The address is 124 Santiago Drive in Valencia at Abacoa. The neighborhood alone should tip you off. But nothing will quite prepare you for this house. Not for the Brazilian cherry and mud set porcelain floors (that you’ll probably mistake for marble). Not for the dream kitchen with two extensive islands (one a work station), two built-in stainless fridges, and the commercial gas stove. Not for  the adjoining family room with the hand-coffered ceiling (the cost of which could have paid for a year away at college). Or, just past the family room, the wall of French doors the length of the house that looks onto a perfectly shaded oversized lap pool with a lion’s head fountain.

Impressed yet? Guess what? The French doors end by a private staircase leading up to a separate guest apartment. And where, you may ask, are the four other bedrooms and baths in this 4000 square foot Mediterranean delight? The master sweet (and it is) is downstairs…the other three are up. And I tell you the layout, the architectural detailing, the level of taste throughout is not to be believed. It must be seen. So what are you waiting for? Even in this market, this one won’t last long.

Yesterday, May 31^st, the neighborhoods of Abacoa came together in quite a remarkable way. Their residents competed at tennis, golf and track in a 5K run. The contests began at 8 am and by 3 pm Valencia was pronounced the Grand Champion…the neighborhood that had swept in almost all categories. And in the process, my husband, Dane, and I managed to snag a second place for Valencia at golf. Second overall was the New Haven neighborhood, followed closely by Charleston Court. Plaques were awarded in Downtown Abacoa amid live music and delicious munchies (served up as a Taste of Abacoa). Clearly a good time was had by all in this first annual Battle of the Neighborhoods. Possibly the only battle in history to foster a real sense of community!