So you are looking to buy a home in Jacksonville. This part of Florida is a very desirable home market because it has many comforts of the American South, but it does not suffer from the tourist overload that makes much of Florida too expensive to live in or undesirable for families that value a quiet, slower pace of life.
Whether you want to live in Orange Park, right on the water, or in the city center, you probably need some help navigating the real estate market and getting a home mortgage in Jacksonville, Florida. So, we hope this article helps.
Jacksonville, Florida Real Estate by the Numbers
Much of your real estate decision-making process will be largely influenced by your own personal financial situation, but here are a few general points about Jacksonville markets to steer you in the right direction.
Mortgage rates in Florida are comparable on average with the rest of the United States. So even if the real estate numbers are overwhelming at times, the rates for getting a mortgage in Jacksonville, Florida will be about the same as any other major city.
As of the writing of this article, Jacksonville’s average listing price for a house is just over $200,000, and the median sales price is just over $150,000.
Riverside, Deerwood, and Mandarin are consistently some of the more popular areas for real estate, as well as some of the most expensive areas. But as Jacksonville grows to accommodate a rising number of residents, new communities will form at a rapid pace.
Population Demographics and Career Opportunities in Jacksonville
Florida in general is well known for having an older population. Many buyers are coming from cooler climates in the northeast to retire in Florida, but many of these buyers are more interested in condo and waterside properties.
This doesn’t mean all of the market is filled with senior citizens though. In fact, Jacksonville has a population of over one million residents in the metropolitan area. As one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, as well as the largest city in Florida, Jacksonville has a lot of residents looking to buy new homes. Add this to the fact that many people are moving to Jacksonville every day, the hectic real estate market is increasingly difficult to navigate.
Part of the reason for such a high population, as well as the increasing number of people moving to Jacksonville, is the number of major businesses located in the city. CSX Corporation and Fidelity are two major Fortune 500 companies that employ many residents, but there are thousands of large, medium, and small business in the larger Jacksonville metro area.
Jacksonville also has a naval port with a large fleet that provides steady income for career military professionals. It also has a sizable international airport, a bustling rail hub, and major highways and distribution routes nearby.
All of this means there are a lot of people moving in and out of Jacksonville on any given day, as the business world fluctuates and changes.
Jacksonville is also home to a major NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and has a number of museums, tourist sites, and a very popular zoo that draws a large number of visitors to the city.
While Jacksonville doesn’t have the same level of tourist industry as much of Florida, all of these factors still need to be considered when looking for a new home to purchase. If you are looking to move to Jacksonville, make sure you are focusing your research on areas more dedicated to permanent residents instead of tourists and travelers.
Marimark Mortgage
We provide mortgage services to clients in Jacksonville and the entire state of Florida, from our centrally located office in Tampa, Florida.
Our clients enjoy the convenience of online home loan processing that can even be conducted over the telephone without leaving their home. Clients receive expert, highly personalized attention from a Florida mortgage originator, while experiencing the convenience of online processing with most mortgages closing in 30 days or less.
So, when you are ready for a mortgage or refinance, simply apply online or contact us to get started.
The Marimark Mortgage Newsletter will keep you informed with important events in the mortgage industry that could impact your finances.
We especially focus on ways to save money on your current and future mortgages. And, we continually share the information we share with our clients, because we believe informed consumers are the best consumers.
Real estate agents, and other professionals in the industry, will receive an ongoing wealth of information that will help them serve their clients.
