Sonoma Isles homes: DiVosta to start selling Monday

DiVosta will open the doors of it's newest sales center in Jupiter on Monday, Nov. 23.  The community is called Sonoma Isles and is located just west of the Florida Turnpike on Indiantown Road (SR706) across from the Toll Brothers community of Jupiter Country Club.

Homes for sale in Sonoma Isles will range in size from 2,488 to 5,100 feet and will be priced from the mid-$600's to over $1 million.

New homes in Jupiter just a few years back were priced from the mid-$300's.  When Lennar began building Rialto, the homes were priced in this range.  But times have changed and new homes are going up again on every remaining parcels of land.

Sonoma Isles is not the only location offering new construction.  So let me show you the best choices to meet your price point and lifestyle.  I have lived here 25 years and know the market inside and out.
You can reach me at 561-762-4073 or richard@coastalflrealestate.com.

If you prefer to search Jupiter homes for sale yourself, all the homes currently listed in the MLS, along with pictures, prices and fees, are available to you by visiting Coastal Florida Real Estate.

Jupiter Farms: Is it the right spot for you?

Jupiter Farms real estate is often overlooked by people considering moving to this area. Let me tell you the area is one of the hidden jewels of Palm Beach County.

 Let me explain Jupiter Farms and our other western communities.

 

 OK, that is a little bit about our area. Are you looking for the right real estate agent to help you buy or sell in the Farms? I have lived here 15 years and can show you the best locations, great opportunities and the areas to avoid.

 You can reach me at 561-762-4073 or search yourself at Coastal Florida Real Estate where you will get the fastest search results.

Richard Sites

Sonoma Isles: Jupiter Farms gets new DiVosta homes

Jupiter Farms, a semi-rural area west of the Town of Jupiter, is slated to get around 300 new DiVosta homes soon.  Just west of the Florida Turnpike is a parcel of land where cows once grazed. WCI, a builder casualty of the boom gone bust period here, owned the land and sold it to Toll Brothers and the Jupiter Country Club was built.  Except that there wasn't quite enough room on the south side of Indiantown Road for everything they wanted or needed to build so they bought a key hole shaped parcel on the north side to build the clubhouse and three golf holes.  The surrounding land remained fallow.  Enter DiVosta.

Several decades ago Buzz DiVosta started his company, Berg and DiVosta and began building condos using a repetitive formula.   This area is peppered with DiVosta condos.  Then they began building houses using a similar formula.  No variations were allowed to the floor plan, only the upgrades.  You couldn't even change colors on the exterior.  If you wanted your house yellow, you had to buy the one they offered in yellow since no changes were allowed.

A couple of years back, Pulte homes paid a reported $140 million for DiVosta.  They are currently building Windsor Park in Abacoa, Jupiter.  And now the company plans to build around the parcel Toll Brothers owns.  It is called Sonoma Isles.

Jupiter Farms residents have long protected their idyllic lifestyle on large home sites and the threat of more building is always met with an uneasy feeling.  While it is true that Riverbend Park provides a buffer for the Farms from too much development, the Farms residents can always feel the pressure of developers breathing down their necks.

Heck, you move to the Farms to get away from people...like they did in the TV show "Green Acres".

Homes in Jupiter Farms are built on 1.25 acres or more where you can ride horses or have a big garden.  You can see all Jupiter Farms homes for sale at Coastal Florida Real Estate or if you need some guidance, I have lived here for 25 years and can show you the best locations.  You can contact me at 561-762-4073.

Jupiter Farms Landowners Family Day this Saturday

Jupiter Farms is a great place to live. I've been here 12 years and raised by boys here, along with miscellaneous animals. If you don't like looking out your window and seeing an neighbor right there, Jupiter Farms real estate might be the place for you. Yesterday, as I pulled up in my driveway I looked out the window and saw a small rabbit. If you like to be surprised by wildlife in your yard or out your window, Jupiter Farms real estate might be for you. Every day I see horses either walking down the street or along the easement behind my house. If you like horses, Jupiter Farms real estate might be right for you. Jupiter Farms has a special rural, community charm that is lacking in our zero lot line communities.

Out here we like our neighbors, but we like them at a distance. We like to be able to call down the street to them, not say "Excuse me" when you bump into them in the driveway. And part of the charm here is the annual Landowners Family Day hosted by the water control district. This year's event will take place on Saturday from 11:30 to 2:30 right here in the Farms across from the old Burt Reynolds ranch on Jupiter Farms road. If you would like to see what the event looks and sounds like, here is the video I made last year.
 

If you are looking at Jupiter Farms homes for sale you can see them all at Coastal Florida Real Estate. If you want to see the best locations, contact me at coastalflrealestate@gmail.com.

Time to trim the trees

Jupiter Farms is a great place to live!  We have no restrictive HOA rules, plenty of room to ride and quarter horses or backyard chickens (try that in Abacoa!), plenty of wildlife and lots of trees.  Although the hurricanes of 2004, Frances and Jean, took down hundreds if not thousands of trees, we still have plenty and since the power wires on not buried out here, the trees have to be trimmed periodically.

So one of the largest companies that handles clearing for utility lines has been working in the Farms.  Today, I watched from my home office as they trimmed the pines that line the front of my house.

Jupiter Farms tree trimming

This crew was very efficient and stopped, did their work and were gone in probably under 30 minutes.  I watched in amazement as the trimmer maneuvered his bucket between the power lines to get to my trees.

Richard Sites

If you are looking for a home here in the Farms, I have lived here 12 years and can show you the best locations and some great values.  You can reach me at 561-762-4073 or if you prefer email use coastalflrealestate@gmail.com.  If you would like to search yourself, the fastest MLS search available can be found at Coastal Florida Real Estate.

Jupiter Farms Christmas Parade 2011

Part of the phone of living here in Jupiter Farms is the sense of community.  We all like the wildlife, the peace and quiet and of course, the annual Christmas Parade.  The parade is held on Sandy Run Road between Alexander Run and Jupiter Farms Road.  Here, families can gather and watch local civic groups, businesses, Scouts and animal fanciers of all types march along.  I took my dad along and shot this video.



If you are looking at homes for sale in Jupiter or Jupiter Farms let me show you any home listed for sale by any broker.  Unlike many agents I live here in the Farms.  You can contact me at 561-762-4073 or by email.  Maybe you are not sure if the Farms is right for you.  Drop me a short email and I will answer that for you.

Richard Sites, Realtor

Jupiter Farms parade, craft sale and Christmas tree sale

I have lived in Jupiter Farms for 11 years.  Although I was raised in South Florida, the "cracker" and "conch" lifestyles I grew up with have given way to suburbia.  Many of us relocated from Miami to get away from the sprawl.

When I moved to Jupiter 21 years ago, it was still a very small town in more ways than one.  But slowly the secret got out and people moved into the newly built homes in the country clubs.  Right down the street from where I live, grazing cattle were replaced by the Jupiter County Club, a Toll Brothers community.  We used to have citrus trees in nearly every backyard, but the State cut 66,000 of them down. But Jupiter Farms is the undiscovered jewel left in the northern Palm Beach area.  Even though I live on the western side of the Farms, I am only 15 minutes from our fabulous beaches.

One of the big attractions to life in the Farms is the fact that there is a strong community spirit fostered by the Jupiter Farms Residents association.  This group is dedicated to preserving the great lifestyle we enjoy out here.

Each holiday season, they host a craft sale, Christmas tree sale and Farms parade. This year the fun begins Sunday Dec. 4 at 9:30 at our new community center.  The Christmas tree sale is going on Saturday and Sunday and all proceeds go to the JFR Scholarship fund.  The craft sale is Sunday AM and the parade begins at 1:30 and travels along Sandy Run Road, one of our major paved roads.

In the parade, you will see many Farms theme floats made locally in folks back yards.  And there is plenty of hay, horses and wagons and the like.  For your chance to get a feel of what the Jupiter Farms lifestyle is all about, be sure to come out on Sunday.

If this looks like a great place to live, I can show you all Jupiter Farms homes for sale listed by all brokers.  Contact me at 561-762-4073 or rsites@bellsouth.net.

Richard Sites, Realtor

Jupiter Farms, it's time for bonfires!!

Few things make it seem more like fall than the smell of burning leaves.  Here in Jupiter Farms, where we don't have any choking HOA restrictions we can enjoy a great fire in the backyard.  And there's nothing like a big bonfire on a cool, fall night.

Homes in Jupiter Farms sit on lots of 1.25 acres and more so there are no neighbors to complain about your fire.  In fact, my neighbor to the east builds much bigger fires on cold nights than I do.  My neighbor on the west likes to burn leaves so you can often smell his fires during the afternoon.

With bonfire season upon us, we now start watching for people cutting down dead trees and moving them to the street for pickup.  We mostly see pine trees at the street but they burn very quickly.  If I stumble upon an oak tree cut up and at the street I almost always bring this wood home.  It burn slowly so the fire doesn't need as much tending.

And since there are HOA rules, you can have any wildlife here you might like such as chickens, ducks, geese, horses or goats...and we have them in Jupiter Farms.

Looking at homes for sale in Jupiter Farms?  Unlike many Realtors, I have lived in the Farms for 11 years and can show you the best values and locations and homes listed for sale by all brokers.  Contact me, Richard Sites, at rsites@bellsouth.net or on Skype at rsites or 561-762-4073.

Richard Sites, Realtor

Jupiter Farms homes, the cavendish banana adds a tropical touch

Homes in Jupiter Farms are sometimes lacking a tropical touch.  Sure we have lots of land.  The properties here are 1.25 acres or more but mostly pines and palmettos.  One way to add a quick, tropical touch is to add the dwarf, Cavendish banana.

Cavenish banana

This smaller cousin of the taller, commercial species is a great addition to the landscapes.  True enough, it produces edible bananas.  But the real attraction is the quick habit of growing large, tropical leaves.  And since it doesn't require much space is perfect close to the house.

Bananas in Jupiter Farms



This clump is growing near my Jupiter Farms home.  So how do you get a clump started?  Well, check the local big box stores during the summer.  Or support your local, small nursery.  If they don't have them, they can get them.  Plant and water....that's it!

Looking at Jupiter Farms homes for sale?  Unlike many Realtors, I have lived in the Farms for 11 years and can show you the best values and opportunities.  Contact me to find out whether Jupiter Farms might be right for you or on Skype at rsites.  Of course you can text or call at 561-762-4073.

Richard Sites, Realtor

Jupiter Country Club in Jupiter Farms

Jupiter Country Club is the Toll Brothers community located between Jupiter Farms and the Town of Jupiter.  In classic Toll Brothers fashion, a grand entrance was designed using fountains and lots of stone.

Jupiter Country Club

Frenchman's Reserve, another Toll Brothers community, employed this same idea when they started building.  They built a fountain at entrance costing a reported $ 1,000,000 to entice visit visitors to come to the sales center.

Homes in Jupiter Country Club are laid out around a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and will be Mediterranean inspired.  Lavish attention to details and fine workmanship highlight the impressive design features.

If you are considering a new home in the Jupiter area, there are three choices right now at all price points.  You can contact me to see these homes or any Jupiter home for sale listed by all brokers.  Unlike many agents, I have lived here 21 years and can show you the best values and locations.  You can reach me at rsites@bellsouth.net or on Skype at rsites.  Feel more comfortable texting?  Then use 561-762-4073.

Richard Sites, Realtor



Frost in the Farms, day two

Here in Jupiter Farms it gets really cold.  I mean really cold for coastal Florida, not Buffalo.

We have had frost the past two days and may get it again tonight.  This was shot on my car today.

Two good things though.  One, it will be getting warmer again this afternoon with a low only in the 40's tonight.  And, this really cold weather makes the backyard citrus sweet.  So we can eat our oranges, grapefruit and tangerines earlier this year.  Last year, it didn't get really cold until January when it wiped out my garden.



Orange juice is just around the corner.  If you would like to live in Jupiter Farms, there are plenty of houses to choose from.  To see all houses for sale in Jupiter Farms, just click HERE.



Jupiter Farms Market Update November 30

Jupiter Farms has a variety of homes on the market.  When you include the five communities in Ranch Colony, the choices get even more varied.  As of November 30, there are 135 homes for sale in Jupiter Farms and the western communities.

The least expensive is priced at $ 114,900 and the most expensive is priced at $ 4,300,000.  Home sites here are an acre + and go on up to 20 acres or more.  You can find a handyman special or a new, pool home and anything in between.

To see all homes for sale in Jupiter Farms, visit me at www.coastalfloridarealestate.net/jupiterfarms.