The many neighborhoods of St. Augustine reflect its rich heritage and culture.  It is the oldest city in the country, almost 450 years old.  The city has been influenced by many cultures including Spanish, French, Portuguese, etc.  Its terrain of vast  beach expanses, intercoastal waterway, historic downtown, and  rustic acreage leaves many different types of communities for people to choose from to live.  This chapter of choosing a neighborhood in St. Augustine will focus on beach homes on St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia Island.   This writing assumes you have answered questions such as: how do you like to spend your time?.  What is important to you?  Do you like the outdoor beach activity, fishing and boat recreation, privacy and peaceful lifestyle unencumbered by  restrictions  fro... 08/16/2009

St. Augustine has been honored as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States. With art galleries, fine dining, rich history, education and beach recreation, St. Augustine has it all. The charming mix of old and new makes it simply one of the most fantastic places in Florida to live!  Here are a few of the area's communities and homes in St. Augustine.  Anastasia Island & The Beaches St. Augustine's own island, along with the seaside locations of Seaside at St. Augustine Beach, SeaGrove, Crescent Beach, and Vilano Beach provide a restful haven of natural beauty away from the bustle of town. Whether it's boating, sunning, or biking to your favorite ice-cream stand, these areas offer unending pleasure of the laid-back Florida lifestyle.  St. Augustine Mainland The St. Augustine ... 08/14/2009

When I first became involved with the St. Augustine Regional chapter of Women's Council of Realtor'sI was working as an on-site agent.  Now that I am affiliated with Watson Realty Corp and selling homes in St. Augustine, if find my association even more valuable.I am not only getting to know more of the local Real Estate Professionals who are the power players, I am benifiting from the ideas we share as well as property information.  I find it easier to work with agents whom I know and trust, and many of those agents are associated with the St. Augustine Chapter of WCR. Since I love St. Augustine, I am finding that through my WCR connection, I am able to be more involved in helping the people of community.  For instance, we are planning a special "Bratini" event October 23rd.  (More on ... 08/13/2009

Whetstone Chocolates - St. Augustine Family Business since 1967 Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, so I had to stop by Whetstone Chocolates to get her some dark chocolate truffles and dark chocolate. She likes all kinds of chocolate, but I am partial to dark chocolate and was hoping she would share. Every year I get her Whetstone Chocolates. Every year I wrap the box and we both laugh as we both know what is inside (or what had better be inside!). She doesn't live in St. Augustine, but Whetstone Chocolate is her favorite chocolate (and mine, too!). Virginia Whetstone, President of Whetstone Chocolate, is a friend of mine. Yes, I do choose my friends wisely. I was first introduced to her years ago when I first moved to St. Augustine by my college roommate, a local CPA and native of St. Au... 08/11/2009

  Pawnee's Cafe and Fine Wines in Vilano Beach, FL There's a great retail wine store in Vilano Beach where you can find your favorite wines at discount prices---Pawnee's. Pawnee's moved from Ponte Vedra to Vilano Beach a couple of years ago and is leasing the old Barrancotto's Italian Restaurant (was Since 1946 Restaurant after Barrancotto's) at 165 Vilano Road. Here are Sam & Laurie Barrancotto at last Friday night's wine tasting.   Wine Tastings are every Wednesday and Friday from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Pawnee Weaver is the operator and is open Wednesday - Sunday. She serves lunch Wednesday - Friday from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and a fun Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Sunday Market in Vilano is held from noon - 4 p.m., so after enjoying brunch, you can pick up some produ... 08/09/2009

Davidson Realty invites the public to attend its 2009 Speaker Series. Held on the second Thursday of each month at the company’s World Golf Village headquarters, the events include a complimentary wine and cheese social and an opportunity to learn about current issues and trends affecting the real estate industry and homeowners. The social begins at 7 p.m. followed by the featured speaker at 7:30 p.m. The first event gets underway on Aug. 13 with attorney and counselor at law Stephanie Harriett, P.I., who will discuss estate planning, probate and elder law. A native Floridian and graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, Harriett opened her law firm in January 2008 and focuses her practice in these areas. “Estate planning and elder law can be difficult topics for families, but Stephani... 08/08/2009

Mike's Place - for bait, crabs and shrimp on the Intracoastal just north of St. Augustine, FL I like crabs. I just do. I like picking crabs. I like taking a couple of hours just to eat them. You don't put on any weight this way. I am like Bubba in Forrest Gump. I like stone, Dungeness, snow, blue, king, you name it--- crabs. I like them steamed, cold, in a salad, crabcakes, baked in a casserole, you get the idea. I just like crabs. I grew up eating blue crabs that we caught in the panhandle of Florida (okay, my brother caught them). Then I caught them (okay along with my husband) in Maryland. We have been trying to catch them here in Florida but all we keep catching are fish in our crab trap. We will try the St. Johns River soon. We have been purchasing crabs throughout the northeast Fl... 08/07/2009

Leonardi’s is an exceptional nursery in St. Augustine.  Originated in 1961, the family owned and operated business has been providing nursery, garden, and planting services for the community of St. Augustine for an incredible 48 years.  Kevin ,having grown up in the nursery business, took over operations  along with his wife Kim  from  parents Harold and “Winnie”  Leonardi  in 1983.  Together they provide a lifetime of experience and expertise in the areas of nursery, irrigation, hardscaping, lighting, and full-scale garden services.  They are known for their extensive knowledge, their huge selection of diverse plants, and full line of planters.  Estimates for landscaping and sprinkler systems are freely available at Leonardi's.Employing that vast knowledge, the Leonardi’s provide free ... 08/04/2009

Find out info about Vilano Beach and North Beach at today's Meeting There won't be a North Shores Improvement Association (NSIA) Forum this month, so you might as well come listen in at the Board of Directors meeting today at 4 p.m. The agenda is jammed back and I just might blog the results, but you never know. The meeting will begin at the North Shores Improvement Association Building at 120 Meadow Avenue, Vilano Beach, Florida. It will then move next door to the old fire station. We will be discussing plans for the fire station building now that the new one has been built in South Ponte Vedra and this building is no longer used. The Sunday Market will be discussed along with plans to make this farmer's and arts & crafts venue even better. Additionally the eviction notices for the mob... 08/04/2009

The Reef - Great Oceanfront Dining in North Beach just a few miles from downtown St. Augustine.     We have enjoyed dining at The Reef Restaurant since it opened and before when it was Compton's. We would travel from Ponte Vedra for Compton's lobster specials and their wonderful Sunday Champagne Brunch. Shortly after moving into our oceanfront home just a short walk north of this restaurant, we learned that the builder of our home, Coleman Construction, was also the builder of this restaurant. Our home was built in 1988, a year before Compton's.  Compton's was open between 1989 and 1999 when it closed due to Mr. Compton's health.  The Usina family owns the property and had different managers and a name change to McMulVei's Reef (combining the 3 operator's last names at that time). Later... 08/03/2009

Tropical Smoothie, known for it’s slogan “Eat Better, Feel Better”  is a healthy café in St. Augustine.Located in SeaGrove at the intersection of A1A and “A” street, Mr. Amit Patel, originally from India, opened the well-known franchise.  Mr. Patel has appreciation for the high standards the corporation maintains which reflects in the healthy choices available on the cafe menu.  If you were to look behind the scenes, no grill nor deep fat fryer can be found on the premises. One of the most popular  menu items is the Jamaican Jerk for those those who like spicy.  The King Caesar salad  wrap is a close second.  As far as smoothies go, the Jetty Punch combines the classic  tastes of strawberry and banana for a refreshing beverage after a hard day at the beach.  Even  kids flock for their h... 08/02/2009

Aunt Kate's restaurant at the river in St. Augustine, Florida is in the North Beach neighborhood of Vilano Beach. When we moved from Ponte Vedra to St. Augustine (North Beach) in 1998, the first night after we closed on the purchase of our new home, we went to dinner with our new neighbors. We walked a couple of blocks to Oscar's. I was in very casual clothes and had to borrow my neighbor's sandals, which were many sizes too big. But, I knew it was a casual place and would be fine. We had an enjoyable time on the back deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Unfortunately, a fire destroyed Oscar's in 2001. We waited many years for the Usina family to rebuild. We are glad they took the time necessary to do things right. In March, Frank Usina and his family built a new 5,000 squa... 08/01/2009

Anastasia Accents , a unique souvenir and  gift shop at SeaGrove Town Center in St. Augustine, Florida is a delightful  store.  It features coastal items, unique gifts,  home accessories and beautiful jewelry at reasonable prices.  Walking into the store, people are instantly delighted with beautiful items and a friendly atmosphere. Owner, Susan Harrison had been a pilot with the airlines  for many years.   She flew regularly to Beijing and other parts of the Orient.  People admired the jewelry  and other gift and souvenir items she would bring back to St. Augustine.  Upon retiring from being a pilot, Susan thought she would make these same items available and decided to open  Anastasia Accents.  She returns back to Beijing three times a year to purchase the inventory brought to the cus... 07/31/2009

This Sunday in the St. Augustine Amphitheater Sunday August 2, 2009                                                                                           SLIGHTLY STOOPID AND STEPHEN MARLEY                     Slightly Stoopid plays a blend of music that crosses between a reggae dance party, Jacks Johnson like surf tunes and SoCal Punk Rock.                                             Stephen Marley is the Son of music legend Bob Marley. His most recent album "Mind Control" won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album and #1 on Billboards Reggae Chart. Tickets are $37.50 in advance& $47.50 Day of Show Show at 5:30 pm St. Augustine Amphitheatre info: 904-471-1965  Future events include: 8/07/09 -  Jackson Browne 8/14/09 - Counting Crows, Michael Franti, & Augustana 8/15/09 - Judas Priest & Whi... 07/31/2009

  Marsh Creek Country ClubMarsh Creek Country Club is located on Anastasia Island just south of historic St. Augustine, Florida.  St. Augustine Beach's only private country club community is uniquely located between the breathtaking Intracoastal Waterway and the area's miles of beautiful beaches. Nestled just off of A1A, you will find this gated community filled with lovely homes, wonderful people, and a lifestyle you will want to call your own.     Within the community you will find an 18 hole golf course designed by Mark McCumber, a tennis and fitness facility, clubhouse and pool for the residents to enjoy.  Relax and enjoy the lovely decorated Clubhouse, take part in a variety of social activities or enjoy a gormet dinner watching the sunset in the Dining Room.   Home prices start i... 07/31/2009

VILANO BEACH IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA IS CONFUSING  IN SOME OF THE NAMES. Vilano Beach, the closest beach to downtown historic St. Augustine, has evolved to include many of the neighboring subdivisions. Porpoise Point is the southern-most subdivision of what is commonly referred to Vilano Beach. Porpoise Point has its own homeowner's association, which is really comprised of a private water plant and an Architectural Control Committee. The Homeowner Association (HOA) dues are really the property owner's water bill. Each property owner pays a different HOA based on his or her previous year's usage.  There are different tiers of usage. The bill comes out in July for July - June and can be paid for the year in advance or monthly.  The lowest bill is $240/year. The Homeowner's Association is ca... 07/29/2009

The homes for sale in  St. Augustine Shores have always been competitively priced and much sought after.  The subdivision was originated in the early 1970’s and was built in  8 stages. It is located bordering the Intercoastal Waterway and is only 8 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. The Deltona Corporation was the developer and planned the community to span  over 2,000 acres.  Currently homes for sale in this development span $65,000 - $525,00.  The higher priced homes for sale may have superb views of the Intercoastal Waterway or even a dock.   Condos range from $54,000 - $209,000, and again can have surprisingly sensational water or marsh views.     Some homes of the initial phase were modular homes set on concrete  foundations located close to US 1 South.  These homes are  of modest s... 07/29/2009

" Sea Place is a wonderful community comprised of beach homes in St. Augustine.  It is situated on the revered “east  side of A1A”.  Developer Stokes & O’Steen initiated the neighborhood in the 1980’s.  The community has an attractive look with Mediterranean architecture and terra cotta tiled roofs.   Phase  1 consists of 72 condos built in 1985.  These condos are direct ocean front, ocean view or pool view.  The ground level units, roughly1100 square feet have 2 bedrooms and 2 bath with split floor plans and outdoor patio. There a few end units with 3 bedrooms. The 2nd story units have approximately1500 square feet.  The common living area is on the entrance level with ½ bath and balcony.  The two bedrooms are on the 3rd level, and also have balcony. Included in the association fees ar... 07/28/2009

Vilano Beach---Closest Beach to St. Augustine, Florida in northeast Florida. Vilano Beach's zip code is 32084 which it shares with our nation's oldest city, St. Augustine. However, you can address mail to Vilano Beach with the zip code of 32084 and it will arrive here, just fine. We also have our own post office which is located in a local business. Cross over the Francis & Mary Usina Bridge (aka Vilano Bridge) just north of the historic district of St. Augustine (by the carousel) and take a right at the traffic light to enter Vilano Beach. Vilano Beach has come to absorb the neighboring communities. Technically, Vilano Beach is Vilano Road and a few neighboring streets (i.e., Ferrol, Anahma, Corunna, Poplar, Palencia, Loja, Manresa, Jerez Ct., Viejo, Zamora, and part of Coastal Highway... 07/28/2009

You can easily search the entire MLS for  AFFORDABLE HOMES IN ST. AUGUSTINE  and surrounding areas.  Click on the link below  and type Saint Augustine in the box on the upper left.   Then press search. This will pull up homes that are mostly in St. Augustine between $100,000-$300,000.  This is usually the price range that people think of using the word “affordable”.  They are also all 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, the most popular configuration and very good for the ultimate resale.   At the time of this writing, there are 485 that meet the above criteria.  You can use the ruler on the left side of the map to zoom in and see the location of active homes for sale.  Click on a red house icon to get specifics on that property.   To find exactly what you are looking for, you can create your own s... 07/26/2009