President Obama’s Housing Recovery Plan deserves a chance to Succeed---and it might, says leading Realtor Roger Soderstrom

President Obama’s Housing Recovery Plan deserves a chance to Succeed---and it might, says leading Realtor Roger Soderstrom

ORLANDO, Fla. - President Obama’s recently announced housing recovery plan may succeed in stabilizing the U.S. housing market and re-energizing the home building industry, says one of Central Florida’s leading real estate analysts.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the area’s largest real estate companies, said he thinks Americans may be surprised at how quickly the housing market returns.

“We won’t ever see a return to 2005 levels of activity,” Soderstrom cautioned. “That was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon and we’re paying for it now,” he said.

But, Soderstrom said, both housing values and new home construction are likely to see upswings as a result of President Obama’s recovery plan. And the whole world is waiting for it.

“Housing is the key to U.S. economic recovery and the U.S. is the lynchpin of the global economy,” Soderstrom said. “We have extensive contacts with international investors and vacation home buyers awaiting the U.S. recovery so they can get back into the market here,” he said.

President Obama announced plans to allocate $75 billion in TARP funds to help lenders modify distressed mortgage loans.

“That’s a good first step,” Soderstrom said. “If it is applied conscientiously it could prove a major shot in the arm for the housing market by encouraging home owners when they need it,” he said.

An additional $200 billion---from funding previously authorized by Congress---will spur Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to move in the same direction.

“By any measure, $275 billion is a substantial effort,” Soderstrom said.

“Past policies---in the context of all the other financial shortfalls---have been disastrous and the sooner we can refocus on sound business policies that include both public and private sectors, the sooner we will encourage Americans to renew their faith in American real estate as a sound investment for the future,” Soderstrom said.

The key, Soderstrom said, will be to reshape the housing industry as a secure long-term investment.

“We shouldn’t look at housing as an investment commodity to earn short-term profits,” Soderstrom said. “That’s an abuse of the system and it’s the reason we’re in this mess.”

“For more than half a century, American real estate has stood as the most reliable long-term security a family could invest in,” Soderstrom said. “That’s what’s made this country such a financial powerhouse, and that’s what will lead the world economic recovery in the years ahead,” he added.

For more information contact

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

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

Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. opens new offices at Stirling Place in Lake Mary to Provide Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. opens new offices at Stirling Place in Lake Mary to Provide Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

LAKE MARY, Fla. - Alfredo M. Gapuz, Jr., D.M.D. has opened new offices to provide cosmetic and restorative dentistry at 737 Stirling Center Place, located off Rinehart Rd., south of SR 46A in Lake Mary.

Dr. Gapuz, who has practiced dentistry for 28 years, also has offices in the Hunter’s Creek area in southwest Orlando.

Dr. Gapuz recently completed an extensive course in Advanced Adhesive Aesthetic Dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Nevada. He earned his doctoral degree in dental medicine from De Ocampo Memorial College in the Philippines, formerly known as Philippine Dental College.

In addition, Dr. Gapuz recently completed specialized post-graduate training that included studies of headache diagnosis and acquired specialized computer-based instruments that enable precision studies of jaw function and related muscles.

“Many people don’t think to tell their dentist when they suffer from chronic headaches,” said Dr. Gapuz, “but such headaches can be triggered when the jaw and related muscles aren’t functioning properly. Our new instrumentation helps us to determine whether this is the case with simple, painless and non-invasive tests that can be performed right here in the office,” he said.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Alfredo M. Gapuz, D.M.D. or Virginia Grace Gapuz, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Lake Mary, P.L., 407-805-8808 or 407-902-3949; VGGaesthetics@aol.com;

Lynn Kellicut, Office Manager, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry of Lake Mary, P.L., 407-805-8808;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142; lvershelco@aol.com

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Launches 2nd Annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to Benefit Four Orlando-Area Charities

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Launches 2nd Annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to Benefit Four Orlando-Area Charities

ORLANDO, Fla. - Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, recently launched (March 2) its annual “Jeans for Charity” drive to benefit Habitat for Humanity in Orange County; Give Kids the World; Susan G. Komen for the Cure; and the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

Tina Kennedy, director of human resources at Cuhaci & Peterson, said the firm hopes to raise as much as $500.00 for the individual charities quarterly during the drive which will run until Dec. 31.

Kennedy said employees who choose to wear jeans Monday-Thursday, pay $2.00 per day. The first drive will be for the month of March to benefit Habitat for Humanity; June’s drive will benefit Give the Kids the World; September’s drive will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and December’s drive will benefit the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

For information about how to donate or participate, call Tina Kennedy at 407-661-9100.

For more information about this press release, contact

Tina Kennedy, Director of Human Resources Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC 407-661-9100;

Lonnie Peterson, Chairman Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC 407-661-9100

Jed Downs, President Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC 407-661-9100

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

University Club of Orlando looking for partner from radio or TV station to honor hero

University Club of Orlando looking for partner from radio or TV station to honor hero

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University Club of Orlando would like to join forces with a local media affiliate to produce “A Hero’s Wedding.”

The concept, according to Susan Greene, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, is that the Club is providing a glamorous wedding – the complete package – during the early fall of this year for one of Orlando’s heroes.

Any media affiliate who would like to join with the University Club will play the major role in nominating and selecting the hero – a returning veteran, a firefighter, police officer or teacher who is worthy of praise.

“We will provide a wedding package in the $10,000 range, including invitations, flowers, cake, reception, bar service, dinner, and photography,” Greene said.

The media partner will promote the hero’s wedding concept heavily through public relations and local media.

The wedding event itself will likewise generate sustained media content.

If you are interested in joining in this event, please contact Susan Greene, University Club general manager, to discuss the parameters.

Contact:

Susan Greene, General Manager, University Club of Orlando 407-425-2514 GM@UCLUBORLANDO.COM; or

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

Mattamy Homes USA Appoints Chris Adams New Home Sales Associate in Minnesota

Mattamy Homes USA Appoints Chris Adams New Home Sales Associate in Minnesota

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Mattamy Homes USA, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder, has appointed Chris Adams a new home sales associate in for its Minnesota division in the Twin Cities region.

Laura Bailey, vice president of sales and marketing for Mattamy Homes USA, said Adams has more than five years of experience as a new home sales associate. Adams is a graduate of Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Mattamy Homes USA, headquartered in Winter Park, builds new homes in 11 communities priced from the $100s in the Twin Cities area.

The firm’s Minnesota division is headquartered in Burnsville.

For more information please contact:

Laura Bailey, VP of Sales and Marketing, Mattamy Homes-USA 407-599-9994

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

Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach Appoints Dave Brown Tennis Director

Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach Appoints Dave Brown Tennis Director

ORLANDO, Fla. - ICI Homes has appointed Dave Brown tennis director at Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club in Ormond Beach.

Rosemary Messina, vice president of ICI Homes, said Brown is a USPTA Master Professional with 25 years of experience managing tennis facilities at resorts, commercial and private clubs, major colleges and municipal tennis centers.

He formerly served as Director of Tennis for the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach. Brown was high school and college standout tennis player who graduated from St. Mary’s College of California. He has held USPTA national rankings in both singles and doubles.

As a tennis teaching professional, Dave served as head coach for Colorado State University’s men’s team, and he has coached numerous sectional and nationally ranked players over the past 20 years in Colorado and Florida.

From 1998-2002 he served as USTA Florida’s Community Coordinator for South Florida.

For more information, contact.

Lisa Egle, Marketing Manager, ICI Homes 386-236-4273 legle@icihomes.com

Maria Tuohy, Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club 386-437-4844 Ext. 304

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

About ICI Homes

ICI homes, ranks among the top 100 Builders by Builder magazine and is one of the largest privately owned homebuilders in the nation. The 28-year-old firm builds new homes and resort facilities in the Volusia-Flagler region as well as in Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne and Tampa.

University Club of Orlando Raises more than $50,000 Through Cocktails for a Cause Fundraisers

University Club of Orlando Raises more than $50,000 Through Cocktails for a Cause Fundraisers, Next one will Benefit Florida Health Systems’ Orlando Health Foundation

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University Club of Orlando, which has raised more than $50,000 since last September through its Cocktails for a Cause program for local charities, plans to host “Tips for Trauma” on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will benefit Florida Health Systems’ Orlando Health Foundation.

Susan Greene, general manager of the University Club of Orlando, said one recent Cocktails for a Cause helped raise more than $11,000 for Coastal Conservation.

The University Club of Orlando is located across from the Orlando Public Library on Central Ave. and Rosalind Blvd. in downtown Orlando.

For more information about this press release, contact:

Susan Greene, General Manager, University Club of Orlando 407-425-2514, gm@ucluborlando.com;

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

Grubb and Ellis Commercial Florida negotiates new long term lease of 50,000 square foot industrial facility in Lakeland

Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida negotiates new long term lease of 50,000 square foot industrial facility in Lakeland

TAMPA, Fla. - Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida, associated with 200 Grubb & Ellis offices worldwide, recently negotiated a long-term lease of a 50,000 square foot industrial facility at 4920 S. Frontage Rd. in Lakeland.

Jan Boltres, CCIM and Mike Scott, principals and senior vice presidents at Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida, negotiated the lease agreement representing the landlord, RS Land Development, Inc., based in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

The new tenant is Lakeland-based RINCAT, LLC.

About Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida

Grubb & Ellis Commercial 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 & Ellis Commercial Florida has 30 brokers divided among its Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne offices which 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 March 31, 2008, more than $3.4 billion in investor equity has been raised for these investment programs. The company and its subsidiaries currently manage a growing portfolio of more than 218 million square feet of real estate. In 2007, Grubb & Ellis was selected from among 15,000 vendors as Microsoft

Contacts:

Jan Boltres, CCIM,Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida - 813-639-1111 ext 270

Michael Scott, Grubb & Ellis Commercial Florida - 813-639-1111 ext 275

Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

ABD Development introduces new affordable floor plans at Wyndham Lakes Estates

ABD Development introduces new affordable floor plans at Wyndham Lakes Estates

ORLANDO, Fla. - ABD Development Company has introduced new affordable floor plans at Windsor Landing at Wyndham Lakes Estates, located off Town Center and Landstar Blvds. in southeast Orlando.

David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company, said one new floor plan offers three bedrooms with 3,000 square feet of living space priced from the mid $300s.

A second, two-story floor plan offers three bedrooms in 2,500 square feet.

Kohn said 20 home sites remain for sale at Windsor Landing at Wyndham Lakes Estates, including 15 lakefront home sites on Lake Wyndham.

New four, five and six-bedroom homes at Windsor Landing are priced from $499,900 to more than $1 million and range in size from 2,900 square feet to 5,000 square feet.

For more information, contact:

Sofi Coffey, Marketing Manager, ABD Development Company, 407-370-6400

David Kohn, President ABD Development Company, 407-370-6400

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

Home-Building Recovery Will Start This Year And Active Adults Will Lead The Way

Home-Building Recovery Will Start This Year And Active Adults Will Lead The Way

Central Florida homebuilders could see the start of a dramatic recovery as early as this summer, and retirement-aged adults will lead the way.

Despite seemingly endless news cycles devoted to our national economic ailments, we forget the enormous size and scope of the fabled “baby boom” generation.

I don’t mean to discount our national economic cycle. But we shouldn’t discount our active adults either. Most of them are pretty smart, after all, and many of them saw this coming.

As a real estate developer who focuses on superior lifestyles for active adults at Providence Golf and Country Club community in the Loughman-Davenport area of Polk County and Wyndham Lakes Estates in south Orlando, I’m very familiar with the lifestyle preferences, spending habits and financial acumen most retirement-aged adults possess.

We anticipate the net in-migration of active adults will increase substantially starting this summer, and we expect the active adult market will lead a major recovery of the home building industry in Florida---especially Central Florida---that will hit its stride in 2010.

The recovery will be more measured than the recent housing boom, and that’s a good thing. We won’t see a return to 2005 levels of sales and construction, but we won’t see the subsequent ballooning of materials costs, pricing, taxes, insurance and accompanying expenses either.

What we will see is a return to strong, sustainable levels of activity the Central Florida region is known for.

Economic analysts at ABD Development Company anticipate a rebound in the U.S. securities markets resulting from economic stimulus programs the new presidential administration has already announced.

The securities markets---stocks and bonds---are usually referred to as ‘leading indicators’ of economic health. In this case, they are a sign of better times to come.

The President’s emphasis on tax cuts for the middle class are particularly promising.

Once our immediate crisis begins to wane, lower interest rates and exceptional values that are evident in almost every Florida market will generate sustainable growth rates led by the active adult segment.

Typically, when an economic cycle starts to improve, it gathers steam rapidly. Adults who may have postponed their retirement a year or two will join adults who are just now reaching retirement age to produce what builders and developers call ‘pent-up demand.’

As much as we might worry about the national economy, the baby boom generation represents enormous financial depth. Active adults are still retiring---you can’t stop the clock---and for a significant proportion of them, Florida’s warm climate and relatively affordable lifestyle opportunities are just the ticket.

Certainly baby boomers have more opportunities than ever before, and for some, North Carolina, Arizona, and other parts of the country are appealing. But Florida’s century-old heritage as a retirement mecca is still a compelling factor we sometimes overlook in our spates of hand-wringing.

For Florida homebuilders, the market cycle has been particularly painful. But builders and developers who took measures to prepare for the inevitable market slowdown are surviving, if not thriving.

Before we know it---before the end of 2009, to be sure---the housing market will come back wiser, healthier, and more sustainable than before.

Builders and developers are looking forward to it. But the biggest beneficiaries are home buyers.

Providence Golf and Country Club community will accommodate some 4,800 new homes when the community is completed in 2018. Some 500 new homes have been sold at Providence and 1,700 new homes are planned in 20 different neighborhoods in the first phase of the development.

For More Information Contact:

David Kohn, President ABD Development Company, 407-370-6400