We here at The Florida Vibe invite you to join us on the adventure of discovering the Sunshine State. From the palm trees and beaches to the historic sites and beautiful scenery, our blog takes you on a journey to explore the best of what the state has to offer. Through area photography, fun facts, city/beach overviews, and featured Florida businesses, The Florida Vibe shares the things that make Florida a great place to visit or live. Come soak up the Florida vibe!
Seascape Condominiums – Jacksonville Beach, Florida
City – Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Location – 1601 S. Ocean Drive in Jacksonville Beach on the ocean
Year Built – 1974
Style – High rise
Amenities – 3 Swimming pools; Club room; Fitness room; Saunas
Unit Types – 2 & 3 Bedroom Units
Description – This 11 story condo building has 2 & 3 bedroom units with large balconies. It’s directly on the beach and its unique circular design allows for great views of the ocean.
Condo living is very popular in Florida. If you are thinking of having Florida be your second home (or primary home) and enjoy a low maintenance lifestyle then condo living may be a great fit for you. You can have the advantages of home ownership without the extensive maintenance. In a condo, your monthly maintenance fee generally includes exterior upkeep and insurance on the building along with the use of common areas. Many condominiums in Florida have a pool that you can enjoy along with other amenities.
Here are some things to know when considering a condo purchase.
1.) Condo Monthly Fees – These are sometimes referred to as HOA (Homeowner’s Association) fees or maintenance fees. You will want to find out what is included in the fee. Although you may think of condo fees as just being an added expense, they often include a lot of things that you would have to pay separately anyway, such as hazard insurance, exterior maintenance, lawn/green space care, and taking care of common areas. Some also include such items as monthly cable, water and sewer, pest control, and others.
2.) Condo Bylaws And Rules – It is important to review these documents thoroughly prior to purchasing a condominium. If items such as the policy on pets do not coincide with your lifestyle, it’s best to find out before moving in.
3.) Special Assessments – Always inquire about any current assessments on the condo.
4.) Reserves – Ask if the HOA has any funds in reserve to help take care of large maintenance items, such as roofing, exterior painting, etc. If the reserves are strong it can help to lower or avoid the assessments mentioned in #3 above.
Jacksonville’s beaches are comprised of Jacksonville Beach (of course), Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach.
Lay Of The Land
Atlantic Beach is the furthest north. Just south of that is Neptune Beach, then Jacksonville Beach. Ponte Vedra Beach is the furthest south of the area’s beaches.
The Beaches
Jacksonville’s beaches are wide, clean and very pretty. There are a lot of public access areas (except in Ponte Vedra Beach which has fewer public access points). In the central area of Jacksonville Beach there are lifeguard stations.
Tourism
The height of the tourist season is during the summer. Ponte Vedra Beach is popular with golfers as well. This area has a lot of visitors during the Spring and Fall as well due to the golf courses.
Businesses
The area has numerous hotels and resorts. There are also many restaurants, bars, and shops along First Street and A1A which are the main roads along the beaches.
Overall
Jacksonville’s beaches tend to be less crowded as some of the beaches further south. It’s a great area to visit as well as live.
We are happy to have had the opportunity to interview one of our preferred vendors – Florida Custom Blinds, Shades, and Shutters.
How long has your company been in business?
Florida Custom Blinds, Shades, and Shutters has been in business for 18 years.
Give us your “elevator speech” (a brief description) about your company.
We are a professional and experienced local window treatment company that offers custom-manufactured blinds, shades, shutters, and draperies, including motorization, for the interior of your home, as well as Bahama shutters, SunSetter awnings, and sun-blocking shades and screens for outdoor and patio areas.
What are some highlights of the services your company offers?
We work with the top manufacturers in the window treatment industry. We offer complimentary in-home consultations and competitive estimates. Expert installations are included by our sister company, All install Professionals.
What areas does your company service?
We service the greater Jacksonville area, including all of Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau Counties.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
Eighteen years of experience in the window treatment business, and professional installers who work directly for us. Our sister company, All Install Professionals, can help you with many types of installation needs, including ceiling fans, TVs, mirrors, pictures as well as your window treatments.
Tell us something exciting going on now with your company such as new services, etc.
We have recently begun a partnership with a large retail store for all of your window treatment needs.
Are there any specials that your company is currently offering customers?
We are honored to offer discounts to active and retired military and first responders.
What do you enjoy most about your business?
We enjoy the opportunity to get to know our clients and to help them create the home they’ve always wanted.
How can your potential clients reach you to find out more about your company and the services you provide?
Our office line is 904-703-6365 and the delightful Jane (😃) will be happy to speak with you on the phone or exchange text messages… whatever is most convenient for you. Our website is www.floridacustomblinds.com. Owner: William Bradford (Brad) Jens
Invasion of the Snow Birds…sounds like a horror movie right? But “Snow Birds” are individuals who come to Florida every year to escape the cold weather from up north. Coming here for the balmy weather is certainly a tempting thought while you are shoveling snow in your driveway!
If you decide to make the migration to the Sunshine State for part of the year you will need to know some housing options. Here are a few to check out along with some pros and cons to consider with each.
Buying a second home – Pros: The main plus here is the opportunity to invest in a vacation property. Also since you own the home you can stay as long or as short a time as you’d like. Cons: Maintaining the home year round (even when not living there) is a big con as well as the up front costs. Condos are often a popular choice considering the lower maintenance requirements.
Renting an unfurnished home or apartment – Pros: These usually have less maintenance/upkeep. They are also usually less expensive than a furnished rental. Cons: There is usually some sort of lease commitment. Also, furniture will need to be provided by you. Renting furniture is often a good option here.
Renting a corporate furnished home or apartment – Pros: These usually require little maintenance and there is no need to worry about furniture and utilities since they are generally included in the rental cost. There is usually no long-term lease required. Cons: The main con to these types of rentals is that they tend to be a good bit more expensive than a longer term unfurnished apartment or house rental.
Extended stay hotels – Pros: The biggest pro here is there is nothing to maintain since items such as housekeeping services, utilities, etc. are all taken care of. Also you only pay for the amount of time you need. Cons: The living space is generally pretty small. Also, the cost can get pretty high, especially if you are staying longer than a month or two. A few good choices to check into are Homewood Suites, Residence Inns, and Towneplace Suites. There are numerous others out there as well.
Florida is a great place to “thaw out” during the Winter months. Let us know if you would like some detailed information regarding short and long-term housing options in the Sunshine State. Contact us by CLICKING HERE. We’d love to hear from you!
Are you thinking of moving to Florida but are unsure about where you’d like to live? Florida is a large state and different areas have different feels to them. You will want to consider factors such as weather, cost of living, things to do, etc.
It is best to research your potential new city (or cities) prior to deciding on a move. There are numerous resources to obtain information about various areas.
Online
Just doing a search for terms like “move to Florida” will turn up a lot of resources. Look for local Chamber of Commerce sites, tourism sites, and general tips shown online (such as this blog).
Books
There are lots of travel related books for the Sunshine State. A visit to your favorite local (or online) bookstore should turn up a vast number of travel guides for popular areas in Florida.
Social Media
Check out pages on Facebook with area info about Florida. Also general searches on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest can provide a wealth of info.
Videos
YouTube has numerous videos on moving to Florida. Also doing a general search for “relocate to Florida” in the search bar should give you a lot of videos to check out.
Personal Visits
Of course, making a research trip is the best way to check out areas first hand. Just a visit to one of the Florida Visitor Centers will provide you with a lot of booklets, brochures, etc. about the state. And visiting an area first hand really gives you a feel for it.
Florida is a great place to live! Doing your homework prior to deciding on which part of the state you’d like will help to make your planning easier.
Condominiums are very popular in Florida. Most people are familiar with a traditional condo development, but are less so with other types such as condotels and timeshare condos. Here’s some basic info on each.
Traditional Condos
With a traditional condo you own the unit from the walls, floor, and ceiling in. The exterior of the building along with the common areas (hallways, lobbies, club rooms, fitness rooms, swimming pools, etc) are jointly owned with all owners in the development. Upkeep of the buildings and common areas are paid through maintenance fees paid by the homeowners.
Condotels
Condotels (Condominium Hotels) are popular in resort areas of Florida. These are often converted from a traditional hotel. They offer ownership similar to a traditional condo but have onsite management that runs the property as a hotel. The amenities are often similar to what you find in a hotel (swimming pools, restaurants, etc). Unit owners usually have the ability to either rent their unit to individuals through the onsite management company or on their own. Some choose to live in the units full time but this isn’t as common as owners who use the units part time and rent them out the rest of the time. Some condotels also restrict the number of days a unit owner can use their unit during the year as opposed to renting it out, so be sure to check if the usage requirements are in line with your needs.
Timeshare Condos
Timeshare condominiums are also popular in resort areas of Florida. These allow numerous owners per unit. There are a variety of timeshare ownership opportunities (such as fixed week, floating week, point systems, etc.) which we won’t get into here. These are designed for vacationers, but if you are planning to only spend a month or so a year in the Sunshine State than this may be an option worth checking into.
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