Orlando Sentinel (Sunday)

Pulte adds to area land portfolio

Three new neighborho­ods in the works for company

- By Laura Kinsler and Amanda Rabines GrowthSpot­ter

After wrapping up 2021 on a torrid pace, with 10 land closings in December, Pulte Homes continued its buying spree in January with three more subdivisio­ns.

“It is critical that we continue to expand our overall footprint in the Central Florida market to help satisfy the growing demand for homes, particular­ly as we see a continued influx of out-of-state homebuyers looking to move here,” said Clint Ball, Division President.

The Atlanta-based homebuilde­r paid $6.1 million last month for nearly 300 acres in Orange County about a five minute drive from downtown Mount Dora. It’s calling the 234-lot subdivisio­n Foothills of Mount Dora. The project will be constructe­d in two phases with estate-style lots with a minimum size of 80 feet by 130 feet.

“We purchased it fully entitled,” said Max Perlman, VP of Land Acquisitio­n. “We should have our final permits rolling in this month, and we have our groundbrea­king scheduled for March.” The models and sales center should be open by the end of the year.

Perlman said the builder would offer a similar product line to what’s available at its Vista Reserve community in Apopka. The large lot sizes and close proximity to downtown Mount Dora added to the project’s appeal.

In Kissimmee, Pulte paid $3 million for the second phase of its Centex-branded townhomes at Cypress Cay. Pulte launched the 286-unit community in 2020, paying $3 million for the first phase. Perlman said the Jan. 31 transactio­n covered the final 134 lots. The site is on Princess Way near U.S. 192 and Old Vineland Road. The builder offers two floorplans, but each has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.

On Jan. 20, Pulte paid former citrus grower Warren McNight Jr. $2.25 million for six parcels in Haines City and unincorpor­ated Polk County spanning 125 acres. Pulte led the rezoning and permitting for the property, renamed Hartford Terrace, for a 513-home subdivisio­n. Located right across U.S. 27 from AdventHeal­th Heart of Florida Hospital, the community will have a mix of townhomes and detached home lots in three sizes.

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