Selling your home is quite possibly one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. With so much information available online, many sellers wonder why they should hire a real estate agent, instead opting to sell their home as a ‘For Sale by Owner’ without representation.

Now more than ever, it is vital to have a professional experienced Realtor on your side helping you to market and sell your home. A Realtor has the knowledge to price your home properly, advise you on the sale, review contracts, assist in negotiations, maneuver through regulatory changes and ensure a smooth sale.

Realtor Anita Vining and Broker/Manager Sheron Willson of the Metropolitan offices

“While there are many Realtors from which to choose, there are more reasons to hire Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty,” said Sheron Willson, Broker/Manager of the Metropolitan offices in Avondale and San Marco. “Our company is well known for delivering exceptional customer satisfaction and results, and can help sellers profit on a sale.”

The company’s Metropolitan office ranked as the No. 1 producing office in both volume and units in 2015. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty had 24.7 percent of the market share in volume with the closest competitor at 13.6 percent.

Along with helping sellers find the most qualified buyer and navigate the home selling process, the company’s single agency representation provides the highest degree of accountability and works to serve the best interest of its clients. As a single agent, the broker has a fiduciary relationship and owes complete allegiance to his or her client.

Broker/Manager Ann King and Realtor Stefanie Bernstein of the St. Augustine office

“Our real estate agents have a single goal – to serve the interest of their client and create a win for the clients we represent,” said Ann King, Broker/Manager of the St. Augustine office. “Single agency representatives provide their clients full representation, loyalty and confidentiality, which can increase the success for the client during the transaction.”

In January, the St. Augustine office’s days on the market totaled 68, while its competitors averaged 118 days on the market.

In addition to selling a home in less time, the company’s agents have access to the most comprehensive marketing plans, including global exposure and social media. They are also connected to the industry’s most advanced technology platforms.

“My website lead generation platform gives my customers the potential to have virtual viewings of their property as soon as the information is entered into MLS (Multiple Listing Services),” said Realtor Stefanie Bernstein of the St. Augustine office, who was named the company’s top agent in listings and the top transaction agent in 2015.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s success is a direct reflection of the company’s professionalism and collaborative team of services approach. The company’s agents receive the highest level of training and support, and they have a team of professionals to assist their clients in every aspect of the transaction.

“Our company’s dedication to our buyers and sellers is unsurpassed,” said Anita Vining of the Metropolitan offices who was named the company’s top producer in 2015 with more than $38 million in closed sales. “We offer the finest customer service, state-of-the-art tools and expertise to help clients achieve the most positive real estate experience possible.”

Whether you are buying or selling, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty can help you take advantage of the best opportunities in the market. The Northeast Florida real estate firm is home to the area’s most productive, experienced and successful agents. Connect with the best at www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty recently hosted the second installment of a leadership growth series retreat for its managers and leadership support team at The Ritz Carlton Amelia Island.

Philosopher and industry speaker Matthew Ferrara returned to Northeast Florida to facilitate Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ two-day leadership workshop. A leadership and management expert, Ferrara is highly regarded for helping companies and organizations develop and create results.

“Matthew Ferrara is a talented and inspiring coach, and we were thrilled to have him share his insight regarding ways to achieve our 2016 business goals,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer. “Our team thrives on inspiration and collaboration, and we know that this investment will create tremendous positive results for our Realtors and clients.”

Ferrara’s two-day workshop focused on best practices, innovation and empowerment as it relates to growing existing talent and recruiting the right people to the team, culminating in a graduation ceremony celebration. His initial session with the team was held last fall in Ponte Vedra, and since then individual team members have been working on independent and collaborative assignments.

“Recruiting and retention are essential components of every successful real estate company,” said Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick. “It takes a committed team to attract the best Realtors in the business, and we succeed because we provide vital support and a culture that rewards individual success.”

For more information, visit www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

2015 NEFAR President Sally Suslak said, “2015 was a banner year for Northeast Florida home sales and inventory is scarce as a result. Having only 3.7 months of supply on hand – when five to six months is considered a balanced market – is a situation we hope will change.”

The 2015 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) proved to live up to its Rockin’ New Show theme and put itself back on the map with traffic up almost 50 percent from the 2014 event.

The 2016 Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) is heading to the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL. Conference dates are July 27-30, with the Expo Hall open on July 28 and 29. The theme for the 2016 Conference is  Building in Paradise and booth reservations are currently being accepted. Click here for more information.

Highlights of the 2015 show included the opening Cocktail Hour reception at The Rosen Centre hotel, sponsored by FBC Mortgage; Coffee and Donuts Friday morning with hosts of HGTV’s Going Yard and DIY Network’s Yard Crashers, Chris and Peyton Lambton; the Classic Rock & Roll Dance Video Party Friday night where KISS, Michael Jackson, Twisted Sister and many more made a rockin’ appearance; and last, but not least, the Breakfast with Builders event on Saturday morning that gave industry professionals the opportunity to sit together and network.

Head on over to www.SEBCShow.com to view galleries of all our events and expo show.

elacora is experiencing tremendous success at Madeira at St. Augustine, an elegant new home community located close to St. Augustine’s historic district. Since opening for sales in 2015, the company has sold a third of its available homes.

“We are pleased with the sales success we have achieved at Madeira at St. Augustine, where we have experienced high demand for our innovative new homes,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “Our buyers appreciate elacora’s flexible plans and energy efficient features. With a private Residents Club and exceptional location, they also value the lifestyle and the amenities our residents enjoy at Madeira. If you’re looking for a new home in the nation’s oldest city, you should visit elacora at Madeira.”

It is easy to understand why Madeira is resonating so strongly with homebuyers. Madeira’s private Residents Club is the social and recreational hub of the community. The spacious amenity center includes a pool with lap lanes, clubhouse, fitness center and outdoor gathering areas. Designed exclusively for residents, membership is included with the purchase of a home at Madeira.

The Madeira community is surrounded by nature and extends back along the Intracoastal Waterway. The lush natural setting provides the perfect backdrop for elacora’s homes and the beautiful Mediterranean-themed streetscape taking shape at Madeira. Homesites at Madeira back up to conservation areas with spectacular water or nature preserve views.

Homes by elacora are expertly crafted and beautifully built with features to delight even the most discriminating home buyer. Designed with the Florida homebuyer in mind, elacora offers two different home collections at Madeira, ranging in size from 1,797 square feet to more than 3,300 square feet and priced from the $200,000s to the $400,000s. Homes by elacora are expertly crafted with wonderfully designed living areas featuring gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and spectacular outdoor living areas.

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 options – including additional bedrooms, sunrooms, game rooms and Florida basement storage solutions – so that homebuyers can select a floor plan designed to best suit their way of life.

For those looking to move soon, elacora has six homes from the company’s Portada and Serena collections available for purchase and expedited move-in at Madeira. Visitors to the community are invited to see elacora’s award-winning model homes furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. The models are open daily.

Madeira is located off of U.S. 1 in the city of St. Augustine, near beautiful beaches, world-renowned golf courses, historical attractions, shopping, 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.

TrailMark recently broke ground and started construction on its 6,900 square foot outdoor-inspired amenities and Welcome Center. The new master-planned community is located near World Golf Village in northern St. Johns County. TrailMark plans to open its amenities and Welcome Center in Summer 2016.

“The groundbreaking is an important milestone for the TrailMark community,” said GreenPointe Communities Vice President of Land Development Chris Kuhn. “Our amenities will complement the beauty of the natural environment and will be defining elements at TrailMark.”

The community’s design is defined by natural pristine scenery and miles of biking and walking trails. The amenities are framed by the magnificent oak hammock preserve’s natural woodland edge and punctuated by meandering waterways and lakes, including Six Mile Creek that leads to the St. Johns River.

“TrailMark’s design is inspired by that community’s unique hallmark location and its quintessential Northeast Florida natural elements. We focused on incorporating these character-defining qualities into every aspect of the community’s design, including amenities, parks, landscaping, entry, trails and other details that create TrailMark’s quality of life,” said Steve Lovett, partner of ELM – Ervin, Lovett Miller, the planners, architects and landscape architects responsible for TrailMark’s master plan and amenities.

The area’s spectacular natural elements frame the community entry leading to the Welcome Center and amenities. More than community landmarks, the Welcome Center and amenities will be the social hub of the community, providing gathering places where long-lasting friendships and happy memories are made. The amenities will include a state-of the-art fitness center overlooking a free-form resort-style pool with beach entry. The fitness center will be a workout warrior’s dream, equipped with treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical machines, weight lifting machines and a series of free weight stations. The gathering center will also contain sports courts and playfields.

The Welcome Center and amenities’ interior design is inspired by historic North Florida architecture.

“Unexpectedly modern in attitude, the interior offers an inviting, modern-rustic twist on design,” said Andrea Hurt, Principal, Ansana Interior Design. “Wide-plank oak hardwood floors, chunky beams and rift-cut hardwood chairs and tables play against modern lacquer cabinets and mid-century dining tables in the Welcome Center.”

Plans also call for the Camp House, a 1,990-square-foot outdoor pavilion offering a fabulous water view alongside a large central lake. Camp House will serve as the community’s social heart where residents enjoy a variety of events, social activities or simply gather for conversation.

“The Camp House is designed to be a family friendly, open-air entertainment hub of the pool and outdoor amenities,” said Hurt. “Brick paver floors, brightly painted picnic tables and Adirondack-style lounge chairs lend a relaxed feel to the dynamic space.”

TrailMark’s amenities will include the first phase of an expansive trail system, a recreational amenity that will connect residents to their community, amenities and the surrounding natural environment. Future plans at TrailMark will allow residents to launch kayaks and canoes into scenic Six Mile Creek.

“As the name TrailMark suggests, trails and open spaces are hallmarks of the community,” Kuhn said. “With its authentic environmental elements, biking and walking trails and open spaces, TrailMark offers the ability to connect with nature and supports the principles of a healthy lifestyle.”

TrailMark is located in St. Johns County, ranked one of the healthiest places to live in Florida by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The community is located within the St. Johns County School District, one of the top-rated public school systems in Florida.

TrailMark will feature local and national builders with single-family, one- and two-story home designs to meet lifestyle needs and interests of today’s homebuyer. Landon Homes and D.R. Horton have several Quick Move-in homes under construction. Homes at TrailMark are priced from the mid-$200s and up.

The community’s proximity to Interstate 95, Jacksonville and St. Augustine will offer residents quick access to entertainment, shopping, dining, employment centers and more. For more information, visit www.TrailMarkLiving.com.

Florida has a new business brand — Florida: The Future Is Here — courtesy of Enterprise Florida. It’s a sleek, 21st-century theme that will be used to target national and international business decision makers. “The new identity serves as a call to action to business leaders interested in starting, growing or relocating their businesses in Florida, and instills a sense of pride in what the state offers to existing business owners and residents.” – Statement from Enterprise Florida. See the full announcement and photo gallery at the Enterprise Florida website here.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a public-private partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI’s mission is to expand and diversify the state’s economy through job creation. In pursuit of its mission, EFI works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

EFI’s activities have championed Florida as the premier location for business expansion and relocation, created a renewed interest both nationally and internationally in Florida as a top state for business, and resulted in a significant number of new jobs and capital investments.

Enterprise Florida recruits new business to the state, and works to retain and expand existing industry and business. EFI focuses its economic development efforts on a wide range of industry sectors, including aviation & aerospace, life sciences, information technology, defense & homeland security, clean energy, financial & professional services,manufacturing and beyond.

EFI is the state’s primary entity for trade and export development supporting more than 60,000 Florida exporting businesses. The organization also supports small and minority businesses through its capital programs. Another key aspect of EFI’s responsibilities is the marketing and promotion of Florida as a premier business destination.

Come see the best and the brightest of 2015!  The NAIOP annual awards celebration and dinner reception will be held on Thursday, March 10 at the Garden Club of Jacksonville,  1005 Riverside Avenue,  from 6 to 9 p.m.  Plan on attending to network with the top names in commercial real estate!  Spend an evening honoring Excellence in the Commercial Real Estate Industry for 2015. This festive event is open to members and non-members and their guests.

The celebration begins at 6 p.m. with an hour of networking, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. A dinner and an open bar will follow the presentation of the 2015 winners. For more information and to register, click here.

NAIOP is the international trade association of developers, owners and professionals of commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate. Members promote responsible, sustainable development that creates jobs.  NAIOP supports diversity within the industry, provides education and advocates for legislation that benefits the communities in which we work and live.

The premier golf course community of World Golf Village now presents buyers with a stunning new housing option – La Fontana at World Golf Village. La Fontana is nestled in the heart of World Golf Village, and residents enjoy golf course living while being steps away from the many nearby attractions and amenities.

La Fontana offers three and four bedroom condominium residences, each with the feel of a stand-alone home but with a desirable low-maintenance lifestyle. The first homes are under construction and feature beautiful views of the 8^th hole of the Bobby Weed-designed Slammer & Squire Golf Course. Models are open for buyers to tour.

The development team that has created La Fontana, comprised of WGV Residential Ventures I, LLC, and long-time builder partner Gantt Builders, LLC, has more than 30 years of experience in development, renovation and construction. This expertise is evident in the attention to detail and creative layout in the homes of La Fontana.

“We are pleased with the response to La Fontana, and prospective homebuyers are excited about its location and all that World Golf Village has to offer,” said Michael Bugg, Principal, The Condo Group LLC. The Condo Group is managing sales and marketing activities for La Fontana at World Golf Village. “La Fontana is one of the only new condominium communities with golf course frontage in St. Johns County, and I would encourage anyone looking in this sought-after area to come visit and tour our model.”

Homes at La Fontana are priced starting at $280,000 and range from 1,915 square feet to nearly 2,400 square feet. Each home will have a golf course or water view, a private single-car detached garage, direct elevator access, a covered screened lanai, nine-foot ceilings, gas fireplaces, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, upgraded cabinetry and a custom-designed master bath.

An Olympic-size swimming pool and Jacuzzi provide the ideal space for residents to relax and socialize. Residents also enjoy a fabulous clubhouse and state-of-the-art workout facility, 2,700 acres of nature preserve and two of the area’s finest championship golf courses.

In addition to having the nearby attractions of World Golf Village, which include the World Golf Hall of Fame, PGA Tour Golf Academy and IMAX 3D Experience Theater, La Fontana is located near the historic city of St. Augustine, cultural attractions, shops, restaurants, outlet malls and the area’s scenic beaches. The city of Jacksonville is just a short drive away on I-95, and there are also a number of world class medical facilities in the region, including Flagler Hospital, Baptist South Hospital and Mayo Clinic.

For more information about La Fontana at World Golf Village, visit www.LaFontanaFL.com or call (904) 460-2938. La Fontana is located at 90 Champions Way, St. Augustine, Fla., and its Sales Center is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Sandy Maier has been named the sales associate for The Bluffs on Plummers Cove, an exclusive riverfront community by elacora offering new homes in Old Mandarin.

“We are thrilled to have Sandy leading our sales efforts in this spectacular new community,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “Sandy is an accomplished sales professional and has done a tremendous job for elacora in Madeira at St. Augustine. Her leadership and experience will be highly beneficial as we welcome prospective buyers to our newest community in Northeast Florida.”

In her role, Maier will promote and sell the exceptional homes and lifestyle that elacora offers at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove. The community has 21 executive homesites, averaging 90 feet in width, including three homesites that are located directly on the St. Johns River and have private docks. The Bluffs sits atop an elevated bluff overlooking the St. Johns River. The community site is richly wooded and filled with mature oak trees.

Homes by elacora at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove range in size from approximately 2,200 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. elacora is offering six new single-family home plans including four plans designed specifically for The Bluffs. Homes by elacora are expertly crafted with wonderfully designed living areas featuring gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances and gracious outdoor living areas.

The open and spacious plans include three-car garages and unique customizable options – including additional bedrooms, sunrooms, extended lanais and bonus space – so that buyers can select a floor plan designed to best suit their lifestyle. All of elacora’s homes at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove offer a choice of exterior elevation and are designed with tile roofs, paver driveways and environmentally responsible building practices. Homes at The Bluffs are priced from the mid-$400,000s to $1.6 million.

The Bluffs on Plummers Cove is located on Scott Mill Road just north of the Interstate 295 overpass. The Bluffs will provide quick and easy access to major roads, employment centers and neighborhood shopping and dining amenities.

Along with opening for sales, elacora has opened its first model at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove. The model is furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. Located at 2767 Chapman Oak Drive in Jacksonville, elacora’s model and sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and by appointment.

To visit The Bluffs, head south on San Jose Blvd. (SR 13), turn right on Oak Bluff Road, left on Scott Mill Road for ½ mile to The Bluffs on Plummers Cove on the right. For more information, call (904) 899-0115 or visit www.elacora.com.