First Green Bank Reports Healthy Growth in Assets, Loan Volume in 2012

MOUNT DORA, Fla. – First Green Bank, the Mount Dora based community bank with locations in Clermont and Ormond Beach and downtown Orlando, reported its assets grew by more than 20 percent in 2012. First Green Bank Chairman Kenneth M. LaRoe said he projects the bank will finish the year with $203 million in total assets, up from $163 million at the start of the year. Asset growth at First Green Bank means more lending to local businesses and consumers, LaRoe said: First Green Bank’s loan volume grew more than 25 percent in 2012 and will end the year with a projected balance of $148 million. In its Asset Quality Review of independent banks in Florida earlier this year, the Carson Medlin Company ranked First Green Bank Number One in Central Florida and fifth in Florida. First Green was one of only seven Florida banks to earn a coveted “zero” on the famed Texas Ratio---a widely regarded measure of sound banking practices developed by Texas banker Gerard Cassidy and RBC Capital Markets more than 30 years ago. First Green Bank posted zero past due loans, zero nonaccrual assets, zero REOs (real estate that the bank has taken back to cover debts) and only $288,000 in restructured loans, when the region-wide average is almost $5.5 million per bank. “We have taken an aggressive approach to lending for projects that improve the economic vitality and quality of life in Central Florida,” LaRoe said. “The community bank business model requires a broader scope of vision than many institutions are able to provide. Our experience---affirmed by Carson Medlin’s Asset Quality Review---is that these are the best loans to make,” LaRoe said. “In our business, character counts.” No less authority than American Banker magazine ranks First Green Bank as one of America’s “greenest” banks. Earlier this year First Green Bank was named the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2011 Business of the Year in Central Florida. LaRoe said First Green Bank is presently looking for a site in Winter Park.

First Green Bank names Branch Manager, Customer Service Representatives in Orlando

Mount Dora, Fla. – First Green Bank, the Mount Dora based bank that recently opened its fourth branch facility on South Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, appointed a branch manager and two customer service representatives for the Orlando location. Kenneth LaRoe, chairman of First Green Bank, said he named Mary Sekac branch manager in Orlando. Sekac, a former SunTrust executive is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of North Orlando, Longwood Chamber of Commerce and is a volunteer for Sheperd’s Hope. She earned her B.S. Degree in Mathematics from University of Florida and is an active member of the Chi Omega Alumni Assn. LaRoe also appointed Deloris Crisp senior customer service representative at First Green Bank in Orlando. A native of Clarksville, Tenn. Crisp began her banking career with First American National Bank, FirstStar Bank and Legends Bank. LaRoe also named Denise Smith customer service representative in Orlando. Smith has many years of banking experience having served with First Southern Bank in Winter Garden and First Green Bank in Clermont.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Exclusive Broker for Prime Residential Site near Mount Dora

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been named exclusive sales and marketing agents for a prime 85.54-acre residential site located in the Sorrento-Mount Plymouth area of Lake County off S.R. 46 between Heathrow and Mount Dora. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the site has excellent road frontage near planned interchanges with the Wekiva Parkway and S.R. 429 toll road. Current Future Land Use (FLU) planning allows for two housing units per acre and rezoning could permit as many as three or four homes per acre. Utilities are located less than a mile from the site, Soderstrom added. The site, which is totally fenced, currently includes a 5,156 square foot six-bedroom house with four-and-a-half baths, along with several barns. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty International Luxury Homes Specialist Benjiman Hillman in the firm’s Dr. Phillips' Global Marketing Center is representing the property, which is currently listed at $2.6 million, or $30,395 per acre. “The price is very realistic, and with the completion of the Wekiva Parkway and S.R. 429 toll road, this is a superb upscale residential development,” Hillman said. To view a brochure on the property, go to http://www.stirlingsir.com/resources/SiteResources/My%20Folder/31216SR437withPressRel.pdf .

Henin Group Promotes Matt Boltz to Vice President of Henin Homes

Winter Park, Fla. --- The Henin Group, parent company of Henin Homes, has promoted Matt Boltz to vice president of Henin Homes, Inc. Jerome Henin, founder and president of the Henin Group, developer of Riviera Bella overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary, said Boltz joined the firm in early 2012 and took over as director of sales and operations at Henin Homes. Boltz has more than 20 years of experience as a homebuilding executive in Florida and was formerly division president and regional vice president for a national homebuilding firm overseeing production and semi-custom homebuilding operations for 17 years. “Since Matt Boltz joined us as director of sales and operations, we have seen a significant improvement and positive changes,” Henin said. “We have quadrupled our production, and we have reorganized many of our procedures and processes to make them more efficient, more productive and easier to manage,” Henin said. Henin said he is enthusiastic about the future. “This is the first time in years that I have been able to concentrate on managing our growth, and while I know the real estate recovery has yet to hit full stride, I can confidently say we are far better off than we were a year ago,” Henin said. “Matt Boltz is one of the big reasons for that,” Henin said.

M/I Homes Acquires 200 Home Sites in St. Cloud to start development of Narcoossee Village

LAKE MARY, Fla. --- M/I Homes will start developing its newest community of Narcoossee Village in St. Cloud, offering 200 home sites. David G. Byrnes, area president of M/I Homes in the Orlando region, said the homebuilder’s new single-family homes Narcoossee Village will range from 1,500 square feet of living space to 3,500 square feet and will be priced starting from $179,900. Narcoossee Village is located off Narcoossee Road and Jack Brack Blvd. in St. Cloud. Development of the community will start in early March, Byrnes said. M/I Homes currently has 10 active communities in the Orlando area.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Named Marketing Agents for the Bulk Sale of 72 Estate Home Sites at Hunter’s Ridge in Ormond Beach

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has been named exclusive sales and marketing agents for the 88-acre Ashford Lake Estates development site at Hunter’s Ridge, the 5,000 acre master-planned community which straddles the Volusia-Flagler line just west of Interstate 95 in Ormond Beach. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Ashford Lake Estates at Hunter’s Ridge includes 72 estate home sites of one-third-acre or more, each of which offers more than 100 feet of street frontage. Soderstrom said the ready-to-build estate home sites “which will be very attractive to custom home builders” are being listed for sale in bulk at $2.5 million. “Most of these very private estate home sites offer either lakefront or conservation area frontage,” Soderstrom said. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty International Commercial Investment Specialists John Kurtz and Mark Arnold, along with Soderstrom, are listing agents for the property.

University Club of Orlando promotes April Wootten to Service Manager

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The University Club of Orlando recently promoted April Wootten to service manager. Justin Wright, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said Wooten has been with the University Club for nearly two years as a service captain.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Office Lease at the Winter Park Commerce Center

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed a lease agreement for 2,490 square feet of office space at 917 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in the Winter Park Commerce Center near downtown Winter Park. Michael Heidrich, principal at NAI Realvest negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Winter Park-based WFI, LLP. A local massage therapy firm, Gifted Touch, LLC, is the new tenant.

Only Five Town Homes Remain for Sale at Autumnwood Grove in Lakeland

LAKELAND, Fla. --- Only five town homes remain for sale at Autumnwood Grove, Lennar’s gated community of town homes and villa homes located on Bartow Road (U.S. 98) one mile south of Polk Parkway in Lakeland. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said the Nottingham town home, judged home of the year in 2010 with the best floor plan, best kitchen and best overall quality in its category, is one of three distinctive floor plans available at Autmnwood Grove. Lennar’s award winning Nottingham town home at Autumnwood Grove offers four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 1,612 square feet of living space priced from $100s. The Berkshire town home at Autumnwood Grove offers two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 1,178 square feet of living space priced from $70s. The Canterbury town home is a three-bedroom design with two-and-a-half baths in 1,559 square feet of living space priced from $100s. Metheny said town homes at Autumnwood Grove offer pond and conservation views. Autumnwood Grove features a community swimming pool and cabana. Lennar builds townhomes and villa homes at Autumnwood Grove priced from the $70s and each home comes with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a wide range of appliances, special features and add-ons at one “everything’s included” price.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease renewals totaling 21,825 square feet of industrial space at Hanging Moss CommerCenter and Monroe CommerCenter South

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest negotiated two industrial lease renewals totaling 21,825 square feet at the Hanging Moss CommerCenter in Orlando and at Monroe CommerCenter South in Sanford. Michael Heidrich, Sr., principal at NAI Realvest brokered both transactions on behalf of the landlords. At Monroe CommerCenter South in Sanford, TekQuest Industries Corporation renewed its lease of 16,200 square feet at Suite 1000, 4275 Church St. The landlord is COP-Monroe, LLC of Maitland. At 6124 Hanging Moss Rd. in the Hanging Moss CommerCenter the tenant, RTR Suppliers, Inc., renewed its lease of Suites 350 and 360 with 5,625 square feet. Maitland-based COP-Hanging Moss, LLC is the landlord.