Lennar’s Central Florida Division Starts Construction of New Model Homes, Unveils New Floor Plans at Stoneybrook Hills in Mount Dora

Lennar’s Central Florida Division Starts Construction of New Model Homes, Unveils New Floor Plans at Stoneybrook Hills in Mount Dora

ORLANDO, Fla. - Lennar’s Central Florida Division has started construction of new single-family model homes and unveiled new floor plans priced from the $160s at Stoneybrook Hills, located off U.S. 441 south of S.R. 46 in Mount Dora.

Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said new three and four bedroom single-family homes in the gated, resort-style community range in size from 1,353 square feet of living space to 2,508 square feet.

Lennar’s two new model homes will open this summer in the Oakridge neighborhood at Stoneybrook Hills, and the homebuilder will soon start models in Crestview at Stoneybrook Hills, according to Metheny.

For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Hill, Sales and Marketing Administrator – Central Florida 407 654-4862 x113, Elizabeth.Hill@lennar.com
Paul V. Brooks, Lennar Director of Sales & Marketing-Central Florida 407-654-4862, Paul.Brooks@lennar.com;
Mark Metheny, Lennar Division President-Central Florida, 813-769-5277, Mark.Metheny@Lennar.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Small Bay Partners to Start Construction of First Phase of Industrial Facility in Southeast Orlando

Small Bay Partners to Start Construction of First Phase of Industrial Facility in Southeast Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Small Bay Partners, LLC, which ranks as one of the region’s most active developers of industrial facilities for small bay users, plans to start construction on the first phase of a new CommerCenter project at 7629 Narcoossee Road (just North of the Beachline Expressway) in southeast Orlando before the end of the year.

Howard Schieferdecker, one of the principals in the firm, said Small Bay is taking a fresh approach with its new project.

Along with industrial space, the firm plans to develop 14,000 square feet of retail space and 106,000 square feet of industrial condominiums in the 120,000 square foot CommerCenter facility.

The first phase will include 57,000 square feet, Schieferdecker said, including all of the planned retail space.

Small Bay Partners has developed more than 500,000 square feet of industrial space in four Central Florida locations in Sanford, Winter Garden, South and East Orlando.

Small Bay reports it has sold some 33,150 square feet of space – 45 percent of the condo space available – in the fourth phase at Monroe CommerCenter in Sanford.

Schieferdecker said 40,500 square feet of space remains for sale at Monroe CommerCenter IV with the total project being 73,650 square feet of small bay industrial space.

For more information contact:
Howard Schieferdecker, Principal Small Bay Partners, LLC 407-702-3131, haschief@aol.com;
Geof Longstaff, Principal Small Bay Partners, LLC - 407-786-5040; glongstaff@mercantilecc.com;
George Livingston, Principal, Small Bay Partners LLC - 407-857-9989 glivingston@realvest.com;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Launches Rental Lifestyles Residential Property Management Services, Appoints Peter Voigt Performance Director

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Launches Rental Lifestyles Residential Property Management Services, Appoints Peter Voigt Performance Director

ORLANDO, Fla. - Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has launched Rental Lifestyles, a five star property management service that will focus on leasing luxury and executive homes, town homes and condominiums.

Roger Soderstrom, owner and founder of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said he appointed Peter Voigt performance director of Rental Lifestyles. (http://www.cflrentals.com/)

Voigt, a licensed real estate broker who majored in Marketing at the University of Central Florida, has more than nine years of experience. He was formerly affiliated with Orlando Rental Store, LLC, and Big Apple International Realty in Longwood.

“Rental Lifestyles will bring an entirely new rental concept to Central Florida that will offer clients a manner of living that reflects their values and attitudes,” said Soderstrom.

Soderstrom said Stirling Sotheby’s Rental Lifestyles will provide residents personal contact with a professional Lifestyle Consultant that will assist them in finding the right neighborhood, amenities and the lifestyle they’re looking for, as well as ongoing services and support they may require in the future.

“It is our commitment to provide every customer with five star service and place them in a property that fits their budget,” Soderstrom said.

“With our marketing scope and Sotheby’s International Realty affiliation, we are in a unique position to offer rental property owners an enormous market base that includes U.S. and international clients,” Soderstrom said.

For more information please contact:

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-588-1260

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

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, commercial, worldwide auctions, property management, in addition to supporting builders, developers, lenders, and asset managers. The company operates five performance centers which serve all of Central Florida.

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Appoints Cheryl Harrington Vice President of Retail Services in Melbourne

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida Appoints Cheryl Harrington Vice President of Retail Services in Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, which is associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, has appointed Cheryl Harrington vice president of Retail Services in Melbourne.

Jeffrey Sweeney, SIOR, president of Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, said Harrington has more than thirteen years of experience in real estate including seven years in Florida as a commercial real estate broker with another five years in Illinois.

Harrington dealt with all aspects of the leasing, management and/or development of seventeen commercial properties including office and retail properties totaling more than 500,000 square feet, managing in excess of 120 tenants.

“Cheryl’s great people skills enable her to open and close deals in our arena. We think she’ll add an amazing energy to Grubb & Ellis,” Sweeney said.

Prior to joining Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida Harrington was a commercial leasing and sales manager for The Coy A. Clark Company in West Melbourne.

For more information, contact:

Jeff Sweeney, President Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 407-481-5378, jsweeney@commercialfl.com

Cheryl Harrington, VP of Retail Services, Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 304 S. Harbor City Blvd. Ste. 101, Melbourne, FL 32901, 321-984-1957

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida:

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida is an affiliated commercial real estate services firm specializing in the leasing and sale of office, industrial, retail, land and investment properties. Currently Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida has 40 brokers divided among its Melbourne, Orlando and Tampa offices to serve the entire mid-Florida marketplace.

About Grubb & Ellis:

Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies. With more than 130 owned and affiliate offices worldwide, Grubb & Ellis offers property owners, corporate occupants and investors comprehensive integrated real estate solutions, including transaction, management, consulting and investment advisory services supported by proprietary market research and extensive local market expertise.

Grubb & Ellis and its subsidiaries are leading sponsors of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including tax-deferred 1031 tenant-in-common (TIC) exchanges; public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate investment funds. As of Sept. 30, 2008, more than $3.8 billion in investor equity has been raised for these investment programs. The company and its subsidiaries currently manage a growing portfolio of more than 225 million square feet of real estate. In 2007, Grubb & Ellis was selected from among 15,000 vendors as Microsoft Corporation's Vendor of the Year. For more information regarding Grubb & Ellis Company, please visit http://www.grubb-ellis.com/.

Aswin Suri opens new EXIT Realty of Daytona Real Estate Brokerage at 211 International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona

Aswin Suri opens new EXIT Realty of Daytona Real Estate Brokerage at 211 International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona, recruits 28 new Realty agents, expect to hire 70 more this year

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Exit Realty has moved into its new facility at 211 E. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach and has already recruited 28 new realty agents.

Exit Realty Owner Aswin Suri, who has more than 25 years of experience in real estate, said Exit Realty is undergoing something few recession-era companies can report: a growth boom.

“We expect to have more than 100 agents before the end of this year,” Suri said.
Over the past two years, Suri sold real estate properties worth more than $62 million, and ranked number one in sales volume for 2007 and 2008.

“Right now we have 24 commercial and residential sales under contract valued at more than $5 million,” Suri said.

Exit Realty spent more than $100,000 to renovate a three-story, 8,000 square foot building as its new headquarters, Suri said.

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting event are planned for April 24 with local elected officials and business leaders.

For more information, contact:
Aswin Suri, MHA, B.A., Owner Exit Realty of Daytona, 386-383-3000 (direct)
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Appoints Nat Barganier Executive Director of Distressed Properties Group

Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida Appoints Nat Barganier Executive Director of Distressed Properties Group

TAMPA, Fla. - Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, associated with 130 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, has appointed Nat Barganier executive director of the firm’s Distressed Properties Group, which provides receivership, management, repositioning and disposition services for special real estate assets throughout Florida.

Jeffrey Sweeney, SIOR, president of Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, in Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne, said Barganier will also assume a key role in the firm’s expanding Multi-Family Advisory Group working closely with Sweeney, investment advisor Kelly Oliver and marketing coordinator Larry Leitzman in the disposition of multi-family properties.

Barganier, a graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos, has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate. Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis, Barganier was a veteran of Camden Property Trust (CPT:NYSE) and served as vice president of Multi-Family Investment for the Southeast Region. His responsibilities included multi-family development, acquisition and disposition of numerous projects with locations ranging from Washington D.C. to Boca Raton.

“We are pleased an executive of Nat Barganier’s experience has joined our firm and we expect him to play a major role in our growth,” said Sweeney.

About Grubb & Ellis:
Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE) is one of the largest and most respected commercial real estate services and investment companies. With more than 130 owned and affiliate offices worldwide, Grubb & Ellis offers property owners, corporate occupants and investors comprehensive integrated real estate solutions, including transaction, management, consulting and investment advisory services supported by proprietary market research and extensive local market expertise.

Grubb & Ellis and its subsidiaries are leading sponsors of real estate investment programs that provide individuals and institutions the opportunity to invest in a broad range of real estate investment vehicles, including tax-deferred 1031 tenant-in-common (TIC) exchanges; public non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate investment funds. As of September 30, 2008, more than $3.8 billion in investor equity has been raised for these investment programs. The company and its subsidiaries currently manage a growing portfolio of more than 225 million square feet of real estate. In 2007, Grubb & Ellis was selected from among 15,000 vendors as Microsoft Corporation's Vendor of the Year. For more information regarding Grubb & Ellis Company, please visit http://www.grubb-ellis.com/.

For Information:
Nat Barganier, Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 813-639-1111 ext. 205
Kelly Oliver, Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 813-639-1111 ext. 262
Jeffrey Sweeney, Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 407-481-5387
Larry Leitzman, Grubb & EllisCommercial Florida, 813-830-7890 ext. 300
Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Melrose Sovereign Companies appoints new property manager, three new leasing agents

Melrose Sovereign Companies appoints new property manager, three new leasing agents

ORLANDO, Fla. - Melrose Sovereign Companies, the Orlando-based real estate management firm that specializes in rental apartment communities, condominiums and home owner associations, recently appointed a new property manager and three new leasing agents.

Ellen Lumpkin, LCAM, co-founder and partner at the firm, said Belinda Diaz was recently appointed property manager. She has been in the real estate industry for 11 years.

New leasing agents are Kyla Lacey, Yuri Abad and Porsche Merino.

For more information, contact:
Ellen G. Lumpkin, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, elumpkin@melrose-sovereign.com
Jack B. Hanson, LCAM, Partner/Co-founder, Melrose-Sovereign Companies, 407-228-4181, jhanson@melrose-sovereign.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, Lvershelco@aol.com

Ashton Woods Homes has only 12 homesites remaining at Camden Woods in Riverview; Three new Single Family Homes Priced from $159,900 nearly complete

Ashton Woods Homes has only 12 homesites remaining at Camden Woods in Riverview; Three new Single Family Homes Priced from $159,900 nearly complete

TAMPA, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes has only 12 homesites remaining at the community of Camden Woods, located off 78th Street in Riverview, where its new single family homes are priced from $159,900 to the mid-$200s.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing, said Ashton Woods Homes recently started three new single-family homes at Camden Woods, and one of the new homes will be ready by the end of April. Two more will be completed in June, Roche said.

New three and four-bedroom single-family homes at Camden Woods range in size from 1,712 square feet of living space to 3,062 square feet.

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando 407-647-3700
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Tampa/Orlando; 407-647-3700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, 407-644-4142

Two Orange City real estate professionals form new residential real estate firm to fill void in today’s market

Two Orange City real estate professionals form new residential real estate firm to fill void in today’s market

ORANGE CITY – Longtime commercial real estate broker John Wanamaker and state-certified real estate instructor Tom Milton have formed a new Orange City-based residential real estate company.

Wanamaker, broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, and Milton, a residential real estate veteran with 22 years of experience, formed The CornerStone Group in March to handle business planning for the financing of new real estate services that are being adapted for today’s changing real estate market, according to Milton.

A former general manager for the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Network, Milton has served as chief administrator and instructor of the West Volusia School of Realty and instructor for the first for-credit university intern program for Florida real estate students. He also is a past director of the West Volusia Association of Realtors.

“We formed this company to fill a niche in today’s challenging residential market,” Milton said. “The CornerStone Group is a collection of top local professionals who have teamed up to face the complexities of the market using each member’s unique talents in the field.”

The company specializes in short sales, pre-foreclosures, property management, Internet marketing, as well as relocation and international marketing, he said.

About Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group:
Owned and operated by commercial real estate veterans John Wanamaker and Chuck Rudis, Coldwell Banker Commercial AIG is a leader in the listing, leasing and selling of properties, as well as a premier developer of community-friendly and LEED-accredited projects for small business owners.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Tom Milton, broker for The CornerStone Group, 386-774-0203 or 386-848-2034
John Wanamaker, broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group, 386-775-8633, john@cbciagroup.com
Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142 or chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Ashton Woods Homes has Three new Town Home Buildings underway with homes priced from $159,900 at Wickham Park in Windermere

Ashton Woods Homes has Three new Town Home Buildings underway with homes priced from $159,900 at Wickham Park in Windermere

ORLANDO, Fla. - Ashton Woods Homes recently started construction of three new town home buildings with homes priced from $159,900 at Wickham Park, located on Overstreet Rd. off County Road 535 in Windermere.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing at Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said one of the five-unit buildings will be completed and open by the end of April, another one in May, and the third, with three town homes, in June.

Roche said town homes at Wickham Park range in size from 1,472 square feet of living space to 1,887 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, two-car garages and each unit has its own private courtyard.

Wickham Park boasts an amenity center with a private clubhouse – featuring a kitchen, living room and gameroom – and an oversized swimming pool.

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

For more information, contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales & Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa; 407-647-3700
John Reny, President, Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa 407-647-3700
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, 407-644-4142