Toll Brothers has found a way to double the traffic at one of its Florida communities: Get listed as one of "America's 100 Premier Properties 2007-2008" by Links magazine, a publication for golfers.
In the weeks since the article appeared, visits-per-week have more than doubled at Frenchman's Reserve in eastern Palm Beach Gardens, from approximately 11 to nearly 25, according to Alex DeChabert, senior project manager at the property. DeChabert also received two deposits and a signed contract at the property over the past week.
"The article helped a lot because there has been a lot of negativity in the news," DeChabert said.
The 18-hole, 6,855-yard, par-72 Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course with a natural preserve doesn't hurt either. New buyers get a membership, valued at $102,000, to the golf course when they purchase a home from Toll. In October, Links picked Frenchman's Reserve for its top 100 list based on surveys filled out by the community residents, factoring in such criteria as the golf course, location, prices, and amenities.
"It's a very playable course," DeChabert said. "It's not going to challenge weekend golfers to where they'll get frustrated."
Nearly all the home sites at the development have fairway vistas and lake or preserve views. There is also a fully amenitized, two-story clubhouse with a main dining room, grille room and lounge, library, board room, golf pro shop, multi-purpose rooms, card/TV rooms, and locker facilities.
The community features a separate spa, tennis, swimming, and state-of-the-art fitness facility; six clay tennis courts, a tennis pro shop, and a large, stylized pool with a whirlpool and fountain.
So far, Toll has sold 342 estate homes at the development. Toll still has 60 homes at the community, which opened in 2001, priced from $1 million to $2 million. Bloomfield Construction and Tuscan-Harvey Estate Homes are also selling homes at the community, ranging in price from approximately $2 million to more than $5 million.
