MuraBella Carries Success Into New Year

MURABELLA, ST JOHNS COUNTY, FL -

The arrival of 2006 has brought with it a new wave of homebuyers to the First Coast - searching for just the right place to settle down in one of the nation's hottest real estate markets. As the number of new homes and new neighborhoods throughout Northeast Florida continues to swell, MuraBella remains atop the list as the paragon of single-family, planned communities.

Nestled in highly desirable northern St. Johns County. MuraBella is a beautiful 740-home master-planned community from The Wood Development Company of Jacksonville. Highlighted by sixty-five, seventy-five, and eighty-five foot wide homesites, MuraBella offers potential homebuyers all the benefits of living on Florida's First Coast while basking in a stunning setting inspired by the beauty of Italy's Tuscany region.

MuraBella's four preferred builders, CornerStone Homes, Lennar Homes, North Florida Builders, a Woodside Company, and Standard Pacific Homes were chosen to represent the relaxed, Italian-flavored lifestyle envisioned by the community's developer.

Since the opening of their spectacular model homes, MuraBella's preferred builders have experienced accelerated sales and demand for their Phase I and Phase II homesites that include a mixture of spacious cul-de-sac, wooded, and lakefront lots.

"Our builders helped us create a wonderful community that boasts really spectacular homes," said Rick Wood, President of The Wood Development Company and managing member of MuraBella, LLC. "MuraBella has quickly become one of the most desirable locales for homebuyers looking for a beautiful, newly designed and constructed home within a truly spectacular neighborhood."

With prices starting in the high-$200's, CornerStone Homes is offering eight innovative and luxurious floorplans ranging between 1,795 and 3,230 square feet. CornerStone's model is a 2,350-square-foot DeVinci design, which demonstrates the builder's unrivaled attention to detail and quality. CornerStone has also teamed with the Donna Hicken Foundation to build the 2005 "Give Hope a Home" house in MuraBella with proceeds from the sale going to the local breast cancer organization.

Priced to start in the low-$300's, Lennar Homes is offering nine floor plans ranging between 1,811 and 3,000 square feet of living space. The builder's "Everything's Included" concept enables it to provide homebuyers with the best possible features, included as standard in their home and at the best possible price. Lennar Homes has built two models within MuraBella - a furnished, 2,379-square-foot Tuscany design, and an unfurnished, 2,563-square-foot Campania design.

North Florida Builders, a Woodside Company, is offering fourteen of their newest floor plans in MuraBella. The homes range in size from 1,704 to 3,381 square feet with prices starting in the $300’s. North Florida Builders has built four beautifully decorated model homes within the community, each offering a spacious design and its own unique appeal for family living or empty nesters. The builder is also extending the same 15-year structural warranty that is offered to its custom home buyers.

Standard Pacific Homes is offering some of their most popular floor plans at MuraBella including its San Marco, Villa Carmel, and St. Anna designs. The builder's homes start in the $320's and range from 2,007 to 3,331 square feet. Standard Pacific's model home in MuraBella is a beautiful, 3,293 San Marco design that embodies the community's Tuscan-inspired, casual elegance.

In addition to the wonderful offerings from MuraBella's preferred builders, a wonderful 3,842-square-foot clubhouse designed by Basham & Lucas Design Group features the most modern conveniences, including a spacious party room, kitchen, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. A tremendous super pool with waterslide tower is also available for residents and their guests to enjoy. MuraBella's amenities area also features a soccer field, softball diamond, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, playground, multi-purpose court, and amphitheater.

Located just three miles west of I-95 off of International Golf Parkway, MuraBella is perfectly situated to enjoy some of the best golf courses, beaches, boating, entertainment, and shopping found on the First Coast.

Nearby is the beautiful World Golf Village, home of The King & Bear golf course, the first Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus collaboration, as well as The Slammer & Squire, a Bobby Weed designed course inspired by the expert input of Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen.

MuraBella is conveniently located and just a short drive to Jacksonville's two regional malls, and only minutes away from the St. Augustine Outlet Center which hosts over 150 specialty stores. Residents are never far from the First Coast's beautiful sun-drenched beaches, numerous parks and recreation areas, dining, entertainment, the sights and sounds of music, food, and culture festivals, and America's oldest city, Saint Augustine.

As co-founders of The Wood Development Company of Jacksonville, Rick Wood and his wife, Susan, have a proven track record of creating highly desirable, family-friendly communities. Among the company's best-known projects are MuraBella, WaterMill, Whisper Ridge, Waterleaf, Stonehurst Plantation, Kernan Forest, Espanita, and the brand new Sevilla at World Commerce Center.

For more information concerning CornerStone Homes, please contact (904) 940-7789, or visit www.cornerstonehomesjax.com.

For more information about Lennar Homes, please contact (904) 940-1016, or visit www.lennar.com.

For more information regarding North Florida Builders, A Woodside Company, please contact (904) 642-1344, or visit www.northfloridabuilders.com.

For more information concerning Standard Pacific Homes, please contact (904) 940-9595, or visit www.standardpacifichomes.com.

Experience life's best everyday. Experience life at MuraBella.