Royal Oak Homes to Open New Community offering 143 Homesites at Eagle Point in Groveland early next year

GROVELAND, Fla. --- Royal Oak Homes has acquired 143 home sites in the community of Eagle Pointe off of Silver Eagle Road in Groveland. Matt Orosz, co-president at Royal Oak Homes, said the homesites at Eagle Point will be completed and ready for new home construction in January. New Royal Oak homes in Eagle Point will range from approximately 1,600 square feet and base-priced from the $160s, Orosz said. “We are continuing to focus on the traditionally underserved market of homes ranging from $160-180,000 in well located areas,” said Orosz.

DEL WEBB ORLANDO RAISES MORE THAN $4,000 FOR SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS PROGRAM

ORLANDO, Fla. – Del Webb Orlando recently raised more than $4,000 to help support the Southeastern Guide Dogs and their Paws for Patriots program. Sean Strickler, vice president of sales for Del Webb in the north Florida region, said the funds were raised during an October fundraising walk held at the community located south of Orlando near Disney. Southeastern Guide Dogs, based in Palmetto, Fla., has placed more than 2,800 dogs with visually impaired people nationwide and the organization also has their Paws for Patriots program which trains dogs to assist veterans. The highly trained dogs not only help veterans regain confidence, but some become facility therapy dogs at military hospitals. Del Webb Orlando residents, family and friends participated in the walk, Strickler said, adding that the active, over 55 community – with many residents who are veterans – will continue to maintain their partnership with Southeastern Guide Dogs and Paws for Patriots.

Ashton Woods Homes Opens Peachtree Park in Windermere Area

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Ashton Woods Homes recently opened its newest community of Peachtree Park, located in the Windermere region off Reams Rd. and Center Drive, two miles from SR 535. Michael Roche, vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods Homes in the Orlando region, said there are 28 home sites in the community surrounded by nature preserve. Homes by Ashton Woods priced from $309,990 to $379,990 and ranging from 2,104 square feet of living area to 3,315 square feet, feature unique designs and Key West-style architecture. The neighborhood has lawn maintenance included, Roche said, adding, “so homeowners have more time to do the things they love – like visiting nearby Disney World.” Set among the lakes in Windermere, “Peachtree Park is an ideal setting to call home,” Roche said. The Bimini model, with four bedrooms, game room, three-and-a-half baths in 3,315 square feet of living area is open, ready for viewing and priced from $379,990.

NAI Realvest Negotiates New Lease of 10,600 Square Feet for a New Balance Outlet in the Attractions area of US 192 in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new long term retail lease of 10,600 rentable square feet for New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. at 5881 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. (US 192) in Kissimmee. Paul P. Partyka and Juan Jimenez – the Partyka Group at NAI Realvest – negotiated the transaction representing the tenant New Balance who is opening a new outlet at the facility. The landlord is Hickman Properties LLC. In other business in the area, Partyka and Jimenez represented the tenant Studio 192 Barbershop who leased 1,600 square feet at 4807 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway Suite A-106. The landlord RAMCO HHF Kissimmee LLC was represented by JJ Bujalski of Ramco-Gershenson, Inc.

Covian Consulting Earns Contract to Evaluate Osceola School Grants

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Covian Consulting, which helps institutions, community-based organizations and small businesses create and manage research, program evaluation, communication strategies, and staff development programs, recently earned a contract from the Osceola County School Board to provide Grant Program Evaluation Services. Maritza Concha, Ph.D., a principal at Covian Consulting, said grants from government agencies and private sources often require outside evaluation services when such evaluation requires special expertise or is too demanding for current fulltime staff to accomplish effectively. Dr. Concha said her contract can include work in staff development and training in the requirements of the approved grant applications, program review to determine the need for improvement or to identify what assistance may be needed. Dr. Concha said Covian’s scope of services could include behavioral intervention programs, programs for exceptional students and parent education programs as well as a host of student-related programs. “We may be involved with student safety, substance abuse and violence prevention programs, dropout prevention, after school programs, special initiatives to improve academic achievement and early childhood initiatives,” Dr. Concha said. Other programs can include emergency response and crisis management, language acquisition and dual language programs, counseling, adult education and career and technical education. “Grant programs today stress accountability and require detailed, well-organized efforts to monitor their effectiveness,” Dr. Concha explained. Covian Consulting is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program at the Central Florida Research Park in East Orange County.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two Sales Totaling $2.13 Million for Prime Retail Properties in Winter Garden and Clermont

ORLANDO, Fla. – The NAI Realvest retail team – Matt Cichocki, Kevin O’Connor and Mitch Heidrich -- recently negotiated the sales of two retail properties in Winter Garden and Clermont totaling $2,130,000.00. Both transactions involved excess property owned by seller, Branch Banking & Trust Company of Winston-Salem, N.C., represented by the NAI Realvest team. Jason J. Sotto, D.M.D. Pediatric Dentistry was the buyer of the 3,659 square foot former bank building located at 3650 Winter Garden-Vineland Road. The dentist paid $1,300,000 for the property and intends to renovate the facility to move his existing practice there. Michael and Mary Ann Ladisa were the local buyers of a 1.29 acre vacant parcel located at the corner of US Hwy 27 and Johns Lake Rd. in Clermont. They intend to develop the site as a Culver’s restaurant. The purchase price was $830,000 and the buyers were represented by Bobby Palta of CBRE.

Five-Bedroom Home at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club Sells For More than $2 Million

ORLANDO, Fla. --- A five-bedroom home on a wooded corner lot near the golf course at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club recently sold for $2,075,000. Dennis Hogan, international marketing specialist at Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said the home at 9421 Sloane Street brought an unusually high sale price for its location off the golf course. “The home is certainly striking, with a courtyard pool surrounded by a large outdoor living area, many green features and a gourmet kitchen,” Hogan said. The two-story luxury home overlooks a heavily forested nature preserve with 6,100 square feet of living space and an Old World architectural theme.

Lennar Names Land Acquisition Manager for Tampa Region

TAMPA, Fla. --- Lennar’s Central Florida Division recently hired investment management specialist Baylen Dahl as its land acquisition manager for the Tampa Bay region. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said Dahl has more than 10 years of experience in large scale acquisitions, real estate investment management and private equity. Dahl was most recently director of investor relations at Forge Capital Partners and also is owner / operator of a real estate investment firm specializing in brokerage of large tracts of land in Florida, Georgia and Western U.S. In his new role at Lennar, Dahl will be responsible for acquiring land for new home communities from prospecting to closing.

NAI Realvest negotiates five industrial leases in 20 days totaling more than 150,800 square feet in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently negotiated five industrial leases, including office/warehouse space, for a total of 150,868 square feet in less than 20 days at industrial facilities in Orlando. Tom R. Kelley II, CCIM, a principal at NAI Realvest, brokered two new lease agreements for office/warehouse space at 5612 Carder Road representing the landlord Freese Management of Oviedo. Precision Gutters LLC leased 5,100 square feet in Suite 2B and Stone Plus of Florida LLC leased Suite C with 3,700 square feet. Kelley also brokered a renewal lease of 102,275 square feet at 3362 All American Blvd. in northwest Orlando. Jacksonville-based Manning Building Supplies, Inc. is the tenant and Smyth Enterprises, Inc. is the landlord. At 6870 Shadowridge Drive, Kelley and Senior Broker Associate Mary Frances West CCIM brokered a renewal and expansion lease on behalf of landlord Semoran Commerce Center LLC. The tenant, Magellan Behavioral Health, Inc. renewed its current lease of 27,867 square feet and closed on an expansion lease of an additional 10,096 square feet for a total occupancy of 37,963 square feet. Jamie Smith of Cassidy Turley represented the tenant. At South Park Business Center Kelley represented the landlord in a lease agreement for 1,830 square feet in Unit 109 at 8600 Commodity Circle. Imagine Enterprises International, Inc., an event planning firm, is the new tenant.

New Four-Bedroom model home at Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe Showcases Lennar’s Open Plan design in a New Light

Tampa, Fla. --- The new model home at Lennar’s Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe just north of New Tampa is a showcase of the open plan design in an efficient family townhome with four bedrooms. Mark Metheny, president of Lennar’s Central Florida Division, said 88 new town homes are planned at Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe that range from 1,178 square feet of living area to 1,612 square feet. Priced from the $130s--complete with Lennar’s popular “Everything’s Included” pledge--Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe may offer the very best family home value in Central Florida, Metheny said. But it’s Lennar’s open plan design that grabs the attention. Start with the Nottingham model. It’s unique first floor entry porch and foyer doesn’t feel anything like your typical townhome. The front door opens into transitional family space---a foyer, the family and dining rooms served by the wraparound kitchen, an adjoining café, and a closet to serve a busy family coming home from school, work or shopping---or dashing out the door. The dining room expands into the huge family room with a covered lanai beyond that totaling 300 square feet for family gatherings or parties with friends. One bedroom located just off the kitchen downstairs will seem perfect for a teenager, or even more perfect as a quiet den, hobby room or office. Upstairs, a large master suite and private bath is located at one end for privacy with two adjoining bedrooms and their shared bath at the other. A passageway with utility closets, a washer and dryer present the perfect buffer between parental private space and children’s bedrooms. The Nottingham model is priced from $169,990. The affordable pricing comes with Lennar’s “Everything’s Included” pledge that offers a selection of upgrades such as crown molding, granite countertops, wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and a highly rated energy efficiency package all for the one Lennar Homes price. Claridge Town Homes at Meadow Pointe 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.