Andre and Aaliyah + Katie
Buyers: Andre & Aaliyah Rodall - Father/Daughter
Current Home: Jacksonville, FL
Beach House Hunting In: St. Augustine, FL
Beach Home Budget: $400,000
Realtor: Katie - Ponte Vedra, FL
Andre and Aaliyah are a tight-knit father-daughter duo from Jacksonville, Florida, on a mission to find the perfect beach home in nearby St. Augustine. Andre is a fire captain with over 22 years of service at the Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Aaliyah, just 21, works in the medical field as an ER tech and is studying to become a nurse. In addition to their inherent familial connection, these two are bonded over their shared passion for helping others in life-and-death situations. They are best friends just as much as they are father and daughter. Together, they’re looking for a home that’s more than just a beach house, it’s a stepping stone to generational wealth and a symbol of their shared hard work. In short, they work hard helping others and therefore they deserve a space to rest and relax.
St. Augustine holds a special appeal. Unlike the busier Jacksonville Beach, it offers a walkable, family-friendly vibe with clearer water and a laid-back charm. For Andre and Aaliyah, location is key; being within walking or biking distance to the beach is a non-negotiable. They envision spending stress-free weekends grilling in the backyard, soaking in a tub after long shifts, and simply enjoying each other’s company away from demanding work schedules, Andre works 24-hour shifts and Aaliyah works 12s.
Their dream home includes at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plenty of natural light, and an outdoor entertainment area complete with lights, a grill, and comfy seating. For Andre, the ultimate wish-list item would be an outdoor summer kitchen: grill, fridge, sink: the works! For Aaliyah, a soaking tub is the indulgence she’d love most after a long day. But above all, the kitchen needs to shine. Cooking is something they bond over, and a cramped or uninspired kitchen would be a dealbreaker for them both.
Aaliyah is the outspoken one when it comes to home touring, while Andre takes a more easygoing approach although he jokes he keeps the “pit bull” with him (his daughter) to make sure every detail is scrutinized. And while Andre is financing the home, he values Aaliyah’s opinion deeply. “She’s going to be the one to benefit from it someday,” he says. For Aaliyah, being involved means helping build something they’ll remember forever, as the home is eventually passed down to Aaliyah and her future children and family.
With a budget of $400,000, they know the search won’t be easy as finding a property that checks all their boxes while staying within their price range will be their biggest challenge. But for Andre, this is the realization of a two decade dream. He’s put in the hard work, been promoted, saved money and now is finally ready to make his beach dream home a reality. For Aaliyah, it’s a front-row seat to watch her father’s hard work pay off and to help create a new chapter for their family. This beach house is more than a goal. It’s the reward for a lifetime of service and sacrifice.
Realtor: Katie - Ponte Vedra, FL
Katie is a Florida native and energetic Ponte Vedra Beach realtor who specializes in finding affordable coastal homes in Northeast Florida. A former banker turned real estate pro, she combines financial smarts with deep local knowledge to help buyers uncover beachside bargains from townhomes near the sand to hidden gems just blocks from the ocean. Katie is warm, relatable, and sharp, the kind of agent who treats every buyer like a friend and brings big “let’s make it happen” energy. She’s a Jaguars fan, a beach girl, and an expert party planner and she makes finding the perfect beach house fun, smart, and totally achievable.