Category: News

Southwest Florida’s largest private homebuilder, Neal Communities, donated $5,000 to the Kiwanis Club of North Port Foundation to help with a proposed project to construct a Storybook Stroll reading program and Little Free Library along a walking path at one of North Port’s neighborhood parks.

Pine Park is located inside Country Club Ridge, a North Port neighborhood off McKibben Drive that was devastated by Hurricane Ian. The small neighborhood park includes a volleyball court, playground, picnic pavilion, picnic tables, outdoor grill and a paved walking trail which the Kiwanis Club hopes will one day be the home of a Storybook Stroll program, said Kiwanis Club member Elaine Allen-Emrich.

“We are putting something together for that neighborhood, and many other people in North Port, that will truly be loved,” said Allen-Emrich, who is spearheading the project. “Neal Communities really catapulted this project from a dream to a reality with their donation.”

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build. The Kiwanis Club of North Port’s project is one of the latest programs to be supported by Neal Communities.

“Neal Communities is happy to support organizations that offer enrichment opportunities for our local youth,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “This program is a way to encourage children and families to read together.”

The vision is for Storybook Stroll to be constructed with sturdy holders that allow laminated book pages to be viewed along the looped trail. The concept is that children in wheelchairs or strollers will be able to read pages of the book as they move along the pathway. The featured book would be changed throughout the year. The Kiwanis Club also hopes to construct a Little Free Library along the trail to offer copies of the book as part of a “take a book, return a book” honor system.

Allen-Emrich said the Kiwanis Club had raised $4,000 for the project prior to Neal Communities’ donation and estimates it will need another $2,000 before construction can begin. She said the Club intends to continue its fundraising efforts.

“This is designed to help children with reading and learning. So many children have fallen behind during the pandemic and now Hurricane Ian that anything to provide interest in reading is a boost,” Allen-Emrich said.

For more information about the Kiwanis Club of North Port visit www.KiwanisClubofNorthPort.org. For more information about Neal Communities, visit nealcommunities.com/.

Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities, recently donated $2,000 to two Manatee County organizations that support young athletes.

Neal Communities gave $1,000 to Braden River High School’s Black Pearls Dance Team and $1,000 to Braden River Little League.

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $7.5 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

“We are happy that Neal Communities can help support organizations that are making a difference in the lives of our youth and these two Braden River organizations are doing just that,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “It also helps reinforce that we care about our employees and the causes that are important to them.”

Andy Losada, a construction manager at Neal Communities, said he was delighted that his employer provided support for his 15-year-old daughter, Ava, to continue her dream of being on the Black Pearls dance team at Braden River High School. This will be Ava’s second year with the dance squad and the second consecutive year that Neal Communities has donated $1,000 to support her passion for dancing. Neal Communities’ donation will assist the team in getting performance costumes.

“Each girl has to raise enough money to be on the team,” Losada said. He explained the program relies on community donations to fund its program, which includes performances, competitions and community events throughout the year. “This is a huge support and nice to get this a second year. We are very, very happy with this.”

In March, the Black Pearls received the title “Outstanding First Place Team” in the MA Dance State Championship. Losada said Ava had wanted to be on the dance team since she was six years old and was thrilled to learn she made the team after auditioning as a freshman last year. As a sophomore this year, she’ll continue her passion.

In addition to supporting the Black Pearls dance team, Neal Communities also made a donation to Braden River Little League.

The home builder recently donated $1,000 to the organization to sponsor a Braden River All-Star team headed into a tournament. The donation helps to cover the cost of the team’s entry into the tournament, as well as uniforms, helmets and gear. The annual tournament starts at the district level and the team must advance its way through (winning each game) to culminate at a World Series Tournament.

Grover Keltz, construction manager with Neal Communities, is the assistant coach for the team, which includes his 11-year-old son, Grayson, who plays pitcher, first base and several other positions.

Keltz became a coach for a Braden River Little League team last season after he retired from the U.S. Army and moved his family to Florida from New York. He joined the Little League program to be on the field with his son. He said he’s been involved in Grayson’s baseball interest since the boy was two years old.

Last year, Neal Communities agreed to sponsor a Braden River Little League team, which is named after the private home builder, for two seasons. Many of the Neal Communities players will be competing in the tournament program this summer.

“I love working for Neal Communities,” said Keltz, who will serve as an assistant coach for the all-star team and for the Neal Communities team next season. “They took a chance on me, hiring me fresh out of the military, and they’ve been fantastic. When I asked them to sponsor our Little League team and they said yes, I was like, ‘wow.’ I’m very appreciative of their support. I don’t ever see myself leaving this company.”

For more information about Neal Communities, visit nealcommunities.com/.

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s large private homebuilder, has seen strong first quarter sales results for 2023, with a total of 279 homes sold.

Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes, the company’s luxury home division, closed 77 sales in January, 101 sales in February, and another 101 sales in March. This strong start to the year represents a robust market that the company expects to continue through the rest of 2023.

“Relative to our revised expectations for selling season, March turned out very well for us. Many folks who were on the fence late in 2022, due to rates, jumped back in when the rates started to improve in late February and early March,” said Carlos Puente, vice president of sales and marketing for Neal Communities. “Furthermore, lots of people are looking to move to Florida, where prices and taxes are still attractive – in comparison to the Northeast and West Coast – and where the sun continues to shine most of the year. You really can’t beat living in Florida, and more people are coming to that realization.”

Neal Communities’ Grand Park community in Sarasota led in sales for the quarter. The community embraces natural beauty with many old growth trees, lush landscaping and outdoor spaces, and resort style amenities. Located in south Sarasota, Grand Park features award-winning home designs featuring a British West Indies theme and offers homeowners and potential buyers easy access to I-75, shopping and dining on Clark Road and nearby Siesta Key Village, as well as a multi-million dollar amenity that includes two resort-style pools, pickleball, volleyball and tennis courts, a recreation center and clubhouse and parks, playgrounds and trails.

“The year is off to a strong start,” said Pat Neal, founder and president of Neal Communities. “With the continued migration to Florida from other states, we expect to see steady sales growth continue throughout the year.”

Neal Communities’ sales in fiscal year 2022 were just over $600 milliion, and in 2021 they were right at $603 million. The building industry as a whole experienced challenges last year due to supply chain issues and labor shortages that affected the ability to complete projects.

Headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Neal Communities is actively building and selling properties in Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers and Napes. The company recently sold its 20,000th home. The milestone moment took place on March 21st inside a community sales office for a home in the award-winning community of Windward at Lakewood Ranch.

Neal Communities’ latest community is Wildleaf, a new neighborhood of single-family homes and villas within North River Ranch. The community will include an estimated 378 units, consisting of maintenance-assisted paired villas and single-family home options ranging from 1,533 to 3,156 square feet. As with many Neal Communities, residents have access to a variety of amenities including parks and playgrounds, trails systems, clubhouse, multiple swimming pools, fitness centers and more.