- March 6, 2026
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While the 2026 Manatee Realtor Preview March 5 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch wasn't an opportunity for area Realtors to tour actual model homes, it did provide other opportunities.
"Esplanade is more about the experience and the lifestyle than the home," said Nick Paratore, the area sales manager for Taylor Morrison, the Esplanade series builder. "We can paint a picture (for the real estate agents)."
Paratore was a representative for one of the more than 120 models, communities and developments that were featured at the kickoff breakfast for the Suncoast Builders Association's 2026 Parade of Homes, which begins March 7 and runs through March 29.
The Parade of Homes is the annual showcase of innovation, design and craftsmanship across Manatee and Sarasota counties. The event features 126 model homes, 10 communities, and developments throughout the region. To plan a tour of the featured homes, go to ParadeOfHomesInfo.com (which goes live March 7 on the first day of the event).
The tour of the models runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Paratore said the Realtor Preview is an important event that allows builders "to engage with our Realtor partners, and also the event gets people excited to look for houses."
While home sales on a national basis were sluggish in 2025, Lakewood Ranch continues to flourish. Lakewood Ranch was the No. 1-selling, multigenerational, master-planned community for the eighth consecutive year.
Adding to the uncertainty of the national market in 2026 is the United States' attack on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Oil prices have surged with worries that an extended conflict (four months or more) with Iran, could drive up prices of goods across the board.
"My crystal ball broke years ago," said Joe Jones, a new home sales consultant for Neal Communities. "But I think we will be fine here. There always is a need for homes, and Lakewood Ranch is gorgeous."
Jones was looking forward to meeting with area Realtors at the preview event.
"This is more about building relationships," he said. "It's fun, and from a consumer standpoint, there are a lot of choices."
He said one of his main goals at the event would be to showcase Neal Communities' floor plans.
Judy Athari of Berkshire Hathaway, said she likes to keep up with the builders.
"The builders evolve and they fine tune (models)," she said. "So I like to keep those relationships going."
Athari said she isn't worried that the conflict with Iran will slow down home sales or seriously impact prices.
"This area is its own little mico-market," she said. "It doesn't follow national trends. I think things will be better (for Realtors) than it was in 2025. I am really busy."
Independent broker Heidi Woods agrees that the local market is mostly unaffected by the U.S.-Iran conflict. But she did note, "If we send in ground troops, that is another story."
For now, though, it is business as usual. She was excited about the kickoff event.
"I get to meet builders that I am not familiar with," she said. "We get to see if there is anything new."
Stacey Siciliano of Suncoast Realty Solutions was looking forward to meeting representatives from Perry Homes and Homes by WestBay, which have been new to the area building in the Star Farms development in Lakewood Ranch.
She said she also liked the preview event to check price points for the homes.
Don Miller, a design build specialist for John Cannon Homes, said he was looking forward to the event because "Our life blood is the Realtors."
Miller also noted that property has been an issue in Lakewood Ranch because developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has pretty much run out of land to sell. He said fortunately John Cannon Homes has several upcoming projects where the land already has been purchased.
"We will be taking it to another level," he said of John Cannon Homes.
Stock Development Sales Associate Dominick Giallombardo, said he doesn't see Lakewood Ranch slowing down.
"We are seeing a high-end market like we've never seen in Lakewood Ranch," he said.
Wild Blue, which will have 505 homes at build-out, is approximately 50% sold.
"Things are ramped up," he said. "The Parade of Homes draws a lot of traffic and there are a lot of people in town. In the last month, we have sold two $6 to $7 million dollar homes."
