Amanda Searle, Realtor

09/02/2026

What's it like living in Springfield day to day?

Most mornings here start the same way. Coffee on the porch, a walk down Silver Street or whatever block you're on, neighbors already out on their steps.

By afternoon you can grab lunch a few blocks away and never move your car all day. Somebody's always mid-renovation on a porch nearby. It's slower than people expect for how close it actually is to downtown.

I get this question a lot from people thinking about a move here. Living in Springfield day to day looks less like a postcard and more like actually knowing the names of the people next door.

If you're curious what it's like on a specific block, send me a message. I'll walk you through it.

08/28/2026

This is the kitchen in my own Airbnb here in Jacksonville.

People ask me all the time what it actually costs to get a rental property guest-ready. This room is a big part of that answer. Nice appliances, cabinets, tile, lighting. None of it optional if you want five-star reviews.

I put together a 5-part series on what it actually takes to invest in a short-term rental here, starting with the real budgeting and startup costs most guides leave out. ✨Link to Part 1 is in the comments.✨

If you're weighing whether this makes sense for you, DM me. I can walk you through the numbers.

08/26/2026

They found their first house in June. It had the kind of charm that makes you stop scrolling and start planning furniture. We all loved it.

Then the inspection came back. A terrible foundation. Not the kind you can go with a shrug and blame on a 90+ home settling.

They were expecting their first baby. They did not have time to gamble on a house that might need six figures of work before the nursery was even painted.

So they started over.

This time they found a place on Wolfe Street in Murray Hill. White pergola over the driveway, black shutters, a rare 2 car garage, and a few blocks to the shops and restaurants on the Murray Hill strip.

They closed under appraised value too. Instant equity.
That is the whole story. A foundation crack did not end their search, it just pointed them toward the right house. And this one proved its price before they even finished moving in.

If you are searching right now and something falls through, that is not a sign to quit. It is usually just the market redirecting you. Congratulations to this growing family. So glad I got to help you find home number two.

08/26/2026

JUST LISTED Built in 1912 by J.R. Dickerson. A full renovation means the hard work's already done.

This duplex on W 7th has original heart of pine floors, fireplaces, and a butler's pantry with 3 built-ins still doing their job as a prep station and storage. An additional built-in in the hall adds even more storage. Both levels open onto covered porches, a signature Craftsman detail.

Downstairs is leased through September 2027, so rental income starts the day you close. Upstairs is vacant and move-in ready, whether you live in it or rent it out too.

If you've been picturing yourself in a Springfield home where the numbers already work in your favor, this one's worth a walk-through.

Link in comments. DM me for more details.

08/03/2026

People think a rental townhome means staring at your neighbor's fence.

Not this one.

This end unit in gated Drayton Park backs right up to a wooded preserve, so when you step out onto the screened patio, you get trees instead of a parking lot. It's the kind of detail you don't notice in photos, but you'll notice every single evening you're out there.

Inside you've got 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an open kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances, and a washer and dryer that stay in the unit. The community adds a pool, clubhouse, fitness center, and even a car wash area, right in the heart of Tinseltown near St. Johns Town Center.

If you know someone looking for a quiet rental with real privacy, send them this post. Contact the owner directly for details (PM me for contact information)

https://bit.ly/4z19xvE

07/31/2026

Twenty houses. Twenty million dollars in fines. Not one of them fixed.

That's the number Jacksonville City Council pulled just from Springfield. Historic homes sitting empty, racking up code violations year after year, while the city has no real way to get them into hands that will actually restore them.

There's a new bill trying to fix that. The city would put these homes out to bid to developers or nonprofits, give the buyer two to three years to restore it, and if they don't follow through, the property goes back to the city instead of sitting there another decade.

Here's the piece still getting worked out. On a lot of these houses, the renovation costs more than the house will be worth when it's done. A developer at the meeting made that point directly. Without some kind of financial incentive built in, gap financing, tax credits, something, you can hand someone a house for free and they still won't be able to afford to save it. Other cities have run into this exact wall before.

I'll be watching how this develops. Article linked below if you want the full story.

A new bill that aims to expedite the restoration of deteriorating historic homes is gaining attention among members of Jacksonville’s City Council.

07/28/2026

🏡 A lot of people assume you can't get anything decent in Jacksonville for $126,000 right now. Come see this one before you say that.

Two bedrooms, one and a half baths, gated community a few blocks from downtown. Brand new flooring, fresh paint throughout, and a garden window over the kitchen sink that catches the morning light.

It's live today. 📲 DM me or visit the listing to schedule a showing.

07/23/2026

✨SOLD✨There’s a moment every buyer has right before they sign. You stare at the number and think, am I paying too much for this?

I hear that question on almost every deal I work. The buyer I worked with on this Arlington home asked it too.

We just closed $19,900 under the asking price.

Here’s the part most buyers don’t know. The asking price is just where the seller decided to start. It’s not the actual price. My job is figuring out when there’s room to negotiate and how to ask for it without losing the house on the way there.

If you’re thinking about buying in Jacksonville and wondering what’s actually negotiable, message me. I’ll walk you through what I look for.

07/13/2026

I spent Thursday night pouring aguas frescas under a hand painted ceiling that’s over 100 years old.

Riverside Avondale Preservation held their third Porchlight Series event inside the Mizner Sanctuary, and Cowford Realty & Design sponsored it. My job was simple. Keep cups full and listen.

Guest speakers Doug Lane of The Lane Group and Tyler Lowe of Southeast Conservation & Construction Services walked us through the history and the restoration work happening on this building. Standing under those arches while they explained it made the craftsmanship really stand out.

This is why I love historic buildings like this. They don’t just sit here. People are actively fighting to keep them standing, and it was good to be part of that for a night.

If you want to help with the Mizner Sanctuary’s restoration, the National Fund for Sacred Places is matching donations right now: www.riversidetogether.churchcenter.com/giving

07/11/2026

🌳Most sellers who live out of state worry no one’s actually checking on their house.

This home is going live soon. The seller is out of state and can’t just swing by to check on things before photos. So today that was me, out here trimming back the bushes myself so the place shows the way it should.

It’s not glamorous. Nobody asks about it at closing. But it’s the kind of thing that separates an agent who’s managing your sale from one who’s just listing it.

If you’re selling from out of state and wondering who’s actually keeping an eye on your property, that’s exactly what I do. 📲 DM me.

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