Take Note: New-Home Community and Builder News

People
John Lazenby, real estate agent with Colony Realty Group in Windermere, has been inducted into the National Association of Realtors’ REBAC Hall of Fame. He’s one of four Realtors nation-
wide to receive the honor. ... Veteran luxury home builder Ken Anderson has been named project manager for Dave Brewer Homes’ remodeling division. ... Glenn Kirwan, former vice president of construction with Mercedes Homes, has been named vice president of construction in Orlando for Mattamy Homes USA, the U.S. division of Canada’s largest home builder. ... Blue Star Real Estate has opened in Winter Park.? Brad Grosbert, formerly with Kelly Price & Co., is the broker for the new firm, which? specializes in residential and investment real estate, land acquisitions and development opportunities. ... Mercedes Homes has named Cindy Slavin as a new-home sales associate at The Enclave in DeLand. The community will have 67 new three-, four- and five-bedroom single-family homes priced from the $400s.

Lake County
Meritage Homes has bought 91 homesites at Providence,-A-Golf-and-Country-Club-Community">Providence Golf & Country Club for Cortland Woods, a single-family home community with prices starting in the $200s. Other builders at Providence include ABD Development, Toll Brothers, Orlando">Lennar and Contempo Signature.?

Orange County
Centex Homes is building 172 three- and four-bedroom townhomes at Emerson Park in Apopka. Homes range in size from 1,650 to 2,241 square feet and are priced from $149,990.

Ryland Homes has started construction of two model homes at McCormick Woods, a gated community in Ocoee. The one-story Kenton model offers 1,834 square feet in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom design with a two-car garage. The two-story Tennyson model has 2,281 square feet with four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-car garage. The homes are priced from $213,990 to $304,990.

Mercedes Homes has unveiled three new floorplans at Wekiva Springs Estates in Apopka. The four- and five-bedroom luxury homes range in size from 2,719 to 3,450 square feet and are priced from $319,990 to $339,990.

Park Square Homes recently opened sales of new three- and four-bedroom townhomes at Waters Edge at Lake Nona.? Plans include 164 new townhomes ranging in size from 1,398 to 1,607 square feet and priced from the $140s.

Habitat for Humanity Orlando recently broke ground on its biggest homebuilding effort to date: Staghorn Villas, an $8-million townhome community that will provide affordable housing for 58 local families. Orlando Utilities Commission is donating $60,000 in energy-efficient features for the community. The 3.9-acre site is located at Silver Star Road and LeHavre Boulevard in Orlando. The project is slated for completion in spring 2011.

Osceola County
Park Square Homes held a grand opening at Legacy Park in Kissimmee. Three- and four-bedroom single-family homes with two-car garages range in size from 1,586 to 2,449 square feet and are priced from the $170s. The community will encompass 215 homes at buildout.

Avatar Properties is offering new “ready-to-go” homes in Poinciana priced from the low $100s. The company is positioning the affordably-priced homes as an alternative to comparably-priced “used” foreclosure homes. Thirteen single-family plans are available ranging in size from 1,015 to 2,777 square feet.

Seminole County
The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard has purchased Hillcrest Homes’ Street of Dreams entry in Longwood for approximately $8 million, according to Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty. The multi-story, European-style estate home—with 11,000 square feet on three lakefront acres—features five bedrooms with five full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. There’s also a game and billiards room, a family room featuring a 25-foot stone fireplace, a home theater, an art gallery, two guest suites and an office along with an oversized four-car garage. The pool has a lazy river system, island seating and three beach areas.

Kolter Homes recently topped off a two-story luxury townhome building at Grande Oaks at Heathrow. The building will encompass eight two- and three-bedroom townhomes ranging in size from 1,857 to 2,138 square feet and priced from the low $300s.

Centex Homes has started presales of 60 new two- and three-bedroom townhomes at Sutton Place, a gated community in Altamonte Springs. The three-story townhomes offer two-car garages on the ground floor and are priced from $200,000.

Volusia County
Mercedes Homes has opened a new five-bedroom, single-family model home at Oakhurst Estates in Orange City. The Stanton model offers 3,450 square feet of living space with three-and-a-half bathrooms and a three-car garage. It’s priced at $242,990.

Giving Back
Pulte Orlando has donated $25,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. As part of its donation, company volunteers will create a makeover for a guest room.

Avatar Properties’ 8th annual Avatar-Solivita Charity Golf Tournament raised $4,660 each for the Poinciana Family YMCA and Heavenly Hoofs, a Kissimmee-based organization that uses equine therapy to enhance the physical, emotional and cognitive growth of children with life-threatening illnesses or disabilities. Played annually at Solivita’s Stonegate Golf Club in Poinciana, the tourney has raised more than $86,000 since its inception.

Forty Beazer Homes employees raised more than $8,600 for Down syndrome research in a “Buddy Walk” around Lake Eola. Executives, employees and friends participated in the two-and-a-half mile walk, sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida.

ICI Homes divisions in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and Orlando sponsored a one-month drive to collect goodies to send to U.S. troops serving overseas. ICI volunteers packed more than 100 shoeboxes with everything from deodorant and shaving supplies to peanut butter, cookies, candy and gum to send to the troops.