CENTEX OPENS TWO MODEL HOMES IN BRADENTON
Centex has completed two single-family model homes in The Reserve at Crossing Creek, located off Creekwood Boulevard in Bradenton, west of Interstate 75 off State Road 70.
Scott Mairn, vice president of sales and marketing for the company, said Centex will host a grand-opening event from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 10.
The Vernon Hill II model has three bedrooms and two baths in 1,911 square feet of living space with a den, an open island kitchen with a breakfast nook, and a great room. The model has an optional loft that includes a fourth bedroom and bath, increasing the living space to 2,629 square feet.
The two-story Mendoza II model, with 3,242 square feet, has four bedrooms, two baths and a half-bath, a game room and a family living area that encompasses a great room, an open island kitchen, dining nook, and a formal living and dining area. The model has several optional living spaces, including a den in lieu of the formal living room and an optional fifth bedroom with full third bath on the first floor.
Centex plans to build 88 single-family homes at The Reserve at Crossing Creek, priced from the high $100,000s.
— Harold Bubil, Real Estate Today
LWR STUCK ON NO. 9
Rex Jensen, who as CEO of Schroder-Manatee Ranch is the top man at Lakewood Ranch, has enjoyed LWR’s three-year ranking as the nation’s No. 9-selling new-home community.
But enough is enough, he says.
He wants to be No. 8, at least, and he is changing the builder lineup there to do it, adding Lennar, the nation’s No. 3 home builder by volume, to a lineup that already includes No. 14 Taylor Morrison, No. 64 Neal Communities and a dozen or so small local builders.
“There are all kinds of win-wins,” said Jensen, “and for us, this is a big one.”
Adding Lennar, he said, “will ultimately increase our absorption. I have been trying to figure out how we get off No. 9 and rise above that in the nation. Working with people like this, who can bring more of an exterior focus to us, is a good move. We will see if it works.”
No. 1 D.R. Horton is building a few houses on bank-repo lots at the Ranch. Could they be the next big builder there?
“We are adding other builders shortly and will give you some insight when we have ink on paper,” said Jensen.
For more on Lennar’s arrival at Lakewood Ranch, see the feature story in Sunday’s Real Estate section.
— Harold Bubil, Real Estate Today
