What's in this guide
- Executive Summary
- Quick Facts
- Community Overview & History
- Neighborhoods & Areas
- Real Estate Market
- Who Lives Here
- Schools
- Amenities & Lifestyle
- HOA, CDD & Costs
- Commute Analysis
- Shopping & Dining
- Pros & Cons
- Neighborhood Comparisons
- Hidden Things to Know
- Momentum Expert Insight
- Frequently Asked Questions
Executive Summary
Celestina is a manned, guard-gated community of about 635 single-family homes in northwest St. Johns County, built between 2015 and 2020 by CalAtlantic and then Lennar. It centers on a roughly $7 million amenity center and sits in one of the most sought-after school corridors in Florida, zoned for Durbin Creek, Fruit Cove, and Creekside.
Homes span three Lennar collections from about 2,096 to over 6,000 square feet on 68-, 73-, and 90-foot lots, many with water views. The community is established and trades on the resale market alongside the last new inventory.
The draw is a guard-gated community with a deep amenity center in a top school zone near Durbin Park. The trade-offs are an HOA plus a CDD-style assessment and the homesite premiums for the best water-view lots.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Northwest St. Johns County, near Durbin Park |
| County | St. Johns County |
| ZIP code | 32259 |
| Homes | About 635 single-family homes |
| Built | 2015 - 2020 (CalAtlantic, then Lennar) |
| Home sizes | ~2,096 to 6,000+ sqft, three collections |
| Amenities | ~$7M center, 9,600 sqft clubhouse |
| Schools | Durbin Creek Elem · Fruit Cove Middle · Creekside High |
| Gate / CDD | Manned guard gate; HOA + assessment |
Community Overview & History
A Lennar masterplan
Celestina was started in 2015 by CalAtlantic Homes, formerly Standard Pacific, with 22 original home designs. Lennar acquired CalAtlantic in February 2018 and completed the build-out in December 2020, offering three collections of homes built for indoor-outdoor Florida living. The result is a manned guard-gated community of about 635 homes in northwest St. Johns County.
Built around the amenity center
Celestina is organized around a roughly $7 million amenity center an easy walk from most homes, with a natural setting of ponds, preserves, and a trail system. It is designed as a family-focused community in one of the county's top school corridors.
Home Collections
Celestina is organized into three Lennar collections by lot width.
Royal Collection (68-foot lots)
The entry collection, on 68-foot homesites an easy walk from the amenity center.
Executive Collection (73-foot lots)
Popular floor plans on 73-foot homesites, most with water views.
Elite Collection (90-foot lots)
Estate-style homes with dramatic entries and grand entertaining spaces on 90-foot homesites, up to six bedrooms.
Real Estate Market
Celestina sits in the upper-middle tier of the northwest St. Johns market. Pricing depends on the collection, the home, the lot width, and the view, with newer Elite Collection homes listing around the high $500s and resale pricing varying by home and lot. The guard gate, the amenity center, and the Creekside school zoning support steady demand.
For context, Momentum tracks the wider Jacksonville metro at a 97.98 percent sold-to-list ratio and 64 days on market for our agents, against a RealMLS market average closer to 96.73 percent and 72 days, year to date. In a multi-collection community, pricing to the specific home and homesite is essential.
Who Lives Here
Celestina draws families and professionals who want a guard-gated community with a deep amenity center in the Durbin Creek, Fruit Cove, and Creekside school zone, with the range of collections bringing in both move-up buyers in the Royal homes and established families in the Elite estates.
Schools
Celestina is zoned for Durbin Creek Elementary, Fruit Cove Middle School, and Creekside High School, all in the top-rated St. Johns County School District. Confirm the current zoning for a specific address with the district. See the St. Johns County schools guide.
Amenities & Lifestyle
Celestina's roughly $7 million amenity center anchors community life.
The clubhouse and pools
A 9,600-square-foot clubhouse with a poolside snack bar, a fitness center, and an aerobics studio sits beside resort-style swimming pools.
Courts and play
Tennis and basketball courts, a bocce court, a playground, a tot lot, a multi-purpose field, and a dog park serve active residents and families.
Trails and gathering spaces
A promenade, an event lawn with a fire pit, and a nature trail system with wildlife observation areas round out the community.
HOA, CDD & Costs
Celestina carries an HOA, running around $103 a month in some collections, plus a special assessment that functions like a CDD on the annual tax bill, with an approximate amount near $144. Confirm the current HOA dues and the assessment for a specific home in writing and model both into the all-in monthly cost, since the assessment raises the effective tax above the base millage.
Insurance is the other cost to confirm. The homes are newer, built 2015 to 2020, so roof age is less of a factor, and the inland location generally carries less coastal exposure than the beaches. Confirm the flood zone and get quotes early for any specific home.
Commute Analysis
Celestina sits in northwest St. Johns County near Durbin Park.
| Destination | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| St. Johns Town Center | About 20 minutes |
| Downtown Jacksonville | About 30 minutes |
| Jacksonville Beaches | About 35 minutes via Nocatee Pkwy |
| Historic St. Augustine | About 35 minutes |
The northwest county location balances Jacksonville job centers and the beaches. Test your specific commute, since the northern county corridors carry traffic at peak hours.
Shopping & Dining
Everyday shopping and dining sit nearby at The Pavilion at Durbin Park and along the SR-9B and CR-210 corridors, with a wide range of restaurants, grocery, and retail. The St. Johns Town Center adds big-box and upscale options about 20 minutes north.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Manned, guard-gated security
- Roughly $7 million amenity center
- Range of Lennar collections and sizes
- Water-view homesites
- Top Durbin Creek, Fruit Cove, Creekside zoning
- Minutes from Durbin Park and I-95
Cons
- HOA plus a CDD-style assessment
- Water-view lots carry a premium
- Build-out complete, limited new inventory
- Collection pricing varies widely
- Northern-corridor traffic at peak hours
Celestina vs. Comparable Communities
| Community | How it compares to Celestina |
|---|---|
| Julington Lakes | A gated Toll Brothers community nearby with no CDD and more uniform luxury construction. |
| Durbin Crossing | A larger master-planned community nearby with more amenities and inventory. |
| Aberdeen | An established neighbor at a more attainable price. |
Hidden Things Buyers Should Know
Know the collection and lot width
Royal, Executive, and Elite homes sit on 68-, 73-, and 90-foot lots at very different prices. Pin down the collection that fits your budget first.
Model the assessment
The HOA looks modest, but the CDD-style special assessment adds to the tax bill. Build the all-in carrying cost before you commit.
Water views cost more
Many homesites have water views, and they carry a premium. Understand what the view adds versus an interior lot.
Momentum Expert Insight
Celestina punches above its weight on amenities, the roughly $7 million center is one of the better ones in northwest St. Johns, and the Creekside zoning is a real draw for families. Buyers who only price the HOA miss the special assessment.
Figure out which collection and lot width fit your budget, model the HOA plus the assessment as one carrying cost, and weigh the water-view premium. A St. Johns specialist will run the comparison against Julington Lakes and Durbin Crossing for you.
Selling a Home in Celestina
If you are thinking about selling in Celestina, the right list price comes from the recent comparable sales in this specific community, not an automated estimate. Pricing to the homesite and the current Celestina inventory is what earns the strongest offer in the fewest days on market.
Across the wider Jacksonville metro, Momentum's listings have run a 97.98 percent sold-to-list ratio and 64 days on market for our agents, against a market average closer to 96.73 percent and 72 days, year to date. A Celestina listing specialist will give you a true home value from real comparable sales and a pricing strategy built for the current market. Start with a no-obligation home value request below.
Get a no-obligation home value for your Celestina home, based on real comparable sales in the community rather than an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.
Whether you are buying, selling, or just gathering information about Celestina, drop your details below. Every inquiry comes straight to us, and we will personally help you and connect you with the right agent. No obligation, no spam.
Frequently Asked Questions
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