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Old 09-03-2012, 01:14 PM
 
213 posts, read 314,994 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomahawk79 View Post
Thank you very much for the reply!!! I'm happy to hear you enjoy life there so far. Would you mind a few more questions? If not...

Any word on what will become of the old Food Lion store? Guess the publix at WGV is the best option for now?

Are you allowed (or not but do anyway) to ride golf carts around the development...even up to the school area?

We would likely be in the low/middle end of the neighborhood with a budget up to 300k or so. I'm guessing those are the areas where most of the kids/younger families are?

What are your biggest complaints so far? Looks like St. A is fairly accessible, but driving to shopping in Jax looks like a haul.

Thank you again for you time
Not sure about the Food Lion store. I don't know too many people yet, so I'm not in on the gossip. WGV Publix is the physically closest if you are only going out for groceries, but I rarely go there as I pick up what I need in Jax or St. Aug. when I am in town for other things.

Golf carts are kind of an issue right now. Palencia wasn't designated a golf course community so the sheriff's dept can write tickets for carts that aren't street legal (maybe the can anyway with the golf cart community designation, I don't know any of the legalities of the situation). But they are keeping a stronger presence here now with the new school, watching speeding, so its possible you could end up with a ticket.

I would agree that your budget would keep you around most young families. We are in Parkside and there are lots of kids in the Parkside, Oak Common area.

It is a bit of at drive to get anywhere, and that is the biggest downside. However, for us at this point we still feel the things we like are better than the downside of the drive. It's 20-25 minutes to the Avenues area which has pretty much everything I need regularly. 15-20 to get all the way through Old St. Aug. to the 312 area where all the stores are. I use Mandarin Pediatrics for my kids on Old St Augustine Rd. and it took me 15 min. door to door. My husband works off of Hodges and he has no complaints about his commute. I personally find the location a good balance between shopping in Jacksonville and dining in St. Augustine. Weekdays one way and weekends another way for my family. My husband is a gym rat also and he is impressed with Palencia's equipment and it's not too crowded. Lots of sidewalks and green space and the boardwalk that goes out to the Tolomato River is really cool. I figure if I lived in town it would take me anywhere for 10-20 minutes to get places due to traffic and lights, so it's really not that much longer - just farther.

If you have young kids and will be using the elementary school for a while, it has turned out really nice. Lots of bikers/walkers and moms escorting the little ones to school. Several crossing guards to keep everyone safe.
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Old 09-03-2012, 01:19 PM
 
213 posts, read 314,994 times
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Oh, and about the golf course, I remember it being for sale a few months back. I think I remember reading an article in the paper about several courses in the area for sale and Palencia's was for sale, but it wasn't a distress sale. Not sure how that all turned out.
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Old 09-04-2012, 11:07 AM
 
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I just wanted to chime in and echo Masonsmom4's sentiments about Palencia. We also moved here over the summer, and have found Palencia to be a great family community. It has a nice mix of empty nesters, families with young children, and families with older kids (who I need to reach out to in order to find a babysitter in the neighborhood). The fact that there is a broad spectrum of homes (from condos and townhouses to million-plus-dollar mansions), available in a variety of price ranges does mean that there are all sorts of people attracted to the neighborhood, and there really is something for everyone.

We moved here from a gated golf community in Jacksonville, and I have to say I find Palencia much less snobby. Maybe it is the fact that we are a little more isolated so people feel the need to be friendly to their neighbors and build a sense of community.

I do think the opening of the new school is going to have a very positive impact on the community. Homes here do seem to be selling, and there is a fair amount of new construction going on. I know I have friends with kids at other St. John's county schools who complained that we stole some of their best teachers. I have two boys in the school (as well as one preschooler) and we have been very happy so far.

I have to say I don't think you will find a more beautiful community in the area. There is nothing cookie cutter about the homes, and they really have maintained the natural beauty of the area rather than flattening the landscape and putting up houses.

Yes, it is a bit of a hike to the nearest Publix or Walgreens or Target (you hate to get home, unload your groceries, and realize you forgot to buy eggs), but I am optimistic that something will take over the old Food Lion location soon (I've heard rumors about various stores coming in). Still, I do try to bundle my errands together...or as I refer to it "going into town for provisions" like I'm on Little House on the Prairie.
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Old 09-05-2012, 06:25 AM
 
232 posts, read 573,882 times
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What are the HOA and CDD fees in Palencia?
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Old 09-05-2012, 06:38 AM
 
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MasonsMom and ilfaith, thank you for your feedback!!! We live in NE Georgia currently and are used to 15-20 min trips to get anywhere. Also going from a 1+ acre lot community to 'florida style' lots will be quite a change...

Regarding the fees, this is a response I got from a realtor about a 4/2 home currently for sale. I believe the CDD/HOA part varies depending on the lot and/or subdivision...

The Annual HOA fee is $193 annually, CDD fee is $2815, annually , and the monthly Tech fee is $87.
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Old 09-05-2012, 11:25 AM
 
615 posts, read 1,712,492 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomahawk79 View Post

The Annual HOA fee is $193 annually, CDD fee is $2815, annually , and the monthly Tech fee is $87.
$2815!? Wow.

What's a "tech fee"?
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Old 09-05-2012, 03:00 PM
 
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
14,617 posts, read 21,483,492 times
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The CDD fees seem high because they cover things that would normally be included in HOA fees in a community that didn't have a CDD. If you add the HOA and CDD fees in Palencia - they're only a bit higher than the HOA fees we pay here in Marsh Landing. Robyn

Last edited by Robyn55; 09-05-2012 at 03:47 PM..
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Old 09-05-2012, 04:20 PM
 
232 posts, read 573,882 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robyn55 View Post
The CDD fees seem high because they cover things that would normally be included in HOA fees in a community that didn't have a CDD. If you add the HOA and CDD fees in Palencia - they're only a bit higher than the HOA fees we pay here in Marsh Landing. Robyn
Yeah, I actually thought they were higher. That comes out to $338/mo. Which does seems somewhat high (and I guess can be higher based on your lot/property), but Palencia does offer a lot as far as amenities go, so I wouldn't consider it outrageous.

Since the CDD is typically a 30 year bond, I wonder what will happen to the HOA once the CDD is paid off, I'd imagine it will go up, because Palencia keeps its property very well maintained from what I've seen.
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Old 09-06-2012, 03:48 PM
 
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
14,617 posts, read 21,483,492 times
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I think it's impossible to say what HOA fees will be 30 years down the road. Especially if the CDD doesn't keep adequate repair/replacement reserves - the way responsible HOAs do. Robyn
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Old 09-06-2012, 04:36 PM
 
615 posts, read 1,712,492 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robyn55 View Post
The CDD fees seem high because they cover things that would normally be included in HOA fees in a community that didn't have a CDD. If you add the HOA and CDD fees in Palencia - they're only a bit higher than the HOA fees we pay here in Marsh Landing. Robyn
I can only compare it to Nocatee - we have both HOA and CDD - and Palencia is a good bit higher.
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