The Palazzo on St. Johns: Coming to life in Baymeadows

An Advertising Special Section of The Times-Union, Jacksonville, AUGUST 23, 2014 7
The Palazzo on St. Johns: Coming to life in Baymeadows
Special for Homes
The newest waterfront condominium
community to hit Jacksonville is now
move-in-ready. The Palazzo on St. Johns
welcomes residents into stress-free, sophisticated living on the water.
With access to the St. Johns River, impeccably designed homes and resort-style
amenities, the Tuscan-inspired community is the perfect locale to bask in the
Florida sunshine. New homeowners are
bringing the upscale community to life
this month, moving into the development’s
first building featuring 18 new homes.
“The Palazzo on St. Johns has come to
life,” said David Tufts, president of The
Marketing Directors. “Following their
completion and highly-anticipated opening, residents can now upgrade to laidback, luxurious living and move into these
well-appointed homes.”
The residences embody elegance, with
hardwood floors, 9-foot ceilings and tile
Located at 3958 Baymeadows Road, the
Palazzo offers luxury living in the vibrant
San Jose area, with convenient access to
Northeast Florida waterways.
flooring, accompanied by gourmet kitchens complete with GE Profile stainless
steel appliances and granite countertops.
Master suites offer spacious walk-in
closets paired with a master bathroom
Watson
From Page 1
Watson Realty from the very start of my real estate career.”
Why did you choose Watson Realty Corp.?
Jane Mercer: “Watson Realty was the only company
I ever interviewed with when I decided to start my real
estate career in 1987. I’ve always known about the Watson name, being a long-time citizen of Jacksonville, and
I knew the name had a certain reputation and validity to
help me successfully develop my real estate business.”
What has been your most rewarding real estate
achievement?
Jane Mercer: “The most rewarding achievement has
been to have such a good income to be able to help my
grandchildren through college without having to make
huge sacrifices to do so.”
What advice would you give to the rookie associate
starting a real estate career?
Jane Mercer: “Get your name out there. You have to
look at it as a business and invest in your business. Keeping up contacts is also important; most of the business I
generate is from former customers.”
Kyle Passkiewicz, Intracoastal Office
Kyle Passkiewicz was ranked No. 1 in Florida and
fifth in the nation for transaction sides in 2013 by REAL
Trends. Passkiewicz also set a company record last year,
closing more than $75 million in volume.
What made you decide to get involved in real estate?
Kyle Passkiewicz: “My whole life it is something that I
have been interested in doing. I got involved in real estate
while I was studying at the University of Florida in 2003.
I had read that something like 95 percent of millionaires
earned their money in real estate.”
What motivates you in your career?
Kyle Passkiewicz: “The team that I’ve built; it is not
Special for Homes
Kyle Passkiewicz, Watson
Realty Corp., Intracoastal
office
that includes separate showers and deep
soaking tubs. From each home’s private
elevator vestibule to its sweeping waterway
views and spacious terraces, the community boasts refined living in a natural
setting.
The Palazzo on St. Johns offers both a
relaxing escape and the pleasure of coastal
living. Residents can enjoy a refreshing
dip in the swimming pool, preparing their
favorite summer meals in the gourmet
outdoor kitchen or gathering with friends
in the cabana lounge area.
Located across from the picturesque
Goodbys Creek Preserve, The Palazzo on
St. John invites residents to explore Northeast Florida waterways. The well-designed
community is also building a private marina complete with a boardwalk, boat slips
and a kayak launch.
“For residents, it’s a coastal haven,” said
Tamara Lauridsen, on-site sales specialist
with The Marketing Directors. “Whether
embarking on a waterway adventure or
just about the money, it is
about the game. Seeing others do well motivates me to
do better. The competition
with others keeps it exciting.”
What do you consider
your major career successes?
Kyle Passkiewicz: “Being
ranked No. 5 in the nation
for transaction sides by Real
Trends in the Wall Street
Journal was huge. To represent Jacksonville and a
smaller market means a lot.
Most of the list is markets
with much higher populations. A larger market means
more transactions, more
sales and more buyers.”
What do you think helped you to achieve these successes?
Kyle Passkiewicz: “Hard work, dedication and surrounding myself with a good team all helped me. Treating my clients well makes a big difference. It is a huge
opportunity to represent large hedge funds and then
work for them again two years later.”
Samantha Heflin, North Jacksonville Office
Samantha Heflin, a mother of two children ages 9
and 11, obtained her real estate license after completing
pre-licensing classes at Watson School of Real Estate. She
joined the North Jacksonville office in Oct. 2013.
Why did you choose a career in real estate?
Samantha Heflin: “I really fell in love with real estate
while looking for my own house. But, I also love sales and
the flexibility of scheduling that a career in real estate
provides me.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
Samantha Heflin: “When I first started last year,
simply indulging in the comforts of their
own homes, residents are coming home
to a Florida retreat when they call The
Palazzo on St. Johns their home.”
This unique gated community is a gem
hidden within the San Jose area, one of the
most sought-after neighborhoods for real
estate in the Northeast Florida market.
The layout and design of this impressive
development are indicative of thoughtful
and comprehensive planning.
Floor plans range from approximately
2,000-3,400 square feet, with three-bedroom homes priced from the $400,000s,
four-bedroom homes from the $500,000s.
A handful of exquisite penthouses are also
available.
The Palazzo on St. Johns is located at the
intersection of Baymeadows Road and San Jose
Boulevard. The on-site Sales Center is open
daily, located at 3958 Baymeadows Road. Two
furnished model homes are available to view.
For more information call 904-627-4762 or
visit www.thepalazzoonstjohns.com.
Photo by Angel Batterson for Watson Realty Corp.
Judy King-Lee, vice president and managing broker (left) is
pictured with Samantha Heflin, Realtor, (right) of Watson
Realty Corp., North Jacksonville office.
my original goal was to close $1 million in sales and
aim for the company’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ title. Having
surpassed that mark, I have now set targets on closing
$3 million by this October. Watson and the support I
receive from my managing broker, Judy, have been the
most integral part of my success. Judy and my colleagues
in the North Jacksonville office have been my biggest
cheerleaders. Even though this is a business, it is more
like a family.”
What has been your biggest challenge?
Samantha Heflin: “Being new to real estate, knowledge has been my biggest challenge. However, with the
constant support I get from Judy on a day-to-day basis, I
am able to overcome some of that fear by her being able
to address questions on little things like contracts, the
loan process, timelines, etc.”
How do you balance work and family?
Samantha Heflin: “The flexibility of my work schedule allows me to still be a work-at-home mom, while
earning an income. Also, my husband has been extremely supportive and his help has allowed us to still provide
care for our children at all times.”