To make sure that you have plenty of opportunity to make it out and support your local blood bank, we’re holding the event over the course of three days at three different locations:

• Friday, Oct. 28 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mandolin II Model Center located at 4609 Mandolin Loop, Winter Haven, FL.
• Saturday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Normandy Heights Model Center located at 1664 Normandy Heights Blvd., Winter Haven, FL.
• Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. James Crossing Model Center located at 4650 Fox Trail, Winter Haven, FL.

In addition to graciously accepting your blood donation, we’ll have fun and festivities for the whole family including a costume contest, kids’ coloring contest, candy, giveaways and prizes. Plus, all donors receive snacks and drinks, a free t-shirt and a free gift with every donation. It’s also a great chance to check out the Florida new homes at each location. You know, for the holiday shopping that’s also right around the corner!

This is an open invitation, so feel free to invite your friends and family to join us at any of the above locations for a ghoulishly good time!

For more information and directions, email info@highlandhomes.org.

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.

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.

If you’re ready to take advantage of Tampa’s affordable home prices and low interest rates, then stop by a Highland Homes sales center today. We’re a Tampa home builder with many beautiful home options. We offer more than 30 floor plans to choose from with prices starting in the low-$100,000s, so there’s a home for every buyer. With features such as covered lanais, garden tubs and walk-in closets, and a little help from our Personal Selection Studio, you can design the home that you’ve always wanted.

Plus, we’re offering a special incentive in honor of Heroes Month. Professionals, retirees and veterans of the healthcare and education industries and police and armed forces who purchase Orlando, Tampa or Lakeland new homes in May will receive $3,000 in FREE upgrades.

As always, qualified buyers can move into their dream homes for only $99 out-of-pocket. For more information about Highland Homes, visit our website.

That’s why we decided to honor our heroes all month long with a special incentive to all professionals, retirees and veterans of the healthcare and education industries and the police and armed forces: Those who purchase Orlando, Tampa or Lakeland homes throughout May will receive $3,000 in FREE upgrades.

Not sure what upgrades you’d like? No problem. Schedule a time to stop by our Personal Selection Studio (call 863-667-4782) and talk to our design consultants about the cabinetry, fixtures, appliances, countertops, lighting, flooring and more that you can choose from to design your new home. And, as always, $99 moves you in to your dream home.

As a leading Tampa home builder, we’d like to thank you for enriching our community, shaping young minds, saving lives and protecting our freedom!

For more information, visit the Highland Homes website.