Bob and Helen Weyant were looking for a slice of tropical Florida when they moved to Cape Coral from New Jersey a year and a half ago.
Their home in the Blackburn neighborhood of the Sandoval community in Cape Coral fit the bill.
“This is what Florida felt like to us, and we liked the sense of community, too,” Bob Weyant said.
Sandoval, a 524-acre master-planned community off Veterans Memorial Parkway, opened in January 2005 and phase II of the community passed its 50-percent-sold mark Monday.
Builders in Sandoval have sold 272 out of 541 single-family homes and villas planned for phase II. Plans call for Sandoval to have 1,579 homes.
Scott Connell, general manager of Sandoval for developer Bonita Bay Group, said the community exceeded estimated sales by 25 percent in 2009, although sales projections are re-evaluated frequently due to the economic climate.
Weyant, 56, said that with so many foreclosures around and empty lots scattered through Cape Coral, his gated neighborhood held a lot of appeal.
“At least when we come into our community we feel like it’s a community – with sidewalks, people walking dogs and kids running around,” said Weyant, who was hanging poolside with his 2-year-old grandson, Cole.
Sandoval boasts a lifestyles director who coordinates a monthly social activities calendar and helps organize residents who share similar interests such as poker or volleyball, contributing to the vacation-like feel of the community, said Sandy Nagorski, Bonita Bay Group’s on-site representative.
She said the year-to-date sales (through the end of June) reached 49 homes, compared with 48 for the same period in 2009.
“We’re holding our own,” Nagorski said.
National builders such as Taylor Morrison, Pulte Homes and D.R. Horton are offering a variety of models in Sandoval priced from the mid-$100,000s with lots ranging in size from 50 by 130 feet to 70 by 130 feet.
Taylor Morrison has sold 61 homes out of the 116 available in the Maraval neighborhood, exceeding more than 50 percent sold as well.
D.R. Horton is moving into areas where Ryland Homes had previously built. The group has been a builder in Sandoval since June, but has written contracts for four new homes, said Kristy Grove, spokeswoman for D.R. Horton in Southwest Florida.
Although Cape Coral has a steady inventory of foreclosed homes for sale, some homeowners already know whether it’s a newly built home or a foreclosed home they’re looking for, said Paula Hellenbrand, owner of Encore Realty and spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Association of Realtors.
“It doesn’t matter what the product is or where it is,” Hellenbrand said. “It comes down to value.”
She said the resale market is pretty strong and is also present in Sandoval, with 29 Sandoval homes sold by Realtors in 2010 and another 30 homes listed on the multiple listing service. There are also 20 homes with contracts expected to close, she said.
In some cases, home buyers are not only attracted by the 5,319- square-foot community center with a variety of amenities, but also are drawn by a feeling that their home has a better chance of retaining its property values.
“In light of what’s happened in the last few years in housing in general, they want to live in a place that feels safe and comfortable,” said Stephen Haines, vice president of sales for Pulte Homes’ South Florida operations. “What buyers are telling us is that they’re taking care and looking for those locations that feel more stable.”