Category: News

  • Fall Favorites

    Fall Favorites

    It’s time to swap out your swimsuits for sweaters because as of Monday, fall has officially arrived. Get in the festive feel by scrolling through our fall must-haves. Here’s some of our favorite recipes and decorations that will transform your home for the autumnal season.

    Plaid Throw

    Prep for cooler temperatures with­­­ this exceedingly soft Magali Plaid Faux Mohair Throw. Not only is it cozy to lounge in, but it’s also a stylish addition to a couch, armchair or bench along with some neutral colored throw pillows.

     

    Harvest Bowls

    Every fall ingredient comes together to make this bountiful and delicious harvest bowl. The recipe features bite-sized bits of brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, chicken and kale all compiled over a bed of brown rice with a tangy dressing. This dish is just as hearty as it is aesthetically fit for fall.

     

    Spicy Apple Candle

    Rosy Rings Spicy Apple Candle smells like a fresh baked apple pie cooling on a windowsill. It’s a familiar, homey, inviting scent that will fill your entire home each time you burn it. Maybe stock up on a few, because these are bound to become your new household staple for the season.

     

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

    Just like your mom made, but dare we say, better? These Rice Krispie Treats are made with brown butter, double the marshmallows, a touch of vanilla, and brown Rice Krispies. They’re sweet, salty and easy to whip up. Whether you’re making them last minute for a school event or an upcoming football tailgate, they’re a definite crowd pleaser.

     

    German Glitter Pumpkins

    These German Glitter Pumpkins add a shimmering element to seasonal décor. They have detailed, scrolling stems for a touch of fairytale fantasy. Place them out by your front door or in your home to keep all season long.

     

     

  • Marvel in Milano

    Marvel in Milano

    limited opportunities remain to own a new home in Milano.

    The Tuscan-styled neighborhood is located in ­­­­­­Venice, Florida and features flexible floor plans ideal for families of all sizes. There’s a lot we can say about Milano, but rather than writing a novel on why you should move here, we’ll make this read a quick one. Here’s some fast, fun facts about the coveted community:

    • Milano occupies 383-acres of land.
    • The community is a 15 minute drive away from the top rated restaurant in Venice.
    • Daily activities are planned and coordinated by an on-site Lifestyle Director.
    • It’s a 5 minute drive to the Venetian Golf and River Club and less than a 20 minute drive to Venice Beach.
    • The community is considerately eco-friendly. It was intentionally positioned to conserve the area’s wetlands.
    • Scenic ponds are scattered across the area and are an essential feature for avid walkers.
    • Residents have full access to the amenity center which features a clubhouse, outdoor pavilion, resort-style pool, Pickleball court and a bocce ball court.

    Get a feel for the community by scheduling a tour on our website or with our virtual tour that will give you a glimpse into the homes, amenities and surrounding area.

    A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello is the Italian equivalent to “home sweet home”. We hope you find yours in Milano.

  • Sarasota Magazine – PureStyle’s Charlene Neal on Five In-Demand Interior Design Trends

    Sarasota Magazine – PureStyle’s Charlene Neal on Five In-Demand Interior Design Trends

    With Charlene Neal  9/3/2019 at 8:40am

    Mixed metal finishes, performance fabrics and more.

    Responsible for creating beautiful spaces for Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes, Charlene Neal has a constant pulse on new trends in interior design and classical styles that homebuyers still love. Here is her take on the five most in-demand interior design trends in Sarasota.

    IMAGE: COURTESY CHARLENE NEAL

    White kitchen cabinets are still going strong both with traditional door profiles and modern flat panels. White cabinets give an open concept kitchen a sleek and cohesive look that will visually expand the space. It’s also a blank canvas for colorful accents.

    IMAGE: COURTESY CHARLENE NEAL

    Solid surface materials versus natural granite and marble provides a consistent, even look. I’m especially drawn to it because it creates an invisibly seamed countertop that requires virtually zero maintenance. Some are created with leathered finishes. How stylish is that?

    IMAGE: COURTESY CHARLENE NEAL

    Mixed metal finishes and accents, if done right, will give the room a layered and curated over-time look, and the end result will be chic and elegant. Gold finishes both in brushed and polished are showing up in plumbing and lighting fixtures.

    IMAGE: COURTESY CHARLENE NEAL

    Making every detail count in a bathroom designed to feel like a spa—from the color on the walls, to natural elements and of course, the overhead rain shower head—will wash away a hectic day and be a perfect space to unwind.

    IMAGE: COURTESY CHARLENE NEAL

    Choosing performance fabrics makes our lives easier. Products such as Crypton, Sunbrella and Revolution have such fabulous selections that it’s an obvious choice. Its stylish elegance meets function so you can live to the fullest without fear.

  • Canoe Creek Amenity Center Grand Opening

    Canoe Creek Amenity Center Grand Opening

    We had a fantastic time at the grand opening event for Canoe Creek’s amenity center! The event featured live music, games, delicious food, giveaways and plenty of fun in the sun. Based on this weekend alone, we have a feeling that many memories are to come for our residents in this new space.
    Canoe Creek Amenity Center - Kids on Porch Swing

    The amenity center welcomes residents and guests with a front porch equipped with porch swings and rocking chairs to sit back in. Inside the clubhouse you’ll find a lounge area, kitchen, dining tables and office space. Just out the back doors are more swings and patio furniture for lounging. From here, you also have an excellent view of the lagoon-style pool and spa, fitness room, pickleball courts and dog park. It goes without saying that this state-of-the-art amenity center was designed with an emphasis on healthy living.

    Canoe Creek - family in pool

    With our grand opening weekend complete, we invite you to stop by the amenity center to see it for yourself. While you’re at it, we’d also encourage you to schedule a tour of Canoe Creek to see this extraordinary community to its entirety.

    Canoe Creek Amenity Center

  • LAKEWOOD RANCH NO. 1 IN THE NATION FOR HOUSING STARTS IN SECOND QUARTER

    LAKEWOOD RANCH NO. 1 IN THE NATION FOR HOUSING STARTS IN SECOND QUARTER

    Lakewood Ranch led the nation in housing starts for the second quarter of 2019, according to Metrostudy, a leading research and consulting firm specializing in U.S. residential markets. The Ranch’s 1,561 new home starts exceeded those of other top-selling communities in Florida, Texas, Nevada and California.

    “With a broad offering of new homes for every stage of your life coupled with a long standing reputation for amenities and lifestyle, Lakewood Ranch became the ‘Most Active Community’ in the United States for new housing starts as of 2Q 2019, surpassing The Villages for top spot,” said Tony Polito, director of the Tampa/Central Florida region of Metrostudy.

    Earlier in the month, Lakewood Ranch was named the second fastest-selling community in the nation (first multi-generational community), according to Maryland-based real estate consulting firm RCLCO’s 2019 Mid-Year Ranking.

    “Lakewood Ranch’s sales – and subsequent starts success – is a result of its exceptional location, multi-generational approach, and diversity of neighborhoods, as well as an ever-growing list of daily conveniences and social engagement opportunities,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president, LWR Communities, LLC.

    Among the recent additions to The Ranch’s myriad offerings have been two new community parks, two new shopping centers, and the addition of 1.1M square feet of commercial development, which resulted in 222 new businesses and 2,631 additional jobs. Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has spearheaded more than 28 miles of road expansions, added a new sheriff sub-station on SR70, and introduced a new Town Hall for residents. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center recently completed and expansion, and Dr. Mona Jain Middle School will be open for the 2019-‘20 school year.

    Prices in The Ranch range from $200K to more than $1 million, providing a multitude of options for buyers, including condominiums, paired villas, and single-family homes.

    Sales in Lakewood Ranch continue to come from throughout Florida, as well as from high tax markets in the Northeast, specifically New York and New Jersey. There has been growing activity from the Mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland, as well as from California.

    Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide. In addition to providing information, the company is recognized for its consulting expertise on development, marketing and economic issues, and is a key source of research studies evaluating the feasibility of residential and commercial real estate projects. Services are offered through an extensive network of offices strategically located in major metropolitan areas throughout the country.

     

     

    Lakewood Ranch is the 31,000-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 36,000 residents and features A-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, its own Main Street with theaters, shopping and dining, and more than four million square feet of commercial property, including CORE, a life science business campus that focuses on research, health, and education.

  • Poinciana Grand Opening

    Poinciana Grand Opening

    We have a brand new community opening this weekend–Poinciana! This community is conveniently located between University Parkway and State Road 70 near Sarasota and Manatee’s most popular and fast growing area. Mark your calendars for the grand opening celebration on Saturday, July 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Come enjoy food, a DJ and more as we celebrate the opening of this charming community.

    Grand Opening Details

    • Saturday, July 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
    • 4335 Tamarind Place, Bradenton, FL 34203
    • Model tours through our most popular floor plans.
    • Food, live music and more!

    About Poinciana

    Poinciana resides in Bradenton, close to world-class shopping, local restaurants, championship golf courses, grocery stores and more. The beaches and downtown areas of Sarasota and Bradenton are only minutes away, delighting residents year-round. Local residents can stay active at fitness clubs just outside the neighborhood and can often be seen at nearby pubs and enjoying the area’s nightlife. You can learn more about the community here.

    Poinciana Homes

    Homes at Poinciana are available right now. Take advantage of our limited introductory pricing offer before it goes up! Starting from the mid-$200s and featuring a British-West Indies design theme, homeowners will enjoy new villa homes in a convenient location. Both Crystal Sand and Tidewater, two of Neal’s best-selling twin villa floor plans, will be offered at Poinciana with all-time low prices.

    Crystal Sand

    • 2 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 2 Car Garage
    • 1,434 Square Feet
    • 1 Story
      Poinciana Crystal Sand

    Tidewater

    • 2 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 2 Car Garage
    • 1,524 Square Feet
    • 1 Story
      Poinciana Tidewater
  • ideal-LIVING Magazine Honors “The Best of the Best in Planned Communities”

    ideal-LIVING Magazine Honors “The Best of the Best in Planned Communities”

    Wilmington, NC – ideal-LIVING magazine is pleased to announce its fourth annual “Best of the Best” issue which features the Top 100 Planned Communities. The honorees are also revealed on www.ideal-LIVING.com/bestofthebest.

    Surveys were collected at the 2019 Ideal Living Real Estate Shows which showed the top amenities in which potential homebuyers were interested. The Top 100 amenity communities were chosen based on the top amenities requested, including walking trails, wellness facilities, proximity to healthcare, social clubs, swimming, a sense of community, cycling, racquet sports, gated, lake communities, coastal communities, and

    Hundreds of nominations were submitted to ideal-LIVING earlier this year. A special editorial committee assembled by the publication reviewed the qualifications of each nominee and selected the winners in nine categories.

    Among the categories honoring residential communities are the “Top 100 Planned Communities,” “Best Lake Communities,” “Best Mountain Communities,” “Best Coastal Communities,” “Best Golf Communities,” “Best Tennis and Pickleball,” and those with the “Best Wellness Environments.”

    “The ‘Best of the Best‘ feature honors those areas and communities which deserve special recognition for their outstanding qualities, facilities, and programs,” said ideal-LIVING’s Editor and Associate Publisher Kelly Godbey. “We hope that this special feature in our Summer 2019 edition will serve our readers by focusing on the places that offer the lifestyle enhancements that are the most important to them.”

    For more than 25 years, ideal-LIVING magazine has been a leading national publication for readers who are nearing retirement age or who are interested in the benefits of relocating their families or businesses. The magazine’s parent company, RPI Media, also distributes other publications like the comprehensive ideal-LIVING Choose Your Ideal Place Guide and sponsors the company’s signature ideal-LIVING Real Estate Shows each year. For more information, go to the website at www.ideal-LIVING.com.      

  • Curious About Boca Royale? Summer is Your Time to Sample the Amenities

    Curious About Boca Royale? Summer is Your Time to Sample the Amenities

    All eyes were on Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in the latest issue of Venice Lifestyle. The magazine profiled what is now one of the area’s fastest-growing golf and country club communities. Our community more than doubled in size over the past five years and will eventually double again, to 1,200 homes in a private club enclave.

    People love living at this club because it offers a rare lifestyle that feels more like a vacation than everyday life. Residents of the gated, 1,000-acre community enjoy a full line of fun and fitness amenities, including an 18-hole, par 72 golf course, beautiful amenity center, and a members-only clubhouse.

    Click to learn more about why summer is the perfect time to get a taste of club life at Boca Royale!

  • Indigo Model Home Grand Opening Event

    Indigo Model Home Grand Opening Event

    Earlier this month, we held a grand opening to showcase our brand new model homes at Indigo in Lakewood Ranch. The homes that were showcased included Tidewinds, Sandcastle, Victory, Endless Summer 3, and Silver Sky 2. Event goers were given the leisure to tour the homes, interact with digital floor plans or speak with Neal Communities representatives who were more than happy to answer any questions.

    Aside from the homes, the grand opening featured music, food trucks and a popsicle stand to combat the high temps. We’re appreciative of every individual, couple and family who stopped by to spend some time with us. It was such a successful event and we truly could not have imagined it going any better than it did. If you want to be informed about all of our events, be sure to like our page on Facebook.

    Following the grand opening, Gabby and Barbara purchased a home of their very own at Indigo. They have been visiting the community since late January and have been patiently been waiting for their home to sell. Now that they have a contract on their home, they are prepped and ready to move in. We are pleased to welcome the two of them to the beginning of this new chapter in their lives.

    Now that these homes are officially open, we welcome anyone interested in Indigo to schedule a visit. If you’re not local to Florida then no worries–take a look at this video to learn all about the community of Indigo. We hope you stop by soon!

  • Grand Palm Named In Top 50 Best Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire Magazine

    Grand Palm Named In Top 50 Best Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire Magazine

    FLORIDA MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED AS 50 BEST IN U.S.

     

    Where to Retire Releases 11th Biennial List

     

    HOUSTON, TX (June 4, 2019) – Where to Retire reveals “The Short List: 50 Best Master-Planned Communities in the United States,” in the July/August issue, on newsstands June 11. The list is the only one of its kind, focusing on communities rather than locales and featuring first-person testimonials by current residents.

    Grand Palm, in Venice, is one of nine master-planned communities in Florida to be recognized this year. Recreational paths wind past palm trees and green spaces at this lush, all-ages community. A lifestyle director organizes activities like yoga and dance classes, while canoeing, kayaking and other aquatic fun awaits on Adventure Lake. “We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it,” one resident said.

    The selected 50 best master-planned communities showcase the variety of housing options and amenities that enrich the lives of relocating retirees. “Moving after retirement doesn’t mean just a new home; it means a new life,” Where to Retire editor Annette Fuller said. “Yes, each of our 50 communities builds attractive homes, but they also nurture new friendships. Most developments offer trails, sports courts, fitness equipment, restaurants, pools and more. The settings are gorgeous, near mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes and low-humidity deserts. Climates generally are mild, allowing daily communes with nature.”

    Nearly a year ago, editors began gathering and evaluating information on hundreds of communities, but chose only established neighborhoods with enough acreage to build at least a year’s supply of homes. The communities come from 17 states. Florida has nine of the winning 50 communities, followed by North Carolina with eight, Arizona with seven and South Carolina with five. Home prices begin in the $120,000s and go upward of $3 million; 35 communities on the list have homes that start at less than $300,000. Almost half of the neighborhoods are age-restricted or age-targeted while the rest are all-ages. The communities are not ranked; rather, they are listed alphabetically by state and then by development name. A two-page chart gives a snapshot of all 50 choices and a guide to their amenities.

    As the authority on retirement relocation since 1992, Where to Retire has covered hundreds of the best retirement regions, towns and master-planned communities. The magazine is published six times a year and has a national circulation of 200,000.