Madeira is one of the most frequently searched communities in St. Johns County — and one of the most frequently misunderstood. Buyers come in knowing it’s gated, knowing it’s near historic St. Augustine, knowing the photos look good. What they often don’t know is how the fee structure actually works, which builder produced which homes, what conservation lots actually trade for, and what the resale market looks like when it’s time to sell.

What Madeira Actually Is

Madeira is a 1,006-acre master-planned gated community in St. Augustine, FL 32095, with over 600 acres dedicated to unspoiled marsh wetlands, a tidal creek, and preserved natural areas. The community sits adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway and is the closest planned community to historic downtown St. Augustine — roughly a 10-minute drive to the Castillo de San Marcos.

The Fee Structure: What You’re Actually Paying

  • HOA fee: $396 per quarter ($132/month). Covers community maintenance, amenity center, resort pool, and common areas. Includes internet service in many sections.
  • CDD fee: $1,900 to $3,200 annually, depending on lot size. Paid as part of your annual property tax bill. Not optional.
  • Total carrying cost: Budget approximately $500–$700/month in combined HOA and CDD fees depending on your specific lot.

$396

HOA Fee / Quarter

$3,200

Max Annual CDD

600+

Acres Protected Wetlands

The Builders: Who Built What

  • Riverside Homes: The original community builder. Homes range from 1,800 to 3,239 sq ft. Solid construction, thoughtful floor plans. Now sold out in Madeira.
  • MasterCraft Builder Group (now part of Perry Homes): Semi-custom builder still building in the community. Craftsman and farmhouse styles, higher-end standard finishes. Homes $829,900–$1,212,900.
  • Dream Finders Homes: National builder with competitive pricing, strong warranty program, and more flexibility on structural options.
  • Toll Brothers: Present in select estate sections, offering the most premium positioning in the community.

“On resale, MasterCraft and Toll Brothers homes consistently command higher per-square-foot values than comparable production builds. Builder reputation at the time of sale matters almost as much as finish level.”

Conservation Lots: The Premium Is Real

The community’s most desirable homesites back to the 600+ acres of protected wetland and marsh — views that will not be developed, ever. Conservation-backed lots in Madeira carry a meaningful premium over street-facing or standard lots, and that premium has held through multiple market cycles. When evaluating Madeira properties, ask specifically about the conservation designation on the rear lot line.

Resale: What the Market Looks Like Today

Madeira resale homes priced correctly for their condition, builder, and lot type are moving. Homes in the $600,000 to $900,000 range in move-in-ready condition have seen reasonable days-on-market. A resale Madeira home priced at or below comparable new construction, in move-in-ready condition, on a conservation lot, represents genuinely good value in the current market.