A Pond View, Vaulted Ceilings, and No One Above You
8686 Little Swift Circle is the largest floor plan in Sweetwater's Tides condo neighborhood — an upper-level unit with vaulted ceilings, a pond view, and a third enclosed bedroom other upper-level plans here don't have. Let me show you around.
Exterior building or pond-view lanai shot
Why I Think You'll Love This One
Most of the carriage-style condos in The Tides are two bedrooms plus a den. This one is the exception — and I want to be straight with you about what that actually means. At 1,857 square feet, it's the largest floor plan in the neighborhood, and it does have three enclosed bedrooms. But the third bedroom is on the smaller side with a modest closet, so plenty of owners use it as a den, office or hobby room rather than a full-time bedroom. What it gives you that the community's other upper-level plan, the Spoonbill, doesn't, is the option of an actual enclosed third room with a door — useful if you ever need real private space for an overnight guest, a caregiver, or anyone who wants their own room.
It's also upstairs, which can sound like a trade-off until you see what it buys you: vaulted ceilings that open the whole living area up, and concrete construction between floors, so there's no one living above you. From the screened lanai, you're looking out over the pond instead of into a neighbor's window.
I've sold and walked through a lot of homes in this community, and this is a genuinely well laid-out unit in a spot a lot of buyers ask for by name. If you're weighing it against other options in Sweetwater or another Del Webb community, I'm glad to talk through the real trade-offs with you — not just the listing-sheet version.
8686 Little Swift Circle
Great room / living area
Kitchen with quartz counters
Separate dining room
Primary suite
Primary bath, walk-in shower
Screened lanai & pond view
Why This Condo Is Different
A Genuine Third Bedroom (Not Just a Den)
The third bedroom is compact, with a smaller closet, so plenty of owners use it as a den, office or hobby space. But unlike the Spoonbill — the community's other upper-level floor plan — it's an actual enclosed bedroom with a door, which matters if you ever need real private space for a guest.
The Top-Floor Advantage
Being upstairs means vaulted ceilings and no one living above you. Block construction with concrete floors between units keeps things quiet, too.
Pond Views From a Large Screened Lanai
Step outside and look out at water, not a wall. The screened lanai is where you'll spend a lot of your mornings and evenings.
Exterior Maintenance, Handled
The Tides condo association takes care of the building's exterior and painting, the roof, driveway pavers, lawn care, tree trimming, trash service and annual dryer-vent and window cleaning — on top of what the Sweetwater master HOA covers community-wide. That's a lot off your to-do list.
Inside the Home
- Bright great room opens to a generous kitchen with quartz counters, upgraded cabinetry, stainless appliances, a pantry and a breakfast bar
- Room where many owners choose to add a center island
- Large separate dining room for everyday meals and entertaining
- Primary suite with a large walk-in closet, dual sinks and an oversized walk-in shower with frameless glass
- Two additional bedrooms — comfortable space for guests, an office or hobbies
- Screened lanai overlooking the pond
- Attached 1-car garage
- Seller offering a home warranty up to $650
Guest bedroom, office, or breakfast bar detail
Original (2006–2010) Cormorant floor plan diagram
The Original Cormorant Layout
This unit is the largest floor plan in Sweetwater's condo neighborhood, built in the original 2006–2010 layout — a more traditional, separated room flow rather than the open-concept great room version built later. Same square footage as the newer version, different feel entirely. I'm glad to walk you through exactly how the rooms connect before you tour, so there are no surprises in person.
Video Walkthrough
Life at Sweetwater by Del Webb
Sweetwater is an established, gated 55+ Del Webb community on Jacksonville's Southside, built around Summerland Hall — the community's clubhouse and the hub of daily life here. There's no CDD fee, which is one less line item to budget for compared to some newer active-adult communities in the area.
Summerland Hall clubhouse or pool
A Location That's Hard to Beat
Sweetwater sits close to the I-295 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB / SR 202) interchange — the same exchange that serves St. Johns Town Center — making it one of the more convenient 55+ communities in the Jacksonville area for medical care, shopping and the beach. Typical drive times (traffic-dependent):
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sweetwater by Del Webb, and where is it located?
Sweetwater by Del Webb is a gated, established 55+ active-adult community on Jacksonville's Southside, near the intersection of the Southside and Mandarin areas. It's built around Summerland Hall, its central clubhouse, and includes single-family homes as well as carriage-style condo neighborhoods. It's known for being one of the closer 55+ communities to Mayo Clinic, St. Johns Town Center and the beach.
Is Sweetwater age-restricted? Can a younger spouse or grandkids stay with me?
Yes, Sweetwater is a 55+ community governed by the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA), which generally requires at least 80% of occupied homes to have a resident 55 or older, with limited flexibility for younger spouses or partners. No permanent resident may be under 19. Grandchildren and family can visit, and overnight guests are welcome within the association's guest-stay guidelines. For the current, exact rules, I'll get you the governing documents directly — just ask.
What condo options are available in Sweetwater, and how is this unit different?
Condo living in Sweetwater breaks into three distinct styles. Sandpiper Village offers mid-rise condos with elevators. The Tides is carriage-style condos in two-story buildings, each unit either upper or lower level with its own attached one-car garage. Tides II offers single-level, villa-style condos with two-car garages. This home is a Tides upper-level unit — the largest floor plan in that neighborhood, with three enclosed bedrooms rather than the two-bed-plus-den layout common on the other Tides plans.
What does the HOA fee cover, and is there a CDD fee?
There are two fees to budget for here. The Sweetwater master HOA runs approximately $275 per month and covers community-wide items like the roads, the Summerland Hall clubhouse, on-site management, the pools, the pickleball courts and the gated entry. On top of that, The Tides has its own condo association (COA) fee of approximately $360 per month, which covers this building's exterior care and painting, the roof, driveway pavers, lawn care, tree trimming, trash service, and annual dryer-vent and exterior window cleaning. Together that's roughly $635 per month. There is no CDD fee in Sweetwater. Buyers should confirm current amounts and any capital contribution during due diligence.
What's the advantage of an upper-level condo with vaulted ceilings?
Upper-level units in Sweetwater's condo neighborhood extend over the garage, which allows for vaulted ceilings and a more open feel than a standard single-level condo. Because the buildings use block construction with concrete floors between residences, there's no one living above you, and the unit tends to feel quieter as a result. The trade-off is a flight of stairs, which is worth weighing against a ground-floor unit depending on your own needs.
Is Sweetwater close to Mayo Clinic, shopping and the beach?
Yes. Sweetwater sits close to the I-295 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB / SR 202) interchange — the same exchange that serves St. Johns Town Center — which puts shopping, dining and Mayo Clinic within easy reach. Typical drive times run about 10 minutes to Mayo Clinic, 5 minutes to St. Johns Town Center, roughly 11 miles to the beach, and about 30 minutes to Jacksonville International Airport, depending on traffic.
What is Summerland Hall, and what amenities does it include?
Summerland Hall is Sweetwater's clubhouse and the center of community life. Residents have access to indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center with classes, tennis, pickleball and bocce courts, walking trails, and a full calendar of more than 30 clubs and interest groups — everything from social events to hobby groups.
How do I schedule a showing of 8686 Little Swift Circle?
Use the "Schedule a Private Showing" button on this page to request a day and general time, and I'll follow up directly to coordinate access and answer any questions before you tour. You're also welcome to call or text me.
Thinking about buying or selling in Sweetwater instead of this specific unit?
I work extensively in Sweetwater and know the community's floor plans, HOA structures and unit layouts in detail — whether you're comparing this condo to other Sweetwater options, looking at single-family homes in the same community, or considering selling a home you already own here. Reach out and I'll give you the honest, detailed answer, not just the sales pitch.
Buying or Selling in Sweetwater?
Whether this particular condo is still available or you're exploring what else is out there, I can help you find the right fit — or find out what your own Sweetwater home is worth.
About Lois Marris
Lois Marris
I'm Lois Marris with Ponte Vedra Club Realty, and I work extensively in Sweetwater by Del Webb — including its condo neighborhoods. I know the community in a level of detail most listings won't tell you: which units get better light, how the floor plans actually differ from one build year to the next, and the real trade-offs between an upper-level and lower-level unit.
If you're buying, I'll walk you through the honest comparisons, not just the marketing version. If you're selling a home in Sweetwater or elsewhere in Jacksonville, I'd welcome the chance to talk through your options.