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.

Pulte Homes to start construction of 106 new single-family homes at The Highlands

Tampa, Fla. --- Pulte Homes plans to start construction of 106 new single-family homes later this year at The Highlands, located on S. Dover Road and White Cliff Place south of Hopewell Road in Dover. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Pulte Homes in North Florida said The Highlands will offer four to six-bedroom homes on oversized home sites. The homes will feature Pulte’s Life Tested designs, developed using focus groups and feedback from homeowners. New homes at The Highlands will range in size from 2,500 square feet of living space to 4,000+ square feet and will include large, open kitchens, inviting great rooms and industry leading energy efficiency. Most of the designs also include a three-car attached garage. “We are incredibly excited to bring Pulte’s Life Tested plans to such a great location in the Tampa Area. There is great demand for new housing on larger homesites in this area,” Strickler said. Pulte’s “Life Tested,” designs are filled with special features only found in a Pulte home, like the Drop Zone at the Owner’s Entry, and the Super Laundry room. Strickler said the first new homes at Highlands will open in early January 2015.

Avex Homes Debuts in the Orlando Market with 68 Townhomes at Westyn Bay in Ocoee

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Avex Homes, Central Florida’s premier traditional homebuilder, recently announced its debut in the Orlando market with plans to build 68 townhomes at Westyn Bay, the gated community located on the east side of historic Lake Apopka off Ocoee-Apopka Road and Westyn Bay Boulevard in Ocoee. The first building at Townhomes at Westyn Bay is now under construction and is anticipated to open before October 2014, according to Eric Marks, president of Avex Homes “With tremendous success as a top selling homebuilder in the rapidly growing Wesley Chapel, Tampa area, Avex Homes is well positioned to grow its Orlando presence,” Marks said. Avex Homes anticipates opening two additional communities in the Orlando area in the next several months. Avex Homes plans to offer three floor plans at Townhomes at Westyn Bay that will range in size from 1,515 square feet of living space to 1,817 square feet with two and three bedrooms priced from the mid $100s. “We are excited to expand into the Orlando market, and look forward to bringing our creative traditional architecture to the Westyn Bay community,” said Marks. “Front porches and open floor plans are features that make our townhomes ideal for the modern family lifestyle.” The Tuscan themed community, Westyn Bay, is located just minutes from shopping, dining and community events at the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves and Downtown Winter Garden. The Avex Homes Westyn Bay sales center is located at 634 Fortanini Drive, Ocoee, FL 34761. For additional details and directions to the community, visit AvexHomes.com. About Avex Homes Avex Homes, Central Florida’s premier traditional homebuilding company, is a partner company of SitEX Properties USA, Inc. and Avalon Park Group Management, Inc., and a major home builder at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel near Tampa. For more than 15 years, the founders of Avex Homes have been creating unique communities where families build memories to last a lifetime. Living in an Avex homes is a lifestyle formed on the principles of building great homes in great communities. For more information about Avex Homes Communities visit AvexHomes.com or 855-782-AVEX (2839).

Ashton Woods Homes is Now Offering its Estate Series of Homes at Victoria Hills in Deland, All on the Golf Course

DeLand, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes has introduced its Estate Series of new home designs at the community of Victoria Hills at Victoria Park located on Victoria Hills Drive off I-4 in DeLand. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes, said the homebuilder has 22 homesites at the community and all are located on the Victoria Hills golf course. New three and four bedroom homes in one and two-story designs by Ashton Woods Homes are priced from $399,990 to $487,990. One model in the series – The Aspen – is now open and ready for viewing, Roche said. The Aspen offers four bedrooms, three and a half baths with a large game room in approximately 3,240 square feet of living space, priced from $424,990. Victoria Hills features the 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Ron Garl to take advantage of the area’s rolling terrain and foliage.

Lennar has opened New Phase for sales at Stoneybrook Hills in Mount Dora with Manor and Estate Home Sites

Mount Dora, Fla. --- Lennar recently opened a new phase at Stoneybrook Hills off U.S. Hwy 441 in Mount Dora with manor and estate home sites. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said new two, three and four-bedroom Manor Homes at Stoneybrook Hills are priced from the $170s. Estate homes at Stoneybrook Hills with three, four, five or six bedrooms are priced from the low $200s, Metheny said. All Lennar homes at Stoneybrook Hills come with the homebuilder’s “Everything’s Included” pledge: a wide range of GE energy smart appliances, special features and upgrades at the one Lennar price. Stoneybrook Hills is one of Lennar’s most successful communities in Central Florida, featuring a classic two-story hillside clubhouse with a resort-style swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field, playground, and biking and jogging paths. Visit www.lennar.com