Hendricks & Partners Negotiates Sale of Woodbrook Trail Apartments in Alabaster for $8,000,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest and most active multifamily investment banking and research companies, recently negotiated the sale of Woodbrook Trail Apartments, a 200-unit apartment community located in Alabaster, Ala. for $8 million. David Oakley, senior investment advisor of Hendricks & Partners Alabama office negotiated the sale representing the seller, Ambler, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company, based in Birmingham. Woodbrook Trail, constructed in two phases in 1977 and 1988, has a total of 179,344 square feet of rentable living space with one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The buyer was TEG Acquisitions LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company, based out of New York.

Local Law Firm Welcomes Familiar Name as Partner

PORT ORANGE – The Port Orange-based law firm of Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell recently promoted a familiar name and face by naming Attorney Edward S. Rue – the nephew of co-founder John D. Rue – a partner in the firm. A lawyer who is devoted to his clients, Rue joined the firm in 2006 and focuses on personal-injury and Social Security disability litigation. He keeps his clients well informed of their status and makes sure they understand the legal process from the initial filing all the way to appeals court. “Helping people with Social Security claims is quite personal for me, having watched a family member go through a process that often is long, complicated and frustrating,” he said. Rue recently worked with his partner to get a client a Social Security disability award that lingered in the judicial system for 12 years. Before joining Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell, Rue practiced criminal and insurance defense, which enabled him to understand how insurance companies and defense attorneys evaluate and defend cases. “Ed’s extensive knowledge and experience in insurance defense now is being used to the advantage for his clients,” said Allan L. Ziffra, president of the longtime firm. “Those qualities have made him invaluable to us these past six years.” A 1998 graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Rue graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., in 2002. A top student, he won the Wisconsin State Bar Law School Award for Highest Achievement in Torts, and the William Herbert Page Award for the best Wisconsin Law Review article. He is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, the Florida Bar, Florida Justice Association, the Wisconsin Bar, Volusia County Bar Association, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. He is eligible to practice in all Florida courts, all Wisconsin courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Developer of Assisted Living Facilities Launches Beijing Trade Mission to Brief Chinese Investors on Florida Opportunities

MAITLAND, Fla. -- A unique development enterprise based in Orlando recently participated in a trade mission to Beijing to brief Chinese investors in a bid to attract investors to develop assisted living facilities in Florida. George Livingston, a principal of Orlando EB-5 Investments, LLC, said an extensive presentation for the potential backers, all members of a fast-growing class of increasingly affluent Chinese entrepreneurs, was made in Beijing. Livingston and Orlando EB-5 Investments are banking on a 23-year old U.S. immigration policy that encourages foreigners to invest in U.S. businesses. The EB-5 immigrant visa category grants green cards to foreigners seeking permanent resident status when they invest at least $500,000 in approved U.S. business enterprises that generate jobs. Currently the U.S. grants 10,000 EB-5 immigrant visas annually. “That is a tremendous volume of investment capital and it substantially benefits the U.S. economy, not to mention our balance of trade,” Livingston explained. Livingston said Orlando EB-5 Investments boasts an influential principal---LivingVentures, Inc. formerly known as Green Global Investments, LLC. LivingVentures currently operates 1,000 housing units in 10 facilities in Toronto, and plans to expand to 3,000 to 5,000 units by the close of 2013, Livingston said. The firm is currently acquiring two Florida properties where it plans to develop 240 residential units for assisted living and memory care seniors. “We are seeking funding from EB-5 investors to acquire and develop assisted living facilities and senior housing throughout Florida,” Livingston said.

Cocktails for a Cause events at University Club of Orlando raise more than $60,000 for local charities, civic groups

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cocktails for a Cause, the signature fundraising event hosted by the University Club of Orlando raised more than $60,000 for Orlando area charitable, civic and community groups in 2012. Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said the private club hosted five Cocktails for a Cause events in 2012. Wright said the University Club of Orlando will host its next Cocktails for a Cause on Thursday, Jan. 24 to benefit the Coastal Conservation Assn., an alliance of outdoors enthusiasts who support conservation efforts.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Sale of 30,000+ Square Foot Industrial Building in Sanford for $1,629,200

ORLANDO, Fla. — NAI Realvest recently negotiated the sale of an industrial building at 3551 West First Street (SR 46) in Sanford for $1,629,200. Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest, represented the seller, 3551 First Street, LLC in negotiating a sale of the 13-year-old warehouse-distribution facility to SNK America, Inc. a manufacturer and supplier of precision tools and parts that serve the auto, aircraft, medical and sports industries. The buyer is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Mt. Prospect, Ill. and was represented in the transaction by Michael T. Davis of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.

PLANTATION BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB JOINS USTA FLORIDA’S MASTERS 55+ LEAGUE OF AMATEUR TENNIS SENIORS

Ormond Beach, Fla. --- Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach has joined USTA Florida’s Masters 55+ Tennis League, which launched earlier this month with smaller courts and slower balls to make the sport more enjoyable to senior players. USPTA Master Professional Dave Brown at Plantation Bay Tennis, Fitness & Spa said Master’s 55+ Tennis is one of the best ideas he’s seen in a long time and he expects it to catch on fast. “For generations now, retiring to Florida is the ultimate dream and we have a very large, active population of older Americans here,” Brown said. “Masters 55+ Tennis is the perfect way to offer the benefits of organized tennis play to more seniors,” he said. Brown said Masters 55+ Tennis was designed for beginner players, for former players who would like to get back in the game now that they have time for it, and for seasoned pros who’d like a little less pain with their gain. In Masters 55+ Tennis, all players use their own racquets. Beginners play on 36-foot courts with lower nets and---importantly---red, low-compression balls that still have plenty of zip but at more eye-catching speeds. Advanced Masters 55+ players use the 60-foot court with a regulation-height net and the orange ball, which offers more velocity. The best Masters 55+ players use the full 78-foot court and the green-dot ball with only slightly lower compression. “Almost anybody can play Masters 55+ Tennis and enjoy the game,” says Brown. “The slower ball makes it much easier to keep the ball in play, and that’s where the fun is,” he said. The health benefits are significant. Besides a solid, safe cardio workout, lower-compression balls cause significantly less stress on the body, Brown said. Plantation Bay Tennis, Fitness & Spa organized a tennis festival to introduce Masters 55+ Tennis to Plantation Bay residents and Brown said interest in the new format is high. “One day I can see a statewide tournament schedule with a hundred teams from all over Florida,” Brown said. Brown said Plantation Bay Tennis, Fitness & Spa is open to the public and anyone can join Masters 55+ Tennis. He plans to offer additional instructional demonstrations in the future. The promotion goes through the month of January with an instruction and play program following in February. League play throughout Volusia and Flagler County begins in March for these new and returning players. Reservations are now being taken for Free Lessons on the following dates and times at Plantation Bay: Tuesday Jan. 15 - 3:30 p.m. Thursday Jan. 17 - 9:00 a.m. Saturday Jan. 19 - 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 22 - 3:30 p.m. Thursday Jan. 24 - 5:30 p.m. For more information, telephone 386-236-4292 or email dbrown@icihomes.com.

Mike Barbalato of PulteGroup’s South Florida Division Named Sales Consultant of The Year

Venice, Fla. --- Real estate veteran Mike Barbalato of Venice was recently named Sales Consultant of the Year for the South Florida Division of Pulte Group, which ranks as one of the nation’s largest home builders and community developers and includes Pulte Homes and the Centex Homes, DiVosta Homes and Del Webb brands. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for the South Florida Division of PulteGroup, said Barbalato sold the highest number of new homes at the homebuilder’s community of IslandWalk in Venice. “Mike was instrumental in the success of IslandWalk in 2012. He was not only able to showcase the fantastic community but also the quality of our new home designs,” said Mairn. Barbalato is a native of Buffalo, New York, where he studied Business Management and Marketing at Canisius College and began his career as a Real Estate Broker in 1970. Barbalato relocated to Florida seven years ago. He joined Pulte Group in 2010 as a sales consultant and is a member of the Florida Association of Realtors Barbalato currently sells new two and three-bedroom single-family homes priced from the $150s in seven distinctive designs at IslandWalk at the West Villages, located at 13575 Salinas St. in Venice.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Appoints Golfer Carlos Puerto International Luxury Homes Specialist

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has appointed golfer Carlos Puerto an International Luxury Homes Specialist in the firm’s Windermere/Dr. Phillips Real Estate Marketing Center. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Puerto is an avid golfer and has managed multiple golf clubs in Florida and whose own golf course home led him to real estate sales. Soderstrom said Puerto will specialize in unique luxury community, golf community and resort community homes and properties. Puerto was born in Cali, Colombia, and grew up in Massachusetts. He played on the first golf team at his high school, and continued his golfing career, rising to the level of instructor and then manager of two of Central Florida’s finest golf courses, the Golden Bear Club’s Jack Nicklaus signature design golf course in Windermere and the Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento. Puerto, who is bilingual, studied business at the University of Miami before launching his professional career in golf Puerto doesn’t limit his sporting activities to golf. He also plays soccer on Juventus soccer team in Central Florida and flag football. “We’re a team of 40-somthings trying to relive the dream of being competitive players,” Puerto joked.

Stonegate Golf Club Plays Starring Role in Big Band Charity Night at Solivita

Kissimmee, Fla. --- Stonegate Golf Club played a starring role in the recent Big Band Charity Night at Solivita, the award-winning master-planned active adult community Avatar is developing in Kissimmee. Arto Rahmani, general manager of Solivita Club Services, LLC and vice president of Food and Beverage Operations with Celebration Golf Management LLC, said Stonegate Golf Club was a major sponsor of the event. “Big Band Charity Night at Solivita is one of the community’s largest and most important charity events,” Rahmani said. Stonegate Golf Club contacted general managers at all eight Central Florida golf clubs in the Celebration Golf Management family, Rahmani said. “We donated tickets for a free golf foresome at Stonegate Golf Club and free rounds of golf at each Celebration golf course,” Rahmani said. Proceeds from the event helped benefit Habitat for Humanity Osceola County and the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry. Celebration Golf’s Food and Beverage division also donated a gift card to the Greens Thumbs Club.

Stonegate Golf Club Names Team Members of The Year

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Stonegate Golf Club in Kissimmee recently hosted its 100 team members for a year-end banquet celebration and named three “Team Members of the Year.” Arto Rahmani, general manager of Solivita Club Services, LLC and vice president of Food and Beverage Operations with Celebration Golf Management LLC, said Michele Wood of the Banquet Culinary Team earned the 2012 Star Award. Patsy Keller of the Pro Shop Team earned the 2012 Celebration Golf Management Masters Award. Peter Visnius of the Golf Maintenance Team earned the 2012 Excellence Award, Rahmani said. Stonegate Golf Club is located at Solivita, the award-winning master-planned active adult community Avatar is developing in Kissimmee.