Well-known home sellers Prudential Network Realty made news by making it official this week: It changed its affiliation – and its name – to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

As reported by The Florida Times-Union, the Jacksonville Business Journal, the Ponte Vedra Recorder and other media Jan. 29, the company led by Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer (left) and Executive Vice President of Residential Real Estate Christy Budnick traded in blue company colors for cabernet and cream while upgrading the products and services available to its prospective home-buying customers.

The local company is now affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway, which is led by billionaire Warren Buffett and last year topped Barron’s magazine list of most respected companies in the world.

The Jacksonville Business Journal reported Feb. 4 that KB Home purchased 26 acres of raw land on Jacksonville’s Northside for $26 million, yet another sign the residential real estate market is continuing to pick up steam.

The newspaper said the site is in Hillcrest Bluff off U.S. 17 and will become 72 home sites. Development will start this month, with the community slated to open this summer. Homes will range from 1,400 to 2,700 square feet, with pricing expected to start in the mid to upper $100s. Todd Holder (above) is division president in Jacksonville of KB Homes.

The previous day, Feb. 3, the newspaper reported Mattamy Homes – which recently acquired RiverTown in St. Johns County from the St. Joe Co. – had purchased 33 home sites for $2.14 million at Crosswater at Pablo Bay.

The community is located near the San Pablo Road interchange off J. Turner Butler Boulevard in Jacksonville.

Also in the Business Journal on Feb. 4, a report that home prices in Jacksonville and nationwide continued to climb. Nationally, in December, home prices rose at the highest rate since 2005 – before the market fall, according to a report by CoreLogic.

In Jacksonville, prices for homes in December 2013 increased 9 percent over December 2012’s figures that include distressed sales. When distressed sales are excluded the rise in area prices was 11.5 percent, the newspaper reported.

Nationally, home prices, including distressed sales, increased 11 percent on a year-over-year basis.

What’s News – JAX Residential RE is a roundup of area housing news that is posted on Wednesdays. To contribute, contact [email protected]