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All the votes have been counted, and W.C. Gentry will face Jack Daniels in a runoff election on Nov. 4 to represent Southside schools. Here are the results of the other elections in Duval County:

State Attorney-Fourth Judicial Circuit

Angela Corey- 64.42 percent

Jay Plotkin- 35.58 percent

City Council- At Large Group 2

John Crescimbeni- 25.93 percent

Dick Brown- 24.56 percent

Theresa Graham- 19.55 percent

Circuit Judge C4, G11

Adrian G. Soud- 52.57 percent

Mark Hulsey- 47.43 percent

All-

For the latest Fay coverage, visit Jacksonville.com

We will post news here on MySouthsideSun.com as we get it in, but Jacksonville.com will have the most current news. If you're a Twitter user, check out our Jaxdotcom Twitter feed. 

As always, let us know if you have any questions or comments. 

Welcome to Jacksonville!!

I keep talking with folks from other blogs and networking sites and one topic seems to be prominent in every conversation when discussing real estate!  "The market is just terrible!"  I hear that all the time when I tell people what I do for a living, or if the topic of Real Estate comes up.  That's when they get the shock of their life when I tell them that this is one of the best markets we've had in a long time!  I know what you are thinking...I've lost my marbles!  No I have not lost my marbles..I know exactly where they are.  Let me explain.People perceive the current market as a being bad because the value of their home or investment may have taken a dive over the past 12 months or so, or because they have been trying to sell their home for six months and guess what...no offers.  You see sellers have been accustomed over the past couple of years of basically getting what they ask for their home.  They are used to not offering incentives to buyers and in some cases choosing which offer they like the best.  Those times are over people!!  It is now a buyers market.  Nobody complained about the real estate market when homes were selling in hours not months and home values were skyrocketing upward in some cases 20% per year.  You see in those days buyers had to scramble to find the right house and make snap decisions or they lost the property.  They were forced to pay asking price or above asking price for those homes.  Those days are over as well.  It is now a buyers market.  So the market is fantastic based on a buyers perspective.  Home values have dropped, Government Guaranteed and Insured Loans, (FHA, VA) loan limits have increased, interest rates are still extremely favorable.  In addition the amount of inventory for sale has skyrocketed giving the buyer lots to choose from.  It is a lot of fun to be a buyer right now.  

The FCAT grades for all of the area schools have just been released. Here's are the grades for Southside schools:

Click here for the full list of schools.

Elementary

Alimacani Elementary-A

Bank of America Learning Academy-A

Brookview Elementary-A

Chet's Creek Elementary-A

Englewood Elementary-A

Greenfield Elementary-B

Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary-C

Holiday Hill Elementary-A

Kernan Trail Elementary-A

Related: read more | JonathanBennett's blog | login or register to post comments | Tags: senior expo | video

Obviously, the thought that each individual can do something to better the condition of neigborhoods hasn't  dawned on everyone. A former president...prompted an inspiring thought when he put the owness on the person to ask "What can I do for my country?"

What can each of us to uplift the areas where we are? We all have a circle of influence-to motivate, to challenge, to encourage.

Decide today that I will make a difference!

This city has seen an unprecedented amount of murders in the past few years. I firmly believe it must be the personal responsibility of citizens living in those communities to take ownership. Yes, government can support by financial aid and community wide initiatives. But no program alone will help to resolve these issues with the magnitude that can take place as with human synergy.

My Thoughts....

Be courageous

Have A Plan

Take Action For What Is Right

The Mortgage Bankers Association of America has reported a 12 percent increase in mortgage applications during the first week of February. With interest rates at 40 year lows, money is cheap right now and there is no better time to either purchase a home or refinance your current mortgage.   The 30 fixed rate mortgage is averaging around 5.75 percent.  And with home prices lower than they were this time last year, now is a great time to buy. 

I am asked quite often from homesellers when the real estate market will return to "normal". First of all, there is no such thing as a normal real estate market.  For those of us wishing for the frenzied market of a few years back, get over it.  It's not here, nor will we likely see it in the future.  But that's not to say you shouldn't get your home on the market now. The majority of real estate transactions occur due to an event in one's life such as a change in employment, birth of a child, death of a spouse, injury, illness, etc.  As long as these life events occur, real estate will continue to be transacted.  So yes, the market may have changed, but it's not dead.  Forget about what you read or hear in the news.  Jacksonville Realtors are still selling quite a number of homes...you just don't read about it in the papers.  So go ahead, take the next steps and get your home ready for sale now.