ORLANDO/TAMPA, Fla. --- The inventory of available ready-to-move-in spec homes in the Orlando and Tampa Bay regions is decreasing and that means prices are beginning to rise, according to one of Florida’s most active home builders.
Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, which builds new single family and town homes in 20 communities in the Clermont, Orlando and Space Coast areas and in 15 communities in the Tampa Bay region, said Lennar is working hard to maintain ready-to-move-in homes in all its communities.
“As inventories decline, the law of supply and demand is reasserting itself,” Metheny said.
Currently, Lennar’s ready-to-move-in homes at its communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Polk Counties are priced from the $70s to more than $400,000. In the Clermont, Orlando and Space Coast regions Lennar move-in ready homes are priced from the low $100s to the high $200s, Metheny explained.
“We are building new ready-to-move-in homes in all of our communities and it is getting harder to keep up with demand,” Metheny said.
As the Florida housing market recovers, some buyers are going to see a window of opportunity close, he said.
“Right now, the lowest pricing, the lowest mortgage interest rates and the best availability all point to a unique window for home buyers that will close as demand increases and prices rise," Metheny said.
For more information, visit www.Lennar.com or call 888-317-7489.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Central Florida Cyclist gets closer to reaching fundraising goal for his participation in Race Across America
EUSTIS, Fla. – First Green Bank, based in Lake County, is asking the public to help fund Central Florida cyclist Steven Perezluha’s efforts to win the 30th annual Race Across America (RAAM), the grueling 3,000 mile race that will start in Oceanside, Calif. on June 15 and end less than 12 days later in Annapolis, Md.
Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said 20-year-old Perezluha has a realistic chance of winning this year’s Race Across America but that effort will cost more than $20,000 including registration fees and accommodations for the eight person team that will accompany him on his journey.
“Steven Perezluha is a remarkable young man with a very promising future and First Green Bank is proud to help sponsor him for this monumental effort,” LaRoe said.
“The Race Across America is widely regarded as the toughest bicycle race in the world,” LaRoe said. “Cyclists often ride more than 20 hours every day from the start of the race to the finish, and they must consume upwards of 15,000 calories a day.”
Perezluha rode more than 30,000 miles on his bicycle last year in preparation for the Race Across America. In one six-day stretch, he rode from his home in Longwood to Key West and back, a total of 1,456 miles. And that was a short trip – in 2009, Perezluha rode his bicycle to Alaska and back. He has also won and set records at several racing events over the past couple years.
“Steven also has an excellent pedigree,” LaRoe said. “His uncle, Danny Chew, won the Race Across America in 1996 and 1999.”
Those wishing to also help support Perezluha’s Race Across America can contribute to his team by visiting his Donation Page at www.StevenPerezluha.com
Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said 20-year-old Perezluha has a realistic chance of winning this year’s Race Across America but that effort will cost more than $20,000 including registration fees and accommodations for the eight person team that will accompany him on his journey.
“Steven Perezluha is a remarkable young man with a very promising future and First Green Bank is proud to help sponsor him for this monumental effort,” LaRoe said.
“The Race Across America is widely regarded as the toughest bicycle race in the world,” LaRoe said. “Cyclists often ride more than 20 hours every day from the start of the race to the finish, and they must consume upwards of 15,000 calories a day.”
Perezluha rode more than 30,000 miles on his bicycle last year in preparation for the Race Across America. In one six-day stretch, he rode from his home in Longwood to Key West and back, a total of 1,456 miles. And that was a short trip – in 2009, Perezluha rode his bicycle to Alaska and back. He has also won and set records at several racing events over the past couple years.
“Steven also has an excellent pedigree,” LaRoe said. “His uncle, Danny Chew, won the Race Across America in 1996 and 1999.”
Those wishing to also help support Perezluha’s Race Across America can contribute to his team by visiting his Donation Page at www.StevenPerezluha.com
International, Out-of-State Home Buyers in Central Florida Finding Great Values that Locals Often Overlooked, Roger Soderstrom Says
ORLANDO, Fla. --- International and out-of-state home buyers in Florida are finding great values that local home buyers are overlooking, says one prominent realtor.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in Orlando, said international and out-of-state home buyers tend to look at Florida housing opportunities with un unvarnished eye.
“Floridians have been so inundated with how bad the market is that they’re overlooking that our market has bottomed out, and all of the great values that are now out there,” Soderstrom said.
Outsiders, including buyers from overseas, are finding a lot of Central Florida property priced well below property back home, and much lower than prices they may have experienced two or three years ago in Florida,” he said.
Luxury home specialist Dan Natoli agrees.
“Many excellent Central Florida homes are substantially undervalued, and the opportunities here are tremendous,” Natoli said.
“Sometimes, it takes an outsider to see the obvious, and that’s what is happening here. Some of the very best values are going to newcomers, international vacation home buyers and second home buyers,” Natoli said.
Natoli said the supply of undervalued properties is declining.
“The pool of listed homes for sale overall is declining,” Natoli said. “Currently, less than 11,000 homes are listed for sale in Central Florida and that’s the lowest in more than six years,” he said.
Natoli said some homes are seeing multiple offers for the first time in years.
“Stirling Sotheby’s is very aggressive in marketing homes to buyers throughout the U.S. and around the world,” Natoli said.
“In many cases we are creating markets for luxury homes and waterfront properties that are significantly larger than the Central Florida region,” he said.
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in Orlando, said international and out-of-state home buyers tend to look at Florida housing opportunities with un unvarnished eye.
“Floridians have been so inundated with how bad the market is that they’re overlooking that our market has bottomed out, and all of the great values that are now out there,” Soderstrom said.
Outsiders, including buyers from overseas, are finding a lot of Central Florida property priced well below property back home, and much lower than prices they may have experienced two or three years ago in Florida,” he said.
Luxury home specialist Dan Natoli agrees.
“Many excellent Central Florida homes are substantially undervalued, and the opportunities here are tremendous,” Natoli said.
“Sometimes, it takes an outsider to see the obvious, and that’s what is happening here. Some of the very best values are going to newcomers, international vacation home buyers and second home buyers,” Natoli said.
Natoli said the supply of undervalued properties is declining.
“The pool of listed homes for sale overall is declining,” Natoli said. “Currently, less than 11,000 homes are listed for sale in Central Florida and that’s the lowest in more than six years,” he said.
Natoli said some homes are seeing multiple offers for the first time in years.
“Stirling Sotheby’s is very aggressive in marketing homes to buyers throughout the U.S. and around the world,” Natoli said.
“In many cases we are creating markets for luxury homes and waterfront properties that are significantly larger than the Central Florida region,” he said.
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com
Dave Brewer Inc. earns first place Parade of Homes Award in $1.5 million-plus category
SANFORD, Fla. --- Dave Brewer, Inc., which ranks as one of the top custom home builders in the Central Florida region, was awarded first place for the $1.5 million category in the recent Central Florida Parade of Homes.
Matt Trask, vice president of Dave Brewer, Inc., said the French country style home offers four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths with a four-car garage and 6,200 square feet of living space.
Trask said Dave Brewer, Inc. plans to enter the home in the upcoming Aurora Awards competition for design excellence.
The luxury home is located on Markham Woods Road in Longwood.
Matt Trask, vice president of Dave Brewer, Inc., said the French country style home offers four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths with a four-car garage and 6,200 square feet of living space.
Trask said Dave Brewer, Inc. plans to enter the home in the upcoming Aurora Awards competition for design excellence.
The luxury home is located on Markham Woods Road in Longwood.
NAI Realvest negotiates new lease for Satellite Office of Palm Beach Investigations firm at Heathrow I
MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 2,772 square feet of Class A office space in Suite 250 of Heathrow I at 250 International Parkway in the Lake Mary / I-4 corridor.
Thomas E. Hankins CCIM SIOR, principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, Forensic Solutions, which is based Palm Beach Gardens. The forensic accident investigations firm who services the insurance industry, corporations and municipalities leased the space for its central Florida satellite office.
The landlord is Heathrow Equity I, LLC.
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Thomas E. Hankins CCIM SIOR, principal at NAI Realvest, negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, Forensic Solutions, which is based Palm Beach Gardens. The forensic accident investigations firm who services the insurance industry, corporations and municipalities leased the space for its central Florida satellite office.
The landlord is Heathrow Equity I, LLC.
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Friday, May 27, 2011
First Green Bank named one of Top 100 Companies for Working Families by Orlando Sentinel
EUSTIS, Fla. – First Green Bank, which has locations in Eustis and Clermont and a new LEED Platinum-registered headquarters facility under construction in Mount Dora, was named one of the Top 100 Companies for Working Families by the Orlando Sentinel recently.
Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said First Green Bank’s sound footing, positive growth and corporate policies that focus on doing the right thing for its employees, its customers and shareholders, the local community and the environment all figured into the best company for working families designation.
“We are very pleased at the recognition and proud to be among the top 100 companies,” LaRoe said.
First Green Bank was also named one of Florida’s Best Companies to Work for in 2010 by Florida Trend magazine.
Ken LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said First Green Bank’s sound footing, positive growth and corporate policies that focus on doing the right thing for its employees, its customers and shareholders, the local community and the environment all figured into the best company for working families designation.
“We are very pleased at the recognition and proud to be among the top 100 companies,” LaRoe said.
First Green Bank was also named one of Florida’s Best Companies to Work for in 2010 by Florida Trend magazine.
Allogy Interactive Appoints Alex Cook Technical Director
ORLANDO, Fla. – Allogy Interactive, a leading developer of applications for mobile devices such as smart phones and notebooks, recently appointed Alex Cook technical director.
Colin Forward, Communications Director for Allogy Interactive, said Cook, who earned his B.S. degree in computer science from the University of Central Florida, has an extensive background in software technology and research.
Cook’s experience includes groundbreaking research in UCF’s Computational Imaging Lab on graphics and vision and rendering software engineering on several bestselling titles for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 at Electronic Arts.
Allogy Interactive is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at Central Florida Research Park in east Orlando.
About Allogy Interactive:
Allogy Interactive, a leading developer of mobile applications for education, healthcare, business, and social enterprises, connects people to promote learning, opportunity, and economic growth by understanding the relationships, creating intuitive interfaces and using data to promote the transparency and accountability necessary for achievement.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Colin Forward, Communications Director for Allogy Interactive, said Cook, who earned his B.S. degree in computer science from the University of Central Florida, has an extensive background in software technology and research.
Cook’s experience includes groundbreaking research in UCF’s Computational Imaging Lab on graphics and vision and rendering software engineering on several bestselling titles for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 at Electronic Arts.
Allogy Interactive is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at Central Florida Research Park in east Orlando.
About Allogy Interactive:
Allogy Interactive, a leading developer of mobile applications for education, healthcare, business, and social enterprises, connects people to promote learning, opportunity, and economic growth by understanding the relationships, creating intuitive interfaces and using data to promote the transparency and accountability necessary for achievement.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Reports Strong Traffic at Johns Lake Point, Three Homes under Contract Already
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Barely one month after Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty was named exclusive sales and marketing agents at Johns Lake Point on Avalon Road in Winter Garden, three of nine ready-to-move-in homes are under contract.
“Home buyer visits to the sales center have been greater than we anticipated,” said Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty.
Jennifer Gonzalez and Luis Gonzalez are representing the Johns Lake Point developer Misty Ridge Ventures in sales of new homes at Johns Lake Point priced from the $160s to the mid $400s.
Altogether, 323 new homes are planned at Johns Lake Point in three distinct villages with 50-, 75- and 85-foot home sites.
Soderstrom said construction is planned to start this summer on a 4,000 square foot amenity center with fitness facilities, a junior Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts and children’s play area.
New three to six-bedroom homes at Johns Lake Point range in size from 1,600 square feet of living space to 3,800 square feet.
Some of the homes, according to Soderstrom, offer nature preserve and pond frontages.
See Photo Gallery at http://askagonzalez.com/hub/johnslake/gallery/
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
“Home buyer visits to the sales center have been greater than we anticipated,” said Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty.
Jennifer Gonzalez and Luis Gonzalez are representing the Johns Lake Point developer Misty Ridge Ventures in sales of new homes at Johns Lake Point priced from the $160s to the mid $400s.
Altogether, 323 new homes are planned at Johns Lake Point in three distinct villages with 50-, 75- and 85-foot home sites.
Soderstrom said construction is planned to start this summer on a 4,000 square foot amenity center with fitness facilities, a junior Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts and children’s play area.
New three to six-bedroom homes at Johns Lake Point range in size from 1,600 square feet of living space to 3,800 square feet.
Some of the homes, according to Soderstrom, offer nature preserve and pond frontages.
See Photo Gallery at http://askagonzalez.com/hub/johnslake/gallery/
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
Emerson International Reports Sales of 13 New Homes in April at Eagle Creek Golf Community in South Orlando
ORLANDO - Emerson International, the Altamonte Springs based developer of Eagle Creek Golf Club off Narcoossee Road near Medical City in southeast Orlando, reported it closed on sales of 13 new homes at Eagle Creek in April.
“That’s the most sales in a single month we have seen this year,” said Eric Emerson, vice president and general manager of Emerson International.
Emerson said new homes at Eagle Creek range in price from the low $200s to more than $900,000.
Emerson added that April closings totaled more than $5 million.
Eagle Creek Golf Club features a championship 18-hole golf course, a New England Manor Clubhouse and distinct neighborhoods that offer golf, lake or forest views with luxury single-family homes, golf villas, and town homes.
Eagle Creek Golf Club is owned by Emerson International, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies in the U.K.
“That’s the most sales in a single month we have seen this year,” said Eric Emerson, vice president and general manager of Emerson International.
Emerson said new homes at Eagle Creek range in price from the low $200s to more than $900,000.
Emerson added that April closings totaled more than $5 million.
Eagle Creek Golf Club features a championship 18-hole golf course, a New England Manor Clubhouse and distinct neighborhoods that offer golf, lake or forest views with luxury single-family homes, golf villas, and town homes.
Eagle Creek Golf Club is owned by Emerson International, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies in the U.K.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Exclusive Sales and Marketing Agent for Unique Sweetwater Club Luxury Estate
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty was recently named exclusive sales and marketing representatives for a unique luxury estate at 106 Squire Hill Rd. in the Sweetwater Club in Longwood.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the prestigious 8,500 square foot estate home is one of the most desirable properties in Florida.
“Sweetwater Club was originally developed by Everette Huskey and still ranks as one of the most unique, beautiful and exclusive neighborhoods in Florida,” Soderstrom said.
“Sweetwater Club will never be duplicated, as zoning and land use laws have since changed. This property offers a lifestyle that is one of the last of its kind anywhere,” Soderstrom said.
International Luxury Home Specialists Sally Andy and David Warren Stirling Sotheby’s Heathrow Gallery are representing the property which is listed at $1,299,000 with its 4.5 acre park-like homesite.
The recently renovated home, with eight bedrooms, seven full baths and two half-baths, features an island gourmet kitchen with all new custom cabinetry and granite counters.
Outside, the estate features a resort style outdoor living area with tropical pool, waterfalls, stone grotto, koi pond and oversized heated spa. The home also features a seven car garage.
Photo Gallery: http://www.tourfactory.com/idxr731285
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the prestigious 8,500 square foot estate home is one of the most desirable properties in Florida.
“Sweetwater Club was originally developed by Everette Huskey and still ranks as one of the most unique, beautiful and exclusive neighborhoods in Florida,” Soderstrom said.
“Sweetwater Club will never be duplicated, as zoning and land use laws have since changed. This property offers a lifestyle that is one of the last of its kind anywhere,” Soderstrom said.
International Luxury Home Specialists Sally Andy and David Warren Stirling Sotheby’s Heathrow Gallery are representing the property which is listed at $1,299,000 with its 4.5 acre park-like homesite.
The recently renovated home, with eight bedrooms, seven full baths and two half-baths, features an island gourmet kitchen with all new custom cabinetry and granite counters.
Outside, the estate features a resort style outdoor living area with tropical pool, waterfalls, stone grotto, koi pond and oversized heated spa. The home also features a seven car garage.
Photo Gallery: http://www.tourfactory.com/idxr731285
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
Upscale Bellagio Custom Homes Model Starting to Take Shape in Estate Section of Palm Coast’s Grand Haven Community
PALM COAST – Bellagio Custom Homes is nearing completion on the framing of their Florenza II, a 3,490-square-foot luxury model in Wild Oaks, the estate section of Grand Haven, a master-planned community just north of State Road 100 and east of Interstate 95.
Bellagio is the luxury homebuilding affiliate of SeaGate Homes, a 17-year-old family-owned company that has been recognized as one of the nation’s largest homebuilders having completed more than 3,000 homes throughout Northeast and Central Florida. The relationship between the two companies offers homebuyers the experience and buying power of SeaGate Homes, as well as the elegance and grandeur of a custom-designed and built Bellagio home, according to Michael Sawdai, vice president of operations for both builders.
“In addition to providing our clients with exceptional customer care, we also offer ultra-competitive pricing that usually is not seen in custom homebuilding,” Sawdai said. “The hallmark of a Bellagio home is the quality standards and the Old-World craftsmanship that is built into each one.”
The company also offers a 15-year homebuyer’s warranty on all of its homes.
Unlike many traditional homebuilders, Sawdai said Bellagio offers as standards, a 14-SEER energy-efficient heating and cooling system; impact-rated windows with low-E coating; Kohler fixtures, upgraded KraftMaid cabinetry, solid-core doors and granite tops in kitchens and baths and much more.
“We can help the homebuyer in the design process by suggesting plans from our library or we can assist them in the design process to create their dream home,” he said.
“The Florenza II has a unique style all its own,” Sawdai said. “It is situated on a beautiful lake and will be offered with a builder lease-back. The Florenza II model is scheduled for completion this summer.
For more information about the Florenza II or other Bellagio homes, please call 386-445-1616 or visit www.BellagioHomesFL.com.
About Bellagio Homes:
Bellagio Custom Homes, the custom homebuilding company of SeaGate Homes, specializes in the construction of unique luxury residences in numerous premier communities. SeaGate Homes – a 17-year-old family-owned company that has completed more than 3,000 homes through northeast and Central Florida – is recognized as one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
Bellagio is the luxury homebuilding affiliate of SeaGate Homes, a 17-year-old family-owned company that has been recognized as one of the nation’s largest homebuilders having completed more than 3,000 homes throughout Northeast and Central Florida. The relationship between the two companies offers homebuyers the experience and buying power of SeaGate Homes, as well as the elegance and grandeur of a custom-designed and built Bellagio home, according to Michael Sawdai, vice president of operations for both builders.
“In addition to providing our clients with exceptional customer care, we also offer ultra-competitive pricing that usually is not seen in custom homebuilding,” Sawdai said. “The hallmark of a Bellagio home is the quality standards and the Old-World craftsmanship that is built into each one.”
The company also offers a 15-year homebuyer’s warranty on all of its homes.
Unlike many traditional homebuilders, Sawdai said Bellagio offers as standards, a 14-SEER energy-efficient heating and cooling system; impact-rated windows with low-E coating; Kohler fixtures, upgraded KraftMaid cabinetry, solid-core doors and granite tops in kitchens and baths and much more.
“We can help the homebuyer in the design process by suggesting plans from our library or we can assist them in the design process to create their dream home,” he said.
“The Florenza II has a unique style all its own,” Sawdai said. “It is situated on a beautiful lake and will be offered with a builder lease-back. The Florenza II model is scheduled for completion this summer.
For more information about the Florenza II or other Bellagio homes, please call 386-445-1616 or visit www.BellagioHomesFL.com.
About Bellagio Homes:
Bellagio Custom Homes, the custom homebuilding company of SeaGate Homes, specializes in the construction of unique luxury residences in numerous premier communities. SeaGate Homes – a 17-year-old family-owned company that has completed more than 3,000 homes through northeast and Central Florida – is recognized as one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
Volusia County-based Company Selected to Participate in State’s GrowFL Economic Gardening Program
HOLLY HILL, Fla. – Mediatech, a manufacturer of all-wood workstations, podiums, desks and presentation control systems, has been accepted into GrowFL, a state-funded program that provides free technical assistance to small businesses.
Founder and Chief Technology Officer Lou Gallo started the Holly Hill-based company in 1990 to sell products to the federal government through contracts with large defense contractors.
Today, with 24 employees in Holly Hill, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Texas, Mediatech designs, manufactures and integrates advanced presentation systems primarily for higher education, as well as governmental agencies.
Gallo said the affiliation with GrowFL should help accelerate his company’s growth tremendously.
“It will give our company the infrastructure and professional support it needs to reach the next level,” he said.
A part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses to participate, the institute looks for ones that have potential, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.
“Mediatech has shown that it has the potential to grow and be successful, but just needs a little assistance,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
GrowFL will support Mediatech through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.
For more information about Mediatech, visit www.gomediatech.com
About Mediatech:
Founded in 1990 by Lou Gallo, Mediatech develops integrated all-wood workstations, podiums, desks and advanced presentation control systems for colleges and university classrooms, as well as for the federal government.
About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.
Founder and Chief Technology Officer Lou Gallo started the Holly Hill-based company in 1990 to sell products to the federal government through contracts with large defense contractors.
Today, with 24 employees in Holly Hill, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio and Texas, Mediatech designs, manufactures and integrates advanced presentation systems primarily for higher education, as well as governmental agencies.
Gallo said the affiliation with GrowFL should help accelerate his company’s growth tremendously.
“It will give our company the infrastructure and professional support it needs to reach the next level,” he said.
A part of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, GrowFL was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses to participate, the institute looks for ones that have potential, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.
“Mediatech has shown that it has the potential to grow and be successful, but just needs a little assistance,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president for the University of Central Florida’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
GrowFL will support Mediatech through a number of services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.
For more information about Mediatech, visit www.gomediatech.com
About Mediatech:
Founded in 1990 by Lou Gallo, Mediatech develops integrated all-wood workstations, podiums, desks and advanced presentation control systems for colleges and university classrooms, as well as for the federal government.
About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute:
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is Exclusive Sales, Marketing Agents for Spruce Creek Home, Airplane Hangar
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty was named exclusive sales and marketing agents for a $1.95 million luxury home and airplane hangar at Spruce Creek Fly-In in Volusia County.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said luxury home specialists Rachel McGrath and Debbie Keilin are representing the property and serve as principal contacts for prospective buyers.
The six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath luxury home offers 6,032 square feet of luxury living space with a separate guest house, huge courtyard, heated oasis style swimming pool and a second gated entry.
The home features golf and lake views, summer kitchen, travertine floors, a ground floor master suite with spa style bath, a second floor media room and library.
The 60-foot-by-68-foot tiled, air-conditioned airplane hangar was previously owned by NASCAR driver Mark Martin and features a full kitchen and a bath, conference room and private office.
Visit http://tour.circlepix.com/tour/Nitro/loadingPage.htm?tourId=793509
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said luxury home specialists Rachel McGrath and Debbie Keilin are representing the property and serve as principal contacts for prospective buyers.
The six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath luxury home offers 6,032 square feet of luxury living space with a separate guest house, huge courtyard, heated oasis style swimming pool and a second gated entry.
The home features golf and lake views, summer kitchen, travertine floors, a ground floor master suite with spa style bath, a second floor media room and library.
The 60-foot-by-68-foot tiled, air-conditioned airplane hangar was previously owned by NASCAR driver Mark Martin and features a full kitchen and a bath, conference room and private office.
Visit http://tour.circlepix.com/tour/Nitro/loadingPage.htm?tourId=793509
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
University Club of Orlando, Boy Scouts host Cocktails for a Cause and Silent Auction that Raised More than $5,000 for Ronald McDonald House
ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University Club of Orlando and Eagle Scout Candidate James Phillips raised more than $5,000 for Ronald McDonald House recently at a Cocktails for a Cause event at the University Club.
Justin Wright, events director at The University Club of Orlando, said the funds will go toward a new activity room at the local Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at local hospitals.
Wright said Phillips, who planned the new activity room as his Eagle Scout project, secured over 50 donated items for the silent auction and local Boy Scouts assisted in manning the event, as well as setup and clean up.
So far this year, the University Club’s Cocktails for a Cause events have raised more than $75,000 for local charitable endeavors and organizations, Wright said.
Justin Wright, events director at The University Club of Orlando, said the funds will go toward a new activity room at the local Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at local hospitals.
Wright said Phillips, who planned the new activity room as his Eagle Scout project, secured over 50 donated items for the silent auction and local Boy Scouts assisted in manning the event, as well as setup and clean up.
So far this year, the University Club’s Cocktails for a Cause events have raised more than $75,000 for local charitable endeavors and organizations, Wright said.
Heritage Hills in Clermont Reduces Prices for Villa Homes by $12,000 in Summer Blowout Sale
CLERMONT, Fla. --- Lennar has reduced pricing on Villa homes at Heritage Hills, the gated active adult community located on Heritage Hills Blvd. off Hartwood Marsh Road, east of U.S. 27 in Clermont.
Mark Metheny, president of the Central Florida Division of Lennar, said new villa homes at Heritage Hills are priced from $127,990.
“The price of the 1,400 square foot St. Lucia villa home has been reduced to $127,990,” Metheny said. The two-bedroom, two-bath St. Lucia also offers a one-car garage.
Sara K. Nakamine, who heads Active Adult Marketing for Lennar in Clermont, said visitor traffic at Heritage Hills has been heavy since Easter.
“This is unusual for the late spring,” she explained. “Typically, visitor traffic falls off dramatically after Easter, when winter visitors return to the north.
Nakamine said the surge in after Easter visits to the Welcome Home Center at Heritage Hills is probably the result of changing lifestyle patterns of active adults.
“The active adult market is changing and we’re already seeing the first wave,” Metheny said. “For the next 20 years or so an average of more than 1,500 Americans every day will celebrate their 65th birthday, he said.
“The U.S. economy is improving and active adults who put off retirement plans for the past five years are now entering the market in greater number than before,” Metheny said.
Lennar builds single family and villa homes at Heritage Hills priced from the $130s
Heritage Hills features an 18,890 square foot community clubhouse with a grand ballroom, swimming pool, fitness center, card and billiards rooms, aerobics studio, bocce ball courts, lighted tennis courts, social director, private vineyards and olive grove, fitness and biking trails, and golf simulator.
Visit www.Lennar.com.
Meritage Homes Names Two New Sales Associates
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Meritage Homes has named two new sales associates with combined experience of more than 20 years.
Brian Kittle, vice president of sales at Meritage Homes in Orlando, said Troy Alexander with more than 15 years of experience was named sales associate for the home builder. At the same time, Melanie Molczyk, with five years of experience in new home sales was appointed sales associate.
Kittle said Alexander will be working out of the homebuilder’s community of Waterford Trails and Molczyk will be at Lexington Green at Providence.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Ryland Homes Earns Two Major Awards in Charlotte Parade of Homes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ryland Homes earned Gold and Silver awards in judging during the Home Builders Association of Charlotte’s 2011 Parade of Homes.
Krista Long, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in the Charlotte region, said the Eastman model home at Lauren Village, 1329 Lauren Village Drive in the University area, won the Parade’s highest award for homes priced from $140,000 to $220,000.
Parade judges bestowed the Gold award on Ryland’s two-story Eastman model home at Lauren Village, which offers three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 1,689 square feet of living space with a two-car garage.
The Eastman model home is priced from $136,990.
The Ingleton model home at Westland Farm, 217 Fielding St. in Mount Holly, earned Ryland the Parade’s Silver award for single-family homes priced from $221,000 to $289,000.
The two story Ingleton model home at Westland Farm offers four bedrooms and two and one half baths in 2,630 square feet of living space with a two-car garage priced from $178,990.
About Ryland Homes
With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. The company currently operates in 28 markets across the country and has built more than 275,000 homes and financed more than 230,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967. Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYL.”
Mattamy Homes Starts Presales of Three-Bedroom, Two-Bath Town Homes Priced from the $150s at Nona Preserve at Lake Nona
WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, a division of Canada’s largest homebuilder, has started presales of three-bedroom, two-bath town homes at Nona Preserve at Lake Nona, located on Narcoossee Road in southeast Orlando.
Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said new town homes at Nona Preserve at Lake Nona are priced from the $150s and range in size from 1,500 square feet of living space with private garages.
Parker said Mattamy will build 24 new town homes in the first phase at Nona Preserve at Lake Nona.
Mattamy Homes will open two model town homes at Nona Preserve at Lake Nona in June. A grand opening is slated for July.
About Mattamy Homes U.S. Group
Mattamy Homes www.mattamyhomes.com expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. with divisions in Orlando, Jacksonville Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.
Ashton Woods Homes Opens New Phase With 73 single family home sites at the Reserve at Berkshire Park in Windermere
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has opened a new phase with 73 new single family home sites at the Reserve at Berkshire Park a new semi-custom home neighborhood in the community located off Overstreet Road and C.R. 535 in Windermere.
Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said new three, four and five bedroom single-family homes in the new phase will be priced from $234,900.
New homes at the Reserve at Berkshire Park range in size from approximately 2,000 square feet of living space to 3,300 square feet.
Roche said more than 60 premium home sites in the new phase front on conservation areas, community ponds or are oversized home sites.
Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix.
Tolaris Realty Group reports 67.3 percent increase in luxury home sales and traffic in Winter Park, Lake Mary, South Orlando
SANFORD, Fla. –Tolaris Realty Group, is reporting it has seen a 67.3 percent increase in luxury home sales and traffic since Jan. 1 for luxury homes and lakefront properties in Winter Park, Lake Mary and South Orlando and beachfront condominiums in Brevard and Volusia Counties.
Rick Bavec, president of Tolaris Realty Group, said the firm has handled more than 40 transactions since the start of the year. Most luxury home buyers are paying cash, Bavec said.
Tolaris Realty Group recently hosted a realtor seminar at Alaqua Country Club to discuss short sales and foreclosures. Bavec said real estate Attorney Reinhard Stephan conducted the seminar.
“Many area realtors attended the seminar and we plan to host a series of similarly themed seminars in the future,” Bavec said.
Future seminars will be open to the public.
NAI Realvest Extends Hudson Restaurant Property Online Auction to June 8
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Paul P. Partyka, managing partner at NAI Realvest in Maitland, is going online to sell a 9,367 square foot restaurant building on a 2.8 acre site in Hudson to the highest bidder on June 8.
Partyka said the facility, located on S.R. 52 in Hudson between U.S. 19 and County Road 1, is well located on a busy thoroughfare, posts daily traffic counts that range between 30,000 and 63,000, surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for development as a restaurant or for redevelopment with another use,” Partyka said.
Buyers of mid-range commercial facilities don’t often tour Hudson looking for opportunities.
“The online auction format offers us an excellent opportunity,” Partyka said. “We can present to a worldwide audience of potential bidders who are more interested in the facts---demographics, location, facility size, parking---than the general area,” he explained.
NAI Realvest designed a special web site for the auction at NAIauction.com/Hudson, and bids will be accepted online from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8.
Introducing David Toro, Luxury Homes Specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty
Orlando, Fla. --- David Toro, International Luxury Homes Specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, has a different take on the real estate market from many market observers.
“In my role as an International Luxury Homes Specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty I have met countless celebrities, engineers, lawyers, doctors, business owners, and executives,” Toro said.
“While many educated individuals look down upon today's real estate market, I see a breadth of opportunity,” he said.
“We are emerging from an unprecedented housing market, but positive trends are already beginning to emerge. Buyers are leaving the sidelines and sellers are adjusting to the realities of the market. That’s a win/win situation, because as the supply curve dwindles, and as the demand curve increases, we will begin seeing a steady upbeat of market valuation,” he added.
For Toro, Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has the best grasp of market conditions and the infrastructure to shape the market.
“Our marketing department constantly innovates new avenues for our listings. We are at the forefront of the industry. Luxury QR CODE marketing is a good example of our industry-leading efforts---we are among the first real estate firms in the U.S. to implement barcodes that can be scanned from your smart phone. The codes direct users to templates on the web that depict the properties features, and in some instances, we redirect our customers to video presentations of our homes,” Toro said.
“The National association of Realtors and Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty have acknowledged that video marketing is one of the most effective avenues of distribution to social media circles, so we have made it an important part of our business to develop media. Our company has an unlimited variety of proprietary marketing avenues that distinguish us from the competition,” he said.
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty produces results that would be inaccessible elsewhere, Toro asserts.
“I have worked with many high net worth individuals,” Toro said. “In one case, I negotiated a million dollars off the asking price for a luxury property. While this is a career benchmark, benchmarks result when determination, the skills of a professional real estate advisor, and a brokering agency with a powerful infrastructure all come together,” he said.
That infrastructure extends outside the traditional “Realtor” scope, Toro added.
“Most people don’t realize that Stirling has a worldwide auction group that can auction off real estate in any part of the globe. If you have a multi million dollar property that your’re interested in selling, we can, and will sell it at market value or better,” he said.
About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, commercial, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates three performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Ryland Homes Names Sarah McMichael Sales Assistant in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Ryland Homes recently appointed Sarah McMichael sales assistant in the Charleston region.
Brian Cartwright, vice president of sales and marketing for Ryland Homes in Charleston, said McMichael holds a B.A. Degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee. Prior to entering real estate and new home sales, she was a preschool teacher.
McMichael will be assisting new homebuyers at Ryland’s community of Bellwood off Miles Jamison Road in Charleston.
About Ryland Homes
With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. The Company currently operates in 31 markets across the country and has built more than 260,000 homes and financed more than 210,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967. Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL."
Beazer Homes Opens Five Ready-To-Move-In Homes at Sawgrass in South Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Beazer Homes has five ready-to-move-in single-family homes priced from $164,900 to $249,900 at Sawgrass, located on Sawgrass Plantation Blvd. between Landstar Blvd. and Weatherbee Rd. in south Orlando.
David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes Florida, said the new three, four and five-bedroom homes are among the last available for sale at Sawgrass---only 20 home sites remain for sale, Byrnes said.
New ready-to-move-in homes at Sawgrass range in size from 1,400 square feet of living space.
All new Beazer homes at Sawgrass feature eSMART energy-saving engineering with programmable thermostats, cost-saving CFL light bulbs, water-saving Moen low flow shower heads and faucets, MERV 8 air filters, and low VOC paints and carpets.
NAI Realvest Negotiates New Long-Term Office Lease at Primera in Lake Mary for an Information Technology firm relocating from Connecticut
ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a five-year lease agreement for 1,380 square feet of office space at Suite 125, Primera Court I, 725 Primera Blvd. in Lake Mary.
NAI Realvest Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM brokered the transaction. The landlord at Primera Court I is Interchange-Primera II, LLC based in Daytona Beach.
The new tenant RezZiliant, which provides IT services, offsite backup, Virtual and Server colocation, recovery and security services, and also has a division that develops Healthcare software, has relocated from Waterbury, Conn. Their website is www.rezziliant.com and contact info is 1-866-581-4678
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Ashton Woods Homes Opens New Phase for 38 New Single Family Homes at Wickham Park in Windermere
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has released 38 single family home sites for sale in a new phase at Wickham Park, off Overstreet Rd. and C.R. 535 in Windermere.
Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said new three and four bedroom single family homes at Wickham Park range in size from 1,630 square feet of living space to 1,950 square feet with two car garages.
New Ashton Woods homes at Wickham Park are priced from under $190,000.
Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix.
Allogy Interactive, McGraw Hill launch University of Central Florida Digital Press to Provide Textbook Downloads
ORLANDO, Fla., – Allogy Interactive, based in Orlando, recently entered into an exclusive agreement with textbook publisher McGraw Hill to create the UCF Digital Press, which will provide University of Central Florida students the opportunity to download their textbooks — complete with rich media, hyperlinks and coaching algorithms — directly to their favorite mobile device.
Colin Forward, Communications Director for Allogy Interactive, said the agreement means student backpacks never have to get much heavier than a tablet computer.
More importantly, digital texts will drive down the costs of a product plagued by expensive printing, shipping and a huge secondary market,” Forward said.
Allogy is taking a revolutionary step forward in the distributed learning environment, Forward said.
“Ask any college student. The hardest cost to swallow every semester is that of textbooks. Not only are they expensive, they are a pain to lug around and often play a supporting role to online resources,” Forward said.
Digital textbooks create enormous opportunities for learning, Forward said. With rich media and hyperlinks, a digital textbook becomes a far more formidable teaching tool.
“We are now able to provide students with instant access to enormous resources,” Forward said. “We won’t make libraries obsolete, but we will provide students with instant access, anywhere, to an entire library of content specific resources,” he said.
Allogy Interactive is a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.
About Allogy Interactive:
Allogy Interactive, a leading developer of mobile applications for education, healthcare, business, and social enterprises, connects people to promote learning, opportunity, and economic growth by understanding the relationships, creating intuitive interfaces and using data to promote the transparency and accountability necessary for achievement.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Data Transfer Solutions to participate in pilot program to reduce energy consumption in Longmont, Colo.
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS), based in Orlando’s Avalon Park, recently was selected with Brendle Group, of Fort Collins, Colo., to participate in a pilot program to reduce energy consumption in Longmont, Colo.
A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, PMP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said Longmont’s energy efficiency information and education program is one of the most progressive approaches to energy efficiency in the nation.
“The goal of this project is to test and evaluate which methods of providing energy consumption information are most useful to city residents,” Fragala explained.
“The city wants to learn which energy efficiency tools result in the highest level of voluntary household efficiencies and decreased energy consumption,” he said.
DTS developed a suite of carbon calculator tools for Park City, Utah, that provides homeowners with monthly assessments of their energy use online.
“The city of Longmont realizes that significant efficiencies can be achieved if we can provide families with information on what they are doing right,” Fragala said.
“Our goal has been to assemble the data in a format that is easy to understand, effective and accurate,” Fragala said.
DTS provides asset management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), transportation planning/engineering, web design, database/software applications, and video and multi media production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S.
NAI Realvest Negotiates 10 Year Lease where a new Ocean Buffet will open at former Whistle Junction on U.S. 1 in South Daytona
MAITLAND, Fla. - NAI Realvest recently negotiated a ten-year lease of the 11,414 square foot former Whistle Junction facility at 1854 South Ridgewood Ave. in South Daytona.
Paul P. Partyka, principal and managing partner at NAI Realvest, along with principals Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor, negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, SBI Leasing of Titusville.
The new tenant is Fort Myers-based Ocean Buffet, Inc., who was represented by Josephine Wang of Carlino Commercial Group. It will be the third location for Ocean Buffet when it is anticipated to open in July. The firm also operates Ocean Buffet restaurants in Fort Myers and St. Augustine, Cichocki said.
This is also the eighth transaction involving a buffet style restaurant that the NAI Realvest team has completed in the last 18 months.
About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest in Orlando, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Mattamy Homes Earns Two Gold Awards, One Silver in the Home Builders Association of Charlotte's Parade of Homes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, earned three top awards in the Home Builders Association of Charlotte’s 2011 Parade of Homes.
Bill Kiselick, Charlotte division president for Mattamy Homes in the Charlotte region, said Mattamy earned both the Gold award and the Silver award in Category III, which includes single family homes priced from $290,000 to $337,000. Mattamy earned a second Gold award for the best new home in category II, for homes priced from $221,000 to $289,000.
Mattamy earned its first Gold award with the Honeyflower model home at South Point Village, located in Belmont off South Point Rd. The Honeyflower model home offers, three bedrooms with two-and-a-half baths in 2,425 square feet of living space with a two car garage. The “Dilworth” inspired home features oversized windows, nine foot ceilings and eight foot doors.
Mattamy Homes offers 10 distinctive three and four bedroom floors plans at South Point Village that range from 1,601 square feet of living space at 2,873 square feet.
Mattamy Homes earned a Silver award in the same category for its Periwinkle model home at Skybrook in Huntersville off Eastfield Road north of Highland Creek Parkway in Mecklenburg County near the Cabarrus County line.
The Periwinkle model home with 2,470 square feet of living space in three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths with a two car garage, is the first of a series of homes Mattamy is building on 50 foot home sites at Skybrook.
Mattamy earned its second Gold award for the Lavender model home at Waterlynn on Waterlynn Club Drive off I-77 in Mooresville. The two-story Lavender model home, with 2,117 square feet of living space, offers three bedrooms with the master bedroom suite on the ground floor, a loft, two-and-a-half-baths and a two car garage.
Kiselick said Mattamy Homes plans to build 157 new single-family homes at Waterlynn ranging in size from 1,800 square feet of living space to 2,600 square feet priced from the $190s.
About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Orlando Fashion Square Reports New Leases that Total 50,000 Square Feet of Space, Projects, Additional 50,000 Square Feet in 2011
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Orlando Fashion Square reports new leases in 2010 totaling more than 50,000 square feet of retail space.
John Crossman CCIM, president of Crossman & Company, the Orlando firm that serves as exclusive leasing representatives at Orlando Fashion Square said he projects that new leases in 2011 will total an additional 50,000 square feet.
“We anticipate a significant increase in visitors and new tenants at Orlando Fashion Square as a result of the opening of the National Entrepreneur Center in May,” Crossman said.
The National Entrepreneur Center, which provides support services to new and emerging business startups, leased 22,000 square feet of space at Orlando Fashion Square in a historic move Crossman said could launch a national trend.
“The choice of a centrally-located retail destination for its principal campus is a burst of strategic genius that marks National Entrepreneur Center as one of the real visionaries in the economic gardening movement,” Crossman said.
“We expect more agencies and organizations across the country will follow the example the National Entrepreneur Center is setting in making its services accessible and convenient to the small business entrepreneurs who will power the U.S. economy in the coming decades,” Crossman said.
Orlando Fashion Square mall is located on E. Colonial Drive near downtown Orlando.
About Crossman & Company:
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Crossman & Company is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the retail industry. Currently their portfolio under leasing and/or management exceeds 150 shopping centers throughout the Southeast US. Founded in 1990, Crossman & Company focuses solely on landlord representation and serves clients including Publix, PREIT, and GE. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.
Marketplace Advisors, Inc. celebrates 10th Anniversary, Sees Opportunity as development has emerged in select market areas
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Marketplace Advisors, Inc., a real estate consulting company that focuses on retail districts, town centers, sustainable community development, celebrated its 10th anniversary in May, and founder and president David Marks said he is becoming more optimistic about the future of commercial real estate markets in Central Florida.
“The Central Florida region has experienced employment growth of 20,400 jobs over the last 12 months (March 2010 to March 2011), a two percent increase. Several pockets of commercial and residential activity are occurring in the Horizons West area in southwest Orange County, Lake Nona’s Medical City area, The Villages, and the UCF area,” Marks said.
Marks said these areas all have strong demand factors driving development. “Employment drives residential development and residential development drives retail and service businesses. All of these area hotspots are being driven by these circular factors,” Marks said.
Marks has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate consulting and community planning. His 10-year study of sustainable community planning in the U.S. and Europe has generated a unique database of planning and development models.
Marks is a frequent speaker at U.S. urban planning and community development conferences and conventions and is now currently negotiating with several New York publishers on a book that details his study.
First Green Bank Plans To Expand To Volusia In 2011
EUSTIS, Fla. – First Green Bank, the new Lake County bank that has already opened locations in Eustis and Clermont and announced plans to open a headquarters location in Mount Dora in June, also plans opening a branch in Ormond Beach later this year.
Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said First Green’s mission-driven business is catching on in Lake County with its emphasis on personal customer service and respect for the environment.
The bank offers personal and business banking courier services with a fleet of energy-efficient Toyota Priuses, remote deposit capture machines that mean businesses don’t even have to visit the branch locations, energy efficient and environmentally sustainable business practices that include the bank’s new 11,800 square foot Mount Dora headquarters facility — only the second privately-owned building in Florida to seek the LEED platinum certification, denoting the highest possible energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
“Our mission is an environmental and social one,” LaRoe said. “We take a holistic approach to business in which we meld capitalism and shareholder value with environmental and social responsibility,” he said.
Innovative Software Products, Inc. Enters Partnership Agreement
ORLANDO Fla., --- Innovative Software Products, Inc. (ISP) which provides custom software development for servers, desktop computers and mobile devices, has formed a partnership with Lenovo, which markets Thinkpad computers.
Adam Jones, president of Innovative Software Products, said the partnership means Lenovo is now ISP’s official hardware vendor.
“We will sell Lenovo desktop computers, servers and Thinkpad laptop computers to our software clients,” Jones said.
“Altogether, we have sold Dell hardware products valued at more than $1 million, so hardware products represent a major business line for us,” Jones said.
ISP has existing partnerships with Level 3 Communications, Rackspace Hosting, Ingram Micro, Lifeboat Distribution, and Digicert. The addition of Lenovo as a partner enables ISP to provide even more comprehensive, efficient solutions to their clients
Innovative Software Products, Inc. is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and located in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Survivalists Eyed as Key Market for Central Florida Horse Farm
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is reaching out to an unusual market to sell a 32-acre equestrian estate on Tuscanooga Road in Groveland, Fla.: survivalists.
Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the property could make the perfect refuge for a family or group that wants to live “off the grid.”
The property, owned by blues performer Rozzy Osborne, features a security entrance with camera, a private gun range, a whole house generator, 500 gallon propane tank, two separate wells, a half-acre garden, stables, a tree house, a fish pond with a private dock and a covered picnic area with electricity that would easily seat 40 people.
Soderstrom said the remote property could support a self-sustained lifestyle.
“There is a large market of survivalists in the U.S. who, for religious, political or philosophical reasons, desire a more private lifestyle removed from the hustle and bustle most of us consider routine,” Soderstrom said.
Linnette Sanzalone, the Stirling Sotheby’s International Luxury Homes Specialist representing the property, conducted a research study of the survivalist market in the U.S.---or “preppers,” as many of them prefer to be called---and says the property qualifies as the perfect rural compound.
“The Osborne equestrian estate is self-contained, secure and offers almost total privacy,” Sanzalone said. A five-acre wetland area at the back of the property could generate income from peat sales. More than 18 acres currently used as horse pasture could be converted into farmland.
The four-bedroom, four-bath luxury home at the center of the property offers 3,847 square feet of living space with tray ceilings, crown molding, oversized rooms, solid custom wood floors, built-in shelving units, two pantries, double built-in ovens, commercial grade ice machine and top-grade appliances.
Two additional oversized storage rooms could be converted into guest rooms or an exercise room, Sanzalone said.
A well-built 2,100 square foot barn near the main house could easily be converted to a guest house, workshop or man cave, Sanzalone said.
To view a video of the property visit http://www.stirlingsir.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=149361
The blues singer’s property is currently listed at the highly discounted price of $599,000.
Volusia Law Firm Named "Partner of the Year" for its Support of Horizon Elementary
PORT ORANGE – For the third consecutive year, Rue & Ziffra, P.A. has been named “Business Partner of the Year” by Horizon Elementary for its annual contributions to the Port Orange school.
The 25-year-old Port Orange-based personal-injury law firm received the honor for its sponsorship of the school’s Science Jeopardy Program and Science Night, according to firm President Allan Ziffra.
“Again, we are happy to participate in the Horizon Elementary School program, which is fun for the students and at the same time it helps them develop and sharpen their science skills,” he said.
Rue & Ziffra – one of 550 Volusia Partners through Volusia County Schools – has been sponsoring the popular program the past five years. Additionally, the firm is a PTA Business Member, and also lends its support to Horizon’s Annual Fall Festival, and 5th grade end-of-the-year celebrations.
About Rue & Ziffra: Founded by John D. Rue and Allan L. Ziffra, the personal-injury law firm of Rue & Ziffra has served the Central Florida community for more than 25 years. The firm’s commitment to its profession and its clients has earned it a reputation as one of the top personal-injury law firms in Central Florida. Known for handling everything from automobile and motorcycle accidents to medical malpractice, wrongful death, and social security and disability cases, Rue & Ziffra has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients and their families. With a staff of nine attorneys, the firm maintains offices in Port Orange and Orange City. For more information, visit www.rueziffra.com.
Emerson International Negotiates Nine New Leases for Office Space totaling More than 10,530 square feet in Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Winter Park
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. --- Emerson International recently negotiated nine new lease agreements for a total of 10,350 square feet of office space at four of its developments--Sanlando Center in Longwood, Cranes Roost and CenterPointe in Altamonte Springs and Louisiana Office Park in Winter Park.
Sean Westcott, director of leasing and property management for Emerson International, negotiated all nine leases on behalf of the landlord, Emerson International.
Six of the new leases were at CenterPointe Office Park on CenterPointe Circle in Altamonte Springs, where PGMI Inc. leased 2,184 square feet at 407 CenterPointe Circle; Billy Jones Cosmetics, LLC leased 554 square feet at 385 CenterPointe Circle; SunTech 3 Inc. leased 1,380 square feet at 393 CenterPointe Circle; Seminole County Healthy Start Coalition, 705 square feet at 401 CenterPointe Circle; Deborah Day, 260 and Your Fit Body Fitness, 267 square feet at 378 CenterPointe Circle.
Also in Altamonte Springs, Ray Town Vacations, Inc. leased 1,607 square feet at 283 Cranes Root Blvd.
At Emerson’s Sanlando Center, 2170 West S.R. 434 in Longwood, IQ Reports, LLC leased 1,917 square feet and at Louisiana Office Park in Winter Park Home Care Connect, LLC leased 1,643 square feet at 1133 Louisiana Ave.
About Emerson International
Emerson International is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emerson Group, the global corporation that is one of the largest privately-owned property development companies.
NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease Renewal at Oviedo Commerce Center
ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a lease renewal agreement for 1,533 square feet of industrial space at Oviedo Commerce Center, 2460 West S.R. 426, suite 1008 in Oviedo.
George Viele, associate at the firm, brokered the transaction representing the Landlord, Oviedo Commerce Center, LLC based in Altamonte Springs.
The tenant is Oviedo-based Advanced Compatible Solutions, Inc.
About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
NAI Realvest Negotiates New Office Lease at University Court in East Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 2,502 square feet of office space at University Court located at 3361 Rouse Rd. off University Blvd. in east Orlando.
Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Interchange Rouse, LLC of Daytona Beach.
ASSA ABLOY Sales and Marketing Group, Inc. headquartered in New Haven, Conn., leased Suites 105 and 110 in the building. The tenant was represented by Robert Kellogg of Grubb & Ellis.
About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest, covering all of central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.nairealvest.com.
Mattamy Homes Reports Sales of 17 New Town Homes in Nine Weeks at City Homes at Baldwin Park
WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, reports it sold 17 new town homes at City Homes at Baldwin Park, located in Baldwin Park on Meeting Place off Bennett Road north of Colonial Drive near downtown Orlando.
Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, said the sales totaled more than $5 million.
The average sale price of a new Mattamy Home at City Homes at Baldwin Park during the nine week period was $280,000.
About Mattamy Homes U.S. Group
Mattamy Homes www.mattamyhomes.com expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla. with divisions in Orlando, Jacksonville Phoenix, Minneapolis and Charlotte. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
NAI Realvest negotiates new lease agreement for Indoor Soccer at 33rd Street Industrial Center, Roofing firm at South Orange Business Park in Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement for 11,100 square feet at 4600 LB McLeod Rd. in the 33rd Street Industrial Center in Orlando.
Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest, brokered the transaction representing the landlord, Columbus, Ohio-based 33rd Street Properties LLC. The tenant is Orlando Fox Soccer Corporation of Orlando, who leased the space for an indoor soccer playing field.
In other business, Heidrich negotiated a lease for 3,200 square feet of industrial space at South Orange Business Park Unit 113, 10501 S. Orange Ave. representing the landlord Orlando 1, LLC of Banner Elk, N.C. The new tenant is Phoenix based Gorman Roofing Services, Inc. who was represented in the transaction by Jeff Tanner of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT.
About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest in Orlando, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contract to remodel Sweetbay Grocery store in St. Petersburg
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC based in Baldwin Park has recently been awarded a contract to design the remodeling of a Sweetbay Grocery store in St. Petersburg.
Lonnie Peterson, chairman at Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, said the 35,000 square foot facility is located on 4th Street in St. Petersburg.
Beazer Homes Offering Special Designer Package in All Five Orlando Communities
Orlando, Fla. --- Beazer Homes is offering a special designer package that includes kitchen appliances, countertops, cabinets, and ceramic tile floors with new construction homes in all five Beazer Homes communities in the Orlando region.
David Byrnes, president of Beazer Homes Florida, said the designer package includes ceramic tile kitchen, bath and foyer floors, stainless steel kitchen appliances, 42-inch kitchen cabinets, granite countertops and a laundry package.
Beazer Homes builds single-family homes and town homes priced from under $130,000 to more than $300,000 at Legacy at Lake Jessamine near downtown Orlando off S. Orange Ave. and Holden; Sawgrass in south Orlando between Landstar Blvd. and Weatherbee Rd.; the Enclave at Moss Park off Moss Park Rd. in southeast Orlando; Victoria Trails, on Appleton Lane in DeLand off Orange Camp Rd. and Heritage Commons, in Winter Springs off Red Bug Lake Rd.
All new Beazer homes feature eSMART energy-saving engineering with programmable thermostats, cost-saving CFL light bulbs, water-saving Moen low flow shower heads and faucets, MERV 8 air filters, and low VOC paints and carpets.
TheSafetyDoctor.com’s Dr. Isabel Perry Delivers Keynote Speech at Annual US Air National Guard Executive Safety Conference
ORLANDO, Fla., – More than 1,100 Air National Guardsmen attended the annual Executive Safety Conference recently held in Orlando. Dr. Isabel Perry, founder and president of TheSafetyDoctor.com, Inc. and keynote speaker delivered a talk on Leadership. Also on the agenda was Dr. David Michaels, who heads the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“18 Leadership Skills: Lessons Learned on the Links is a motivating, yet entertaining keynote speech that is filled with content, yet keeps audiences eager to hear each of the 18 leadership skills required for success,” Dr. Perry shared. The terms used in the game of golf are similar to the skills necessary for successful leadership (i.e. follow-thru, goal setting, focus, measurement and benchmarking, continuous improvement, time management, communication skills).
“Just consider me the 21st Century Will Rogers with a golf club in hand rather than a lasso. With so many distractions, the ability to keep an audience’s attention on a speech 100 percent of the time is challenging. Because the leadership presentation is broken into 18 small learning nuggets, audiences retain the information after the applause. A goal for any keynote speaker is to have groups apply the knowledge soon after the conference or meeting. My intent is to deliver ‘solid-content peppered with humor.’ Additional talks given by Dr. Perry are Safety ROI: the third leg of safety responsibility, Safety is 24/7 and the Seven Sins of Safety: high risk behaviors that cause accidents.
When asked about her ability to play golf, Dr. Perry quickly replies, “My golf score and bowling score are just about the same, which tells you how bad I am at both. I’m a much better speaker.” She is a safety expert who delivers keynote speeches around the globe; upcoming international clients are in Johannesburg, South Africa and Toronto Canada. To better serve her worldwide audiences, Dr. Perry has established the Global Safety Council.
Perry’s expertise is built upon academic credentials (She holds masters and doctorate degrees in Safety.), workplace safety experience (She served as executive in a Fortune 50 company with international responsibilities.), and as an entrepreneur (In addition to her current companies, at the age of 21 she established and owed a construction business for 13 years).
“I have been blessed by many opportunities that provided excellent experiences to learn the best in class operations by benchmarking various organizations. Helping others with the information I’ve gleaned over the past 25 years is very fulfilling.”
Besides a keynote speaker, Dr. Perry is a safety consultant, author and expert witness with offices located in the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Center at Research Park in east Orlando.
About TheSafetyDoctor.com
TheSafetyDoctor.com, Inc. offers professionally certified health and safety training, consulting, seminars and equipment for a wide range of industries. They offer lively and highly effective seminars and workshops, one of the largest libraries in the industry of tapes, DVDs, books, posters and compliance manuals, and on-site consulting to recommend and help implement critical health and safety practices. In addition, online safety training provides a highly cost-effective means to train and refresh knowledge for employees anywhere at any time.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Mattamy Homes US Group names Melissa Valley New Home Counselor in Orlando Region
WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Mattamy Homes US Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, recently named Melissa J. Valley a new home counselor in its Orlando Division.
Steve Parker, president of Mattamy Homes US Group, said Valley has more than 10 years of experience in the new home industry and most recently was an award-winning top sales executive with Winter Park custom homebuilder Arlington Homes.
Prior to her real estate career, Valley was both a senior sales manager with Marriott International in Orlando for 13 years as well as the owner-operator of a personal fitness business.
“Throughout her sales career Melissa consistently ranked among top achievers and involved herself in continuing education and success training. She is a true professional and we are very fortunate to have her on our team,” Parker said
Valley will be assisting new home buyers at Mattamy’s Orlando communities of City Homes at Baldwin Park, Enclave at Lake Jean and at Lake Nona Preserve when it opens this summer.
About Mattamy Homes:
Mattamy Homes, www.mattamyhomes.com, expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and is headquartered in Winter Park, FL with divisions in Orlando, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Minneapolis, MN; and Charlotte, NC. The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion, was ranked among the highest of all homebuilders in the greater Toronto and Ottawa areas in a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power Associates.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Crossman & Company Earns Regions Top CoStar Power Broker Awards
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Crossman & Company, the Orlando based commercial real estate company that ranks as one of the largest retail property management, leasing and development companies in the Southeast, recently earned seven of the top CoStar Power Broker awards.
John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, said CoStar named Crossman & Company one of the Central Florida region’s top leasing firm and the region’s top retail leasing brokers.
Six associates at Crossman & Company also earned CoStar Power Broker awards: Ashley Thornburg; Courtney Kowalchuk, vice president of leasing; Daniel Germano, senior associate; Katherine Rush; Justin Greider, vice president and director of leasing; and Whitaker Leonhardt.
About Crossman & Company:
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Crossman & Company is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the retail industry. Currently their portfolio under leasing and/or management exceeds 150 shopping centers throughout the Southeast US. Founded in 1990, Crossman & Company focuses solely on landlord representation and serves clients including Publix, PREIT, and GE. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.
Manatee Chamber and Sarasota County EDCs with CEO Nexus and GrowFL to co-host CEO Nexus Forum June 7 at the Hoveround Corporation in Sarasota
SARASOTA, Fla. --- The Economic Development Council of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce and The EDC of Sarasota County in conjunction with CEO Nexus and GrowFL will co-host a CEO Nexus Forum Tuesday, June 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hoveround Corporation, 2151 Whitfield Industrial Way in Sarasota.
Steve Quello, president of CEO Nexus– a firm that works with public and private organizations to serve growing businesses – said Hoveround Corporation Chief Executive Officer Tom Kruse will be the featured speaker for the program.
Kruse, who began his career 30 years ago, today heads the largest direct-to-consumer manufacturer of maneuverable and compact power chairs in the U.S. He will tell the unique story of how he built a thriving company based on a need he identified.
The CEO Forum is open to business owners and CEOs who are leaders of established second-stage businesses, Quello said. Admission is free.
The program will begin with networking opportunities from at 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Kruse will take the stage from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a presentation and Q&A, followed by a post-forum networking session until 7:30 p.m.
For more information, to qualify and RSVP contact Joan McGill 941-309-1200 ext. 107 or Jmcgill@edcsarasotacounty.com by June 2.
About CEO Nexus
CEO Nexus is an organization that works in concert with public and private organizations interested in providing business leaders—owners, CEOs and presidents—with practical tools and techniques designed specifically for growing second-stage companies. Sponsors include the Edward Lowe Foundation, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the University of Central Florida Office of Research & Commercialization, Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship, Economic Development Council of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, and GrowFL.
Therigy Partners with Schnucks and Kerr Health to Develop Therapy Management Protocol for HIV
ORLANDO, Fla, – Therigy recently announced the release of its specialty therapy management (STM) protocol for HIV. The new HIV program is available to pharmacies using therigySTM.com™ ¬ – a HIPAA compliant specialty therapy management Web application.
Therigy’s HIV STM protocol covers over 60 medications and is designed to support certified HIV clinical specialists in managing their patients. The protocol was created with the assistance of certified HIV clinical specialists on staff at St. Louis-based Schnuck Pharmacy, a division of Schnuck Markets, Inc. and North Carolina-based Kerr Health.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to work with Schnucks and Kerr in developing the content for the HIV protocol,” commented Bill Bailey, Therigy’s VP of Pharmacy Services. “It was a valiant effort by all parties to put together this in-depth clinical model. As always, Therigy is dedicated to bringing our clients the best-in-class specialty therapy management programs, and always willing to work with clients to achieve that goal.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to enhance our patient adherence offering, “said Jerry Lamb, Kerr Health vice president of operations. “HIV providers appreciate the close interaction and extraordinary lengths we go to in maintaining a clear channel of communications with our diverse HIV patient base. The integration and customization afforded by Therigy’s STM protocol will permit Kerr Health to apply an even greater degree of patient monitoring and data recording capabilities—resulting in higher compliance rates and better patient health outcomes.”
Mike Juergensmeyer, Schnucks vice president of Pharmacy, says Schnucks Pharmacy has specialized in HIV care for nearly three years. The company now operates a centralized specialty facility and four satellite specialty pharmacies dedicated to HIV care. Most recently, they established an office in Food Outreach, a local non-profit organization that focuses on the care and treatment of HIV and Cancer patients.
“Research proves there is a strong correlation between healthy diet and successful treatment of disease. Over the past few years Schnucks Pharmacy has looked for ways in which we can marry the two in the treatment of our chronically ill pharmacy patients,” Juergensmeyer said.
“We’ve worked with Therigy to design clinical programs that will enable us to more closely monitor our chronically ill cancer and HIV patients. Tracking their medication, diet and overall progress, we are able to partner with physicians to deliver a higher level of care and provide for better patient outcomes,” Juergensmeyer explained. “TherigySTM.com will take our services to the next level by helping us to more efficiently assess each patient’s progress and manage drug therapy, allowing us to provide a high level of care, more targeted counseling and better outcomes for our chronically ill patients.”
These assessments are deployed within the application and are available for use to therigySTM.com subscribers. If you would like to schedule a demonstration of therigySTM.com™ or to learn more about Therigy products and services, please contact Bill Bailey, vice president of Pharmacy Services, at 407-992-8753.
About Therigy Corporation
Therigy is the healthcare industry’s leading source of specialty pharmaceutical consulting, web products, and data analytics. Therigy, which has far-reaching knowledge in implementing specialty pharmacy solutions in the market, is now in the process of building a network of high performing pharmacies that use TherigySTM.com™ as the industry standard for improving therapy and enhancing lives. Therigy's seasoned experts provide hands on engagement and consulting services to assist organizations in operational evaluation, optimization, planning, and deployment of programs and processes for clinical and economic success.
TherigySTM.comTM is a HIPAA compliant specialty therapy management Web application that integrates with pharmacy systems to enable pharmacies to consistently support patients and collect, manage and report data to all stakeholders. To learn more visit: www.therigy.com
About Kerr Health
Kerr Health is a leading regional health care services provider focused on delivering exceptional value and clinical leadership through its three primary service lines: Specialty Pharmacy, Long-Term Care Pharmacy Services, and Care Management. As a subsidiary of Kerr Drug, Inc., one of the nation's leading and most respected names in the chain drug industry (2010 Drug Topics Chain of the Year), Kerr Health provides a broad and customizable offering of value-driven products and services to medical practices, patients, employer groups, long-term care facilities, and municipalities.
For information on Kerr Health, please contact Jerry Lamb, vice president of Operations, at 919-534-1385
About Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. operates 105 stores (including five Logli stores) and 101 in-store pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.For information on Schnucks Specialty Pharmacy Division, please contact Dave Chism, supervisor of Specialty Pharmacy/PBM Services, at 314-344-9636.
University Club of Orlando Foundation Golf Tournament Raises More than $8,000 for College Scholarships
ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University Club of Orlando Foundation raised more than $8,000 for college and university scholarships for deserving Central Florida students at its recent golf tournament, held at Stoneybrook West in Winter Garden.
Justin Wright, events manager at The University Club of Orlando said 128 golfers participated in the 18-hole tournament which was won by foursome Mike Wright, Jay McGirt, Tim Jackson and Jay Brennan.
The University Club of Orlando Foundation raises more than $50,000 annually to provide scholarships for deserving students at the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Seminole State College in Lake Mary and Valencia College in Orlando, Wright said.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Ryland Homes Opens Two Story Tryon Model Home at Hucks Landing in Northeast Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ryland Homes has opened the two-story Tryon model home at Hucks Landing, located on Elementary View Drive in Northeast Charlotte east of I-77.
Krista Long, vice president of sales and marketing at Ryland Homes in Charlotte, said the Tryon model home offers 3,038 square feet of living space priced from $206,990.
The two-story, four-bedroom Tryon model home offers two-and-a-half baths with a living room, dining room and study on the first floor and a loft/bonus room on the second floor that can be converted to a fifth bedroom, Long said. The home can expand to six bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Nine three and four bedroom floor plans are available at Hucks Landing ranging in size from 1,408 square feet of living space to 3,601 square feet and a two-car garage.
Altogether, Ryland Homes plans to build 36 new homes at Hucks Landing.
Visit www.ryland.com.
About Ryland Homes
With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. The company currently operates in 28 markets across the country and has built more than 275,000 homes and financed more than 230,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967. Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYL.”
National Entrepreneur Center at Orlando Fashion Square to Celebrate Grand Opening Tuesday May 17 at 9 a.m.
ORLANDO, FLA. – If you think a major regional shopping mall isn’t the first place you’d go for help on launching your new business, think again. On Tuesday, May 17, the National Entrepreneur Center at Orlando Fashion Square Mall on East Colonial Drive near downtown Orlando will celebrate its grand opening starting at 9 a.m.
John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, the local leasing agent for Orlando Fashion Square, said the 20,000 square foot National Entrepreneur Center (formerly Disney Entrepreneur Center on Robinson St. downtown) opening at Orlando Fashion Square is one of the most creative ideas he has seen in a long time.
“The nation’s economy is built on small business entrepreneurs, and small business entrepreneurs aren’t usually located in downtown office skyscrapers, they’re in the neighborhoods in the community,” Crossman said.
The opportunity to seek advice and assistance for an entrepreneurial idea at a regional mall is just brilliant, and my hat’s off to the National Entrepreneur Center for thinking outside of the box,” Crossman said.
Crossman said he is optimistic the opening of the National Entrepreneur Center will generate new traffic at Orlando Fashion Square, the Central Florida area’s first regional mall. “Retailing patterns are changing,” Crossman said. “The economy is part of the reason, but there are others — the wave of baby boom retirements, the emergence of online retail sales, and a new generation of young people for whom the recession will mark a major milestone,” he said.
“People are thinking differently about their retail purchases and their retailing habits,” Crossman said. “Retail locations are changing to meet new demands, and the National Entrepreneur Center’s Orlando Fashion Square Mall location is an outstanding example of the trend,” he said.
Leasing agent for the mall, Whitaker Leonhardt said “There are many more opportunities for community groups, business service tenants, and non-profit organizations to lease space at Orlando Fashion Square Mall. The National Entrepreneur Center sets the precedent for the mall to continue to add more community-minded tenants to the mall’s existing retail line up.
About The National Entrepreneur Center
The National Entrepreneur Center is a public/private partnership established in 2003 to support and assist small business development in Central Florida. The center houses a variety of non-profit business support organizations and is funded by Orange County, Walt Disney World Resort, The University of Central Florida, The City of Orlando, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Regions Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Banco Popular, The Orlando Magic, Bank First, Orlando Utilities Commission, and Bright House Business Solutions.
Organizations affiliated with the National Entrepreneur Center are: The African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, The UCF Small Business Development Center, The Central Florida Disability Chamber, The National Assn. of Women business Owners, The UCF Business Incubation Program, The British American Chamber of Commerce, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, SCORE, The Urban League of Central Florida, The Black MBA Assn, and the US Dept. of Commerce.
About Orlando Fashion Square/PREIT
Orlando Fashion Square is owned and operated by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Founded in 1960 and one of the first equity REITs in the U.S., PREIT has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls and power centers. Currently, the company’s retail portfolio is approximately 34 million square feet and consists of 56 properties, including 38 shopping malls, 14 strip and power centers, and four properties under development. The company’s properties are located in 13 states in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. PREIT is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa. The company’s Web site can be found at www.preit.com. PREIT is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol PEI.
About Crossman & Company
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Crossman & Company is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the retail industry. Currently their portfolio under leasing and/or management exceeds 150 shopping centers throughout the Southeast US. Founded in 1990, Crossman & Company focuses solely on landlord representation and serves clients including Publix, PREIT, and GE. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.
Mercantile Capital Corporation Best First Quarter Ever is Lead-in to Projected Major Loans in May
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. --- Mercantile Capital Corporation, which earlier reported its best first quarter ever in 2011 with 15 commercial property loans to finance projects that total more than $54.8 million — a 44.6 percent increase over the same period in 2010 — projects record or near record transactions scheduled for May.
Chris Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation said seven commercial loans scheduled to close in May will finance real estate projects valued at more than $11.7 million in three states. Mercantile Capital Corporation closed two loans in April for projects that total more than $1.7 million in Massachusetts and Illinois.
Mercantile Capital Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Old Florida National Bank, is one of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities. Additional information about Mercantile can be found at www.504Experts.com and www.504blog.com.
ICI Homes Earns first place Parade of Homes Award for Islander Luxury Model Home at Avilla in Kissimmee
ORLANDO, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which ranks as one of the nation’s top 100 luxury home builders and developers, earned a first place award in the recent Central Florida Parade of Homes, for its Islander II luxury model home at Avilla, a gated community in Kissimmee.
Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes, said the Islander II model home won a first place award for luxury homes priced from $300,000 to $350,000.
ICI Homes is building 81 estate homes at Avilla that range in size from 2,500 square feet of living space to 3,500 square feet in upscale California contemporary design that includes 18 inch ceramic tile floors, tiled roofs, brick pavers, and lush landscaping, with decorative mailboxes and streetlamps throughout the community.
Avilla features a community swimming pool with a large covered lanai, tot lot, tennis and basketball courts. New estate homes at Avilla are priced from $300,000 to $498,000.
Avilla is located on Swoop Circle in Kissimmee south of Osceola Parkway and west of John Young Parkway.
Crossman & Company Executives to Play Starring Role at Upcoming ICSC Convention in Las Vegas
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Crossman & Company, the Orlando-based commercial property firm that ranks as one of the largest retail property specialists in the Southeast, will play a big role at the upcoming International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Recon Convention in Las Vegas starting May 22.
John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, said top executives at Crossman & Company have earned speaker spots at the convention.
Crossman, associate Whitaker Leonhardt, and Justin Greider, vice president and director of leasing, will speak on the First Timer’s Orientation Panel, May 22, Crossman said.
Courtney Kowalchuk, vice president of leasing will head a breakfast roundtable on May 23 with an interesting topic: “Finding Tenant’s Where None Exist — Creative Ways to Lease Retail Space.”
Kowalchuk said the panel’s discussion will cover finding temporary and short term tenants, working with the public sector and using social media.
Senior associate Daniel Germano will head a breakfast roundtable May 23 for college students: “How to Make the Most of ICSC and Recon.”
“We’re going to focus on how to find contacts at Recon that will lead to a job in the industry,” Germano said.
About Crossman & Company:
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Crossman & Company is a commercial real estate brokerage firm that specializes in the retail industry. Currently their portfolio under leasing and/or management exceeds 150 shopping centers throughout the Southeast US. Founded in 1990, Crossman & Company focuses solely on landlord representation and serves clients including Publix, PREIT, and GE. Please visit www.crossmanco.com, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Lennar’s “May Short Sale” – pricing on Move-In Ready Homes from the Low $100s – going on at Communities in Orlando Region
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida division is offering below market “short sale” pricing through May at select communities in the Clermont, Orlando and Space Coast areas on brand new move-in ready single-family homes and town homes from the low $100s.
David Parker, director of sales and marketing for Lennar in the Orlando region, said a limited number of homes are available, but every one of them is priced to sell quickly.
There’s no reason for homebuyers to settle for a used outdated home, Parker said. Lennar’s list of select homes in Central Florida that are available now at below market prices include luxury features and upgrades at no additional charge, he said.
Savings range from $42,000 to $66,000 on move-in ready homes at communities such as Independence in Winter Garden, Nona Terrace in East Orlando, Stoneybrook Hills in Mount Dora, Legacy and Heritage Hills in Clermont and Cortland Woods at Providence in Davenport.
“We plan to sell every one of these homes before the end of the month,” Parker said.
Startup Companies Vying For Spots in University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program
ORLANDO, Fla. – Twenty startup companies will make final presentations before the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program’s selection board next week as part of the application process to qualify for admission to the UCF Business Incubation Program at one of nine incubator facilities in Orlando, Winter Springs, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Sanford, Leesburg or Daytona Beach.
Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the presentations tell the selection board if the companies are a good fit for the program.
“The companies aren’t competing against each other, but the presentations reveal if they are at a point in their development where they can benefit from the incubation program,” Dr. O’Neal said.
When the Volusia County Incubator opens, The UCF Business Incubation Program will support more than 100 startup companies selected for admission on the basis of their potential for success. Client companies range from technology companies focused on military and scientific markets to development of alternative energy to consumer fare such as a local beverage producer.
“We look at a wide range of factors, such as the qualifications of the principals and executives, their ability to develop their products and services for the marketplace, and the potential for commercialization of those products and services,” Dr. O’Neal said.
The UCF Business Incubation Program provides a range of support services including office space, telecommunications and planning, business development, sales and marketing coaching and assistance in development of capital resources.
“We are focused on one goal---to help our client companies become successful. Do that right and we generate local economic benefits such as the creation of quality jobs in the local area,” Dr. O’Neal said.
“Studies have shown that this sort of ‘homegrown’ economic development is by far the most cost-effective way to generate new jobs and economic growth.” he said.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
First Green Bank of Eustis’ Chief Financial Officer Melissa Atkins is finalist for CFO of the year award
EUSTIS, Fla. – Melissa Atkins, chief financial officer at First Green Bank of Eustis, was recently named a finalist for the CFO of the year award by Orlando Business Journal, the weekly business publication that serves the Central Florida region.
Kenneth E. LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said Atkins was a member of the senior management team who founded First Green Bank in 2008 and ranks as one of the region’s most knowledgeable financial officers.
Atkins attended Campbell University in North Carolina and worked her way up the ranks at Florida Choice Bank – LaRoe’s former bank which was also in Lake County – from 2000-2008, prior to the establishment of First Green Bank.
“Melissa is a highly skilled, dedicated financial officer whose integrity, knowledge and judgment are a tremendous asset to First Green Bank,” LaRoe said.
Atkins and First Green Bank colleagues plan to participate in the CFO of the Year awards ceremonies in Orlando in June, and LaRoe said he thinks Atkins has earned the top honors.
“She has played a major role in the success that we have achieved in this market since we opened in 2008,” LaRoe said. “I don’t know of a more qualified chief financial officer in the Central Florida area,” he said.
First Green Bank is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. to focus on positive environmental and social responsibility while operating as a traditional community bank.
First Green Bank has facilities in Eustis and Clermont and plans to open a new 11,000+ square foot LEED Platinum-registered headquarters facility in Mount Dora in June.
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