Business Briefs 08.20.15

+ W.G. ownership costs top analysis

Consumer finance site NerdWallet listed Winter Garden for having the highest increase in home-ownership costs in the state.

According to the site’s study, home-ownership costs rose 49.3% from 2000 to 2013, followed by Seminole County at 46.3%

According to the site, from 2000 to 2013, homeownership costs — which include real estate taxes, homeowners insurance and utilities — increased 11.6%, after adjusting for inflation.

Only 12.4% of Florida locations the site examined had homeownership costs decrease over the 13-year period.

To examine the full report, visit nerd.me/1hbyUTI.

+ Pulte to host grand opening

Pulte Homes will host a grand opening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, to unveil its new Lakeview Pointe community, located off Lake Hancock Road in Horizon West.

The event will include model tours, refreshments and live music. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Lakeview Pointe offers one- and two-story energy-efficient, single-family homes and town houses. The community includes 22 home designs. Pulte plans to build 245 single-family homes at Lakeview Pointe on 32-, 50-, 60- and 85-foot homesites. Several lakefront sites are available. 

Single-family home are priced from the $250,000s to the $400,000s and feature two to seven bedrooms with two to four baths and range from 1,900 to more than 4,200 square feet of living area.

Pulte plans to build 70 low-maintenance, rear-entry town houses at Lakeview Pointe priced from the $200,000s with two to three bedrooms, two and two-and-one-half baths. Square footage will range from 1,464 to 1,825 and feature an optional third floor. 

Lakeview Pointe amenities include a resort-style community swimming pool with splash pad, children’s playground and passive park.

For more information, visit pulte.com/lakeviewpointe.

+ Royal Oak begins work in Minneola

Royal Oak Homes, based in Orlando’s Baldwin Park, has started development of its newest single-family community of Ardmore Reserve, located in Minneola off Fosgate Road.

Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said there are 675 home sites at Ardmore with 146 homes sites in the first phase.

New three-, four- and five-bedroom homes at Ardmore Reserve, ranging from 1,817 to 3,200 square feet of living area, will be priced from the low $200,000s.

Presales and construction of three models will begin in September, Orosz said.

The amenities planned at Ardmore include a swimming pool and a community clubhouse.

Founded in 2011, Royal Oak Homes is becoming one of the largest and most active home builders in the Central Florida area, building in 17 active communities in the region.

+ Aquatic Systems to open in W.G.

NAI Realvest recently negotiated a new lease agreement totaling 3,000 rentable square feet of industrial space at 1319 Green Forest Court in Winter Garden.

Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest, and associate Kristen Kemp negotiated the lease representing the tenant, Aquatic Systems Inc., a Pompano Beach-based lake and wetlands management services firm.

 The landlord is Oakland-based Matrix Development Inc.

+ Helbourg selected for leadership team

Wyndham Vacation Rentals announced Joanne Helbourg, of Winter Garden, was recognized as a member of VISIT FLORIDA’s 2015-2016 tourism industry leadership team.

VISIT FLORIDA — the state’s official tourism marketing corporation — ushered in new leadership July 1 to serve on its executive committee, board of directors and industry committee. Helbourg will serve as a member of the promotions committee. She will join other members of Wyndham Vacation Rentals’ Gulf Region also appointed, including Lino Maldonado, who will serve as the secretary of the board of director’s executive committee, and Martin Owen, who will serve as a member of the international committee.

The board of directors is the organization’s private sector governing body that, along with the members of its 11 committees, provides guidance, input and insight into the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA’s marketing programs.  The 31-member board, appointed by Enterprise Florida in conjunction with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, comprises representatives from key sectors of the tourism industry and is balanced geographically throughout the state. The nine-member executive committee of the board of directors, made up of the officers and standing committee chairs, serves as the highest level of VISIT FLORIDA’s volunteer leadership.  

“As a collection of regional vacation rental brands, Wyndham Vacation Rentals is strongly connected to each and every one of its destinations,” said Mary Lynn Clark, president, Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. “We’re proud of our Florida associates for reinforcing their commitment to the local market and helping to shape the future of the state’s tourism. I’m confident they’ll help make a positive impact through their committee roles.”

To learn more about Wyndham Vacation Rentals, visit WyndhamVacationRentals.com.

+ Construction starts at Twin Waters

Meritage Homes recently broke ground on three models at Twin Waters, its newest single-family home community in Winter Garden.

Brian Kittle, division president of Meritage Homes for the Orlando region, said the homebuilder has 140 home sites at Twin Waters for new three- to eight-bedroom homes priced from the $300,000s to the high $500,000s.

Meritage is offering 16 floor plans at Twin Waters that will range from about 2,700 to 5,239 square feet of living area.

The community is located on Hartwood Marsh Road and Johns Lake in Winter Garden.