- July 12, 2025
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At 76, Pat Neal still has the energy to speak long at a Manatee County Commission meeting one day, and spend his time the next day promoting the June 27 grand opening of his Palm Grove Discovery Center.
He certainly doesn't have to do it, because according to Forbes, Neal is worth well over $1 billion. It would be easy to have someone else handle such responsibilities.
So why, after all the success he has experienced as a real estate developer in Southwest Florida, does Neal want to continue, especially when some current Manatee County commissioners have voiced their animosity toward development? And there certainly is an abundance of residents who would like to see all builders blown out to sea.
"I don't want to fish, and I don't want to chase a little white ball around," said Neal, sitting in the Palm Grove Discovery Center (sales office). "I have fun doing this, and I think we improve lives. We have great homes, and happy customers.
He is a master at work, although an unpopular one in certain circles. He says that is OK.
"People are sick of growth. and that is justified," he said. "But we need to plan for growth."
Manatee County is at a strange point in its development. Commissioners Bob McCann, Tal Siddique, Carol Felts and George Kruse rode a wave of anti-builder/developer sentiment to their seats in the 2024 election. There was an overwhelming perception that some commissioners were ignoring the desires of their constituents to serve the special interests of the builders and developers.
It appears, at least for developers and builders, that at least three members of the Commission want to slam on the brakes, even though all seven commissioners are Republicans. It is going to be tricky for builders to navigate the waters.
It is also going to be more expensive.
This commission is going to significantly increase impact fees on builders, which Neal said will cost new home buyers about an average of $18,000 per home.
The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee Counties reported June 24 that median sales prices decreased in both counties, indicating "a continued downward pressure in the market." In May, single family home sales were down 7.3%, as compared to May 2024, in Sarasota County and down 1.9% in Manatee for the same period.
During that same time period, the sales price of single family homes was down 12.3 percent in Sarasota County and 8.9% in Manatee.
None of it rattles Neal, who has been through the ebbs of the market.
He started naming off the different crises he has faced, such as the mortgage crisis in 1974, which included a credit crunch and soaring interest rates that led to a housing recession. Then there was the 1981 Paul Volcker shock when Volcker, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, significantly raised interest rates to combat high inflation. The result was a recession.
Neal kept rattling them off as he went through the years.
"It's part of the real estate business," he said with a smile. "But now is a good time to buy a home."
Ever the salesman.
Fortunately for Neal, who has properties throughout Southwest Florida and all the way to Naples, he concentrates on Lakewood Ranch and its surrounding areas. He has built homes in the Lakewood Ranch area since 1994.
"There is only one Lakewood Ranch, and it has everything," Neal said. "Neal Communities has built about 4,000 homes here and we intend to build a few more, including the 934 homes here at Palm Grove."
While Palm Grove sits just outside the perceived border of unincorporated Lakewood Ranch, it certainly is a Lakewood Ranch-area development.
"I've always called Lakewood Ranch the center of the universe," Neal said. "And Palm Grove will have access to grocery stores, to schools, to everything. The reason we chose this land is because of the Lakewood Ranch schools ... the best in the region. That is the most important thing for families."
Neal instructed his staff to design more family homes for Palm Grove. He said 25% of the home sales in the new community will be targeted to adults only while the other 75% of the homes will be occupied by families.
The argument will continue to be whether growth is a healthy thing for Manatee County. But no matter which side of the to fence you are on — pro growth or anti growth — wouldn't you rather have the homes built well and the neighborhoods planned well if the people are coming anyway?
It's hard to argue against the fact that Neal, a former member of the Florida Senate and the Florida House, has built beautiful communities for years.
At Palm Grove, he began selling homes in November, and more than 30 sales have been recorded since.
"In these times, that is big," he said.
It shouldn't be that big of a surprise considering the options. Palm Grove offers two different townhome models, one that starts as low as $319,900, two villas, and five single family home models. The upper end of the single family homes can go to $935,000 if you want the added luxury.
"I am surprised to be selling $331,000 homes (move-in)," Neal said. "But we follow the prices wherever they go."
The grand opening June 27 will be from 4-6 p.m. Two food trucks and an ice cream truck will be providing complimentary meals and desserts. People who plan to attend are asked to RSVP at https://on.nealcommunities.com/palm-grove-go/.
Palm Grove offers nine decorated models. Plans for the community include a centrally located amenity center clubhouse with a social spaces, a fitness center, resort-style and lap pools, pickleball, a yoga lawn, a tot lot, dog parks and more.
Palm Grove is located off State Road 64, just east of Uihlein Road. More information about the development can be found at PalmGroveVibes.com.
And Neal noted, "The prices will not be as good as they are now."
"I always say, marry the home, date the mortgage," he said. "Lock in the house's price today."
