The Leadership Jacksonville class of 2015

Leadership Jacksonville, an organization that develops youth and adult leaders in Northeast Florida, recently celebrated the graduation of its 2015 Leadership Jacksonville class and selected participants for its 2016 program.

The year-long program brings together 56 leaders from throughout the community to learn about the First Coast, build relationships with other leaders and analyze major areas of community concern.

“Leadership Jacksonville program participants are some of the top leaders in our region,” said Deborah Moore, Senior Vice President and Marketing Director at EverBank and president of the Leadership Jacksonville Board of Directors. “Our program is an exceptional opportunity for participants to gain knowledge and new perspectives about the Jacksonville area while networking with others who are also inspired to build and strengthen their communities.”

Leadership Jacksonville recently selected its 2016 class, which will engage in two weekend retreats, nine day-long programs and independent course work. The opening retreat provides structured exercises that explore the dynamics of the urban society, leadership styles and decision-making through group process. Participants learn about the community, analyze critical program areas and issues and engage in networking and leadership development opportunities. The program culminates in a closing retreat that focuses on developing a personal vision and trustee commitment.

“Remaining engaged with the changes and advancements within our community is crucial for leaders. The Leadership Jacksonville program encourages interaction with community trustees regarding critical topics to learn more about Jacksonville and how we can make improvements together,” said Jill Langford Dame, executive director for Leadership Jacksonville. “We value our graduates and look forward to another great program year.”

The Leadership Jacksonville program actively solicits applications from all sectors of the community. Selection for each year’s class is highly competitive and criteria for selection include demonstrated leadership skills, active community involvement and a willingness to invest the time and energy required by the program. A conscientious effort is made to select participants who represent a cross-section of the community in terms of gender, race, age, income level and occupations. Classes are carefully balanced to represent the composition of the community.

To learn more about Leadership Jacksonville and its programs, visit www.leadershipjax.org or call (904) 396-6263.

“Many homebuyers are surprised to discover that they can afford a luxurious home at Aphora,” said Gabe Bove, president of Bove LLC, the developer of Aphora. “With floor plans ranging from 2,500 square feet to 5,200 square feet, our waterfront residences will offer the same size, features and finishes that are found in a single-family home at a lower operating cost.”

Aphora at Marina San Pablo, the ultra-luxury 12-story condominium tower being constructed on the Intracoastal Waterway near J. Turner Butler Boulevard, will redefine waterfront living, offering stunning homes, sophisticated amenities and an exceptional lifestyle unlike any other in Northeast Florida.

Priced from $600,000, the cost of owning a low-maintenance condominium at Aphora is much less than owning a typical single-family home at the same value. Consider all of the money and time saved on lawn care, exterior maintenance and repair. Insurance and utilities are far less than a comparable single-family home. Many services, including gas, cable and pest control, are efficiently covered by the homeowners association. Aphora is a gated community with access control to enhance privacy. The ability to “lock and leave” and carefree maintenance add exceptional value to a condominium home at Aphora.

All residences include a private two-car garage (large enough to accommodate SUVs), a spacious private terrace with a built-in gas grill and an air conditioned storage room accessible from inside the home. Aphora’s new generation of open floor plans offer bright, airy rooms featuring high ceilings, stunning fireplaces, grand designer bathrooms and gourmet chef’s kitchens. With hundreds of interior finish selections, every condominium is essentially a custom home created by the buyer’s choices.

Each homeowner enjoys exclusive access to Aphora’s signature amenities including:

• The Rooftop Resort with panoramic views of the Intracoastal, private marina, marshlands, and dramatic Florida sunrises and sunsets
•  Inviting, well-appointed event spaces for intimate gatherings, catered parties and social occasions
•  Conversation pool, covered and outdoor fire lounges, island bar and kitchen, wine storage locker and wine tasting room
•  Day spa with massage room, open-air and covered dining, sun and shade lounge
•  Private gathering room with catering kitchen attached to outdoor private party deck
•  The Hemingway Lounge that includes a bar, billiards and poker room with adjoining tool and woodworking shop
•  Car detailing center, pet spa and designated pet elevator

To learn more, visit the Aphora sales gallery located inside the Marina San Pablo Yacht Club at 14388 Marina San Pablo Place.  The sales gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. Call (904) 515-5099 for more information or visit www.aphoracondos.com.

June is National Homeownership Month. Based on the latest market trends, this is an excellent time for Northeast Florida citizens to explore the dream of homeownership.

Consider this – home sales in Northeast Florida are growing at levels not seen in several years. Additionally, the housing market is showing continued signs of improvement as foreclosed home sales are dropping swiftly. The percentage of distressed homes on the market is rapidly declining while the percentage of seller owned/equity homes is on the rise. An equity sale occurs when the seller has equity in the property as opposed to a bank owned or “upside down” seller owned property.

According to the latest market report from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR), total closed year-to-date sales increased 8.5 percent in April over the previous year. During the same period, traditional or equity closed sales increased by 20 percent while lender-mediated closed sales decreased 16 percent over the previous year.

The news was even better at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty. During the same time period, total closed year-to-date sales were up 19 percent. In addition, traditional equity sales rose 31 percent while lender-mediated sales declined by 32 percent.

“We continue to see sustainable recovery in the Northeast Florida real estate market,” said Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick. “The decline in foreclosures is great news for the housing market, as it means homeowners do not have to compete with banks to sell homes. It also indicates fewer sellers are in a distressed situation which is better for the community.”

The increase and return to a standard or equity sale usually offers many positive advantages for buyers and sellers. Typically, there is not as long of a wait to purchase as compared to a distressed property. Buyers are likely to receive more cooperation from the seller along with a willingness to work with the buyer. Finally, standard sale properties are often in better condition than distressed properties.

NEFAR’s report provided promising news for home sellers. It showed the inventory of homes for sale decreased seven months in a row. In April, inventory decreased by 13 percent over the previous year. Additionally, the months’ supply of inventory decreased for the ninth month in a row to 4.5 months. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ real estate professionals have seen increased competition for homes with multiple offers, limited days on the market and properties selling for more than their original listing price.

“These statistics clearly speak to the strength of the Northeast Florida real estate market,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer. “We are seeing rising home prices and inventory is falling while long-term mortgage rates remain at near historic lows. This is good news for homebuyers but how long rates will remain low is a source of speculation.”

Interest rates have come a long way in the last 30 years. The national average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.80 percent in May, compared with an average of 4.21 percent a year earlier. It’s a far cry from the rates in May 2000, when the interest rate was 8.52 percent, or May 1985, when interest rates were 12.91 percent.

“Securing a mortgage while rates are low means a buyer can get more house for the money,” added Budnick. “Even a small increase in rate, particularly when combined with rising housing prices, can impact a buyer’s housing budget by several hundred dollars per month.”

Optimize the best opportunities available in the Northeast Florida real estate market by connecting with the market leader. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty ranks as one of the Top 25 companies in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network. Founded in 1988, the company has a team of more than 300 real estate professionals in eight branch offices. The company boasts the highest average sales price of any major Northeast Florida real estate company and is home to the area’s most successful associates, enhanced real estate resources and tools and valuable industry relationships. Connect with the best at www.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

A recent article by Forbes ranked the best and worst places in the U.S. to find employment this spring, and Jacksonville was ranked #5.

Learn more and read the article in its entirety here.

Based on a recent article by JAXUSA Partnership, workforce availability, over and above incentives or other factors, is driving the decision-making process for companies looking at Northeast Florida for relocation or expansion. Companies look to the pipeline of emerging talent to identify the talent they need to be successful. The region’s robust system of career academies in our school districts provides evidence of this pipeline.

Today, there are 93 career academies tied to our region’s targeted industries. Fifteen of them are considered model academies as rated by the National Career Academy Coalition.

In Nassau County, the school district is partnering with Cook Systems to provide Java training, the first of its kind in Florida. As the district is able to create a steady pipeline of Java developers, technology companies in search of a skilled workforce will have an available talent base from which to hire.

Read More About Career Academies

Looking to buy a new home but don’t know where to start? Attend the Homes by The Florida Times-Union Home Buyers Expo on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the University of North Florida University Center at 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224. Don’t miss this opportunity to have  home buying questions answered in one place.

Learn about hot topics in home buying at the educational speaker series or meet with top industry experts in real estate, home building, lending and more! Whether you are a first-or second-time home buyer, relocating or investing, this is the event to attend.

Free admission! Free parking! For directions, click here.

Shawn Coe

elacora has announced that Shawn Coe has joined the sales team for Madeira at St. Augustine, a master-planned community within the city limits of St. Augustine.

“We are delighted that Shawn has joined the strong on-site sales team at Madeira,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “He is a powerhouse sales person and brings more than 20 years of distinguished experience selling new homes.”

He has accumulated a resume of successful sales efforts throughout Florida with builders of master-planned communities, luxury condominiums and golf and country club communities. His former career as a builder gives him a unique perspective to explain new homes. The Madeira at St. Augustine sales team of Shawn Coe and Brenda Harris has achieved significant results at Madeira by focusing on building and maintaining lasting customer relationships.

Madeira at St. Augustine has several move-in ready homes available and is currently offering a choice of buyer incentives: Seller paid closing costs or $5,000 prepayment of CDD fees.

The Madeira neighborhood, conveniently located on U.S. 1 north of St. Augustine, offers well-appointed homes which feature tile roofs, energy efficient construction and solar panels plus innovative designs and included features which will surprise and delight the most discerning buyers. Elacora is offering two different floor plan collection ranging in size from 1,797 to more than 3,000 square feet. Both collections are designed for active Florida lifestyles and include membership in the community’s private Residents Club. Portada collection homes start in the mid-$200’s and Serena Collection homes start in the low $300’s.

The sales office is open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Call (904) 484-9024 or visit www.elacora.com to schedule an appointment to tour the community’s showcase homes or for additional information.

Currently celebrating 37 years in the industry, The Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) is the largest building industry trade show in the southeast. As the premier trade event, the SEBC includes outstanding educational programs featuring three days of hard-hitting seminars, networking opportunities, round table discussions and industry briefings.

The 2015 SEBC is a two-day (July 17-18) Expo Show and a three-day (July 16-18) networking, professional development and continuing education conference for anyone and everyone working in the building industry. It will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

The conference’s new format will include Residential and Commercial Construction Educational Sessions and two days of Expo Hall.

Attend the event to make personal connections with leading industry professionals by meeting face-to-face with over 250 manufacturers and suppliers showcasing an astounding array of innovative products. For 37 years, the SEBC has been the place where the building industry comes together to learn, plan and network. Educational programs target the core issues driving businesses today. Choose from a variety of educational options, including continuing education (CEUs), and sessions that cover important construction-related subjects such as Hurricane Mitigation, energy efficient design, sustainability and leadership.

Individual registration to attend the Exhibit Hall on July 17-18 is $15; registration for the conference (including entrance to the Exhibit Hall) is $79. For more information and to register to attend, visit: http://sebcshow.com/attendee-registration/

The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) is now accepting applications for its 2015-2016 Apprenticeship Program through July 17, 2015.

Applicants should apply in person at the NEFBA office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or the evenings of June 10, June 17 and July 8 at 7 p.m.

The NEFBA office is located at 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100, Jacksonville 32216.

For more than 40 years, the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program has trained qualified applicants on a career path in the construction industry. Upon completion of the four-year, earn-while-you-learn program, an apprentice graduate is skilled in a construction trade as a carpenter, electrician, plumber or heating and air-conditioning technician.

The program combines on-the-job training as well as extensive technical instruction. Participating NEFBA member employers pay apprentice tuition and salary.

For more information on how the Apprenticeship Program will benefit your company, contact Penelope Geismar at (904) 421-0297 or email [email protected].