The Laker/Lutz News

Pulte Homes

More changes are coming to Central Pasco

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The Pasco County Commission has cleared the way for more changes to come to the central part of Pasco County.

The county board voted on Aug. 24 to approve changes to a master plan unit development (MPUD) on the west side of U.S. 41, between Roaches Run and Causeway Boulevard. The changes allow a maximum 275,000 commercial retail square feet and create a land use equivalency matrix, to expand the types of uses.

Those additional uses are office, medical office, health care-related, light industry distribution, multifamily residential, single-family attached residential, senior retirement/assisted living/aggregate home and public institutional uses.

The request was filed by Hagman Groves Inc., and RS Roach LLC, who were represented by attorney Barbara Wilhite.

The county board also approved a request to change the name from Causeway Center Commercial MPUD to Causeway MPUD, to better reflect the potential uses.

The commercial retail square footage shall be a minimum of 100,000 square feet.

Residential uses will only be allowed on the parcels abutting U.S. 41, if they are part of a vertically mixed-use integrated building.

Commissioners also approved a variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces in the development. And, they granted a deviation from the county’s standard platting procedure, for this specific project.

Brad Tippin, the county’s manager for development review, explained what the county is trying to accomplish with the platting deviation.

“One of the things that we’re doing — the development services branch and public infrastructure branch — are working together to try to reduce the overall timelines to market for some of these types of projects. So, one of the things that we’ve included in here is a deviation from our standard platting process,” Tippin said.

“We only are doing this in this particular project and we can only do it upon your approval of this particular set of conditions that would actually allow us to do that. We’re going to give it a trial run, see how it works,” Tippin said.

He added: “Some other jurisdictions are doing something similar.”

The county hopes this approach will help shorten its timelines, Tippin said.

Wilhite, representing the applicants, told commissioners: “I think we’ll come up with something that will bring this project to market quicker.”

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved a request by Pulte Homes to rezone the southwest corner of Lake Patience Road and Perdew Drive to allow 240 single-family detached homes on approximately 80 acres.

Attorney Clark Hobby, representing the applicants, noted the density “is roughly one-half of the density that would otherwise be permitted on the site.”

He added: “Every property that’s adjacent to the site, running for approximately six miles, have MPUDs or large-scale developments to the west.”

In other action, the board:

  • Established the Connerton East Community Development District, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, West of Ehren Cutoff, and South of State Road 52. The district covers 1,274.6 acres.
  • Approved a text amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan to allow a broader array of uses to be considered on the Paw Materials property, on the north side of State Road 52, about one-quarter mile west of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. The policy previously contained the word “support” when referring to commercial and retail entitlements. Removing the word “support” expands the list of potential uses.

Published September 01, 2021

Help Bexley Celebrate Its 3rd Birthday!

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Milestones are worth celebrating. In November, Bexley by Newland rings in being a part of the Pasco Community for the past three years!

A lot has happened in that short period of time. Not only has Bexley earned accolades from Real Estate advising group, RCLCO, has the top-selling community in Tampa Bay and one of the top 50 in the U.S., it also has been honored with a host of national and regional awards.

As Bexley has grown up, it has become a vibrant, planned community. Families don’t have to travel very far to enjoy Bexley’s outstanding amenities, which include resort-style pools, parks, fitness center, café, bike shop, BMX track, and miles of multi-purpose trails.

Residents often share that what makes Bexley so unique is the close-knit, family feel they just haven’t experienced elsewhere.

“Bexley is growing into the community we envisioned,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland. “It’s truly a special place and offers something for everyone, especially those who are looking for an active, outdoor lifestyle, and greater connections with each other. It’s a wonderful community to be a part of, whether you’re a family with kids, buying your first home, or looking to downsize.”

Outstanding Schools
Bexley Elementary School opened within the community in the Fall of 2017 on 18 acres donated by Newland.

The schools zoned for Bexley residents — Bexley Elementary, Rushe Middle School and Sunlake High School — are all A-rated by the State of Florida. Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes, a charter school just minutes from Bexley, also has earned top marks.

Top-Notch New Builders
This year, Bexley added two new partners to its outstanding list of homebuilders. Arthur Rutenberg Homes and Pulte Homes join Cardel Homes, David Weekley Homes, Homes by WestBay, and Lennar in offering a wide variety of single-family and luxury homes in the community.

Custom homebuilder Arthur Rutenberg recently opened its Avalon model home at Bexley. Rutenberg homebuyers can choose from 19 different floor plans that were created just for the community. Pulte, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, offers three flexible home designs located near Bexley Elementary. Pulte’s homes allow for personalization and feature the company’s 10-year protection plan warranty.

A New Vision for a 55+ Community
Pulte is no stranger to Bexley. Last year, the company opened its Del Webb at Bexley 55+ active adult neighborhood near the intersection of Sunlake Boulevard and Tower Road. Pre-sales for the community’s second phase of low-maintenance homes are expected very soon, with its sales center already open. Del Webb at Bexley’s expansive 17,000-square-foot clubhouse is on track to open in early 2020.

Nearby Community Comforts
Bexley residents enjoy all the comforts they need in a growing town. The community has attracted nearby conveniences, such as the AdventHealth Emergency Department, a SpringHill Suites hotel, and a RaceTrac gas station and convenience store. Additional dining and retail areas are also in the works.

In three short years, Bexley has earned many honors, but the best acclaim is from the hundreds of families who now call Bexley home, and are busy making memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.

Published October 30, 2019

Bexley Wins Big at Parade of Homes

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Bexley and four of its outstanding builders were big winners at last month’s 2019 Parade of Homes. The annual event is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

In all, builders at Bexley earned three Grand Awards and three Silver Awards for model homes, along with two Best in Class Awards. The community’s model homes were the winningest of any other community competing in this year’s Parade.

Model homes throughout Bexley were judged by a panel of industry experts. Bexley also had the honor of being the Parade’s featured Showcase Community.

Parade of Homes award winners at Bexley include the elegant Savannah model by Cardel Homes and the Bayshore II model from Homes by WestBay, with its beautiful outdoor living area shown here.

Pulte Homes’ Summerwood in the Del Webb at Bexley 55-plus community earned a Grand Award in the $350,000 – $399,000 price range category. In the $600,000 – $649,000 price range, the Bayshore II model from Homes by WestBay also earned Grand Award honors.

Cardel Homes’ Savannah and Henley took home both the Grand Award and Silver Award in the $750,000 – $799,000 price category.

Homes by WestBay’s Cypress Model received a Silver Award in the $400,000 – $449,000 price category while David Weekley’s Tangelo also earned a Silver Award in the $550,000 – $599,000 category.

Best in Class honors went to Cardel Homes for its Master Suite and Bath in the Savannah model. The single-story floor plan features four bedrooms, three baths, a three-car garage and more than 3,300 square-feet of living space in a single-story design.

Homes by WestBay also earned a Best in Class Award in Outdoor Living for its Bayshore II model.

“We’re honored to have several of our outstanding builders recognized,” said Pam Parisi, vice president of marketing for Newland. “This year’s Parade of Homes also recognized Bexley as its Showcase Community. It was wonderful to host so many prospective homebuyers during the event because it offered them the chance to experience Bexley’s unique and vibrant community first-hand.”

Bexley is one of the top-selling communities in the Tampa area, with a variety of home styles ranging from low-maintenance townhomes to single-family and luxury homes.

Nestled among cypress domes, oak hammocks and pine flatwoods, Bexley features significant conservation areas and a myriad of opportunities for recreation, exercise and social entertainment and connection.

The Bexley Club, a lakeside clubhouse is the centerpiece of the community and home to The Twisted Sprocket Café. This popular meeting spot is open to the public and serves breakfast items, gourmet lunches, desserts, smoothies, wine, craft beer and coffee drinks. Next to the clubhouse, Suncoast Trailside Bicycles sells a variety of bikes, gear and clothing, and offers repairs. If you’re looking to cycle around the community or hit the Bexley BMX pump track, you’ll find everything you need at this one-stop shop.

Bexley residents also enjoy miles of multi-surface Avid™ trails with Fit Stations to add fun and variety to workouts, whether walking, biking or jogging. And don’t forget about the custom-built playgrounds, two dog parks and sports fields.

At Bexley, prospective homebuyers can tour a variety of home options all in one visit. Best of all, the community offers an exclusive Resident for a Day program, which gives potential residents a chance to experience what Bexley has to offer. To learn more, visit www.BexleyFlorida.com or call (813) 425-7555.

Published April 24, 2019

Birchwood Preserve in Lutz Opens Phase II

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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

Two Centex Communities Ideal For First-Time Homebuyers

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Talavera now open in Spring Hill; Wesbridge coming to Wesley Chapel

Affordable housing can be challenging to find in a hot real estate market like Pasco County — especially new construction. But, that is changing with two new communities being developed by Centex Homes.

Earlier this month, Centex held the grand opening of its model in Talavera, a new-home community in Spring Hill that’s located on U.S. 41, just north of State Road 52.

While Talavera’s address is Spring Hill, the community is located in Pasco County and children are zoned to top-rated schools in Land O’ Lakes.

Coming soon to Wesley Chapel is Wesbridge, another Centex development with first-time homebuyers in mind.  Located on Wells Road, directly across from the Wesley Chapel public school complex, construction will begin in July, with models opening in early 2019.

“People looking to buy at Talavera and Wesbridge are typically first-time homebuyers, with many right out of college and moving from an apartment” said Sean Strickler, West Florida Division president for Centex Homes.

“Buyers like the openness of our floor plans, and appreciate Centex’s design that puts most of a home’s square footage in rooms where families congregate,” he adds.

Every Centex floor plan features a great room that opens to the kitchen, and a flex room that can be used as a dining room, library, playroom or office. Centex buyers can also personalize their homes with individual choices in flooring, countertops and colors, and even have a selection of pre-planned structural changes to enhance their home.

“Our homes truly offer more flexibility than many lower priced homes offered by the competition,” said Strickler

Large Lots at Talavera
Centex recently began selling homes in Talavera, a community of 760 homes that has been underway for two years. Centex has 100, 65-foot and 75-foot lots available in this community.

“The homesites in Talavera are very large — you definitely get more property with your home,” said Strickler. “People moving to Talavera want a nice home, and are a little bit more willing to sacrifice commute time to ensure for a larger home that meets their budget.”

Centex offers nine floor plans in Talavera, ranging from 1,675 to 4,248 square feet. Homes are one and two story, with prices ranging from $210,990 to $326,990.

With a floor plan that is truly consumer-inspired, the Palm is Centex’s new, fully furnished model in Talavera. Four quick move-in homes will be available beginning in May.

Amenities are in place at Talavera, and include a resort-style pool, cabanas, children’s playground, basketball court and dog park.

Wesbridge Has Premium Location
Wesbridge’s 104 acres of former timberland and pasture is located in the heart of Wesley Chapel — one of Tampa Bay’s most in-demand communities.

It is located east of I-75 and north of State Road 54, between Boyette Road and Curley Road, and is less than a mile from Epperson — a master-planned community with a Crystal Lagoon that is attracting a lot of attention.

“Wesbridge’s location is perhaps its most desirable feature,” said Strickler  “This will be one of the most affordable new-home communities in the area.”

Another draw is the community’s top schools and close-by recreational facilities. Wesley Chapel Elementary, Weightman Middle and Wesley Chapel High schools are literally across the street on Wells Road. And, the 140-acre Wesley Chapel District Park is just a half mile away with its many baseball, soccer and football fields, tennis and basketball courts, fitness trail and picnic areas.

Wesbridge’s location also offers easy access to shopping and dining at The Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets and the Bruce B. Downs corridor.

Like Talavera, Wesbridge also touts family oriented amenities, including a resort-style pool and splash zone, community clubhouse, children’s playground and dog park.

Many of Talavera’s two-story floor plans will be available at Wesbridge, where homes will be built on 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot lots. Home prices will begin in the mid $200s.

More information about Wesbridge, including home designs, pricing, pre-sales and site, can be found by signing up for the community’s VIP registration at Centex.com/Wesbridge.

About Centex
Centex is a division of Pulte Homes, the third largest homebuilder in the U.S. Pulte understood the demographic boom coming for first-time homebuyers, and in 2008 bought Centex Homes, which was a national brand targeted to this first-time buyer. Today in the Tampa Bay area, nearly half of Pulte’s business comes from its Centex brand.

“In an era where many potential homebuyers are feeling priced out of the market, Centex is proud to be in Pasco with affordable homes that are within 20 to 35 miles of Tampa,” said Strickland.  “Our two Pasco communities offer first-time homebuyers family focused, suburban living close to the area’s major traffic arteries.”

Strickler also adds that Centex Homes are built using the same quality materials and workmanship found in its more expensive Pulte and Del Webb home brands.

“Our Centex buyers get the same quality construction materials and processes, just at lower cost per square foot,” he said.

Talavera
Land O’ Lakes schools
Fast access to U.S. 41 and Suncoast Parkway
760 home sites
Large lots
Prices begin at $210,990
9 floor plans; 1 and 2-story homes
1,675 to 4,248 square feet
Model Home – Palm
Resort-style pool and cabanas

Wesbridge
Wesley Chapel schools
Fast access to I-75
350 home sites
Models open in early 2019
Prices begin in the mid $200s
1,500 to 4,000 square feet
Resort-style pool and splash zone

Published April 25, 2018

Pulte Homes Opens New Models in Starkey Ranch

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If you’ve been looking to buy a new home in Starkey Ranch, April is the month you’ve been waiting for.

To celebrate its May 5 grand opening of Monroe Commons — Pulte’s newest community in Starkey Ranch — buyers will receive $4,000 in free quality appliances from Whirlpool for a refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Monroe Commons families will also qualify for $8,000 in Pulte Flex Cash, which can be used at the design center on home upgrades, or applied toward closing cost.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for families looking for the best value in Starkey Ranch,” said Kristen Woske, Pulte Homes’ sales consultant in Starkey. “Our models in Monroe Common are very affordable, beginning in the upper $200,000s for a 2,000-square-foot home. In fact, we offer some of the best home values in all of Starkey Ranch.”

Woske has been selling homes in Starkey Ranch since Pulte first moved into the community last May. In less than a year, she and her sales colleague, Angela Hobbs, have sold 96 homes in the Homestead Park area of Starkey, with only 14 home sites remaining. This success has lead Pulte to recently launch its second phase of 65 homes in Homestead Park.

“While, of course, people love Pulte’s family inspired floor plans and quality construction and finishes, we’ve been so successful in Homestead Park because our buyers fall in love with Starkey Ranch and all that it has to offer,” said Woske.

Starkey Ranch is a master-planned community of more than 2,400 acres located north of State Road 54 in Odessa. The community began its development three years ago, and currently has 450 homes and will eventually be a community of 3,000 homes. The community is known for the extensive preservation of wetlands, woods and wild prairie, and boasts a paved 15-mile trail system that will extend to 20 miles when it connects to the many nature trails in the adjacent Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

“When someone first comes to our sales center, one of the first questions they ask is whether all the natural wetlands and green space they just drove through will stay green,” said Woske. “And, when I tell them yes, plus show them on the map how much land will remain in its wild state, they are amazed and excited,” said Woske.

Pulte’s new Monroe Commons area is deep into Starkey Ranch and far from State Road 54. Homesites are either lakefront, face parkland or back onto conservation.

Saturday, April 21 is the grand opening of Pulte’s two furnished models in Monroe Commons — the 2,098-square-foot Clearview with its garage at the back of the home, and the 2,188 square-foot Sienna with the garage in the front. Both homes are beautifully decorated and open daily from 10 to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Pulte Homes is offering six floor plans in Monroe Commons. Four have traditional, open floor plans like the Sienna, and two are designed with alley- load garages. All are two stories, and offer two to five bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half baths. The Harrison plan has the master bedroom on the first floor. Air-conditioned living areas are from 1,950 to 2,470 square feet, and base prices range from $269,990 to $304,990.

All Pulte homes in Monroe Commons include granite countertops, 42-inch cabinets, 8-foot interior doors, 17-inch ceramic tile floors, covered lanais, two-car garages and paver driveways. Many custom options are available, including quartz countertops, hardwood floors and upgraded porcelain tile.

Every Pulte home comes with ultra-fast fiber-to-the-home connectivity, the diamond-rated Environments for Living energy efficiency package and a 10-year transferrable limited structural warranty.

Only Pulte Homes is building in Monroe Commons. Its 95 homesites are close to the Starkey Ranch District Park, with its abundance of recreation facilities, as well as Starkey’s unique Cunningham Park designed for small gatherings and community gardening, and the recently opened Beckett Pond for launching canoes and kayaks.

The Starkey Ranch District Park is Pasco County’s newest recreational complex and includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field; three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, playground and picnic pavilions.

“Pulte has many communities in the Tampa region, but Starkey is the one getting the most attention because of our success at Homestead Park and the new floor plans we are introducing at Monroe Commons,” said Woske. “There is so much excitement at Starkey Ranch; it’s just contagious.”

Woske said over half of Pulte’s buyers in Starkey Ranch are moving up from other Pasco communities. “We have a lot of families from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel coming here to see why Starkey Ranch is exploding,” she said.

Most of Pulte’s homebuyers are families with school-age children, although there are also many young, first-time buyers and retirees looking to down size.

For more information about Pulte Home’s communities in Starkey Ranch, please call (877) 752-0173, or stop by its sales office at 13047 Payton St. You can also visit Pulte.com/Starkey Ranch.

 

Monroe Commons Models

Clearview
Open gathering and dining spaces
Extended covered lanai
Alley-load – covered walkway
3-5 bedrooms
2-3 baths
2-car garage
2,098 A/C square feet
$278,990

Sienna
Open-concept living
First floor flex room
3 bedrooms
2.5 bathrooms
2,188 A/C square feet
$294,990 

Published March 28, 2018

Five Models at Starkey Ranch Receive Top Parade of Homes Awards

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Starkey Ranch, a 2,400-acre master-planned community in Odessa, received more recognition at the 2018 Parade of Homes in March than any other community in Tampa Bay.

Five model homes at Starkey Ranch took either a grand or silver award for their floor plans, interior design and outdoor areas, winning in categories with homes priced from $350,000 to $1.2 million.

“We are very proud of the recognition our homebuilders received in this year’s Parade of Homes,” said Matt Call, who leads the development team at Starkey Ranch. “We have five of the most successful builders in the Tampa Bay area, based on sales volume, customer satisfaction and awards. In fact, three of our builders—Pulte Homes, CalAtlantic Homes and Taylor Morrison—are in the top 10 of the national 2017 Builder 100 rankings.”

Buyers like what they see at Starkey Ranch, as evidenced by the volume of new home sales in the community.  In just the first 11 weeks of 2018, Starkey Ranch builders have written 94 sales contracts, a 42% increase over the same period last year. Since sales began in May of 2015, 660 homes have been sold.

Starkey Ranch was initially approved for over 5,000 homes, but Call projects the actual number will be closer to 3,000, due to the high demand for single-family homes on larger homesites. Home prices currently range from the upper $200,000s to over $800,000 on lots that back onto Starkey Preserve.

In 2018, Starkey Ranch is introducing several new neighborhoods: Monroe Commons featuring Pulte Homes; Anclote Reserve featuring Homes by WestBay; Albritton Park featuring M/I Homes; and Whitfield Preserve featuring Taylor Morrison.

Starkey Ranch lives up to its motto, ‘Alive and Thriving,’ says Call. “In less than three years, we’ve gone from no residents to 435 families living in beautiful new homes, and enjoying all the community amenities and programs. More families are moving in each week as their homes are completed.”

Call credits the success of Starkey Ranch to three factors – the place, the product, and the people.

“The place itself is incomparable,” he says. “This is legacy Starkey family land, the last segment of what was once a 20,000-acre working ranch. Most of the ranch became the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve, and we enjoy this forever-wild neighbor along the community’s northeastern boundary. On the other hand, we have three miles of frontage on State Road 54, making access easy for our residents.”

As evidenced by the Parade of Homes awards, the home products are something special, too. Starkey Ranch has rigorous design guidelines that require builders to enhance the exteriors of each home with elements like stone, siding, shingles, porches, decorative trim and upgraded roofing materials.

They also must vary the home plans and color palettes on each block, creating a more interesting streetscape. “You won’t find any cookie-cutter stucco boxes here,” says Call. “It may cost a bit more to build in Starkey Ranch, but the community is looking great and we think it will stand the test of time.”

The last key to success is people. The builder sales counselors, the Welcome Center ambassadors and the community’s Lifestyle team members all recognize that a sense of community is more important than a floor plan to most people.

“Our primary goal is to help new neighbors become friends, and we do that through amenities and community activities that bring people together—with a big focus on nature and outdoor recreation,” said Call.

Of Starkey Ranch’s 2,400 acres, 800 will forever remain as open spaces, parks, lakes and preserved wetlands. More than 15 miles of the planned 20-mile paved trail system within the community is complete, and it will connect with trails in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve and the regional Suncoast Trail.

The newest amenity, Cunningham Park, includes a lake with canoes and kayaks for resident use, a community hall for classes and social events, and a community garden. Neighborhood pools, pavilions and parks are disbursed throughout the community.

The 80-acre Starkey Ranch District Park, Pasco County’s newest recreational complex, opened late last year in the community. Its first phase includes a lighted Little League baseball/softball field, three lighted multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, six multipurpose practice fields, a playground and picnic pavilions.

Pasco County has announced plans for the 2021 completion of a K-8 school co-located with the District Park. A public library, community cultural center, and additional recreational facilities will be built with the school.

Coming soon to the intersection of State Road 54 and Gunn Highway is the Publix-anchored Starkey Ranch Town Square, which will also include shops, restaurants and apartments. A small business park is planned for the intersection of Heart Pine Avenue and State Road 54.

For more information, visit the Starkey Ranch Welcome Center at 2500 Heart Pine Ave, Odessa, FL 33556. You can also call (813) 925-9777, email or visit StarkeyRanch.com. Welcome Center hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Recognized builders and their models are:

$350,000 to $399,000
M/I Homes – Grand Prize
Chatham Model

$400,000 to $449,000
M/I Homes – Silver Prize
Sheridan Model

$500,000 to $549,000
Homes by Westbay – Grand Prize
Ballast Point Model

$600,000 to $649,000
Taylor Morrison – Silver Prize
Farnese Model

$700,000 to $799,000
Pulte Homes – Grand Prize
Heatherton Model

Published March 28, 2018

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

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.

Homes Sales Booming At Birchwood Preserve

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Families are choosing Birchwood Preserve because of its A-rated schools and convenient location, a half mile away from Dale Mabry Highway and less than two miles away from the Veterans Expressway.

“Lutz is very attractive to many homebuyers because it provides quick and easy access to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, Tampa International Airport, Westshore Business District, International Plaza and the Gulf Coast beaches,” said Sean Strickler, president of Pulte’s West Florida division.

“Plus, Birchwood Preserve is surrounded by beautiful county parks, connecting trail systems and champion golf courses, such as Cheval and TPC Tampa Bay,” he added.

Excellent schools are another reason for the community’s brisk sales. Birchwood Preserve 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, all just three miles away. Even closer is a new charter school, Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, which opens this month for students in kindergarten through seventh grade.

The entrance to Birchwood Preserve is gated and beautifully landscaped. Amenities include a private luxury community swimming pool with cabanas and hammocks, a multipurpose clubhouse room with kitchen, and a children’s exploration climbing dome playground, a swing set and additional discovery play equipment.

With just 196 home sites, there is no CDD requirement. Owners help support the shared amenities and common areas with an affordable HOA.

Birchwood Preserve is located west of Dale Mabry Highway at the end of Geraci Road. The property is set back far enough from Dale Mabry that there is no traffic or road noise to interfere with its peaceful, natural setting. Many home sites boast nature views, including waterfront lots.

All Birchwood Preserve homes are designed for the way families live today, with Pulte’s unique Life Tested home designs. “The ideas for our Life Tested designs come from our homeowners, whose suggestions we value and incorporate into our homes,” said Strickler. “An example is the Pulte Planning Center® — a unique, multifunctional area designed with counters and cabinets to help a family get organized in one place that is conveniently located off their kitchen or gathering room.” Pulte Homes’ designs also offer Everyday Entry® drop zones with built-in shelving, hooks and storage to accommodate backpacks, shoes, purses and jackets. Pulte’s interactive online design tools allow buyers to preview its Life Tested personal options to help them get the most out of their new home.

Every home in Birchwood comes with a Diamond rating in the Environments for Living Energy package. “Many people come to Birchwood Preserve looking for the peace of mind that comes with a new home that’s covered by Pulte’s unmatched warranty,” said Strickler. “We also have many folks coming in saying it would be way too expensive to try and update their current home, to get them close to par with the energy efficiency and current designs that our homes offer.”

Birchwood Preserve offers 10 single-family floor plans ranging from 1,904 to 4,600 square feet. Homes start at $318,990, and offer three to six bedrooms, two to six bathrooms and two- or three-car garages.

The Valleybrook is one of the most popular floor plans. At 3,320 square feet, it features four bedrooms upstairs and an optional fifth bedroom or den on the first level. Birchwood Preserve is also attracting empty nesters who want the latest in home design, but in a downsized, one-story plan. The Cascade model is a perfect fit with its spacious floor plan that offers three to four bedrooms and a tandem three-car garage that provides extra storage or hobby space.

The community’s model home is the 3,427-square-foot Millstone, which features from four up to six bedrooms and three and a half baths, with a three-car garage. The Millstone model center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Please stop by and meet sales associates Vince Kuntz and Amanda Barningham, who will gladly give you a personal tour and answer all your questions about Birchwood Preserve.

Published August 23, 2017