M/I Homes sells six new homes at Versailles on opening day weekend

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- M/I Homes reported it sold six new homes at an average sale price of $400,000 on opening weekend at Versailles, M/I Homes newest luxury community located on S.R. 46 and N. Orange Avenue in Lake County. David Byrnes, area president for M/I Homes in Central Florida, said three couples camped out at Versailles to be the first in line to buy new homes. “They were there to purchase the exact home site they wanted,” Byrnes said. “We were elated with the response,” Byrnes added. M/I Homes is building 55 homes at Versailles ranging from 2,300 square feet of living space to 5,200 square feet with three, four and five bedrooms priced from $300,000 to the mid-$500s. A model is now under construction at Versailles — The Grandview, a two-story design with five bedrooms offering 4,900 square feet along with a pool and other options, priced from $539,000.

Pulte Homes Starts Construction of New Model Condo at Sandpiper Cove in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. --- Pulte Homes has started construction of the new two-story Malibu model condo at Sandpiper Cove, located on Black Ironwood Road in Jupiter. Scott Mairn, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the South Florida Division of Pulte Homes, said the new Malibu condo has a distinctly modern design. “The 1,485-square foot Malibu has an open great room with two owner’s suites,” Mairn said. “That’s a fantastic space for social occasions or family gatherings,” he said. The Malibu condo offers a second-floor loft, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage with rear entry. “When it opens in September, Sandpiper Cove will be priced from the high $100s,” Mairn added. The Malibu model condo is one of eight condos under construction at Sandpiper Cove. All eight will be ready for move-in by September, Mairn said.

Venice-based Bio-Tech Company is Finalist for Sarasota Small Business of the Year

VENICE, Fla. – Omega3 Innovations, the creators of heart-healthy, fish oil- and oat bran-based cookies and chocolates, has been named one of three finalists for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business of the Year Award. The company – which was founded five years ago by Dr. Bo Martinsen and his wife, Dr. Anne-Marie Chalmers – will participate in a chamber video shoot early next month to explain why Omega3 Innovations should receive the award, according to Amy Mosshart, program coordinator for the chamber. The video will be shown at the Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on May 10 at The Hyatt Regency of Sarasota. Chalmers said this marks the third time the company has been nominated by the Sarasota Chamber. “We’re honored to be selected as a finalist for Small Business of the Year along with impressive companies such as Gulf Coast Signs of Sarasota and SouthTech,” Chalmers said. While this is Omega3 Innovations’ first “small business” nomination, the company previously has been named a finalist in the “innovative business” and “young business” categories.

Ryland Homes has new model ready for viewing at Arbor Reserve in Bradenton

TAMPA, Fla. --- Ryland Homes has completed a new model home at its new community of Arbor Reserve, located three miles west of I-75 on Lockwood Ridge Rd. one-half mile south of S.R. 70 (53rd Ave. E.) and north of University Blvd. in Bradenton. Mike Finley, vice president of sales and marketing for the Tampa Division of Ryland Homes, said the new Frost II model offers four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a bonus room in 2,600 square feet of living area. Finley said there are 59 home sites at Arbor Reserve for homes ranging from 1,853 square feet of living area to 2,736 square feet. Arbor Reserve features a community swimming pool, cabana, and private park. Homes are priced from the low $200s. Visit www.ryland.com/tampa.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty named exclusive sales agents for historic Titusville home

TITUSVILLE, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been named exclusive sales and marketing agents for the historic Wager House, a restored three-story Colonial Revival style estate home located at 8 South Street, overlooking the Indian River in Titusville. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the Wager House was added to the National Register of Historic places almost 25 years ago and is one of the oldest structures in Titusville and Brevard County. Soderstrom said Florida Luxury Homes Specialist Joe Janson in the firm’s Brevard County division is representing the unique property listed for sale at $899,000. The richly appointed home with exclusive luxury high-end features has views of the Indian River throughout. Janson said the estate’s riverfront location and views of Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral add to its rich history. “The Wager House was built in the 1800s by Pleasant J. Hall for Perry Wager, whose son, Ellis, published Brevard County's first newspaper, the Florida Star, from the first floor of the house,” Janson said. The second floor of the home often served as Titusville's ballroom and opera house, Janson said.

CAMCAD Technologies Aids Local Company Competing in Space Race

Winter Springs, Fla. -- CAMCAD Technologies, Inc., an award-winning provider of innovative manufacturing solutions, has announced their partnership with Earthrise Space Inc. (ESI), the parent organization of the Omega Envoy team competing for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. SURFCAM, Inc., a global leader in CAD/CAM software, has granted a full license of SURFCAM 5-axis CAM programming software to ESI. As a partner to SURFCAM and ESI, CAMCAD will provide a post processor for their CNC mill, SURFCAM training and additional support to help streamline the company’s manufacturing processes, harnessing the power of the innovative software. This will allow ESI to significantly reduce costs and produce quality parts in record time. Earthrise Space, through its Omega Envoy Project, is a team of scientists and students pursuing the Google Lunar X PRIZE. A total of $30 million in prize money is available to the first privately funded team to safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon by the end of 2015. The robot must travel 500 meters over the surface of the Moon and send back video footage, images and data back to the Earth’s surface. “We look forward to working with Team Omega Envoy, particularly the student interns,” said Alison Wildblood, CEO of CAMCAD Technologies. “There are so few opportunities for students to get ‘real world’ experience learning CNC programming and machining in Central Florida. Kudos to Earthrise Space, Inc. for making that part of their corporate mission! For over 20 years, CAMCAD has worked with technical schools and universities to help train the next generation of manufacturing professionals. We intend to use our manufacturing expertise to help Team Omega Envoy achieve success in their quest for the Google Lunar X Prize,” she added. CAMCAD Technologies Inc. is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs.

Henin Homes at Riviera Bella has 14 homes now under construction

DEBARY, Fla. --- Henin Homes has started construction of 14 new single-family homes priced from $240,000 to $400,000 at Riviera Bella, the award-winning gated luxury community the Henin Group is developing overlooking the St. John’s River in Debary. Matt Boltz, vice president of Henin Homes, Inc., said 12 of the new homes are already sold and range in size from 2,025 square feet of living space to 4,500 square feet. Two ready-to-move-in homes that will open in April range from 2,354 square feet of living space to 2,400 square feet, Boltz said. Both new ready-to-move-in homes are priced from the mid $300s.

Winston James Construction has three Move-In Ready Homes Underway at Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- Winston James Construction Company, a division of Winston James Development in South Daytona, has three new ready-to-move-in homes under construction at the Villages of Royal Palm in Port Orange. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston James Development, said the three new homes that range in size from 1,500 square feet to 2,400 square feet will be completed by summer. The homes will be priced from $179,900. At the same time, Schwartz said the sales office model at the Villages of Royal Palm has been sold and a new sales office model is underway. The 2,416 square foot model with four bedrooms and three baths will be completed by summer and will be priced from the high $200s.