Northeast Florida Real Estate > Local Real Estate Information

NE Florida Relocation Information

Welcome to the First Coast!

Northeast Florida is called the “First Coast” because it is the site of the United States' oldest permanent European settlement, St. Augustine. Today the name “First Coast” is more appropriate than ever, because many people who have the chance to move anywhere in Florida choose Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches area FIRST! See detailed county maps showing all the major neighborhoods and cities so that you can figure out the best area for you.

Northeast Florida Counties

Google Map Search

Map of Northeast Florida Counties Jacksonville FL Duval St. Johns

Jacksonville Metro Area

Click on a city or area below to learn more about that area and see the different properties available:

Search the St. Johns County Map

St. Johns County Florida Map Ponte Vedra Ponte Vedra Beach Nocatee S. Ponte Vedra Beach Julington Cr. Pltn. Switzerland Fruit Cove CR 210 Orangedale Palmo/Six Mile World Golf Palencia Vilano Beach North City Downtown St Aug St. Augustine Beach

Duval County Map Mayport Atlantic Beach Neptune Beach Jacksonville Beach Intracoastal West Ft. Caroline Arlington Downtown Jax Riverside St. Nicholas Grove Park Southside San Marco Avondale San Jose beauclerc Intracoastal SW Baymeadows/Deerwood Bayard/Nocatee Mandarin

Jacksonville is Florida's largest city, and an important economic center for the Eastern Seaboard. The city is home to the largest deep water port in the south, and serves as corporate headquarters for a number of large companies, including TNT Logistics, Dandee Foods, and Winn-Dixie. Steady economic growth in recent years has made this one of the hottest real estate markets in the south, and produced a wide variety of new residential communities. 

Most people relocating to our area will start looking in St. Johns County due to the award winning schools and lower property taxes. If you want to be closer to the beach and don't mind paying more for it then Ponte Vedra Beach is the place for you. If you prefer to get the biggest house for your buck but need to stay in commuting distance to Jacksonville then you should consider Nocatee (2014 5th Fastest Growing Community in U.S.) and other Northeast St. Johns County communities: Julington Creek Plantation, Aberdeen, Durbin Crossing, South Hampton, St. Johns Golf & CC, Cimarrone and World Golf Village.

If you don't want the extended commute time and want to be close to everything then you should check out Southside and Intracoastal West area in Duval County. You are close to a good portion of our office space at Southside plus close to the St. Johns Town Center, Shopping, Restaurants, Nightlife and even the Beaches!

Click on a neighborhood/city below to learn more about that area and see the different properties available:

Click on a zip code below to learn more about that area and see the different properties available:

Search Jacksonville Homes for Sale


Relocation Specialist

Phyllis Frankel is one of a handful of certified relocation professionals in all of Jacksonville, FL. Needless to say we work with a lot of people who come in from out of town not knowing our area at all. We have created this page along with the linking pages in order to answer any question you may have of the area. You will find information on schools, demographics, shopping, entertainment, cultural attractions plus detailed real estate market information. You should also visit our pages about buying a property in our area. You could learn information on how to more quickly find the right property for you. You can visit this guide about the website for more tips. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Don't Know Where You Want to Live? Try Looking for Property Type:

Still Don't Know? Try Looking at School Information:

Information about Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville & The Beaches

Welcome to Our Town

We at the Phyllis Frankel Realty Group, Inc. look forward to helping you with your relocation. I would also personally like to welcome you to our area. I know that I can help make your move an easy one as a life long resident of Jacksonville and working over two decades as a full time real estate broker.

Now for a quick overview of our area in Northeast Florida:

Downtown

What is it?

Our downtown is constantly undergoing revitialaztion. Hub of cultural activity with symphony, broadway plays, theater, Jaguar games, Sun baseball games and more. Home to some upscale condos and lofts.

Who lives here?

You will see many professionals who work downtown plus doctors and attorneys. Plus you have young families and hipsters who want the historical areas, small shops and fine dining. (Same as Riverside/Avondale and Downtown).

Things to do

  • Boating up and down the river for the views and lights on the bridge at night
  • Tailgating then watching a Jaguar game

Jacksonville Beach & Atlantic Beach 

What is it?

20 minutes from downtown the part of Duval County along the ocean until the intracoastal waterway.

Who lives here?

A mix of everybody. Million dollar oceanfront homes and condos down to apartments and everything in between. The most significant factor is that there are very few planned communities. Mostly old cross streets. You can have some townhomes next to single family homes in this area.

Things to do

  • Riding your bike up and down the beach and stopping for seafood or a cold beer
  • Catching a fish off the Jacksonville Pier
  • Shop at Neptune Beach boutiques and have a cup of Joe at the local coffee house
  • Listen to a band at Rag Time or Flying Iguana in the evening
  • Pull the boat up to Nippers for a Sunday Funday

Mandarin

What is it?

20 minutes south of downtown and border the river on the east side. The part of Duval County that borders St. Johns County and Julington Creek Plantation.

Who lives here?

People who want to live in neighborhood and the suburbs and usually work in Southside or Downtown.

Things to do

  • Shop at the only Whole Food Grocery store in the area.
  • Grab excellent Italian Food at Enza’s or Pizza at Picasso’s
  • Visit the Avenues Mall and do some shopping
  • Bowl or watch a game at Latitude 360
  • Have a beer at the Veterans Brewery

Ponte Vedra Beach 

What is it?

The northeast portion of St. Johns County located along the ocean and just south of Jacksonville Beach. About 30 minutes to Downtown. Known for the beach and luxurious gated communities.

Who lives here?

 Everybody. Especially people who want to get into the St. Johns County School system and be at the beach. This is the most expensive area of St. Johns County.

Things to do

  • Play golf at one of the many clubs
  • Visit your favorite beach club for a drink by the ocean
  • Dine at Medure’s or Ruth Chris or for seafood visit Palm Valley Fish Camp
  • Watch the game and have a beer at Pusser’s

Riverside/Avondale

What is it?

The area south of Downtown Jacksonville on the west side of the river.

Who lives here?

You will see many professionals who work downtown plus doctors and attorneys. Plus you have young families and hipsters who want the historical areas, small shops and fine dining. (Same as Riverside/Avondale and Downtown).

Things to do

  • Eating brunch at Restaurant Orsay then have a drink at Blacksheep’s rooftop bar
  • Shopping in kitschy 5 Points boutiques and having Tea at local shop
  • Visiting the arts & farmers market
  • Visiting the Cummer Msueum of Art and walking through the gardens on the river

San Marco

What is it?

The area south of Downtown Jacksonville on the east side of the river.

Who lives here?

You will see many professionals who work downtown plus doctors and attorneys. Plus you have young families and hipsters who want the historical areas, small shops and fine dining. (Same as Riverside/Avondale and Downtown).

What is there to do?

  • Do a little window shopping then grab a delicious bite at Taverana
  • People watch with a cup of joe from Starbuck’s
  • Watch a play or have a bottle wine with your movie at The San Marco Theater

St. Augustine

What is it?

The oldest city in the U.S. About 30 minutes south of Jacksonville. What was once a sleepy beach community is a growing community with each area taking on it’s own unique feel. Can be confusing because parts of CR-210 are St. Augustine but most people would consider that area a part of Jacksonville. And you have Palencia and World Golf Village which are St. Augustine again but feel like their own city.

Who lives here?

Not something you can define. Everybody. In North St. Augustine you have people who commute into Jacksonville and moved there for the school system. You have beach lovers and vacation homeowners in St. Augustine Beach. And the list goes on…

Things to do

  • Seeing your favorite band at the amphitheater
  • Walking around the old city and window shop
  • Take a walking tour for food, beer, ghost or more
  • Visit the Ice Plant for home brewed vodka and Whiskey

Jacksonville Facts, Figures and Awards - Why You Want to Live Here...

  • The area typically enjoys 226 days of sunshine each year with a median temperature of 78 degrees. The excellent weather is only one reason the First Coast is such a wonderful place to make home.
  • Jacksonville is the 42nd largest city in the U.S. by population (1.2 million). Yet we do not have the population density that South Floridians complain about.
  • We are the youngest major city in Florida with the median age of 36.1
  • Jacksonville is consistently ranked among "the top ten best places to live" by Money Magazine.
  • Jacksonville is home to the NFL football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and hosted the 2005 Super Bowl.
  • Ponte Vedra hosts the annual The Tournament of Players Championship at Sawgrass each year
  • Amelia Island hosts The Bausch & Laumb Tennis Championship annually
  • Jacksonville ranks in the top 50 in the nation in total effective buying income, motor vehicle and parts sales and total retail sales.
  • Jacksonville FL is one of the top 10 cities in America where it is less expensive to buy than it is to rent, according to a Trulia Survey in an article published in Inman News.
  • Jacksonville's port ranks second to New York-New Jersey for foreign car business.
  • Jacksonville's disposable income now trails only West Palm Beach among major Florida cities.
  • Jacksonville Suns AA Baseball, 2005 League Champion
  • Home to the world famous Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville with over 300 doctors. Shands Jacksonville Medical Center is affiliated with the University of Florida Healthcare Center and has one of only nine Proton Therapy Institutes in the nation. Wolfson Children's Hospital and Nemours Children's Clinic are widely respected. Patients from all over the US and world visit our fair city for their healthcare needs.
  • Jacksonville offers dozens of annual festivals, theater performances and five-star restaurants, including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, World of Nations Festival, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and touring Broadway and ballet productions.
  • Enjoy sporting events & major concerts at Alltel Stadium and the New Veterans Memorial Arena.
  • We are home to the Jacksonville Jaguars and I think we have the best way to get to the game ever. You can pull right up to the dock at Metropolitan Park and just cross the street to the game. We are also home to the Jacksonville Suns, a minor league baseball team. Let's not forget The Players Championship held here each May, and that we are home to the PGA.
  • Enjoy Broadway plays and symphony at the Florida Times Union Center in downtown Jacksonville.
  • Museums: Children's Museum, J Johnson Gallery, Musueum of Contemporary Art, Cummer Art Museum and more!
  • Jacksonville has the only major airport in Northeast Florida.
  • Jacksonville's major employers include Acosta Sales, Armor Holdings, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue shield of Florida, Body Shops of America, Crowley Linet Services, CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Finance, Inc, Gate Petroleum, Haskell Company, Landstar Systems, Inc, Merrill Lynch, Prudential, Rayonier, Ring Power, Stein Mart, Venus Swimwear and Winn Dixie Stores.
  • Ponte Vedra Beach is also headquarters of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  • World Golf Village, home to the World Golf Hall of Fame
  • St. Augustine is America's oldest city. It is a picturesque town just a short distance from Jacksonville brimming with historical landmarks, quaint boutiques and sumptuous restaurants serving local seafood. Also find Ripley's Believe It or Not and Alligator Farm.
  • St. Augustine's annual festivals include Victorian Spring, the Blessing of the Fleet, the Menendez Birthday Celebration and the winter Night of Lights.
  • Guana River State Park is just one of several nearby beachfront parks where you can fish, sail, swim, canoe, kayak, hike or simply relax in a scenic environment.
  • The St. Johns River, its many estuaries and the Intracostal Waterway provide entirely different settings to enjoy the many boating activities and water sports available. Plus you can find excellent deep seafishing and boating in the Atlantic.
  • Quaint & unique shopping from Amelia Island, San Marco, Avondale, The Beaches & St. Augustine
  • 2 Outlet malls for value shopping located in North St. Augustine for easy commute
  • St. Johns Town Center with Nordstrom's
  • Various dining options around time
  • Jacksonville offers a variety of choices in education, including some of the top schools in the nation, according to U S News & World Report's Annual magazine on schools. Stanton College Preparatory School and Paxson High School consistently rank in the top 10 (Stanton in the top 5) and other schools are in the top 25 in the State of Florida and in the top tier nationally.
  • Although most people worry about hurricanes when contemplating a move to Florida, Jacksonville is actually the least hurricane-prone coastal city in Florida. From Internet research into why, it appears to be due to a couple of interesting factors. For one, Jacksonville has this sweet location at a big indentation along the Atlantic coast, so it lies more than 80 miles from The Gulf Stream current (Miami is only 3 miles from the Gulf Stream apparently). Hurricanes often travel up the Gulf Stream and head up the coast away from the River City. Here's a fun fact: the only hurricane ever to hit Jacksonville since the late 1800s has been Hurricane Dora, a weak Category 2 storm, back in 1964.
  • Things to do in Jacksonville
  • Jacksonville Parks
  • Day Trips and Long Weekends

  • St. Augustine is only 30 minutes away. There are a number of good restaurants, museums and other fun activities in the area.
  • Other places people take weekend excursions to:
  • Orlando/Universal: 2.5 hours (Disney World is south of Orlando so another 30 minutes).
  • Savannah, GA 2.5 hours
  • Charleston, SC 3 hours
  • Gainesville, FL (UF) 2.5 hours
  • Atlanta, GA 6 hours
  • Miami, FL 6 hours
  • The Keys 9 hours
  • New Orleans 9 hours
  • Jacksonville International Airport is very easy to use with quick lines and cheap flights.
  • Cruises out of Jacksonville and have additional cruise ports at Miami
  • Beach Information

Working With the Frankel Realty Group

As an experienced First Coast real estate team, the Frankel Realty Group can help with all aspects of your property investment or sale. We've included a number of tools on this site to help you enter the Jacksonville area real estate market. To narrow your search or compare prices before listing your home, please visit our Search MLS page. For information on our comprehensive realty services, just click on our pages for Buyers, or Sellers, and Financing. Those new to Northeast Florida can also browse our local information pages. We look forward to helping you explore the First Coast and Jacksonville real estate market!

Contact the Frankel Realty Group to get your home sale or search started.

Provide a valid email address.
Newsletter consent