Homebuilder off to record-breaking year

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The first two months of 2017 have outpaced the same time frame from 2016 in home sales at Neal Communities.

The Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder sold 100 homes in February, on top of 110 sales in January, according to a statement. That's up more than 10% over the first two months of 2016 — a record-breaking year for the firm in sales and closings.

Neal South, the company's division covering Lee and Collier counties, marked 20 sales last month and recently opened Avalon, a new condominium community in Naples. Other notable neighborhoods with robust sales in February included Milano in Venice with 14 sales and Silverleaf in Parrish with 13 sales