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Crystal Lagoon Excitement At Pulte Homes

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No community in Tampa Bay has generated as much excitement as Epperson and its Crystal Lagoon in Wesley Chapel.

Pulte Homes has been building homes at Epperson since the community opened last April. And in just eight months, its sales team has sold 40 homes, and recently began selling homes in its second phase of 207 home sites.

“The energy at Epperson is contagious. Not only here at Pulte, but in the entire community,” said Alexandria Fowlow, a Pulte sales associate at Epperson.

“Of course, people are excited about the Crystal Lagoon. But, it’s more than that. People want to live in a new town where they’ll have everything they want – a beautiful place to live, play and even work,” said Fowlow.

The 7.5-acre Crystal Lagoon is now filled with turquoise water reminiscent of the Caribbean, and that is driving even more people to Pulte’s sales center at Epperson. When Pulte kicked off sales of its second phase in January, Fowlow and her sales colleague, Mark Hofferberth, sold 14 homes during the first week.

“Now that people can see the lagoon, the demand has been incredible,” said Fowlow. “Plus, our homes are among the closest in distance to the Lagoon, so that is another big draw.”

Pulte’s homes are an easy walk or bike ride to the Crystal Lagoon, with most homes being just a half-mile away from the community’s massive amenity center. The lagoon is a 7.5-acre environmentally sustainable pool with its own private sand beaches, tidal pool, swim-up bar, and kayak launch. Surrounding the lagoon will be lush tropical landscaping, restaurants, an event pavilion, cabanas and water sport rentals.

In addition to the lagoon, Epperson also offers residents the fastest Internet and Wi-Fi speeds in the nation because it is part of Wesley Chapel’s Connected City Corridor. This means that every Pulte home in Epperson is offering residents 1 gigabit of Internet speed.

“Being part of the Connected City is important to buyers of all ages, because everyone wants the fastest online connectivity and wants to live in a community that offers the latest technology,” said Fowlow.

After deciding Epperson would be a great place to live, many future residents select Pulte as their builder because of its wide variety of floor plans, the ability to personalize and customize their home, and because of Pulte Homes’ affordability and exceptional value.

Pulte homebuyers have 11 floor plans to choose from, and each offers five or six different elevations.

“Our communities do not have a cookie-cutter look — our homes have great curb appeal, and every home can be customized inside and out,” said Fowlow.

Epperson Pulte models are between 1,500 to 3,200 square feet, with base prices ranging from $240,000 to $328,000. Every Pulte home is energy-efficient and comes with an exclusive 10-year limited warranty.

“Home sites are available on 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot lots, and most back up to water or conservation. Plus, every backyard offers privacy, and many are oversized,” said Fowlow.

Currently buyers receive a $10,000 flex cash incentive, if they use Pulte’s preferred lender, which they can apply toward closing costs and design center options.

Pulte’s Sales Center 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 Alex and Mark at 7905 Olive Brook Drive, Wesley Chapel, Florida 33545. They can also be reached at (877) 251-3076, or by emailing or .

PulteGroup has been providing the American Dream of homeownership to families for more than 60 years. What started as a single home built and sold by the entrepreneurial spirit of an 18-year-old Bill Pulte, has grown into the industry’s sole multi-brand homebuilding company with the ability to serve customers in all phases of life. Today, PulteGroup operates in approximately 50 markets throughout the country.

 

Published February 28, 2018

ICI Homes Ready For The Parade at Asturia and Bexley

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Just in time for the 2018 Parade of Homes, ICI Homes has two beautifully furnished models and four move-in-ready homes for tour in Bexley and Asturia, two of Pasco County’s most prestigious communities along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor in Land O’ Lakes and Odessa.

ICI Homes has been building in Bexley since the community opened in the fall of 2016. It addition to its beautifully decorated, two-story Brooke Parade model that features five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, the one-story Pamela is also available to tour as a move-in-ready home with four bedrooms and three baths.

Over in Asturia, ICI Homes has a brand new Parade model, the Serena, which just opened to January to rave reviews from prospective homebuyers and Realtors.

“Between our public grand opening, and an exceptionally well-attended Realtor event a few days before, we couldn’t be more pleased with the large number of people who came out for the Serena’s opening weekend,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of ICI Home’s West Florida Division.

“People love the Serena’s grand foyer that pulls you through the house with its 12-foot ceilings and open floor plan that sweeps you from the front of the house to the back,” said Ferguson.

“The Serena feels so much larger than a 2,200-square-foot house. Its large kitchen and great room gracefully flow into a covered lanai that stretches along the back of the home. This home never feels crowded, whether you’re relaxing with family or entertaining friends.”

Easily Customized Homes

Many families are looking for premium construction and high-end finishes in a smaller home, Ferguson adds, which is why the Serena works so well as a starter home for young professionals, for families with school-aged children and empty-nesters looking to downsize.

“People want well-designed homes with quality construction and workmanship that can be easily customized, built on conservation home sites in a community that provides an active lifestyle and great location. ICI Homes is that kind of builder, and Asturia and Bexley are those kind of communities,” said Ferguson.

ICI offers two home series in Asturia, built on 55-foot and 65-foot lots in the community’s heavily wooded second phase that opened in late 2017. “These home sites are some of the most beautiful conservation and water lots in all of Pasco County,” said Ferguson.

In addition to the Serena model, ICI Homes has three move-in ready homes in Asturia. A Serena and a two-story Santa Maria floor plans will be completed in the next few weeks, and in April, a one-story, 2,500-square-foot Costa Mesa will be ready. Homes range from 1,789 to 3,196 square feet, and base prices go from $288,900 to $419,900.

At Bexley, the 3,089-square-foot Pamela is also ready now for quick move in. This four-bedroom, three-bath home, three-car garage is $549,030. It features a 12-foot-high foyer that offers the unique option of walking into a flex space/study, the kitchen and gathering area, or straight into the private owner’s suite. A gourmet kitchen is just steps away from the large gathering and dining rooms, both of which open to a large covered lanai.

About ICI Homes

ICI Homes sets itself apart from other builders with its unusual ability to make custom changes without sacrificing affordability.

“We believe in a hands-on approach with all of our new homebuyers, offering custom changes by experienced design professionals that help make decisions for the homebuyer easier and affordable,” said Ferguson.

ICI is one of Florida’s most premier builders, and for many years has been ranked in the Top 100 Builders in the nation by Builder Magazine. It offers a wide variety of architectural styles and floor plans to match its buyers’ lifestyles and price ranges. From spacious, affordable homes to one-of-a-kind mansions, each home reflects the benchmark quality and affordable customization for which the company is known.

Established in 1980 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, ICI Homes is the recipient of several prestigious awards for design and innovation, and has long enjoyed local, regional and national professional recognition.

The Asturia sales center for ICI Homes is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264. At Bexley, the sales center is at 16754 Courtyard Loop in Land O’ Lakes, (813) 530-9069.

 

Published February 28, 2018

New Ashton Woods Homes In Asturia For Under $300,000

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Here’s a great opportunity if you’re looking to move up to a new home in one of the master-planned communities along the State Road 54 corridor in central Pasco.

Ashton Woods is selling beautifully finished, inventory homes for less than $300,000 in Asturia — the prestigious Odessa community that’s known for its award-winning amenity center and miles of nature trails.

While the average home price in Asturia is close to $400,000, Ashton Woods has several quick move-in homes ready for under $300,000 in its charming Grove series of alley-load homes.

These spacious, two-story homes are over 2,000 square feet and feature three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and two-car garages. Five quick-sale homes are available in two floor plans — the 2,003-square-foot Arlington and 2,193-square-foot Ortega — which range in price from $280,490 to $299,064.

“To get into Asturia for under $300,000 in a 2,000-square-foot home is a fabulous opportunity for someone wanting a new home with top-quality construction and premier home finishes,” said John Reny, Florida president for Ashton Woods, the nation’s largest privately held homebuilder.

In addition to its quick move-in homes in the Grove Series, Ashton Woods also has another 17 inventory homes that are either ready now, or will be by June.

“Our goal is to always have a good supply of quick move-in homes in every price range, because so many families need to move fast,” said Reny. “Many buyers have sold their existing home sooner than expected, or they are renting and do not want to renew their lease while a new home is being built.”

Ashton Woods has four distinct homes series at Asturia, and model homes for each that are open seven days a week. This includes the Ferrara model in the Classic Series, which is also featured in the upcoming Parade of Homes sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

At 2,890 square feet, the two-story Ferrara is a perfect home for a growing family, offering four to six bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. Be sure to tour the Ferrara during the Parade of Homes, scheduled for the first two weekends in March. In addition to the Ferrara, the Athens floor plan, at 3,365-square-feet, is also ready now in the Classic Series.

Families looking for traditional homes, but with less square footage, can choose from several one- and two-story options in Ashton Woods’ Heritage Series, including two quick move-in homes.

For many first-time homebuyers and empty-nesters, the Grove and Evergreen series offer an ideal home solution with their unique alley-load garages that open up the front of the house to large living areas and covered porches. Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia to offer alley-load homes.

“We call this front-porch living, because it takes advantage of Florida’s wonderful year-around weather and makes it easy to get to know your neighbors,” said Reny.

Known for its commitment to personalized design, every home Ashton Woods builds comes with the same standards of top-quality construction and finishes.

“With Ashton Woods, you’re partnering with more than just a homebuilder. You’re partnering with a team of expert designers and builders whose main goal is to help you create your perfect home,” said Reny. “Not only do we blaze new trails in design, we offer buyers highly personalized service every step of the way.”

Ashton Woods is so well-regarded that it was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer Magazine. And, for the fourth consecutive year, it has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

 

Published February 28, 2018

Don’t Let The Parade Pass You By!

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Spring is in the air, and once again Connerton is blooming with new homes, new families and plenty of fun activities for its residents.

Your family can discover Connerton over the next two weekends, during the 2018 Parade of Homes presented by the Tampa Bay Builders Association. For the second year in a row, Connerton is featured as a Parade Showcase Community, and its builders are showing off with four beautifully furnished model homes.

The 2018 Parade of Homes dates are March 2 to March 4, and March 9 to 11. Models are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Parade is free and open to the public.

Tour Club Connerton

Winner of Best National Lifestyle Award

Make Club Connerton your first stop during the Parade of Homes. This expansive, family focused activity hub is the epicenter for Connerton residents, and captures the community’s unique vibrant lifestyle.

Begin your tour at the Visitor Center inside Club Connerton, and learn about Connerton’s 13-year history and New Town designation by the Florida Legislature. You’ll see an overview of the 4,800-acre master-planned community and its many neighborhoods, parks, connecting trail system, and the adjoining Connerton Preserve sanctuary.

Next, tour the 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, with fitness center, kids activity room, multipurpose area, café and resort-style pool with outdoor kitchen and ping pong/pool tables. Common areas surrounding Club Connerton include basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, as well as an outdoor amphitheater, gardens and walkways.

In January, Connerton was proud to receive the 2018 Gold Award for Best Lifestyle Program for a Community during the National Association of Home Builders National Sales and Marketing Awards gala in Orlando. Entries were submitted from around the nation, and Connerton walked away with the prestigious Gold Award, edging out communities from California, Texas and South Florida.

Unique Floor Plans and Decorating Ideas

Close-by Club Connerton are the four Parade models built by Homes by WestBay, Inland Homes, Lennar and M/I Homes. A representative from Arthur Rutenberg Homes will be at the clubhouse to provide custom home plans for its 90’ homesites in the gated area of Rose Pointe.

Whether you enjoy touring new homes because you’re in the market for a lifestyle change, or you’re just looking for design and decorating ideas, you’ll be delighted with the variety of floor plans and beautiful home sites available in Connerton.

Party In The Park

During the Parade of Homes, walk across the street from Connerton’s model center to a quaint neighborhood park for free hot dogs and refreshments on Saturday and Sunday. This peaceful retreat is one of several neighborhood parks where Connerton residents enjoy picnicking, playing games or enjoying a quiet place to read and relax. There’s even a community dog park for residents’ furry friends.

As you drive through the community, you will appreciate Connerton’s green space and conservation areas, its miles of trails and oversized sidewalks for biking and walking, and a scenic two-mile trail and boardwalk that winds through natural wilderness, lakes and wetlands.

 Enjoy Your Visit

There’s no doubt that Connerton lives up to its tagline — “The Community of More…”

Just ask residents, who are out and about all day long. With the community’s award-winning activities, top-rated schools, exceptional builders, beautiful clubhouse, natural conservation areas, and miles of trails, residents of all ages and interests have many reasons for choosing Connerton.

As a “New Town” designated community, its master plan has the potential for up to 5,000 homes, millions of square feet of retail and office space, a government center and more than 1,000 acres of natural protected spaces.

Construction has recently begun on the community’s next phase, located at the east end of Pleasant Plains Parkway. The developer will soon break ground on 259 single-family lots, many with water or conservation views.

Connerton is located in Land O’ Lakes, about six miles north of the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41. For more information, visit Connerton.com.

 

Published February 28, 2018

Ashton Woods Homes In Asturia Come In Every Size and Price

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Many families looking to move to Asturia choose Ashton Woods as their builder because it offers homes in every size and price range. Plus, it has a large selection of quick move-in homes that are ready to close within 90 days.

“At Asturia, we have something for everyone,” said John Reny, Florida president for Ashton Woods, the nation’s largest privately held homebuilder. “Because we offer four distinct homes series at Asturia, we offer price points and home sizes for every budget and lifestyle.”

For many first-time homebuyers, as well as those looking to downsize, the Grove and Evergreen series offer an ideal new home solution. Their unique floor plans place the garage in the rear of the home, which opens up the front to large covered porches.

“We call this front-porch living, because it takes advantage of Florida’s wonderful year-around weather and makes it easy to get to know your neighbors,” said Reny. “We’re also seeing a big demand for alley-load homes because their smaller size makes them low maintenance and more affordable.”

Ashton Woods is the only builder in Asturia to offer alley-load homes. It has three quick move-in homes ready now, and another seven will be available in the spring. Homes are one or two stories and range from 2,003 to 2,502 square feet. Prices in the Grove and Evergreen series begin in the $240,000s.

Ashton Woods also has traditional one- and two-story homes built on larger home sites in its Heritage and Classic homes series. Prices begin in the $280,000s, and living areas are between 1,802 and 3,129 square feet.

“Our goal is to always have a good supply of quick move-in homes because so many families need to move fast,” said Reny. “Many buyers have sold their existing home sooner than expected, or they are renting and do not want to renew their lease while a new home is being built.”

Known for its commitment to personalized design, every home Ashton Woods builds comes with the same standards of top-quality construction and finishes.

“Other builders may talk about having a focus on design,” said Reny. “But we often hear from people who walk into one of our award-winning model homes that they don’t just see the difference, they literally feel it.”

Ashton Woods is so well-regarded that it was named the 2017 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer magazine. And, for the fourth consecutive year, it has been ranked among the top three for Most Trusted Builders in America.

“With Ashton Woods, you’re partnering with more than just a homebuilder—you’re partnering with a team of expert designers and builders whose main goal is to help you create your perfect home,” said Reny. “Not only do we blaze new trails in design, we offer buyers highly personalized service every step of the way.”

From the sale of its first home in 1989, to being recognized today as the nation’s largest private homebuilder, Ashton Woods is well-positioned for the future. Headquartered in Atlanta, in addition to Tampa Bay, Ashton Woods sells new homes in Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Dallas, Houston, Naples, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Antonio and Sarasota.

Asturia is centrally located on State Road 54 in Pasco County, with close proximity to the Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and Interstate 75. When completed, the community will have 550 homes in the heart of one of Tampa’s fastest-growing suburban corridors.

Set among parks, playgrounds, trails and shade trees, Asturia is a master- planned community where neighbors greet each other from their front porches, lounge together at its resort-style pool and work out at the community’s state-of-the-art amenity center. Asturia is a place where families thrive, kids make friends easily and neighborhood schools that are among the best in Tampa Bay.

 

Published on January 24, 2018.

ICI Homes Opens New Model In Asturia

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Here’s a great way to win a $500 gift card and tour a brand new model home.

Come out to Asturia this weekend for the grand opening of its latest model — the four-bedroom, three-bath Serena built by ICI Homes, the community’s newest builder.

The grand opening celebration of the Serena model is Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. (Jan. 27 and Jan 28), at 15134 Aviles Parkway. Asturia is located in Odessa on State Road 54, just west of the Suncoast Parkway.

“We are excited to be building in Asturia. Its location in the heart of Pasco is ideal for both first-time homebuyers and those moving up to a larger home,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of ICI Home’s West Florida Division.

ICI offers two series in Asturia — seven distinct plans on 55-foot lots that begin at $288,900 and start at 1,789 square feet, and six larger homes on 65-foot lots that begin at $377,900 and start at 2,402 square feet. Both home series are being built in Asturia’s heavily wooded second phase that recently opened.

“These home sites are some of the most beautiful conservation and water lots in all of Pasco County,” said Ferguson. “We are very pleased to offer these gorgeous home sites to families looking for both smaller homes and those moving up to larger, more expensive models.”

The new Serena model home is one of ICI’s best-selling plans. This one-story home features a large gathering room with views out to a covered lanai. A spacious gourmet kitchen and dining area are perfect for spending quality time with family and for entertaining guests. The large owner’s suite has a master bath that leads into a large, double-entry walk-in closet. Two bedrooms at the front of the home share a bath, plus a separate guest bedroom and bath all provide living spaces away from the main living areas.

In addition to this furnished model, ICI Homes is building three showcase homes that will be move-in ready within the next few months. A Serena will be completed in the next few weeks, a two-story Santa Maria in late February and a one-story, 2,500-square-foot Costa Mesa in late March.

ICI Home also builds home in Bexley, another master-planned community located close-by in Land O’ Lakes.

“We’ve been in Bexley since its inception, and our homes there are larger with a minimum 3,000 square feet,” said Ferguson.

“Because we do not offer smaller homes in Bexley, we are pleased to now be able to refer families who want the quality of an ICI home in a smaller floor plan to Asturia.”

ICI Homes does have one move-in home that will soon be ready in Bexley, the Pamela. At 3,089 square feet, the four-bedroom, three-bath, three-car garage home is one of ICI Homes’ newest floor plans. It features a 12-foot-high foyer that offers the unique option of walking into a flex space/study, the kitchen and gathering area, or straight into the private owners suite. A gourmet kitchen is just steps away from the large gathering and dining rooms, both of which open to a large covered lanai.

ICI Homes sets itself apart from other builders with its unusual ability to make custom changes without sacrificing affordability.

“We believe in a hands-on approach with all of our new homebuyers, offering custom changes by experienced design professionals that help make decisions for the homebuyer easier and affordable,” said Ferguson.

ICI is one of Florida’s most premier builders and for many years has been ranked in the Top 100 Builders in the nation by Builder Magazine.

Always on the cutting edge of Florida new-home design and technology, ICI Homes takes pride in offering a wide variety of architectural styles and floor plans to match its buyers’ lifestyles and price range. From spacious, affordable homes to one-of-a-kind mansions, each home reflects the benchmark quality and affordable customization for which the company is known.

Established in 1980 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, ICI Homes is the recipient of countless prestigious awards for design and innovation, and has long enjoyed local, regional and national acclaim.

New Division Manager 

Ron Ferguson is the new West Florida division manager for ICI Homes. He oversees the company’s communities in the Tampa region, including Asturia and Bexley in Pasco County.
Ferguson joins ICI Homes after 12 years with David Weekley Homes, where he served as project manager in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area for the past five years. He has more than 18 years experience in construction management and has earned high customer satisfaction results throughout his career.

Ferguson supports several charitable community organizations, including Paint Your Heart Out Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Illinois State University.
Published on January 24, 2018.

Asturia is a Neighborhood — Not Another Sprawling Community

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Caring father helping son put on bicycle helmet – Outdoors

Asturia’s uniquely small size makes it stand out among other new home developments along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor in Odessa and Land O’ Lakes.

While nearby planned communities have between 3,000 to over 5,000 homes in their master plan, and are looking at several years of construction, Asturia is building just 550 homes and will complete construction in just a few years.

“Asturia feels more like a neighborhood than a sprawling community because our nature trails, pocket parks, first-class amenities and community events encourage you to get to know your neighbors,” said Lane Gardner, managing director for Hines, Asturia’s developer.

“And, because Asturia offers a variety of lifestyles, it is perfect for families with school-aged children looking for larger homes, and young families buying their first home.”

Lane continues that Asturia also attracts empty-nesters wanting to downsize to a new home with all the latest upgrades. “These folks chose Asturia because we are a friendly, walkable community that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle,” he said.

Hines, which is based in Jacksonville, professionally manages the design and development of Asturia’s master plan, including overseeing residential neighborhoods, community amenities, parks and primary infrastructure. It also is responsible for community branding, marketing and the sale of multifamily and commercial parcels.

It’s this commitment to the integration of natural resources, high-quality design standards and thoughtful master planning that has earned Asturia several prestigious regional design and planning awards.

It’s been just two years since Asturia began selling homes, and already the development has moved into its second phase.

Phase Two opened in December and is selling 157 large home sites, most with conservation and water views, and all providing privacy and peaceful, quiet surroundings. A boardwalk connects the two neighborhoods within Phase Two, and will intersect with Asturia’s multi-use pathway that meanders for miles through residential areas, parks, playgrounds and the Amenity Center.

Three Premier Builders

Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes, some of the best builders in the country, are Asturia’s exclusive builders.

ICI Homes is the community’s newest builder and is celebrating the grand opening of its Serena Model this weekend, Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Visitors can enjoy refreshments and can enter a $500 gift card raffle.

Ashton Woods and David Weekley Homes, Asturia’s builders since the community opened, both boast of successful sales during Phase One.

“We’ve successfully sold out of the Garden Series homes, and only one Cottage Home remains available in Phase One,” said Jennifer Cole, senior marketing director of David Weekley Homes.

And Kristin Wilson, sales and marketing manager for Ashton Wood, reports, “We’ve sold over 100 homes in Asturia and are very pleased with the keen interest in this community.”

“Our buyers are fortunate that they can choose from such premier builders like ICI Homes, David Weekley Homes and Ashton Woods to build the home of their dreams in Asturia,” said Gardner.

Award Winning Amenity Center

Asturia’s distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center and Clubhouse earned the prestigious Silver Aurora Award for the Best Recreational Facility at the 2017 Southeast Building Conference.

This contemporary-design Amenity Center includes a fully equipped, modern clubhouse; covered outdoor dining areas; a luxurious, beach-entry, resort-style swimming pool; and an expansive event lawn for spontaneous outdoor games, such as Gaga Ball, volleyball and soccer.

For kids, there is a Kompan dome, swings, slide and spinners in the playground area that are designed to promote imaginative play and build strong bodies.

Asturia has wide, meadow-like spaces, lovely ponds, thick stands of cypress and hardwood trees, and large tracts of scenic wetlands. It is an exceptionally kid-friendly and family oriented community surrounded by miles of multi-use trails that are interspersed with playgrounds, dog parks and pocket parks.

Make Asturia your new home by visiting its models, registering at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 227-4148.

Published on January 24, 2018.

Two Unique Pulte Communities Designed For Families

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Pulte Homes offers two distinct communities for families wanting a new home in the areas most desirable north of Tampa.

Birchwood Preserve in Lutz and Starkey Ranch in Odessa offer multiple floor plans designed for the way families live today, with Pulte’s unique Life Tested® home designs. Plus, both communities provide lifestyle amenities from everything to swimming pools with cabana seating to family play areas for fun in the outdoors.

Because Pulte recognizes that today’s homebuyers are looking for different community features, Birchwood Preserve and Starkey Ranch offer families very distinctive benefits. Here is an introduction to both.

Birchwood Preserve

Birchwood Preserve is a smaller community of just 196 home sites, has a beautifully landscaped gated entrance and no CDD. Owners help support shared amenities and common areas with an affordable HOA.

Close to 40 new homes have been sold since Birchwood Preserve’s grand opening last May. Sales continue to be brisk, with many buyers coming from surrounding neighborhoods, WestChase and Citrus Park. Home prices begin at $321,990.

Birchwood Preserve offers 10 unique single-family models, which range from 1,904 to 4,600 square feet and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages. Because families with children make up over 80 percent of buyers, larger two-story homes are selling especially well.

Birchwood Preserve’s fabulous amenity center is the heart of the community. It boasts a luxurious swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse with kitchen, and children’s exploration climbing dome playground, swing set and other discovery play equipment.

Families choose Birchwood Preserve because of its A-rated schools. It is the only new, single-family-home community in Lutz whose children are zoned to all three schools at the highly desirable public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road — Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and McKitrick Elementary.

Another plus is the community’s convenient location, located a half mile from Dale Mabry Highway and less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway. It offers easy access to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Tampa International Airport, the Westshore Business District, International Plaza and Gulf Coast beaches.

For more information, go to Pulte.com/birchwoodpreserve, or call (888) 500-2107.

Starkey Ranch

It’s hard to imagine a community that’s greener than Starkey Ranch. Located in rural Odessa along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor, about half of the community’s 2,400 acres is devoted to lakes, ponds, wetlands and parks.

To the north and east, its only neighbor is the 18,000-acre Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. At dawn and dusk, the community feels like a bird sanctuary, with wood storks, herons, egrets and cranes. Reclaimed water is used for irrigation in parks, common areas and individual yards.

Pulte Homes offers 20 energy-efficient home designs in this beautiful, exclusive community. Its newest Starkey Ranch neighborhood, Monroe Commons, is an enclave of 95 home sites located adjacent to Huckleberry Pond and the Starkey Ranch District Park.

Monroe Commons is introducing six new home designs, offering two to five bedrooms and 1,950 to 2,470 square feet. Residents love splashing in the community’s pools, exploring the playgrounds, hiking wilderness trails and playing baseball or soccer at its multi-sports fields.

Priced from the high $200s, each new smart home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity and the Diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package. Pulte is looking forward to the upcoming grand opening of the community’s newest models, the Clearwater and the Sienna, which will take place this spring.

In 2016, Starkey Ranch received national recognition as the Master Planned Community of the Year by the National Home Builders Association.

For more information, go to Pulte.com/starkeyranch, or call (877) 752-0173

Life Tested® Designs

Every Pulte home includes Life Tested® Designs that come from Pulte homeowners.

The Pulte Planning Center® is a multifunctional area with counters and cabinets to help a family get organized in one convenient place off their kitchen or gathering room.

The Everyday Entry® drop zone has built-in shelving, hooks and storage to accommodate backpacks, shoes, purses and jackets.

Published on January 24, 2018.

Asturia Wins Awards at Builder’s Masquerade Ball

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Carla Luigs, marketing specialist for Asturia, accepts an award from Claudette Kelsey at the recent Awards of Excellence competition of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Asturia, a Hines Community located in Odessa, recently won Best Logo for a Developer and Best Online Digital Ad for a Developer at the Tampa Bay Builders Association’s annual Sales and Marketing Awards of Excellence competition.

The sold-out masquerade ball was held at the beautifully restored Floridan Palace Hotel in downtown Tampa. Tables were elaborately decorated with candelabras, feathers and flowers, and guests wore festive masquerade masks. A strolling musician played a glowing violin as she walked around the grand ballroom.

Asturia’s Builders

Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes are Asturia’s exclusive builders. All have model homes open daily.

Ashton Wood’s new model, the Suwanee, features a spacious gourmet kitchen.

Ashton Woods’ newest model home is the Suwanee — a new floor plan for the builder — that offers a fabulous kitchen/great room concept. The one-story home features a two-car garage at the rear of the home and boasts four bedrooms, three baths and a spacious front porch. Total square footage is 2,200 square feet. Pricing begins at $274,990.

Ashton Woods has also recently completed its Lincoln showcase home, which is move-in ready. This 2,368-square-foot home is two stories and features a spacious family room that flows seamlessly into the kitchen, and its large center island and upgraded granite countertops.

ICI Homes is the community’s newest builder, and is opening its fully decorated Serena model in late January, with a grand opening weekend of Jan. 27-28. Refreshments will be provided, and a $500 gift card raffle will be held for those attending.

The Serena is a four-bedroom, three-bath home with 2,217 square feet. It features a large gathering room, spacious gourmet kitchen and an owner’s suite with a master bath that leads into a large, double entry, walk-in closet. The Serena has a two-car garage and begins at $329,900.

David Weekley Homes also offers homes with the garage in the rear, with eight distinct floor plans in its Cottage and Garden series. It also builds traditional floor plans in its Lake and Manor series, which combined offers 14 floor plans.

All Asturia builders provide a wide variety of home sizes and architectural styles. Pricing begins in the mid $200,000s, and goes to over $500,000.

Award Winning Amenity Center

Everyone enjoys Asturia’s distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center and Clubhouse, which earned the prestigious Silver Aurora for the Best Recreational Facility at the 2017 Southeast Building Conference.

The Amenity Center incorporates a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, covered outdoor living rooms, a luxurious resort-style swimming pool and expansive lawn areas for recreation.

Asturia is a kid-friendly, family oriented lifestyle surrounded by miles of multi-use trails, interspersed with playgrounds, dog parks and pocket parks. The community has wide, meadow-like spaces, lovely ponds, thick stands of cypress and hardwood trees, and large tracts of scenic wetlands.

About Asturia

When Asturia’s development is complete in a few years, it will likely have less than 550 single-family homes. It is a mixed-use, master-planned community located in the high-demand State Road 54 corridor in Pasco County. The community’s central location is just five minutes from the Suncoast Parkway and also provides close proximity to U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and I-75. Its master plan incorporates retail, office, multifamily and a variety of single-family residential offerings.

For more information, visit Asturia’s model homes and register at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 227-4148.

Published December 27, 2017

Superb Location and Lutz Schools at Lakeshore Preserve

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Close to the Veterans and St. Joseph’s North

 Lakeshore Preserve by Mattamy Homes is a new townhome community in Lutz that is ideal for homebuyers looking for affordable new construction, maintenance-free living, excellent neighborhood schools and fast access to the Veterans Expressway.

Sales have excelled at the community of 102 homes, located on Van

Dyke Road and Lakeshore Road, less than a half mile west of Dale Mabry Highway. Four beautifully decorated models are open daily, and several quick move-in homes are available.

The newest furnished home, the Marianna, was just completed in November and is ideal for first-time homebuyers. Its base price starts from an affordable $199,990, and offers three bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 1-car garage.

In October, Mattamy celebrated the completion of its 13,672 square-foot outdoor activity area, which was ready for the Lakeshore Preserve’s first residents.

This outdoor area comes equipped with a 780-square-foot covered cabana with breeze fans, an outdoor kitchen, hammocks, shaded seating areas and a games area. It surrounds the 1,424-square-foot resort-style pool.

“Lakeshore Preserve’s superb location and thoughtfully designed townhomes make this community unique to the north Tampa area,” said Lisette Minnick, director of sales for Mattamy Homes.

The community is situated in a desirable Lutz location, just minutes from St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, and convenient to shopping, dining and entertainment venues in Carrollwood, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.  Its close proximity to the Veterans Expressway makes it an easy commute to Tampa, the airport and area beaches.

Schools zoned for the community are top-rated Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary.  Charter school Sunlake Academy of Math and Science opens this fall, and several private schools are close-by, including Academy at the Lakes and Carrollwood Day School.

Lakeshore Preserve offers five townhome plans that feature Mattamy’s signature design style and distinctive architectural features.  Meticulous attention was paid during the architectural design process to ensure that all usable living space is optimized and enhances any lifestyle.

Townhomes range in size from 1,667 to 2,608 square feet, and have 2 to 5 bedrooms, 2.5 to 4 baths, and 1- or 2-car attached garages. Base prices range from $199,900 to $304,990. A wide array of quick, move-in townhomes are available for move in now and through this Spring.

Some of the interior features that are included with every home are granite kitchen countertops, hardwood 42-inch upper cabinets, 9’4” ceilings on the first floor, and sod with lawn irrigation. In addition, a first-year builder warranty and 10-year transferrable structural warranty are included.

On select homes, options are available such as an expanded kitchen island and a second owner’s suite, which combines the space of two smaller bedrooms and creates a second private retreat. A limited number of one plan is available that offers the owner’s bedroom on the first floor.

The community encompasses 20 acres, and several of the buildings have conservation views.

To learn more, please visit Mattamyhomes.com or call Melanie Sikorski at (813) 659-5854.

Mattamy Homes has proven excellence by being North America’s largest privately owned homebuilder with over 90,000 homeowners. Founded in 1978, it is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America and has sold more than 90,000 homes in hundreds of communities, including the metropolitan areas of Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Phoenix and Tucson.

Published November 22, 2017