MERITAGE HOMES OPENS WATERFORD CREEK

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes has opened its newest community of Waterford Creek with 57 homesites located on Hancock Lone Palm Road off SR 50 in east Orlando. Brian Kittle, division vice president at Meritage Homes, said new homes at Waterford Creek will range from 2,581 square feet of living area to 3,467 square feet, priced from the high $200s. Meritage Homes currently has a model home under construction at Waterford Creek priced in the $300,000 range. The four bedroom, two-and-a-half bath model home will be completed and open for viewing this July.

Meritage Homes promotes Joe Kathman to scheduling manager

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Meritage Homes has promoted Joe Kathman to scheduling and continuous improvement (SCI) manager. Brian Kittle, division vice president for Meritage Homes in the Orlando area said Kathman, a graduate of Fredonia State University in Fredonia, N.Y., has been with Meritage Homes for five years as a construction manager.

NAI Realvest negotiates renewals, expansion leases totaling 35,060 square feet at five CommerCenters in Central Florida

MAITLAND, Fla. --- Michael Heidrich principal at NAI Realvest negotiated six lease agreements totaling 35,060 square feet of industrial space at five CommerCenters in Central Florida. At Monroe CommerCenter South 4150 Church St., Heidrich represented the landlord in a renewal lease of 14,504 square feet with Shields Environmental Services. Heidrich negotiated two lease agreements in Hanging Moss CommerCenter at 6100 and 6124 Hanging Moss Rd. in Orlando representing the landlord. Tenant Black & Decker, Inc. represented by David Murphy of CBRE renewed a lease of 4,000 square feet and RTR Suppliers Inc. represented by Matt Bates of Homevest Realty renewed 9,000 square feet. Heidrich represented the landlord at Goldenrod CommerCenter in an expansion agreement with Black Forge LLC for 4,412 square feet at 1468 N. Goldenrod Rd. in Southeast Orlando. ERC General Contracting Services, Inc. renewed a lease of 1,875 square feet at 890 Carter Rd. in the Carter CommerCenter in Winter Garden. At Poinciana CommerCenter East in Kissimmee, Heidrich represented landlord Small Bay Partners in a renewal agreement with Lube Brokers, LLC for 1,269 square feet at 1745 Business Center Lane.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Office Retail and Industrial leases totaling 7,150 square feet

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest recently negotiated leases totaling 7,150 square feet of office/retail, office and industrial space at in Orlando, Winter Park and Southeast Orlando. Michael Heidrich, a principal in the firm, brokered all three transactions representing the landlords. Romanoff Floor Covering, Inc. of Smyrna, Ga. leased 3,000 square feet of industrial space at Airport Industrial Center, 7466 Narcoossee Rd. Airport Investment Properties of Columbus, Ohio is the landlord. HISFO, Inc. of Orlando leased 2,800 square feet of office/retail space at the Herndon Center, 615-A and B Herndon Avenue in Orlando. The landlord is Winter Park-based LBJ Properties. Florida Frame House of Winter Park leased 1,350 square feet of office space at Winter Park Commerce Center where the landlord is W.F.I., LLP.

Henin Homes names Mike Kalin, Chief Financial Officer

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Henin Homes has appointed veteran building executive Mike Kalin, chief financial officer. Jerome Henin, president of Henin Homes, Inc said Mike has more than 38 years of experience in the construction industry, including 18 years in the home building industry. Mike is a graduate of Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Henin also named Sue Dingle, executive construction coordinator; she has 15 years of experience and Roch Vaillancourt, graphics and marketing coordinator. He has 10 years of experience.

Winston-James Development negotiates lease for financial consulting firm at Aloma Business Center in Winter Park

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Winston-James Development, based in South Daytona, recently negotiated a lease agreement for 938 square feet of office space at its Aloma Business Center on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park. Winston Schwartz, president of Winston-James Development said OSS Office Support Services, a certified “Quick Book” financial consulting firm leased the office space. The company is relocating from Winter Springs, Schwartz said.

ICI Homes Appoints David Hensley, William Smith as Builders in Kissimmee, Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, Fla. -- ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most active luxury home builders and developers of exclusive resort and country club communities in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, Kissimmee and Tampa, recently appointed David Hensley and William Smith as builders. Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing at ICI Homes said Hensley, who has been building homes since 1983, was formerly a builder for WCI Communities. He holds an Associates Degree in Computer Network Administration from Keiser College. Hensley will direct home building efforts at Avilla and Cypress Reserve in Kissimmee, Messina said. Smith, a Delaware native and Ormond Beach resident, formerly served as a luxury home builder with Arthur Rutenberg Homes.

ICI Homes appoints Rodregus McFarland Sales Consultant at Tidewater in Jacksonville area

JACKSONVILLE Fla. -- ICI Homes, which builds luxury homes in 20 distinctive floor plans priced from the $200s to the high $300s at Tidewater, a gated, themed community located in Northeast Jacksonville, has appointed Rodregus McFarland sales consultant at Tidewater. Don Wilford, Northeast Florida Division President for ICI Homes, said McFarland attended Georgia Southwestern University and Florida State University and has more than 12 years of experience in sales at Fortune 500 companies including IBM, AT&T, and Sprint. McFarland sold condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in Atlanta, where he holds a Georgia brokers license. He earned his Florida real estate brokers license last year.

Three Luxury Homes Earn Top Awards for ICI Homes in Northeast Florida Builders Assn.’s 2013 Parade of Homes

Jacksonville, Fla. --- Three new luxury homes earned top awards for builder ICI Homes during the recent Northeast Florida Builders Association’s 2013 Parade of Homes. Don Wilford, President of ICI Homes in Northeast Florida, said the Plantation II Model Home at Magnolia Preserve at Julington Creek earned the luxury community developer the Parade’s Gold Award as the finest new home in its price range. With four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 3,160 square feet of space, the Plantation II model home at Magnolia Preserve at Julington Creek features an elegant formal dining room, chef’s kitchen, enormous lanai, grand gathering room and luxurious owner’s suite, along with a three-car garage. Two luxury homes earned ICI Homes Silver Awards: the two-story, Scottish-inspired Nottingham home at Highland Glen, located in the heart of Jacksonville off Beach Blvd. three miles east of I-295, and the Preakness V model home at Amelia National Golf & Country Club. The Nottingham model home at Highland Glen offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 3,888 square feet of living space with a large kitchen, nook and covered porch and summer kitchen, formal living and dining rooms, a two-story family room with a dual-mantled fireplace and coffered ceilings, and a second-floor balcony overlook. With four bedrooms and three baths in 2,752 square feet of space and a three-car garage, the Preakness V Parade home features a courtyard entry, a huge owner’s suite and bath with dual facilities, a massive glass-walled family room and fireplace, a formal dining room with a multi-tiered ceiling, island kitchen and covered lanai. Those are just some of the features that appealed to Parade judges, Wilford said.

Forman Capital LLC to Triple its Commercial Real Estate Loan Volume This Year to $60 million

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Forman Capital, LLC in Palm Beach reported it loaned almost $20 million last year to finance real estate acquisition and development projects and the private lender expects to triple that figure this year. Founded by entrepreneur Brett D. Forman in 2004, Forman Capital LLC targets middle market borrowers with an entrepreneurial platform that combines real estate underwriting and analysis of traditional credit metrics with creativity and speed. Forman Capital lends money for situational and bridge loans as well as subordinate debt financing, preferred equity and note acquisitions in the $2.5 million to $15 million range. Forman said he gets the best deals because his firm is able to respond quickly and effectively across a wide range of real estate asset classes. “And we structure our deals to provide sustainable solutions and certainty of execution,” he explained. Last year, Forman provided $2.5 million to acquire a 144-unit South Carolina multifamily property in less than two weeks. A $1.55 million loan to acquire a non-performing note secured by a first mortgage on a 65-room Holiday Inn Express in Atlanta took just four days. Three years ago, Forman established a local landmark when he acquired an abandoned office building on South Ocean Blvd. in Palm Beach, redeveloped it and reopened it as a fashionable address that now includes BankUnited, Forman’s headquarters and medical facilities for the not-for-profit Bethesda Hospital, a pharmacy, physical therapist, salon/spa and more than a dozen businesses and professionals along with the Palm Beach Executive Center, a full service turnkey executive suite operation. “We’re direct lenders and we are investors and developers,” Forman said. “We participate in value added projects that meet the needs of the community.”

Royal Oak Homes to host grand opening June 6 to showcase four bedroom Baldwin model at Vista Grande in Clermont

CLERMONT, Fla. -- Royal Oak Homes will host a grand opening June 6 to showcase the new Baldwin model home at Vista Grande, located off Lakeshore Road in Clermont. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said the Baldwin model home offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths in 2,800 square feet of living space with a two car garage. The design affords the option for two additional bedrooms and a three car garage. With a large island kitchen and interfacing family room, dining nook and large covered lanai, the Baldwin model home offers wide open family living space. For social occasions, a formal dining room and living room are located off the home’s foyer. Royal Oak plans to build 88 new three, four, five, six and seven bedroom homes at Vista Grande priced from the low $200s. New Royal Oak homes at Vista Grande range in size from 2,200 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet.

Housing Sales on the Rise: Royal Oak Homes Starts Construction of 36 Ready-To-Move-In Homes in Nine Orlando Communities

Orlando, Fla. -- Rising sales of new homes in Central Florida are prompting one of the region’s premier home builders to launch a major building campaign: Royal Oak Homes has started construction of 36 new single-family homes in nine communities in Orange, Lake, Osceola and Polk counties. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, said all 36 ready-to-move-in homes will open in the summer at Breckenridge near Apopka, Sorrento Springs in Sorrento, Blue Lake Estates in Eustis, Vista Grande, Barrington Estates and Hammock Reserve in Clermont, Ashebrook in Davenport, Hammock Trails in Kissimmee and Mallard Pond in St. Cloud. The new three, four, and five-bedroom homes range in size from 1,500 square feet of living space to 4,700 square feet, Orosz said. Prices for the new homes will start from the $150s. “We are seeing steady growth in new home sales and visits to our sales centers by prospective home buyers,” Orosz said. “We anticipate the market for new homes will increase more this year.” Royal Oak Homes is a third-generation home builder whose track record boasts more than 14,000 new homes built in Central Florida over the past 30 years under the Cambridge Homes brand, one of the region’s most successful home builders in the 1980s and 1990s. Founded in 2011, Royal Oak Homes is rapidly becoming one of the largest and most active home builders in the Central Florida area, building in ten active communities in the region.

Royal Oak Homes has record April, and sales at $22 million for first quarter

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes, based in Baldwin Park, ended April with a record 37 sales valued at $9 million. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes said the $9 million covered sales at eight communities in Central Florida. For the first quarter, Royal Oak reported sales of $22 million Orosz said the homebuilder recently held a grand opening [May 23] at Avalon Reserve with 66 home sites available in the community located in Winter Garden at Avalon and Marsh Roads. Homes at Avalon Reserve range in size from 2,300 square feet of living area to 4,700 square feet with prices starting from the $270s. Orosz added that one fully-furnished model is ready for viewing at Avalon Reserve -- the Parker with 4,700 square feet of living area, priced at $369,000. Royal Oak Homes is a third-generation home builder whose track record boasts more than 14,000 new homes built in Central Florida over the past 30 years under the Cambridge Homes brand, one of the region’s most successful home builders in the 1980s and 1990s. Founded in 2011, Royal Oak Homes is rapidly becoming one of the largest and most active home builders in the Central Florida area, building in ten active communities in the region.

Park Square Homes Names New Purchasing Analyst, Sales Consultant and Marketing Coordinator

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes has appointed a new purchasing analyst, a sales consultant and a marketing coordinator. Vishaal Gupta, president of Park Square Homes said Jeanine Martin is the new purchasing analyst. She has more than 15 years of experience. Adams Bennett has been appointed sales associate and has more than four years of experience in residential sales. Bennett was formerly with Centex Homes in resort sales. New marketing coordinator is Yuri Sosa, a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a degree in graphic design.

Park Square Homes Names New Sales Marketing Director, New International Sales Director

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes has appointed veteran home builder executive Michael Sferes as sales and marketing director. Vishaal Gupta, president of Park Square Homes said Sferes has more than 22 years of experience in sales and marketing. He formerly served as regional vice president of sales and marketing for D.R. Horton and was also affiliated with K. Hovnanian and Centex Homes. Gupta also named Dominic Pickering director of international sales. Pickering has more than nine years of experience and was formerly associated with MRI Overseas Property in different roles including managing director overseeing worldwide operations.

Del Webb Naples readies for a busy summer season – Doubles Explore Del Webb Villas to Accommodate More Visitors

AVE MARIA, Fla. -- Del Webb Naples, the popular active adult community located on Anthem Parkway in Ave Maria, saw a busier-than-usual winter season and expects to see the increase in visitors continue in the months ahead. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for Del Webb in south Florida, said Del Webb Naples opened two new Explore Del Webb villas recently to accommodate a surge in summer visitors. Mairn said four fully furnished Explore Del Webb villas in the iconic resort community can host as many as 600 guests during the summer season. “We were very busy during the entire winter season and we anticipate visits during the summer season will be way up as well,” Mairn explained. Prospective home buyers at Del Webb Naples are invited to stay in a fully furnished home with an equipped kitchen and enjoy a wide range of community amenities, including full use of the new Oasis Club, a complimentary round of golf for two on the pristine 18-hole Panther Run Golf Course, a 25 percent discount on all pro-shop merchandise, and a free Player's Club membership with a $25 Match Play certificate good at the nearby Seminole Casino Immokalee; “Buying a home at Del Webb Naples is an important decision and many people would prefer to try it out first,” Mairn said. “Our residents are our best ambassadors,” Mairn said. “This is a very friendly community and our residents don’t mind sharing their good news — and their experiences — with visitors and guests,” he added. The three bedroom villas, which offer 1,641 to 1,911 square feet of luxury living space with a two-car garage, are available for sale starting from the $200s. Del Webb builds two and three bedroom single family homes at Del Webb Naples that range in size from 1,157 square feet of living space to 2,488 square feet priced from $157,100. The Del Webb Naples Oasis Club boasts a resort-style swimming pool, dedicated lap pool, a spa, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickleball courts, an amphitheatre, state-of-the-art fitness center, a café, library, and a catering kitchen, along with an aerobics room, sauna and steam rooms, fire pit, and activity and craft rooms. Visit www.delwebb.com

University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program Companies on Colonial Drive Have Growth Spurt

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program on Colonial Drive seems to be bursting at the seams. But, according to Site Manager Melissa Wasserman; that’s a good thing. Wasserman said five of the incubator’s 16 companies hired a total of 10 new employees during March and April. The positions range from interns, administrative assistants and sales reps to drivers, event coordinators and computer specialists. “It is exciting to see our companies growing and hiring in a down economy. It increases morale in the Incubator. These entrepreneurs are beating the odds by working hard and growing smart. And it has a tangible impact on the local workforce as well,” she said. Growing Synergy, a sustainable food and agriculture consulting and distribution company, has hired five employees: a driver, an event coordinator, a communications intern, and two administrative assistants, and Lucid Technical Solutions, a technology staffing firm, welcomed two new sales reps. The other three companies, VGlobalTech, a professional web design, online marketing and brand building company; Multiplying talents, a company that assists with grant writing and non-profit status procurement; and Rogan Marketing and Communications, each brought one new employee on board during the two-month period. Company owners like Aretha Olivarez of Multiplying Talents are excited about their hew hires and the indication of an upward tick in the local economy. “Our company is steadily growing, and we needed an employee with IT skills to help us with the changes in our industry,” she said. Pamela Rogan of Rogan Marketing and Communications has hired a marketing assistant from Workforce Central Florida with hopes that he will become a permanent employee by the end of his three-month trial period in June. “This [the incubator] is not just office space,” she said. “It’s a place that provides ongoing support and that raises my comfort level, as well as meeting the requirements of the Workforce Central Florida program.” By hiring five new employees, Growing Synergy Managing Partner Rebecca Reis-Miller said it feels good to give back to the very community that she is trying to change by offering locally-grown foods. “Even though we’ve only made a small change in the unemployment rate, if we can bring just this small portion full circle, it will dramatically improve the synergy we strive to produce. “

GreenPath Energy Solutions Inks Licensing Agreement to Sell Award-Winning NorthWrite Energy Management Software

Orlando, Fla. --- GreenPath Energy Solutions, a supplier of energy efficient building solutions to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings and to make them more sustainable, has entered into a licensing agreement with NorthWrite, Inc., a managed information services firm specializing in the delivery of innovative energy saving technology via their collaborative online software platform called Energy WorkSite - The WorkSite Company, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Samuel Graham, LEED AP, president and chief executive officer at GreenPath Energy Solutions, said the channel reseller agreement provides GreenPath an important web-based software toolkit to help their customers monitor, manage, and optimize energy consumption in commercial buildings. “We work with building owners and managers across the spectrum of commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental facilities to help them identify and implement energy saving solutions to control their operational, energy, and facility costs. The Energy WorkSite software suite will give GreenPath the flexibility to expand our services to include web-based software tools that seamlessly connect all stakeholders to ensure their energy program meets its savings and sustainability objectives,” Graham explained. “We can now provide every customer with a low cost energy solution that’s comprehensive including energy benchmarking, energy auditing, and monitoring-based commissioning that’s easy to use and delivers the very best ROI,” Graham said. NorthWrite’s EnergyWorkSite is an award-winning, highly acclaimed software suite developed in close cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management with the goal of saving energy in commercial buildings. Energy WorkSite enables building owners, managers, engineers, and consultants to closely monitor and manage energy consumption using real-time energy data, and verifies savings from energy retrofit projects, Graham explained. GreenPath Energy Solutions is a client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Orlando located on East Colonial Drive. For more information about the company and its services, contact them at 321-948-3623 or sgraham@greenpathes.com or visit www.greenpathenergysolutions.com.