About Jacksonville Real Estate

Life In Jacksonville

Jacksonville, a metropolitan center of over one million people, is a friendly and comfortable place - a coastal community of neighborhoods as unique as the people who live in them. From luxury condo high-rises, to grand historic homes, to custom-built new communities in every style imaginable, there is a place for you to feel at home.

Outdoor activities abound, with 68 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 300 miles of river and every imaginable topography in-between. Add to that our year-round fantastic climate and our low cost of living - Jacksonville is the most affordable city in Florida - and there's no wonder why this region keeps growing. With a bevy of top companies to choose from and new ones moving into the community daily, Jacksonville offers ample employment opportunities, has an attractive housing market, and a world class climate – four seasons without snow.

Live

A Great Place To Live

Northeast Florida is an ideal place to live life to the fullest. Miles of uncrowded and unspoiled land provide a wide variety of distinct residential neighborhoods with housing options to suit any style. From luxury condo high-rises in metropolitan Jacksonville, to grand historic homes, to custom-built new communities in every style imaginable, there is a place for you to feel at home. To long-time residents, it's easy to see why Expansion Management rated Jacksonville as one of America's "Best Places to Live and Work" and a "Four-Star Community."

Whether it's a quiet rural life, the exciting city life or something in between, you are sure to find it in one of our seven counties. Since 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau has consistently listed St. Johns and Flagler as two of the fastest growing counties in the nation. "Those of us who have lived here for many years have known all along that Flagler County is a great place to live. Now the rest of the country has figured it out," said David Haas, Flager County administrator. "The population grew by 38.5 percent and the county's housing stock has increased 29 percent over the last four years."

Downtown Living

New luxury and market-rate projects including upscale apartments, condos, lofts, garden homes and town homes and historic building conversions are adding depth to downtown. According to Downtown Vision, an organization that focuses on building and maintaining a vibrant downtown community, new residential activity in the downtown area will bring approximately 2,200 new homes by 2010, with a total projection of 10,000 new homes to be built by 2013.

The housing trend brings with it the next wave of entrepreneurial opportunity — developing more lofts and condos and multi-use developments that include residential, retail and office space.

Downtown Jacksonville has undergone dramatic changes in the past five years and its renaissance harkens back to a time when living on Laura Street and in the historic Springfield and Brooklyn areas were in vogue. From the new arena, baseball stadium and the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville to the development projects along the banks of the St. Johns River, the transformation of downtown is well underway.

Historic Living

Traditional and charming, the city's first suburbs included Riverside, Avondale, San Marco, San Jose, Springfield and Ortega. These neighborhoods, set along lovely, tree-lined streets, offer unique character and the tranquility of a bygone era. Housing options range from grand mansions along the riverfront to newly refurbished bungalows. The Riverside and Avondale communities make up the nation's largest historic district with 6,000 structures. Popular styles in the architecturally diverse neighborhoods include Mediterranean Revival, Florida Vernacular, Prairie School and traditional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival.

Suburban Living

Drive in any direction from the city and you'll find new construction and homes on the market. Choose an upscale, gated community, a contemporary new home or an existing home in established areas throughout the region including Fleming Island, North Jacksonville, Yulee, Westside, Green Cove Springs, Baymeadows, Gateway, Fruit Cove and Arlington, among others. Each offers its own appeal and housing options to fit almost any budget.

Performing Arts

Comedy. Drama. Music. Dance. Jacksonville and Northeast Florida's exploding cultural scene is as rich and diverse as its population.

Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

As just one of the growing number of performing arts venues, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts attracts thousands of theater and music fans every month. The three halls of the center include the 1,800-seat Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall, designed for non-amplified stage events; the 3,000-seat Jim and Jan Moran Theater, designed for amplified performances; and the 600-seat C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Theater, a multi-purpose hall with a stage.

With a riverfront view, this theater complex is located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville and is home to the Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) Artist Series and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, ranked as one of the nation's top 40 orchestras. "ABBAMANIA", "Cirque de la Symphonie", "Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto", "The Nutcracker", "Holiday Pops" and "Handel's Messiah" are just some of the performances scheduled in 2008.

The Florida Theatre

Famous for its classic design and beautiful restoration,the Florida Theatre hosts 200 acts annually for every taste and age including ballet, opera, contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues. The theater opened in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As an anchor to downtown development along the beautiful St. Johns River, the Florida Theatre draws 250,000 people to Jacksonville's center each year and is more than just an entertainment center — it's also home to graduations, awards ceremonies, lectures, business meetings and charity events that support the community's schools, churches, hospitals and civic groups.

The Ritz Theatre and La Villa Museum

As a mecca for African American culture and heritage in Florida, The Ritz Theatre and La Villa Museum is a must see. The Ritz Theater was designed in 1929 by local architect Jefferson Powell in the Art Deco style. From the 1930s through the 1960s, this theater jammed with Ray Charles and many other artists who worked the Chitlin Circuit. The renovated theater seats 400 and a large stage for a variety of movies, music, dance and theatrical productions. Adjacent is the recently opened LaVilla Museum, which features an exhilarating mix African and African American cultural exhibits. Half of the 11,000-square foot museum is dedicated to historical exhibits of LaVilla and Northeast Florida, and the other half of the museum features rotating local and national exhibits. Regularly scheduled events include Amateur Night, held the first Friday of each month, and modeled after the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, N.Y. The audience is the judge and contestants compete for cash prizes. In addition, on the first Thursday of each month the lobby of the Ritz is transformed into a stage for poets and poetry lovers as part of its "Art of Spoken Word" event.

The Ritz Chamber Players

The Ritz Chamber Players, the nation's first chamber music ensemble, brings a fresh, new energy to the classical music genre. Led by clarinetist Terrance Patterson, the Ritz Chamber Players include some of the most notable and accomplished musicians of our time. From Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky to today's leading black composers, Singleton, Walker, Perkinson and Bonds, the Ritz Chamber Players are creating a revolution in the classical music scene.

University of North Florida Fine Arts Center

Combining precisely synchronized elements in creative design, acoustics and lighting, the University of North Florida Fine Arts Center>, where the Lazarra Hall is housed, sets the stage for international performers and serves as a teaching center for students. UNF also hosts comedians and other artists in its Arena and on two stages in the fine arts center.

Theaters & Outdoor Performing Venues

Community theater groups throughout Northeast Florida perform plays and musicals year-round. Become transformed with an evening of theater at the Alhambra Dinner Theater, Amelia Community Theater, Limelight Theater in St. Augustine, Orange Park Community Theater and Theatre Jacksonville in San Marco, among others.

There's also an array of facilities for performing artists and festivals in the area. Set along 27 acres on the riverfront, Jacksonville's Metropolitan Park serves as a setting for the Starry Night symphony series, Shakespeare at the Met and the annual Jazz Festival. The region's coastal communities host festivals and offer many theaters and entertainment opportunities. The Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach is an elegant outdoor stage that lures residents with cool ocean breezes and a beautiful coastline.

Art Walk

Finally, celebrate Jacksonville's downtown city life and river atmosphere with a pedestrian-friendly Art Walk featuring as many as 35 venues, live bands and trolleys. Sponsored by Downtown Vision, the event is held the first Wednesday of each month.

Sports

With its year-round balmy weather, Northeast Florida is a bonanza for sports enthusiasts. Enjoy football frenzy with the home team in the fall when the Jacksonville Jaguars take to the field. In addition, each year Jacksonville hosts college match-ups such as the Florida/Georgia game and the Toyota Gator Bowl. Jacksonville has also been home to the ACC Championship Game for the last two years and the NCAA Basketball Tournament in 2006.

Be one of the many fans cheering the Jacksonville Suns when they play 70 home games a year in their red brick Camden Yards-style park. The first coast is also the site for the Bausch and Lomb women's professional tennis tournament held each spring on Amelia Island. And, with water everywhere, you'll find excellent fishing and water sports of every kind.

Follow golf greats at the Tournament Players Championship held annually at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. With almost 60 courses and 1,100 holes in the seven-county area, the First Coast is a golfer's paradise. Florida has more golf courses than any other state and its reputation is grounded in two key factors: The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass is home to the PGA Tour headquarters, and the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Johns County is a destination attraction. And, not only do golf legends live and play here, they design some of the best golf amenities we offer. Arnold Palmer ("The King") and Jack Nicklaus ("The Bear") designed the signature hole of the King & Bear course at World Golf Village.

Since its start in 1974, the Tournament Players Championship (TPC), now known as the PLAYERS, has been an important golf event. Golf greats Jack Nicklaus, J.C. Snead, Jerry Pate, David Duval, Tiger Woods and last year's winner Fred Funk, are just a few to take a swing at what some say is a "diabolical" course.

At the end of the 2006 The PLAYERS, the signature course received a face lift that includes new irrigation, new drainage, new grass types and tree replacement. But, this famous course, renowned for its difficulty and island, 17th hole, will essentially remain unchanged in character and landscape. A new, $17 million clubhouse is also part of the renovations.

The area offers the perfect climate for tennis buffs. There are many clubs as well as private and public teams throughout Northeast Florida. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is headquartered here and the ATP Tennis Club sponsors two tournaments each year.

Ranked one of the best cities for runners by Runner's World, Jacksonville hosts the Gate River Run, the official USA 15K National Championship each year in March, attracting nearly 8,000 runners who compete for the $10,000 first prize.