Leslie Jones - Your Global Realtor

01/03/2025

Kindness isn’t something you wear on your sleeve; it’s something you live. It’s not about recognition or reward—it’s a way of being. A quiet, powerful force that brightens lives, one act at a time.

In a world that often feels rushed and transactional, kindness is the gentle reminder that we’re all human, all connected. And it’s contagious. Neuroscience shows that witnessing or experiencing kindness releases oxytocin, the ‘love hormone,’ creating a ripple of positivity in communities.

Who has shown you unexpected kindness lately? Take a moment to thank them, and if you can, pay it forward. Let’s make kindness the loudest voice in the room.

01/02/2025

Should have a pretty good year because we ate our peas and greens on New Years!! We have a little left over so we should have extra luck!!

How Lucky are we. Now and Zen, invited us to their Traditional Sothern New Year Day Meal.

So Delicious and had no idea about the meaning. Thanks for a great dinner and laughs.

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Ah, the traditional Southern New Year’s meal—a feast so loaded with symbolism and superstition, it could double as a Harry Potter potion class. Let’s break it down:

Black-eyed peas: These humble little legumes are said to bring luck for the new year. Eating them feels like bribing the universe with beans, but hey, whatever works! They're usually slow-cooked with pork because nothing says "prosperity" like seasoning your good fortune with bacon.

Collard greens: A leafy pile of “money” on your plate. The idea is that the more greens you eat, the richer you’ll be. But if you’re like most Southerners, you’re thinking, I’ll settle for the ability to pay off my Amazon cart.

Cornbread: The golden child of the meal, symbolizing gold. But let’s be honest—it’s mostly there to sop up the pot liquor from the peas and greens. A meal without cornbread is like a Southern grandma without her pearls—unthinkable.

Pork: Forget chicken (it scratches backward) or beef (too slow). Pork is the meat of choice because pigs root forward, and nothing says “progress” like a big ol’ hunk of ham. Bonus points if it’s smoked, glazed, or doused in brown sugar.

Rice: Sometimes in the form of Hoppin’ John, because what’s luck without carbs? If the New Year’s gods demand you eat a starchy, bean-laden side dish, who are you to argue?

All of this is washed down with sweet tea, because even if the luck doesn’t pan out, at least your blood sugar will spike into next week. Dessert? Probably pecan pie or banana pudding, because who’s worried about resolutions when you’ve got pecans?

And there you have it—a meal so magical, you might just start 2025 with a full wallet, a full stomach, and a new appreciation for collards. Happy New Year, y’all!

03/06/2024

Step into the enchanting world of art as we present an encore of Christine Knize, the Orchid Painter’s captivating works at the first Wednesday Art Walk on March 6. Delight your senses with stunning art and a cash bar serving up specialty cocktails and delightful bites provided by . Doors open at 5:00 p.m. – don’t miss this showcase!

10/03/2022

Your resource for all things . Maps, events, visitor information and more!

06/07/2021

Love is who you are

Love is not what you want, it is what you are. It is very important to not get these two confused. If you think that love is what you want, you will go searching for it all over the place. If you think love is what you are, you will go sharing it all over the place. The second approach will cause you to find what the searching will never reveal.

08/01/2019

Stunning 1921 European Design Home For Sale in Popular Historic Avondale!
Take the virtual and 3D Tour Now!

Virtual Tour of 1537 Avondale Ave, Jacksonville FL 32205, USA.

10/10/2018

Creative Ways to Source a Down Payment

Many prospective homebuyers face a big hurdle: the down payment. But coming up with that initial investment doesn't have to be a roadblock even if saving is difficult. These four options could make homeownership a reality sooner rather than later:

1. Pulling from an IRA: You, your spouse, parents or grandparents could withdraw up to $10,000 from a traditional IRA to put toward a home. Although it's categorized as a first-time homebuyer exemption, anyone who hasn't owned a principal residence in the past two years may qualify. Note: Some differences exist when withdrawing from a Roth IRA.

2. Receiving a gift: If you have family members willing to help you out, you can get what's called "gift money" for your down payment. The amount of gift money you can use depends on the loan type. And you'll likely need signed documents stating that the money is indeed a gift, not a loan or anything earning interest.

3. Co-buying: Another option is to buy a home with a family member or friend. It'll allow you to split the down payment and the mortgage payment. But co-buying does come with an important decision: how the title will be held.

4. Renting to own: Leasing-to-own is another possible route to homeownership, one that typically requires a smaller down payment called option money. Additionally, a portion of your monthly rent payment can go toward your purchase of the property. Pay special attention to the written agreement. Reach out if you want to make sure your lease-to-own agreement is mortgage-ready.

There are also low down payment options like HomeReady, HomeOne, Home Possible and FHA loans, as well as down payment assistance programs and grants. Want to learn more, or know someone who's looking to buy a home? Get in touch today.Creative Ways to Source a Down Payment

Many prospective homebuyers face a big hurdle: the down payment. But coming up with that initial investment doesn't have to be a roadblock even if saving is difficult. These four options could make homeownership a reality sooner rather than later:

1. Pulling from an IRA: You, your spouse, parents or grandparents could withdraw up to $10,000 from a traditional IRA to put toward a home. Although it's categorized as a first-time homebuyer exemption, anyone who hasn't owned a principal residence in the past two years may qualify. Note: Some differences exist when withdrawing from a Roth IRA.

2. Receiving a gift: If you have family members willing to help you out, you can get what's called "gift money" for your down payment. The amount of gift money you can use depends on the loan type. And you'll likely need signed documents stating that the money is indeed a gift, not a loan or anything earning interest.

3. Co-buying: Another option is to buy a home with a family member or friend. It'll allow you to split the down payment and the mortgage payment. But co-buying does come with an important decision: how the title will be held.

4. Renting to own: Leasing-to-own is another possible route to homeownership, one that typically requires a smaller down payment called option money. Additionally, a portion of your monthly rent payment can go toward your purchase of the property. Pay special attention to the written agreement. Reach out if you want to make sure your lease-to-own agreement is mortgage-ready.

There are also low down payment options like HomeReady, HomeOne, Home Possible and FHA loans, as well as down payment assistance programs and grants. Want to learn more, or know someone who's looking to buy a home? Get in touch today.

08/07/2018

How would you like to have the above view every night from your home on the water?? We can find you that view!!

06/20/2018

Here are 5 reasons listing your home for sale this summer makes $ense

1. Demand Is Strong
The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase…and are in the market right now! More often than not, multiple buyers are competing with each other to buy the same home.

2. There Is Less Competition Now
Housing inventory has declined year-over-year for the last 35 months and is still under the 6-month supply needed for a normal housing market. This means that, in the majority of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in the market. This is good news for homeowners who have gained equity as their home values have increased. However, additional inventory could be coming to the market soon.

3. The Process Will Be Quicker
Today’s competitive environment has forced buyers to do all they can to stand out from the crowd, including getting pre-approved for their mortgage financing. This makes the entire selling process much faster and much simpler as buyers know exactly what they can afford before home shopping. According to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insights Report, the average time it took to close a loan was 41 days.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move Up
If your next move will be into a premium or luxury home, now is the time to move up! The inventory of homes for sale at these higher price ranges has forced these markets into a buyer’s market. This means that if you are planning on selling a starter or trade-up home, your home will sell quickly, AND you’ll be able to find a premium home to call your own!

5. It’s Time to Move on With Your Life
Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than your health? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should? Only you know the answers to the questions above. You have the power to take control of the situation by
putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to move on and start
living the life you desire. That’s what is truly important.

05/27/2018

Dream come true - only 1000 feet from the beach...

Virtual Tour of 326 8th St, Atlantic Beach FL 32233, USA.

05/26/2018

A rare opportunity to own a 7 plex investment property in the popular San Marco, Jacksonville , Fl

Virtual Tour of 931 Cedar St, Jacksonville FL 32207, USA.