LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – February 2018 continued to fare well for Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, with 123 new home sales in neighborhoods spanning from Hillsborough to Collier Counties. This marked a notable 20 percent increase from sales in February 2017.
The builder’s four fastest selling communities were Grand Palm and Milano in Venice, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood and Silverleaf in Parrish.
Avalon of Naples, a new development in Naples, Fla. saw 12 sales. Situated on 17 acres with nearly six acres of natural preserve area and a large center lake, the community features 19 carriage home buildings. Recently, the homebuilder sold out two of its popular Naples communities – Canopy and Reflection Lakes.
Sales are now underway for the new villas at Indigo, a gated, resort-style community in Lakewood Ranch. Neal Communities just introduced the two new villa floor plans to the neighborhood. The larger Sandcastle boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a den. The Tidewinds features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a den. Created with influences from Coastal and British West Indies architectural styles, the maintenance-assisted homes include a two-car garage and covered lanai and are outfitted with tile roofs and paver drives.
Robust sales continued a recent trend for the private builder even with pending increased interest rates.
“Approximately 70 percent of our homebuyers secure a mortgage for their purchase, and with our average selling price and with a 10 percent down payment, a half percent rise in interest rate amounts to approximately $100 extra in a monthly payment or about 120 square feet of home,” said Steve Abraham, president of Neal Communities Funding, the builder’s in-house mortgage firm. “This pending increase is fueling the home buying market with a large portion of people recognizing the benefit to finalize their home purchase sooner rather than later. The other 30 to 40 percent who pay cash also benefit from putting their current home on the market now.”
Last month, Neal Communities also opened Tides End, a private, island-style community in prestigious northwest Bradenton. The neighborhood will feature 38 coastal-inspired homes with a one-acre park at its center.
Also in February, the home builder brought home several Parade of Homes awards in the annual event hosted by the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Alliance. Neal Signature Homes, the firm’s luxury, custom home division took home the “Best Overall” award for its Palmavera and Montecito models and 10 other “Best Feature” awards for several other model homes in the Sarasota/Manatee county market.
The solid sales performance in January and February comes on the heels of the private builder’s best year on record, noting 1,177 homes sold in 2017.
“Florida is expected to outpace almost every state in the country when it comes to positive economic growth in 2018,” said Pat Neal, the CEO and chairman of the board at Neal Communities. “People are voting with their dollars and moving south for favorable tax rates, job growth and weather conditions.”
A recent Florida Chamber Foundation forecast projected close to 200,000 new jobs being created in the Sunshine State this year and ranked Florida in the top five nationwide for states with the best business climate.
“Our main challenge will continue to be finding qualified workers to account for this growth,” said Neal. “At Neal Communities, there is a 10 percent vacancy rate for current job positions from marketing and sales to building and accounting.
About Neal Communities
With over 40 years of building award-winning homes, Neal Communities has over 70 successful communities throughout southwest Florida. The Lakewood Ranch-based builder was named the Professional Builder 2015 “Builder of the Year” and was named one of 2012’s “America’s Best Builders” by BUILDER Magazine and voted the “2013 Best Residential Builder in Southwest Florida” in a readers’ poll sponsored by Gulfshore Business Magazine. The company is ranked No. 1 locally by Metrostudy and by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence based on number of home sales and ranked nationally among the top 50 builders by BUILDER Magazine.
To date, Neal has built over 13,000 homes in southwest Florida. As the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities is continually striving for excellence in every aspect of the home building and development business. Neal Signature Homes, Neal Land Ventures, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding, Fiducia Insurance and Allegiant Title Professionals all contribute to the firm’s continued, record-setting local success. The company’s honors and accolades include numerous Parade of Homes awards, 50 Aurora Awards, 5 Best in American Living Awards and hundreds of local and regional industry awards. For more information, please visit www.NealCommunities.com.