Ashton Woods Homes reports net sales up 120 percent in Tampa in 2008 and 48 percent in Orlando, over 2007 sales

TAMPA, FL --- Ashton Woods Homes, which builds new homes in five neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay region and seven more in the Orlando area, reports it sold 179 new homes in Orlando and 91 in Tampa in 2008.

Michael Roche, vice president of sales for Ashton Woods Homes, said net sales in 2008 are up 120 percent in Tampa over 2007 sales when Ashton Woods sold only 38 new homes.

In the Orlando area, net sales in 2008 were up 48 percent over 2007 sales when Ashton Woods sold 121 new homes.

The 91 new homes in the Tampa Bay area sold at an average sale price of $244,000, and in the Orlando region the 179 new homes sold at an average sale price of $284,000, Roche added.

Roche said he expects to see strong sales growth in 2009 as well.

“The housing market cycle is bottoming out and the economic stimulus package is good news for everyone,” said Roche. “We anticipate new home sales will increase throughout 2009, with the greatest growth coming in the second half of the year,” he said.

In Orlando, Ashton Woods builds new homes in five neighborhoods in the Windermere area and two more in Seminole County.

The homebuilder is active in five communities in the Tampa Bay region.

Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group of Companies, a North American real estate conglomerate headquartered in Toronto, and currently has communities under development in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver and Orlando.

For more information , contact:
Michael Roche, VP Sales/Marketing Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700;
John Reny, President Ashton Woods Homes-Orlando/Tampa, 407-647-3700;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142.