Author: Jasmine

Neal Communities Sponsors the 22nd Annual Big Backpack Event for the Sixth Straight Year

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, sponsored the 22^nd Annual Big Backpack Event in Fort Myers for the sixth year in a row and exceeded its donation goal for a fifth consecutive year. This year’s event was held on Sunday, July 25 from 11 am – 2 pm at the Fort Myers Skatium Rink.

The Big Backpack Event is an annual back-to-school event and school supply giveaway hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida. The giveaway benefited children in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, helping them start school with confidence and pride.

The first 2,000 children at the event received a free backpack and school supplies. Local vendors also participated in the event by offering free eye exams, books, fingerprinting, free haircuts and face painting.

The company raised nearly $22,310 in donations from Neal employees, trade partners, homeowners, real estate agents, family and friends. This support helped to once again surpass the intended goal of $15,000.

In addition to financial support, Neal Communities employees volunteered at the event. To date, Neal has contributed over $109,000 for the Big Backpack Event.

“This is an event that we hold very close to our hearts and is extremely important to us,” said Tim Oak, Southwest Florida Regional President of Neal Communities. “The community really comes together, employees, realtors and trade partners, and they each donate to give kids a fresh start for the new school year.”

For more information or to make a donation to the Big Backpack Event, visit the Multicultural Centre website.

August 4, 2021
Neal Communities makes $4,500 in donations to support local students and teachers

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made donations totaling $4,500 in support of local education-related organizations.

“We’re a big believer in supporting the younger members of the communities in which we work,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Education plays an important role in their future success, so we’re always happy to contribute to local schools and organizations working to educate youth and prepare them for their next steps in life.”

Neal Communities made a $2,500 donation in support of Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School. This new Parrish school opened in fall 2019 and is located within walking distance of Neal Communities’ new Riverfield townhome neighborhood in the North River Ranch master-planned community.

Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School operates under a “house system.” Students from various age groups and backgrounds are given spots in one of the school’s four houses, which help students develop skills in leadership, teamwork and service to community. The school is working to construct an ADA-compliant structure that will allow all students to safely make use of donated playground equipment and will serve as a spot where house colors and flags can be displayed.

Neal Communities made a $1,000 donation to support the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. The nonprofit works to enhance the potential of local students, promote excellence in teaching and inspire innovation in education. Each year, the foundation serves almost 44,000 students and 5,000 instructional staff and support personnel in 53 public schools in Sarasota County.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased educational needs, and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is responding to support students and teachers during this challenging time. The foundation expanded its EducateSRQ grant program to provide teachers with more funding for classroom resources and opened the LaunchPad4U community center to offer mentoring and college and career advising for high school students.

Neal Communities also made a $1,000 donation to support Take Stock in Children Manatee, the Manatee County chapter of the Florida nonprofit. Working to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students, Take Stock in Children offers mentoring and college-readiness programs as well as college scholarships for Florida students it begins working with as early as middle school.

Take Stock in Children Manatee has awarded more than 715 scholarships to date. The program has a 98% high school graduation rate, and 93% of its students go on to post-secondary education or trade school.

“These three entities are doing great work for local children and teens, especially recently in the midst of some challenging circumstances,” said Pat Neal of Neal Communities. “We’re happy to be able to contribute to their efforts.”

For more information about Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School, visit www.manateeschools.net/harvey. For more information about the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, visit https://edfoundationsrq.org. For more information about Take Stock in Children Manatee, visit https://manateetakestock.org.

July 23, 2021
Neal Communities makes $5,000 donation to support scholarship fund at The Out-of-Door Academy

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 29, 2021) – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made a $5,000 donation to support the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic at The Out-of-Door Academy.

The Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund was created in honor of Taylor Emmons ’09 after he tragically passed away. It was established to keep his selfless spirit, concern for others and love for The Out-of-Door Academy alive for years to come.

Each year, the scholarship provides opportunities for socio-economically diverse students to attend The Out-of-Door Academy and experience the many benefits of a college-preparatory education. It is awarded annually to a rising ninth-grade student who demonstrates the highest level of character and commitment to his or her academic, athletic and artistic pursuits and would otherwise not have the means to attend to school. The scholarship covers up to the full cost of tuition for four years.

The Out-of-Door Academy – which has an elementary school campus on Siesta Key in Sarasota and a middle and high school campus in Lakewood Ranch – hosts the annual Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic baseball tournament to help support the scholarship fund. In 2021, The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team faced off against Canterbury High School at the fundraising event.

But that wasn’t the only highlight for The Out-of-Door Academy baseball program in 2021. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Matthews and his coaching staff, the team accomplished the ultimate goal and won the Florida Class 2A State Championship. Led by seniors Tyler Colditz and Nolan Lewellen, the Thunder compiled a record of 24-3 and won their first regional and state championship in program history.

The team graduates only five seniors in 2021, bringing back many contributing players for the 2022 season. Those players include the 2019 Taylor Emmons Scholarship recipient, Nevan Hernandez.

This is the first time that Neal Communities has made a donation to support the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and Taylor Emmons Memorial Classic at The Out-of-Door Academy. The donation was requested by Ivory Matthews, who serves as community and governmental affairs director for Neal Communities and is married to Coach Matthews.

“This donation supports so many things that we care about here at Neal Communities,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “By making this donation, we’re supporting a school in the same community as our headquarters, and we’re helping local students receive a high-quality college-preparatory education. It also helps reinforce that we care about our employees and the causes that are important to them. We’re happy to contribute to the efforts to build the scholarship fund, and we congratulate The Out-of-Door Academy baseball program on its incredible success this year!”

For more information about the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund, visit www.oda.edu/admissions/taylor-emmons-scholarship.

June 29, 2021
Neal Communities makes $5,000 donation to support Sisters Sowing Seeds

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 3, 2021) – Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has made a $5,000 donation to support Sisters Sowing Seeds, a nonprofit organization that empowers teen girls in the community.

The organization was founded in 2015 by Monica Donley, a senior accountant with Neal Communities. It offers mentoring programs and other services to help teen girls and young women succeed both in school and life and strengthen their self-esteem.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging for the nonprofit, which had to shift from in-person to online meetups. “I missed that personal touch, but we were still able to meet through Zoom,” said Donley.

Those Zoom sessions included events such as trivia games and virtual themed parties to help the girls de-stress from the difficulties of the last year, as well as a group session with a therapist who offered advice and assistance on navigating the pandemic and all the changes it brought. Tutoring sessions were available for students who needed extra help.

Donley also delivered frequent care packages to the 25 middle and high school students working with Sisters Sowing Seeds. They contained everything from personal items to useful supplies like journals to gift cards to help the girls and their families with necessities.

“It was important to keep doing what we do because of the time that I had spent cultivating relationships with these young ladies,” said Donley. “You don’t want to leave them when they’re in a difficult time; you want to make sure you’re able to stand by the words you have given them and the commitment you made to them to be a part of their lives. So of course I wanted to be a part of their lives when times got difficult. I didn’t want them to be out there by themselves.”

Over the past several years, she’s witnessed how the organization affects the girls it serves—and how important it is to be there for them. “These girls are changing and finding out who they’re becoming,” said Donley. “We get an opportunity to have an impact in that early stage of self-exploration. We can be there as a positive influence to let them know they are valuable. We can show them they’re capable of doing things they didn’t think they could.”

The $5,000 donation from Neal Communities will help Donley purchase supplies for upcoming Sisters Sowing Seeds efforts, which include a book club and a return to in-person community events. Neal Communities previously made a $1,000 donation to Sisters Sowing Seeds in 2019 and a $3,000 donation in 2020. Donley is truly grateful for the support she is getting from her employer for a cause so near to her heart.

“I think the community means a lot to my employer, and I think that’s important,” she said. “It feels good to work at a place that cares not only about your working for them and being able to achieve their goals, but that is also looking out for the community. They saw that this meant something to me, and they were willing to invest in it. And that means the world to me.”

“We’re honored to be able to both give back to the community and support one of our valued employees in her efforts to make a difference,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Monica is doing life-changing work through Sisters Sowing Seeds, and we’re happy to help support her efforts to empower the local girls and young women her organization serves.”

For more information about Sisters Sowing Seeds, visit www.sisterssowingseeds.org.

June 24, 2021
Zoom Backgrounds Providing The Feeling of Home

A lot of us continue to work from home, keeping in touch with colleagues and long-distance family members via video conference. It can be frustrating to find that perfect place to set up and then find a bunch of clutter behind you. The answer to this problem is quite simple, utilize a background! Not only does it hide the clutter, but it also provides the opportunity to add a personal touch to your next presentation or meeting!

Our interior design team works diligently to style our model homes at Neal Communities with class and elegance so we decided to share some of those spaces to help customize the environment for your video meetings and family gatherings.

To download, click to open the image full size in a new window, right click and choose Save image as…

A Quick And Easy Change

Changing the background of your Zoom Room seems complicated, but you can do it in a few easy steps! Here are some quick tips for an easy background.

CHANGE THE DEFAULT BACKGROUND IMAGE

Follow these steps if you want to change the default background image for your account.

1. Log into the Zoom application

2. Choose Settings (gear icon in upper right corner)

3. Select Backgrounds & Filters

4. Click the + sign and Add Image

With this ability, where will you be for your next meeting? The lanai, home office, living room or designer kitchen?

June 21, 2021
5 Reasons Why You Should Work at Neal Communities

Neal Communities is hiring, and we invite you to apply at www.nealcareers.com to become a part of the Neal team.

As you look at the job opportunities available, you’ll find a variety of ways you can build a rewarding future as part of a growing company. Taking a position at Neal Communities – one of the Herald Tribune’s Best Places to Work for 2019 and 2020 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties – is a way to begin a fulfilling career at a company that values its employees and their contributions.

Here are five reasons why employees love being a part of the Neal Communities team and why the company is a great place to work:

1. We recruit smartly.

Building a strong team and corporate culture starts with our recruitment process. We’re intentionally rigorous and use a collaborative selection process so that both the manager and the applicant feel confident in their decision to move forward. We want the position to be good fit for the applicant and for the applicant to be a good fit for the department they’d be joining.

2. We care about what we do.

At Neal Communities, we’re passionate about building beautiful, thriving communities that residents love to call home. We are all ambassadors of the brand and no matter what department we may fall into, employees at Neal Communities are excited to come to work each day and to play their role in building vibrant communities for families, active adults and anyone else interested in living on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

3. We value our employees and the connection we have with them.

All employees at Neal Communities have a voice that is listened to and appreciated. We all share a building, and many employees see Pat Neal, chairman and founder of Neal Communities, every day.

And every year we take time to celebrate the commitment and success of our team members through initiatives like our Years of Service recognition or our annual Guiding Principles Award, which honors an employee who illuminates the principles that guide us at Neal Communities.

4. We’re not a corporate builder.

Neal Communities is a family-owned business, so we don’t get lost in corporate red tape. The company doesn’t have to answer to stockholders or board members, and employees don’t have to worry about hitting numbers dictated by executives in another state.

Instead, we are empowered to Do The Right Thing and Neal employees still have plenty of great opportunities for compensation growth, bonuses and career advancement, all while working on rewarding projects.

5. We care about the communities in which our employees live and work.

Neal Communities has a long history of community involvement, and we’ve donated time or funds to local schools and community organizations including the Pace Center for Girls, Boys & Girls Clubs and the Salvation Army. We also support causes that are important to our employees, and we listen when they let us know about a need in the community. For example, the company recently made a donation to Sisters Sowing Seeds, a nonprofit supporting the empowerment of young women that was started by a Neal employee. We also contributed funds to the North Port Mustangs Pop Warner organization after an employee involved with the organization told us about their needs for safe, new equipment for their young players.

June 14, 2021
Interest Rates: A Quick Q&A

Interest rates have been historically low. However, now interest rates are rising. Here’s what interest rates are, why they rise and what that means for you and your goal of buying a new home!

What are interest rates?

An interest rate is an amount a lender charges to you, the borrower. In other words, this is how much it costs you to finance your home. An extra amount you must pay to your lender in addition to what you’ve borrowed. The interest rate will be part of your monthly mortgage payment.

Not that long ago, mortgages began being securitized. Basically, that means the mortgages are bundled up to be sold as bonds. These bonds are traded in markets much like stocks and, once you close on your mortgage, it will probably get bundled into a bond.

Next, financial institutions buy and sell those bonds. The price of the bond and its yield rate move in opposite directions based on how many people want (or don’t want) to buy bonds. For example, if people don’t want bonds it means the market has more sellers than buyers and the bond price goes down but the rate it yields goes up. Typically, when people are happy and optimistic, they buy stocks. However, when the news is bad, you’ll often see interest rates go down. At the time of this post, interest rates are rising.

Does the FED directly control mortgage rates?

The Federal Reserve does not directly control mortgage rates. So When you hear that “the Fed raised interest rates,” it means they’re working through specific channels in the banking system. Next, the markets respond accordingly. It’s this combination of the Fed action and the market reaction that drives changes in mortgage rates.

Why have the interest rates been so low lately?

Interest rates have been low for years. This is mostly because the Fed had used its tools to lower rates and keep them low. They do this to help prevent crises from happening or to prevent a current situation from getting worse. In today’s market, rates were pushed down and it has been hard to raise them again. That’s because they have to balance the fear of upsetting the economy with the need to get rates back to normal in case they needed to be lowered again in the future.

Why are interest rates rising now?

There are two main reasons interest rates are rising right now. First, the Federal Reserve is beginning to raise rates again because the economy is getting stronger. The second is inflation. Inflation means your money buys less – for example, something that cost you $1 in 1970 would cost you approximately $6.83 in 2021. And once markets are convinced inflation is coming, interest rates rise. To compensate for that, bond investors also want a higher interest rate, and mortgage lenders take their cues from the bond market when setting the rates they charge to borrowers. For even more detail on this question, you’ll find this article a great resource.

Beginning Your Homebuying Journey:

We hope you found this quick interest rate overview helpful. If you are looking to buy your new home in Southwest Florida, we hope you’ll call Neal Communities – Southwest Florida’s most trusted private homebuilder for over 50 years. We’re happy to help walk you through the homebuying process from start to finish—including the mortgage process. Please contact us today to learn more!

April 20, 2021
Get to know the Neal family of Companies
If you’ve ever bought a new home, you know the process can be a bit daunting. At Neal Communities, we’re committed to creating a seamless homebuying process from start to finish. In fact, our Neal family of companies allows us to do just that! From funding, to interior design, to pool installation, we’re happy to help you every step of the way!

PureStyle Interior Design

First, PureSt yle—a full-service interior design firm led by Charlene Neal—has the vision and know-how to bring your home to life through furniture, window treatments, art and more. In fact, the PureStyle team has spent years building relationships with top partners in the industry. This ensures they can deliver cost-effective solutions hand-picked from a wide variety of vendors.

PureStyle Services Include:
- Wallcoverings
- Window treatments (including shutters and blinds)
- Bedding
- Furnishings (case goods and upholstery)
- Lighting
- Artwork
- Area Rugs
Waterscapes Pools & Spas

Next, Waterscapes Pools & Spas builds award-winning outdoor pools and spas. Waterscapes takes your vision and their knowledge to create the outdoor oasis of your dreams. They combine design, function and high standards to make beautiful spaces you’ll want to spend time in. In fact, as Southwest Florida’s number one pool builder, they create custom pools tailored to your family’s needs, backyard and style preferences.

Neal Communities Funding

Today more than ever it is important to work with true mortgage professionals. At Neal Communities Funding, they will be with you every step of the way. For example, their commitment to your financing is just as important as building your home. In fact, they take the same care and dedication to provide you excellent mortgage service and programs to meet your needs.

The professional team at Neal Communities Funding use a multi-lender platform to give customers competitive pricing, stability, strength, knowledge and the outstanding service Neal Communities Funding is famous for – all in one place.

Allegiant Title Professionals

Founded in 2012, Allegiant Title Professionals provides outstanding title services for Neal homebuyers, other sellers, purchasers and leaders in need of closing services and title insurance. Additionally, it has received third-party certification for its Seven Best Practices of Real Estate from Security Compliance Associates.

Trust in the Neal family of Companies to make the process easier

Many of our homebuyers enjoy the unique opportunity to work with many or all of our Neal companies. And, because they’re all working so closely together, your homebuying process will be as easy and convenient as possible! Contact us today to learn more.
April 6, 2021
Parade of Homes 2021: See our award-winning homes!

Our legacy for building award-winning homes in Southwest Florida continues! We’re honored to have won multiple awards at this year’s Manatee-Sarasota BIA Parade of Homes.

Manatee-Sarasota Parade of Homes

This year, the Manatee-Sarasota Parade of Homes featured 90 model homes, 9 communities and 3 developments throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Exciting homes and locations like these help showcase Florida West Coast living at its best—and we’re thrilled to be a part of it!

The Sandcastle – Best Kitchen

Neal Communities: Award-winning Homes

Our first award—a tie for Best Kitchen—went to The Sandcastle floor plan at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. In fact, this bright kitchen is a homebuyer favorite, as well, thanks to a large kitchen island and open concept design that flows into the home’s dining area and great room.

The Triumph – Master Bedroom

The Triumph floor plan at Grand Park won two awards: Best Master Suite and Best Floor Plan. This spacious one-story home boasts four bedrooms. This includes a well-appointed master suite featuring a large master bath and walk-in closet.

The Savannah 2 – Best Kitchen

Finally, The Savannah 2 floor plan at Windward won for Best Kitchen. Its airy gourmet kitchen opens to a beautiful great room and dining area—perfect for relaxing or entertaining!

The Carlotta

Neal Signature Homes: Award-winning Homes

The luxury homes at Neal Signature Homes also won awards this year. To begin, The Carlotta at Country Club East won for Best Overall home in its category. This stunning home features an array of flexible options and upgrades, along with a spacious great room, gourmet kitchen and large outdoor lanai. In addition, The Carlotta won Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan and Best Architectural Detail.

Windward at Lakewood Ranch

We Also Build in Award-winning Communities

Neal Communities is also proud to build within one of the country’s most sought-after master-planned communities—Lakewood Ranch. In fact, Lakewood Ranch won a number of Parade of Homes awards this year as well, including Best Overall, Best Entranceway and Best Amenities. Don’t miss our private, gated communities located within Lakewood Ranch: Paired villas and single-family homes at Indigo and attached villa homes and single-family homes at Windward. Neal Signature Homes also builds luxury single-family homes at Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch.

Own one of our award-winning homes

We’re thrilled to build award-winning homes in Southwest Florida for over 50 years. Contact us today to find the Neal home of your dreams! From charming villa homes to large single-family residences, you can find a floor plan to fit your exact needs and preferences.

March 19, 2021
Bought a New Home? Here’s a Moving Day Checklist!

Moving day is very exciting…but it also can be a bit stressful. Here is a moving day checklist as well as some helpful tips to help you stay organized and stress-free on your big day!

Checklist for before the move

Moving day doesn’t just happen in one day: it takes a lot of preparation! In fact, our moving day checklist starts long before any boxes are even packed:

□ Sort and purge. Now is a great time to go through your things and get rid of anything you don’t need or use. For example, you can donate any clothing you haven’t worn in a while or kitchen items you have duplicates of.

□ Research moving companies. Around two months before your move is a great time to start researching moving companies. Do any friends or family have recommendations? Or, if you’re moving your belongings yourself, it’s also a good time to reserve a rental truck. In addition, you should begin stocking up on items like boxes, tape, bubble wrap and permanent markers.

□ Keep valuables safe. For example, any items like jewelry or important documents should be placed in a safe box so they are easier to keep track of during and after your move.

□ Make arrangements for utilities. It’s easier to stop or transfer cable, gas, electric, water, solar, telephone, security and garbage services a few weeks before moving day.

□ Complete a Change of Address. You can do this easily by visiting www.USPS.com. You can also register to vote at the same time!

□ Update your driver’s license and car registration. You can do this through your local DMV.

□ Book babysitters or pet sitters. There are a lot of moving parts on moving day! Don’t forget to arrange for sitters for young children and/or pets on moving day so that you can concentrate on the job at hand.

□ Long-distance considerations. If you’re moving from a long distance, some additional arrangements need to be made. For example, arranging medical records to be sent to new healthcare providers, switching medications to a local pharmacy and arranging for transportation of your vehicles.

Moving day checklist

Now that the big day is here, there are a few things you’ll want to remember!

□ Keep items separate and safe. Make sure that any items you are personally transporting are kept separate from things that the movers will be moving.

□ Carry some cash. It’s a good idea to keep enough cash on you to cover the cost of moving expenses—just in case.

□ Keep cleaning supplies on hand. In case there are any last-minute spills or dirty spots you may have missed, it’s a good idea to keep a box of general cleaning supplies set aside.

□ What to leave behind. Finally, leave keys, garage door openers, and anything else the next owner or occupant of your residence will need with their Real Estate agent or your leasing agency.

Ready to move into your new home in Southwest Florida?

When the paint is dry and the papers are all signed, that means it’s finally time to move into your brand new Neal home! We’re happy to help you find the new home of your dreams in one of our acclaimed communities. Contact us today to schedule a tour or for more information.

March 3, 2021