Homebuilder off to record-breaking year

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The first two months of 2017 have outpaced the same time frame from 2016 in home sales at Neal Communities.

The Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder sold 100 homes in February, on top of 110 sales in January, according to a statement. That's up more than 10% over the first two months of 2016 — a record-breaking year for the firm in sales and closings.

Neal South, the company's division covering Lee and Collier counties, marked 20 sales last month and recently opened Avalon, a new condominium community in Naples. Other notable neighborhoods with robust sales in February included Milano in Venice with 14 sales and Silverleaf in Parrish with 13 sales

“With a national focus on tax cuts, infrastructure spending and deregulation, we continue to see a positive real estate market here in southwest Florida,” says Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities, in the statement.

In 2016, Neal Communities broke all of the company's previous sales records, ending the year with 1,109 sales and 1,129 closings. The company has more than 70 successful communities throughout Southwest Florida.