referrals and loves working open houses. He met his largest Berkshire Hathaway clients — a husband and wife — at an open house. He sold their portfolio of rental properties, sold them a vacant lot on the St. Johns River in San Marco, then sold them their new build on that lot.

He also listed their current home in San Marco.

Michael Starling’s first listing and sale were through connections he made from friends.

Starling specializes in San Marco and San Jose, but sells the entire Northeast Florida region.

He teams up with agents who specialize in areas where he is not an expert. A recent $1 million listing in World Golf Village went under contract in 30 days.

“A home is the most important and expensive asset most people will buy,” he said. “It’s emotional,

and good agents manage emotions. That’s what you have to do to be successful.”

He appreciates the training and support he has received at Berkshire Hathaway.

“How they support their agents is beyond reproach,” he said. “The level of support I’ve received has been overwhelming and yet appreciated.”

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The Ruby

Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. Square footage is approximate. Actual homes as constructed may not contain the features and layouts depicted and may vary from image(s). ©2018 Richmond American Homes; Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, CBC1257429.

Address: 11083 Osprey Hammock Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32218

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Beachwalk developer John Kinsey throws the final gallon of water into the 14-acre lagoon.

Beachwalk’s lagoon filled with final gallon of water The 14-acre freshwater lake is the centerpiece of planned 800-home community.

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Beachwalk celebrated a milestone in late July when developer John Kinsey emptied the last gallon of water into the new community’s 14-acre crystal-clear lagoon.

The freshwater lake contains 37 million gallons of water and will serve as the anchor for Beachwalk. Plans call for nearly 800 homes to be built in the community, one mile east of Interstate 95, close to U.S. 1, and on the main east-west highway to Ponte Vedra Beach.

“Some said it wouldn’t happen,” said Kinsey of the largest man-made lagoon in the country. “I think today, with the filling of the lagoon, we have silenced the doubters. There’s nothing else like it in Northeast Florida.”

The lagoon, which will feature a 3,000-square-foot swim-up bar, is surrounded by a 100-foot white-sand manmade beach. The homes will follow a Caribbean-inspired architecture.

The neighborhood is part of the New Twin

BY JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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KB Home takes ownership of Jacksonville-based Landon National homebuilder expands Northeast Florida footprint to 30 communities.

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Creeks Planned Unit Development, a designated 3,000-acre Development of Regional Impact on both sides of County Road 210 across U.S. 1 from the western border of Nocatee. Kinsey’s group has owned the site for 13 years.

In addition to the lagoon, Beachwalk will feature water slides, a miniature golf course and a 2,500-square-foot splash park for dogs.

A planned clubhouse has been styled after one seen at a multibillion-dollar Caribbean beach and golf resort. Residents will be able to swim, paddle kayaks or stroll along a boardwalk.

Construction at Beachwalk includes single-family homes and twin villas by homebuilders Americrest Luxury Homes, Lennar and Vintage Estate Homes.

The developer is investing $35 million to widen County Road 210 from two to six lanes and provided two school sites to the St. Johns County School District. Of Beachwalk’s 1,200 acres, 500 are set aside for preservation.

Homes will be priced from the high $300,000s to the $800,000s, the most expensive of them three-story duplex villas along the banks of the lagoon.

The Jacksonville division of a large national homebuilder acquired 700 developed and undeveloped lots in 14 communities in the Northeast Florida region from Jacksonvillebased Landon Homes.

Landon’s roughly 50 employees were offered positions with KB, which was founded in 1957 and has built nearly 600,000 homes, according to the company website.

The purchase includes nearly the entire holdings of Landon Homes, said co-owner Jesse Killebrew, who helped found the company in 2012.

There are only a couple of small developments with a few home lots that remain, and Landon executives were required to sign a noncompete clause, he said.

The president of KB’s local division, Todd Holder, said this deal almost doubled the division’s existing community count of 16, taking them to a total of 30, and that they are looking to acquire more land.

“We continue to hope to add to our portfo-

lio,” Holder said. “This is a great opportunity for us. It gives us the ability to enhance our brand here.”

The 14 Landon communities include neighborhoods in Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties, with the southernmost being Ashford Lakes Estates at Hunter’s Ridge near Ormond Beach to the northernmost being Eagle’s Cove in Palm Valley.

“It was the right time,” Killebrew said when asked why they decided to sell. “The market’s good and things are good. I don’t want to sell when things are bad. I went through the whole recession ... and my gut said it was time to go.”

Killebrew, a real estate broker, also owns Alsop Companies, which is a property management and land development company based in St. Augustine, and that he hopes to continue selling to companies like KB Home.

In addition to KB’s area division, the firm has 210 communities across its regions nationwide.

KB listed its 2015 revenues at $3.03 billion on its website, adding that it was the first homebuilder listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

JAYS@REALTY-BUILDER.COM @JAY_SCHLICHTER (904) 356-2466

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Dostie Homes is named third Wildlight builder

BY JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A third homebuilder has been chosen for Wildlight, a new town being built in Nassau County with plans for roughly 1,000 houses, townhomes and apartments.

The developer, Raydient Places + Properties, picked Jacksonville-based Dostie Homes to build the community’s first townhomes in Wildlight Village. Dostie, founded in 1958, is a family business that has been passed down through the generations. It is run by brothers Rick and Chris Dostie.

In addition to the homes, Wildlight also will include an elementary school, a recently announced YMCA, 500,000 square feet of commerical space and 350 acres of preserved open space. The entire community, at completion, will be 2,900 acres.

Dostie joins the two other homebuilders, D.S. Ware Homes and Dream Finders Homes.

Dostie plans to build twostory townhomes, consisting of duplex and triplex buildings with optional alley entry garages and large front porches. They will range between 1,300 to 2,000 square feet and have options between two bedroom units with 2.5 baths to four-bedroom units with 3.5 baths.

Homes and townhomes are

estimated to be in the $175,000 to $400,000 range, according to the community’s website.

Safari success

Pulte Homes buys in eTown project Pulte Homes will join the eTown development, the South Jacksonville project along Florida 9B and Interstate 295 that continues to cultivate interest through its name and the E-Town Parkway road signs to the undeveloped property.

Pulte Home Co. LLC, based in Ponte Vedra, paid $3.3 million July 27 to buy 88.1 acres from Eastland Timber LLC. Pulte joins several other companies that bought land or filed plans for eTown: Catalyst Development Partners for apartments; Dream Finders Homes for townhomes; and, for single-family developments, Toll Brothers and a joint venture of David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes.

A greater premium for waterfront living According to a study by real estate data firm Zillow, Jacksonville residents are paying a higher premium for waterfront living than people in any other U.S. market.

Looking at more than two decades of data, Zillow determined Jacksonville homebuyers

Photo by Jay Schlichter

Area real estate agents and others pose for a group photo at the Summer Safari Trade Show hosted July 19 by the Women’s Council of Realtors at Casa Marina in Jacksonville Beach.

pay a 72 percent premium for waterfront property.

The only other city close to Jacksonville is Cleveland, where the premium is 68 percent. The next highest premium after that is in Denver, at 52 percent.

The median value of a waterfront home in Jacksonville is $633,700, Zillow said, above the national median value of $426,300.

The premium for waterfront

homes throughout the country since 1996 is 41 percent, it said.

Apartments sold for $42 million A Texas-based real estate investment firm acquired Hawthorne Apartments in the Deerwood community for $42 million.

The 39-unit community is at 8150 Point Meadows Drive off

Baymeadows Road and west of Interstate 295.

The new owner, Olympus Property, now has four multifamily rental complexes in Jacksonville.

The company, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, also owns Wimberly at Deerwood, Mirador and Stovall at River City and Cape House Apartments.

Jacksonville seeing home price increases

BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jacksonville is seeing some of the highest increases in home prices and rental rates in the nation, according to two reports.

First American Financial Corp.’s Real House Price Index for Jacksonville rose 14.3 percent from April 2017 to April 2018, the third-highest increase in the country.

The only markets with bigger year-overyear increases were San Jose, California, at 23.9 percent, and Las Vegas at 18.2 percent.

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Meanwhile, a report by real estate technology and analytics firm RealPage Inc. found the monthly effective rent for an apartment in Jacksonville rose at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the second quarter, also the third-highest increase.

Only Orlando, with a 6.6 percent increase, and again Las Vegas, with a 5.8 percent increase, rose more.

Demand for apartments also is tight.

RealPage said the national apartment occupancy rate is 95 percent, and Jacksonville is in line with the rest of the country at 94.9 percent at midyear.

People on the move

Brannen

Hartley

Veal

Singley

Swiger

Ruiz-Balsa

Martinez

Douglas

Froelich

Coker

 ERA Davis & Linn added two new agents, Holly Brannen and Angel Hartley, to its offices in July.  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty welcomed agents to its Northeast Florida area offices.

Michelle Veal and Mary Singley joined the Fleming Island/Orange Park office.

Megan Swiger and Kaitlyn Shaw

joined the St. Augustine office with locations in St. Augustine Beach and Murabella at World Golf Village.

Mario Ruiz-Balsa joined the Beaches/ Intracoastal West and Southside office.

Hector Martinez, Theresa Douglas, Joe Froelich and Sammy Coker joined the Mandarin/St. Johns office.

Send people on the move to Jay Schlichter at jays@realty-builder.com

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TOP PRODUCERS

Sponsored by:

WATSON REALTY CORP. Top salesperson for North region: Jan Shields, Atlantic Beach Top lister for North region: Joanie Heighes, Mandarin South Top sales team for North region: Debbie Shagnea Group, Mandarin South Top listing team for North region: Debbie Shagnea Group, Mandarin South Top salesperson for North Central region: Betsy Picot, St. Johns Top lister for North Central region: Bryan Kallam, Fleming Island Top sales team for North Central region: Menton-Ballou Group, St. Johns Top listing team for North Central region: Dawn Gaffney Team, St. Augustine Amelia Island: Angela Garcia (top sales and top lister); Teams: Farnsworth Team (top sales), Team McEwen (top lister) Atlantic Beach: Jan Shields (top sales and top lister); Teams: K & B Kennedy Team (top sales and top lister) Avondale/Ortega: Belinda Felscher (top sales), Jon Singleton (top lister) Baymeadows/Sunbeam: Juliette Vaughn (top sales and top lister); Teams: The Get Smart Team (top sales and top lister) Chaffee Road: Wanda Taylor (top sales), Lisa Helms (top lister); Teams: Krawczyk Team (top sales

and top lister) Duval Station: Kay Stalvey (top sales), Sara McGraw (top lister) Fleming Island: Neil Avery (top sales), Bryan Kallam (top lister); Teams: Dream Team Jax, Sallie Ross Team Fort Caroline: Anthony Loyd (top lister); Teams: Foster/Nelson Team (top sales and top lister) Gainesville: Deirdre Murphy (top sales), Jonathan Colon (top lister) Hammock: Teams: Megan Farrell Team (top sales and top lister) Hidden Hills: Pam Hodges (top sales), Susan Hughes (top lister); Team: DeCastro/Erickson Team (top lister) Hodges: Ashley Goswami (top sales), Toni Randall (top lister) Intracoastal: Sue Molly (top sales), Sharon Sherwood (top lister); Teams: Sandy Miller (top sales and top lister) Keystone Heights: Melissa Pellerito (top sales and top lister) Mandarin North: Doris Arnold (top sales and top lister); Teams: David and Clair Team (top sales), Walker-Vergales Team (top lister) Mandarin South: Joanie Heighes (top sales and top lister); Teams: Debbie Shagnea Group (top sales and top lister) Middleburg: Tina Raulerson (top sales), Emily Carter (top lister); Teams: Your Holm Team (top sales and top lister) North Jacksonville: Don Oxley (top sales and top lister) Nocatee: Misty Phillips (top sales), Judy Lassiter (top lister); Teams:

Ash-Rose Team (top sales), PondoMiller Team (top lister) Ocala: Phil Becker (top sales and top lister) OP Blanding: David Faehnrich (top sales), Ellen Dittman (top lister) OP Oakleaf: Gerard Nicholson (top sales), Shelby Holmes (top lister); Teams: The Hartley Group (top sales and top lister) Palm Coast: Andrea Pittenger (top sales), Sherron Skibo (top lister); Teams: Johanson Team (top sales), Mako Real Estate Group (top lister) Ponte Vedra: Missy DeKay (top sales), Missi Howell (top lister); Teams: Ray Team (top sales), Beard Team (top lister) Putnam County: Ruby Sepulveda (top sales), Whitney Redford (top lister) San Marco/San Jose: Joe Poletto (top sales and top lister); Teams: David and Clair Team (top sales and top lister) South Beach: Gerry Williamson (top sales), David Gatto (top lister) Southside: Janine Basford (top sales), Will Vasana (top lister); Teams: Hudnall Team (top sales) St. Augustine: Sheila Clark (top sales), Paul Wenglowsky (top lister); Teams: Dawn Gaffney Team (top sales and top lister) St. Augustine Beach: Ali Burchfield (top sales), Elaine Wallace (top lister); Team: CrumGachet Team (top sales and top lister)

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.

St. Johns: Betsy Picot (top sales), Kim Martin (top lister); Team: Menton-Ballou Group (top sales and top lister) St. Marys: Pam Paulk Minor (top sales), Tatum Taylor (top lister); Team: Rita Hall Team (top sales and top lister) Tioga: Jean Calderwood (top sales), Shelley Chappell (top lister)

DAVIDSON REALTY World Golf Village: Ron Savarese (top producer), Mirtha Barzaga (top sales, top lister), Lynn and Allen Whitley (top producing team), Jeanie Oehrle and Ann Kuss (top sales team) Jacksonville Beach: Ted Tyndall (top producer), Margherite Myers (top sales)

START PACKIN’ REALTY, INC. Bill Collins (top producer)

COLDWELL BANKER VANGUARD REALTY Town Center: Yvette Barton, Peterman Team (top lister), Andria Palgut, Peterman Team (top sales and top producer) St. Johns: Robin Rawald, The Fletcher Group (top lister), Michelle Ortelli, The Rolex Team (top sales), Lucia Fernandez, The RoLeks Home Team (top producer) Beaches: Joni Zwick (top lister), Mandy Morrow (top sales and top producer); Teams: Kim MartinFisher/Jennifer Martin Faulkner (top lister, top sales and top producer) Avondale: Wade Griffin (top lister and top producer), Christie Radney (top sales) Mandarin: Minh Nguyen (top lister and top sales), Janet Davis (top producer); small teams: Fader Team (top lister), Fossa Team (top sales), Zuckerman Team (top producer); large teams: Kennedy Team (top lister, top sales and top producer)

ERA DAVIS & LINN Jane Bracken (top producer), Mary Walker Miller (top agent and top lister), Paul Bowers (top sales) RE/MAX SPECIALIST Orange Park: Cherie Toney (top sales); Team Swinson and Linda Nelson (top lister) Ponte Vedra Beach: McAfee/ Hughes Group (top sales and top lister) Mandarin: The Dana Hancock Team and Katherine Auchter (top sales), The Steve Jones Team and Audrey Simonis (top lister) BETTER HOMES & GARDENS REAL ESTATE LIFESTYLES REALTY Joey Gabriel (top sales), Shawn Thayver (top lister) COLDWELL BANKER PREMIER PROPERTIES WGV Beth Clark (top lister), Guy Kindig (top sales), Crickett Huff (top producer)

60+ HOME DESIGNS DREAM IT. BUILD IT. LIVE IT. Homes from the mid $200s to $700s | ShearwaterLiving.com | 100 Kayak Way, St. Augustine, FL 32092 Dav i d We e k l e y H o m e s • L e n n a r • R i c h m o n d A m e r i c a n H o m e s • M a st e r C r a f t B u i l d e r G r o u p D. S . Wa r e H o m e s • D r e e s H o m e s • D r e a m F i n d e r s H o m e s 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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PAGE Sponsored by:

Did you know?

Women’s Council has the most extensive network presence in the National Association of Realtors and they are the largest percent of RPAC donations of any NAR network or council.

INDUSTRY EVENT

www.WCRJax.org

August Member Spotlight

Linda McInnis, McInnis Realty, Inc.

Women’s Council of Realtors Luncheon Thursday, August 16 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ~ Deercreek Country Club

Topic: ‘Portability’ in Florida Guest Speaker: Jerry Holland Our elected Duval County Property Appraiser, who has graciously accepted an invite to speak on the subject of Homestead Portability.

‘Portability’ in Florida refers to the ability of a property owner to transfer some or all of the ‘Save Our Homes’ benefit on a previous homestead to a newly established homestead.

The law was passed as a constitutional amendment in January 2008.

We are looking forward to meeting Mr. Holland and gaining additional knowledge on the topic of homestead tax saving for our customers.

This is a luncheon event you don’t want to miss and encourage you to register early, cost is $20 and registration information is below or feel free to reach out to a council member.

The Industry Luncheons provide timely, accessible programming, great networking and opportunities for your personal and professional growth.

A little known or unknown fact (past or present) about yourself.

I have worked in real estate or related businesses for more than 32 years. As a result of transferring from state to state over the years, I had worked for several nationally known real estate and mortgage brokerage firms; including Century 21, Realty Executives and Fleet Funding, before opening McInnis Realty, Inc. What is your passion in the office?

Outside the office?

Whether in the office or out “in the field,” my pasLinda McInnis McInnis Realty, Inc. sion is to make sure every customer will receive and enjoy the most value from my professional services. As a part of the process of working with buyers or sellers, I am consistently making sure they are being informed or educated about every step of the process. Even when my customers have several transactions under their belts, I am constantly making them aware of industry related changes that might have any impact on their current transaction. In my personal life, my family and faith has my highest priority; with both having an impact on the way that I conduct the business of my office.

How has Women’s Council of Realtors benefited you personally and professionally?

The greatest benefits I have recognized from being affiliated with Women’s Council of Realtors is having opportunities for professional networking and personal camaraderie, participating in educational programs and sharing business referrals. Some of my most endearing friendships have been formed through being associated with Women’s Council of Realtors.

2018 Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER 5

Governing Board Meeting 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Mimi’s Cafe in St. John’s Towncenter

SEPTEMBER 6

SAVE THE DATE!

Get ready for the Women’s Council of Realtors Runway Show Thursday, September 20 Auction: Begins at 11 a.m. ~ Luncheon: Begins at noon Alhambra Dinner Theatre ~ 12000 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246 For SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Contact: Lisa Andrews at 904-476-1966 or lisa.andrews@goldendogtitle.com.

Theme is “Make it Rain”

COACHING Who’s helping guide your path?

Growth is a critical component to success. Even after you’ve established yourself, continuing to expand your professional knowledge and abilities will keep you at the top of your game. Associates at Watson Realty Corp. experience tremendous support whether they’re a first-timer or a seasoned professional. If you feel like you’ve hit a wall in your career, maybe you should ask yourself: Who’s guiding my path?

Careers@WatsonRealtyCorp.com | JoinWatson.com

Social and Networking

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Tree Steakhouse - San Jose Blvd.

SEPTEMBER 20

Women’s Council of Realtors Fashion Show 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Alhambra Dinner Theatre

OCTOBER 10

Governing Board Meeting 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Mimi’s Cafe in St. John’s Towncenter

Industry Event 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 Wanda McReynolds at (904) 894-8980.

facebook.com/ groups/wcrjax/

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 2018

BUILDER NEWS

Realty-Builder.com

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS Picks for the 2018 Florida Primary.

Page 22

Royal treatment for a veteran NEFBA, Builders Care combine forces to help man swindled by roof contractor.

BY DREW DIXON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When Michael Lenahen showed up at the home of an 88-year-old veteran to help him recover from being bilked out of money for a new roof, he was shocked to discover the poor condition of the man’s house.

The man in question is Roosevelt Royals, who lives alone in Northwest Jacksonville. The retiree was left with a leaky roof that led to major water damage throughout his home after a previous roofer walked away without finishing the job.

“For us to properly repair a roof we need to go into the inside to see where it’s leaking. Once we got inside the house, we noticed that the drywall ceilings were cracked, were hanging down and in some cases the texture of the ceiling was actually falling down on the beds where he would sleep,” Lenahen said.

Lenahen is the chair of the Remodelers Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and was called in after initial representatives of the SEE VETERAN, PAGE 20

Special to Realty-Builder

Roosevelt Royals, second from right, and his family show off the living room of his remodeled home in Northwest Jacksonville. Builders Care repaired the veteran’s roof that had been damaged by Hurricane Irma and also refurbished the kitchen and bathrooms.

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Progress update: Let’s continue to make this a strong year

CHRIS DOSTIE DOSTIE HOMES

Dear members, It’s never too early to evaluate our goals and assess our progress to this point. We will save the celebrations for the end of the year, but I would be remiss if we did not highlight the efforts of two of NEFBA’s most critical community influences, Builders Care and the apprenticeship program.

In my speech at the installation banquet in January, I stated two goals that I had for NEFBA in 2018 were to bring greater awareness to the efforts of Builders Care in Northeast Florida, and to support the apprenticeship program and its staff as we position it for longterm growth and success as the premier trade education opportunity in our area.

To be clear, the strides we are making with both programs are the result of our hard-working and talented staff, and the tirelessly giving hearts of many of you. It’s easy to set goals in January, but your hard work and caring spirits are making those goals a reality, and I am grateful to you all.

Recently we partnered with the Northeast Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association and its Air Angels Foundation to assist a cancer patient who had been returning to a hot home after cancer treatments. He now can rest and recover in air-conditioned comfort.

Builders Care and our Remodelers Council responded to the needs of a veteran in his ’80s who had been the victim of contractor fraud. An unscrupulous roofing contractor made off with his money without finishing the job. He needed a new roof and most of the interior was severely water damaged. The Remodelers Council, under the leadership of council chair Michael Lenahen, restored the home’s interior to a safe, healthy condition. While this group did not do it for the recognition, I am grateful that a local news outlet found the story and shared the mission of the Remodelers Council and Builders Care.

As we prepare for the excite-

ment of back to school, the apprenticeship program is getting geared up for the fall semester. This year our program will start with 370 students, doubling our enrollment of two years ago and reaching a height not realized in more than a decade. This is directly attributable to Christina and her staff and the support and belief in the program by the Apprenticeship Committee and its many supporters.

I am grateful for all you do for the community, for the industry and for our association. I am extremely proud of the way our members become involved, give time and money and step up to the plate to solve problems and resolve barriers between the help available and those who need it most.

Keep up the good work. I look forward to a big celebration in a few months. Until then, let’s make sure we finish strong.

Sincerely,

Chris Dostie Dostie Homes

Realty-Builder.com

Builders Care earns award for aiding seniors after Irma

BY NEFBA STAFF

On behalf of NEFBA Builders Care, Executive Officer Justin Brown accepted an award from Florida’s Fifth Congressional District for service during Hurricane Irma.

The May 2018 award was presented by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson.

The award reads, “Since the devastation of Hurricane Irma, Justin Brown has been instrumental in delivering aid to seniors in times of need.

Brown’s free services come as a true blessing to the Jacksonville community. Through collaborations with many service agencies, he and his devoted volunteers have worked tirelessly to repair homes that otherwise would continue to deteriorate.”

Brown shares the honor with the Builders Care staff, the NEFBA members who provide time and materials for many Builders Care projects and the service agencies who partner with Builders Care to help stretch dollar donations.

“We wouldn’t be able to operate without a team of ever-changing volunteers who rise up to meet the need with every project,” Brown said.

“They are truly the backbone of our mission. And our reward is the smile and thank you we receive when our work is done and a home has been restored for a deserving citizen of Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.”

NEFBA Executive Officer Justin Brown accepts an honor from U.S. Rep. Al Lawson.

Brown is chair of the Northeast Florida Long Term Recovery Organization’s Construction Committee.

NEFLTRO is a cooperative of local nonprofits uniting to help people recover from Hurricane Irma. Builders Care is a unique organization, a nonprofit construction company.

“Our new construction manager, Edward McKinnon, whose salary is paid through a grant from Volunteer Florida, enables us to take in volunteer groups and put them to work on Irma-related projects,” Brown said.

“We are getting so much more done this year than I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“In 2017 we helped 90 families and nonprofits, and this year we’ve already completed 82 roof repairs, four re-roofs and helped seven families get back into homes that had been flooded by Irma,” Brown said.

For more information about Builders Care, visit BuildersCare.org or call the office at (904) 727-3443.

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Veteran

EXTERIOR BEFORE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

EXTERIOR AFTER

KITCHEN BEFORE

KITCHEN AFTER

group’s Builders Care charitable organization found Royals’ house in disrepair and agreed to replace the roof without charge.

Long before they arrived, the veteran paid a contractor to repair his roof after Hurricane Irma damaged it last fall. But that roofer abandoned the job, leaving the roof unfinished and leaks continuing to pour into the veteran’s house.

Lenahen said Builders Care is designed to help in cases just like this. As the NEFBA charitable workers kept going deeper into Royals’ house, the damage inside the house on West 25th Street was discovered to be much worse.

What was originally thought to cost a few thousand dollars for a charitable effort quickly escalated to an estimated $50,000 to refurbish the 1,200-square-foot ranch house.

The kitchen, bathrooms and many of the walls were torn out and rebuilt. Rotting and deteriorating furniture also was removed.

Lenahen appealed to NEFBA members to help fund the renovations while Royals stayed with family members in Orlando.

In response, a working crew of NEFBA members agreed to perform much of the labor and organizations and businesses donated money, supplies and appliances.

Lenahen said a bowling tournament sponsored by the NEFBA Remodelers Council raised about $6,500 and that money helped fund a portion of the project.

“When we saw the interior of

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the home it went beyond what Builders Care can do. Living conditions were poor,” Lenahen said.

Food had been rotting in the home, roaches infested the walls and furniture and laundry had accumulated to such levels, the washer and dryer were literally buried under a mountain of soiled clothes.

“This turned into an effort where we just had to get people together to scrape out the house,” Lenahen said. “Every time we remove something, that thing

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next to it looks dilapidated.”

“I am very proud of the many volunteers who have donated material and labor to help restore Mr. Royals’ dignity and pride in his home,” said Bill Garrison, executive officer of NEFBA. “The NEFBA Remodelers Council has worked tirelessly on this project, and their chairman, Michael Lenahen, has worked especially hard to source the material and labor, and coordinate all the labor to move this job along so quickly.”

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Upcoming events

NEFBA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP/ BOD MEETING Sept. 19 Time/Place: 8:15 a.m./NEFBA office Sponsor: Transworld Contact: Payton Woods, pwoods@nefba.com BUILDERS CARE BOARD MEETING Sept. 11 Time/Place: Noon/NEFBA office RSVP: Justin Brown, brown@builderscare.org CLAY BUILDERS COUNCIL BREAKFAST Sept. 5 Time/Place: 8:30 a.m./Holiday Inn, 620 Wells Road, Orange Park Cost: $15 Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com CLAY BUILDERS COUNCIL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Sept. 14 Time/Place: Lunch/Range 11:30 a.m., Start 12:30 p.m./Magnolia Point Golf & Country Club, 3670 Clubhouse Drive, GCS Cost: $150/player; $500/foursome Contact: Jessie Spradley JSpradley@nefba.com GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Aug. 23 Time/Place: 8:30 a.m./NEFBA office Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

NASSAU BUILDERS COUNCIL SOCIAL Aug. 30 Time/Place: 5:30-7:30 p.m./Wildlight Storycenter, 123 Tinker St., Wildlight Contact: Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING COUNCIL LUNCHEON Aug. 21 Time/Place: 11:30 a.m./NEFBA office Cost: $10 PWB members; $15 non-member Contact: Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com SALES & MARKETING COUNCIL POWER BREAKFAST/WORKSHOP Sept. 14 Breakfast: 8-9:30 a.m.

Cost: $15 in advance for SMC members, $20 at the door* Workshop with John Palumbo: 10 a.m.-noon Cost: $45 in advance for SMC members, $55 at the door* Location: UNF University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive *(Breakfast/workshop combo ticket available) Contact: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com SALES & MARKETING COUNCIL MODEL MEET UP Sept. 20 Time/Place: 8:30-9:30 a.m./Providence Homes Model in St. Johns County Contact: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com Realtor/site agents only

AUGUST 2018

21

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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. NEFBA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Sept. 6 Time/Place: 11:30 a.m./NEFBA office Contact: Hans Krieg, HKrieg@nefba.com

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SALES & MARKETING COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE: MARKETING TO THE GENERATIONS Aug. 23 Time/Place: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m./NEFBA office Details: Exclusive SMC member event for builder/real estate marketing directors Cost: $10 Contact: Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com ST. JOHNS BUILDERS COUNCIL PARADE OF HOMES BANQUET Aug. 30 Time/Place: 6:30 p.m./Marsh Creek Country Club Cost: $60/person Contact: Leona Brown, SJBCouncil2@aol.com

Chris Dostie

Sean Junker

President

First vice president

Dostie Homes

Providence Homes

Gene Rover

Second vice president B&G Plumbing/ B&G Heating & Air Conditioning

Josh Garrison Third vice president

Miranda Contracting

ST. JOHNS BUILDERS COUNCIL SOCIAL Aug. 21 Time/Place: 5:30-7:30 p.m./Murray Bros.

Caddyshack, 455 S. Legacy Trail E106, St. Aug. Sponsor: Paul’s Termite and Pest Control Contact: Leona Brown, SJBCouncil2@aol.com ST. JOHNS BUILDERS COUNCIL SOCIAL Sept. 18 Time/Place: 5:30-7:30 p.m./Reunion Bank of Florida, 2198 A1A S., St. Aug. Sponsor: Reunion Bank of Florida Contact: Leona Brown, SJBCouncil2@aol.com

Keith Ward

Training vice president Thomas May Construction

Nate Day

Lee Arsenault

H. Smith Inc.

New Leaf Construction Inc.

Secretary/ treasurer

Immediate past president

Bill Garrison NEFBA executive officer

Call the NEFBA office at 725-4355 to confirm details of any NEFBA calendar event or contact the event coordinator by email.

Check the NEFBA website calendar at http://web.nefba.com/events/.

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

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NEFBA candidate endorsements NEFBA announced its list of endorsements for the upcoming 2018 Florida primary elections. NEFBA is endorsing the following candidates: FLORIDA LEGISLATURE The Honorable Aaron Bean, State Senate, District 4 The Honorable Audrey Gibson, State Senate, District 6** The Honorable Cord Byrd, Florida House of Representatives, District 11 The Honorable Clay Yarborough, Florida House of Representatives, District 12* The Honorable Tracie Davis, Florida House of Representatives, District 13** Paula Wright, Florida House of Representatives, District 14 Wyman Duggan, Florida House of Representatives, District 15 The Honorable Jason Fischer, Florida House of Representatives, District 16* Special to Realty-Builder

Members of the Clay Builders Council and others fill boxes with items to make a holiday dinner for roughly 100 needy families in the Clay County area. The council has been able to donate the meals to families during the Christmas season as a result of the money raised at the Clay Builders Charity Golf Tournaments.

Charity golf tournament helps feed hungry in Clay BMC is title sponsor for Sept. 14 event at Magnolia Point Golf Club.

BY NEFBA STAFF

When members of the Clay Builders Council step onto the greens of Magnolia Point Golf Club on Sept. 14, they will be continuing a tradition that goes back 30 years. While the host course and players have changed throughout the years, the one thing that has remained constant is the desire to give back to the community.

Started in 1988, the first Clay Builders Charity Golf Tournament was played at Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club. For the first two years, proceeds went to help the Lighthouse Learn-

ing Centers, but after the council helped with the construction of the Green Cove Springs Food Pantry in 1990, the goal shifted to feeding needy families.

With the help of the Green Cove Spring Food Pantry and the funds raised at the tournament, the Clay Builders Council has provided more than 3,000 Christmas food baskets to Clay County families since 1990.

This year’s tournament will be back at Magnolia Point, the original home of the tournament and the host course for the last four years.

This year’s title sponsor is BMC, who joined NEFBA in 2017 and is quickly integrating itself into NEFBA and the Clay Builders Council.

For more information about this year’s tournament or to sign up a foursome, visit nefba.com.

The Honorable Travis Cummings, Florida House of Representatives, District 18** The Honorable Bobby Payne, Florida House of Representatives, District 19* The Honorable Paul Renner, Florida House of Representatives, District 24* CLAY COUNTY The Honorable Gavin Rollins, Clay County Board of County Commissioners, District 4 The Honorable Janice Kerekes, Clay County School Board, District 1 Latanya Peterson, Clay County School Board, District 1 The Honorable Betsy Condon, Clay County School Board, District 3 The Honorable Ashley Gilhousen, Clay County School Board, District 5

DUVAL COUNTY Nick Howland, Duval County School Board, District 2 Darryl Willie, Duval County School Board, District 4 Dave Chauncey, Duval County School Board, District 6 NASSAU COUNTY Aaron Bell, Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, District 2 Thomas Ford, Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, District 4 ST. JOHNS COUNTY The Honorable Jeb Smith, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, District 2** Jeremiah Blocker, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, District 4 *Unopposed in primary **Unopposed in primary and general The 2018 primary election is scheduled for Aug. 28, and the general election Nov. 6. For additional information about NEFBA, visit www.nefba.com or call (904) 725-4355.

NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

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Donate today at

bit.ly/builderscare

Join us for the September

2018 Calendar of Events Aug. 16 SMC Model Meet Up

SMC BREAKFAST

Mastercraft Model, Shearwater Community

THURSDAY

Aug. 22 SAM Tram Touring Nocatee Community WEDNESDAY 9:00am-2:00pm • Avenues Mall & Exit Real Estate 210 Office Pick-Ups

POWER BREAKFAST WITH JOHN PALUMBO! September 14

Aug. 23 SMC Education

8:00-9:30am • UNF/University Center

THURSDAY

11:30am-1:00pm • NEFBA • Roundtable: Marketing to Generations

Sep. 14

SMC Breakfast

8:00-9:30am • UNF/University Center John Palumbo POWER BREAKFAST Sponsored by: Drees Homes Followed by Closing Skills Workshop: 10:00am-12:00pm • UNF/University Center

FRIDAY

Following Breakfast, Mr. Palumbo will host a Closing Skills Workshop for a more in-depth level discussion! Register today!

Breakfast Sponsored by:

Sep. 20 Don’t miss out on John Palumbo’s high-powered, interactive program teaching the latest sales skills and closing strategies utilizing the science of influence and persuasion.

Workshop Sponsored by:

Closing Skills Workshop Ticket: $45 in advance for SMC members | $55 at the door Power Breakfast/Closing Skills Combo Ticket: $50 in advance for SMC members | $60 at the door

SMC Model Meet Up

Providence Homes Model, Markland Community

THURSDAY

Please prepay for all events on our website web.nefba.com/events

Contact Michelle Glass at mglass@nefba.com for Information on involvement and sponsorship opportunities!

#ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) July SMC Breakfast: Daniel Davis Guest Speaker

MISSION

To enlighten, motivate and educate NEFBA members through dynamic programs and networking opportunities so more new homes are sold.

July Model Meet Up: Toll Brothers, Coastal Oaks at Nocatee

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

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Government advocacy update DUVAL n NEFBA’s Government Affairs Committee meeting is 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at the NEFBA offices. n The C&D Host Fee may be replaced by the City of Jacksonville Solid Waste Committee with a building permit surcharge.

Currently, most landfills pay a host fee for every ton of construction and demolition debris received from haulers. Last year, a

ST. JOHNS proposal was made to replace this system with a franchise fee that would affect the waste haulers, but after a failed attempt to get approval from the city council, the committee was reconvened this year to find another funding alternative. The surcharge could be between 11 percent and 52 percent and would be for all building permits.

NASSAU n Flood ordinance updates and changes are being considered by the City of Fernandina Beach. Several changes proposed in the ordinance exceed state requirements, including increasing the elevation in the flood plain of the freeboard to 2 feet over the required 1 foot, restricting breakaway

NEFBA Council Liaisons (904) 725-4355

space in the flood plain under the elevated living area to a smaller amount and lowering the threshold for requiring existing structures to be elevated out of the flood plain to 25 percent from 50 percent of remodeling cost.

n Lobbyist reform with the creation of a lobbyist ordinance is being considered

by St. Johns County Commissioners. The new law would require lobbyists to register with the county and ban contingency payments. Lobbyists would be required to

maintain a log of all communications with county elected officials and staff, reporting any communication to the county within seven days. Failure to comply could result in the loss of the ability to work in the county.

CLAY n LDR changes were approved by the Clay County Commission Land Development Regulation. The LDR changes include requiring lot grading as-built, increased widths of local roads from 20 feet to 24

feet, reduced horizontal and centerline radius on roads by allowing lower speeds in neighborhoods and a required two lift of asphalt on residential roads.

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

Professional Women in Building/ Remodelers Council Corey Hacker, CHacker@nefba.com

St. Johns Builders Council Leona Brown, SJBCouncil2@aol.com

Clay Builders Council/ Nassau Builders Council/ Young Professionals Group Jessie Spradley, JSpradley@nefba.com

Sales & Marketing Council Michelle Glass, MGlass@nefba.com

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JACKSONVILLE

Daily Record JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE

1

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

Realty-Builder.com

REALTY-BUILDER

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Housing permits in line with national upward trend Housing permits issued in the four-county Northeast Florida market, including Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, during the second quarter reflect what

160

127

80 0

400

160

600

Feb

263 152 Jan

62

Mar

150 0

1,000 100

61

Apr

233 243

326 312 220

Feb

Mar

306

88

51 May

Jun

83 Jul

68 Aug

82

72

74

65

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

376 284

319 342

2017 259

311

269 175

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

256

269

Nov

Dec

2018

110 66

41 Jan

2017

135 78

20 20

Feb

Mar

66

61

Apr

55

84

May

97 100

Jun

91 Jul

2018 80 Aug

32 Sep

67

64

60

Oct

Nov

Dec

ST. JOHNS COUNTY PERMITS 2017-18 2017

531

450 300

2018 88

NASSAU COUNTY PERMITS 2017-18

80 0

92

121

DUVAL COUNTY PERMITS 2017-18

120 40

107 53

Jan

200 0

2017

133

47

300 100

year at the end of June and 5,106 the same period this year. Local builders continue to report strong activity and interest across the area.

CLAY COUNTY PERMITS 2017-18

120 40

appears to be a national upward trend in new-home permits. Comparing the first two quarters of 2017 and 2018 reveals a difference of 557 permits, with 4,549 last

483

417

380

284 330

333 315

373 333

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

343

335 365

329

368

2018 297

266

Oct

Nov

Dec

216

TOTAL PERMITS 2017-18 524 830

765 689

941 757

691 941

795 876

833 1,013 1,013 013 3

689

797

505

867

691

660

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2017 2018

10 1

Source: Permit data provided by Wolfe Jackson, The Resource Group LLC

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 2018

N a ssau Coun t y ’s Ne w est G at ed Com munit y

now pre-selling

Sa ndy Poin te Pr eserv e Casual Coastal Living just off Amelia Island Sandy Pointe Preserve is a prestigious neighborhood featuring an exquisite collection of coastal homes located just off Amelia Island. These specially designed homes boast luxurious features and architectural elements that showcase the distinction of living by one of Florida’s most renowned coastlines.

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Sponsor spotlight Cole Builders, Dale Cole For more than a decade, Dale Cole and his talented team at Cole Builders have designed and built custom new homes in the greater Jacksonville area.

If you’re dreaming of building a new home, adding a rooftop deck, garage or other addition or contemplating a remodel of any type, you owe it to yourself to get in touch with Cole Builders. Call Dale Cole at (904) 302-8606 or visitcolebuilders.net.

Welcome, new members THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES BECAME NEFBA BUILDER AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS IN JUNE: n MLS Custom House Plans, n 2G Energy, Debby Emerson Michael T. Holmes Jr. n 3 C’s Construction, Cladding & Coating n Pro-Painting and Drywall, Derek Wilkinson Chris Harrington n AC Masters HVAC, Steve Crabtree n River City General Contractors, Michael Braniff n BBVA Compass, Robert Sargent n Southern Atlantic Electric Company, n Cox Media Group, Rusty Winter Raymond McIntosh n DL Williams Electric Company, n Stearns Lending, Curtis Ford David Williams n US Bank, Brad King n Massey Services, Sid Funk n Matt Vu Electric, Matthew Vu Special thanks to these members for recruiting and sponsoring a new member: AJ Beson, Carrie Budds, Chris Dostie, Dale Cole, Keith Ward, Rodney Christensen and Sean Junker.

For more information about the benefits of membership and how to become a NEFBA member, call Hans Krieg

or Payton Woods at (904)725-4355 or email membership@nefba.com.

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

Pinnacle Builders

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS: • Homes in the $300’s

A Pinnacle builder is a NEFBA member company that maintains 90 percent of its active subcontractors as NEFBA members, actively recruits two new members every year and remains a member in good standing. To become a Pinnacle Builder, call the NEFBA office (904 725-4355) and take the first step today.

• Private, gated entrance • Coastal floorplans between 2,494-3,057 sq. ft.

• 3rd-car garages on all homes • Luxurious features • Large, 75’ lakefront, preserve & cul-de-sac homesites • Located close to Amelia Island • Excellent schools • No CDD fees

ADAMS HOMES

LENNAR HOMES

BOURRÉ CONSTRUCTION GROUP

MORALES CONSTRUCTION

CORNERSTONE HOMES

MASTERCRAFT BUILDER GROUP

DOSTIE HOMES

NEW LEAF CONSTRUCTION

DREAM FINDERS HOMES

PROVIDENCE HOMES

DREES HOMES

SANDIFER CUSTOM HOMES

GLENN LAYTON HOMES

THOMAS MAY CONSTRUCTION

ICI HOMES

TOLL BROTHERS

LANDON HOMES

About NEFBA CALL NOW FOR BEST SELECTION

(904) 696-3483

The Northeast Florida Builders Association provides industry-wide representation to strengthen and foster the continued growth of construction trades ands ervices 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 and Observer LLC in Realty-Builder.

For membership information or to contact NEFBA, call (904) 725-4355.

www.SEDAnewhomes.com CGC020880• SEDA Construction Company.

Price & availability subject to change without notice.

@NEFBAMembership

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NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

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REALTY-BUILDER

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AUGUST 2018

RiverTown gives you more home, more choices, more amenities, more ways to spread your wings Grand Opening of NorthLake, a new RiverTown Neighborhood.

FROM THE LOW $200s.

Mark your calendar now to join us for NorthLake’s VIP Advance Preview Weekend August 17–19, 2018

RiverTown Amenities

RiverClub Amphitheater 3 Resort-Style Pools

Kayak Launch Community Parks Riverfront Trails

COMING SOON

M AT TA M Y H O M E S ’ F I R S T

Active Adult Neighborhood IN ST. JOHNS COUNTY

GET ON THE VIP INTEREST LIST NOW. R i v e r To w n F L . c o m

Welcome Center and Designer Models Open Daily 904.337.4856 | 90 Lanier Street, St Johns, FL 32259 | RiverTownFL.com Prices, homesites and plan availability subject to change or revocation without prior notice or obligation. For more information on available homes and incentives, see sales associate for details. ©2018 Mattamy Homes. All rights reserved. Builder Lic. CBC#1261993, CBC#1260748.

Fitness Center Tennis Dog Park

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AUGUST 2018

NORTHEAST FLORIDA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

Realty-Builder.com

David Weekley Homeowners Jackson & Rusty Hancock

We know time at home is the most valuable.

That’s why we craft the home building experience as carefully as we craft our stunning, energy-efficient homes. Our collaborative approach sets us apart, with a deeper commitment to making sure the journey – and final result – is everything you imagined. From regular meetings with your Sales Consultant and Personal BuilderSM, to our industry-leading warranty, we take care of you the way we’d want to be taken care of, so you can live the most rewarding home life. That’s The Weekley Way!

Now selling!

Tidal Pointe at Southside Quarter Courtyard Homes and Townhomes From the high $200s 904-345-4293

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 © 2018 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, LLC. Jacksonville, FL (JACA95322)