The number of foreclosures in the city is decreasing and new home building is on the rise, making Orlando a highly desirable city. Not to mention the employment and entertainment opportunities that are right around the corner at Disney World and other Orlando amusement destinations. With prices on the rise in such a sought-after location, you’ll want to hurry and purchase your Orlando new home while you can still get the best pricing.

As one of the area’s top Orlando home builders, those looking to buy a new home in this flourishing city will have peace of mind when choosing a Highland Home. We have several new home communities conveniently located to Orlando, and just a short drive from the opportunities and excitement of Disney World. With three to five bedroom new homes currently priced from the low-$100,000s and our $99 Moves You In special offer, buyers are sure to find the home of their dreams at the best price.

Disney employees: Don’t forget about our “Why I Love Highland Homes” video contest. Contact Carmen Arbizu at 407-593-2115 to schedule an appointment to make your video.

For more information about Highland Homes and our new home opportunities in Orlando, visit our website.

That’s why we’re announcing the “Why I Love Highland Homes” video contest, just for our wonderful Disney residents. To participate, Disney employees should contact Carmen Arbizu to set up an appointment to make a video by calling 407-593-2115 or just stop by the Deer Creek sales office. The video should explain your favorite part of owning a Highland Home or what you loved most about your Highland Homes experience.

The videos will then be posted on a special Facebook page. The video that receives the most likes will receive a special prize. However, everyone is a winner. Highland Homes will give you a $10 coupon just for participating.

Located just a short drive away from Orlando’s Disney theme parks, Deer Creek, Andover and Mystery Ridge are wonderful new home communities that boast both convenience and luxury. New homes are priced from the $119,000s and feature three to five bedrooms, as many as three bathrooms and up to 2,827 square feet. Stop by one or all of these communities today to see what makes us one of the area’s top Orlando home builders.

For more information about Highland Homes, visit our website; and make sure to keep an eye out for the Why I Love Highland Homes video contest Facebook page, as well as information about the contest in Disney’s Eyes and Ears newsletter.

Orlando isn’t the only Florida city seeing an uptick in new home prices. Recently, we told you that the Tampa Tribune is also reporting an increase in prices for Tampa new homes as well.

This is significant news: we’ve seen home prices increase on a monthly basis, but this is the first time in four years that we’ve seen a year-over-year increase, which experts say is more accurate in determining market trends. The Florida home market is looking up. So, if you’re interested in investing in your future and achieving the dream of homeownership, now is the time to act.

We have several new home communities in the Orlando area for buyers looking to make their move, including Andover, Mystery Ridge, Deer Creek and Whitemarsh. These communities offer Orlando new homes with quality features, in peaceful Florida settings with convenient city access.

Plus, with popular features such as covered lanais, spacious family rooms and luxurious master suites, as well as new home prices starting in the low-$100,000s, you’ll find that you are able to purchase the Highland home of your dream at a price that fits your budget.

Hurry in to make your new home investment at today’s low prices.  For more information about our beautiful Orlando new homes, visit our website.

We are once again hearing positive news about the Florida home market, and in particular Polk County home values.

According to Bay News 9 and the Fiserve Case-Shiller home indexes, Polk County home values are expected to surge by 10.3% over the next 5 years, which is the highest expected increase of any county in the state!

If you are shopping for a home, then this news is yet another sign that now is the time to buy. The Tampa Tribune already reported a steady increase in prices for Tampa new homes, which includes the Polk County home market. To get the best deal, including our fabulous $99 Moves You In special offer and pricing from the low $100,000′s, this is the time to buy.

As Polk County residents, we at Highland Homes know that Polk County is a great place to live and it is only going to get better with the forthcoming Legoland Florida theme park and continued forward growth in the county. Hurry in to any of our Polk County model centers – visit the Highland Homes website for a full list of locations.

For more up-to-date Florida real estate news, visit the Highland Homes website.

If you’re a homebuyer looking for a new home that won’t break the bank, turn to Highland Homes. We’re an Orlando home builder with more than a decade of experience and a solid reputation as Central Florida’s value leader.

We offer new homes for every style and budget. Buyers have more than 30 floor plans to choose from with options such as covered lanais, garden tubs and walk-in closets. Plus, with new home prices starting in the low-$100,000s and our $99 Moves You In offer, everyone is sure to find the home of their dreams at a price they can afford.

For more information about Highland Homes and our affordable new homes, visit our website.

If you’re a buyer who is interested in getting the best deal for your new home purchase before prices begin to rise, then contact Highland Homes. We build in a variety of Tampa and Orlando new home communities, in Zephyrhills, Ellenton, Hudson, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Davenport, Leesburg, St Cloud and more.

Plus, you’ll find that our Orlando and Tampa new homes have always been affordable with prices starting in the low-$100,000s and only $99 to move you in.

So, make plans to stop by this weekend for a tour of our beautiful homes and communities. We’re open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about Highland Homes, visit our website.

From now until July 4, buyers can take advantage of our $7,500 “Use as You Choose” offer.  This money can be used for anything from closing costs and mortgage points* to pricing discounts or new home upgrades such as countertops, lighting and flooring at our Personal Selection Studio**.

This is an offer that you don’t want to miss. So, stop by a sales center today to find out why we’re a top Central Florida home builder.

For more information about our “Use as You Choose” offer, visit the Highland Homes website.

*Incentive money can be used towards mortgage points as applicable.

**The Personal Selection Studio is open by appointment only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Below are some hurricane safety tips to help you protect yourself and your home.

Develop a family disaster plan: When the hurricane hits, where will you go, how will you get there and how will you care for your pets? The disaster plan will help you answer these and other questions.

Build a disaster supply kit: This should include everything your family will need for three days (as long as it may take disaster relief workers to reach you with supplies). Suggested items include water, food, medicine, important legal documents, clothing, pet supplies, flashlights, extra batteries and something to keep you entertained such as non-electronic games.

Once you have your plan and supply kit in place, then next thing you should do is make sure that your home was constructed by Central Florida home builder Highland Homes. Our homes are built to the latest building codes for hurricane safety and include the following features:

• Hurricane straps on the roof connections
• Windows meet current design pressures required by the Florida Building Code
• Shingles meet ASTM standards for wind resistance required by the Florida Building Code, and also often are covered by a longer warranty (25 or 30 years) than older shingles
• Stem wall foundation: Raises the home above ground level for less chance of water intrusion and creates a more stable foundation.
• Lot and driveway elevated to drain away from the home
• Reinforced concrete block construction
• Reinforced garage doors
• Specially engineered roof trusses
• Underground power lines

These are just some of the hurricane safety benefits of a new home versus an older home. Keep in mind that homes built prior to 1994 are especially at risk because the high wind building code was not standard at that time.

Make sure your family is safe this hurricane season. For more information, visit the Highland Homes website.

For more information about protecting your home, visit the following websites:

International Code Council

Florida Division of Emergency Management

Florida Department of Community Affairs

So, what makes Highland Homes the Florida new home value leader? Our commitment to providing affordable homes with prices starting in the low-$100,000s, a variety of finance options, our $99 Moves You In special offer, and a variety of single-family home floor plans to suit every buyer’s needs. Not to mention the experience that comes with constructing more than 12,000 new homes throughout the years, and the fact that we are the only locally based builder on Builder Magazine’s Top 100 Builders of 2010.

But don’t take our word for it. Come see for yourself what makes our homes so special. We construct Lakeland, Winter Haven, Orlando, Tampa and Davenport new homes, so you’re sure to find the perfect home in the perfect location.

For more information about our history or homes, visit the Highland Homes website.

Builder Magazine annually ranks homebuilders based on their closings, and we were recognized for our 247 closings in 2010 and made the list right at the #100 spot. For a local builder who builds in just six counties, being ranked against national companies who build homes throughout the United States, it is quite an honor to make the list. For more information about the Top 100 Builders of 2010, visit the Builder Magazine website.

Come see for yourself what makes Highland Homes one of the top homebuilders in the country. Our affordable pricing, variety of finance options, and $99 Moves You In special offer make purchasing a home affordable to Central Florida homebuyers. Our beautiful, single-family homes feature three to five bedrooms and span in size from 1,210 to 2,827 square feet. Couple that with the hundreds of options available for you to design your home, and we have the perfect home for first-time or move-up buyers.

The perfect home at an affordable payment – that’s a winning combination

For more information, visit the Highland Homes website.