Thinking about moving to Palencia in St. Augustine, Florida?
Palencia is one of the most distinguished master-planned communities in all of Northeast Florida — 1,450 acres along the western bank of the Tolomato River and Intracoastal Waterway in northern St. Johns County, built around a private Arthur Hills-designed golf course, raised boardwalks over tidal marshes, and a village center that blends residential life with retail and dining in a way few communities in the region pull off. Here's what buyers need to know.
The Lay of the Land
1. Palencia is St. Johns County — north of historic St. Augustine, south of Nocatee. The community sits along US-1 between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, with I-95 nearby for regional access. Downtown St. Augustine is about 20 miles south. Jacksonville International Airport is roughly 43 miles north. It's a genuinely mid-corridor position that works for commuters in both directions.
2. The setting is defined by the Intracoastal Waterway and Tolomato River. Palencia's eastern boundary runs along two miles of scenic Intracoastal frontage. Guana River State Park — over 12,000 acres of preserved coastal wilderness — sits directly across the water. Raised boardwalks reach out over the marshes to the edge of the Tolomato River. This isn't manufactured scenery. It's the real Florida coast.
3. The community encompasses 1,450 acres — with over 33 acres of parks and preserved open space. Multiple distinct neighborhoods within Palencia offer different views and lot positions — golf course, lake, marsh, woods, and Intracoastal. Where within Palencia you buy defines your daily view and your premium.
What Life Actually Looks Like
4. The Palencia Club is the social and recreational centerpiece — but it's private. The Arthur Hills-designed par-72 championship golf course and 33,000-square-foot clubhouse are private club amenities. Membership includes access to a full social calendar — Wine Club, Family Night, Food Truck Friday, Taco Tuesday, dances, and more. Buyers should confirm whether membership is included with purchase, optional, or requires a separate fee — and what that fee covers.
5. The non-golf amenities are also substantial. Four swimming pools including one with a two-story water slide and one with eight Olympic-sized lap lanes. Ten lighted Har-Tru clay tennis courts. A full fitness facility with aerobics rooms and locker rooms. Eight miles of multi-use paths through the community. Three baseball diamonds, a soccer field, basketball court, and a pirate-themed children's playground. The Palencia Club's swim team and fitness programming add a consistent community rhythm.
6. The mile-long Tolomato River boardwalk is genuinely special. The raised boardwalk system connects the 30-acre neighborhood park system through preserved wetlands and out to the Intracoastal. Residents fish for tarpon, reds, and sea trout from the community dock. This kind of water access inside a master-planned community is rare in Northeast Florida.
7. Palencia Elementary School is located within the community. The onsite K-5 school — part of the St. Johns County School District — feeds into Pacetti Bay Middle and Allen D. Nease High School. All are part of one of Florida's consistently top-ranked school districts.
The Housing Reality
8. The CDD fee structure is layered — and varies significantly by property type. FY 2025-2026 CDD assessments in Palencia range from approximately $3,000 per year for some condo and townhome sections to approximately $4,930 per year for some single-family sections, with other neighborhoods in between. On top of the CDD, most properties carry master HOA dues plus sub-association dues. And club membership, if not included, adds another cost layer. Model the complete all-in monthly cost for any specific property before comparing to other communities.
9. Price range runs from condos in the $200s to estate homes above $3 million. Palencia has a genuinely wide range — entry-level condos and townhomes exist alongside luxury golf course and marsh-view estates. Single-family homes start around $400K–$600K and climb well above $1 million for larger homes with premium lot positions. The average asking price in recent market data has tracked in the $600K–$700K+ range for single-family inventory.
10. Palencia is largely built out — primarily a resale market with some new builds. The community started in 2001 and has been delivering homes for over two decades. Most buyers here are purchasing resale inventory, though some new construction on remaining lots is available. The maturity of the community means established landscaping, mature trees, defined neighborhoods, and no adjacent construction worksites — features that resale buyers in newer communities often miss.
Palencia rewards buyers who want an Intracoastal-facing, golf-centric community with St. Johns County schools, established character, and a lifestyle that feels genuinely resort-caliber — and who go in knowing the full fee picture before they fall in love with a view.
Ready to explore homes in Palencia or anywhere across Northeast Florida? Give us a call at 904-503-0672, email info@crossviewrealty.com, or visit https://www.crossviewrealty.com/ to learn more about living in the area.
