BUILDER’s premier lists of the top-200 builders in the country, the BUILDER 100 and the Next 100, are set to be released next week. In light of that, we are counting down each day with some facts and figures gleaned from the data.
The economy is looking up and in many markets more consumers are finally buying homes again. Last year brought opportunity for home builders, and several pounced on the prospect to grow their business.
Secrets to Success
Want to know more about how the fastest-growing builders got so successful? Here are profiles of two of them:
Wade Jurney Homes
Level Homes
Of the top-10 builders that grew the fastest in terms of closings last year, a majority were mid-size firms that edged their way up the list.
Greensboro, N.C.-based Wade Jurney Homes was the fastest-growing builder, with 57.89% growth in closings from 437 in 2014 to 690 in 2015. This came after a 61.25% jump in closings from 2013 to 2014, which brought the firm to the Builder 100 list for the first time, from No. 129 to No. 90. This year, Wade Jurney Homes jumped another 30 spots to No. 60.
Mid-sized Orem, Utah-based Edge Homes and Lewisville, Texas-based American Legend Homes both experienced growth rates just over 52%, each adding roughly 250 closings to their books over the previous year and jumping up roughly 30 spots on the Builder 100 list. Edge Homes is now at No. 54 and American Legend at No. 59 in this year’s ranking.
The smallest company in the top-10 fastest-growing builders list was Radnor, Pa.-based Traditions of America. A 45.38% growth in closings from 2014 to 2015 brought the builder to the top 100 for the first time at No. 96 with 378 closings. The largest fastest-growing private builder was Oakwood Homes. The Denver-based builder followed up its 89% growth in 2014 with 28% growth in 2015, taking the company from No. 48 to No. 42 on this year’s Builder 100.
