Condo or house in Ponte Vedra Beach? The real monthly math.
Same ZIP code, two very different cost shapes. A condo’s lower price carries monthly dues that include the building’s insurance and upkeep; a house’s higher price leaves those to you. Neither is “cheaper” until you run the month — so here it is, from live MLS numbers.
| Condos | Single-family | |
|---|---|---|
| Median asking price | $305,950 | $1,575,000 |
| For sale now | 90 | 203 |
| Est. principal & interest / mo* | $1,628 | $8,383 |
| Est. property taxes / mo† | $407 | $2,096 |
| Median HOA dues / mo | $604 | $189 |
| Est. total / mo at the median | $2,639 | $10,668 |
*20% down, 7.0% APR, 30-year fixed — the same assumptions as every estimate on this site. †St. Johns County effective rate applied to the median asking price; a sale resets assessed value, so this approximates a new buyer’s bill. Not shown as a number: homeowner’s insurance and exterior upkeep — for condos those live largely inside the dues via the building’s master policy; for a house, budget them separately. Live NEFAR MLS data, refreshed daily.
Where the condo wins
- • Lock-and-leave: the association handles the exterior, roof, and grounds
- • Ocean access at a fraction of oceanfront-house money
- • Predictable months — the big exterior surprises are the building’s, not yours
Where the house wins
- • Land, privacy, and full control — no association vote on your renovation
- • No monthly dues (or far lower ones), no special assessments
- • The yard, garage, and room to grow that no condo floor plan offers
One condo-specific homework item
Florida’s post-Surfside rules changed condo buying: milestone structural inspections, mandatory reserve studies, and no more waiving reserve funding. Before any condo offer, review the association’s inspection report, reserve study, and any pending special assessments — here’s exactly what to ask for →
See it live — one of each, on the market now
Still torn? Good — that means you're doing the math.
The right answer depends on how you’ll actually live here: full-time or seasonal, dog or no dog, tolerance for dues versus surprise repairs. Krista has closed both sides of this decision for years and will tell you straight which fits your situation.