Neal Communities breaks 1,100 sales and tops company records in 2015

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sold 1,107 homes spanning from Hillsborough to Collier Counties in 2015, topping all previous company records.

In 2015, the homebuilder also hit a major milestone by closing 989 homes for families in Florida – the most since its 1970 inception and pulled permits on over 1200 homes in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

“With over 200 employees, we have the most experienced and engaged team at Neal Communities that we’ve had in 45 years,” says Pat Neal, founder and CEO of Neal Communities. “This is the fifth consecutive year that we have exceeded our goals. Our subsidiary companies, including Neal Signature Homes, Neal Land Ventures, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, Neal Communities Funding, Fiducia Insurance and Allegiant Title Professionals, have all contributed to our continued, record-setting success.”

Neal Communities opened 13 new communities in 2015 and expects to unveil another eight in 2016, continuing its five-year expansion plan.

“At every level of the organization – our team is proud of what they are creating here. The company’s success is entirely due to our people,” says Michael Storey, president of the Lakewood Ranch-based new homebuilding firm. “We have over 200 people in this company and they are the ones who are making it happen.”

Storey also credits the prolific firm’s enormous success to strategic land acquisition, ideal locations, a consistent focus on customer service and smart expansion into key markets.

“Our expansion into Lee and Collier Counties alone led to a 30 percent increase for us last year,” says Storey. “We have high hopes for further expansion and increased sales in 2016 – always with the goal of providing the best customer service and value in the market.”

Storey expects the southwest Florida market to continue to appreciate at a “normal” 3.5 percent rate over the next few years. “The market here is still fairing better than most places nationwide because of that core buyer who is more mature and more affluent,” he says. “We see years to come for growth in this market with most of the expansion and population growth coming to south Sarasota County and Lakewood Ranch. Housing is not going to get more affordable, but you won’t see extreme increases. We also expect continued pent up demand to influence the market; we still have buyers who are impaired and are just recovering from their setbacks and they want to own a home again,” he noted.

Neal South, including Lee and Collier Counties also broke its previous sales record last year with 260 homes sold. Neal Signature Homes, the firm’s luxury division, more than doubled its sales from 2014, ending the year with 88 sales.

In 2015, the builder also received several prestigious awards, including recognition as Professional Builder’s 49th builder to receive its esteemed 2015 Builder of the Year award. The publication presents this prestigious and sought-after award to only one builder whose innovative ideas and business results represent the best in homebuilding.

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 unveils new product line, model at Indigo neighborhood

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, is introducing a new product line at the company’s Indigo neighborhood in Lakewood Ranch. The popular Cove series will now be available in the neighborhood.

The new product line also coincides with the opening of a new model – the Sea Star, and Club Indigo, the recreation center. The Sea Star model includes 2,379 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a three-car garage.

Indigo is a gated, island-resort style community that opened in May 2015. Since opening, more than 47 people have purchased homes at the new community and in the past three days, five families have purchased homes from the newly release Cove series.

The community is located in the heart of Lakewood Ranch, near shopping, amenities and A-rated schools. It is at the intersection of Pope Road and 44th Avenue East, near Neal Communities’ soon to be sold out Central Park community.

Homes at Indigo start at $259,990 and range in size from 1,407 to 2,400 square feet. The neighborhood’s amenities include a pool, spa, pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, a clubhouse and an activities director.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the 2015 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine and 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 among the top 50 builders nationally 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 and Allegiant Title Professionals all contribute to the firm’s continued, record-setting local success. The company’s honors and accolades include 42 Parade of Homes 2014 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 unveils recreation center at Indigo

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), the area’s largest and most established, locally owned and operated private builder, unveiled Club Indigo, the new recreation center at Indigo, an award-winning green community in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., last month.

A gated, island-resort style neighborhood just northeast of Central Park, Indigo’s $1.6 million recreation center features areas for community events, a culinary kitchen, fitness room and movement studio, pool with cabanas, spa, pickleball and bocce ball courts. A full-time lifestyle director will be creating an entire calendar of activities for homeowners, including water aerobics and book, card and jogging clubs, among other happenings.

Located at the intersection of Pope Road and 44th Avenue East, over 150 people attended the Indigo grand opening event on Saturday, Dec. 5. Once completed, Indigo will have a total of 453 maintenance-included homes. Since the community’s opening in May 2015, more than 47 families have purchased homes in the neighborhood.

Residents have access to recreational amenities, including 150 miles of walking and biking trails, nature preserves and parks and gun, polo and cricket clubs. The Premier Sports Campus, recently added to Lakewood Ranch, is available to host soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, archery, senior games, Ultimate Frisbee, Special Olympics, flag football, youth football, Frisbee golf and punt/pass/kick football on local, state, regional and national levels.

There are three professionally designed and decorated models at Indigo to browse through. For more information, visit Indigo’s Victory sales center and model, a 1,764-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a den, at 12916 Deep Blue Place in Lakewood Ranch or call 888-720-4429.

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named the 2015 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder and 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 among the top 50 builders nationally 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 and Allegiant Title Professionals all contribute to the firm’s continued, record-setting local success. The company’s honors and accolades include 42 Parade of Homes 2014 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.

Fourth quarter marks exceptional hiring period for Neal Communities

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, hired 22 employees in the last quarter of 2015 in a variety of departments, from building to sales.

The new hires include 10 sales associates – Jessica Dodge, Benjamin Doherty, Krista Edwards, Bridget Macklowe, Joshua Mills, Karen Moran, Theresa Schoenthaler, Leslie Sharp, Richard Skolrood and Donnesha Voshell – who are working to sell Neal Communities homes throughout the region. Elizabeth Bruenning was hired as an assistant sales coordinator.

A draftsman, Dylan Bernius, and three builders – Eric Marsh, Kevin McLean and Susan Serra – joined the Neal Communities team, too, as well as Allen McIntyre, a land acquisition specialist.

Connie Campbell was also hired as a purchasing job coordinator, along with warranty technician Richard Terpstra and senior financial analyst Robert Kozlowski.

New additions were made to Neal Communities’ marketing team, including the hire of Brittany Elder as senior marketing coordinator, and Laura Hope and Susan Moguel as marketing managers.

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 earns two accolades from Florida Green Building Coalition

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, was named the No. 1 builder of the top 15 green builders in the state and dubbed “Builder of the Year” from the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).

During the awards ceremony, held in Orlando, Fla., Neal Communities was honored with the top spot in the first-ever Top 15 Green Builders to commemorate the 15-year anniversary of the FGBC. The Lakewood Ranch-based builder earned the accolade for building the most green-certified homes in the past 15 years.

Neal Communities also received the 2015 Green Achievement Award for Builder of the Year – Most Homes Certified in the single-family homes category for the third consecutive year.

“It’s an honor to receive these designations, and we are extremely proud to be recognized for our green initiatives with the No. 1 spot out of 15 builders in the state,” said Cathy Engels, vice president of purchasing for Neal Communities.

FGBC certified homes complete a technically rigorous building assessment and construction process to promote design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of the building, improve occupant health and well-being, and reduce operating costs for the owner.

“These builders are being recognized for their conscientious green building efforts in creating healthier and safer homes and a more sustainable Florida,” said Suzanne Cook, executive director of FGBC. “As FGBC marks its 15th anniversary, we’re pleased to salute their contributions to creating more resilient communities and protecting Florida’s natural resources.”

The FGBC is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the built environment and continually looks for new and innovative ways to educate builders, developers, local governments and consumers about how to achieve an environmentally sustainable future. The member-based organization is the leading certifier of green projects in Florida, with over 8,000 certified projects.

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 breaks ground on Villa Amalfi in Bradenton

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has broken ground on a new, gated community that will provide residents vacation-style living in the North Sarasota.

Villa Amalfi, situated on 18 acres at the corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and Honore Avenue, will consist of 92 maintenance-included villas. A luxurious pool, spa and cabana are at the centerpiece of the community’s vacation lifestyle.

Residents can choose between three villa plans, each with a Tuscan architectural style. Plans range in size from 1,400 to 1,500 square feet. The Crystal Sand plan features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Tidewater and Tidewater B plans feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a den.

The Villa Amalfi property is bordered by Woodbrook to the east, Cascades to the south and west and Barrington Ridge to the north. Residents will enjoy convenience to shopping, dining and attractions in Bradenton and Sarasota, as well as proximity to major roads and highways.

Due to overwhelming interest, Neal Communities will be preselling homes in Villa Amalfi from the nearby Fairfield sales center, located at 5430 Chatham Square Way in Bradenton. The community is expected to open in early 2016. For more information or to join the VIP interest list, call 888-720-4429.

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 notches 89 sales in November

With one month to go in its best year for sales on record, Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sold 89 new homes in November bringing its year-to-date total to 992 homes.

“The last quarter of 2015 is proving to be extremely positive for us,” said Michael Storey, president of the Lakewood Ranch-based new homebuilding firm. “With recognition as America’s top builder from Professional Builder and sales setting an all-time record, I could not be more proud of our entire team. We remain committed to providing the best customer service and value in the market and are looking forward to a tremendous year-end result,” he said.

Notable communities in November include Grand Palm in Venice with 18 sales, and the newly opened Villages of Milano in Venice with 16 sales in its first month open. Neal Signature Homes, the firm’s luxury division, sold 10 homes in November and has already more than doubled its total sales from 2014.

The builder has opened 13 new communities this year with plans for additional expansion in 2016.

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 hosts 16th annual art contest at Laurel Nokomis Elementary School

Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, recently held its annual “My Favorite Home Art Contest” at Laurel Nokomis Elementary School in Nokomis, Fla., where the top five student finalists in each grade level attended along with their families, school officials and guest judges from around the community.

This year marks Neal Communities’ 16^th year hosting the My Favorite Home Art Contest, featuring a different community school each year in Manatee or Sarasota County.

“This event is a company highlight every year,” said Leisa Weintraub, vice president of marketing and creative director for the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilding company. “Our team is continually amazed at the talent the students display drawing their depiction of their favorite homes and the support and dedication of their teachers and parents. We always look forward to sharing that creativity with our friends and families on our firm’s holiday card,” said Weintraub.

Neal Communities also donated $1,000 to the school’s art program at the event.

Students from kindergarten through fifth grade participated in the contest. The kindergarten students reviewed the element of shape to outline their houses and introduced architectural texture plates as they colored them in to give the appearance of brick, shingles and other home details. First-grade students practiced fine motor skills, shape and color in cut paper collages of homes. Second graders utilized tempera paint with basic colors and were required to mix the paint to obtain the rest of their palette. Third-grade students studied space and composition in artwork using colored pencil and marker designs. Fourth graders practiced drawing realistic trees with colored pencil tree houses and fifth graders spent time studying samples of historic American architecture before designing their own dream home in watercolor and pen.

Those submissions were narrowed down to the top 30 entries – five from each grade level. Six grade-level winners were chosen by a celebrity judging panel, including include Caroline Zucker, Sarasota County School Board member; Eric Robinson, Sarasota County School Board financial advisory committee; Venice Mayor John Holic; Tim Smolarick, publisher of the Venice Gondolier; Doug Kerr, executive director of the Venice Symphony; and Venice City Commissioners Emilio Carlesimo and Robert Daniels.

Neal team members from marketing, sales, purchasing, and accounting, joined them. The Neal team will select one overall winner and that student’s artwork will adorn the cover of the Neal Communities’ 2015 holiday card.

Below are the grade-level winners listed in order:

• Kindergarten – Ryland Howell
• First grade – Jatorrance Jackson
• Second grade – Shane Espinoza
• Third grade – Jack Commander
• Fourth grade – Juliet Colon
• Fifth grade – Thomas Taylor

About Neal Communities

Neal Communities was named Professional Builder’s 2015 “Builder of the Year” and 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 dubbed Builder of the Year

Today, Professional Builder has named Neal Communities (NealCommunities.com), southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, the 49^th builder to receive its esteemed 2015 Builder of the Year award.

Each year, Professional Builder, North America’s leading business publication dedicated to the home building industry, presents this prestigious and sought-after award to only one builder whose innovative ideas and business results represent the best in home building.

“Our consistent goal is to combine the discipline, efficiency, skill and processes of a publicly owned homebuilder with the agility, customer care and attention to detail of a private builder,” says Pat Neal, founder and CEO of Neal Communities. “To be recognized for excellence with this respected award is a special honor that we are humbled and pleased to accept.”

The Builder of the Year award was established in 1965, with the first award recipient announced the following year. Fifty years later, the program continues its objective of acknowledging homebuilders. Professional Builder’s editors select the winning firm, with input from a select group of industry executives.

“With closings approaching 1,000 homes in 2015, Neal Communities did better coming out of the downturn than many companies did during the boom,” says Professional Builder editorial director Denise Dersin. “Neal’s focus on acquiring the best land and creating sustainable communities, along with its ability to hire — and keep — one of the best teams in the business has made it one of Florida’s fastest-growing homebuilders.”

With a footprint that spans approximately 170 miles north and south along Florida’s coveted Gulf Coast, Neal Communities has a unique perspective on how to operate successfully in the market while contributing to the economic development of the communities it serves.

“At Neal Communities, our entire team is deeply committed to improving the lives of the people we serve with superior customer service, products and value,” says Neal. “We do this by incorporating family values, integrity and professionalism in all that we do. I could not be more proud of our dedicated team of exceptional homebuilding professionals who inspire me to work harder every day.”

The Neal Communities executive team was honored during an awards luncheon at Professional Builder’s Housing Giants Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. in October. Past winners include Goodall Homes in Nashville, Tenn., David Weekley Homes in Houston, Texas, Toll Brothers in Horsham, Pa., DSLD Homes in Denham Springs, La. and Jagoe Homes in Owensboro, Ky.

“This is the Academy Awards in homebuilding,” says Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. “This isn’t an award we applied for or sought out. It’s an award we are extremely proud of and one our skilled, professional and loyal team made possible.”

Michael Greenberg, president of Neal’s southern division covering Lee and Collier counties, joined the firm three years ago to lead its southern expansion. Now, with 39 employees and a new Design Gallery slated to open this month, Neal South is the ninth largest builder in Lee and Collier counties.

“I am extremely proud to work for a builder of this caliber,” said Greenberg. “This division has certainly become the builder of choice to work for in the region, and a firm of this magnitude that stays true to its family values and culture is what makes our team so dedicated,” he said.

For more than 75 years, Professional Builder has remained dedicated to serving the needs of the nation’s home building community — builders, designers and trade partners — with award-winning content and proven, practical solutions.

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.

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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