The southwest Florida housing market is booming, and one of the area’s largest builders is enjoying the ride.
Neal Communities, No. 43 on this year’s Builder 100 list, marked its best month this year in May, with 110 new home sales, bringing its year-to-date total to 524 sales. The record-setting sales signify a more than 50 percent increase from the builder’s numbers last year in May.
“National indicators show this is one of the most competitive, fastest-moving spring housing markets in decades,” says Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. “According to Realtor.com, the median days on market for homes in May was the lowest since the end of the recession, inventory levels are historically low and homes are selling 8 percent faster than this time last year. That creates a great environment for us, with our continued focus on building homes available for immediate occupancy, great community locations and diverse choices in home size and price.”
Neal Communities’ Silverleaf neighborhood in Parrish, Fla. led with 15 sales. The community offers 18 home plan options and a variety of amenities, including a recreation center, pool, spa, playground, picnic area, basketball court, two dog parks, walking trails and a nature boardwalk.
Grand Palm, the builder’s master-planned community in Venice, Fla., continued its high sales for the builder with 12 new homes purchased. Recently, the community unveiled two new models – popular Mediterranean-style villas from the builder’s Coral Series. Neal Communities also added four new single-family home floor plans from the Celebration Series to its lineup at Grand Palm.
The Ridge at Crossing Creek in Bradenton notched 10 sales. The nature-focused community offers six different single-family floor plans, ranging from 1,616 to 2,332 square feet. A nature preserve and a 21.25-acre freshwater lake surround the neighborhood.
Other notable neighborhoods included Milano in Venice with 10 sales and Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood followed with nine sales.
In addition, the homebuilder broke ground on a new resort-style amenity center for the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club community. The new facility, dubbed the Resort, will include a clubhouse with restroom facilities, clubroom and café, which will feature a full-service kitchen with a freezer, dishwasher, wine cooler, pantry, oven and sink for its residents to use. A luxurious spa and 3,302-square-foot pool area will offer a lounge area with chairs and tables and a shaded tiki hut.
