Beat the Heat at Zephyr Park

School may be drawing near, but the summer heat is still in full swing. If you’re searching for a place to cool off and enjoy the rest of summer near your Tampa home, then look no farther than the WaterPlay sprayground at Zephyr Park.

Located at the 34-acre Zephyr Park in downtown Zephyrhills, WaterPlay is a fun way for you and your kids to cool off this summer. The 7,000 square foot sprayground features everything you need to beat the heat including fountain jets, falling buckets of water, arches that shoot water and soaker cannons.

But, the sprayground isn’t the only thing to love at Zephyr Park. Other park amenities include five lighted tennis courts, handball courts, fishing, picnic pavilions with tables, grills, horseshoe pits, playground equipment and a lakeside fitness path. Or, if you’re just looking for a place to relax and enjoy that book you’ve been trying to finish all summer, then seek the shade of the park’s many oak trees for a peaceful afternoon.

The park is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. And, the best part is, admission is absolutely FREE!

For more information about the WaterPlay sprayground at Zephyr Park, visit the website.

Want to be close to attractions like Zephyr Park all year long? Then, contact Highland Homes for a tour of our wonderful new home communities in the Tampa and Zephyrhills areas. We’re a Tampa home builder with more than a decade of experience in helping buyers find the homes of their dreams.

Plus, with many new home choices starting in the low-$100,000s and our $99 Moves You In offer, you can achieve the dream of homeownership for less than you ever thought possible.

For more information about Highland Homes and our communities near Zephyr Park, visit our website.

Held at the Edison Building on the University of Tampa campus, Dance Day Tampa will have free dance and fitness classes for all ages. Don’t worry if you feel like you have two left feet – Both advanced and non-dancers are encouraged to come. It’s not about your ability to bust a move; it’s about having fun and promoting health and fitness awareness.

There will be two stations, with classes held every hour for a variety of dance styles including ballet, hip-hop, jazz, salsa and more. Those who want to participate are asked to arrive 20 minutes prior to the class start time. Dance shoes and attire are not required, just wear comfortable clothes. For more information about Dance Day Tampa, visit their website.

Not only is Tampa home to Dance Day Tampa, but many other exciting events as well. If you’d like to live near all of the excitement that the city has to offer, then give Highland Homes a call.  We offer new Florida real estate throughout the Tampa area in Zephyrhills, Ellenton, Hudson and Polk County, with home prices starting in the low-$100,000s and only $99 down.

For more information about Highland 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.

Every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the winery along with Fresco’s Bakery and Bistro bring live music, wine and dinner to Tampa area residents. Their Wine & Dine special for two includes one bottle of wine, two salads, two entrees, one dessert and live music for only $49. Or, stop by for Happy Hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for two for one beer and wine specials. You can even choose to just come for the live music from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for only a $5 cover charge. Whatever you want to do tonight, Keel & Curley have you covered. To find out more, visit the Keel & Curley website.

Over the weekend, don’t forget to stop by a Highland Homes community for a tour – we are open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. We’re a Tampa home builder with new construction in several neighborhoods throughout the Tampa area including South Oak, Ten Oaks, Greens at Hidden Creek and Meadow Oaks. Plus, with Tampa new homes starting in the low-$100,000s and our $99 Moves You In offer, you’re sure to find a deal that’s as mouthwatering as the food and drink at Keel & Curley.

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.

Now, the St. Petersburg Times has more positive news: “Florida home sales surge in March,” showing that Florida’s housing market continues to distance itself from the negative effects of the recent market crash.

Are you ready to return to the housing market? We can make your transition into a new home easy and affordable. We offer more than 30 floor plans that can be upgraded with the finishes and features that you love.

Plus, now is a great time to buy a Highland Home. Professionals, retirees and veterans of the healthcare and education industries and the police and armed forces still have time to take advantage of our Heroes month offer of $3,000 in free upgrades for the Orlando, Tampa or Lakeland homes purchased in May.

We are also offering special incentives at Wind Meadows in Bartow to celebrate the move of Highland Homes sales veteran Doug Pike to this wonderful community. So, visit a sales center today to learn how you can take advantage

For more information about Highland Homes, visit our website.

Utility and Value: New home shoppers are searching for a value, not extra frills. Instead of looking at a home as an investment to be sold in a year, buyers want real estate that they will live in for an extended period of time. At Highland Homes, we offer affordable homes priced from the low-$100,000s with only $99 out-of-pocket. With more than 30 floor plans to choose from, you’re sure to find the life-long home of your dreams. Plus, with a Highland Home, you can still afford the extras such as covered lanais, garden tubs and large, walk-in closets.

Energy Efficient Materials: Buyers, especially in light of the recent recession, are continually looking for ways to save money on heating and cooling bills. While most are not quite ready to add solar panel to their roofs, homebuyers are still interested in energy efficient materials. We recognize the importance of energy efficiency in new home building. That’s why we offer green options such as Foam Injected Wall Block, Radiant Barrier, Double Pane Windows and Level 1 Mohawk® recycled carpet to name a few in the Lakeland, Tampa and Orlando new homes that we build.

We continue to strive to meet the demands of new homebuyers. For more information, visit the Highland Homes website.