Luxury homes market rising

Last year was a good one for Neal Signature Homes, a semi-custom luxury homebuilder under the Neal Communities brand, but this year could be better.

Much better.

The firm sold 40 new homes in 2014, at an average sales price of $812,000, according to a statement. That's good for more than $32 million in revenues. Executives expect to sell at least 80 homes in 2015, and they also intend to break the unit out of its comfort zone of building primarily in east Manatee County, in Lakewood Ranch. Areas of expansion include Sarasota, other parts of Manatee County and Hillsborough County.