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
Waterleaf is a master-planned community in North Jacksonville, built by ICI Homes, known for newer single-family homes and a resort-style amenity package. It sits near River City Marketplace and Jacksonville International Airport, with quick access to I-295 and I-95, which has made the North Jacksonville corridor one of the area growth stories.
Homes generally run from 3 to 5 bedrooms and roughly 1,800 to 3,500 square feet, with a mix of newer construction and resale. The amenity center anchors the community with a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a playground, and gathering spaces, typical of an ICI master-plan.
For pricing context, the 32226 area around Waterleaf carried a median sale price near 415,000 dollars in recent months according to Redfin, with Waterleaf newer and larger homes trading in line with or above that area median by size and finish. Those figures are third-party market context and not NEFAR statistics, so a specific home should be priced off recent comparable sales.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | North Jacksonville, near River City Marketplace and Jacksonville International Airport |
| County | Duval County |
| ZIP code | 32226 |
| Homes | Newer single-family homes, 3 to 5 bedrooms |
| Built | Built in the 2010s onward; new and resale |
| Home sizes | Roughly 1,800 to 3,500 square feet |
| Amenities | Amenity center, resort pool, fitness, playground; newer construction |
| Schools | Duval County Public Schools (confirm zoning by address; magnet/choice options) |
| Gate / HOA | HOA; confirm any CDD per address |
Community Overview & History
A newer master-plan in growing North Jacksonville
North Jacksonville has grown quickly around River City Marketplace and the airport, and Waterleaf is one of its established master-planned communities, an ICI Homes neighborhood with resort amenities and newer homes. Its appeal is newer construction and amenities with quick interstate access at a North Jacksonville price.
How it feels on the ground today
Waterleaf reads as a newer, amenity-rich, family-oriented community where the resort pool and clubhouse anchor the social life. The North Jacksonville location trades a longer drive to the Southside and beaches for value, newer homes, and quick interstate access.
The Community and What You Are Buying
Waterleaf is a master-planned community, so the choices come down to floor plan, lot, and whether you buy newer construction or resale.
Single-family floor plans
A range of 3 to 5 bedroom ICI plans gives families options, with larger homes on premium lots.
Lot position
Interior, preserve, and water-view lots vary in premium, so the homesite matters to lifestyle and resale.
New construction versus resale
Buyers can weigh a newer builder home against a resale on price and timeline.
Real Estate Market
Waterleaf appeals to families and move-up buyers who want a newer home and resort amenities with quick interstate access at a North Jacksonville price.
The 32226 area carried a median sale price near 415,000 dollars in recent months per Redfin, with Waterleaf homes in line with or above that median by size and finish. Because plans and lots vary, a specific home should be priced from the closest comparable sales.
With newer inventory still available in parts of the corridor, buyers can weigh new construction against resale on price and timeline.
Who Lives Here
Waterleaf draws families and move-up buyers who want a newer single-family home and resort amenities at a North Jacksonville value, including those who work near the airport, the port, or the Northside industrial corridor. The amenity package keeps the community active.
Schools
Waterleaf is part of Duval County Public Schools. Elementary, middle, and high attendance zones are assigned by home address, and Duval County also offers magnet and school-choice programs along with private and parochial options nearby. Confirm the exact zoning for a particular Waterleaf address with the district before you buy, since assignments can change.
Amenities & Lifestyle
Waterleaf is built around a resort-style amenity package, a key part of its appeal.
Resort pool and amenity center
A resort-style pool and amenity center anchor the community social life.
Fitness and gathering spaces
A fitness center and gathering spaces add to the amenity package.
Playground and recreation
Family amenities include a playground and open recreation space.
Newer construction
Recent build years mean newer systems and modern floor plans relative to older area homes.
HOA, CDD & Costs
Waterleaf has an HOA that funds the amenity center and common areas. Confirm the current dues and what they include for a specific home.
Confirm whether a CDD applies for the exact home, since some North Jacksonville master-plans carry one, and it adds to the annual cost.
Pull the flood designation for the specific address, since the broader North Jacksonville area has marsh and low-lying pockets.
Commute Analysis
| Destination | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| River City Marketplace | About 5 to 10 minutes |
| Jacksonville International Airport | About 10 minutes |
| Interstate 295 | About 5 minutes |
| Downtown Jacksonville | About 20 to 25 minutes |
| St. Johns Town Center | About 30 minutes |
Waterleaf trades a North Jacksonville setting for value and newer homes, with River City Marketplace and the airport minutes away and I-295 and I-95 providing quick access to downtown and the wider region, though the Southside and beaches are a longer drive.
Shopping & Dining
Everyday shopping and dining are at the nearby River City Marketplace, a large North Jacksonville retail and dining center, with grocery and services minutes away. The location is convenient to the airport and the interstates, with the Southside and beach shopping a longer drive south and east.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Newer single-family homes with resort amenities
- Quick access to I-295, I-95, the airport, and River City Marketplace
- Value pricing relative to the Southside and St. Johns
- New construction available in parts of the corridor
- A settled, family-oriented master-planned community
Cons
- North Jacksonville setting is a longer drive to the Southside and beaches
- Some North Jax master-plans carry a CDD, so confirm per home
- HOA dues for the amenities
- New-construction pace can affect resale timing
- Confirm flood per address near marsh and low-lying areas
Waterleaf vs. Comparable Communities
| Community | How it compares to Waterleaf |
|---|---|
| Yellow Bluff Landing | A nearby North Jacksonville master-plan, a comparison for buyers weighing amenities and pricing. |
| Oceanway | The broader North Jacksonville area, a comparison for value buyers weighing setting and price. |
Hidden Things Buyers Should Know
Confirm the CDD
Some North Jacksonville master-plans carry a CDD, so confirm whether one applies for the exact home, since it adds to the annual cost.
Weigh new versus resale
With newer inventory still around, an early resale and a new build can differ on price and timeline, so compare both.
Check flood per address
The broader North Jacksonville area has marsh and low-lying pockets, so pull the flood designation for the specific home.
Momentum Expert Insight
Waterleaf is one of the stronger amenity values in North Jacksonville, where buyers can get a newer ICI home and a resort pool with quick interstate and airport access for less than comparable Southside or St. Johns communities.
My advice is to confirm the HOA and any CDD, weigh new construction against resale, and price off the closest comparable sales, since the North Jacksonville corridor is still growing.
Selling a Home in Waterleaf
Selling in Waterleaf means competing with nearby new construction, so presentation, condition, and correct pricing are essential. Highlighting the amenities, the newer systems, and the value relative to the Southside helps move homes.
We price from the closest comparable sales given the newer-construction backdrop, and market the community, the amenities, and the value to the families and move-up buyers who shop North Jacksonville.
Get a no-obligation home value for your Waterleaf 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 Waterleaf, 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
Where is Waterleaf in Jacksonville?
Who built Waterleaf?
What do homes in Waterleaf cost?
What amenities does Waterleaf have?
Does Waterleaf have a CDD?
Does Waterleaf have an HOA?
What size are homes in Waterleaf?
What schools serve Waterleaf?
How far is Waterleaf from the airport?
Is Waterleaf a good value?
Is Waterleaf still building new homes?
How far is Waterleaf from downtown Jacksonville?
Is Waterleaf in a flood zone?
Is Waterleaf good for families?
Who should I call about buying in Waterleaf?
Do I need my own agent to buy in Waterleaf?
Related Reading
If you are weighing Waterleaf against other North Jacksonville communities, these guides are a good next step.