elacora in Madeira at St. Augustine recently welcomed homeowners and guests to a neighborhood party at the community’s Residents Club. Madeira is an exceptional master-planned community offering innovative homes, resort-style amenities and one of the most sought-after addresses in St. Johns County.

“The gathering was a tremendous success and we are especially proud of the positive response we received from our Madeira residents, who came out in numbers to enjoy the festivities,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “Interest in elacora at Madeira has been building for more than a year, and it is extremely gratifying to see our community coming to life.”

Madeira residents enjoy an enviable lifestyle that includes a selection of innovative new homes by elacora, a desirable location, naturally beautiful setting and numerous amenities. Residents have the opportunity to savor life at home, relaxing with family and friends in the lifestyle that is Madeira.

With the look of a luxurious resort, Madeira’s private Residents Club is the community’s social hub. The thriving amenity center includes a pool with lap lanes, clubhouse, fitness center and expansive outdoor gathering areas. Membership to the Residents Club is included with the purchase of a home at Madeira.

Located off of U.S. 1, the Madeira community is surrounded by nature and extends along the Intracoastal Waterway. The lush natural setting provides the perfect backdrop for elacora’s homes. Homesites at Madeira back up to conservation areas with spectacular water or nature preserve views. Construction of several homes is underway as evidenced by the Mediterranean-themed streetscape taking shape within Madeira.

Homes by elacora are expertly crafted and designed with the Florida homebuyer in mind. The company offers two different home collections at Madeira, ranging in size from 1,797 square feet to more than 3,300 square feet and are priced starting from the mid-$200,000s.

All of elacora’s homes at Madeira include advanced energy-efficient standards, such as solar panels on concrete tile roofs and tankless gas hot water heaters. The company’s innovative designs offer unique customizable options – including additional bedrooms, sunrooms, game rooms and Florida basement storage solutions – so that buyers can select a floor plan designed to best suit their lifestyle.

Visitors to Madeira are invited to see elacora’s award-winning model homes furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. The Villena model from elacora’s Serena Collection recently received silver award honors in the St. Johns County Parade of Homes. The Capri model from elacora’s Portada Collection showcases an open, spacious plan for living and entertaining. The exquisite models are impeccably decorated in soothing water and earth hues and open daily.

Additionally, Madeira has several move-in ready homes from both home collections available for prospective buyers to tour and purchase. Home buyers are invited to take advantage of elacora’s limited-time special offer: $5,000 toward closing costs or CDD fees and $2,000 in-home upgrade on quick move-in homes.

Madeira is located in the city of St. Augustine, which is known for its beautiful beaches, world-renowned golf courses, historical attractions, arts and culture, parks and recreational areas, fabulous dining and entertainment, and top-rated St. Johns County schools.

The Madeira Sales Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (904) 484-9024 or visit www.elacora.com.

The Egret II model at ICI Homes’ Amelia National Golf & Country Club

Paradise is closer than you think at Amelia National Golf & Country Club in Fernandina Beach, which is located just 10 minutes from its historic downtown.

An ICI Homes community, Amelia National Golf & Country Club is perfect for those who enjoy an active lifestyle and resort-style living with easy access to the surrounding area. Only 10 minutes to Northeast Florida’s beautiful beaches, 20 minutes to Jacksonville International Airport, 30 minutes to Downtown Jacksonville, and within a 40 minute drive to high-end shopping at the St. Johns Town Center.

“Amelia National Golf & Country Club is closer than many think to popular places throughout Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach,” said ICI Homes Chief Operating Officer Tom McCall. “It truly offers something for all ages to enjoy without leaving the community.”

Known for its ability to completely customize a floor plan to uniquely suit the homeowner while delivering the highest quality craftsmanship, personal service and value, ICI Homes has built thousands of single-family homes. Due to market demand, five move-in ready homes are currently under construction at Amelia National. The homes range in size from 2,624 square feet to 3,191 square feet and will be complete in December 2015. Additionally, 60 scenic new home sites are available for purchase on the community’s golf course, or lake and conservation areas. Homeowners can choose from 13 floorplans that range in size from 2,440 square feet to 4,001 square feet beginning in the high $300,000s.

“For new construction, you will not find a better price per square foot value in any golf and tennis community in all of north Florida,” said Don Wilford, ICI Homes North Florida Division President. “Amelia National offers resort-style living, an outstanding value and is closer than you think to all the great things Jacksonville area has to offer.”

Amelia National Golf & Country Club embodies country club living at its best. Set among a Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole championship golf course, the community’s amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-service restaurant, a resort-style swimming pool and a champion-quality tennis facility.

The recently-completed $1 million state-of-the-art Amelia National Tennis Club boasts eight clay championship-quality Har-Tru courts where athletes of all abilities can enjoy the facilities during the day or play under court lights in the evening. Each tennis court features PlaySight technology, an after-action review system that provides real-time and review with complete debriefing solutions, auto stats, bio-mechanical analysis and 3D tactical game management. While athletes are at play, their activity and motions are recorded and analyzed, providing ultramodern individualized coaching. The facility hosts tennis tournaments, leagues and its tennis professionals are available for lessons.

“The amenities and quality of homes available at Amelia National Golf & Country Club are truly world class. We invite interested homebuyers to visit the community and see all that Amelia National has to offer,” said McCall.

Interested homebuyers can visit the sales center at Amelia National Golf & Country Club from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday to tour ICI Homes’ award-winning model home daily and on-site amenities.

For more information or to schedule a discovery tour or private appointment, call (844) 886-4579, or visit www.ICIHomes.com or www.AmeliaNationalGolf.com. For more information regarding the Amelia National Tennis Club, visit www.AmeliaNationalTennis.com.

Jacksonville’s Financial News & Daily Record reported in September that container cargo through JaxPort could triple by 2035 and nearly 14,000 new jobs could be created, providing a possible regional economic impact of more than $850 million per year if $684.2 million is spent to deepen JaxPort’s shipping channel.

To view the article by reporter Carole Hawkins in its entirety, click here.

A smaller home can cut your costs and your cares, according to Money.com article, “How Downsizing Can Save Your Retirement.”

To read the article and to learn the benefits of downsizing, click here.

HabiJax and NEFBA will partner to build the above Wiley model for its 24-Hour House

Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc. (HabiJax) and the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) are partnering for the HabiJax – NEFBA 24-Hour House build, in which the two organizations will work together to build a home for a Jacksonville family over the course of two 12-hour days. The HabiJax – NEFBA 24 Hour House will be built Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct. 15 during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1439 Windle Street in New Town.

“Building a quality home for a deserving Jacksonville family with NEFBA in 24 hours versus nine to 12 weeks is an exciting undertaking that our teams look forward to accomplishing,” said Mary Kay O’Rourke, HabiJax’s CEO and President. “HabiJax is grateful for all of the resources that NEFBA has provided to make this build possible and for choosing HabiJax for its annual President’s Project.”

An annual project tasked to the president of NEFBA, the goal of its President’s Project is to positively impact the community. This is the third consecutive year a NEFBA president has selected HabiJax as its organization of choice.

HabiJax has provided housing services to more than 2,000 families in Jacksonville since 1988 and is the largest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in the United States. Due to its commitment to making a greater impact in Jacksonville neighborhoods and revitalizing the historic New Town neighborhood, HabiJax has built more than 250 homes there to date.

“NEFBA is proud to continue to partner with an organization like HabiJax that changes our community for the better,” said NEFBA President Rick Morales. “We anticipate a great 24-Hour House build and are eager for the challenge of completing the home on such a fast-paced schedule.”

The City of Jacksonville recently declared Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, 2015, HabiJax & Habitat for Humanity ReStore Appreciation Week for the work the organization does throughout the Jacksonville community.

elacora marked autumn’s arrival in style by hosting a community party in Madeira at St. Augustine.

The Residents Club provided the setting for the festivities. Residents enjoyed a delicious buffet and socializing with neighbors and guests in the gathering areas surrounding the community’s swimming pool.

“It is marvelous to bring our community together for a fun afternoon,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “Our residents at Madeira share a wonderful enthusiasm for their beautiful homes, the community’s amenities and the lifestyle that is flourishing here. I invite everyone to visit elacora in Madeira at St. Augustine and see all we have to offer.”

The Madeira lifestyle revolves around the community’s spectacular amenity center, which is designed exclusively for residents. In addition to a pool with lap lanes, the Residents Club includes a clubhouse, fitness center and outdoor seating areas. Membership to the Residents Club is included with the purchase of a home at Madeira.

elacora offers two different home collections at Madeira, ranging in size from 1,797 square feet to more than 3,300 square feet and are priced starting from the mid-$200,000s. Designed with the Florida homebuyer in mind, elacora’s plans offer multiple options to customize the home to fit the buyer’s individual lifestyle. All elacora homes include energy-efficient features as standards.

Visitors to the community are invited to tour elacora’s two award-winning model homes decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. In addition to the models, Madeira has several move-in ready homes available for prospective buyers to tour.

Madeira is located along U.S. 1 in northern St. Johns County. The community is districted for top-rated St. Johns County schools. For more information, call (904) 484-9024 or visit www.elacora.com.

ICI Homes’ Egret V model at Oakmont

ICI Homes has announced that its newest master-planned community, Oakmont, will participate in the 2015 Builders Association of North Central Florida Parade of Homes. The event, Oct. 10 – 11 and Oct. 17 – 18, from noon to 6 p.m., invites prospective homebuyers to tour merchandised model homes throughout the Alachua County area.

“Oakmont has received tremendous interest from the surrounding community and we anticipate a positive turnout for the Parade of Homes,” said David Haas, Chief Development Officer at Oakmont. “The Parade of Homes allows prospective buyers a unique opportunity to visit homes that are decorated with today’s trends in mind, while showcasing the features each home has to offer.”

The Egret V model by ICI Homes is a one story, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home boasting more than 3,000 square feet. The Egret V’s open floor plan features a two-car garage, covered lanai, plenty of storage and an owner’s suite and is priced from the high-$400,000s.

Amenities at Oakmont are arranged around an impressive Resident Club, which will house a state-of-the-art fitness center and grand gathering room, as well as tennis courts, an amphitheater, a basketball court, resort-style swimming pool with lap lanes and a multi-purpose field.

Oakmont features homes by six builders including Arthur Rutenberg Homes; Barry Bullard Homes; Jeffrey M. Wilde; Tommy Waters Custom Homes; Tommy Williams Homes; and ICI Homes. Each homebuilder offers unique floorplans, allowing prospective homeowners to have a choice in home sites that range in size from single family to one-acre estate-sized lots.  Plans range in size from 1,500 square feet to 10,000-square feet. Single family homes start from the low $200s and custom estate homes start from the low $400s to more than $2 million. For more information, visit www.oakmontfl.com.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty ranked at the top of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Women-Owned Businesses list, earning the No. 1 ranking in the 2015 list.

The Northeast Florida real estate firm, which operates under the leadership of Founder, President and CEO Linda H. Sherrer and Executive Vice President Christy Budnick, reported 2014 revenue of more than $27 million to take the top spot.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as the top women-owned business in Northeast Florida,” said Sherrer. “Our company is committed to unmatched excellence and customer satisfaction, as well as being innovators in our industry and enthusiastic leaders in our community.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty earned the same No. 1 ranking in the 2014 Jacksonville Business Journal’s Women-Owned Businesses list. The company has a team of more than 300 real estate professionals in eight branch offices throughout Northeast Florida.

“Our achievements are directly related to the collective contributions of our agents, leadership team and support staff,” said Budnick. “Their passion, dedication and commitment has allowed us to climb the ranks in Northeast Florida.”

The CREW Jacksonville chapter is joining forces with the Society for Marketing Professional Services North Florida chapter to host “Women to Watch in Health Care Facility Management” on Tuesday, Nov. 10 beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the River Club at 1 Independent Drive, Suite 3500.

A panel of healthcare facility experts will be moderated by Teresa Durand-Stuebben, Auld & White Constructors. The panelists will include Gale Sipe, Baptist Health; Joyce Adams, UF Health; Dee McKrow, St. Vincent’s HealthCare; and Kelly Hoover, Brooks Rehabilitation. They will be discussing their prescription for success.

Registration and more information is now open at the CREW Jacksonville website.

Lunch tickets are $35 for members by Nov. 1; $50 for non-members and walk-ups. Table sponsorships are available and includes seating for six, table signage, and logo mentions.

It was recently reported in the Orlando Sentinel that Florida drivers spend less on gas, but more than residents of almost every other state on insurance per year, according to a report released by Bankrate.com.

The study found that Florida drivers spend an average of $563 on gas per year and pay $1,138 per year on insurance.

The national average for gas expenditures is $939 per year. On average, drivers pay $911 in insurance annually.

For more statistics, visit the Bankrate.com.