On Monday, Jan. 23rd the state Department of Education released their annual grades for county schools based on the 2011 FCAT results (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), and various other categories. For the fourth straight year, the St. Johns County School District is ranked number one in the entire state of Florida! With 67 total school Districts and 3,078 public and charter schools in all of Florida, it is quite an accomplishment to be consistently at the top each school year.
A lot of credit needs to be given to the students throughout St. Johns County for their hard work, dedication and performances, which is reflected by their overall school grades. But the teaching staff in St. Johns County needs a standing ovation for the above and beyond attitude they put forth everyday to ensure our children’s bright futures.
That is why more than ever, we as a community need to come together and show our appreciation towards our local teaching staff. As of January 30th and running until February 13th, Davidson Realty’s 4th quarter of Davidson Appreciates Teachers is kicking off. They will be collecting nominations for all the resource teachers at Mill Creek Elementary and Wards Creek Elementary Schools, including PE, Guidance Counselors, Art, Media Specialists, Music, Computer and Spanish. (more…)
I have now experienced 55 opportunities to commit to and deliver on a New Year’s Resolution – having my first at the age of 5. I don’t know about you – but my success in these endeavors comes and goes – and can be difficult to gauge.
Like Jerry Seinfeld at the rental car counter – complaining about how easy it is for them to take a reservation – but how hard it is for them to keep it – my track record with resolutions is a bit the same.
The experts have all sorts of tried and true ways to make resolutions, and more importantly, help you keep them. Their advice says that one should start with a set, specific goal – make a plan, then write it down. Once you are clear – you need to enlist support and stay the course. As the year progresses – they say you need to adopt the simple mantra, “how can I make it happen” – and just keep asking yourself that question. Supposedly – over and over, this self-driven effort (with all the extra encouragement you can get) will produce great results. (more…)
Leading home builder Inland Homes boasted a strong finish to 2011 with the closing of 13 new homes in December in The Cascades, World Golf Village’s active adult retirement community. The company’s total closings for the year came in at 45. “Inland Homes has a high-quality and well-priced product and that was reflected in their strong numbers for the year,” said Mirtha Barzaga, Realtor with Davidson Realty. “Buyers especially love that Inland Homes come standard with an impressive list of upgrades,” added Barzaga. (more…)
Mark Downing with CornerStone Homes and I sat down recently to discuss new home construction. We agreed we are both seeing a lot more people finding a great buy on lots and needing to find a builder. I thought it might be helpful to share some tips for finding a great builder you can trust.
1- Ask family, friends, coworkers or your real estate agent for a recommendation.
2- Make sure the builder has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.
3- Ask to speak with previous customers.
4- Make sure you will enjoy working with the builder. You will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process.
5- Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. (more…)
I had an opportunity to visit with Mark Downing from CornerStone Homes recently and thought you might enjoy his comments on the video above. We talked about the changes we are seeing in the new home industry.
When the real estate industry was booming, it was not easy to find a desirable lot in a great community at an affordable price. Today there are many lots available and the prices are amazingly affordable. Right now in the King & Bear we have 10 bank owned lots available that include a membership to the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire golf courses. We also have Developer lots available with memberships and a few lots owned by builders that could be purchased. (more…)
In November, national homebuilder Standard Pacific Homes closed on 16 homesites in the neighborhood of GroveWood in our St. Augustine golf course community. Standard Pacific Homes will soon break ground on four spec homes on the GroveWood lots, ranging from about 2,500 to 3,500 square feet. Pricing will start in high $200,000s. The featured floor plans include the Kingfisher (2,469 square feet), Cambridge (3,051 square feet), Belmont (3,536 square feet), Carisbrooke (3,226 square feet) and the Palladium (2,912 square feet). An extensive list of upgrades come standard on all the homes. Davidson Realty’s Mirtha Barzaga was the Realtor for the transaction.
Founded in 1965, Standard Pacific Homes has built 113,000 houses nationwide over nearly five decades. As they have grown, Standard Pacific Homes has remained faithful to our original vision: to build thoughtfully designed homes, well-crafted to provide quality of life for the families who live in them and complement the neighborhoods they share. (more…)
Using two to three colors to decorate will help you achieve a professionally decorated look. Deciding on a color palate before you go shopping will make the selection process quick and easy.
2. Bring the outdoors in.
Cut fresh greenery or visit your local tree stand for cuttings. You can use them on the mantle, as garland, or as a centerpiece along with candles. The possibilities are endless! (more…)
For young and old alike, touring the neighborhood to view holiday light decorations is one of the purest pleasures of the seasons. There’s plenty of twinkle to ogle in our beautiful St. Augustine golf course community. In fact, there’s a contest around holiday lighting going on right now in World Golf Village. It’s not too late to enter your home and show off your holiday decorating prowess, or enter a World Golf Village neighbor. Then view all the leaders and vote for your favorite holiday lighting display online.
The World Golf Village Holiday Lighting Contest is now in its 5th year. Starting in 2007 with just seven homes entered, it has grown to nearly 50 homes vying for the top prize and garnering thousands of votes. The current leader board for this year’s contest includes festive homes throughout the Neighborhoods of World Golf Village, including Kingsbury, Bearsford, Waterbury, Turnberry, Grovewood, Tuscan Wood and Windmill Estates. View the homes currently on the leader board here: www.wgvsocial.com/leaders.htm. (more…)
We had a blast this past Thursday night at Davidson Realty making our holiday wreaths and bidding on beautiful holiday decorations! Tis the season! Not only was it fun, but we raised over $1,400 for the Ronald McDonald House - a great organization providing a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. Neighbors from all over our St. Augustine golf course community including World Golf Village, Kensington and Palencia came to participate and help raise money for such a great cause.
Representatives from Interiors Revitalized made sure everyone left with a stunning creation. And, a big thank you to Dr. Berry and the Village Chiropractic Center of Florida for donating the gorgeous decorations. I think the wine might have helped with everyone’s creativity! We had holiday music helping us get into the Christmas spirit and enough holiday cookies to last us until next year. What a fun event!
We hope you enjoy the video above of our special night. To donate to the Ronald McDonald House or to learn more about this spectacular charity please visit http://rmhc.org/.
The combination of numerous waterways and warm weather is one of the advantages of making St. Augustine and the north Florida area your home, but it can also be a good environment for mold and mildew to thrive. Mold spores can aggravate allergies and other illnesses.
Mold can grow on many things, including, drywall, carpet, wood, paint and fabric. Although molds often originate behind walls and crawl spaces due to dampness, spores can easily spread through the rest of your home. Mold spores that are set adrift in your home will find an appropriate place to live and grow, like bathrooms and kitchens which contain adequate food and moisture. A musty smell is often the first and easily recognizable sign that you could have some mold growth. If you notice a musty smell or suspect your home may have some mold, follow the tips below. (more…)
Developers Jim and Sherry Davidson and Hillman Properties shared a vision of a unique residential community with world-class amenities, retail shops and office space in a natural North Florida setting. The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village is the beautiful result.
On Monday, Jan. 23rd the state Department of Education released their annual grades for county schools based on the 2011 FCAT results (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), and various other categories. For the fourth straight year, the St. Johns County School District is ranked number one in the entire state of Florida! With 67 total school Districts and 3,078 public and charter schools in all of Florida, it is quite an accomplishment to be consistently at the top each school year.
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