Wells Core REIT Buys Bridgestone Building in Bloomingdale, IL

NORCROSS, GA– Wells Core Office Income REIT has acquired the Bridgestone building in Bloomingdale, Ill., its second office property in as many months. 

The property serves as divisional headquarters for Bridgestone Corp.’s retail operations, and is leased to the tire giant through November 2018.

  Built in 2001, it contains 71,000 square feet and is located at 333 East Lake Street, near Chicago O’Hare International Airport and adjacent to the famous Medinah Country Club (middle left photo).

Wells acquired the property from Hamilton Partners in a negotiated transaction.  The REIT made its first acquisition last month, in suburban Dallas.

 “This makes two quality properties in a month for this new portfolio,” said Don Henry (top right photo), chief real estate officer of Wells Real Estate Funds, advisor to the REIT. 

“We’re very pleased to be in metro Chicago, one of the country’s top business centers, with a high-quality corporate tenant like Bridgestone.”

Wells was represented internally by Peter Mitchell, senior vice president, Capital Markets.  Hamilton was represented by Jones Lang LaSalle.  Terms were not announced. 

 For more information, see http://www.wellsref.com/;

for more information on Wells Core REIT, visit http://www.wellscorereit.com/

Media Contact: Margot Olcay, Rubenstein Associates, (212) 843-8284 molcay@rubenstein.com

Thomas D. Wood & Co. Brokers Properties in Georgia and Nevada

MIAMI, FL— Thomas D. Wood and Company, a Strategic Alliance Mortgage LLC member, secured financing in the amount of $2,900,000 for Quail Corners I and Duluth Retail Center.

Steve Wood (top right photo), Company Chief Operating Officer, along with Tony Castrignano of Sky Mesa Capital and Realty, secured financing for Quail Corners I through Thomas D. Wood and Company’s correspondent relationship with Symetra Life Insurance Company in the amount of $1,400,000.

The borrower was looking to secure a fixed-rate loan to pay off the existing loan that was maturing.  The loan has a term of 10 years, based on a 25-year amortization and a fixed rate of 5.95%. 

The loan-to-value is 58%.  The 11,277 square-foot office building was built in 1999, and is home to major tenant City National Bank.  Quail Corners I is located at 6518-6522 S. McCarran Boulevard, Reno, Nevada.

Patrick Madore (top left photo), Company Vice President, secured financing for Duluth Retail Center through Thomas D. Wood and Company’s correspondent relationship with Symetra Life Insurance Company in the amount of $1,500,000. 

The borrower refinanced the building into a permanent loan with a rate reset after 10 years, based on a 25-year amortization and an interest rate of 6.45%.  The loan-to-value is 58%.

The 8,500 square-foot retail center was built in 1995, and is home to major tenants Casual Male and Dental Care Alliance. 

Duluth Retail Center is located at 1950 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, Georgia.

For further information, please contact:

Steve Wood, (305) 447-7836, swood@tdwood.com

 Patrick Madore, (561) 338-9799, pmadore@tdwood.com

 Jessica Kinnee, (407) 937-0470, jkinnee@tdwood.com

Jared Karras Joins Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc. as Vice President of Operations

 SALISBURY, MD—Officials of Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a leading, Maryland-based hotel management and services company, announced that Jared Karras (top right photo), CFBE, has joined the company as vice president of operations. 

He will oversee a number of properties in Marshall’s management portfolio, including the opening of the Best Western Brooklyn and Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Chelsea.

“Jared has extensive expertise in opening and repositioning hotels and adds solid bench strength to our hotel operations team,” said Mike Marshall (middle left photo), president and CEO. 

“He has extensive food and beverage experience, as well as a proven track record in cost control, and maintaining high guest and associate satisfaction scores for both full-service and limited-service hotels.”

Prior to joining Marshall Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Karras was vice president of operations for Sun Development & Management Corporation, a 30-unit hotel development and management company based in Indianapolis.

Previously, he was owner and operating partner for Meridian Hospitality Group, Inc., in St. Louis, where he increased annual profitability by 50 percent. 

Karras began his hospitality career with Chicago-based Allied Hospitality Group, Inc., holding positions in food and beverage and hotel operations, rising to corporate food & beverage director for the 20-unit portfolio. 

Contact: Jerry Daly, media, Daly Gray Public Relations,(703) 435-6293

jerry@dalygray.com

 

Marcus & Millichap Lists $11 Million Power Center in Jacksonville, FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has retained the exclusive listing for Island Walk (top left photo), a 68,575-square foot power center in Fleming Island, (middle right photo) which is located in Jacksonville. The listing price of $11 million represents $160 per square foot.

Craig Lewis Thomas, CCIM, a senior associate and an associate director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Jacksonville, is representing the seller, a northeastern Florida developer.

 “The Island Walk shopping center represents an unparalleled opportunity to acquire a market-dominant power center in the risk-insulated high-density submarket of Fleming Island,” says Thomas.

 “This opportunity is financially feasible and, more importantly, includes fully amortizing nonrecourse financing, which may be assumed.”

The property is located at 1997 East West Parkway with immediate access to County Road 220 and U.S. 17 and proximity to Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard; all primary arteries.

 Island Walk was built in 2007 and is currently 97 percent occupied by national or regional retailers including Kohl’s, which is not a part of the offering,

Michaels, Shoe Carnival, Petco, Kirkland’s, Dollar Tree and Justice for Girls. The majority of the tenants’ leases are triple-net and scheduled with regular escalations of up to 10 percent.

Other retailers in the vicinity include Walgreens, CVS, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Super Walmart, Target, Publix, Starbucks, Chili’s, Bank of America, Home Depot and Winn Dixie, among others.

 The annual household income in the area is $100,000, which is 32 percent above the national average.

Contact: Stacey Corso, Public Relations Manager, (925) 953-1716

Arbor Closes Three Brooklyn, NY, Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loans Totaling $12,725,000

 Uniondale, NY - Arbor Commercial Funding, LLC (“Arbor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, announced the recent funding of three loans for a single borrower under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line in Brooklyn, NY. These loans include:

 2775 East 16th Street Apartments, Brooklyn, NY  (top left photo) – The 91-unit complex received $5,000,000 funded under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line. The five-year refinance loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule.

 2301 Kings Highway Apartments, Brooklyn, NY (middle right photo) – The 94-unit complex received $4,725,000 funded under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line. The five-year acquisition loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule.

1570 East 14th Street Apartments, Brooklyn, NY (middle  left photo) – The 65-unit complex received $3,000,000 funded under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line. The five-year refinance loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule.

The loans were originated by Stephen York (lower right photo), Director, in Arbor’s full-service New York, NY, lending office.

“Our clients traditionally financed their properties with local banks, but decided to take advantage of Arbor’s Fannie Mae Small Loan program due to our exceptional rates and terms,” York said.

 “We were pleased to deliver final terms that exceeded our clients’ expectations and we look forward to future opportunities together.”

 The clients’ extensive property ownership and management expertise made all three deals desirable in Arbor’s assessment.

 Furthermore, all three properties are in submarkets significantly strengthened by Manhattan’s nearby employment districts as well as their own local retail services, hospitals and schools.

Both the 2301 Kings Highway and 1570 East 14th Street properties are in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighborhood, which is in the central part of the borough.

The 2775 East 16th Street property is located in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood in southern Brooklyn.

Contact:  Christopher Ostrowski, costrowski@arbor.com

Jones Lang LaSalle Expands Project and Development Services in Orange County, CA

IRVINE, CA— Jones Lang LaSalle announced the hiring of David Prolo (middle left photo)  as an Executive Vice President and Pamela Heckman, LEED AP, (top right photo)  as Vice President for the firm’s Project and Development Service group in Orange County. 

 In this role, Prolo will manage complex developments of multi-family, mixed-use and commercial projects throughout the Orange County market.

He is also tasked with growing the firm’s business in the region.  Heckman will be responsible for the oversight and management of various construction projects in Orange County.

“We see Orange County and the multifamily sector as two areas for growth in the coming years,” said Judy Caruthers, Executive Vice President of the firm’s Project and Development Services group in the Southwest region.

“We anticipate that client demand will increase in 2011 and we are confident that David and Pamela have the experience and skills necessary to serve this growing need for project management services.”

 

Contact: David Ebeling, 949 278 7851, david@ebelingcomm.com

 

Arbor Closes Two Crystal Lake, IL, Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loans Totaling $3,625,000

 Uniondale, NY, Dec. 1, 2010 - - Arbor Commercial Funding, LLC (“Arbor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, announced the recent funding of two (2) loans under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line in Crystal Lake, IL. These loans include:

 Uteg Apartments, Crystal Lake, IL  (top left photo)– The 48-unit complex received $2,175,000 funded under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line. The 10-year loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule.

 Brandywine Townhomes (lower left photo) – The 18-unit complex received $1,450,000 funded under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line. The 10-year loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule.

The loans were originated by Stephen York (middle right photo), Director, in Arbor’s full-service New York, NY, lending office.

“Our clients traditionally financed their properties with local banks, but decided to take advantage of Arbor’s Fannie Mae Small Loan program because of our exceptional rates and terms,” York said.

“We were pleased to deliver final terms that exceeded our clients’ expectations and we look forward to future opportunities together.”

Contact:  Christopher Ostrowski, costrowski@arbor.com

D & A Building Services Signs New Contract with OUC in Central Florida

 LONGWOOD, FL, Nov. 29, 2010 — Facility maintenance company, D & A Building Services Inc. has secured a new contract with Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) for janitorial services for eight water stations throughout Central Florida.

 In addition to its new contract, D & A is under contract with OUC for  janitorial services at Reliable Plaza (top left photo) and parking garage as well as the Pershing complex, St. Cloud complex, Camp Down, Camp Apollo, and 53 substations located throughout the Utility’s service area.

PR Contact: Elaine Ingra, (407) 384-1344 elainei@pr-works.com

Jeffrey Chalfin Joins Grubb & Ellis as Vice President, Investment Services

PHOENIX, AZ (Nov. 29, 2010) – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Jeffrey Chalfin (top right photo) has joined the company as vice president, Investment Services.

“Jeff is well-regarded in the Phoenix metro area as one of the top retail investment brokers,” said Pete Bolton, (top left photo)  executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Phoenix office.

 “As we build our retail investment team, we look to attract dedicated, committed individuals with a deep-understanding of the market.  Jeff fits that bill perfectly and we are happy to have him on our team.”

Chalfin primarily specializes in the sale of multi-tenant retail assets and joins Grubb & Ellis from Sperry Van Ness where he began his career in 1998 and ultimately rose to the position of vice president.

Contact: Julia McCartney, Phone:714.975.2230                                     

Email: julia.mccartney@grubb-ellis.com

Jonathan M. Wolfe and Jordan A. Shtulman Join Grubb & Ellis

CHICAGO, IL (Nov. 29, 2010) – Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, today announced that Jonathan M. Wolfe (middle  right  photo) and Jordan A. Shtulman (middle left photo), two leading experts in sale leasebacks and net-leased investment properties, have joined the company as senior vice presidents, Investment Group, effective immediately. 

Based in Grubb & Ellis’ Chicago office, Wolfe and Shtulman will establish a national sale leaseback and net-leased properties practice primarily focused on the mid-cap sector.  The two have completed transactions in excess of $1.5 billion combined since 2002.

“Jonathan and Jordan add a new dimension to our capabilities,” said Shawn P. Mobley (lower right photo), president, Brokerage Services.  “Bringing them on board puts us in a great position to better serve our existing clients, as well as to serve new ones in the high growth mid-market sector.”

Wolfe, 33, joins Grubb & Ellis from CB Richard Ellis, where he was a partner in one of the top-producing investment teams in the country. 

Shtulman, 33, has completed transactions on behalf of clients including General Electric, Home Depot and various trusts and equity funds.  He joins Grubb & Ellis from Baum Realty Group, where he was senior vice president and leader of the investment sales practice for three years. 

Contact: Erin Mays, Phone: 312.698.6735, erin.mays@grubb-ellis.com                

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida Appoints Wanda DeBoer Senior Associate, Vice President Retail Services

TAMPA, FL --- Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida in Tampa has appointed Wanda DeBoer (top right photo) vice president of retail services and a senior associate in the firm.

Patrick Kelly (lower left photo), executive vice president and managing director of the Tampa Bay office of Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida, said DeBoer has more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate.

 DeBoer earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Marketing from Florida State University.

“Wanda DeBoer owned her own commercial real estate firm for more than 20 years specializing in tenant representation and retail property sales, ground leasing and leasing of multi tenant and net leased properties,” Kelly said.

DeBoer formed a development firm that transformed an industrial site into the first mixed-use office/retail development in Oldsmar.

“Wanda DeBoer has extensive experience in shopping center re-development and renovation in addition to ground-up development and has worked with local, regional and national retailers, banks and restaurateurs throughout the Tampa Bay area,” Kelly said.

“We are delighted she has joined Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida and we expect she will play a major role in our growth over the next few years,” he said.

DeBoer is a licensed Florida real estate broker and a licensed Florida mortgage broker. She is active in the ICSC Economic Development & Government Affairs Committee, the Upper Pinellas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Florida Hotel & Restaurant  Association, FGCAR and the E-Women Network.

Contacts:

Patrick Kelly, Mng. Director, 813-830-7539

Jeffrey Sweeney, SIOR  President 407-481-5387

Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

http://www.commercialfl.com/

NAI Realvest to Rev Up Sales of Distressed Commercial Properties with 2011 Sealed Bid Powersale Starting March 24

MAITLAND, Fla. --- NAI Realvest, which ranks as one of the region’s largest commercial real estate companies, plans to accelerate sales of distressed commercial properties by participating in the NAI Global 2011 Sealed Bid PowerSaleTM starting March 24, 2011.

Patrick Mahoney (top right photo), president and chief operating officer at NAI Realvest, said the 2011 Sealed Bid PowerSale is a massive sales effort that includes commercial properties and buyers from NAI Global offices in all 50 states and international investors.

NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC, is conducting the sale in partnership with NAI, Mahoney said.

Mahoney said properties can be registered in the 2011 Sealed Bid PowerSale on an absolute or reserved price basis.

The first 2011 Sealed Bid PowerSale will be held on March 24, 2011, but properties must be registered prior to Dec. 30, 2010.

“The 2011 Sealed Bid PowerSale represents a major opportunity for lenders and representatives of distressed properties as well as REITs, investors, corporations and governments,” Mahoney said.

For more information, contact

Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com;

 George Livingston, Chairman, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 glivingston@realvest.com;

 Paul P. Partyka, Managing Partner, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 ppartyka@realvest.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

Class A office development in Woodbridge, NJ receives $20.4 million in construction financing arranged by HFF

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – The New Jersey office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) announced today that it has arranged a $20.4 million construction loan for Centra at Metropark (top left rendering), a to-be-built, 105,000-square-foot Class A office building in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

HFF senior managing director Jon Mikula (middle right photo) and director Michael Klein (lower left photo) worked exclusively on behalf of The Hampshire Companies to secure the three-year construction loan through US Bank.

 Due for completion in mid-2011, the four-story LEED certified property will feature a café, fitness center, conference center and common area lounge. 

The building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Kohn Pederson Fox.  Centra at Metropark is the first phase of a four-phase development that upon build-out will include four Class A office buildings plus two parking garages. 

The property is located at 186 Wood Avenue, across the street from the Woodbridge Hilton within the MetroPark office complex close to the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge. 

“Centra at Metropark has an excellent location close to numerous highways and is situated in one of only three markets in New Jersey that offers mass transportation within walking distance,” said Mikula.

The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate firm with equity in assets valued at more than $2 billion, based in Morristown, New Jersey.

The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments

Contacts:                    

Jon Mikula, HFF Senior Managing Director, (973) 549-2000, jmikula@hfflp.com

Kristen Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500

krmurphy@hfflp.com

http://www.hampshireco.com/

.

Eight-property Walgreens portfolio in Louisiana receives $27.16 million in financing arranged by HFF

 DALLAS, TX – The Dallas office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has arranged $27.16 million in financing for a portfolio of eight Walgreens drugstores in Louisiana.

Working on behalf of Stirling Properties, Inc., HFF managing director Kevin MacKenzie (middle right photo) placed the 4.92% fixed-rate securitized loan with Goldman Sachs Commercial Mortgage Capital, LP.  Loan proceeds will be used to retire the existing construction loans on the properties.

Completed between 2007 and 2010, the Walgreens properties total 116,070 square feet; an average of 14,509 square feet per store.  The properties are located in Lafayette, Denham, Ruston, Abita, Dutchtown, Gonzales, Broussard and Meraux.

“There was significant interest in this transaction due to the credit quality of the tenant, and the strength of the sponsorship.  While there were a wide variety of options for the financing, ultimately Goldman provided competitive terms and ran an extremely smooth closing process,” said MacKenzie.

Founded in 1975, Stirling Properties has more than 35 years of real estate experience in the Gulf South region. 

Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, the firm employs more than 350 people in 16 offices throughout Louisiana and Mississippi in its acquisitions, asset management, commercial brokerage, development/redevelopment, property and facility management and residential brokerage operations.

Contacts:                          

Kevin C. Mackenzie, HFF Managing Director,  (214) 265-0880,  kmackenzie@hfflp.com

Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500,

krmurphy@hfflp.com

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty Forms Alliance with CLEAR Secure Identification Program

ORLANDO, FL --- Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has formed an alliance with CLEAR (www.clearme.com), the secure identification program that helps card-holding members bypass airline security waits at Orlando International Airport.

 Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, said Stirling Sotheby’s World Marketing Center at 121 S. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando and Stirling Sotheby’s Lake Mary/Heathrow office at 115 International Parkway will serve as CLEAR membership enrollment centers Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 “CLEAR is the only biometric-based secure ID program for airport security.  Orlando is the first market for CLEAR re-launch and Denver International Airport is next with many airports to follow,” Soderstrom said.

“Many of out clients are frequent airline travelers who will find this service very convenient,” Soderstrom explained.

 For more information about this press release,  contact:

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890  

Gareth Edmondson-Jones, CLEAR 212 223-5030 HYPERLINK mailto:gareth@clearme.com;

 Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142. 

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida negotiates new long-term lease agreement with engineering firm at Wittner Centre in St. Petersburg, FL

Contacts:

http://www.commercialfl.com/
Paula Buffa, CCIM, RPA 813-830-7887
Patrick Kelly, Mng. Director 813-830-7539
Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Two Brokers at NAIRealvest Orlando Awarded Prestigious CCIM Designation

MAITLAND, FL -- Two broker associates at NAI Realvest were awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation by the CCIM Institute, one of the nation’s leading commercial real estate associations.

Patrick Mahoney (top right photo), president and chief executive officer at NAI Realvest, said Drew Saphos (middle left photo) and Jim Murr (lower right photo)  earned the prestigious designation by passing the Institute’s Comprehensive Examination, the final element in the designation process.

Saphos has been with NAI Realvest six years and has eight years of experience in commercial real estate.  He specializes in office, industrial and buyer/tenant representation.

Murr, who joined NAI Realvest in 2007, has more than four years of and specializes in investment, industrial and buyer/tenant representation. 

The CCIM designation is awarded to real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying industry experience. 

The curriculum addresses: financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis and investment analysis – the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate.  CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation, and investment analysis. 

For more information, contact:

Patrick Mahoney, President, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com;
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

  

St. Petersburg Consultant Focuses Management Techniques Honed at Motorola, Toyota

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Sophisticated management techniques perfected at Google, Toyota, Ford and Motorola are helping Florida real estate developers cut costs, improve their delivery schedule and develop higher quality facilities for corporate and retail clients.

Rachel Elias Wein AIA (top right photo), who heads WeinPlus Real Estate Advisory Services in St. Petersburg, said she focuses techniques that power the world’s most successful corporations on real estate development processes with overwhelming results: a return on investment (ROI) that is more than 10 times its initial cost.

“Development is a very complex process and most developers are goal-oriented, not process-oriented,” Wein explained. “The application of some best practices developed by corporations such as Toyota and Motorola can result in dramatic cost reductions and tremendous efficiencies,” she said.

Wein is currently implementing a custom management program for one major Florida developer that adapts Lean Methodology techniques perfected by Toyota.

“Lean Methodology is a process that targets all expenditures and establishes whether or not they are essential to the company’s goal,” Wein explained.

“Elements which do not directly add value to the process are deemed waste and targeted for minimization or elimination,” she said.

Concurrently, Wein is implementing the Theory of Constraints developed by Israeli physicist Eliyahu Goldratt, now widely hailed as a corporate management guru.

“The Theory of Constraints focuses on improving business processes by targeting constraints---bottlenecks---and improving their capacity to produce,” Wein said.

Wein, a former development manager with the Sembler Company in St. Petersburg and senior associate with Ernst & Young’s Construction and Real Estate Advisory Services in Philadelphia, earned Bachelor of Design, Master of Architecture, and Master of Science in Real Estate Degrees from the University of Florida.

Wein estimates she has saved client companies---Forge Capital Partners in Tampa, Pinellas County Schools and The Sembler Company to name a few---more than $3 million over the past 18 months with a variety of solutions that range from construction cost control and dispute resolution to process improvement.

For more information, contact

Rachel Elias Wein, AIA, Founder / Principal, WeinPlus, 727-403-1595, http://www.weinplusassociates.com/;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, Canin Associates unveil 2015 New Home Series at Bella Collina in Lake County, FL

ORLANDO - Stirling Sotheby's International Realty and Canin Associates, the Orlando based architectural design and land planning firm, recently unveiled plans for the 2015 New Home Series of smaller, smarter luxury homes at Bella Collina, (top left photo) the unique Lake County luxury development that overlooks Lake Apopka near Montverde.

Roger Soderstrom, founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby's International Realty, said the one and two story 2015 New Home Series of designs complement the Italianesque architectural theme at Bella Collina on 40 and 50 foot home sites.

The 2015 New Homes Series focuses on stone façades, rotunda foyers and two and three car garages.  Three new floor plans range in size from 2,196 square feet of air-conditioned living space of 3,400 square feet with generous outdoor living spaces, including balconies, lanais and private swimming pools.

“The 2015 New Homes Series of floor plans we have developed are designed for today’s consumer-centric lifestyles,” Soderstrom said.

“We’ve incorporated the most compelling trends in new home design, including outdoor living amenities, superb kitchens and an economy of space that emphasizes luxury detail and features, convenience, utility, economy and lifestyle over opulence,” he said.

“Continental Homes & Interiors, one of Bella Collina’s featured custom builders is the first to offer such forward thinking home plans,” Soderstrom said, “and the 2015 New Home Series will serve as a benchmark for new luxury homes in Central Florida,” he added.

The 2015 New Home Series designs are the result of the marketing alliance of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty and Canin Associates. 

The Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty onsite Welcome and Marketing Center, staffed with six luxury home sales specialists, is open seven days a week at Bella Collina.

For more information, contact:  

Roger Soderstrom, Founder/Owner Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-581-7890 rsoderstrom@stirlingSIR.com;

Tony Weremeichik, Principal Canin and Associates, 407-422-4040 x209 tweremeichik@canin.com;  

Bill Cook, Continental Homes and Interiors, 407-644-5129, bill@continentalhomesandinteriors.com;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142