THE 2013 BOOK OF BUILDERS
Here are profiles of some of the First Coast’s most reputable, award-winning builders. If you’re in the market for a new home in any price range, these experienced professionals have demonstrated years and often decades of superior quality and customer satisfaction. All are members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) and many have held leadership positions. All take pride in their homes and are considered industry pacesetters. As the market begins to improve and once-reticent buyers are once again testing the market, Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville is pleased to offer this special feature as a service to our readers who are seeking the information they need to make smart choices.
ARTHUR RUTENBERG HOMES
One of the best-known and most respected names in the new-home industry is Arthur Rutenberg, a member of the Florida Housing Hall of Fame who started his career in Tampa 60 years ago and later offered franchises to carefully selected builders who shared his vision and philosophy.
In Jacksonville, Marcus Allen Homes is the independently-owned Arthur Rutenberg franchise. The company builds luxurious single-family homes in such prestigious communities as Glen Kernan, Palencia, Montura, Pablo Creek Reserve, Queen’s Harbour, The Plantation at Ponte Vedra and World Golf Village as well as on individual lots.
Arthur Rutenberg offers homes ranging in size from 1,800 to more than 7,500 square feet. The company boasts more than 80 award-winning designs from which to choose.
Designs may be customized to suit your lifestyle, and the company offers a full-service interior design studio and the expertise of a professional interior designer to assist in selecting everything from flooring to window treatments to furnishings.
Franchise owner Mark Refosco started his career as an architectural designer and a building company executive before becoming an Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchisee in 2001. He was soon selected by Arthur Rutenberg Homes as Best New Franchise, and in 2010 was named the company’s Builder of the Year.
Building company president Adam Merrill, with more than 10 years experience in the homebuilding industry, earned a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida and holds a certified general contractor’s license.
Arthur Rutenberg Homes focuses on four cornerstones that deliver value to its homeowners: design, craftsmanship, service and responsibility. Best of all, because you deal directly with the owner, you also get the kind of personal attention at which small local builders excel.
Prices range from the mid-$300s to over $1 million depending on the community. Visit the company’s professionally-decorated Bermuda model home, located in the master-planned community of Palencia at 130 Senora Court.
HIGHLIGHTS
Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Marcus Allen Homes builds luxury homes in these outstanding First Coast communities:
DUVAL COUNTY
• Glen Kernan. Homes the $500s, excluding homesite.
• Pablo Creek Reserve. Homes from the $500s, excluding homesite.
• Queen’s Harbour. Homes from the $500s, excluding homesite.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Montura. Homes from the $549s, including homesite.
• Palencia. Homes from the $350s, excluding homesite.
• The Plantation at Ponte Vedra. Homes from the $500s, excluding homesite.
• World Golf Village. Homes from the $350s, excluding homesite.
AURORA CUSTOM HOMES
Aurora Custom Homes, known for quality craftsmanship and uncompromised elegance, has once again earned first-place honors for design and construction from the Southeast Builders Conference. However, it’s the endorsement of past clients that matters most to president and owner Michael Lenahen, whose business plan calls for accepting only a few projects at any given time.
With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from The Catholic University of America and study abroad in Italy and France, Lenahen is uniquely qualified to supervise every aspect of the design and construction process — and to guide clients in making smart decisions.
Lenahen, however, is more than a technician. He’s also a creative spirit who loves working with clients and helping them to create dream homes perfectly suited to their individual lifestyles.
Developing a “wish list” based on how each room will actually be used is key to Aurora’s approach, and ensures that each home will be as unique as its owner.
So it’s no wonder that Aurora Custom Homes is currently ranked as the No. 1 custom-home builder in the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 2012 Book of Lists.
In addition to creating some of the region’s most beautiful new homes, Lenahen also founded Aurora Custom Remodeling to tackle renovation and improvement projects.
His company has been a multiple first-place winner in the First Coast Remodeling Awards, sponsored by the Remodelers Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
“Renovations and additions demand a clear focus and a different mindset from new construction,” notes Lenahen. “Aurora professionally manages each project to insure minimal disruption to our customer’s daily routine.”
Aurora is also a leader in sustainable, energy efficient building and remodeling. “We believe in being mindful of the impact our materials and building choices have on the environment around us,” Lenahen says.
HIGHLIGHTS
Aurora Custom Homes has made a commitment to continued professional growth by remaining active in industry-related associations, and by earning professional designations related to the most advanced building technologies. Among Aurora’s professional certifications are:
• Certified Green Professional (CGP). Recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes — without driving up the cost of construction.
• Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). Recognizes mastery of the technical, business management and customer service skills required to compete in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for those who wish to remain in their homes as they age and their lifestyle needs change.
• Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR). Recognizes achievement in professionalism and business management skills as they relate to operating a successful remodeling company.
BEETREE HOMES
Katrina Hosea’s design-build company, BeeTree Homes, now ranks among the Top 5 remodelers in the region, according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. That is quite an achievement for a woman in a male-dominated industry.
Hosea’s lifelong love for architecture and passion for design led her to earn her contractors’ license several years ago. She and her husband, Chuck, then began renovating homes for private clients while managing a household of four young children.
“As a woman, I believe I bring a different perspective to this industry,” says Hosea. “I understand the intricate workings of family life and I place value on our clients’ space and the effect it has on their daily lives.”
BeeTree Homes was formed in 2005 and quickly gained attention by earning a prestigious first-place award in the Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA). This would be the first of many awards for excellence.
In fact, BeeTree Homes has now earned more than 20 prestigious awards for both remodeling and new-home construction. These achievements have paved the way for Hosea to be installed as 2013 chairman of NEFBA’s active and involved Remodelers Council.
As a design-build specialist, BeeTree provides everything from conception and design through construction and beyond. For clients, the advantage is having just one point of contact and, usually, tighter cost controls, faster delivery and fewer unanticipated problems. The process is seamless.
BeeTree’s three-pronged business philosophy has also facilitated its success. The components of that philosophy include teamwork, communication and the understanding that remodeling is a service, not a commodity, so a customer-focused approach is absolutely mandatory.
“I’m an advocate for each client,” Hosea says, and “I consider it my ethical responsibility to make certain that their goals are met and that they receive the best quality and the best value.”
HIGHLIGHTS
BeeTree homes offers the full range of building and remodeling services.
• Remodeling. From whole-house remodels to spectacular outdoor living areas as well as additions, bathrooms, kitchens and pools.
• Custom homes. Offering a customer-centered approach to creating homes that are as unique as the families that will live in them.
• Design. Full-service architectural, interior design and universal design capabilities. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.
CARLTON CONSTRUCTION
Carlton Construction, founded in 2005 by Matt Carlton, is one of the region’s most accomplished custom builders. The company delights clients, impresses industry pros and attracts media attention with its stunning custom, luxury and estate homes and large-scale renovations.
Known for its relentless attention to detail and effective client communication, Carlton Construction boasts strong subcontractor relationships and completes projects on schedule and on budget.
Matt Carlton, a graduate of the M.E. Rinker School of Building Construction at the University of Florida, earned his professional expertise at the Dana B. Kenyon Company, where he was assistant estimator for commercial projects and project manager for estate homes.
The company’s success has attracted considerable attention. This year, Carlton Construction was named one of Jacksonville’s Top 10 Custom Homebuilders in the Jacksonville Business Journal Book of Lists.
In addition, the company is once again the only Northeast Florida contractor selected by Southern Living magazine for its invitation-only Custom Builder Program, a network of more than 100 companies who are “acclaimed for their detailed craftsmanship, excellence in customer service, financial stability and use of quality building materials in their homes.”
In addition, Carlton Construction was named Clay Builder of the Year in 2006 and 2011 by the Clay Builders Council, a council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
The company’s process, which emphasizes completeness and transparency, sets it apart from the competition. That process begins with establishing agreement on expectations and compiling thorough estimates and detailed schedules.
Carlton Construction brings dream homes to life with old-world craftsmanship, durable and sustainable materials, and carefully selected craftspeople.
“We work with you and the architect to help you navigate each phase of the process,” says Carlton. “The more you know, the better you understand and are able to participate in the process to achieve your dream home.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Carlton Construction has earned substantial recognition from the media and from its peers as one of the top builders in the region. Here are a few of the company’s most recent accolades:
• Clay County Builder of the Year. The top award given to a builder member of the Clay Builders Council, an affiliate of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
• Top 10 Custom Builder. Listed among the region’s Top 10 custom builders in the Jacksonville Business Journal Book of Lists based upon average price, number of employees and other factors.
• Southern Living Custom Builder Program. The only Northeast Florida builder among 100 selected by Southern Living magazine for “detailed craftsmanship, excellence in customer service, financial stability and use of quality building materials in their homes.”
CORNERSTONE HOMES
It says in Ecclesiastes that “a strand of three cords isn’t easily broken.” This passage underpins the core values of CornerStone Homes, where the “strand” consists of: caring for our customers, respecting our trade partners and valuing our employees.
When these three goals are shared in a homebuilding company, the result is a happy team, happy suppliers and happy customers. In fact, CornerStone Homes has won four consecutive Golden Service Awards from Woodland, O’Brien & Scott, an international survey firm that consults with builders and developers worldwide.
How good is CornerStone Homes? Here’s what the independent researchers had to say: “Overall results are the best we ever see, and the trend graph says it all. The highest ratings possible across the board in organization, concern for customers, communication, teamwork, follow-through, confidence, satisfaction with the homes, and willingness to refer.”
CornerStone Homes, which is locally owned and operated, is led by Chief Operations Officer Justin Robbins, a young and dynamic hard-charger who was raised in the real-estate industry.
The company’s designs, which can be customized to meet each buyer’s specific needs, showcase distinctive architecture, open spaces and energy efficient features such as Low-E windows, GE Energy Star appliances and environmentally friendly materials.
In Clay County, CornerStone Homes builds in Doctors Inlet Reserve, Eagle Landing and Rolling Hills at Lake Asbury, while in St. Johns County, there’s Austin Park at Nocatee, GroveWood at World Golf Village, Kensington, MuraBella, Palencia and Payasada Estates. In Duval County, the company builds in Hunter Oaks.
CornerStone Homes’ Build On Your Lot program offers the same quality construction and exceptional customer service starting at just $62 per square foot.
The company is also committed to community service, says Robbins. From funding to organizing and volunteering, CornerStone Homes, its staff and its trade partners have assisted numerous local charities including Give Hope a Home, Daniel Memorial Orphanage, First Coast CrimeStoppers, Habitat for Humanity, Womenade, Toys for Tots, and the Youth Crisis Center as well as Builders Care and the athletic departments of local high schools.
HIGHLIGHTS
CornerStone Homes can be found where people most want to live:
CLAY COUNTY
• Doctors Inlet Reserve. Homes from the $150s.
• Eagle Landing. Homes from the $270s.
• Eagle Landing Offsites. Homes from the $170s.
• Rolling Hills at Lake Asbury. Homes from the $160s.
DUVAL COUNTY
• Hunter Oaks. Homes from the $380s.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Austin Park at Nocatee. Homes from the $240s.
• GroveWood at World Golf Village. Homes from the $280s.
• World Golf Village Offsite. Homes from the $200s.
• Kensington. Homes from the $270s.
• MuraBella. Homes from the $160s.
• Palencia. Homes from the $270s.
• Payasada Estates. Homes from the $530s.
• On Your Own Lot. Homes from the $120s, as low as $62 per square foot.
DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES
David Weekley Homes, the nation’s third-largest privately held homebuilder, has been attracting Jacksonville buyers for 15 years with innovative design, unmatched variety and inspired customer service. The company has a product right for every buyer, from entry-level to executive homes.
Few builders have earned more industry recognition than David Weekley. Over the years, the company has received more than 800 awards for design, construction and marketing excellence.
In fact, David Weekley is the first builder ever to attain the coveted “Triple Crown,” snaring America’s Best Builder, National Builder of the Year and the National Housing Quality Award.
Plus, David Weekley is the only builder to have appeared on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list seven times.
While the awards are impressive, the company measures success via customer satisfaction. Enhancing the lives of families who choose a David Weekley home remains the primary focus.
It’s a formula that has worked through 35 years of booms and busts. As a privately-held company, David Weekley has always been financially conservative and immune from pressure to deliver increasingly higher profits to shareholders regardless of market conditions.
Year after year, David Weekley has refused to cut corners or sacrifice quality to realize a short-term gain. Taking a long view has enabled the company to emerge from downturns stronger than ever.
Locally, David Weekley builds in such popular, amenity-rich communities as Nocatee, RiverTown, Durbin Crossing and Palencia. Cross Creek and Pablo Creek Reserve are coming soon.
Prices range from the mid-$100s to the high $400s.
If you prefer another location or already have a homesite, you can select an on-your-lot option from The Weekley Collection. Prices for Collection homes start from the $150s.
David Weekley also offers Custom Classics on beautiful home-sites throughout the region. These award-winning, traditionally-styled showcase homes are priced from the high $400s.
HIGHLIGHTS
David Weekley Homes builds in the region’s most popular communities, and has several new projects starting soon. Here’s a brief summary:
DUVAL COUNTY
• Cross Creek. Coming soon.
• Pablo Creek Reserve. Coming soon.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Durbin Crossing. Homes from the $200s.
• Enclave at Town Center in Nocatee. Homes from the $160s.
• Greenleaf Village in Nocatee. Homes from the high $100s.
• Palencia. Homes from the high $200s.
• RiverTown. Homes from the high $100s.
• Willowcove in Nocatee. Homes from the low $300s.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
• On Your Lot. The Weekley Collection from the $150s.
• Custom Classics. Homes from the high $400s.
DREAM FINDERS HOMES
Providing a top-of-the-line product at an affordable price is the philosophy behind Dream Finders Homes. And it’s been a winning philosophy for husband-and-wife team Mark and Tobi McGuigan and their partner Patrick Zalupski, who joined forces to found the company in 2009.
Despite the slow economy, Dream Finders expects to complete about 350 homes this year — up from just 27 homes three years ago.
In 2011, Dream Finders ranked No. 1 on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s roster of the region’s fastest-growing privately owned companies. It came in at No. 11 in 2012.
Dream Finders’ success is also attracting attention nationally. It was an astonishing No. 1 on Inc. magazine’s list of the country’s fastest-growing privately owned building companies in 2011. In 2012 it ranked No. 18.
The secret? Building homes that offer more bang for the buck than the competition. “Our goal is to provide the best overall value in new-home construction,” says Tobi McGuigan.
The company builds in family oriented communities throughout Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties, offering single-family detached homes and townhomes ranging in price from the $70s to the $400s.
“Our listed price is our move-in price,” Mark McGuigan says. “When we come to the table with an agreed-upon price, there aren’t any add-ons.
Yet, despite its unprecedented success, the Dream Finders finds the time to give back to the community. Last year, the company and a team of volunteers built a home for a wounded military veteran through Homes for Our Troops.
Dream Finders also conducted a renovation for Dreams Come True, a charity that grants wishes to children fighting life-threatening illnesses.
In addition, Dream Finders earned the prestigious Pinnacle Builder Award from the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), meaning its subcontractors are at least 90 percent NEFBA members.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dream Finders builds in family oriented communities throughout the First Coast. Here’s where you can find the company’s value-packed homes:
Clay County
• Plantation Village. Townhomes from the $190s.
• Eagle Landing. Homes from the $190s.
• Eagle Crest. Homes from the $180s.
• Pine Ridge. Homes from the $120s.
• Jeremy’s Landing. Homes from the $230s.
• Timber Creek. Homes from the $120s.
• Plummer Creek. Homes from the $130s.
St. Johns County
• Durbin Crossing. Homes from the $190s.
• Murabella. Homes from the $170s.
• Willowcove at Nocatee. Townhomes from the $170s.
• Villages of Valencia. Townhomes from the $110s.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
• On Your Lot. Homes from the $70s in Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties.
HOMES BY DELTONA
Homes by Deltona is a Florida homebuilder that specializes in creating resort-style neighborhoods where residents can enjoy Florida living to its fullest. The company is building homes in five popular St. Johns County communities.
Two of those neighborhoods, Laterra Links and Isles of the World, are located within World Golf Village.
At Laterra Links, you’ll find luxurious single-level coach homes offering gourmet kitchens and two-car garages as well as magnificent lake or golf course views. Second-story homes feature soaring 14-foot ceilings and a private interior elevator. Priced from the $300s; call (904) 940-5388.
At Isles of the World, all townhomes include a 433-square-foot guest suite with kitchenette, full bath and walk-in closet above a detached two-car garage and a private courtyard large enough for a pool. Priced from the mid-$200s; call (904) 940-7734.
World Golf Village is home to two championship golf courses, Slammer & Squire and King & Bear, and numerous community amenities, including restaurants, shopping, the World Golf Hall of Fame and the region’s largest IMAX theater.
Home by Deltona boasts two more beautiful St. Johns County neighborhoods nestled within The St. Augustine Shores: San Savino and Portofino.
At San Savino, you’ll find quality custom-built single-family homes with exceptional outdoor living spaces and summer kitchens. Priced from the $230s; call (904) 797-6565.
At Portofino, you’ll enjoy elegant, low-maintenance condominium living. Each single-level residence includes a large covered lanai, a private storage room and a parking garage. Priced from the $280s; call (904) 797-6782.
The St. Augustine Shores, a master-planned community, is secluded yet close to all the action and culture of the nation’s Oldest City. Amenities include a semi-private golf course, a social country club, an Olympic pool, tennis courts, ball fields and a fishing pier on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Also in St. Augustine is Grand Ravine, offering one- and two-story Mediterranean-style condominium homes with one-car garages and access to community amenities. Priced from the $190s; call (904) 797-4126.
For a personal tour of any of these neighborhoods, call today.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Deltona Corporation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. During that time, the company has created more than a dozen of Florida’s most successful communities and helped thousands of people realize their dream of Florida homeownership. The Deltona Corporation prides itself on building communities that offer residents access to everything that makes Florida famous, from the beaches to the theme parks, from canoeing down pristine rivers to camping next to crystal springs, from world-class golf courses to deep-sea fishing. In addition, the Deltona Corporation was one of the first developers in the U.S. to apply the greenbelt concept, where homes, shops, schools, churches and parks are carefully sculpted within the land to preserve as much of the surrounding environment as possible.
J.A. LONG
Founded by John A. Long in 1972, J.A. Long has been building Northeast Florida’s finest custom homes for more than 40 years. The company’s distinctive Florida-style designs focus on open providing open spaces and creating harmony between homes and their surroundings. The Long team’s national reputation for quality and creativity is why they were selected by the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as lead builder for a nationally televised project during which a new home was built for a deserving recipient in Clay County.
J.A. Long is a design-build company and a true custom builder, which means every home is unique and created with you and your family in mind. The company has the technical expertise required to deliver a home that’s efficient to maintain and competitively priced.
Just as important, J.A. Long works hard to make every client feel as if they are the only client. That happens through a constant, open line of communication and a commitment to complete your home on time and within budget.
Difficult or complex projects are no problem for the professionals at J.A. Long, who are comfortable working with structural and truss engineers to analyze issues and find solutions to problems that would stump many other builders.
Chief Operating Officer Randy Long is an electrical engineer who has systemized the company’s quality assurance programs with an array of internal tracking mechanisms.
J.A. Long’s new homes are located in some of the most prestigious neighborhoods on the First Coast, including World Golf Village, Ponte Vedra, Pablo Creek Reserve, St. Augustine Beach, San Marco, Old Ortega, Eagle Harbor, Pace Island, Romeo Point and Paradise Moorings.
After 40 years of economic ups and down, J.A. Long has also maintained its rock-solid financial viability. It has never defaulted paying a supplier and has never reorganized or changed names to avoid meeting its obligations. That’s peace of mind that buyers can quite literally take to the bank.
HIGHLIGHTS
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
J.A. Long, in addition to being an outstanding builder, is a sharing corporate citizen. That commitment was exemplified by the company’s selection as lead builder in the ABC program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “It’s just a great story of a mom taking care of three girls,” says COO Randy Long. “It’s rare that you really get to be part of something like this, and we worked with a great family.” The project benefited Carrie Prewitt, a Middleburg High School volleyball coach who became guardian for three children after both their parents passed away. Now, thanks to J. A. Long, Prewitt can care for her family in the comfort of a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home designed specifically for them.
LANDON HOMES
Landon Homes, founded earlier this year by a pair of native Jacksonvillians, instantly posted sales that caused the big guys to sit up and take notice. How did they do it?
Much of the company’s success has to do with the people involved, their passion for building, their empathy with buyers and their insiders’ knowledge of where great deals can be made on highly desirable property.
The company was co-founded by Dennis Ginder, a former executive with the Northeast Florida divisions of several large national builders, and Chester Stokes, a regional building industry icon whose name has been synonymous with quality construction for decades.
Right out of the gate, Landon Homes snared 48 half-acre lots, many of which back up to picturesque Moultrie Creek, in amenity-rich Oakbrook, a community near St. Augustine.
There the company, named for Ginder’s 7-year-old son, began offering gorgeous single-family homes ranging in price from the $230s to the $240s. The price-point was astonishing, even in an era of depressed values, and 25 homes were sold within weeks.
In St. Johns County, Landon Homes is also building in Kings Trace, Oakbrook and Payasada Estates at Ponte Vedra. In Duval County, the company is building in Pablo Creek Reserve and Verano at Bartram Park. Coming soon: Adams Lake (Duval County) and Coronado (St. Johns County).
Ginder says his plans are based on what our customers say they want. “Basically, we build homes with open floorplans, lots of natural light, big kitchens and family rooms and plenty of closet space,” he says. “And if it’s not quite what you’re looking for, we’ll work with you to meet your needs.”
In fact, Ginder personally conceptualizes most of the plans Landon Homes offers based on his in-the-trenches knowledge about what features Northeast Florida buyers prefer. He describes his company as offering semi-custom homes at production home prices.
In addition to flexibility, variety and quality, Landon Homes’ goal is to deliver a memorable homebuilding experience through communication, honesty and integrity. “We want to build relationships that last long after the sale,” Ginder says.
HIGHLIGHTS
Landon Homes builds in Northeast Florida’s most prestigious and desirable communities.
DUVAL COUNTY
• Adams Lake. Coming soon.
• Pablo Creek Reserve. Homes from the $700s.
• Verano at Bartram Park. Townhomes from the $120s.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Coronado. Coming soon.
• Kings Trace. Homes from the $160s.
• Oakbrook. Homes from the $230s.
• Payasada Estates at Ponte Vedra. Homes from the $600s.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
• On Your Lot. Build the custom home of your choice.
MASTERCRAFT BUILDER GROUP
There’s a perception that top-quality custom homes are, by definition, also very expensive homes. But Andy Chambers, Chris Shee and Neill Singleton, the principals of MasterCraft Builder Group, have pioneered a different approach. With MasterCraft, buyers can enjoy the flexibility of building a home that specifically meets their needs while avoiding custom-home sticker shock. And they can do so within the region’s most popular communities or on individual, buyer-owned lots
All of MasterCraft’s plans can be altered to whatever extent the buyer chooses. Chambers, in fact, says that he has never built exactly the same home twice.
MasterCraft, which also offers remodeling services, has a substantial advantage over larger companies in its ability to adapt to buyer requests. The company offers floorplans at all price points, and all the plans boast features that are considered upgrades by most builders.
All three MasterCraft partners have experienced the production-home corporate environment, where the focus is selling as many homes as possible and enhancing profit margins through standardization. Chambers, in fact, had worked for a national builder for 18 years until he decided to start his own company in 2009.
Shortly thereafter, Shee and Singleton, with Phoenix Development of Northeast Florida, approached Chambers about building some spec homes. By 2011 the two companies had merged. The three friends, each with specific strengths but shared values, make an ideal team.
The MasterCraft slogan, “Where Quality Meets Innvovation,” is more than a marketing angle for the company. It’s the very essence of the its business philosophy.
Of course, part of building quality homes is choosing quality subcontractors who share a strong commitment to supporting the industry and enhancing their skills through association involvement.
Toward that goal, MasterCraft was recently awarded the coveted Pinnacle Builder Award from the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), which recognizes companies for which at least 90 percent of their active trade partners are NEFBA members. MasterCraft was the first Pinnacle Award winner to hit 100 percent.
HIGHLIGHTS
MasterCraft Builder Group is dedicated to not just building great homes, but building great homes in terrific locations.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Worthington Park. Homes from the $290s.
• Palencia. Homes from the $300s.
• Montura. Homes from the $500s.
• Villages of Valencia. Homes from the low $100s.
• Port St. John. Homes from the $500s.
• Magnolia Preserve at Julington Creek. Homes from the $500s.
• RiverTown. Homes from the high $100s.
DUVAL COUNTY
• Jacksonville Ranch Club. Homes from the $100s.
ON YOUR LOT
• Use our plans or yours anywhere in Duval and St. Johns counties, prices from low $100s.
• MasterCraft also provides complete remodeling services.
MATTAMY HOMES
Shortly after building his first home in a small town near Toronto, Ontario, Peter Gilgan decided to start his own company. He named it Mattamy Homes for his two children, Matt and Amy, and decided that customer satisfaction would be the foundation on which the venture would grow and succeed.
Now, 35 years later, Mattamy is Canada’s largest builder. In 2003, it expanded into the U.S. and now builds in Phoenix, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Orlando and Jacksonville. The company has built more than 50,000 homes in 150 plus communities across North America, and is firmly entrenched as among the most respected builders on either side of the border.
When a cozy family-owned venture evolves into a dynamic international behemoth, certain founding principles can get lost along the way.
Not so at Mattamy, which is a leader in creating innovative architectural designs and embracing state-of-the-art construction science while still paying strict attention to the fit and finish of every new home it builds.
Customer satisfaction, then, remains the company’s primary focus and the most important component of its culture. In fact, that single-minded focus on providing buyers a positive experience has permeated its U.S. divisions — and nowhere is that more apparent than in Jacksonville. In Canada, Mattamy has for years dominated customer- satisfaction surveys. Consequently, the company’s U.S. employees are laser focused on doing the same thing.
That effort culminated earlier this year, when the Jacksonville division won the Avid Diamond Award, topping all North American builders with an Avid Index Score of 282 points (out of a possible 300).
Further, more than 97 percent of the division’s customers told Avid, a respected customer loyalty management company, that they would recommend Mattamy Jacksonville to friends and family.
It’s all about listening. Before any new community is launched, and before any new home design is released, Mattamy launches a “listening campaign” to find out what buyers need, want and expect.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mattamy Homes offers exquisitely designed and built homes in many of the region’s most popular communities.
CLAY COUNTY
• Willowbrook at OakLeaf Plantation. Townhomes coming soon.
DUVAL COUNTY
• Bartram Park Preserve. Coming soon.
• Cedar Bay. Homes priced from $170s.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY
• Durbin Crossing. Homes priced from the $170s.
• Greenleaf Village at Nocatee. Homes priced from the low $200s.
• Kelly Pointe at Nocatee. Homes priced from the $200s.
• Old Sebastian Point. Homes priced from the $180s.
• RiverTown. Homes priced from the $180s.
• Sevilla. Homes priced from the $140s.
NEW LEAF CONSTRUCTION
At New Leaf Construction, president Lee Arsenault believes homeownership remains at the very heart of the American dream. “Our sense of pride and commitment to quality is apparent in every home we build,” he says.
With deep roots in Northeast Florida, Arsenault’s personal business philosophy of respect, integrity and honesty has earned him an outstanding reputation and quickly established New Leaf as a top-tier builder.
New Leaf’s clients are amazed at Arsenault’s ability to deliver a quality, surprisingly affordable home featuring styling and appointments usually found only at a much higher price point.
The core values that Arsenault holds dear were passed on to him by his parents and later took on a deeper meaning during his military service. He has adhered to those values throughout his building career.
“There are vast differences between a family owned builder and a national builder,” notes Arsenault, who worked as a construction supervisor and a top corporate executive in several large companies before starting New Leaf. “Our ability to be hands on every day and personally involved provides the blueprint for our success.”
From community planning to design and construction, New Leaf is dedicated to creating homes that exceed expectations, heighten the buying experience and enrich the lives of those who raise their families in a New Leaf home.
“We consider each of our homeowners extensions of our own family, like the branches on a tree,” says Arsenault. “We are all connected when we work together to achieve our dreams.”
Among New Leaf’s current projects is Old San Jose on the River, a riverfront community on San Jose Boulevard near San Marco where the company is building both single-family and multifamily homes. The two-story condominiums have personal elevators and rich detailing typical of New Leaf’s style.
In addition to building new condominiums and custom homes in Old San Jose and elsewhere, New Leaf is also an accomplished remodeler and is a member of the Remodelers Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA).
HIGHLIGHTS
New Leaf Construction builds elegantly appointed single-family homes, coach homes and condominiums in the amenity-rich waterfront enclave of Old San Jose on the River, which offers a rare opportunity to own a new home along the St. Johns River. In addition to European-scaled streets and sidewalks, strolling gardens and river views, this incomparable neighborhood will boast every amenity you might expect: a gatehouse to assure your privacy; convenient access to the St. Johns River for all residents via Riverfront Promenade; a boating day dock; a fitness center; a spectacular outdoor living area with a summer kitchen and an array of pocket parks and green spaces nestled among century-old oaks. Prices start at $399,000. If you’d prefer to remodel your existing home, New Leaf also specializes in everything from whole-house rehabs to room additions.
BUILDER DIRECTORY
If you’re in the market for a new home — and if you’re reading this magazine, chances are that’s the case — how do you find a builder you can trust? Whether you’re interested in building a custom home from scratch, choosing an existing plan and adding some custom touches, or finding a brand-new spec home that’s ready to occupy now, it’s important that the builder be solid and reputable. One indicator is industry involvement. A builder who’s committed to giving back to the industry through association activity is very likely a builder who cares about his or her reputation, and is eager to have satisfied customers. On the following pages are builder-members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), the largest and most dynamic building-industry trade association in the state and one of the largest in the U.S. For nearly 65 years, NEFBA has worked hard to enhance professionalism through education. And the organization emphasizes corporate citizenship through its charitable arm, Builders Care, which repairs homes belonging to low-income elderly and disabled Northeast Floridians. For more information about NEFBA as well as contact information for the builders listed here, visit nefba.com. Note: Builders who have shown a special interest in reaching Florida Homebuyer Jacksonville readers by participating in the Book of Builders special feature are highlighted.
A.D. Davis Construction Company
Adams Homes of Northwest Florida
Advantage Home Builders
Alesch Contracting
Alexander Builders
All Pro Design Kitchen & Bath
Andy Reynolds Homes
Apec Group, The
Armadillo Construction
Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Marcus Allen Homes
Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Oceanside Homes
Arthur Rutenberg Homes/Plantation Housing Corporation
Auld & White Constructors
Aurora Custom Homes & Remodeling
Bar Construction
BCM Services
Beaches Building Construction Services
BECC Contracting
BeeTree Homes
Benchmark Custom Luxury Homes
Black Star Group
Blanchard Land Company
Bourre Construction Group
Bradley Construction
Braud Design/Build
Browdy & Browdy
Bruce Land
C.F. Knight
C.G. Construction of Jacksonville
Call Construction Unlimited
Capital City Interior Trim
Carlisle Constructors
Carlton Construction
Castle Ridge Builders
Cayman Homes
Cecil Holloway Jr. General Contractor
Champion Homes
Claddagh Constructors
C-Mac Construction
Coastal Oaks Construction
Cogdill Builders
Collier Classic Homes
Collins Builders Group
CornerStone Homes
Cottage Home Company, The
Custom Homes by Bryan Lendry
Cypress Home Builders
D.R. Horton Homes
Dale’s Contracting Company
Dana B. Kenyon Company
David A. Taylor
David Weekley Homes
Dawson Development Company
Dean Russell Construction
Demetree Brothers
Dennis Homes
Developers Realty Group
Disttive Homes
Dockstreet Communities
Donna Lynne Custom Homes
Dostie Homes
Dream Finders Construction
Dreambuilder Custom Homes
Drees Homes
Eastland Company
Eastside Remodeling
EIS Construction
Elemental Construction
Elkins Constructors
Estuary Corporation
Fidus Group, The
Finial Builders
First Coast Custom Homes
Fox Signature Homes
Garza Constructors
GBN Construction
Generation Homes
Glenn Layton Homes
Gorham Custom Builders of Florida
GreenPointe Homes
Grider Construction
Group IV Properties
Harrell Construction Company
Hazlewood Homes
Heritage Homes of Jacksonville
Holder Johnson Homes
Home Sweet Accessible Home
Homes by Deltona
Horn Builders
Hovis Custom Builders
HSG Jacksonville
H.W. Contracting
ICI Homes
J.A. Long
J.L. Smith Construction
Jason Hursey Homes
JBL Corporation
Jeff Thompson Construction
J.L. Linder Group
John Doerer Construction
John Kinstle Construction Company
Jonsson Construction
Jorgensen Building and Development
K.H. Lane
KB Home Jacksonville
Kendale Design/Build
King Construction Company of Jacksnville
Kostich Development
Landon Homes
LandSouth Construction
Lang’s General Contracting & Renovation
Lawrence Murr
Legacy Builders of North Florida
Lennar Homes
LSN Builders
LTB Custom Homes
M&S Construction Company
Magnolia Homes
Mallen Construction
Maronda Homes of Florida
MasterCraft Builder Group
Matovina & Company
Mattamy Homes
McKee Construction
Mercedes Premier Homes
Metro North Community Development Corporation
Monarch Homes
Morales Construction Company
Mosley Builders
NEFBA Builders Care
New Atlantic Builders
New Florida Builders
New Leaf Construction
Nooney Construction
North Florida Builders of Jacksonville
Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation
Oakleaf Builders
P.T. Simons
Pat Cunningham Construction
Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida
Perimeter Plantation
Pineapple Corporation, The
Poimboeuf Homes
Poli Construction
Providence Homes
Pulte Homes
Quality Construction of Northeast Florida
RB&M Enterprises
Richmond American Homes
River City General Contractors
Rivermont Properties
Robert Brown Homes
Robshaw Custom Homes
Rosewood Homes
Ruggeri Construction
Rushing Construction
Sandifer Custom Homes
Santeiro Custom Homes
Satilla
Seagreen Construction & Roofing
SEDA Construction Company
SJS Construction
Southern Lifestyle Homes
Spectra Builders
Sport Nobles Construction
SRB Contractors
SSS Constructions
St. Johns Housing Partnership
Standard Pacific Homes
Steve Johnson Custom Builders
Success Builders of Fruit Cove
Summit Contracting Group
TerraPointe
The Oakwood Building Group
The Revered Group of America
Thomas May Construction
Toll Brothers
Tom Trout
Towers Contracting Company
Towers Group, The
Trevett Building Systems
Turnage Company, The
Umbrella Builders
Universal Design Solutions
Vestcor Companies
Victory Homes & Development
VNS Builders
WCP
Weyer Custom Renovations
Whyrick Builders
Wiggins Construction Construction of North Florida
Williams & Rowe
Willis Contractors
Wittco Custom Builders
World Island Builders