Greenland Chase versus Deercreek (Country Club, St. Augustine: sales, appliances, custom home)

[rameshkm]

Need some help making decisions?
I am moving to Jax in July 09.
I was recently there looking at homes. I really liked the Deercreek Country Club homes, but most of them need some degree of updating. The sellers are not negotiable on the price. (500 - 550 K) We like newer appliances, cabinets, granite and Greenland Chase seems to be offering all that to us for almost half the price for the same sqaure feet. (300K) I am inclining towards Greenland Chase.
Given my wife's (downtown) and my commute (orange park) these are the areas that work best for us.

Any thoughts or suggestions ?

[kmoon327]

Don't know about Deercreek - but we did look into Greenland. Have you visited it? We were turned off immediately!! It's so close to the interstate, I can see inside people's houses when I drive up 95. Another turn off was driving across the train tracks to get in the main entrance. Seems way mass produced/cookie cutter. Just my opinion.

We picked a development off 210 in St Johns County - brand new house, awesome neighborhood - all the upgrades you can bargain for - at a steal of a deal - its only 12 miles south but it is all intestate - well worth the added 10 minutes IMO!!! BTW we paid 300k for our house as well, but we aren't on the interstate, have a quiet peaceful neighborhood where kids can play in the streets - gated with manned security on top of it all - if I was buying in Greenland I wouldn't pay more than 250 in this market - they don't have much to offer but a brand new house and other communities that are building can offer a better community AND a brand new house.

Let me know if you have any questions about that area - I love it!

[rameshkm]

Yes, it is mass produced and thats what I hate. I plan on picking a lot on a pond further away from i-95. Can you explain what you mean by 'off 210'

[EricBoyd]

"off 210" means County Rd 210, which is the next exit off I-95, South of Old St. Augustine Rd. It's St. Johns County.

Greenland Chase and Deercreek aren't really comparable communities, IMHO. Deercreek Country Club has estate sized lots and custom homes, and it's a gated community. Greenland Chase is your everyday neighborhood with smaller lots and average community amenties.

The builder, Providence Homes, is a local builder. I wouldn't really call their product "mass produced", but their build time these days is only about 90 days. (at least that's what they shoot for on new construction. Besides being wedged in between the RR tracks and I-95, it's a great part of town. It's in Mandarin, has good interstate access, and is pretty close to shopping (10-15 minutes, tops). I would live there. I love the style of homes they have. Very unique elevations.

[kmoon327]

Greenland chase is not Mandarin at all!!! More southside/baymeadows.

I sent a DM to you ram.

[The Sandman]

Originally Posted by EricBoyd

"off 210" means County Rd 210, which is the next exit off I-95, South of Old St. Augustine Rd. It's St. Johns County.

Greenland Chase and Deercreek aren't really comparable communities, IMHO. Deercreek Country Club has estate sized lots and custom homes, and it's a gated community. Greenland Chase is your everyday neighborhood with smaller lots and average community amenties.

The builder, Providence Homes, is a local builder. I wouldn't really call their product "mass produced", but their build time these days is only about 90 days. (at least that's what they shoot for on new construction. Besides being wedged in between the RR tracks and I-95, it's a great part of town. It's in Mandarin, has good interstate access, and is pretty close to shopping (10-15 minutes, tops). I would live there. I love the style of homes they have. Very unique elevations.

When I was there this past week, I was first turned off by the appearance of the area around the subdivision but when I learned about all of the shops and conveniences that are coming I was pleased. The RR tracks are of no concern to me. I did ask the some of the people who live there what they thought about it, and they said they rarely have to wait for the train to pass to go where they need to. One lady said she's seen the train cross once in the year that she's been there. There are 28 floorplans (at least that's what I've been told). You wouldn't know that by the exterior because there seems to be slight variations of about 5 or 6 main exteriors.

[Joe 4520832257]

Originally Posted by kmoon327

Greenland chase is not Mandarin at all!!! More southside/baymeadows.

I agree with you 100% ... however, the reality of the situation is that people are calling everything between Bayard and the river "Mandarin" these days. The area has really spread beyond any concept of what a native would have called Mandarin.

[EricBoyd]

Originally Posted by kmoon327

Greenland chase is not Mandarin at all!!! More southside/baymeadows.

I sent a DM to you ram.

By the boundaries and how we sales agents list properties in the area, it IS Mandarin. Pretty sure it's Mandarin schools, too. But, I agree with you in that it doesn't look like what "old Mandarin" looks like. If you want that, take a trip down Mandarin Rd.

[kmoon327]

Originally Posted by EricBoyd

By the boundaries and how we sales agents list properties in the area, it IS Mandarin. Pretty sure it's Mandarin schools, too. But, I agree with you in that it doesn't look like what "old Mandarin" looks like. If you want that, take a trip down Mandarin Rd.

You've gotta be kidding!! If I lived in Mandarin I would be mad about this! Oh well, I just didn't think something like Greenland Chase should be classified as Mandarin - Mandarin to me is just so much nicer, grouping GC in there is an insult!!

Sorry to all you GC people out there, I just really didn't care for the place at all, but I'm sure it has appeal to some.

[EricBoyd]

Oh, and Greenland Chase shares a Mandarin zip code, too: 32258. I also live in 32258, but off Old St. Augustine Rd.