Here in Gainesville, Shands just sent out acceptance letters for next year’s medical residents.  Congratulations for those of you who were accepted!

Relax

One of the million things you have to do before starting work is find a place to live.  Most residents want a home near Shands. You know you’ll be busy and don’t want headaches so you want something that doesn’t require much maintenance. You also want a home that isn’t too expensive (you’re still paying off student loans) but in a safe & clean neighborhood.

Places to live in Gainesville

Here is a list of places to live in Gainesville that other residents liked.  These neighborhoods have many homes available between $200,000 and $300,000 – and they are conveniently located.



View Communities in Alachua County in a larger map

SW Gainesville & Archer Road

Shands, UF, and the VA hospital are all on SW Archer road and very close to each other.  There are several communities along Archer Road that are within a 30 min drive during rush hour which are popular with residents.

Hickory Forest

Market Update
This community was built in the late 1990′s and is generally made up of 1-story frame homes with great room and split-bedroom floor plans.
Homes for Sale in Hickory Forest

Haile Plantation

Market Update
Started in the mid-1980′s there are still a few lots being built on in Haile. There are around 1,000 homes but they are tucked away into smaller sub-sections that each have their own personality. The heart of Haile is The Village Center and the Golf & Country Club.
Homes for Sale in Haile Plantation

Longleaf

Market Update
This is a new community, with 4 phases planned it is half way through development. The beach-entry pool and 24 hr fitness center are highlights here. Also – the monthly fees include front yard maintenance – so you don’t need to worry a lot about mowing! It is developed by Robinshore and Tommy Williams.
Homes for Sale in Longleaf

NW Gainesville

There are some areas in NW Gainesville with easy communtes along I-75 that are less expensive to buy in.

Ellis Park

Market Update
Ellis Park is a relatively new neighborhood being developed by Robinshore. Phase 2 is under construction now.
Homes for sale in Ellis Park

Broadmoor

Market Update
This neighborhood was built in the 1990′s and has been completed for years. The homes are +/- 2000 sqft and prices range from $200k to $300k for the most part.
Homes for Sale in Broadmoor

Downtown

There are also condos in downtown Gainesville with more to do nearby them that are much closer to Shands / UF and prices have come down to make them more affordable for a resident’s salary.

Union Street Station

Market Update

Condos For Sale at Union Street Station

This condo community is in the heart of downtown. Many people affiliated with the University of Florida live here and bike to campus or Shands. There are also many professionals who work in the courthouse and nearby legal offices who live here.

On the ground floor there are shops and restaurants, the second floor houses offices, and the top three floors are condos.  There is a private interior courtyard for the residents. The security system controls access to the elevators on the ground floor and the parking garage on the third floor.

Living here is about privacy, convenience, and being in the center of the action (such as it is) in Gainesville.

Things to do in Gainesville

Todo in Gainesville

http://www.we-promise.com/todogvl.php

Living in Gainesville

http://www.gainesvilletoday.com/2007/03/1431/Adam_Bolton:_10_Things_I_Love_About_Gainesville/

Homes for sale in Hickory Forest

Homes on the Market

There are 6 homes for sale in the MLS right now in Hickory Forest.  They range from $185,900 to $212,500 and 1,433 to 1,815 sqft.

To see all the specifics on the homes for sale now just click on the house photo.

Recent Activity

There was no home sold yet this year, and 1 home under contract waiting to close.  It was listed at $200,000 ($116/sqft) when it got a contract.

Prices

In 2007 prices began to slide a little and it took an extra month to sell homes in Hickory Forest.  In 2008 prices were down about $20,000 from the peak (from an average of $235,000 in 2006 to $205,000 in 2008).  The average price per sqft was $146 in 2006 and $132 in 2008.  The homes that sold in 2008 were originally listed at $141/sqft and were down to $138/sqft when they went under contract.

11 homes were marketed in 2008 and didn’t sell.  They averaged an asking price of $235,000 ($145/sqft) when they first came onto the market and $227,000 ($140/sqft) when they came off the market.  As you can see, there is a fairly large gap between the $140/sqft they were asking and the $132/sqft that people were willing to pay.

Time to Market

As prices have come down the length of time it takes to sell homes has increased.  The average time to market for homes was the lowest in 2005 at 2 months.  Since then it has been creeping up – from  3 months in 2006 to 4 months in 2007 and then jumping to almost one year in 2008.

Number of Sales

Across Alachua County we have seen fewer sales in recent years.  In Hickory Forest there were 7 sales in 2008, about 50% the volume of 2007 and 36% of 2006.

Market stats for Hickory Forest - click for larger image

Our examination of market conditions looks at the neighborhood as a whole. If you would like information grouped in another manner feel free to contact us!