Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Mercantile Capital Corporation Will Mark Record Year of Commercial Loans, move to Downtown Orlando in December

Altamonte Springs, Fla. --- Mercantile Capital Corporation in Altamonte Springs will mark a record year of commercial loan transactions this year and will be in new offices in the Old Florida National Bank building at 60 N. Court St. in downtown Orlando this December.

The firm, which ranks as one of the largest and most active providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans to small business owners, merged with Winter Park-based Old Florida National Bank earlier this year and plans to relocate to the historic downtown Orlando building before Christmas.

Geof Longstaff, chairman of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said he projects the firm will end 2011 with over 60 closed loans to fund projects in more than 15 states, totaling more than $150 million.

That’s a new record for the eight-year-old company.

Longstaff said he’s sorry to leave Mercantile Capital’s Altamonte Springs headquarters but the merger with Old Florida National Bank opens big, new doors for the firm’s mission: local economic growth and new job creation.

“Job creation is one of the principal aims of the SBA 504 loan program,” Longstaff said.

Chris Hurn, Mercantile’s chief executive officer, said new SBA 504 lending rules are already stimulating economic activity and will likely generate another record year in 2012.

“The SBA 504 program is certainly the smart choice and often the only choice for small business owners who see an opportunity to grow,” Hurn said.

Last year Mercantile Capital Corporation closed 51 loans to fund projects worth more than $140.6 million.

Beazer Homes opens new phase with 40 villa homes priced from the $150s at Gulfwinds just north of Tarpon Springs

TAMPA, Fla. --- Beazer Homes recently opened a new phase with 40 villa homes priced from under $160,000 at Gulfwinds, located off Alt. U.S. 19 and Anclote Blvd. in Holiday just north of Tarpon Springs

Ed Suchora, market manager at Beazer Homes in the Tampa Bay region, said three bedroom villa homes in the new phase of Gulfwinds offer two baths and range in size from 1,745 square feet of living space to 1,883 square feet with two car garages.

All new Beazer villa homes at Gulfwinds are Energy Star® certified.

ICI Homes Names Online New Homes Specialist at its Corporate Office in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- ICI Homes, which ranks as one of the largest and most active luxury home builders and luxury community developers in the U.S., has appointed Bethany Kempf, Online New Homes Specialist.

Rosemary Messina, vice president of sales and marketing for ICI Homes said Kempf holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida and a Florida Real Estate license

Messina said Kempf has a big job to do. “Most home buyers consult online resources before buying a new home in a luxury neighborhood such as ICI’s Plantation Bay in Ormond Beach, Amelia National and Julington Creek in Jacksonville, Cypress Reserve south of Orlando and at Grand Hampton in Tampa.”

“Today’s social marketing strategies are increasingly important,” Messina explained.

Kempf, a social networking veteran and new homes specialist, has six years of experience in the industry.

About ICI Homes
ICI Homes is ranked by Builder magazine as one of the top 100 homebuilders in the nation. The 32+-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

Former WDI-IRC East Employee who Survived Fiery Accident Settles into her “She Den” to write Series of Children’s Books at Del Webb Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Donna Morris never set out to be a writer of children’s books, but fate led her in that direction just as it led her to a place she said she never wants to leave.

“I had not planned to be an author,” the Florida native said from her home office at the Del Webb Orlando community near Davenport. “It chose me; I didn’t choose it.”

But, she and her husband Jeff, did choose their home at Del Webb Orlando in 2008 and they’re very glad they did.

“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” said Morris. “My husband feels that when he’s away, I’m taken care of by our incredible neighbors.” Because of their jobs the couple travels a lot, but they always have someone to look after their 15-year-old rescued pets, a gray cat and a boxer named Morris who she lovingly says looks like a “bug-eyed dingo.”

Morris, a former large theme park employee who grew up in the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area, lost all of her hair and most of her skin in 2004 when a fireball engulfed her body as she stoked a fire pit near her home in Lake Wales.

“I was burned over most of my body,” she said. “I have scarring, but it really doesn’t bother me. I’m just thankful I’m alive. I tell people ‘it was a heck of a way to get a chemical peel!’ ”

While Donna was recuperating from her injuries, Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne blew across Florida destroying the Morris’s Lake Wales home and everything in it. Like so many others, the couple had to start over from scratch.

During her recovery Donna Morris had an epiphany. As she looked outside, a firefly landed on the screen. She thought to herself how beautiful this creature was that lit up such a vast amount of darkness and immediately thought of Edison creating the light bulb. Thus her first series was born.

The rest, as they say, is history. Or at least, historical in the sense of children’s books, as Morris – aka Donna Raye – took a different approach to her literary works. Each of her children’s books are written in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Since then she has published several books in different genres, including a new series called “Faith-a-Leapin’ ” that is written from the point of view of a frog, one of Morris’s favorite creatures. Donna Raye’s children’s series teaches about diversity, being kind to others and that children can grow up to do anything they set their minds to, Morris said.

“We have a pond in our backyard and we hear croaking all the time,” she said. “I have a collection of frogs in my office that range from ceramic ones to a Chinese frog carved from a nut to one from Africa that sounds like a bull frog when you rub a stick against its back.”

When she isn’t holed up in her “she den” writing, Morris – the mother of two sons and three grandsons – said she enjoys numerous amenities at Del Webb Orlando, including a dog park, hot tubs, pickleball courts, and gathering rooms for movies or parties.

She also makes good use of the community’s fitness center and swimming pools, exercising 1.5 hours daily at the gym and two hours at the inside pool

“I love the outdoors,” Morris said. “We really love our home here, but the only time I’m inside very long is when I’m writing. Otherwise, we’re on the golf cart riding around the community with our dog, just enjoying life.”

Four Mattamy Homes Site Superintendents Win Cornerstone Awards from Home Builders Assn.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Four site superintendents at Mattamy Homes U.S. Group, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, were presented with Cornerstone Awards during a recent luncheon meeting of the Home Builders Assn. of Charlotte.

Bill Kiselick, division president for Mattamy Homes in the Charlotte region, said Jim Brodnik, Keith Holiday, Price Leonard and Brian Smith earned Cornerstone Awards for their home building efforts during the period of Oct. 1, 2010 through Sept. 30, 2011.

Kiselick said Brodnik was awarded in the category of 15-25 homes built, and Holiday, Leonard and Smith received the award for building more than 26 homes during the past year, the highest achievement category of the HBA Cornerstone awards.

The Home Builders Assn. of Charlotte is the only HBA in the nation that recognizes the builders themselves for their labors, according to Kiselick.

“We are very careful in the selection and supervision of our home builders and Jim, Price, Keith and Brian rank among the most conscientious, hardest working and most knowledgeable home builders in the Charlotte region and they deserve every accolade they receive,” Kiselick said.

About Mattamy Homes
Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix and Minneapolis. The homebuilder is the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Stirling Sotheby’s Int’l Realty Named Sales Agents for Lakefront Country Estate with Architectural Pedigree

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty was recently named exclusive sales and marketing agents for a luxury lakefront country estate just west of Orlando that comes with a notable pedigree.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the 55-acre luxury estate at 19035 Orange Ave. in Groveland features a 5,600 square foot lakefront hacienda designed by Arizona architect John B. Sholz, whose Uptown Court---a 103-room estate home outside the village of Windlesham in Surrey, England---ranked as the most expensive home offered for sale anywhere in the world at the height of the real estate boom.

Recently the palatial estate sold for half its former asking price, or about $67 million.

Soderstrom said the Groveland hacienda, built in 2002, is a brilliant example of the California Craftsman architectural style with pecky-cypress doors and cypress plank ceilings.

“The hacienda is a work of art,” said Stirling Sotheby’s Luxury Residential Specialists Sally Taylor and Emily White. The Taylor/White International Team for Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty are representing the Groveland estate which is listed for sale for $2.6 million.

The four-bedroom luxury home offers three full baths and a guest half-bath along with a game room, a private library, and a grand entrance with a 25-foot high rotunda.

A white, sandy beach on secluded Lake Arthur is a focal point of the 55-acre estate property, which includes a park-like 15-acre homestead and gardens with extensive wooden decking and a secluded stone waterfall, Taylor said.

The estate earns its agricultural property tax exemptions: its 10-acre irrigated organic citrus grove and 30 acres of well-fenced cattle pasture are served by a 3,750 square foot workshop, garage and farm vehicle storage building.

The entire property is well-fenced and the cattle pasturage is cross-fenced, Taylor said. The property is protected by a gated entrance and extensive electronic security system.

See a brochure on the property at http://www.stirlingsir.com/eflyers/19035-orange-ave/19035-orange-ave-brochure.pdf and view a video at http://youtu.be/ygretH_-5G8

About Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty:
Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty is affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, the largest luxury real estate brand in the world. Stirling Sotheby’s exclusive services include luxury residential, new homes, new home communities, commercial and investment properties, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates two performance zones which serve all of Central Florida. Visit www.StirlingSIR.com.

Stirling Sotheby’s Int’l represents Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar in 8,100 square foot lease

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Commercial Division recently represented the tenant, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar in securing a new lease agreement for an 8,100 square foot restaurant facility overlooking Little Sand Lake on Restaurant Row on Sandlake Road in southwest Orlando.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said International Commercial Division Associate Mark Arnold represented Rocco’s Tacos, an upscale West Palm Beach-based restaurant chain with locations in West Palm, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach Gardens.

“Rocco’s Tacos is a very successful restaurant concept that offers upscale Mexican fare, with guacamole prepared at tableside, and the largest selection of premium tequilas in Florida,” Arnold said.

The new Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar location, at 7468 W. Sand Lake Rd., is the former home of the Samba Room Restaurant.

Arnold said Rocco’s Tacos will appeal to both Orlando residents and visitors to the area as both a dining and entertainment destination of choice.

“Rocco’s Tacos is extremely popular in South Florida, with “standing-room-only” crowds most nights,” Arnold said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Industrial Lease for 4,760 Square Feet in Oviedo

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new industrial lease for 4,760 square feet at Unit A, 640 Kane Court in Oviedo.

Michael Heidrich, a principal in the firm, brokered the transaction representing the landlord, Winter Springs-based Sandbagger Properties, LLC and the tenant Haddad Management Advisors.

About NAI Realvest
NAI Realvest in Orlando, serving all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 350 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

ABD Development to start construction of two pre-sold homes, one model home at Heritage Green in Providence South of Orlando

PROVIDENCE, Fla. – ABD Development Company will start construction in January of two pre-sold luxury homes and one model home at Heritage Green in Providence, the luxury golf course community ABD is developing South of Orlando off US 17-92, near Disney.

David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company, said the presold homes include the Wyndham with 2,700 square feet of living space and the Tuscan with 4,000 square feet.

ABD also started construction of a new Portofino model home with four bedrooms and three baths in 2,673 square feet of living space that will be completed in February.

Kohn added that a new Courtyard model home with 2,684 square feet of space in underway and will be ready early next year at Heritage Green priced at $410,000. The multiple award winning Courtyard model home features a large indoor courtyard.

First Green Bank opens unique new headquarters facility at 18251 U.S. Hwy. 441 in Mount Dora, open six days a week

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank, which has locations in Clermont and formerly in Eustis, has opened the doors at its unique new headquarters facility at 18251 U.S. Hwy. 441 in Mount Dora and is now open for business every day except Sunday.

Kenneth LaRoe, chairman and chief executive officer of First Green Bank, said the 12,000 square foot building is one of the greenest in Central Florida.

“Our new facility is designed to exceed the LEED Platinum Standard for energy efficiency, environmental quality, water conservation and sustainable building materials set by the U.S. Green Building Council, LaRoe said.

Platinum is the highest LEED standard the U.S. Green Building Council has established for its Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design program.

LaRoe said First Green Bank opened its doors on Nov. 14. The bank is open six days a week starting from 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and staying open until 6 p.m. on Fridays.

Lobby banking hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Drive-up tellers are open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

LaRoe said the new bank headquarters is a model for environmentally responsible commercial facilities.

“A great deal of time and energy went into the design standards,” LaRoe said. Using recycled and sustainable building materials and the highest efficiency lighting, windows, electrical, plumbing and interior treatments, First Green Bank was designed and built to minimize environmental impact over the long term,” LaRoe said.

“Our goal was to fuse form and function to create a facility that will assure the safety, security and comfort of our workers, customers, and our community,” LaRoe explained.

LaRoe said First Green Bank plans to host an official grand opening for the public on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, with food, refreshments and live entertainment.