While the heat of summer may be upon us, the days of fall and golf tournament season are just beyond it. NAIOP will be hosting the 2013 Golf Invitational on Monday, October 7, at Timuquana Country Club with a noon shot-gun start.

The tournament’s sponsorship drive is underway and NAIOP has received commitments so far from Midtown Centre, Flagler, Liberty Property Trust, McCurdy-Walden, Brasfield & Gorrie, Shaw Contract Carpet, Metro Property Services, Duval Asphalt, FRAPAG, Wiginton Fire Systems, Aerostar Envirnomental Services, OE&S, Danis Construction and Parkway Realty Services. Additional sponsorship opportunities as well as mega drawing and raffle items contributions are available. Contact myself or Carmel Buchanan today at naiopnefl@comcast.net or 904-730-8075 to learn more.

Official registration will open mid-summer. Before August 1, take advantage of a special promotion – Save $100 with a foursome commitment combined with hole sponsorship.  Visit the NAIOP website at www.naiopnefl.com for more information.

As a result of record sales success, the popular waterfront community of Old San Jose on the River has only three riverfront, single-family custom home and home site packages remaining for sale. The packages are priced starting at $979,900 and come with all of the appointments and features Old San Jose on the River includes in its single-family homes, the additional landscaping and site prep work required on a riverfront home site and a dock permit for a private dock.

“These beautiful waterfront homes are located directly on the St. Johns River,” said Victoria “Vikki” Robbins of Victoria Robbins Realty, Inc., the real estate company responsible for sales at Old San Jose. “This is an incredible opportunity because it is impossible in today’s real estate market to find a luxurious new home on the river priced starting at under $1 million.”

Home buyers interested in purchasing the riverfront home and home site packages may select one of the floor plans available at Old San Jose on the River. They can also bring their own home design or work with the community’s architect, BSB Design-Jacksonville, or the architect of their choice to create a custom home that will be built by Old San Jose on the River’s builder, New Leaf Construction, Inc. Old San Jose on the River will finance the construction and close on the home when it is completed.

“This financing opportunity with a seller-funded construction loan is unprecedented for new custom homes in this price range,” Robbins said.

Visitors are invited to tour the community’s beautiful designer-decorated single-family model, The Avondale, which showcases the features included in a new single-family home at Old San Jose on the River such as a three-car garage, paver driveway, concrete tile roof, 10-foot ceilings, and Rinnai tankless gas water heater to highlight just a few of the included appointments and specifications. Buyers at Old San Jose on the River enjoy a fully-integrated design/build process with attention to all the details required for a custom waterfront homebuilding experience.

“Building a custom home on a waterfront home site can result in a very challenging process,” Robbins added. “Our team understands the process, which makes it more efficient for our buyers. We have received extremely positive feedback from our homeowners at Old San Jose on the River about their experiences working with our builder team.”

Old San Jose on the River is located at 5000 San Jose Blvd. in Jacksonville, Fla. To schedule an appointment to tour the community’s model homes, or for additional information, call (904) 733-6399 or visit www.oldsanjose.com.

Luxury home builder Arthur Rutenberg Homes and Marcus Allen Homes, an independent franchise building throughout Northeast Florida, were recently recognized with a gold award from the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) Parade of Homes for the Bermuda model at Palencia. The model received top honors in the $680,000 – $700,000 category. The annual Parade of Homes showcases the best in newly built homes in Northeast Florida.

Boasting three bedrooms with bonus room, three baths and 3,321 square feet of living space, the Bermuda offers an expansive and elegant one-story floor plan. Designed for an active lifestyle, an open kitchen and great room lead to a lanai with retractable doors that lead to a spacious outdoor living area with kitchen, screened-in pool with a spa and fire pit. The Bermuda is among numerous home designs Arthur Rutenberg Homes is offering at Palencia, where single-family homes range in size from approximately 2,800 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet, with many options for customization.

Palencia is a master-planned community featuring attractive homes, family-friendly amenities and a town center set along the natural landscape of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. Designed with environmental integrity and rich architectural detailing, the community of Palencia has captured the hearts and minds of discerning homebuyers. Anchoring the community is a 40-acre Village Center and The Palencia Club, featuring a 33,000 square foot clubhouse and spectacular Arthur Hills-designed championship golf course. Additional amenities include tennis, swimming, fitness, sports fields and eight miles of inviting nature trails and boardwalks. Palencia is located within the St. Johns County School District, which features excellent A-rated schools including Palencia Elementary located within the community. The community is a short drive from the beaches, shopping, historic St. Augustine and downtown Jacksonville.

The Palencia sales center and designer-decorated model homes from four preferred builders are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.  To learn more about Palencia, visit www.vivapalencia.com or call (904) 810-0500.

Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (HabiJax) turned the dream of homeownership into reality for 25 families that have applied for its homeownership program in the historic neighborhood of New Town. The nonprofit organization partnered with the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), along with hundreds of volunteers, to complete 25 homes in seven days.

 “This year’s event was more than I could have ever hoped for,” said HabiJax President and CEO Mary Kay O’Rourke. “Volunteers and builders showed up during a tropical storm and demonstrated an overwhelming amount of support, both monetarily and through donated materials.”

The Blitz Build’s closing ceremony took place with a home dedication that included volunteers, builders and homeowners.

“We are so grateful for the support that the community showed us during this week,” said O’Rourke. “It would not have been possible without them.”

Since 1988, HabiJax has helped more than 1,850 families realize their dream of homeownership.  HabiJax is a partner in the New Town Success Zone, a partnership of public and private organizations that are developing a continuum of services to help children and families living in the New Town neighborhood achieve their goals of healthy development, academic success and well-being of the neighborhood’s children.

For more information on volunteering, contact Angie Leatherbury at (904) 208-6664 or visit www.habijax.org.

The condominium community of Ocean’s Edge in South Jacksonville Beach has only seven homes left for sale. The community is located one block from the Atlantic Ocean and offers beautiful surroundings, quick access to the beach and multiple financing options.

“Interested buyers should act now if they don’t want to miss their chance to live just steps from the beach,” said Victoria (Vikki) Robbins of Victoria Robbins Realty, Inc., the real estate company responsible for sales at Ocean’s Edge. “Time is running out to take advantage of an incredible deal at a great community so close to the beach.”

The community offers low maintenance living with one-, two- and three-bedroom condominium homes, ranging in size up to 1,417 square feet of living space. Homes range in price from $171,000 to $270,000. Ocean’s Edge is among less than 75 condominium properties in Florida and the only condominium east of A1A in Jacksonville Beach with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) project approval and Fannie Mae project approval, making it possible for qualified buyers to obtain low down payment, fixed-rate mortgages at competitive rates.

The onsite amenities at Ocean’s Edge offer resort-style luxuries including a beautiful clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness center, resort-style pool and lagoon, poolside grill and summer kitchen, lake with observation deck and private putting green. The community is just steps from the beautiful Jacksonville beaches and a short walk to local restaurants, nightlife and retail venues.

Ocean’s Edge is located at 107 25th Ave. South in Jacksonville Beach. To tour the available homes at Ocean’s Edge and model homes in the community, call (904) 247-9052 or visit www.oceansedgeliving.com.

The inaugural Community First Seawalk Music Festival will take place Saturday, June 15, at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. The festival, produced in partnership by Jax Beach Festivals and Community First Credit Union, will feature “all things local.” In support of the growth and development of the festival, Community First has signed a three-year commitment as title sponsor.

“The Community First Seawalk Music Festival will showcase our rich local resources – local artists, food, crew and volunteers,” said Amy Galbreath, producer with Jax Beach Festivals.

The music begins at noon and plays until 10 p.m. The performer lineup includes:

Noon:                   Mama Blue
1:45p:                   Danka​
3:15p:                   Rachael Warfield​​
5:00p:                   Be Easy
6:45p:                   Fusebox Funk​
8:30p:                   Split Tone

“Community First is committed to partnering with local organizations to offer Northeast Florida residents family friendly activities that promote a healthy community,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO of Community First Credit Union. “The festival’s emphasis on all things local is a great way to celebrate area talent and support the local economy, while providing an affordable entertainment option for families to enjoy together.”

For the music lineup and more information about the festival, visit www.communityfirstseawalkfest.com.

Prudential Network Realty is supporting “Wreaths Across America,” a national campaign designed to honor fallen veterans. Wreaths Across America’s goal is to place a commemorative wreath upon every headstone in the Jacksonville National Cemetery and the St. Augustine National Cemetery in December during the holiday season.

“We are fortunate to have a strong military presence in Northeast Florida and we are proud to support this meaningful program,” said Prudential Network Realty Broker/Manager Ann King of the company’s St. Augustine office, who initiated Prudential Network Realty’s participation in the program last year. “We are honored to be a part of this national effort to place a holiday wreath on every veteran’s headstone.”

The campaign collects donations to purchase commemorative wreaths, which will be placed on the headstones of veterans buried at national cemeteries and other locations across the country. Simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at more than 700 locations on Saturday, Dec.14, including the national cemeteries in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

A single wreath costs $15. Prudential Network Realty is accepting donations in support of Wreaths Across America through Monday, July 15. Please make checks made payable to Wreaths Across America. Donations may be dropped off at the following Prudential Network Realty office locations:

• Home Office – 4190 Belfort Road, Suite 475, Jacksonville
• Avondale/Ortega – 3627 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville
• Mandarin/St. Johns – 11567 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville
• San Marco/San Jose – 1983 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville
• Beaches/Arlington – 375-1 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach
• Fleming Island – 3535 Highway 17, Suite 10, Fleming Island
• Ponte Vedra – 1000 Sawgrass Village Drive, Suite 101, Ponte Vedra Beach
• St. Augustine – 112 SeaGrove Main St., Suite 210, St. Augustine Beach

“We believe in the American dream, and it is our privilege to be a part of a campaign that acknowledges those who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom,” said Christy Budnick, executive vice president of residential real estate, Prudential Network Realty. “We appreciate the opportunity to support this program and its efforts to remember and honor veterans in Northeast Florida and across the country.”

School is out for summer so it’s time for Jax4Kids.com Kids Day at Riverside Arts Market. RAM is always full of kid-friendly entertainment and activities such as our Children’s Creativity Corner, balloon artists and face painters. The live entertainment on the River Stage will feature all young performers including Miss Marie’s Kids, Dalton Cyr, Florida Conservatory of Music and Ronan School of Music. There will be bounce houses, entertainment and activities for kids of all ages. RAM is located under the Fuller Warren Bridge and open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Bike MS Cycle to the Shore Kick-off Ride is Saturday, June 8. Come out and enjoy the company of fellow cyclists. If you looking for a group to train with, this is the perfect opportunity to meet that group. Snacks and water will be provided. There will be fully stocked rest stops along the route, as well as SERF escorts and police for cyclists’ safety. Route options include 25 or 45 mile with a New route through Nocatee! Registration is $5 and begins at 6:30am and the ride begins at 7:45am. Start is at the PGA TOUR Headquarters. You must be 12 years or older to participate. For more information about this event, visit the website.

Love golf? The annual Putt N’ Crawl will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, in Jacksonville Beach. 
This year’s Putt N’ Crawl is projected to be better than ever, with new locations and prizes to all participants who dare to take on the challenge of each home-built putting green. In addition, several charities are building the putting greens and competing for cash prizes. Tickets are currently available online for only $25 dollars or they can be purchased the day of the event at any of the participating venues. Sign-in will begin at 2p.m. and end at 6p.m. at each sign-in location. Putt N’ Crawl is an exclusive iwantaBUZZ.com event and you must be 21 years of age or older to purchase a ticket to participate. Upon registration, each ticket holder will receive admission into the event via a wristband, official scorecard, and other prizes.

It sounds impossible – 25 homes in seven days – but that is exactly what the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) is doing this week in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (HabiJax) for its 2013 President’s Project.

The build was officially kicked off last Saturday in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood, and is nearly complete. Hundreds of volunteers and 14 local builders are taking part in the build.

There will be a dedication ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, at 1473 Morgan St. followed by a reception under the tent at the corner of Acorn and Beaver streets.

We hope you’ll come celebrate this great event!

Mayor Alvin Brown and JAXUSA Partnership, a division of the JAX Chamber, announced today that Bank of America, Energy Intelligence Worldwide Corp. (EIWC) and Total Quality Logistics LLC are each proposing major expansions in Jacksonville. Combined, the companies’ projects are projected to create 320 new high-wage jobs with an average annual salary of more than $50,000 and approximately $14 million in capital investment in Jacksonville.

Bank of America is planning to expand operations at its two Southside Jacksonville campuses to accommodate multiple Bank of America and Merrill Lynch lines of business. The expansion project would result in a capital investment of approximately $13 million and at least 200 new full-time, high-skilled jobs with an average wage of more than $50,000 by December 2015.

EIWC is a Florida corporation headquartered in Jacksonville that was incorporated in 2011 to provide energy management solutions that lower resource consumption and reduce energy expenses. EIWC is interested in locating its global corporate headquarters and energy monitor center at 100 N. Laura St. in Downtown Jacksonville. The project would create 45 new full-time, high-wage jobs with a private capital investment up to approximately $674,000.

Total Quality Logistics, the second largest freight brokerage company in the nation, is planning to open a new office in Jacksonville at a location to be determined. The company’s proposal would create 75 new jobs and a private capital investment of up to $380,000. Headquartered in Cincinnati with 17 additional satellite locations across the nation, Total Quality Logistics arranges transportation of consumer and industrial goods across North America. The company reported more than $1.3 billion in sales in 2012 and employs more than 2,000 people nationwide.

Legislation will be introduced to City Council that enables Bank of America, EIWC and Total Quality Logistics to create up to 320 new jobs and make a $14 million capital investment in the community.