Gemcraft Homes announces merger with Jekada Inc.

Gemcraft Homes of Fallston has announced a merger with Jekada Inc. of Salisbury.

Jekada was founded in 1982 by J. David Mackes and has built homes throughout Wicomico County. The company has been building about 35 houses a year. Mackes is retiring.

Gemcraft will retain all of Jekada's employees and its subcontractors and suppliers, said Gemcraft's president, Bill Luther. Gemcraft expects to build at least 75 houses in Salisbury next year and to add 120 lots to its inventory of more than 5,000 lots.

"We see a tremendous opportunity to meet the needs of future homeowners desiring to reside in Maryland's scenic Eastern Shore," Luther said. "Jekada has worked hard to establish a reputation as an innovative builder equipped to provide quality homes that appeal to a diverse range of buyers."

Gemcraft Homes was recently honored as "Builder of the Year" by the Home Builders Association of Maryland. The company expects to sell more than 900 houses in the Maryland-Delaware-Pennsylvania area this year.

Winchester Homes opens Oxford II model

Winchester Homes has opened a model home at its Oxford II development at Shipley's Retreat in Anne Arundel County.

Oxford II houses are priced at $673,868, with delivery scheduled in December next year.

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom houses feature a large family room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, two-story open foyer, and formal living and dining rooms.

"Shipley's Retreat is one of Anne Arundel County's flagship single-family communities, offering large home sites, environmentally balanced landscaping and proximity to Annapolis, shopping, golf clubs, marinas and the Eastern Shore," said Nina Goldstein, Winchester's marketing manager.

Chateau Builders begins work in Harford

Chateau Builders has started Cokesbury Manor, its first project in Harford County.

Cokesbury Manor, near Bel Air, features single-family residences with stone, brick or vinyl siding exteriors. Five houses are available for immediate delivery with preview prices starting in the low $200,000s.

Richard Azrael, president of Chateau Builders, said the company's move into Harford County was motivated by scarcity of land in other counties and a lack of a home product similar to Chateau's in Harford County.

"Harford County offers me, as a homebuilder, more opportunity to purchase land at a reasonable price, allowing me to offer the homebuyer a lot of home for their money," Azrael said.

Wormald Companies offers golf course homes

Wormald Companies has opened a community of golf course homes at the Links at Gettysburg golf course in Gettysburg, Pa.

The single-family luxury homes are geared toward those seeking a low-maintenance environment, with first-floor master suites and golf course and lake views.

The homes are designed in the French Country tradition and range from 2,040 to 4,250 square feet of finished living area.

Three models are available at Worman's Mill in Frederick. Take U.S. 15 north to Monocacy Boulevard, heading east. Take the third left onto Mill Pond Road into the community of Worman's Mill and follow the signs to the model homes and Palatine Courtyard Homes.

Long & Foster opens regional headquarters

Long & Foster has opened a new Baltimore regional headquarters and Towson sales office at 1312 Bellona Ave. in Lutherville.

Long & Foster has leased 23,000 square feet of the 26,000-square-foot office building as its full-service Baltimore regional offices. The three-level building houses the firm's Towson sales operation, consisting of the previous Towson Center office, formerly at 400 E. Joppa Road, and its Towson office, formerly at 1615 York Road, which merged into this single location; property management; company affiliates Prosperity Mortgage and Long & Foster Insurance; commercial sales; information services; settlement services partner Fountainhead Title Group; and a large training facility on the top floor.

The building is leased and managed by Platt Development Group, which has its headquarters in the remaining 3,000 square feet of the building, along with IRC Commercial Real Estate Brokers.

Sales leaders

Long & Foster

announces its top sales associates for September:

Annapolis: Charlie Buckley was top producer, top seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $7.1 million, and Lee Hosea was the top lister. Annapolis Downtown: Joann Kidwell was top producer and lister with a sales volume of $875,000, and Karen Nye was top seller and the agent with the most new listings. Crofton: Robert Sinclair was top producer with a sales volume of $2.9 million, and Jeff Lowman was top lister, seller and agent with the most new listings. Deale: Bill Whitman was top producer, seller and agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $2.2 million, and Charlene Passemante was the top lister.

Fort Meade/Odenton: Rhonda Garrett was the top producer with a sales volume of $763,000; Cleo Baxter and Charles Brown were the top team; Billie Jo Ferron was the top seller; Greg Lewis was the agent with the most new listings. Pasadena: Helen Saghy was top producer and top seller with a sales volume of $1.7 million, and Bob Steele was top lister and the agent with the most new listings. Severna Park: Louise Schultz and Charlotte Lowman were top producers with a sales volume of $1.2 million, Dee Dee Miller was top seller; Mike Seaman was top lister, and Amy Faust was the agent with the most new listings.

Canton: Christina Engerman was the top producer with a sales volume of $754,800; and Steve Paxton was the top lister, seller and agent with the most new listings. Eastpoint: Michael Farabaugh II was the top producer, top lister and agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $136,900; and Sandra Walsh was the top seller. Federal Hill: Joe Craig was the top producer and lister with a sales volume of $1.6 million; and Steven Murphy was the top seller and the agent with the most new listings. Fells Point: Christine Corbitt was the top producer and top lister with a sales volume of $887,000; Jim Parsons was top seller; and Adrian Sushko was the agent with the most new listings.

Greenspring: The team of Michael Yerman, Libby Berman and Marc Witman were top producers and top sellers with a sales volume of $2.2 million each; and Brian Brinkley was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings. Hunt Valley: Chris Unitas was the top producer with a sales volume of $1.7 million; Ayda Swartz was the top seller; and Gordon Chandler was the top lister and agent with the most new listings. Lutherville: Myung Sup Lee was the top producer with a sales volume of $1.4 million; Kent Lee was the top seller; and Bonnie Kraft-Campbell was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings.

Perry Hall: Sandra Wilson was top producer and the top seller with a sales volume of $857,000; and Tony Migliaccio was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings. Phoenix: The Creager Realty Group was the top producer, top lister, top seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $1.7 million. Pikesville: Danny Cohen was the top producer with a sales volume of $2.1 million. Reisterstown: Cyndy Russell was the top producer and lister with a sales volume of $650,655; Yevgeny Gerovichev was the top seller; and Meg Bober was the agent with the most new listings. Roland Park: Genie Schwind was the top producer, lister, seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $666,500.

Rosedale: Dottie Nicely was top producer and the top seller with a sales volume of $590,400; and Barbara Perdue was the top lister and agent with the most new listings. Timonium: Rob Preston was top producer with a sales volume of $1.5 million; Bob Norrell was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings; and Charlie Rollman was the top seller. White Marsh Town Center: Anne Kemp was top producer with a sales volume of $442,500; Bernie Robier was the top seller; and John Wood was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings.

Eldersburg: Carol Murphy-Adams was the top producer, top lister and top seller with a sales volume of $1.5 million. Finksburg: Linda Beverly was top producer and top seller with a sales volume of $554,900; and Gary Swem was the top lister and the agent with the most new listings. Hampstead: Penny Wilson and Loretta Ness were the top producers with a sales volume of $1.7 million; John Pakent was the top lister; Penny Wilson was the agent with the most new listings; and Terry and Roland Schaeffer were the top sellers. Taneytown: Stephanie Myers was the top producer, lister, seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $1.3 million. Westminster: Paul Steger was the top producer, top seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $724,800; and Jennifer Glass was the top lister.

Clarksville-River Hill: Denise Shrader was top producer and top seller with a sales volume of $1 million; Anne Cristaldi was top lister and the agent with the most new listings. Columbia: Terri Westerlund was top producer and seller with a sales volume of $6.5 million; Joan Cochran was the top lister; and Joan Ward was the agent with the most new listings.

Columbia Midtown: Nancy Glass was the top producer, top lister and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $959,900; and Brian Moon was the top seller. Elkridge: Ed Moreau was the top producer and the top seller with a sales volume of $617,000; and Jacquie Berry was the top lister. Ellicott City: Henry Dahlen was the top producer with a sales volume of $1.8 million; John Hurly was the top lister; Shelton Haynes was the top seller; and Mary Jane Macgill was the agent with the most new listings. Howard County at Waverly Woods: Creig Northrop was the top producer, lister, seller and the agent with the most new listings with a sales volume of $8.1 million.