D.R. Horton, Pulte, KB Home Start Homes in Johnson Development Communities

D.R. Horton Homes [1], Pulte Homes [2] and KB Home [3] are three of six public builders who are now offering homes for the first time in large-scale master-planned communities under development by The Johnson Development Corp. [4] in Houston.

Horton, Pulte and KB are new additions to the builder line-ups in Johnson communities, along with three private builders, Triumph Homes [5], CastleRock Communities [6] and J. Kyle Homes [7]. Those builders who are currently building in Johnson communities and expanding their product offerings include three public builders, K. Hovnanian Homes, Meritage Homes and Ashton Woods Homes, and four private builders, Newmark Homes, Perry Homes, MHI, and Highland Homes. Collectively, these 13 builders have the capability to offer homes with great value at price points ranging from the $130,000s to the $500,000s.

“This is our first to do business with D.R. Horton, KB Home, Triumph Homes, CastleRock Communities or J. Kyle Homes,” said Doug Goff, Johnson Development’s senior vice president and director of land development. Goff said the financial strength of these public and private builders is helping them secure prime building positions, replacing others who have opted out of communities primarily due to the difficulty in obtaining financing.

“Public builders have cleaned up their balance sheets, they have substantial reserves of cash and they are seeing real improvements in the marketplace. Consequently, they have become very aggressive in securing premium lot positions in first-tier communities in the best housing market in the nation —Houston, Texas. And, they are taking a similar approach in other markets that are showing signs of recovery.

“This is really good news for us as land developers but it is especially fortuitous for prospective home buyers because these builders are meeting the needs of the marketplace at very competitive prices. During the past few years, a number of smaller and medium-sized builders from across the country have had their capabilities severely restricted by their lenders. Many of the public builders and stronger private builders are taking advantage of that situation and replacing those who were previously building in Johnson communities, as well in as other communities in the Houston area.”

Eager to establish or expand their presence, the 13 public and private builders are making significant investments, with more than 500 homesites being reserved in six Johnson communities throughout the Houston market.

It’s a smart move on the part of the builders and the developer, said David Jarvis, director of Metrostudy’s Houston region. Johnson Development is adding builders in its communities as home buyers increasingly choose master-planned developments over any other type of neighborhood in Houston, he said.

“Our primary focus is first-time and first-move-up home buyers,” said Kyle Davison, general manager of KB Home’s Gulf Coast Region. “Johnson Development’s Tuscan Lakes is expanding its market share by moving into that price point, and we believe the community’s impeccable design and array of recreational amenities offer the perfect setting for KB Home to showcase the company’s newest home designs. The experience, superior reputation and expertise of Johnson Development offer us an ideal partnership and we are honored to be involved in a thriving master-planned community.”

About The Johnson Development Corp.
The Johnson Development Corp. is an award-winning residential and commercial land development company involved in premier projects including master-planned communities such as Sienna Plantation, Fall Creek, Riverstone, Woodforest, Tuscan Lakes, Edgewater and Silverlake in Houston, Texas, and Towne Lake, BridgeMill and Lake Arrowhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1975, known for innovative master planning and today one of the largest and most successful land developers in both Houston and Atlanta, The Johnson Development Corp. has cultivated a strong reputation for vibrant, responsible development, with impeccably designed communities. For more information, visit www.johnsondevelopment.com [8].