M/I Homes opening new series of homes at Hickory Hammock in Winter Garden

ORLANDO, Fla. --- M/I Homes has introduced a series of new home designs at its community of Hickory Hammock, located off Marsh Road and Stoneybrook West Parkway on Johns Lake in Winter Garden. David Byrnes, area president for M/I Homes in the Central Florida region, said the new series consists of four floor plans ranging from 1,857 square feet of living area to 3,032 square feet, priced from $288,990 to $342,990. Byrnes said the new series of floor plans feature innovative designs with oversized master bathrooms and designer kitchens. M/I Homes has 200 home available at Hickory Hammock that are 80, 90 and 100 feet wide for four, five and six bedroom homes. For more information, visit www.mihomes.com

NAI Realvest negotiates $600,000 acquisition of Winter Springs Development site for new Primrose School

MAITLAND, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated the purchase of a site on SR. 434 and Heritage Park Street for development of a Primrose School and daycare facility. NAI Realvest principals Matt Cichocki and Kevin O’Connor negotiated the transaction representing the buyer, Elsis Land Holdings, LLC of Orlando. The local seller was HSP 1001, LLC. The buyer paid $600,000 for the 73,181 square foot parcel of land for the Primrose School. This is the third site that the NAI Realvest retail team has located for Primrose Schools in the Central Florida market.

Lennar Homes Opens New Phase for Estate Homes at Reflection Isles in Fort Myers

Fort Myers, Fla. --- Lennar Homes has opened a new phase with 53 homesites for Estate Homes at Reflection Isles in Fort Myers. David Meyers, director of sales and marketing at Lennar in the southwest Florida region, said the Estate Homes in the new phase also include Lennar’s most popular floor plans --“ NextGenTM ‘Home within a home’ designed to accommodate multiple generations of family living under the same roof. Lennar’s NextGen home designs provide private living space within the family home. That means a private entry, a bedroom and bath, a kitchenette, breakfast nook, living room and its own dedicated one-car garage, Meyers said.. New homes at Reflections Isles come with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a selection of upgrades such as crown molding, granite countertops, wood cabinetry, designer light fixtures, stainless steel appliances and a highly rated energy efficiency package all for the one Lennar Homes price. New Estate Homes at Reflection Isles with three to six bedrooms, two-and-a half to five-and-a-half baths range from 2,800 to 4,000 square feet of living space and are priced from the $300s to more than $400,000. Reflection Isles, located on River Otter Drive off Palomino Lake, is just north of Daniels Parkway affording easy access to I-75, shopping and dining. Visit www.Lennar.com

Centex Homes Hosts Grand Opening to Showcase Two New Model Town Homes at Magnolia Park In Riverview

TAMPA, Fla. --- Centex Homes hosted a Grand Opening to showcase two new model town homes at Magnolia Park, a new gated community located off Falkenburg Road in Riverview. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Centex in Tampa and Central Florida, said the Fraser model town home offers 1,549 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two full baths and a half bath plus a second-floor loft, priced from $143,990 with a one-car garage. The Ashe model town home, with 1,818 square feet of living space, offers three bedrooms, two full baths, a half bath, a walk-in closet and a second-floor loft priced from $165,990 with a two-car garage. Centex is building town homes at Magnolia Park in three distinctive floor plans, Strickler said. Centex is also building village homes at Magnolia Park priced from the low $100s. Strickler said village homes feature open island kitchens, second-floor laundry rooms and a wide range of options, including a garden tub and shower in the owner’s bath. Magnolia Park also features one and two-story single-family homes in 11 distinctive floor plans priced from $166,990. New three, four, five, six and seven-bedroom single-family homes at Magnolia Park range in size from 1,405 square feet of living space to 3,476 square feet with two-car garages and low maintenance lawn care. Two of the single-family home designs are decorated models and available for daily tours. Magnolia Park features three tropical pools with cabanas, playgrounds, a basketball court and walking trails. The community is convenient to downtown Tampa, Brandon shopping centers and MacDill Air Force Base.

Meritage Homes names new customer service manager, three new sales associates

ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritage Homes has named Derek Morgan, customer service manager. A former resident of England, Morgan has 14 years of experience and attended schools in England before residing in the U.S. Brian Kittle, division vice president for Meritage Homes, also said three new sales associates were appointed. Larissa Semilio with 14 years of sales experience attended Valencia College. She will be working out of the Meritage Homes community of Seven Oaks. Liberato Freda who has six years of sales experience and attended University of Central Florida will be working out of the Fells Landing community. Polly Heard, with a background in marketing and communications and new to the residential real estate industry, will be working out of the homebuilder’s Seven Oaks community, Kittle said.

Pulte Homes Redefines ‘Open Floor Plan’ with New Bedford II Model Home at Whispering Palms in Fort Myers

Fort Myers, Fla. --- Pulte Homes has taken the open plan one step beyond with its new Bedford II model home at Whispering Palms, the gated community of unique Paired Villas and Carriage Homes located near Colonial Country Club on Colonial Boulevard one mile east of I-75 in Fort Myers. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing at the South Florida division of Pulte Homes, said the single-story Bedford II model offers two bedrooms, den and two baths in 1,554 square feet of living space priced starting from $182,990 with a two-car garage. The Bedford II model home takes the open floor plan to a new level in a smaller, smarter and more efficient home, Mairn said. The central island kitchen serves a dining nook, great room and lanai that combined offer more than 500 square feet of living and entertainment space, Mairn explained. A den that can serve as a third bedroom opens onto the great room, and options include an extended patio that can offer 500 additional square feet of outdoor living area, he said. Altogether Pulte Homes plans to build 34 Paired Villas at Whispering Palms in the Bedford II floor plan, Mairn said. Among the amenities featured at Whispering Palms are a community swimming pool, spa, and cabana. A temporary off-site sales center is currently located in Bridgetown, located off of Treeline Avenue between Colonial and Daniels, east of I-75 at 10889 Rutherford Road, Fort Myers, FL 33913. For more information visit: pulte.com/whisperingpalms or call 877-256-0275.

Carter Solutions Earns Contract to Help Prominent Miami Law Firm Improve Client Agreement Process

ORLANDO, Fla., – Carter Solutions, Inc., a full-service IT solutions company based in Orlando, was chosen by prominent Miami law firm Marin, Eljaiek & Lopez, P.L., (MEL) to improve its attorney-client agreement process. The firm's attorneys have earned a reputation that reaches well beyond the Southeast region. Their business lawyers are at the helm of major transactions in all industry sectors across the country, and their litigators serve as counsel in cases of national consequence. Since its founding, Marin, Eljaiek & Lopez, P.L. has provided invaluable representation to Fortune 100 corporations, government entities and emerging growth businesses. Marin, Eljaiek & Lopez, which is currently using Legacy technology, has engaged Carter Solutions to create an innovative and mobile-friendly update to processing their attorney-client agreement. “We are excited to work with Marin, Eljaiek & Lopez, P.L.,” said Tony Carter, president of Carter Solutions, Inc. “They have established themselves as one of the most effective law firms in the nation, but are seeking to improve their firm even further.” “With our many years of experience, I am certain that Carter Solutions will be able to assist MEL’s lawyers with their ambitious vision of streamlining the process of executing contracts for legal services,” he added. Carter Solutions is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orange County. About the Carter Solutions Carter Solutions, Inc. is a full service IT Solution Company specializing in highly effective web development on the DotNetNuke® Web Content Management Platform, successful Enterprise Content Management with Microsoft SharePoint®, and mobile application development on the iPhone and Android platforms. Visit www.cartersolutions.com. About the UCF Business Incubation Program The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a non-profit community resource, which provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies (including nearly 150 current clients and 100 graduates) reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. With eight facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando, St. Cloud and Winter Springs. From October 2011 to June 2013, the UCF network of current and graduated clients has helped create a total regional output of over $620 million resulting in a $6.16 return for every $1.00 invested in the program while sustaining (directly and indirectly) over 3,300 jobs in the Central Florida region. For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty to Open Lake Nona / Medical City Area Office in September

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty will open another Real Estate Marketing Gallery in September at Lake Nona Plaza, 13816 Narcoossee Rd. in the Lake Nona/Medical City area. Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the state-of-the-art office will open with 12-15 local real estate professionals and he plans to expand the office next year. Soderstrom said the new location is in the Publix-anchored shopping plaza that is the closest retail center to Southeast Orlando’s Medical City with Sanford-Burnham Medical Institute, University of Florida Research Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and University of Central Florida’s medical school campus. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty also operates luxury real estate marketing galleries at Dr. Phillips in Southwest Orlando, Heathrow-Lake Mary in North Seminole County and at the Spruce Creek Fly-In community in East Volusia County.

ICI Homes to Showcase Two New Models July 23 at Chelsea Place in Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach, Fla. – ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most active luxury homebuilders and community developers, will showcase two new model homes Wednesday July 23 at Chelsea Place, its gated community located off Granada Blvd. in the heart of Ormond Beach. Rosemary Messina, vice president of marketing for Daytona Beach-based ICI Homes, said the event, which is open only to realtors, will feature tours of two of the homebuilder’s newest models. On display at Chelsea Place from 5 to 7 p.m. will be the Amelia, a three-bedroom, two-bath plan with 2,090 square feet of living area based priced from $209,900 and the Belaire with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms in 2,498 square feet of living area based priced from $239,900. New three and four bedroom homes at Chelsea Place range from 1,762 square feet of living area to 3,031 square feet in 14 distinctive floor plans priced from $250,900 to $312,000. The community features tree-lined streets, lakes with fountains, parks, gazebos and a clubhouse with fitness center and swimming pool. For more information about the event and to RSVP, call Ed or Shannon at 386-236-2290.

Lennar Central Florida Division broke ground on new Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe just North of New Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar Homes just broke ground on its newest community, Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe, located off Meadow Point Blvd. just north of New Tampa in southern Pasco County. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe is planned for 88 town homes ranging from 1,178 square feet of living area to 1,612 square feet. Town homes will be priced from the $120s Metheny said. All Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe come with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a selection of upgrades such as crown molding, granite countertops, wood cabinetry, designer light fixtures, stainless steel appliances and a highly rated energy efficiency package all for the one Lennar Homes price. The community is conveniently located within minutes of The Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital, and homeowners have access to three Meadow Pointe amenity centers. Meadow Pointe, an 1,800-acre designated CDD with several hundred acres of nature preserve, includes an array of amenities including swimming pools, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, nature trails and bike paths. Visit www.LennarTampa.com to sign up and be notified when new Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe floor plans are ready to preview.