Beat the Heat With These 6 Indoor Summer Activities in Jacksonville

It’s summertime in Jacksonville and even though you’ve been waiting for this all year long, it’s hot. Very hot. Sometimes there’s nothing else you can do but hide away from the sun inside but don’t bore yourself by simply staying close to your A/C unit at home. Beat the heat with these six indoor summer activities in and around Jacksonville.

6. Jax Ale Trail

Visiting a brewery is a great way to cool off on those sweaty days and luckily Jacksonville is home to many craft breweries. In fact, the choices can be overwhelming, which is why touring a few throughout the day is a good idea. Grab a Jax Ale Trail passport and check out as many breweries as you can!

5. St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is a fun place for the whole family. The museum boasts one of the world’s largest collections of pirate artifacts and treasures. You can spend hours here, you’ll never run out of things to do and see. Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Admission cost is $13.99 for adults and $6.99 for children.

4. World Golf Hall of Fame/IMAX Theatre

For the golf lover in all of us – the World Golf Hall of Fame houses many interactive exhibits, players’ memorabilia, and of course the largest IMAX screen in the whole state of Florida. Admission is $20.95 for adults, $5 for children aged 5-12; $10 for students; and $19.95 for seniors, military personnel, and all Florida residents. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm; noon to 6 pm on Sundays.

3. Museum of Science and History

Want to know more about the history of Northeast Florida? Do you love science? Are you a fan of live animal shows? If you answered yes to one of more of these questions – the Museum of Science and History is the place for you! Adults and kids alike love this popular spot. Admission is $12.50 with discounts for children, students, seniors, and military personnel. Open every day of the week!

2. Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

If you’re looking for an indoor date spot, look no further than the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. This charming museum holds works that date back to 2000 B.C. among many other breathtaking paintings, porcelain, and prints. Admission is $10 with discounts for children, students, seniors, and military personnel.  Open Tuesdays from 10 am to 9 pm, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from noon to 4 pm.

1. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

Before there was the famous television show, there was the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum in St. Augustine, a weird and wacky place that showcases oddities from all around the world. What you’ll find here will shock and delight you, and will most likely leave you speechless. Admission is $15.99 for adults and $6.99 for kids. Open daily from 9 am to 8 pm.

 

 

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Here’s Why Millennials Are Rushing to Live in Jacksonville

The millennial population in Jacksonville, Florida, has rapidly grown as of late and only continues to rise as the years go by. This steady incoming of young professionals is part of the continuing revitalization the city is currently experiencing. So why is Jacksonville such a popular place for millennials to call home? Here are a few reasons.

6. Trading in Brutal Winters for Sunny Weather

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It might not come as a huge surprise to know that a lot of the people moving to Jacksonville are coming from colder parts of the country. Cities like New York, Boston, Detroit, and Chicago are losing a lot of millennial residents who are looking to put down roots in a warmer place.

5. Low Cost Of Living

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There’s a reason why you always see Jacksonville on lists of the most affordable cities in the country. The low cost of living is what attracts many people to move to Florida, but especially millennials – because for those who are just starting their careers it’s vital to be living in a place that will allow you to be comfortable and not have you feeling like you’re always trying to catch up.

4. Housing Prices

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The affordable housing in Jacksonville is a big selling point for millennials. New apartment buildings are going up on what seems like a daily basis, so older buildings are lowering their rent rates to keep up, which is a great thing for younger people who are looking for an inexpensive place to live. And for those who are looking to buy a house – the market is full of reasonably priced housing developments as well.

3. A Booming Job Market

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The job market in Jacksonville is a dream for millennials right now, with some of the fastest growing financial and technological sectors in America. The low unemployment rate is a sight for sore eyes for people who are coming from cities that are struggling to be able to offer work to their residents. With affordable housing and growing incomes, you really can’t go wrong.

2. Work-Life Balance

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Jacksonville has something for everyone. If you want the hustle and bustle of a big city, you can get that feeling, and if you want to take time and just swing the golf club, that’s here too. There’s just so much to see and do here. It also boasts a more suburban feel for those wanting to settle down and start a family. If you’re looking for great restaurants and bars, the city has those too!

1. Like-Minded People

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The best part about moving to Jacksonville as a millennial is that so many other like-minded people are doing the same. In the last decade, the population of younger Jacksonville residents grew by almost half! These educated and excited millennials are making Jacksonville a fun place to live and benefiting the economic success of the city.

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7 Reasons People Love Living in Jacksonville

The city of Jacksonville, located in Northeast Florida right where the St. Johns River meets up with the Atlantic Ocean, is home to around 900,000 proud residents. People come from all over the country to settle down in this beautiful place. We could go on and on, but here are seven of the many reasons why people love living in Jacksonville.

7. Great Neighbors

The people in Jacksonville are some of the friendliest people in the state, and having neighbors you can rely on is important when settling down in an area. Luckily if you live in Jacksonville, your neighbors are bound to be some of the best people around and will quickly become your close friends.

6. The Live Music

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Something you may not know about Jacksonville unless you live here is that the live music scene is top notch. The Florida Theater, the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, European Street, the Jazz Festival, and many other interesting venues offer a wide variety of live music throughout the year.

5. The Low Cost Of Living

The cost of living in Jacksonville is not only lower than the national average, it’s also lower than the Florida average. Housing costs are much more affordable in Jacksonville than is most other cities in this part of the country, which is why so many people choose to settle down here.

4. The Seasons

Jacksonville may have four seasons, but they’re all beautiful. The sun always seems to be shining in this warm and welcoming city. The only complaint that locals seem to have is that sometimes it can get too hot in the summer, but you’re never too far away from a body of water or a cold drink to help you cool off.

3. The Parks

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The city of Jacksonville boasts the largest urban park system in the United States, with 262 designated parks and over 80,000 acres of lush green vegetation. Every park is special in its own way, and locals love exploring them all to see what each one has to offer. A crowd favorite is Downtown’s Hemming Plaza, the city’s first park.

2. The Beaches

Do you think we would make it through a list about why people love living in Jacksonville without mentioning the city’s beaches? It’s hard to beat all the sand and water that Northeast Florida has to offer, and it’s a pretty big sell when all of those beaches are just a hop, skip and a jump away from your front door.

1. The Outdoor Activities

The list of outdoor activities that Jacksonville has to offer is seemingly endless. From hiking to camping, surfing to kayaking, swimming to golfing, there’s something for everyone and for all ages. And with great weather and good neighbors, you always have an excuse to go outside and play.

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International Buyers Coming to Northeast Florida

Local Realtors with a Global Reach –

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty

 

The Northeast Florida real estate market is increasingly becoming international. Home sales made to foreign buyers continue to rise and growing global interest is expected to bolster home sales activity and prices locally, across Florida and nationally.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2016 Profile of International Activity in U.S. Residential Real Estate, foreign buyers purchased $102.6 billion of residential property, buying 214,885 U.S. residential properties. Although foreign buyers purchased property nationwide, five states – Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and New York – accounted for more than half of the total residential property purchases. Twenty-two percent of those purchases were in Florida.

In Northeast Florida, the highest population of foreign-born residents come from the Philippines, Mexico, Cuba, India, Jamaica and Vietnam, according to statistics provided by JAXUSA Partnership, a division of the JAX Chamber.

“Florida real estate is particularly desirable for international buyers of real estate, and many of our customers want to purchase properties abroad,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer. “Our company is uniquely positioned to help all who want to buy and sell properties here and across the globe.”

Recognizing the significant surge in global activity, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty recently welcomed Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Senior Vice President of International Operations Peter Turtzo to the company’s general sales meeting. More than 200 real estate professionals were in attendance to hear updates on the brand locally, nationally and internationally.

Turtzo’s presentation included the company’s marketing agreement with Juwai.com, China’s largest international property portal. All of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ network listings appear on the search site, which attracts approximately 2 million visitors monthly. The company also launched an advertising campaign designed to make Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices a dominant brand on Juwai.com.

“The Chinese have overtaken all nationalities besides Americans as the leading buyers of property in the U.S.,” Turtzo said. “Our efforts through Juwai.com, and through existing marketing agreements with The Wall Street Journal/Asia and Mansion Global Wechat Channel, make it much easier for Chinese real estate buyers to find and shop our property listings.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is well known as one of the leading real estate companies in the industry. The company offers global listing exposure and worldwide visibility, broadcasting property listings to more than 70 websites worldwide which are viewed by potential buyers in 37 countries across five continents. The firm’s website is multi-lingual, offering dozens of language choices via a link on its home page. The site is optimized for international buyers, automatically converting currency and measurements.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has more qualified professionals in place to reach and serve international buyers. The company offers training for the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation. Nationally, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has more CIPS designees than any other agency.

“By earning the CIPS designation, associates are aligned with an influential network of international real estate professionals and have the knowledge, research, network and tools to successfully do business with buyers and sellers from around the world,” said Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick. “Our agents who hold the CIPS designation are the best and most trusted sources for navigating the often-complex international real estate market.”

With an upsurge of interest in Florida, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is prepared to welcome relocating buyers to Northeast Florida. The Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty’s First Coast Relocation Guide is filled with information including an overview of First Coast communities, details about recreational and cultural opportunities, moving tips and information about the company’s relocation services.

For a complimentary copy of the relocation guide or more information, call (904) 296-1906 or visit http://ift.tt/1fEO8HN.

 

Photography:

From left, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Broker/Executive Vice President Christy Budnick, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Senior Vice President of International Operations Peter Turtzo and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Founder, President and CEO Linda Sherrer.

 

Written By: Clockwork Marketing

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