WHAT DOES THE 'AV' STAND FOR? MAYBE 'AWESOME VERSATILITY'

What do the A and the V stand for in AV Homes? The national builder, now in its 47th year, likes to say that the letters stand for “added value,” “always vacationing” or perhaps “awesome versatility.” Any of those work — especially when you consider the kind of communities that AV Homes builds.

AV Homes has been in the Central Florida market for years with Solivita, a resort-style active-adult community in Osceola County. The amenity-rich development — with its lively town center and two championship golf courses — has sold a whopping 5,900 homes. And it was recently named one of the “Best of the Best” places to live by Ideal Living magazine.

Its longstanding success at Solivita notwithstanding, AV Homes became a huge Central Florida presence in 2013 with the purchase of Royal Oak Homes, a locally owned company with a growing portfolio of active communities and more than 2,500 homesites.

With that strategic $65 million acquisition, AV Homes instantly became one of the region’s five largest builders — and expanded its scope with offerings for first-time buyers, move-up buyers and everybody in between.

Today, Royal Oak Homes is a division of AV Homes, and is still operated by co-presidents Matt and Steve Orosz, sons of Bill Orosz, who was one of the region’s most successful homebuilders throughout the ’80s. The family’s roots run deep: The Orosz Family Foundation, created in 2005, has given more than $4 million to organizations that support primary and secondary education and medical research.

AV Homes, then, combines a national builder’s resources with a local builder’s market sensibilities. And that’s the right formula for success in Central Florida, where virtually every national builder — and some home-grown ones — are looking to make an impression.

Solivita is AV Homes’ only Central Florida active-adult community. And its popularity is surging, thanks to major enhancements such as the remodeling of the Stonegate Grille, which is now a full sports bar complete with TVs, an upgraded kitchen and an outdoor seating area.

AV Homes is also continuing to do brisk business in two other master-planned communities in Osceola County: Bellalago, located on more than a mile of shoreline along Lake Tohopekaliga, and Waterview, located in the heart of Kissimmee just 10 miles from Walt Disney World.

The Royal Oak Home division has an astonishing 20 communities underway in Orange, Lake and Polk counties. Its offerings range from cozy townhomes priced from the $160s to huge single-family homes with more than 5,000 square feet priced from the $460s.

There isn’t a market segment that AV Homes misses. The company supplies plenty of sizzle per square foot and consistently delights buyers — who show their appreciation by filling out glowing customer-satisfaction surveys.

AV Homes also builds in Arizona and North Carolina. Visit avhomesinc.com for more information about the company’s local communities.