Author: Jasmine

Ivory Matthews, Neal Communities Vice President of Community and Government Affairs, was part of a recent panel discussion at the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Tampa Bay Trends Event centered on the future of Sarasota and, more specifically, the role younger professionals play in shaping it.

ULI Tampa Bay invited a panel of younger professionals whose work directly influences how this region grows and evolves, noting “Each of them brings a different perspective, but all are helping to shape the decisions that will determine whether Sarasota continues to attract and retain the next generation.”

Matthews was focused on the importance of Sarasota to continue to evolve and the need plan not just for today, but for the next 50 years.

“That means embracing smart, master-planned growth that reduces congestion, protects our arts, culture, science institutions, and beaches, and ensures Sarasota remains a vibrant place to live and work for future generations,” she says. “Real smart growth requires leaders willing to make difficult, and sometimes unpopular, decisions that support the long-term future of our community.”

The panel also discussed another critical challenge facing the region: not only is there a housing gap for young professionals and first-time homebuyers, but there is also a growing mentorship gap.

“Across industries, many senior leaders and executives are approaching retirement without a strong pipeline of future leadership behind them,” Matthews says. “Developing communication, professionalism, and leadership skills does not happen automatically; it requires intentional mentorship and investment in the next generation.”

In closing, Matthews issued a challenge to everyone in the room to actively mentor younger professionals, prepare them for leadership roles, and help create opportunities for the next generation to succeed.

“Just because many of us didn’t have mentors ourselves doesn’t mean we shouldn’t provide that guidance to others,” she adds.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI)  is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members.  Founded in 1936, ULI has more than 45,000+ members worldwide, representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines working in private enterprise and public service. ULI is a trusted idea place where leaders come to grow professionally and personally through sharing, mentoring, and problem-solving. ULI is a global organization comprised of individuals and entities who care about responsible land use, wise choices in growth and development and the positive economic future of the communities in which they live and work. Its members represent many sectors of the real estate industry sector — developers, builders, architects, engineers, accountants, attorneys, planners, brokers, public officials, marketing practitioners and public sector administrators – just to name a few. All professionals with the expertise and passion to make a difference in shaping the landscape and quality of life.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., May 12, 2026 – Neal Communities and its associated brands Neal Signature Homes and SimplyDwell Homes reported another strong month in April, with 93 new home sales across the region, exceeding its monthly goal of 87 homes by seven percent.

 

One of the hottest Neal communities for the month was Boca Royale Golf and Country Club at Wellen Park in south Sarasota County, which had 17 sales on an internal plan of seven. Over the past two months, Neal Communities has sold 26 homes in Boca Royale and a total of 38 in 2026.

 

“We’ve recently introduced new homesites with exceptional water views, giving homeowners more opportunities to enjoy the lifestyle and natural beauty that makes Boca Royale unique. Our new Lifestyle Ambassador is helping buyers explore the community in a more personal way, creating an experience that feels exciting, welcoming, and tailored to how they want to live.”

 

That growth tracks with home purchases across the region, according to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM).  Citing year-over-year sales growth in March 2026, the RASM reported four key trends it says are defining the market.  While inventory is shrinking across property types, sales activity is increasing, prices have stabilized, and buyers are leveraging time as a primary negotiating tool, according to the realtor organization.

 

“We continue to see a savvy consumer across the region,” says Blake Lindsey, vice president of sales for Neal Communities.  “But new home buyers are definitely seeking a builder who makes quality a priority and appreciates the opportunity to build the home of their dreams in communities with amenities that fit their lifestyle.”

 

Boca Royale is one of those communities, nestled amid pristine lakes and nature preserves, all while offering easy access to several of Southwest Florida’s beautiful beaches. The 18-hole golf course was completely renovated by Golf Course Architect Gordy Lewis in 2024. Raquet facilities include 6 lighted Har-Tru clay courts and 8 lighted pickleball courts.  The New Boca Royale Golf and Country Club at Wellen Park features a new amenity center with a resort-style swimming pool, spa and clubroom facilities, along with a poolside bar and grill. The elegant, Georgian-style Clubhouse features a full range of dining options, from fine dining in the Fairway Dining Room to casual dining in the 19th Hole and new Outdoor Dining Pavilion.

At Neal Communities, our mission has always been to build more than just houses; we build the foundation for your best life in Southwest Florida. Today, we are incredibly proud to share that our commitment to quality and community has earned us a spot on the prestigious 2026 Builder 100 list.

Coming in at No. 71, Neal Communities is honored to be recognized among the top homebuilders in the nation. This annual “Legacy List” by Builder Magazine serves as the industry’s definitive scoreboard, tracking the scale and success of the country’s most impactful builders.

As noted in the official announcement, this ranking reflects our performance and growth over the past year. This achievement belongs to our dedicated team and, most importantly, our homeowners. Thank you for choosing Neal Communities to build your dream home. We look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence right here in the Sunshine State!

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (January 12, 2025) – Ivory Matthews has been named to the Board of Trustees at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.  Matthews serves as vice president of community and governmental affairs at Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s largest locally owned and operated private builder.

“I’m honored to join Mote’s Board of Trustees,” says Matthews. “Mote is giving local students complementary access to hands-on science experiences that can change how they see their future and that’s powerful and important to me.”

Since 2023, Matthews has served as a member of Mote’s Education & Outreach Committee, contributing to strategy around programs that engage youth and community in marine science.  She is also a member of the Florida State Board of Take Stock in Children, Board Chair for Step Up Suncoast, Inc. and is a member of the board for CREW Sarasota and the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Having resided in Sarasota and working in science, Matthews has been involved with the marine-science community and has observed Mote’s growth firsthand.

“Two years ago—while traveling abroad in Argentina—I found myself describing my diving adventures to fellow travelers,” she says. “One family from London knew of Mote and shared that the father had gone diving with Mote in the Florida Keys. That moment highlighted for me Mote’s global reach and influence.”
Her business success and devotion to the community have resulted in Matthews recently being honored with several awards from local media organizations. She was named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 as well as the same list for the Business Observer, a regional Florida-focused business publication. In addition, Matthews was nominated as one of SRQ Magazine’s Women Who Roar.

At Neal Communities, Matthews has risen from working a two-week temporary job in environmental permitting to her current role as VP of Community and Governmental Affairs. She is charged with interacting with both government entities about things like entitlements and with residents where the company plans to build. In the past year, she has successfully entitled $50 million worth of land, which translates into approximately 2,500 residential units.

Additionally, Matthews oversees Neal Communities’ $500,000 Plan for Giving, a philanthropic program that supports quality of life initiatives and education and has a large element of employee-led giving, where the company supports causes that are important to its staff. Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” Neal Communities has more than $8 million to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.

The new 12-acre Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) campus opened to the public last month.

Mote SEA transforms Mote’s ability to provide informal science education and enhanced levels of ocean literacy to much larger and more diverse populations from around the world. The 146,000-square-foot facility enables individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the ocean and experience a window into Mote’s globally significant marine science research and conservation initiatives.

Science is the attraction at Mote SEA. The innovative facility features three state-of-the-art STEM Teaching Labs focused on Biomedical, Microbiology & Immunology; Marine & Coastal Ecology; and Ocean Engineering, AI Technology, Robotics & Sensor Development. These labs will provide hands-on experiential learning to more than 70,000 K–12 students annually from Sarasota and Manatee county schools (as well as those schools in nearby counties), including over 26,000 Title 1 students, completely free of charge.

Mote operates 38 research programs and centers in its global research enterprise. Its research spans marine biomedical science, as well as conservation, restoration and monitoring of iconic species and habitats. With its new facility, visitor attendance is expected to double and in the first month of operation, Mote welcomed 100,000 guests.

If you have been following the real estate news lately, you have likely seen the headlines: homeowners insurance costs are on the rise, and it is changing the way people buy homes.

A recent article from the Tampa Bay Business Journal highlighted a national trend that hits close to home here in Florida. National premiums rose 8% in 2025 , and two-thirds of homeowners saw their premiums increase the previous year. Perhaps most concerning for buyers is that insurance hurdles are now disrupting sales, with 21% of real estate agents reporting “significantly more” issues with transactions—including clients canceling purchases entirely because they couldn’t secure affordable coverage.

In Florida specifically, over 41% of agents reported a significant uptick in insurance-related obstacles.

But there is a silver lining that these headlines often miss.

While these statistics paint a tough picture for the general market, they largely reflect the reality of the resale market—older homes with aging roofs, outdated electrical systems, and plumbing that raises red flags for insurers.

At Neal Communities, we believe you shouldn’t have to inherit someone else’s problem. Here is why buying a new Neal Communities home puts you in the strongest possible position to own a home in Florida confidently and affordably.

1. Built to Today’s Standards = Lower Risk

Insurance carriers price risk. When they look at an older resale home, they see potential liabilities: roof age, outdated wiring, and building codes from decades ago. These are the factors driving up premiums and causing carriers to drop policies.

A new Neal Communities home is different. We build to the latest hurricane, wind, and energy codes. Our homes feature wind mitigation measures and up-to-date systems that older inventory simply cannot match. Because our homes present far less risk to insurers, our buyers often qualify for better insurance pricing and stronger carrier availability from day one.

2. Avoid the “Deal-Breaker” Stress

The recent data shows that 47% of agents nationwide are struggling with insurance issues delaying or derailing home purchase agreements. These failures happen most often on aging inventory where the buyer suddenly discovers the roof needs replacing or the home requires expensive retrofits to be insurable.

With Neal Communities, you gain predictability. You aren’t scrambling to find a carrier willing to write a policy on a 20-year-old roof. You are stepping into a brand-new home that meets the modern standards insurers prefer.

3. Predictable Bills and Peace of Mind

Modern building standards translate to insurance savings that many resale buyers don’t know exist. By choosing new construction, you are setting yourself up for more predictable monthly bills and a significantly lower risk of being dropped by a carrier.

As the market shifts, owning a new Neal Communities home puts you in control. While national news makes home insurance sound scary, it serves as a reminder of the value of new construction.

Don’t let the headlines keep you from your dream home. Visit a Neal Community today to learn more about how our building standards offer you a safe, secure, and smart path to Florida homeownership.

Lakewood Ranch, Fla. – December 12, 2025 – Employees from Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities and its luxury home division, Neal Signature Homes, volunteered their time to build and decorate playhouses that will be given to families with young children through the Salvation Army’s South Sarasota County Cottages for Kids program.

The playhouses were displayed at Downtown Wellen before being delivered to selected families.

“This project is a great opportunity for our employees to use their talents to help a great cause,” says Christine McKelvey, director of marketing for Neal Communities. “We are honored to be part of this community effort to give kids a playhouse where they can have creative fun and make memories with their family and friends.”

Neal Signature Homes and Neal Communities build in several communities in Wellen Park, including the new Palmera at Wellen Park, which features its Cruise Series of homes. The builder also has communities with final opportunities, including Avelina and Wysteria. Grand Palm and Boca Royale Golf and Country Club are also nearby communities offering easy access to all that Wellen Park has to offer.

Neal Signature Homes offers eight available floor plans in EVERLY, Wellen Park’s first luxury and custom home neighborhood. Floor plans range from 2,562 to 4,189 square feet with pricing starting in the $900s. One model, the Palm Bay 2, is a 70’ wide chassis home, featuring 3,138 square feet of air-conditioned living space, including 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and a three-car garage with a modern farmhouse look. This model includes an optional casita, showing how this flexible additional space can be used for multi-generational family living, a live-in nanny or accommodate guests. The Ravenna model, with 3,004 square feet of air-conditioned living space, features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a three-car garage with a British West Indies look.