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Professional Builder Magazine: 2015 Builder of the Year: Neal Communities
There was something about Neal Communities that elicited curiosity from competitors.
Amid the doom and gloom inflicted by the worst recession to hit the construction industry since the Great Depression, Neal was succeeding and growing. The Lakewood Ranch, Fla., builder was not only busy selling homes, but co-founder and chairman Pat Neal was also amassing acres of land without piling up huge debt. While half of the state’s 2,500 home builders went out of business between 2007 and 2012 and many others were treading water in survival mode, Pat Neal, already a prominent builder around Bradenton and Sarasota, marched toward becoming the dominant player in Southwest Florida.
Neal Communities’ sales and closings this year are expected to hit 1,078 and 966 homes, respectively, compared with the company’s 2005 pre-recession peak of 386 sales and 261 closings. Annual revenue from 2012 to last year doubled to $278 million. Increases in units sold and closed and in annual dollar sales have averaged more than 30 percent a year since the company revamped its product in 2008 by scrubbing a townhouse plan in one community and within six months rolling out new and more affordable product that could sell in a down market.
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Neal Communities contributes to fire extinguisher safety
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, recently contributed $1,000 to East Manatee Fire Rescue for equipment to help with fire extinguisher safety courses for the community.
“We are extremely thankful to Neal Communities for this generous donation,” said Deputy Fire Marshall Alex Onishenko with East Manatee Fire Rescue. “These funds will help us train safer and more effectively and will support many business owners and residents in Manatee County,” he said.
The firefighting agency is raising funds to purchase a state-of-the-art fire extinguisher training device. Currently, firefighters require groups that request training to have several fire extinguishers on hand for sessions which include a short safety lecture and demonstration on how to use extinguishers.
“We bring participants to a safe area where a burn barrel is ignited using a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel to experience what it is like to extinguish a live fire,” said Onishenko. “This process, however, includes expelling the extinguishing agent called mono-ammonium phosphate, a dry chemical that looks like yellow baking soda. It creates a small mess in the area in which it is used. The training device we are raising money for is a lot cleaner and safer to use.”
The new equipment is filled with compressed air and water and can be used multiple times without any residue or cost.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 awards, 50 Aurora Awards, 5 Best in American Living Awards and hundreds of local and regional industry awards. For more information, please visit NealCommunities.com.
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Neal Communities on track to break 1,000 home sales by year’s end
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sold 88 new homes in October, bringing its year-to-date total to 891 homes.
The builder is on track to break 1,000 home sales this year, which would represent a more than 25 percent increase from last year and an all-time company record.
“With 10 new community openings so far and Villages of Milano in Venice, Cypress Walk and Oaks of Estero still to come in Estero, we have grown tremendously in 2015,” said Michael Storey, president of the Lakewood Ranch-based new home building firm. “The summer season was strong for Florida real estate, and the environment continues to remain incredibly favorable for new home buyers right now. As we head into winter, we expect demand to remain high, especially as people continue to move south combined with the low interest rates,” he said.
To gear up for “season”, the builder has more than 50 inventory homes in 20 communities throughout southwest Florida and many additional opportunities to build new homes.
Notable communities in October include Eagle Trace near Lakewood Ranch and River’s Reach in Manatee County each with eight home sales, Grand Palm in Venice with six sales and Magnolia Point in Sarasota with five sales. Neal Signature Homes, the firm’s luxury division, sold 11 homes in October and added three new employees.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Models Underway at Neal Communities’ Villages of Milano
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, recently broke ground on the models at the Villages of Milano, a Tuscan-themed community that focuses on lifestyle and activities for its homeowners.
Coming soon to North Venice, Fla., Villages of Milano is a resort-style community with multiple amenities and a lifestyle director for an active social calendar.
The new neighborhood will feature six models, including the Crystal Sand, Liberty 2, Starlight, Tidewater, Victory and White Star floor plans, for interested homeowners to browse. Six of the 11 floor plans available at Villages of Milano are new. Homebuyers can choose from Neal Communities’ Celebration, Coral and Cruise Series.
With 2,233 square feet of living space, the Starlight model and sales center has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a den. The gated community will have a total of 969 single-family homes, villas and multi-family units after completion.
Located south of Laurel Road and just east of Interstate 75, more than half of the 368 acres at Villages of Milano is being designated as open space. The Villages of Milano will also feature a clubhouse with an activity and gathering room, catering kitchen, café seating area, covered outdoor seating area, pool and spa, bocce ball courts and a dog park. Homes will range from villas starting at 1,407 square feet up to roomy single-family homes at 2,233 square feet.
The sales center will be located at 252 Carlino Drive in North Venice.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Neal Communities provides funding for Special Olympics athletes
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $1,500 to the Special Olympics Florida – Manatee County, a program that provides people with disabilities the chance to participate in sports competitions and an outlet for socialization and friendship.
The program currently serves 221 athletes throughout Manatee County and offers 13 different sports. Neal Communities’ donation will be used to purchase new uniforms for the Bowling Program.
“The Manatee program is operated entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to providing training and competition for our athletes at no cost to them or their parents,” said Sue Fitzgerald, director of the program.
An area bowling competition was held on September 26 at AMF Lanes in Bradenton with 548 athletes competing in the event. Special Olympics Florida Area Nine includes Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Lee and Collier counties.
“As a Neal employee, and having known Pat for eight years personally, it warms my heart that his generosity can extend to an organization near and dear to me,” said Audrey Shell, Neal Communities warranty coordinator and a Special Olympics volunteer.
Shell is certified as a coach in several sports and is a chaperone at Special Olympics competitions at the area and state levels. She also bowls on a unified team with Special Olympics athletes.
The State Games on November 15 and 16 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando will include bowling, softball, powerlifting and gymnastics.
The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults 8 years of age and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Over 120 people from the community give their time to volunteer each year. To learn more about the Special Olympics Florida – Manatee County program, please visit SpecialOlympicsManatee.org.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Neal Communities launches new features and floor plans at River’s Reach
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is launching two new home series at its top selling River’s Reach community in Parrish, Fla. Home designs from the popular Celebration and Classic series will now be available to homeowners at this unique and picturesque community in Manatee County.
The new choices will also include upgraded features and finishes, including stainless steel appliances, coffered ceilings, energy efficient designs and more. Celebration series floor plans range in size from 1,812 to 2,443 square feet, and Classic series floor plan range in size from 2,232 to 2,878 square feet. Homes in the gated community along the Manatee River start in the low $200,000s.
“We have responded to our buyers’ needs with new floor plans and upgraded-included features which will also make the design process easier for our customers,” said Nicole Brooks, director of sales for the southwest Florida builder. “While homebuyers will still have access to our 6,000-square-foot design center to personalize their home, the process will be more efficient with the most highly desirable options already included,” she said.
With homesites backing up to lakes and wooded preserves with mature landscaping, River’s Reach appeals to buyers looking to be surrounded with the beauty of Florida’s natural landscape and rich heritage.
River’s Reach is only minutes away from Bradenton and Sarasota, and the community includes its own preserve area next to the Manatee River. Residents enjoy a resort-style pool and spa, fitness facility, picnic areas, children’s playground, sand volleyball court and more.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Neal Communities Funding celebrates first closing
Neal Communities Funding (www.NealCF.com), an in-house mortgage company that provides financial services with a personal touch, recently celebrated its first closing since the company launched in early September 2015 and is expected to close 10 more this month.
The company assisted Argenis López, a senior IT solution architect for FCCI Insurance Group, and his family as they closed on a Neal Communities’ Daybreak Classic home in Lakewood Ranch’s Central Park community. Neal Communities Funding assists customers from prequalification and formal approval to home closing.
The Venezuelan couple searched for homes for almost a year before deciding on the home, which offers a family-friend neighborhood, central location and good schools. Originally, López and his wife were with another lender before Neal Communities Funding took over, helping the couple through the closing process.
“Neal Communities Funding took the time to look at our case and explain the options available to us,” says López, father of 7-year-old and 6-month-old daughters. “The team was very professional, and Neal Communities Funding had very competitive financial options, including the interest rates and closing costs. Our closing was quick and smooth, and my daughters can’t wait to move into their new home.”
Neal Communities Funding offers programs that include conventional, government, jumbo loans as well as programs of particular importance, such as extended interest rate lock options during construction. The highly experienced staff will guide customers through the finance qualification process and documentation requirements of today’s mortgage environment. The integrated mortgage and building processes create alignment and a smooth experience for purchasers.
“Our goal at Neal Communities Funding is to provide the best customer service possible, with a streamlined mortgage services process and personal-touch communication,” says Steve Abraham, president of Neal Communities Funding. “We are so pleased we could assist the López family with their home buying dreams.”
Located at 5808 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., the in-house mortgage company can be reached at 941-234-9080 or www.NealCF.com.
About Neal Communities Funding, LLC
Neal Communities Funding, LLC (NMLS#1378794) is an in-house company that provides financial services with a personal touch. The independent mortgage banker is an affiliated business between Neal Communities of Southwest Florida and Mortgage Funding Direct Ventures, LLC. The origination office is located at 5808 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Suite A, in Sarasota, Fla. Call 941-234-9080 or visit www.NealCF.com for more information on Neal Communities Funding, an Equal Housing Lender.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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, Fiducia Insurance, Allegiant Title Professionals and Neal Communities Funding all contribute to the firm’s continued, record-setting local success. The company’s honors and accolades include 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Neal Communities sells 73 and closes more than 100 homes in September
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sold 73 new homes in September and broke its previous home closing record with 101 closings last month.
Sales took place across Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Lee and Collier Counties. “We experienced a great month to round out an overall strong summer season, and as we head into the end of the year, we expect to exceed 1,000 home sales for 2015,” said Michael Storey, president of the Lakewood Ranch-based new home building firm.
Fourteen of the 73 September sales were inventory homes, ready for immediate occupancy. Currently, the builder is gearing up for “season” and will have more than 50 inventory homes in 20 communities throughout southwest Florida.
September also marked other milestones for Neal Communities, including the three-year anniversary of Grand Palm, an award-winning, master-planned community in Venice. Additionally, the firm’s newest mortgage division, Neal Communities Funding, closed its first home with 10 more expected this month. Also in September, the builder launched new home designs and features at Rivers Reach in Manatee County, broke ground on the new community Villa Amalfi in Sarasota and added five new salespeople to its fast-growing team.
Overall, 2015 has been a record-breaking year for the prolific Florida builder with rapid expansion and 10 new community openings throughout the state. Later this year, Cypress Walk and Oaks of Estero will open in Neal Communities’ southern division and Villages of Milano will debut in the Venice market.
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.
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Neal Communities celebrates three-year anniversary of Grand Palm
Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, is celebrating the three-year anniversary of its award-winning community Grand Palm in Venice.
With a grand opening held in September 2012, the neighborhood was the first built under the Sarasota 2050 plan objectives and demonstrates a successful approach for building in concert with local government while preserving the environment. The neighborhoods are connected via an extensive 27-mile, multi-use trail system.
Appealing to a multigenerational demographic, over 450 families call the unique, master-planned community their home. Grand Palm was honored with a prestigious AURORA Award for best community over 500 acres in the southwest U.S. by the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC). Centrally located, the community is close to world-class beaches, plentiful amenities and the city centers of Venice and Sarasota.
“The reaction to this community has been overwhelming over the past three years,” said Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. “Grand Palm took years of diligent planning and involved cooperative partnerships with public officials and environmental specialists to create. As we continue to add amenities like parks and Look Out Point Island to the neighborhood, the residents’ lifestyle is continually enhanced. The result is a beautiful community intertwined with the natural Florida landscape, and it has been embraced by the homebuyers,” he said.
The community boasts over nine miles of interconnected wildlife corridors, a 32-acre lake, a six-acre adventure island (with two fishing piers and a kayak livery) and an 18-acre central amenity area for all ages, which includes a 10-acre natural exploration park, clubhouse with fitness center, resort-style fitness pool with slide, splash park, children’s playground, two dogs park and volleyball, tennis, bocce ball and basketball courts.
One- and two-story homes range in size from 1,079 to 3,346 square feet, and pricing starts in the high $100,000s. Grand Palm is a certified green community by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).
About Neal Communities
Neal Communities 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 10,000 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 44 Parade of Homes 2015 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.