FAQ

Palatka housing FAQ

Answers follow the public file, not builder talking points.

What is a PUD?

PUD means planned unit development. It is a county land-use category for a master-planned neighborhood — roads, lots, open space, and sometimes commercial — approved as one package instead of lot-by-lot zoning. Alford Farms is a PUD (case PUD24-000004). A PUD approval is not a recorded plat and not homes for sale.

Are there new construction homes for sale in Palatka right now?

Yes. The Collection at Palatka (508 N. 17th Street) and Nobles Crossing (Newcastle Road) are listed as selling on Century Complete. Advertised bands: Collection low-to-mid $200s; Nobles recent asks low-to-mid $300s — verify live. Alford Farms in East Palatka is not selling lots in the public record this site reviews.

Is Alford Farms selling homes yet?

Not according to the public record this site reviews. The PUD rezoning was approved in August 2024. Engineering and SJRWMD permitting were still the live steps into 2026. The 2024 PUD is an entitlement, not a closing date. Check D.R. Horton and the county plat books before you plan around this community.

Where is East Palatka relative to Palatka?

East Palatka sits across / along the St. Johns River from downtown Palatka, on the SR 207 side toward St. Augustine. Many people who work in St. Johns County look here because land and list prices are lower. The commute on 207 is real; so are school-district and utility boundaries that do not match the marketing name “Palatka.”

Will I have city water and sewer?

Inside Palatka city limits, usually yes (confirm with the city). Unincorporated East Palatka and much of Putnam County still use wells and septic on older lots. New PUDs typically extend or build central utilities — that is one reason they take years. Ask the builder and the county utilities staff about the specific parcel; do not assume the neighbor’s setup.

What new subdivisions are being built in East Palatka?

The clearest large planned subdivision in the East Palatka public file is Alford Farms on SR 207 (PUD24-000004). East River Road is a reported second site. In-town Palatka already has selling new construction at The Collection at Palatka by Century Complete — that is Palatka city, not East Palatka.

Why do some pages say 700 homes and others say 559?

The 700 figure is the entitlement envelope described at rezoning. The 559 figure appears in later engineering documents. Large Florida PUDs often shrink between the political approval and the construction set. Neither number is a promise of a closing calendar.

Is D.R. Horton the builder?

County filings name D.R. Horton, Inc. as an agent on Alford Farms, and local reports also attach Horton to a possible 189-home site at East River Road. Horton is the agent of record. It is not listed as an open Palatka community on Horton’s site. Confirm there and with the county before treating it as shoppable.

When will Alford Farms homes be available?

No public sales date is in the records this site reviews. Putnam County approved the PUD in August 2024. Engineering and SJRWMD permitting were still open into 2026.

Clay Electric or FPL?

Both serve Putnam County. Clay Electric Cooperative has a Palatka district office at 300 N. SR 19. FPL also has a large footprint. Territory follows lines on a map, not city names. Use each utility’s address lookup, or the Florida PSC map, before you schedule a connect. See the Clay Electric vs FPL utilities guide.

What about flood zones and insurance?

You are on a major Florida river with tributaries, wetlands, and a hurricane coast two counties away. Pull the FEMA flood map for the exact parcel, budget for Florida property insurance (which has been volatile statewide), and ask about wind-mitigation credits. This site does not sell insurance and will not guess your premium.

Which schools would we use?

Putnam County School District. Palatka Jr.-Sr. High is the main Palatka secondary campus. Elementary assignments depend on the address — use the district’s school locator, not a Facebook comment. St. Johns River State College has a Palatka campus for dual-enrollment and two-year programs.

How does this site stay updated?

County pages, water-management notices, and news feeds are checked on a schedule. New items are matched by project name and case number. If a check fails, the last good file stays on the site.

Are you the county or a realtor?

No. This is an independent public report and moving guide. It is not Putnam County, not the City of Palatka, not D.R. Horton, and not a brokerage. Sources are linked. If a county PDF and this page disagree, the county PDF wins.

Moving here this year? Moving to Putnam pack. Need the street-level utility picture? Clay Electric vs FPL.