The new owner of Laterra Links, Homes by Deltona, a division of the Deltona Corp., has selected Legacy Builders of North Florida to build five new multi-unit buildings in 2010. Construction is expected to start in January. The Laterra Links buildings each have four premium coach homes. According to Legacy Builders President John Unkefer, “We expect the first building may be completed as early as July 2010, with all five buildings, a total of 20 units, to be completed before the end of 2010.”

Laterra Links is beautifully situated around golf holes two through eight of the King & Bear. The Laterra Links concrete-constructed coach homes will continue to range from two to four bedrooms and 2,160 square feet to 2,780 square feet, with two-car garages and screened lanais. Various high-end finishes are offered at Laterra Links, including granite countertops, stainless appliances, wood floors and more. The neighborhood’s beautifully appointed amenity center was recently completed. The 7,200-square-foot facility features a fitness center, pool, veranda, event room and kitchen.

For the past eight years, the Limelight Theatre has somehow enticed St. Augustine-area celebrities to get dressed up in over the top costumes and lip sync while dancing on stage. And they do this with the greater St. Augustine community watching – and, quite frankly, giggling! Of course, with the open bar starting an hour before the curtain rises at 8:00 p.m. – and staying open throughout the entire evening, the laughter flows more easily! In addition to the fabulous entertainment and the open bar for all ticket holders, delectable hors d’oeuvres are served by the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association and the Limelight Theatre gives away all kinds of door prizes throughout the evening too. Can you tell this is one of my favorite fundraisers of the year!

I am sure that you have read that now is the best time to buy a home due to the federal incentive programs, attractive interest rates and variety of homes on the market. In a complimentary fashion, now is also the best time to purchase a residential lot and commence home construction. Generally, lot pricing has become highly competitive and is now at some of the best rates seen in decades. Most importantly, pricing for new home construction is almost at an all time low. Major building materials and components, as well as all of the various trade labors, are aggressively discounted. Builders and contractors are at their most humble state – meaning they are accommodating, negotiable, cooperative and extremely eager to work.

In that regard, we suggest you consider the lot availability in King & Bear at World Golf Village. The King & Bear, home to the first-time-ever, one-time-only, collaborative golf course design by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, is a gated, secure neighborhood that will have only 968 total residential homes, once completed. Of those, there are only 129 single family lots which overlook the prestigious King & Bear golf course. As of November 18, 2009, there are only 23 of these remarkable lots available for first-time buyers. A few of the lots are lake front, providing a gracious setback from the golf vistas and golf activity. Five of the lots are along the 350′ wide thirteenth fairway, shaded with majestic Southern Live Oaks. The other golf front lots are all situated to create broad, open vistas over 2 and 3 parallel fairway corridors, creating 600′ to 1,600′ views across the golf landscape to the distant conservation forestlands.

We hear so many sad stories about public school funding being slashed. About how arts and humanities are no longer being taught. About how behavioral and discipline problems are rampant in schools. However, if you visit Wards Creek Elementary School in St. Johns County, you will see a very different reality!

The school was built in 2007 and now teaches over 700 students between kindergarten and fifth grade. The kindergarten to third grade classes have a teacher/student ratio of 1 to 18. The fourth and fifth grade classes are 1 to 22. The school has received an A+ rating every year since its opening! To see how this was achieved, I visited the school. Don Campbell, the principal, was kind enough to give me a tour.

One of the first things you notice walking through the school is how well behaved and polite the kids you encounter are. Campbell said this is because his team sets the standard from the beginning. From day one, they promote character, trustworthiness, caring and discipline. He also says the parent involvement at the school is incredibly high, which helps a great deal. Some days there are more parent volunteers on the campus than staff! This creates an environment where the kids are ready and able to learn, which means teachers get to actually teach! This is one of the reasons they receive over 600 applications for every teaching opening they post.

The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village is excited to share that the Sneak Peek Saturday in December will be in Heritage Landing. On December 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., a variety of homes throughout Heritage Landing at World Golf Village will be open for tours. This event will continue Davidson Realty’s tradition of hosting community-wide open houses in World Golf Village on the first Saturday of each month.

The Sneak Peek open house in December will also serve as an opportunity to contribute to Davidson Realty’s toy drive for Sertoma for Tots, an organization that collects and distributes toys to underprivileged children in our local area. Toys will be collected at each home on tour as well as at Davidson Realty at the main entrance to World Golf Village. As always, we will be serving festive treats in one of the homes on tour too!

The World Golf Hall of Fame 2009 Induction Ceremony will honor legends and great contributors to the game of golf President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Christy O’Connor, Jose Maria Olazabal and Lanny Wadkins. In addition to returning Hall of Fame members and the 2009 Class of Inductees, this year’s ceremony will feature other special presenters including Jim Nantz, Christy O’Connor, Jr. and Arnold Palmer. Residents at World Golf Village can purchase an exclusive package that includes seating in a reserved VIP section and be part of the private, post-induction gala at a special price of $125.

The World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held Monday, Nov. 2, is free and open to the public. Attendees can set up chairs and blankets on the World Golf Hall of Fame lawn and enjoy the outdoor ceremony at no charge. Regular pricing for event packages for those who would like special seating and admission to the post-induction gala is $150; but homeowners at World Golf Village can purchase the package at $125. Those interested in purchasing VIP tickets should call 904-940-4102.