If you or someone you know is looking for a wonderful place to establish roots, Citrus County is a must-see. As one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, Citrus County is catching the attention of many potential residents. The 24th Annual Citrus County Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Citrus County Builders Association (CCBA) is the perfect opportunity to visit the area and experience first-hand what Citrus County has to offer. Between Feb. 21 and March 7, builders in the county will have the opportunity to showcase their talents.
The CCBA was founded in 1977 and is a chartered affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and the Florida Home Builders Association.
“Citrus County offers a small town environment with big-city amenities,” says CCBA President Rou Lieberman.
The county is home to many large retail chain stores and popular restaurants like Applebee’s, Home Depot, Outback Steakhouse, Chili’s, and Super Wal-Mart. Also, Citrus County is an easy drive to major airports and activities in Tampa and Orlando.
A Growing Area
Pine Ridge is one of the newest and fastest growing subdivisions in Citrus County. This unique community will surprise you with rolling hills and heavily wooded terrain along Florida’s Nature Coast. Rusaw Homes, the preferred builder in Pine Ridge, has constructed homes for nearly 4,000 Citrus County residents, and they’re still counting! Homesites range from one acre ($20,000-$25,000) up to five acres. The tranquil setting of Pine Ridge is established on a beautiful 27-holes of golf and borders nearly 50 miles of equestrian trails. Imagine sipping lemonade on the screened porch as majestic horses gallop past.
“Rusaw Homes offers spectacular value-packed homes with a concentration on quality of workmanship and an emphasis on energy conservation,” says Jim Crosley, New Home Specialist and longtime Rusaw employee. “We’ve been here in Citrus County for a quarter of a century and we’re considered the premier builder for our personalized homes. We strive to give each and every customer the best home for their money.”
Walking through Rusaw Homes’ four parade models (three are located in Pine Ridge and one in Oak Ridge), it’s plain to see that the specialists at Rusaw pay close attention to even the smallest details. The models range in price from $139,900 to $259,900 and the cost includes a homesite and a screened-in designer pool.
A Winning Model
The Sandlewood III model received many accolades in last year’s Parade of Homes, including best floorplan, best kitchen and bath, best exterior design and most creative home. Walking into the model, visitors are immediately drawn to the built-in entertainment center that covers the length of the back wall in the family room.
The spacious floorplan lends itself well to cozy family living. The master bedroom suite is reminiscent of an oasis getaway. The comfortable window seat that’s framed by a picturesque bay window is the perfect place to curl up with a good book on a rainy afternoon.
Not Just a Job
In addition to being a long-time employee with Rusaw Homes, Jim is also a repeat customer.
“My wife Margie [also a Rusaw employee] and I just recently moved into our fourth Rusaw Home,” Jim declares. “The service is one of the main reasons we continue to build with George Rusaw. We have a customer care program that far surpasses others.”
Once you move into your new home, you can expect to be visited by a caring Rusaw specialist at three milestones: the 30-day mark, 90-days, and one year following the completion of construction. On the one-year anniversary of your home, George Rusaw himself will conduct your home’s walk-through inspection, making sure you as a customer are completely satisfied with your home. Rusaw Homes is also the only builder in the county to offer a 15-year Bonded Builder warranty.
“Excellent customer service is a must,” Jim says. “One unhappy customer can lose you ten potential clients. We rely very heavily on word-of-mouth.”
A Job Well Done
Throughout the years, Rusaw Homes as a company has been awarded for its outstanding excellence in construction several times. George Rusaw was the youngest person to be selected as Florida’s “Builder of the Year” by the Florida Home Builders Association in 1993-94. Rusaw was also named as one of the top five new home builders in the United States.
Four times the company has been awarded for their commitment to building energy efficient homes. Rusaw stays ahead of the curve when it comes to providing their customers with energy-saving home conveniences.
“An example of this would be the air conditioning units we use,” Jim says. “We use the Carrier Puron A/C system. We’re the only builder in the area that uses this system as a standard. In the year 2005, all new home construction will be required to use Puron systems instead of units that use freon. As soon as we learned about this three years ago we began using Puron as standard equipment.”
In regards to insulation and infiltration, Rusaw Homes meets or exceeds the stringent codes required by the Florida Power ACT Program.
Own a “Mini Mansion”
The largest of the four parade models is the Southampton with an impressive 2,734 square feet of living area.
“Most people just fall in love with the Southampton when they see it,” Jim says. “It’s a really unique home. The ceilings throughout are a minimum of 10 feet high and all of the doorways are eight feet, instead of the standard six feet, eight inches.”
Walking through the arched entryway, guests in your home will immediately feel a sense of grandeur. The detailed columns in the entry add a touch of unique architecture to the home. The rounded theme continues in the large master bathroom where an oval niche is carved out of the wall. Glass display shelves fill the area.
The Southampton model is what Dan Galbraith of Rusaw Realty describes as “a home that’s geared toward the executive who enjoys entertaining.”
An optional fireplace and wet bar are strategically placed in the family room, adjacent to the screened veranda and pool area. Outside on the deck, an optional summer kitchen, complete with a JennAir grill, makes barbequing a snap.
The large kitchen offers an abundance of storage solutions for every possible need. A combination of zodiac quartz and corian makes the countertops fashionable and easy to maintain.
A Spacious Floorplan
The three-bedroom, two-bath Pinehurst model is the most open and spacious of the floorplans. A set of three sliding glass doors that lead to the pool area easily disappear into the wall when fully opened, bringing the great outdoors in.
The master suite, with its cathedral ceiling, is roomy enough for all of your bedroom furniture and then some. An angled corner is the perfect spot for an oversized chair. Private sliding doors allow for easy access to the pool/spa area. The waterfall that gently falls into the pool is easily heard from the master bedroom. Leave the door open at night and fall asleep to the soothing sound of running water.
The master bathroom is just as impressive as the bedroom suite. The tub takes center stage on its raised platform. Imagine a relaxing soak, surrounded by candles and soft music after a long day of work. Separate vanity areas make getting ready convenient.
George Rusaw makes sure his clients receive exactly what they envision when it comes to their dream home. You won’t find better service anywhere else!
Next time you drive through Citrus County on your way to Crystal River or to visit friends, stop in and see the helpful people at Rusaw Homes. You might just find that Citrus County is the perfect balance between city life and country living.
Rusaw Homes
Beverly Hills, FL 34465
352-746-6500 or toll-free at 800-624-1939
