Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE: BZH), one of the country's top-10 home builders, is promoting alternative solutions for home shoppers who are concerned about recent changes in mortgage lending laws that make it more difficult for credit-worthy but cash-strapped consumers to become homebuyers.

Called Doors to Down Payment, Beazer launched a new online tool at Beazer.com to inform homebuyers that the Oct. 1 demise of seller-funded down payment assistance should not be a deterrent for those with good credit and sufficient earnest money.
 
Listed under the "Finance Your Home" section of Beazer's website, the content explores various ways to build a down payment fund, including participating in a new builder-sponsored savings plan or asking an employer to contribute to closing costs as part of an employer assistance program.

"There have been a lot of changes recently resulting in some confusion among the public at large and even those within the industry," said Daniel Gregory, General Sales Manager, Jacksonville Division for Beazer Homes. "When it comes to a mortgage down payment, we want prospective homebuyers to understand all of their options." Gregory cited results of a recent Beazer survey in which 45 percent of all respondents said not having enough for a down payment was their biggest obstacle in buying a new home.

While there is no standard down payment requirement on home loans, conventional mortgages typically demand 20 percent to secure the best interest rate. For those who qualify for an FHA loan, the minimum down payment has gone to 3.5 percent (up .5 percent) as of Oct. 1. This means that for a $220,000 home, a prospective buyer now will need a $7,700 down payment on an FHA loan, an increase of $1,100 over the previous minimum requirement.
 
One of the unique down payment options Beazer is highlighting is its Buy & Save plan that mimics the traditional layaway in that the buyer pays installments into a "savings" account until the home is completed and the down payment satisfied.
 
"Beazer's Buy & Save plan keeps the new homeowner on a steady savings track while they are watching their home being built," said Gregory. "It also serves as a motivational timeline. From the very beginning when the foundation is poured to the end when the last fixture is installed, there is a sense of pride and ownership in their new home."
 
For those looking to increase their down payment fund, following are some additional options to consider, all of which can be used separately or combined:
 
Gift funds: An outright gift of cash from a relative, employer, labor union, charitable organization, governmental agency or public entity.
 
Secondary financing by family members: A portion of the down payment and/or closing costs can be in the form of a secured loan from a family member. This cannot exceed a combined loan-to-value of 100 percent of the sales price or appraised value, whichever is lower.
 
Sale of personal property: Sales proceeds from cars, recreational vehicles, stamps, coins, baseball card collections, etc.
 
Employer assistance plans: As an incentive, some employers will pay the employee's closing costs, mortgage insurance premium or any portion of the cash investment.

Savings bonds: Government issued bonds that are valued at original purchase price or the current price.  
 
Tax Credit: As part of a new housing bill, the government is offering up to a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers or those who have not owned a home in the past three years.
     
IRAs, Thrift Savings Plans, 401(k) plans and Keogh Accounts: Typically 60 percent of value can be used, unless evidence can be provided that a higher percentage may be withdrawn after Federal income tax and withdrawal penalties.
 
Beazer's Doors to Down Payment initiative represents the second web-based educational tool the builder has launched as a result of the passage of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. In August, Beazer hosted a free video webinar to help prospective first-time homebuyers learn about the benefits of the temporary tax credit introduced as part of the bill.

Beazer Homes USA, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the country's ten largest single-family homebuilders with continuing operations in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Beazer Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BZH."

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For more information, contact

Daniel Gregory, General Sales Manger Beazer Homes-Jacksonville, 904-292-9440

Brooke Keysor-Ddge, SE Regional Marketing Specialist Beazer Homes 407-339-4114

Mattamy Homes reported it is offering the public its ‘Employee Pricing' previously offered only to employees or subcontractors on new homes in 10 Mattamy Homes neighborhoods in eight Minnesota cities.

Jeff Boyer, vice president of sales and marketing at Mattamy Homes in Minnesota, said Employee Pricing which is now open to anyone is available at Heritage Park and Stonemill Farms in Woodbury; Riverbend in Farmington; Shadow Stone and Eagle Creek in Lonsdale; Riverside Bluffs in Shakopee; Pine Hill in Waconia; Hunters Crest in Minnetrista; Creekside in Savage; and Boulder Pointe Townhomes in Elko New Market.

Boyer said model home centers in each Mattamy Homes neighborhood is providing details on all Employee Pricing available. Visit MattamyHomes.com to view all 10 communities.

For more information about this press release, contact:

Jeff Boyer, VP of Sales/Marketing, Mattamy Homes-Minnesota 952-898-2100;

Jennifer Anderson, Marketing Coordinator, Mattamy Homes-Minn. 952-898-2100;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Mattamy Homes

Mattamy Homes expanded into the U.S. in 2003 and has divisions in Minneapolis, Charlotte, Phoenix and Jacksonville.  The homebuilder, the largest and most active in Canada with annual revenues exceeding $1.3 billion, plans to open divisions in Tampa and Orlando in 2009.

ROCKLEDGE, Fla. - NAI Realvest recently negotiated a 10-year lease agreement for 17,200 square feet of retail space in Three Meadows Plaza at the intersection of Barnes and Murrell Roads in Rockledge.

NAI Realvest Principals Matt Cichocki and Kevin O'Connor negotiated the lease representing the landlord, Los Angeles-based B H Properties, LLC.  

Specialty supermarket Aldi (Florida) LLC of Orlando leased the space, which is part of the space formerly occupied by Winn Dixie who vacated the center.

Aldi's grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 27

For more information contact:

Kevin O'Connor or Matt Cichocki, Principals NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989

koconnor@realvest.com; mcichocki@realvest.com 

Janice Paiano, Marketing Director, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 jpaiano@realvest.com;

Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About NAI Realvest 

NAI Realvest in Orlando, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe.  Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global's expanding network.  Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

Wesley Chapel, Fla. --- The first phase of the 3.5-mile State Road 56 extension which serves as an entrance to Wiregrass Ranch in Pasco County, will open in  conjunction with the Oct. 30 gala grand opening planned at the Shops at Wiregrass, the 750,000-square foot retail center developed by the Goodman Company of West Palm Beach and Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland.

John W. Dowd III, senior vice president of development at The Goodman Company said his firm and Forest City Enterprises, along with Wesley Chapel Lakes and Wiregrass Ranch helped pay for the first phase. 

Dowd praised the cooperation of The Florida Dept. of Transportation and Pasco County for making the planned development opening such a success. "Without their help, none of this would have been possible," he said.

Anchor tenants in the Shops at Wiregrass include J.C. Penney,  Dillards, and Macy's and approximately 90 percent of the space in the Shops at Wiregrass has been leased, Dowd added.

A formal VIP reception is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 30 and a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony with local elected officials and business leaders will be held at 10 a.m.

The 5,022 acre Wiregrass Ranch planned, mixed-use development is located at the northeast corner of S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (C.R. 581).

S.R. 56, which links Wiregrass Ranch to I-75 two miles to the west, opened in December, 2001.

Ultimately Wiregrass Ranch will accommodate 16,000 homes with more than two million square feet of commercial space.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Mattamy Homes has started presales of 41 new single-family homes priced from the $180s at English Trails, located on Flint Hill Rd. off Carowinds Blvd. (U.S. 21) near I-77 in Fort Mill.

Bill Howard, vice president of sales and marketing for Mattamy Homes in the Carolinas, said Mattamy has started construction of one new model home at English Trails.

The two-story Peyton model home at English Trails, priced from $219,990, offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a downstairs study and upstairs loft in 2,505 square feet of living space with a two-car garage.

Howard said new homes at English Trails range in size from 1,611 square feet to 2,882 square feet and feature seven traditional and contemporary floor plans.

The Mattamy Homes Information Center on Lily Pond Lane at English Trails is open daily. For more information, telephone 704-909-3772 or visit MattamyHomes.com. 

Mattamy Homes ranks as Canada's largest home builder, with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion. Mattamy Homes USA operates divisions in Charlotte, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, and Phoenix, and plans to open divisions in Orlando and Tampa soon.

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            For more information about this press release, contact:

Marie Y. Lorimer, Marketing Manager Mattamy Homes-Charlotte 704-375-9373

Bill Howard, VP of Sales and Marketing, Mattamy Homes-Charlotte 704-375-9373

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Ryland Homes has started construction of 34 new town homes and single-family homes priced from the $130s to the $390s in 12 Charlotte area communities.  

Krista Long, vice president of sales and marketing at Ryland Homes in the Charlotte region, said all 34 homes will be ready for immediate move-in by the first of the year.  

The new one and two-story homes include two and three-bedroom town homes that range in size from 1,500 to over 3,200 square feet of living space and three, four and five-bedroom single-family homes from 1,911 to over 3,900 square feet, Long said.  

All 34 new homes will open before Jan. 1,  Long added, and include a wide range of architectural styles, from traditional to colonial, and a wider range of features. Please visit rylandclearance.com for more details.  

For more information, contact:
Krista Long, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Ryland Homes Charlotte Division 704-531-9135 or kslong@ryland.com;

Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142  

About Ryland Homes
With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company.  The Company currently operates in 31 markets across the country and has built more than 260,000 homes and financed more than 210,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967.  Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL."

JACKSONVILLE - First-time homebuyers interested in getting a $7,500 government tax credit and a summer clearance price on a new home can choose from dozens of quick move-in homes available now from Ryland Homes' Jacksonville Division.

But, they'd better hurry to get the best selection at one of nine Ryland-Jacksonville communities and to qualify before the minimum down payments for FHA loans increases from 3 to 3½ percent on Oct. 1, according to Gerry Boeneman, president of Ryland's Jacksonville Division.

"This is a great opportunity for first-time homebuyers or for anyone who hasn't owned a home in the past three years," he said. 

Boeneman said Ryland-Jacksonville has nearly 30 homes available for quick closings and moves. Prices range from $123,990 for a 1,185-square foot townhome to more than $453,246 for homes with footprints of over 3,500 square feet.

The tax credit - part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - is being offered on houses closed on after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.  To qualify, individuals must earn no more than $75,000, while couples can earn up to $150,000.

The credit - the equivalent of an interest-free government loan - is to be paid back in 15 years.

For more information about the homes available, visit www.ryland.com/jacksonville.

For more information about this release, please contact:

Andie Patton, Ryland Jacksonville marketing coordinator, 904-541-2284 or apatton@Ryland.com;

Rick Perkins, Ryland Jacksonville VP of sales & marketing, 904-541-2244;

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780, 407-644-4142 or chagervandyke@yahoo.com

About Ryland Homes: 

All Ryland homes are constructed using HouseWorks earth-friendly construction practices that include double-paned, low-emission windows, 14-SEER HVAC systems, 4-inch hospital-quality air filters, programmable thermostats, blown-in cellulose insulation, carbon monoxide detectors and advanced framing methods.

The HouseWorks demonstration video is available on-line at www.Ryland.com/jacksonville or you can visit any Ryland model home center for an interactive demonstration that showcases the environmental and monetary benefits of building to this standard.

With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company. Founded in 1967, the company currently operates in 28 markets throughout the country and has built more than 275,000 homes and financed more than 230,000 mortgages. Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Ryland Homes has opened a new phase with 25 home sites at Canon Crossing, located off Poplar Tent Rd. near I-85 in Concord.

Krista Long, vice president of sales and marketing at Ryland Homes in the Charlotte region, said one and two-story, four and five-bedroom homes at Canon Crossing range in size from 2,000 square feet of living space to more than 4,000 square feet.

There are two price points in the neighborhood: the "Signature Collection" of homes starting at 2,300 square feet are priced from $227,990 and the "Masters Collection" of homes from 3,000 square feet are priced from $337,990. 

The community also features an owner's clubhouse, pool and a playground, Long said.

Four professionally decorated model homes at Canon Crossing are open daily.

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For more information, please contact:

Krista Long,Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Ryland Homes-Charlotte, 704-531-9135;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan., Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142   

About Ryland Homes

With headquarters in Southern California, Ryland is one of the nation's largest homebuilders and a leading mortgage-finance company.  The Company currently operates in 31 markets across the country and has built more than 260,000 homes and financed more than 210,000 mortgages since its founding in 1967.  Ryland is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RYL." 

ORLANDO, Fla. - Avalon Park in east Orlando is hosting a very traditional Avalon Park Farmers Market Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to noon in Town Park on Avalon Park Blvd.  

Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator at Avalon Park, said the weekly event starts Oct. 4 and is scheduled through April 2009.  

Admission is free, Hodson said.  

Avalon Park is soliciting a wide range of vendors that include unique kitchen and table products and home crafts in addition to fruits and vegetable. Interested vendors should telephone 407-658-6565 or email stephanie@avalonpark.com for more information.  

Other events scheduled for the fall season include a garage sale on Oct. 4 and 5; Oct. 11 Annual Oktoberfest at Downtown Avalon Park, from 5 to 9 p.m. Husky 5K run or walk also on Oct. 11; Movies-Under-the-Stars on Oct. 24, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 and Avalon Aglow Dec. 6, the community's annual holiday celebration.  

For more information, contact:

Stephanie Hodson, Marketing Coordinator, Avalon Park Group 407-658-6565

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

TAMPA, Fla. --- Courtesy Cars of Tampa plans to host professional car washes at five Lennar Welcome Home Centers in the Tampa Bay area to benefit the South Tampa Child Abuse Council.   Mark Metheny, president of Lennar in the Tampa Bay region, said Courtesy Cars of Tampa hopes to raise as much as $5,000 in contributions from the car washes to benefit the South Tampa Child Abuse Council.   Courtesy Cars of Tampa will be washing cars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at:

· Sat. Aug. 9: The Verandahs in Hudson

· Sun. Aug. 10: Shady Creek in Riverview

· Sat. Aug. 16: Hampton Hills in Lakeland

· Sun. Aug. 17: Eiland Park in Zephryhills

• Sun. Aug. 24: Arbor Greene in New Tampa   For information about this press release, contact:
Mark Metheny, Division President, Lennar Tampa Division 888-317-7489
Jassy Friddle, Marketing Manager, Lennar Tampa Division 888-317-7489
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, Inc. 407.644-4142