Newland's national sales up 9%

TAMPA -- Newland Communities says net home sales in communities which are being actively sold are up roughly 9% compared to the first 11 months of 2010.

The San Diego-based master-planned community developer operates in 14 states, including Florida. All four of Newland's planned communities in Florida — FishHawk Ranch, MiraBay, Circa FishHawk, and Waterset -- are situated near Tampa Bay. The firm did not disclose specific sales totals for the Tampa Bay area.

In addition to declaring its nationwide sales growth, Newland says it plans to hold a grand opening for a new Tampa-area community in 2012. The company did not respond to questions about the name of that community prior to deadline, but a representative did say that no date has been set for Waterset, an Apollo Beach project occupying 2,300 acres.