How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in Highlands, Jacksonville

Closed sales across the six-county Northeast Florida Association of Realtors area fell 7.7% year over year to 1,608, with the median price at $398,566, up 2.8%. Active inventory dropped 18.4% to 6,348 homes. Median prices were $344,000 in Duval, $575,000 in St. Johns, $355,000 in Clay and $496,500 in Nassau.

Why it matters Lower inventory with softer sales volume points to a thinner supply of listings across all four counties, with Clay the only one of the four showing a year-over-year price decline. The site is about 7 miles south of Highlands.

Florida State College at Jacksonville has built a fully automated lab it describes as the first of its kind in Florida for its size. Students train on electrical, robotics, mechatronics, AI inspection and control systems used in chip manufacturing. The college says it aims to help draw semiconductor companies to Northeast Florida and prepare workers for local manufacturers.

Why it matters A regional technical-training pipeline can support recruitment of advanced manufacturers, which would widen the local employment base. The site is about 7 miles south of Highlands.

JEA is moving forward with three water reclamation projects (Blacks Ford in northwest St. Johns County, over $220 million; near Jacksonville International Airport, about $193 million; East Arlington, just under $165 million) and the $117 million Fulton Cut transmission line clearance over the St. Johns River near Blount Island. Fulton Cut, shared with JAXPORT and the city, is expected to finish in summer 2027 and all four projects by 2030.

Why it matters Raised power lines support larger ship access to port terminals, and new reclamation capacity supports growth in surrounding areas. The site is about 10 miles east of Highlands.

Gateway Jax is requesting about $55.4 million in incentives for a 17-story, roughly $271.5 million Riverfront Plaza tower with 130 to 170 hotel rooms and 50 to 150 residences on Independent Drive. It also seeks a $15 million loan for the nearly $50 million renovation of the former Ambassador Hotel at 420 Julia Street. The Downtown Investment Authority board votes Sept. 16 and City Council has the final say.

Why it matters If approved, the projects would add hotel rooms, residences and restaurants along the Downtown riverfront. The site is about 8 miles south of Highlands.

The Downtown Development Review Board voted 7-0 on Sept. 10 for a six to eight story, roughly 185,000 square foot academic building on a 2.34-acre site bounded by West Bay, Forsyth and North Lee streets. It is the first new building in a multiphase UF graduate and semiconductor institute campus estimated at $345 million. UF hopes to break ground in December, pending final design review and permitting.

Why it matters A large graduate campus adds education and technology jobs and daytime foot traffic to the western Downtown core. The site is about 8 miles south of Highlands.

At its February 2026 State of the Ports address, JAXPORT outlined a $250 million modernization of Blount Island's container and vehicle-handling capabilities and reported record fiscal-2025 cargo volumes. The port also said an air-draft expansion to accommodate larger ships is on track to finish by the end of 2026.

Why it matters Continued heavy investment in the Blount Island port complex anchors long-term industrial employment on the northeast side, a structural demand driver for the surrounding area. The site is about 10 miles east of Highlands.