It has only been a year since Pulte Homes opened Birchwood Preserve in Lutz, and there has been so much demand that the community’s second phase is opening ahead of schedule this summer.
“Since we opened our sales center last May, we’ve sold close to 80 homes out of 120 available in our first phase,” said Vince Kuntz, Pulte’s sales consultant in the community. “The demand has been so good, that we’ve sold most of our 60-foot home sites in our Elite home series, and have a waiting list of buyers wanting larger lots in our second phase.”
Birchwood Preserve’s second phase offers another 76 home sites, many with conservation and water views. Like the first phase, 60-foot lots are reserved for homes with three-car garages, and 50-foot lots for homes with two-car garages.
The community’s second phase is also introducing Pulte’s Classic series of homes, which are designed to be more affordable, with prices beginning at $310,000 for 1,851 square feet.
“Homes in our Classic series meet Pulte’s high quality standards, but offer finishes that are less expensive to make homes more affordable, especially for first-time homebuyers,” said Kuntz. “By comparison, homes in our Signature series on 50-foot lots begin at $333,990 for 1,904 square feet.”
Birchwood Preserve’s new Classic series has eight floor plans, ranging from 1,851 to 4,274 square feet. Pulte is building a new model home for its Classic series, the 2,855 square-foot Citrus Grove. This two-story home offers 4 to 5 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths, an owner’s suite on the first floor and a large game room upstairs.
“This is very much a family community, and our large, two-story homes are most in demand,” said Kuntz. “Our most popular floor plans are those with four and five bedrooms with over 3,000 square feet of living area.”
Birchwood Preserve’s biggest draw is its outstanding A-rated schools. It is the only new, single-family home community in Lutz that is zoned to all three schools at the highly desirable public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road — Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.
“When people walk in the door at our sales center, the first question they ask is about our schools, and 95-percent of the time, when they learn all grades are assigned to these A-rated schools, they are sold,” said Kuntz. “Nothing is more important to our buyers than being zoned to some of the best schools in Hillsborough County.”
Kuntz adds that while other new, single-family home communities in the area may be zoned to Steinbrenner High, none are also zoned to top-rated Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.
“We even have families with babies moving here, because in a few years they want their child to go to McKitrick,” said Kuntz.
After schools, the second top reason families are choosing Birchwood Preserve is because of the community’s convenient location, a half mile west of Dale Mabry Highway and just south of Sunlake Boulevard where Geraci Road dead-ends.
“We’re less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway, and just as close to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, and all the grocery, dining and retail on Van Dyke Road,” said Kuntz. “With our quick access to the Veterans, it’s easy to get to Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, International Plaza and the Gulf Coast beaches.”
Homeowners in Birchwood Preserve share a fabulous amenity center in the heart of the community. This facility is already built and includes a resort-style swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse with kitchen, and a children’s exploration climbing dome playground with swing set and other discovery play equipment.
“Birchwood Preserve already has an active family lifestyle with many things to do for families with children of all ages,” said Kuntz. “Our residents quickly connect with one another, and have organized playgroups and their own online community network.”
When built out, Birchwood Preserve will have just 196 homes. Because of its small size, there is no CDD. Owners help support a beautifully landscaped gated entrance and the amenity center with an affordable HOA.
Most buyers are coming from surrounding neighborhoods in Lutz and Carrollwood, as well as Westchase and Citrus Park.
With its new second phase, Birchwood Preserve will offer a total of 18 unique single-family models, which range from 1,851 to 4,600 square feet, and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages.
Pulte’s Sales Center at Birchwood Preserve is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Please stop by to visit Kuntz and his associate, Amanda Barningham, at 18709 Birchwood Groves Drive, Lutz, Florida 33558
They can be reached at (813) 804-5705. You can also visit the website at
Pulte.com/birchwoodpreserve.
Published May 23, 2018
