John Neal Homes Emerges as Largest Custom Home Builder in Lakewood Ranch for 2012

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In a year of tremendous growth and expansion, John Neal Homes has quickly become one of the largest custom home builders in the region in 2012. The Lakewood Ranch based new home builder sold 41 custom designs in 2012 totaling close to $30 million in sales revenue with an average sales price of $725,000. The company that was founded in 2009 has zero debt, a fact that its President says is paramount to its success. “There are really four rules of real estate,” said John Neal. “Location, location, location, and make sure your builder is financially stable.”

The rapidly growing company is the largest custom home builder in the Florida master planned community of Lakewood Ranch, selling 19 homes in Country Club East and 13 homes in the Country Club this year. “We have become the market leader in custom design,” said Neal. “I am so proud of each and every John Neal Homes team member, who have worked so hard this year to grow our business and provide the best custom homes for our buyers. We were able to respond quickly to this niche market segment as it recovered, with our fully integrated company to provide our homeowners with custom architecture, beautiful design, and unmatched customer service at a competitive price,” Neal noted.  

John Neal Homes also builds in University Park, Legends Bay, Riva Isle, The Forest, and The Concession. In addition, John Neal Homes launched a custom lot division in 2012, allowing customers more flexibility to build anywhere they choose. The custom lot division is currently building homes in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, as well as Freeport, Bahamas. “Some customers love our models, but don’t want to live in a traditional planned community. This option is perfect for them,” said Neal.

John Neal Homes is currently constructing its newest model, The Barbados II, in the Highfield section of The Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. At just under 5000 square feet, it will be the largest new model in Lakewood Ranch when completed in February of 2013. 

Recentlydoubling the size of its Lakewood Ranch Main Street office space, the company is adjusting for an expanding staff, with the addition of six new employeesthis year and has consistently maintained one of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the business.     

“We build homes mainly in two counties, so it’s very important to us what customers think and what they want,” said Neal. “I want them to love their home just as much when they move in as they did when they first fell in love with the model and made the initial investment. Many people have bought two to five Neal homes- a lifetime of homes if you will, and that’s our objective- to keep fulfilling the customer’s needs above any other custom builder around,” said Neal. 

John Neal Homes maintained a strong commitment to philanthropy in 2012. Giving generously to local organizations like the Manatee County Humane Society, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School and others, John Neal Homes also helped organize a fundraising drive that raised $5800 for the victims of Superstorm Sandy in the Northeast. In addition, John Neal launched a young philanthropy program this year to encourage high school students to “pay it forward” by awarding $6000 each year to deserving students to donate in their name to an area non-profit.

John Neal Homes was the largest custom builder in Manatee County in 2011 based on permits and is currently building in Lakewood Ranch, Legends Bay, The Forest, Riva Isle and on privately owned lots in Bradenton, Venice, Parrish, Siesta Key, and Freeport, Bahamas. The company is completely integrated to benefit its customers, with its engineering and building team, plus PureStyle design services and Waterscapes pools, the fifth largest pool company in the state. Established in 2010, John Neal Homes garners a 99.8% positive customer referral rate and is a testament to the customer service offered by John Neal Homes. John Neal is a fourth generation builder in the Neal family and under his pioneering leadership, the John Neal Homes team builds on more than four decades of experience. John Neal is a dedicated community advocate and philanthropist.  He sits on several community boards including the Manatee County Red Cross, the State College of Florida, and is an incoming board member of theManatee County Chamber of Commerce.  John also sits on the Environmental Lands Action Committee for Manatee County and continually takes an active role in advocating for and supporting his community.

The company's honors and accolades include Aurora Awards for models in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch and Country Club East and several Parade of Homes awards from the Home Builder’s Association. John Neal was named as one of the Gulf Coast Business Review’s 40 under 40 in 2011 and a person to watch by Biz941. John Neal Homes is a custom builder that designs homes in planned communities as well as on your lot. For more information go to www.homesbyjohnneal.com