Lennar Reports 2012 was Strong Rebuilding Year with Sales up by 40 percent, 2013 looks even better

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division reports that sales of single family homes and town homes grew by almost 40 percent in 2012 over 2011 sales and the picture in 2013 looks even brighter. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said a combination of smart new product designs, resurging investor demand for resort-style vacation communities, and pent up demand for active adult communities powered Lennar’s strong rebuilding year in 2012 and will likely sustain even greater growth prospects through 2013. Strong job formation in the Orlando and Tampa markets will add to the impetus, he said. Lennar’s NextGen Homes — larger homes designed for three generations, with separate private living quarters inside the family home — are increasingly popular, Metheny said. “Our NextGen designs are really taking off in our Orlando communities. We recognize that family demographics are changing and our NextGen home designs appeal to families who want to accommodate aging parents or adult children and grandchildren in their family home,” Metheny said. Metheny said Lennar’s Central Florida Division expects to open six to eight new communities in Southeast and Southwest Orlando and another six to eight communities in the Tampa region — South Hillsborough, New Tampa and Central Pasco — in 2013. Currently Lennar sells single family and town homes priced from the low $100s to more than $300 in 18 communities in the Orlando region which includes Clermont and Space Coast and 22 communities in the Tampa bay region. Sales have been particularly strong in active adult communities where the lifestyle — with planned activities, sports and recreation and outings — is an important as new home design. Metheny said new home sales at Heritage Isle in Viera and Heritage Hills in Clermont were strong all year. In Tampa, new home sales at Tampa Bay Golf and County Club, Pelican Strand and The Sanctuary — all in San Antonio — were strong all year.