Troy, NY – The United Group of Companies, Inc. (“United Group”) is being recognized as a finalist in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) “Best of 50+ Housing Awards” program for their Naples, FL-based Sandalwood Village apartment development. Currently in the final phases of construction, Sandalwood Village will be the premier choice for active independent seniors age 55+ in the greater Naples area.

The Best of 50+ Housing Awards program promotes excellence in design, development, lifestyle programming and marketing. Sandalwood Village was selected as an award winner, in part, because it is the first independent living community in Naples without assisted living as well as the first brand-new construction project in the senior market in years. The award also highlights the selection of high-end amenities offered and United’s Senior Umbrella Network (SUN^®) program – a lifestyle programming model designed to foster and support independent living, create community, and enhance an active lifestyle. SUN provides an array of services and a full calendar of events and social activities.

“Knowing the NAHB has chosen Sandalwood Village as a national finalist for the Best 50+ Independent Living Community in the country is a true testament to the talent and vision of the development and management teams at United,” said Michael J. Uccellini, President and CEO of The United Group of Companies, Inc. “We’re excited to open the community in March and show our new residents they made the best choice in senior housing in the Naples market.”

“Our new residents are not only looking forward their new apartment home and clubhouse, but also the opportunities presented to meet and make new friends and stay active,” notes Jeff Arnold, COO of United Realty Management Corp. AMO,^® United Group’s management division. “This is the type of lifestyle we create at all our senior communities and we’ve experienced great success as a result.”

In addition to Sandalwood Village, United Group has begun construction on Glenmont Abbey Village – a two-building, 148-apartment home community centrally located in Glenmont, NY. This brand new senior housing community will also feature an amenity-rich clubhouse and high-end details in each apartment home. The completion of Glenmont Abbey Village is planned for late 2015.

Diamond Oaks Village – an independent senior community to be located in Bonita Springs, FL – continues to be developed as well. Preliminary plans call for 162 apartment homes, including a number of luxury penthouse apartments, in addition to a clubhouse, putting green, and dog park area, among other features. A construction start is slated for June 2015.

“This is an exciting time for United Group,” Uccellini shares. “We have so much happening and lots to look forward to in 2015. Three great senior properties are in the works and more projects are in the pipeline – it’s going to be a busy year.”

United Group’s property portfolio can be found online at ugoc.com.

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About The United Group of Companies Inc.:The United Group of Companies, Inc., headquartered in Troy, NY is a nationally recognized, award-winning corporation with over 40 years of experience. United Group has become known for its successful development, acquisition, repositioning, and property management for a variety of real estate assets including student housing, independent senior housing, multi-family rental housing, commercial offices and mixed use developments. The company has developed more than two billion dollars of successful real estate projects, and has approximately 200 employees across more than 20 offices in New York, Georgia and Florida. Additional information is available at ugoc.com.

About NAHB:
The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 140,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year.

For press-ready aerial photographs, drawings, or renderings please contact jonathan.masullo@ugoc.com.