SOUTHWEST ORLANDO MILLION DOLLAR LUXURY HOUSING MARKET STABLE, GROWTH EXPECTED IN 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. --- A new market trends study by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty shows that $1 million plus luxury housing sales in the southwest Orlando area, which stretches from Windermere to Disney, have stabilized and points to a substantial uptick in sales in 2013. Vicky McVay-Froom, International Marketing Expert with Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty’s Dr. Phillips Marketing Center, said 78 million-dollar plus homes sold in the southwest Orlando quadrant through the third quarter of 2012, up from 74 million-dollar plus homes during the same period last year. McVay-Froom, who conducted the study, said the average sale price was just under $1.7 million, down from an average of just over $1.8 million in 2011. The surprise market was Golden Oak, Walt Disney World Resorts’ new mega luxury community, which posted 10 sales through the third quarter with an average sale price of $2.5 million or $520 per square foot. “Listing activity was down by 29 percent through the third quarter in 2012. The overall average sale price is down, and sales are stable,” McVay-Froom said. “Those three indicators are relevant,” said Roger Soderstrom founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty. “The market has bottomed out. Demand is increasing, supply has decreased, and we anticipate that sales will increase in 2013 as well as sale prices,” he said.

Ashton Woods Homes Has Six Move-in Ready Townhomes at Crenshaw Reserve in Lutz

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has completed six new ready-to-move-in three and four-bedroom townhomes at Crenshaw Reserve, located off S.R. 19 in Lutz. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said new townhomes at Crenshaw Reserve range in size from 1,791 square feet of living space to 2,315 square feet and are priced from $219,990. Amenities at Crenshaw Reserve include a community clubhouse and swimming pool. Ashton Woods Homes, headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies with operations in growth communities in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh and Tampa. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com.

Lennar Starts Construction of 51 Town Estate Homes at Grand Hampton in New Tampa, First model ready in January

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar has started construction of 51 new Town Estate Homes at Grand Hampton, located on Grand Vista Lane off County Line Rd. in New Tampa. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said three and four-bedroom floor plans will be available at Grand Hampton Town Estates priced from under $200,000. Lennar’s first model at Grand Hampton will open in January, Metheny said. Town Estate Home floor plans will include: The Begonia floor plan offering three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a loft in 1,930 square feet of living space with a two-car garage, priced from $198,990; The Azalea with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths with a loft in 2,056 square feet of living space with a two-car garage, priced from $203,990; and The Camellia, a four-bedroom design with two-and-a-half baths a loft in 2,466 square feet of living space with a two-car garage. Grand Hampton is a gated, master-planned community that boasts Old Florida-style living amongst stately oaks with a clubhouse, swimming pools and hiking trails among its amenities. Visit www.LennarTampa.com.

Royal Oak Homes Starts presales of 81 new homes priced from $135,000 at Barrington Estates in Clermont

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has started presales of 81 new homes priced from $135,000 at Barrington Estates, a gated community just south of the intersection of Log House Road and CR. 561. Matt Orosz, vice president of operations at Royal Oak Homes, said the home builder has already sold five new homes at Barrington Estates. Royal Oak Homes has started construction of the Monica model home at Barrington Estates with four bedrooms and two baths in 1,927 square feet of living space priced from $154,999. New three, four and five-bedroom homes at Barrington Estates will range in size from 1,500 square feet of living space to 3,251 square feet. Barrington Estates is located directly next to Pine Ridge Elementary and only three miles from Royal Oak's successful Hammock Reserve development. Currently, Royal Oak Homes builds single-family homes in 10 Central Florida communities.

Cuhaci & Peterson Helps Wawa Reach Further

ORLANDO, Fla. — Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, in conjunction with CBX based in New York City, has designed Orlando’s first six Wawa stores, which are now open on Central Fla. Parkway, Goldenrod Road, Silver Star Road, S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, N. Orange Blossom Trail and Hwy 192 in Kissimmee. In addition, another 20 Wawa stores are set to open in Florida in 2013, said Jed Downs, president of the architectural firm based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park. The new prototype stores are intended to reflect the style and influence of Florida architecture and include exterior characteristics that reference south and central Florida historical building types, Downs added. Five of the 20 additional stores will open in the Central Florida region by the second quarter of 2013 and another four are scheduled to open in the Tampa Bay area