Neal Communities welcomes new team members

Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), recently welcomed Chris Kohatsu and John Leinaweaver to its Lakewood Ranch-based team.

Kohatsu joins Neal Communities as a digital strategist and Leinaweaver will act as the new community association manager.

Kohatsu is an experienced multimedia marketing specialist with a proven track record of generating high sales volume through carefully planned and executed television, online and social media advertising campaigns. With eight years of experience in the industry, she will be responsible for developing, managing and optimizing online marketing programs for Neal Communities and its ancillary businesses across various digital channels, including the day-to-day operation and content development of the company’s websites and social media.

Prior to joining Neal Communities, she was employed by one of the area’s largest energy firms and one of the largest homebuilding companies in the Tampa region.

A successful strategic business management executive, Leinaweaver brings 40 years of experience to the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder. In his new role, he will responsible for managing the day-to-day operations for the division’s residential communities and serve as the primary contact for all Homeowners’ Association-related items.

Leinaweaver previously worked as the general manager and COO for a local golf and country club, where he led and executed operations at the member-owned club.

Currently, Neal Communities employs more than 260 and has built over 12,000 homes throughout southwest Florida.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities 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 12,000 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.

Neal Communities recognized with award for long-standing relationship

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, was recognized with an award for its long-standing relationship with SunTrust.

A client since 1991, the Florida homebuilder has achieved sustainable and significant growth during its 25-year relationship with SunTrust. That growth began with smart decisions during a downturn and Neal Communities’ commitment to its customers.

“It is very unusual to stay committed to a financial institution for so long, but when it comes to SunTrust Bank, our firms share many of the same values, including community stewardship, financial stability and integrity,” said Pat Neal, CEO and chairman of the board at Neal Communities. “We are extremely honored to be recognized for our continued relationship with this wonderful organization.”

Neal accepted the award at a ceremony on Nov. 28 at University Park Country Club.

“The SunTrust approach, which is build your community and build your bank, is and has always been focused on developing a community that we all want to thrive,” said Gregg Anderson, the SunTrust relationship manager for Neal Communities since 2012. “Neal Communities, with their values, supports that same idea.”

To date, Neal Communities has built over 12,000 homes in southwest Florida. In 2015, the homebuilder was named the national 2015 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder.

To see the video of Neal Communities and SunTrust, visit https://cre.suntrustrh.com.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 12,000 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

About SunTrust CRE

SunTrust CRE is the place where opportunities and solutions meet for commercial real estate clients. The line of businesses’ five areas of focus – Regional Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Investment Trust Banking, Institutional Real Estate, SunTrust Community Capital and the Residential Builder group – allow us them align our areas of expertise with the needs of their clients. They provide a fully dedicated team of real estate professionals, who are devoted to quick decision making, responsiveness, and creativity as they structure solutions tailored to help clients succeed.

About SunTrust Banks, Inc.
SunTrust Banks, Inc. is a purpose-driven company dedicated to Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being for the people, businesses, and communities it serves. Headquartered in Atlanta, the Company has three business segments: Consumer Banking and Private Wealth Management, Wholesale Banking, and Mortgage Banking. Its flagship subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, along with 24-hour digital access. Certain business lines serve consumer, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients nationally. As of September 30, 2016, SunTrust had total assets of $205 billion and total deposits of $159 billion. The Company provides deposit, credit, trust, investment, mortgage, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust leads onUp, a national movement inspiring Americans to build financial confidence. Join the movement at onUp.com.

Neal Communities donates $5,000 to Loveland Village

The area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), donated $5,000 to the Detert Residences at Loveland Village, a state pilot program that includes 42 affordable apartments that allows adults with developmental disabilities to live independently.

Named for former Senator Nancy Detert, who is now a Sarasota County Commissioner, the 42-unit apartment complex provides a naturally therapeutic community of peers and support services for up to 94 adults with developmental disabilities and caregivers. Detert was instrumental in advocating for laws and funding to support the pilot program, which is the first of its kind in Florida, in her home district.

“These residences are an extremely impressive example of a public-private partnership that exemplifies one of our firm’s core values – humans helping humans,” Pat Neal, CEO and chairman of the board at Neal Communities. “This affordable-housing model is a wonderful example of how this community supports forward-thinking initiatives, and we are honored to make a donation to support the final touches for this project.”

The $5,000 donation will go toward amenities to enhance the quality of life and encourage social engagement for residents, including barbecue and picnic areas and a covered bike rack.

“We are extremely thankful to Neal Communities for its generous donation to support the residents of the Detert Residences at Loveland Village,” said Daniela Koci, CEO of Loveland Center. “It is heartwarming to feel the support of our community for this project, and we are thrilled to be able to fill a portion of the tremendous need for this kind of facility in southwest Florida. It’s continuous support like this that allows us to serve residents and students and highlight the enormous potential of the people we serve.”

Loveland Village residents have the opportunity to live in a one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments with caregivers living with them on site. The apartments feature accessible, universal design principles, like refrigerator doors and stove knobs that can be reached from a wheelchair and showers that people using a wheelchair can roll into. The 42 apartment units at Loveland Village are all leased with a growing waiting list.

Additionally, Loveland Village includes a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse that allows residents to gather for events with a full-service commercial catering kitchen, a large main room with a stage and several smaller rooms for activities.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 12,000 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

About Loveland Center

Established in 1962, the Loveland Center strives to help adults with developmental disabilities live their lives to the fullest. The nonprofit was founded by a group of parents who sought to provide a productive and safe place for adults with developmental disabilities. Loveland Center provides educational programs and vocational training for individuals with developmental disabilities. For more information, visit www.lovelandcenter.org or call 941-493-0016.

Neal Communities debuts new Spanish-style floor plans at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club

The area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), is debuting two new floor plans at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club, a semi-private club in a 1,000-acre gated, master-planned community in Englewood.

The Spanish-style plans offer homebuyers larger villa designs, ranging from 1,632 to 1,842 square feet. The Sandcastle features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car garage and a den. Tidewinds offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage with a den. The model homes will open March 2017, but sales are underway for the plans now.

“The semi-private club continues to be an extremely popular community,” said Mark Sochar, vice president of special projects for Neal Communities. “In its 50th year, the neighborhood is consistently honored with various awards for its impressive floor plans and amazing amenities. These new designs are no different, and we are excited to introduce them at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club.”

The Boca Royale Golf & Country Club’s community has a unique charm and boasts mature landscaping, with lakes and nature preserves, towering oaks, cypress and palms. Homes start from the mid $200,000s. Homeowners can enjoy its elegant clubhouse with casual and fine dining, an 18-hole 72-par golf course and a state-of-the-art fitness facility with sports activities on site, including Bocce ball, croquet and tennis courts.

Last month, the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder introduced St. Barts, a new 108-homesite community in Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. The latest phase features a Tuscan architectural style with floor plans ranging from 1,870 to 2,332 square feet.

For more information, visit the sales center at 1 Golf View Dr. in Englewood or call 941-474-0476.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

About Boca Royale Golf & Country Club

Located in south Sarasota County, near world-class and secluded beaches, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club is nestled within a private, gated community of beautiful homes, pristine lakes and nature preserves. A semi-private golf facility, Boca Royale offers single and family golf, tennis, fitness and social memberships and a full range of social activities. The elegant Georgian clubhouse provides spectacular views of the manicured golf course and a full range of dining options – from fine dining in our Fairway Dining Room to casual dining in the 19th hole. The 18-hole par-72 golf course includes a driving range, putting green, sand bunker, chipping and pitching area and Pro Shop.

Neal Communities hosts 17th annual art contest at Tara Elementary School

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, recently held its annual “My Favorite Home” contest, an art competition that engaged an entire elementary school – from kindergarteners through fifth graders – at Tara Elementary School in Bradenton, Fla.

This marks the 17th year that Neal Communities has hosted the My Favorite Home art contest, featuring a different community school each year in Manatee or Sarasota County. The top five student finalists from each grade level attended along with their families, school officials, and guest judges from around the community.

“Our students thoroughly enjoyed the contest,” said Laura Campbell, principal of Tara Elementary School. “Since we are the Tara Elementary Knights, our art teacher decided to have students create castles, because after all, your home should be your castle. The artwork truly turned out amazing, and I am so proud of our students.”

Neal Communities also donated $1,500 to the school’s art program at the event.

“We are extremely thankful to Neal Communities for its generous donation, which we will use toward a big goal to purchase a new kiln or iPads for the students to upload their artwork,” said Patricia Knowlton, art teacher at Tara Elementary School.

A celebrity-judging panel, including Manatee County School Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene, Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, Observer Media Group editor Jay Heater and Bradenton Herald reporter Meghin Delaney, chose six grade-level winners. Neal team members from marketing, sales, purchasing and accounting joined them. The Neal team selects two overall winners and those students’ artwork will adorn the cover of the 2016 holiday card for Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes.

“For 17 years, we have been hosting this wonderful event that celebrates student art and education, and for 17 years, it has been an annual highlight for me both personally and professionally,” said Pat Neal, CEO and chairman of the board at Neal Communities. “We are so thankful to the administration team at Tara Elementary School for welcoming us and allowing us to offer this contest to their students. We are continually amazed at the creativity exhibited in the student masterpieces, and we always look forward to sharing that creativity with our friends and families on our firm’s holiday card.”

All students from kindergarten through fifth grade participated in the contest. The kindergarten class worked with collages, and the first graders used printmaking on their collages. Second and third graders used oil pastels to work in the style of artist, Paul Klee, while the fourth graders used congruent angles to create the illusion of depth. Fifth graders learned how to use light and shadow to create a 3-dimensional effect with watercolor. Those submissions were narrowed down to the top 30 entries – five from each grade level.

“This contest was a wonderful opportunity for students to explore different art media in combination with our existing art curriculum,” said Knowlton. “The students enjoyed the challenge tremendously, and I loved watching them make connections with core curriculum.”

The grade-level winners listed included:

• Kindergarten – Reef McMaster

• First grade – Zoe Ogden

• Second grade – Samantha Pisani

• Third grade – Lillian Boderhorn

• Fourth grade – Tien Thai

• Fifth grade – Jake Karam

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

Home sales soar for Neal Communities in October

One hundred home sales in October for Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, brings the firm’s year-to-date total to an impressive 956 sales.

“Traditionally, the southwest Florida home market is stronger than trends we see nationwide, and this month continues to bolster that theory,” said Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. “With new home sales up by more than 3 percent across the country, our results are a testament to homebuyer confidence throughout the U.S. and in Florida.”

Additionally, CNBC recently reported this is the best time to buy a home with mortgage rates below four percent; a number that is persuading renters to lock in fixed costs and create wealth for themselves.

According to industry data, the biggest sales increases nationally are coming from mid-tier homes priced between $300,000 and $399,000. Several Neal Communities neighborhoods in that category saw high sales numbers in October, including Grand Palm in Venice with 11 sales and Milano in Venice and Silverleaf in Parrish with nine sales each.

Neal Signature Homes also sold nine in October, with five sales in the popular amenity-rich community Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch. Other communities, including Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood, Eagle Trace in Bradenton and Woodland Trace in Sarasota, each had six sales last month.

In addition to an increase in home sales, the company has seen growth in the Neal Communities team during 2016, with 70 new hires since the beginning of the year.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities 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 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.

Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes receives 18 accolades

The area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), and its luxury brand, Neal Signature Homes (NealSignatureHomes.com), took home 18 awards at the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association’s Celebration of Excellence – Sales and Marketing Awards.

During the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association (Manatee-Sarasota BIA) event on Oct. 20, 17 of the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder’s new home sales associates and one sales manager were recognized with awards.

Chartered in 1983, the Manatee-Sarasota BIA is a professional trade organization comprised of local builders and associated businesses involved in the homebuilding industry. The association is an advocate for the housing industry and affiliated with the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Neal Communities’ Elayne McKinney took home a Platinum prize in the Sales Manager category for homes sales of more than $91 million. The Individual Sales group had the most action with 16 total accolades.

With sales ranging from over $26 million to more than $9 million, Platinum Individual Sales were awarded to James Archibald, Robin Bowman, Dawna Bruner, Lisa Van Dillen, Bryan Makowski, Jackie Polino, Louise Randazzo and Austin Solari.

Neal Signature Homes’ Michelle Hunt and Dawn Merrill each received Platinum accolades for Individual Sales.

Jon McClay, Aaron Solari, Claudia Wilhelm and Ryan Zimmerman scored Gold honors in Individual Sales while Connie Gortney and Dean Throgmartin took home Silver awards in the same category.

In the Builder Awards category, Neal Signature Homes received acknowledgment for having the Best Magazine Advertisement.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities 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 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.

Neal Communities sees impressive third quarter home sales

Quarter three marked a period of impressive sales for Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, with 276 home sales throughout its divisions.

During the first three quarters of the year, Neal Communities saw sales increase from 2015. So far in 2016, the company has sold 856 homes compared with 833 homes sold by this time last year.

“Consumer confidence was up again in September, according to industry data,” said Pat Neal, chairman of the executive committee of Neal Communities. “The southwest Florida home buying market is normally more robust than housing trends nationwide, and we can clearly see the results of a spike in homebuyer confidence through our home sales throughout the third quarter.”

Several Neal Communities neighborhoods saw particularly high home sales in September, including Milano, Grand Palm, Silverleaf and Windwood. September home sales totaled 84, and the community with the greatest number of sales was Milano in Venice, with 15 home sales.

Additionally, Windwood, a 90-home community that opened for sales in early 2015, is one of the fastest-selling communities in Venice, Fla. Only 15 homes remain in the neighborhood that features ample open space, wetlands and lakes. The community has six floor plan options, and homes start at $278,990.

Neal Communities’ new Avalon community in Naples, Fla. opens in December 2016. The 23-acre neighborhood is the company’s first multi-family, carriage home community in Naples. It features 19 coastal-themed buildings with four floor plans and 152 carriage homes with lake and preserve views. Homes range in size from 1,355 to 1,725 square feet.

In addition to an increase in home sales, the company has also seen growth in the Neal Communities team during 2016, with 70 new hires since the beginning of the year.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities 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 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.

Neal Communities introduces a new phase at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club

The area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), is introducing a new phase at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club, a semi-private club in a 1,000-acre gated, master-planned community in Englewood.

The newest section at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club includes 108 homesites. Dubbed St. Barts, the phase will feature a Tuscan architectural style with floor plans ranging from 1,870 to 2,332 square feet. To date this year, 49 homes have closed and 34 are under contract in the country club community.

Now open, the golf course’s turf was recently replanted using the “no-till” process. The course improvements included the installation of Champion Grass greens as part of the community’s United States Golf Association’s (USGA) best practices. This update will extend championship conditions throughout the year, particularly during the cooler temperatures of its high season.

“Boca Royale Golf & Country Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year,” said Mark Sochar, vice president special projects for Neal Communities. “The semi-private club has been extremely popular due to its great location, amazing amenities and beautiful homes. It maintains a unique charm with mature landscape of towering oaks, cypress and palms along with an abundance of natural wildlife. The community has earned Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence for a third consecutive year.”

Boca Royale Golf & Country Club’s elegant clubhouse offers casual and fine dining and a wide range of social activities for residents. Other community amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness facility and sports activities on site, including Bocce ball, croquet, tennis and an 18-hole par-72 golf course designed by Steven R. Smyers.

For more information, visit the sales center at 1 Golf View Dr. in Englewood or call 941-474-0476.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

About Boca Royale Golf & Country Club

Located in south Sarasota County, near world-class and secluded beaches, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club is nestled within a private, gated community of beautiful homes, pristine lakes and nature preserves. A semi-private golf facility, Boca Royale offers single and family golf, tennis, fitness and social memberships and a full range of social activities. The elegant Georgian clubhouse provides spectacular views of the manicured golf course and a full range of dining options – from fine dining in our Fairway Dining Room to casual dining in the 19th hole. The 18-hole par-72 golf course includes a driving range, putting green, sand bunker, chipping and pitching area and Pro Shop.

Neal Communities’ nature-based community sells out

This month, the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), sold out Forest Creek, a one-of-a-kind nature-based community in Parrish, Fla.

The gated and maintenance-included community opened in 2005 with and has a total of 464 homes. Forest Creek offered a variety of single-family home options that ranged in size from 1,162 to 2,504 square feet.

The homebuilder’s team meticulously planned and actively set aside 45 percent of Forest Creek’s acreage for open space to preserve the natural area forever. A creek bed flows throughout the neighborhood and has become a focal point of the community.

“Forest Creek is a classic example of how Neal integrates and takes into consideration the natural elements of a piece of land when we create a community,” said Leisa Weintraub, the vice president of marketing and creative director at Neal Communities who helped bring the project to fruition.

The nature-based neighborhood features modern-day amenities, such as a one-acre bird rookery, observation deck, gazebo, nature trails, community pool, spa and fitness center and an 18-acre lake for water-based recreation like fishing. Ideally located, Forest Creek is situated between the Tampa metropolitan area and the Sarasota and Bradenton area.

To resident and Realtor Jan Swift, Forest Creek is Neal Communities’ masterpiece.

“Once the gates open and I drive through, sometimes I say to myself, ‘I can’t believe I live here,’” said Swift who has lived at Forest Creek for over two years.

For more information, visit www.NealCommunities.com or watch this video on Forest Creek.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the Professional Builder national 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 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, visit www.NealCommunities.com.