Carter Solutions Earns contract to help 50-year-old U.S. Flag Maker Launch Web-based Retail Marketplace

ORLANDO, Fla., --- Carter Solutions, a full-service IT solutions company based in Orlando, has earned a contract to help 50-year-old U.S. flag manufacturer Bob Hughes Display in Houston, Texas transition to an eCommerce enterprise. Tony Carter, president of Carter Solutions, said his company’s experience in web development, eCommerce and DotNetNuke — a highly dynamic content management system (CMS) particularly well suited to eCommerce enterprises — played a substantial role in Bob Hughes Display’s decision to move forward. “For 50 years Bob Hughes Display has built a popular regional bricks and mortar business,” Carter said. “The second generation has taken over the business and Bob Hughes, son of the founder of the company, wants to grow the company beyond its Houston base. eCommerce is the company’s key to a global market, although the focus will certainly be here in the U.S.,” Carter said. Carter Solutions will help redevelop the company’s existing web site to create an online eCommerce website to market the thousands of flags and flag products that Bob Hughes Display sells. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to help Bob Hughes Display make the transition to the web,” Carter said. “The internet continues to grow and with smart phones gaining more market share, I am confident that our mobile friendly eCommerce solution will make this project a success,” he added. Carter Solutions is a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

Park Square Homes Names New Permit Coordinator

ORLANDO, Fla. – Park Square Homes recently hired construction industry veteran Mary Leathers as permit coordinator. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator for Park Square Homes, said Leathers has more than 20 years of experience in construction and homebuilding. She was formerly permit coordinator for Cambridge Homes in Orlando. Leathers will be responsible for application and obtaining all permits required for new community start up and building permits for all homes sold.

NAI Realvest negotiates new Lease for 8,040 square foot industrial building on CR 419 in Winter Springs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NAI Realvest recently negotiated a long term lease agreement for the 8,040 square foot building at 3553 County Road 419 in Winter Springs. Paul P. Partyka, partner at NAI Realvest and associate Juan Jimenez negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, JLW Lake Doctors, Inc. The new tenant is F3 Fitness Concepts LLC. “This is the second location for F3 Fitness which focuses on crossfitness training,” said Partyka. Wendy Brown of Tizon Commercial represented the tenant.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two New Leases at Jourdan Crossing Retail Center in Oviedo

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated two new lease agreements totaling approximately 4,800 square feet at the Jourdan Crossing Retail Center, 310 W. Mitchell Hammock Rd. in Oviedo. George Viele, associate at the firm, brokered both transactions representing the local landlord, Jourdan Crossing, LLC. Oviedo-based restaurant operator Chau Man, LLC leased Suite 800 with 1,370 square feet. Suite 200 with 3,424 square feet was leased by HealthMed Solutions, LLC an Oviedo-based provider of home medical equipment and services.

Veteran Orlando Real Estate Executive Robin Webb Elected President of CCIM Foundation

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Robin Webb, managing director of NAI Realvest in Orlando, was recently elected president of the CCIM Foundation, which fosters commercial real estate education programs and initiatives worldwide and funded scholarships worth more than $750,000 over the past five years. Webb is well known among Florida real estate investors, brokers and lenders, having headed Coldwell Banker's Florida division for 22 years before joining NAI Realvest, a dominant brokerage firm in Florida's high-growth I-4 corridor. Webb is equally well known at the CCIM Institute, where he serves as a member of the CCIM board of directors and on the boards of the CCIM Institute Foundation and CCIM Technologies. A senior instructor on the CCIM faculty, Webb has made professional education a career objective. He has earned seven professional designations and launched a career mentoring initiative at NAI Realvest to develop the next generation of executives at the 32-year old firm. “As a director and donor for a number of years and knowing what a dynamic and dedicated board of directors we have, it is truly an honor to serve as president," Webb said. Webb will continue to serve as managing director at NAI Realvest during his one-year term as president of the Foundation. Webb said he plans to expand the CCIM Foundation's real estate gifting program in 2014 by focusing on corporate giving from organizations that benefit from superior real estate education. And that involves more than just asking for donations. Webb plans to be on hand when the CCIM Foundation hosts its first 2014 Real Estate Gifting Seminar Feb. 4 at the NAI Global Convention in Las Vegas. Established in 1988, the CCIM Foundation’s mission is to advance and foster commercial real estate education through scholarships, programs and initiatives, according to its charter. The organization relies on donations. The Named Endowed Scholarship Program within the Foundation additionally administers the granting of 53 named endowed scholarships created to recognize senior real estate professionals throughout the U.S.

Del Webb Southshore Falls Residents Create Their Own ‘Field of Dreams’ in Apollo Beach

APOLLO BEACH – After winding down busy careers and settling into new homes at Del Webb Southshore Falls, the four retirees were looking forward to their “active-adult” lives. But, instead of the typical tennis, golf or shuffleboard activities, this lively foursome had plans for a different kind of retirement. Don Cameron, Al Eaton, Bill Scalpelli and Randy Sanney wanted to do something that most of them hadn’t done for 20, or in some cases even 40, years…play softball. “Don actually started the team, Southshore, but because he’s a snowbird it basically left Al, Bill and I to keep the team going,” Sanney said. And, that’s exactly what they’ve done the past two years practicing every Monday at 9 a.m. and going to another nearby community field on Wednesdays to play against another team “just for fun.” The team roster now is up to 14, many of whom were recruited while exercising at the Del Webb Southshore Falls gym or pool. “When we first started we could not hit, nor catch,” said Sanney. But, the Detroit businessman who sold a wholesale business and moved to Del Webb Southshore Falls with wife Nancy three years ago soon discovered that was the least of their problems. The nearest ball field – about two miles from Del Webb Southshore Falls – was at the Apollo Beach Park on Golf and Sea Boulevard. There were no fences. No third base. The diamond was covered by grass and weeds. And, that was the good part. “The outfield had hundreds of anthills,” he recalled. After dousing the field with lots of liquid and powdered ant killer that he sprang for, he just hoped he “got them all.” The weed and grass issue was a different story. Because the park manager said machines were not allowed on the field, everything had to be done by hand. That included spraying gallons of weed killer, and digging up more than 50 wheelbarrows of sand and clay to level the field. To finish it off, it was raked by hand nearly a dozen times. It took about 30 days to complete, and as Sanney said, it is still a work in progress. “I go down there every Sunday and drag the field with a homemade chain-link fence that we made by screwing four- and six- inch screws into,” he added. Sanney – who played on adult softball leagues for about 20 years before quitting because of health issues – is to be commended for his tireless efforts on the Apollo Beach Park ball field, according to Steve Nicholson, lifestyle director at Del Webb Southshore Falls. “Randy has spent countless hours – not to mention money and sweat equity – on that field,” Nicholson said. We can’t thank him enough. And, who knows how many Apollo Beach residents are and will benefit from his good will.” Sanney said the guys – who have purchased jerseys and hats – now are starting to look like a real team and are as excited as a bunch of kids. But, what’s even more exciting, he said, is knowing that their hard work is appreciated. “Recently, when we were leaving the field a man and his son thanked us because they now can play T-ball without getting hurt,” Sanney explained. “Now, it’s all worth it to me.” Del Webb Southshore Falls offers single-family homes in four designs ranging from 1,730 to 2,278 square feet of living space and ranging in price from $214,990 to $234,990. Single-family homes feature two to three bedrooms and two bathrooms on 50-foot home sites. Also offered are villa homes in four designs ranging from 1,363 to 1,650 square feet and ranging in price from $157,990 to $184,990. The community features a 14,000-square foot Wellspring Club with its Seven Seas Grand Ballroom, heated tropical lagoon-style swimming pool, auxiliary pool, resistance swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis, pickleball and bocce ball courts, putting green, billiards room, Internet café, library, card room, arts and crafts room and a multitude of social clubs. Del Webb Southshore Falls offers an explore program featuring overnight accommodations in a fully-stocked and furnished villa with full access to amenities, two complimentary bicycles to use for the duration of the reservation and complimentary dinner vouchers. Three models open daily. For more information, contact the sales center at 866-813-4712.

Lennar Homes to Showcase Four New Models at Grand Opening of Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch Saturday, Feb. 1

BRADENTON, Fla. --- Lennar Homes will host a grand opening to showcase four new model homes on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch, located off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. in Bradenton. Matt Devereaux, director of sales and marketing for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said the home builder will unveil its Princeton, Oxford, Chapel Hill and Cambridge Grande model Manor and Estate homes and provide refreshments and entertainment from 1 to 3 p.m. All four model homes are professionally decorated. The two-story Chapel Hill model home is the most expansive of the Estate Homes with five bedrooms, four full baths and one half bath in 3,800 square feet of living space with a three-car garage. The Cambridge Grande model home is almost as grand, with 3,025 square feet of space, three bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath. The two-story Cambridge Grande also features a three-car garage. Two model Manor Homes to be showcased include the Oxford, one of Lennar’s popular NextGen homes for families with multiple generations under one roof. The two-story Oxford model offers 3,828 square feet of living space with six bedrooms, four full baths and two half-baths. The Oxford is designed to provide a private living suite that’s perfect for grown children living at home, elderly parents or other family members. The single-story Princeton model home offers 2,245 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, two baths and a three-car garage. All homes at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch feature Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: upgraded finishes, superior appliances and many unique features all included in the one Lennar Homes price. “Lakewood Ranch is such a unique community we knew we needed to design spectacular homes with exceptional features to meet the expectations of home buyers here,” Devereaux said. “With these four model homes we have exceeded our goal and I can’t wait to hear what people have to say about them,” Devereaux added. New homes at Bridgewater at Lakewood Ranch are priced from the low $300s.

Realvest Development Chairman sees advantages ahead as Spec Industrial Boom unfolds in 2014, Credits Economic Gains

Orlando, Fla. --- Co-Star Group’s latest forecast sees big gains in speculative warehouse development in 2014… and that’s good news for George Livingston, chairman of Realvest Development in Orlando. Ranked as one of Central Florida’s most active developers of commercial warehouse facilities in Central Florida, Realvest Development has liquidated much of its assets and is actively seeking specialized development opportunities. “Co-Star Group forecasts that demand for quality warehouse and distribution space will outstrip supply in 2014,” Livingston said, especially Class A distribution space. “Speculative development accounts for almost two-thirds of the 59 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space under way in the U.S. right now,” Livingston said. “Warehouse vacancies dropped almost a full percent nationwide last year and should drop below the 8 percent mark by summer,” Livingston said. “At the same time fully stabilized properties are selling at about the same low cap rates we saw at the top of the cycle,” he added. Among the economic forces spurring new warehouse development is obsolescence. “Tenants want modern, efficient space and much of the vacant space on the market today is older, poorly designed by today’s standards and ill-equipped to adequately accommodate modern, technology-proficient operations,” Livingston said. “Investors are seeking to buy well designed space in markets that have job and population growth and many areas are turning to new cluster designs that attract job creators. Those programs also accelerate demand for new space,” Livingston said.

DiVosta Homes to Host Model Showcase Events Feb. 1 at VeronaWalk in Naples and VillageWalk of Bonita Springs,

NAPLES, Fla. --- DiVosta Homes will host simultaneous model showcase events from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at VeronaWalk in Naples, 7676 Collier Blvd. Naples, and at VillageWalk of Bonita Springs, 28025 Umiak Court in Bonita Springs. Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing, said DiVosta plans to showcase five decorated two and three-bedroom model homes ranging from 1,392 square feet of living space to 2,488 square feet at VeronaWalk in Naples, including – The three-bedroom Kendall II model with 1,759 square feet of living space that includes three baths along with a covered front porch and rear entry two-car garage, priced from $282,990. The 1,542 square foot Carrington II model, priced from $247,490, and the Tifton, priced from $322,990 with 1,861 square feet, both two-bedroom, two-bath plans with two-car garages. The three-bedroom Vernon Hill model home has a den and two baths in 1,911 square feet of living space, priced from $322,990 with a two-car garage. The 2,315 square foot Dunwoody Lane model, the largest model on display at VeronaWalk at Naples, with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, an open kitchen overlooking the great room, walk-in closets in all bedrooms, a guest suite with private bath and a two-car garage, all priced from $361,490. Mairn said Village Walk of Bonita Springs is offering tours of five decorated model homes, including the three-bedroom, three-bath, two-story Dublon model townhome, priced from $205,990; Four single-family homes – the two-bedroom Tifton model, priced from $282,490; the three-bedroom Vernon Hill, priced from $282,490; the Pine Spring with two bedrooms, two baths and a flex room/optional third bedroom in 1,429 square feet priced from $214,490 with a two-car garage ; and the three-bedroom Dunwoody Trail model, with 2,488 square feet of living space, three baths, plus a two-car garage, all priced from $338,990. Mairn said both model showcase celebrations will offer live music, refreshments and tours of model homes. The events are free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP for the VeronaWalk open house, call 239-417-6400 and for the VillageWalk event, 239-948-4141.

Oceans Luxury Realty to host open house to showcase new location in Daytona Beach Shores

PORT ORANGE, Fla. --- Oceans Luxury Realty will host an open house Feb. 13 to showcase its new offices at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores. Crystal Anderson and Enis Qosja, co-founders and partners at Oceans Luxury Realty, said the public is invited to enjoy refreshments and a tour of the firm’s third office from noon to 2 p.m. along with officials from the City and Board of Realtors. Anderson said the new offices are the result of a merger with Harbor Village Realty of Port Orange. Oceans Luxury Realty opened its doors last year.