Neal Communities Starts 2012 With Higher Sales, Traffic

 SARASOTA, Fla., February 3, 2012 - Neal Communities continued its rise in home sales where it left off in 2011, recording a 43% increase in January with 33 homes sold – 10 more than the same month a year ago.

The Lakewood Ranch-based residential developer and home builder, led by its president, Pat Neal, finished 2011 on a high-note with 403 sales for the year, one of its best ever. BUILDER magazine recently named Neal Communities the 2012 America's Best Builder in its category.

"It's a great start to the new year for our team," said Neal, "and with the continuation of the low interest rate environment and a further rise in incomes and employment, we look forward to a strong 2012."

Higher traffic through Neal's portfolio of more than a dozen communities in Manatee and Sarasota counties offers another positive sign that economic conditions are improving in southwest Florida. Traffic was up 44% with 942 families making their way through Neal's offerings, meaning roughly 10 more prospective buyers a day viewed Neal's homes in January compared to last year. Visits to the Neal Communities website jumped 37% to 13,318 compared to a year ago.

Woodbrook, a single-family residential community off Lockwood Ridge Rd. in Manatee County, led the way with seven home sales. Central Park, a Lakewood Ranch community of 826 lots featuring a 10-acre park, followed with five sales.

Neal Communities also recorded four sales at Sawgrass, the premier golf course community off Auburn Rd. in Venice. The company completed three contracts each at Arlington Cove, a paired-villa community in Englewood, and Forest Creek, a single-family community in Parrish.

Neal Communities is ranked #1 locally by Metrostudy and by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence based on number of home sales and ranked #94 nationally among home builders by BUILDER Magazine. As the area's largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder, Neal Communities is continually striving for excellence in every aspect of the home building and development business. Neal Signature Homes, John Neal Homes, Charlene Neal PureStyle, Waterscapes Pools & Spas, State Street Mortgage, and Allegiant Title Professionals all contribute to the firm's continued, record-setting success. With over 8,600 homes built in Southwest Florida, Neal Communities' honors and accolades include being named one of 2012's "America's Best Builders" by BUILDER magazine, 37 awards in the 2011 Parade of Homes, 48 Aurora Awards, 5 Best in American Living Awards, and hundreds of local and regional industry awards.  For more information, visit nealcommunities.com.