Category: News

Agriscience teacher Jane Beach loves to give her Braden River Middle School students opportunities for experiential learning. Students in the Bradenton school’s agriculture program, for example, learn how to grow different foods and raise chickens and rabbits as part of their in-class work.

“When students do science hands-on, they wake up to what is really going on,” said Beach. “It makes students understand on a deeper level what’s going on in a book or on the Internet.”

When Beach learned about FarmBot, a programmable robotic farming system through which students can learn about everything from plant science to coding, she knew it could provide a valuable learning experience that would engage and interest her students. After an unsuccessful attempt to get funding elsewhere, she got connected with Neal Communities, which recently granted Beach $1,995 to purchase a FarmBot for use with her students.

“This is going to allow us to expand our possibilities,” said Beach. “It shows that Neal Communities is invested in supporting education, and that they believe in the students and that they can learn and grow through projects like this that wouldn’t be able to happen without community support. We really appreciate the fact that Neal Communities funded our project and that we’ll be able to access technology like this that we wouldn’t normally be able to do.”

Beach and her students might have to wait a bit to get their FarmBot due to the global computer chip shortage; she’s hoping it arrives in the spring. In the meantime, there’s a lot that she and the students can do while they wait.

They’ll need to prepare the raised bed required for installing their FarmBot, and then research and plan what they want to grow. FarmBot plants in a grid system, so students will need to understand how big their different plants will be as they grow and whether their nutritional and watering needs are compatible. The technology that FarmBot uses is open-source, so they can also start learning how to use that technology to program their FarmBot to plant and water what they’re growing.

“We still have plenty of work to do before it arrives,” said Beach. “The kids are really excited. It’s going to be an awesome boost to our program.”

“We always appreciate the chance to support schools that educate young members of the communities in which we work,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder. “The FarmBot will be a highly interactive and interesting way for students to learn about science and agriculture using a forward-thinking approach that helps prepare them for the future.”

For more information about Braden River Middle School, visit manateeschools.net/bradenrivermiddle.

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has broken ground on Tide Marsh in Fort Myers. This small infill community with a coastal/island architectural theme will feature 63 homesites.

The gated community will offer one- and two-story floor plans from Neal Communities’ Cruise and Celebration series, ranging from 1,531 to 3,014 square feet. Two models at Tide Marsh are planned, featuring one floor plan from each series. Home prices will begin in the high $300s, with options well-suited for families, empty nesters and retirees, and there will be no CDD. Neal Communities will begin taking names for a VIP list in the next 30 days.  A grand opening is planned for March 2022.

Tide Marsh is located near sister community Coastal Key, which sold out a few years ago. It’s also situated close to Estero Bay Preserve State Park and offers a quiet setting for homeowners off Winkler Road. With its location west of I-75 and U.S. 41, the community offers easy access to downtown Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach and a range of retailers, restaurants and medical providers.

“Tide Marsh will be a great community for anyone who really wants to enjoy the Southwest Florida lifestyle,” said Tim Oak, president south region, from Neal Communities. “It’s close to golf courses and wonderful parks and preserves for hiking and wildlife watching. And it’s just a short drive to the beaches on Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach.”

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

Interest rates have been historically low. However, now interest rates are rising. Here’s what interest rates are, why they rise and what that means for you and your goal of buying a new home!

What are interest rates?

An interest rate is an amount a lender charges to you, the borrower. In other words, this is how much it costs you to finance your home. An extra amount you must pay to your lender in addition to what you’ve borrowed. The interest rate will be part of your monthly mortgage payment.

Not that long ago, mortgages began being securitized. Basically, that means the mortgages are bundled up to be sold as bonds. These bonds are traded in markets much like stocks and, once you close on your mortgage, it will probably get bundled into a bond.

Next, financial institutions buy and sell those bonds. The price of the bond and its yield rate move in opposite directions based on how many people want (or don’t want) to buy bonds. For example, if people don’t want bonds it means the market has more sellers than buyers and the bond price goes down but the rate it yields goes up. Typically, when people are happy and optimistic, they buy stocks. However, when the news is bad, you’ll often see interest rates go down. At the time of this post, interest rates are rising.

Does the FED directly control mortgage rates?

The Federal Reserve does not directly control mortgage rates. So When you hear that “the Fed raised interest rates,” it means they’re working through specific channels in the banking system. Next, the markets respond accordingly. It’s this combination of the Fed action and the market reaction that drives changes in mortgage rates.

Why have the interest rates been so low lately?

Interest rates have been low for years. This is mostly because the Fed had used its tools to lower rates and keep them low. They do this to help prevent crises from happening or to prevent a current situation from getting worse. In today’s market, rates were pushed down and it has been hard to raise them again. That’s because they have to balance the fear of upsetting the economy with the need to get rates back to normal in case they needed to be lowered again in the future.

Why are interest rates rising now?

There are two main reasons interest rates are rising right now. First, the Federal Reserve is beginning to raise rates again because the economy is getting stronger. The second is inflation. Inflation means your money buys less – for example, something that cost you $1 in 1970 would cost you approximately $6.83 in 2021. And once markets are convinced inflation is coming, interest rates rise. To compensate for that, bond investors also want a higher interest rate, and mortgage lenders take their cues from the bond market when setting the rates they charge to borrowers. For even more detail on this question, you’ll find this article a great resource.

Beginning Your Homebuying Journey:

We hope you found this quick interest rate overview helpful. If you are looking to buy your new home in Southwest Florida, we hope you’ll call Neal Communities – Southwest Florida’s most trusted private homebuilder for over 50 years.  We’re happy to help walk you through the homebuying process from start to finish—including the mortgage process. Please contact us today to learn more!

If you’ve ever bought a new home, you know the process can be a bit daunting. At Neal Communities, we’re committed to creating a seamless homebuying process from start to finish. In fact, our Neal family of companies allows us to do just that! From funding, to interior design, to pool installation, we’re happy to help you every step of the way!

PureStyle Interior Design

First, PureStyle—a full-service interior design firm led by Charlene Neal—has the vision and know-how to bring your home to life through furniture, window treatments, art and more. In fact, the PureStyle team has spent years building relationships with top partners in the industry. This ensures they can deliver cost-effective solutions hand-picked from a wide variety of vendors.

PureStyle Services Include:

• Wallcoverings
• Window treatments (including shutters and blinds)
• Bedding
• Furnishings (case goods and upholstery)
• Lighting
• Artwork
• Area Rugs

Waterscapes Pools & Spas

Next, Waterscapes Pools & Spas builds award-winning outdoor pools and spas. Waterscapes takes your vision and their knowledge to create the outdoor oasis of your dreams. They combine design, function and high standards to make beautiful spaces you’ll want to spend time in. In fact, as Southwest Florida’s number one pool builder, they create custom pools tailored to your family’s needs, backyard and style preferences.

Neal Communities Funding

Today more than ever it is important to work with true mortgage professionals.  At Neal Communities Funding, they will be with you every step of the way. For example, their commitment to your financing is just as important as building your home. In fact, they take the same care and dedication to provide you excellent mortgage service and programs to meet your needs.

The professional team at Neal Communities Funding use a multi-lender platform to give customers competitive pricing, stability, strength, knowledge and the outstanding service Neal Communities Funding is famous for – all in one place.

Allegiant Title Professionals

Founded in 2012, Allegiant Title Professionals provides outstanding title services for Neal homebuyers, other sellers, purchasers and leaders in need of closing services and title insurance. Additionally, it has received third-party certification for its Seven Best Practices of Real Estate from Security Compliance Associates.

Trust in the Neal family of Companies to make the process easier

Many of our homebuyers enjoy the unique opportunity to work with many or all of our Neal companies. And, because they’re all working so closely together, your homebuying process will be as easy and convenient as possible! Contact us today to learn more.

Moving day is very exciting…but it also can be a bit stressful. Here is a moving day checklist as well as some helpful tips to help you stay organized and stress-free on your big day!

Checklist for before the move

Moving day doesn’t just happen in one day: it takes a lot of preparation! In fact, our moving day checklist starts long before any boxes are even packed:

□ Sort and purge. Now is a great time to go through your things and get rid of anything you don’t need or use. For example, you can donate any clothing you haven’t worn in a while or kitchen items you have duplicates of.

□ Research moving companies. Around two months before your move is a great time to start researching moving companies. Do any friends or family have recommendations? Or, if you’re moving your belongings yourself, it’s also a good time to reserve a rental truck. In addition, you should begin stocking up on items like boxes, tape, bubble wrap and permanent markers.

□ Keep valuables safe. For example, any items like jewelry or important documents should be placed in a safe box so they are easier to keep track of during and after your move.

□ Make arrangements for utilities. It’s easier to stop or transfer cable, gas, electric, water, solar, telephone, security and garbage services a few weeks before moving day.

□ Complete a Change of Address. You can do this easily by visiting www.USPS.com. You can also register to vote at the same time!

□ Update your driver’s license and car registration. You can do this through your local DMV.

□ Book babysitters or pet sitters. There are a lot of moving parts on moving day! Don’t forget to arrange for sitters for young children and/or pets on moving day so that you can concentrate on the job at hand.

□ Long-distance considerations. If you’re moving from a long distance, some additional arrangements need to be made. For example, arranging medical records to be sent to new healthcare providers, switching medications to a local pharmacy and arranging for transportation of your vehicles.

Moving day checklist

Now that the big day is here, there are a few things you’ll want to remember!

□ Keep items separate and safe. Make sure that any items you are personally transporting are kept separate from things that the movers will be moving.

□ Carry some cash. It’s a good idea to keep enough cash on you to cover the cost of moving expenses—just in case.

□ Keep cleaning supplies on hand. In case there are any last-minute spills or dirty spots you may have missed, it’s a good idea to keep a box of general cleaning supplies set aside.

□ What to leave behind. Finally, leave keys, garage door openers, and anything else the next owner or occupant of your residence will need with their Real Estate agent or your leasing agency.

Ready to move into your new home in Southwest Florida?

When the paint is dry and the papers are all signed, that means it’s finally time to move into your brand new Neal home! We’re happy to help you find the new home of your dreams in one of our acclaimed communities. Contact us today to schedule a tour or for more information.

At Neal Communities, customer satisfaction is what matters most.

As you know, along with the continued challenges of Coronavirus, the housing market is experiencing an unprecedented level of demand.

This impacts every facet of the homebuilding process, from our construction trades to material suppliers and municipalities, resulting in labor, material, and approval delays. While these challenges are industry-wide and not specific to Neal Communities, we are working hard to continue to build quality homes.

You may experience some communities with limited availability, price restructuring, or paused sales.

These processes have been put in place to ensure the quality and value that Neal Communities prides itself on.

Looking for a quick move-in home in Fort Myers, Florida? We have a Bright Meadow floorplan that’s available this April! In fact, this spacious single-family home located in our sought-after Verandah community is what coastal dreams are made of.

A spacious home your family will love

•2,288 Square Feet

•3 Bed, 3.5 bath

•3-Car garage

•1-Story

This stunning Bright Meadow floorplan offers abundant space and distinct coastal style! Located in the Magnolia Isles neighborhood of Verandah, this quick move-in home in Fort Myers is as welcoming as it is well-appointed. For example, this home features an upgraded kitchen package, upgraded tile floors, 8′ doors and unique barn doors leading to the den. In addition, lawn maintenance, basic cable and Internet are included!

Private, gated living at Verandah

This private golf course community is only 15 minutes from charming downtown Fort Myers. In addition, it offers 36 holes of championship golf, nine miles of trails and boardwalks, kayaking along the Orange River, a dog park with covered areas and a fitness center with a spin room. It also features restaurants, grocery shopping, and banking so close, you can just take your golf cart!

Discover Fort Myers, Florida

With the pristine beaches of Sanibel and Captiva, family-friendly attractions of Cape Coral and the spirit of Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter estates, Fort Myers is one of Florida’s most popular cities. In addition, it is the commercial center of Lee County, with corporate campuses and JetBlue Park. However, it maintains a charming hometown feel thanks to boutique art galleries, public dog parks and Six Mile Cypress Slough, a nature-filled conservation area with an elevated boardwalk.

Don’t miss this quick move-in home in Fort Myers!

As Southwest Florida’s most trusted private homebuilder for over 50 years, we know a home like this won’t last! Please contact us today for more information. Not quite ready to move just yet? Discover one of our other acclaimed new home communities in Southwest Florida!