We Asked 6 Real Estate Agents to Pick the Best Place to Live in Florida—They All Picked This City With its abundant sunshine, thousands of miles of coastline, and communities blending coastal charm with urban amenities, Florida welcomed the most out-of-state newcomers in 2024, according to U.S. Census data. Yet finding a place that balances affordability, safety, employment, and outdoor access remains a challenge in a state ranging from the most expensive ZIP code to hidden affordable gems. To identify the best place to live in Florida, six real estate agents with decades of experience were consulted, and they all independently selected the Jacksonville area along the state’s northern Atlantic coastline as the top choice. Shelby Holmes of Watson Realty Corp./Luxury Portfolio International highlighted Jacksonville’s appeal, noting its large land mass often leads to underestimation. “When you break down the individual areas and lifestyles within the market, there’s tremendous diversity and opportunity here,” she said. The city’s unemployment rate remains below five percent, and its median home value of less than $287,000 makes it attractive to young professionals and retirees seeking Florida’s laid-back coastal lifestyle without exorbitant costs. Jacksonville’s population has grown by over 20 percent since 2010, reaching more than one million residents. A WalletHub study ranked it third-best in the U.S. for starting a small business, citing its active startup environment and low corporate taxes. Sharon Alters of One Sotheby’s International Realty emphasized the city’s diversified economy, which includes finance, military, education, and shipping, reducing reliance on second-home buyers or tourism. “Jacksonville is the most affordable large city in Florida,” she added.#jacksonville #ponte_vedra_beach #shelby_holmes #watson_realty_corp #one_sothbys_international_realty
2026 Players Championship Odds and Predictions: Model Simulations Highlight Key Contenders The 2026 Players Championship is set to begin at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Thursday at 7:40 a.m. ET. Known as the unofficial fifth major of the PGA Tour, the event features a high-caliber field and a $25 million purse, surpassing the prize money of other Signature Events. FanDuel Sportsbook’s latest odds list Scottie Scheffler as the +480 favorite, with Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa following at +1600. Other notable contenders include Si Woo Kim at +2000, Ludvig Aberg at +2200, Russell Henley at +2500, Tommy Fleetwood at +2500, and Xander Schauffele at +2700. SportsLine’s proprietary model, developed by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated the tournament 10,000 times and produced surprising insights. The model’s predictions, which have historically been profitable, include a notable call to fade Schauffele, who is projected to barely crack the top 10. The 32-year-old has only one top-10 finish this season and struggled at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, posting scores of 73 and 74 over the weekend. Meanwhile, Aberg is highlighted as a top value pick after a recent resurgence, with improved finishes in his past four events and a T3 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The model also identifies four other golfers with +3000 or higher odds who could challenge for the top of the leaderboard. These include Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee, Viktor Hovland, and Sepp Straka. The odds list includes additional players such as Jake Knapp, Akshay Bhatia, Chris Gotterup, Daniel Berger, Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler, Maverick McNealy, Harris English, Patrick Cantlay, and Jacob Bridgeman, among others.#florida #scottie_scheffler #players_championship #tpc_sawgrass #ponte_vedra_beach
