For over 20 years, Ashton Woods has been known for designing versatile, energy-efficient homes close to jobs, shopping and transportation corridors. Ashton Woods effectively balances healthy-home features with energy efficiency in their Power House Green homes – which can save homeowners as much as 45% per year on utility bills.
Headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, Ashton Woods Homes is an affiliate of the Great Gulf Group; a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America - from land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master planned communities. With new homes for sale in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh and Tampa the company is a Platinum Level Environments for Living™ and Energy Star® builder and is honored with the most coveted local, regional and national awards.
ASHTON WOODS HOMES - TIME LINE
2011
Ken Balogh becomes President and Chief Executive Officer of Ashton Woods Homes.
Ashton Woods Homes Launches Yours Personally, Ashton campaign promoting home personalization options.
Ashton Woods Homes makes Builder 100 Private Top-10 List.
Ashton Woods Homes recognized as Homebuilder with the Right Mix, Makes Big Builder Magazine cover story.
Department of Energy Builder Challenge for energy-efficient home construction met by Ashton Woods Homes.
Ashton Woods Homes Launches E-Scale campaign touting annual cost-savings from their Powerhouse Homes.
Ashton Woods Homes is recognized with the 2011 ENERGY STAR® 3.0 Leadership in Housing Award.
You can also learn more about how we build in our Eco-Advantage sections of the website.
2010
Ashton Woods Homes expands its homebuilding and development operations to include Raleigh, North Carolina and Austin, Texas.
2009
Ashton Woods Homes develops PowerHouse Green with Environments for Living
Ashton Woods Homes receives the Environments for Living Diamond Award for a commitment to Energy Efficiency.
Ashton Woods Homes receives the ENERGY STAR for Homes Leadership in Housing Award.
JD Power & Associates recognizes Ashton Woods Homes as a Top 3 builder in all qualified cities of operation.
2008
Ashton Woods Homes receives the Residential Warranty Company Keystone Award.
2007
Ashton Woods Tampa receives the Parade of Homes Grand Award for the Napa plan.
Ashton Woods Tampa receives the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Design Feature.
2006
Ashton Woods Homes receives the Tampa Bay Builders Association 2006 Parade of Homes Grand Award for the Amhurst model in Palm Cove and the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Overall Floor Plan.
2005
Ashton Woods Houston opens its new Master Planned Community - Southern Trails.
Ashton Woods Orlando opens Lakeside, its first condominium community.
Ashton Woods Homes expands its homebuilding and development operations to include Tampa, Florida.
Ashton Woods Atlanta receives the J.D. Power& AssociatesHighest in Customer Satisfaction among Atlanta Homebuilders Award for the second consecutive year.
2004
Ashton Woods Orlando receives its second consecutive Parade of Homes Award.
Ashton Woods Homes receives the Builder of the YearAward from the Greater Phoenix Homebuilder Association Award.
Ashton Woods Atlanta receives the J.D.Power& AssociatesHighest in Customer Satisfaction among Atlanta HomebuildersAward.
2003
Ashton Woods Orlando receives the Parade of Homes Award.
2002
Ashton Woods Homes expands its home building and development operations to Phoenix, Arizona.
Ashton Woods Atlanta receives the National Best of American Living Award for its first townhome community.
Great Gulf Homes receives Toronto's Builder of the Year Award from The Greater Toronto Home Builder's Association.
Ashton Woods Homes introduces The Ashton Woods Power House - a new program designed to ensure an energy efficient and incredibly comfortable environment, day in and day out. All this adds up to increased value, durability and improved health. The positively powerful place.
2001
Ashton Woods Orlando opens its first community at The Lakes of Windermere.
2000
Ashton Woods Atlanta and Houston unveil state-of-the-art Design Centers.
The Great Gulf Group of Companies enters the 21st Century as an international, fully-integrated group of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum - from land acquisitions and assembly to the design and construction of thousands of single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums.
The National Association of Home Builders again recognizes Ashton Woods Homes with a Gold Award for Best Home Design.
Ashton Woods Houston is named PRISM Grand Award Winner for the third consecutive year.
1999
Ashton Woods Homes moves up to 40th place on BUILDER magazine's Top 100 Builders list.
The National Association of Home Builders honors Ashton Woods Homes with its first Gold Award for Outstanding Design.
Ashton Woods Homes unveils its new Design Center in Dallas. It is named Best Design Center in the city.
The Texas Association of Home Builders honors Ashton Woods Homes with itsTexas Star Grand Award for its outstanding home designs, merchandising and marketing.
1998
Ashton Woods Homes creates the Home Management Center as one of its signature design features.
1997
To better service its customers, Ashton Woods Homes forms its own mortgage companies in Dallas and Houston. Atlanta opened the following year.
1993
The Great Gulf Group begins developing land and residential and commercial projects in Denver, Colorado.
1992
Ashton Woods Homes enters the Atlanta market. Atlanta is now the U.S. corporate headquarters for Ashton Woods
1990
Great Gulf Group expands its homebuilding portfolio to include commercial construction with the formation of First Gulf Group.
The Houston division of Ashton Woods Homes is formed, marking a stronger foothold in U.S. residential homebuilding.
1989
Great Gulf Group grows from a regional homebuilder into an international group of companies with the introduction of Ashton Woods Homes in Dallas, Texas.
1984
Great Gulf Resort Communities is formed to develop luxurious get-a-way destinations.
1981
Great Gulf Group introduces The Decor Center to offer home buyers more convenient selections and design choices.
1975
Great Gulf Group is founded in Toronto, Canada by the Reisman brothers. The company's fundamental philosophy is to build better-designed homes in communities that deliver lasting value, and to provide a superior level of service to its customers.
Do you want to save as much as 45% per year on utility bills? Do you want your family to live in an environmentally friendly home that balances healthy-house features with energy-efficiency?
Of course you do – and you can!
That's why Ashton Woods is the only builder with Power House Green and Environments for Living™; two programs designed with healthy and comfortable living in mind.
All of our single family homes and townhomes are designed and built using a scientific procedure that enhances the performance of your home. From high levels of efficiency and comfort to meeting the Environments for Living™ performance standards, your Ashton Woods Home results in enhanced performance.
With Environments for Living (EFL), your new Power House is earth-friendly: our super energy-efficient features dramatically lower your energy costs and can save you an average of 25%-45% every year on utility bills.
You'll live healthier, save on energy bills and feel a comfort level you never thought possible.
Learn more at Environments for Living™ and at Power House Green.
Home financing that meets your needs. Because your home is one of your biggest investments, it's important to ensure that your mortgage fits you. This is our specialty -- helping you find mortgage options that meet your current situation while complementing your long-term financial goals. We will help you determine what mortgage options work for you, assist you through the loan process, and answer your questions. Contact us today and start the homebuying process with a complimentary consultation. We'll help you understand how much you may be able to borrow.
Protection From Rising Rates While You Build Your Home Builder Best® Program
Thinking about building a new home, but worried about interest rate fluctuations?
Our Builder Best® program provides:
- Expand lock-in options. Protect your interest rate range against financial market fluctuation, for up to 12 months during the construction period.*
- Financing Options. Choose from a variety of loan products. The Builder Best program may also be used in conjunction with other programs, including our construction-to-permanent loan programs.
- Flexibility. If rates decline, you may seek to exercise a one-time float-down option to get new loan pricing, subject to requalification.** You may also have an option to switch to another eligible product, including many fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and some government products.***
Recommended for people who:
- Want to protect themselves against interest rate fluctuations while their homes are under construction
In an uncertain market, interest rates can climb and dip. Our Builder Best program may provide peace of mind by protecting your rates for up to 12 months, accommodating the time it takes to complete your new home.1
** For Builder Best: Change of loan product or program, change in loan to value ratio, float down or re-lock of rate will require underwriting approval. One-time float down option is available within 60-days of closing to any Lender program or re-lock your existing product at the current available price range. Re-lock is not allowed within 30 days of the original lock. If re-lock period exceeds 60 days, applicable extended lock fees will be assessed.
*** For eligible borrowers only.
Our Commitment
Ashton Woods will deliver to our customers uniquely designed homes that provide consistent value and exceed our buyer's expectations. We will be an industry leader in profitability in an entrepreneurial environment that respects employees and supports their growth.
In addition, we are developing our culture through hiring employees with the following success characteristics:
| Integrity | Planning/Organizing | Initiative |
| Leadership | Judgment | Adaptability |
| Drive | Follow up and Control | Communication |
| Risk Taking | Persuasiveness | Talent Development |
If you believe in Our Commitment and have the personal characteristics for success then we want to hear from you!
With new homes for sale in the Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh and Tampa regions, there’s always a new home community grand opening or special event happening. Read more about the accomplishments, announcements and new releases from Ashton Woods Homes, below:
Ashton Woods Homes earns award for building new homes that protect the environment through energy efficiency
Atlanta, GA July 13, 2011
Ashton Woods Homes is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2011 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution Ashton Woods Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 949 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $424,203 on utility bills each year.
The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:
- Eliminating the emissions from 465 vehicles;
- Saving 2,812,836 lbs of coal;
- Planting 769 acres of trees; or
- Saving the environment 5,516,537 pounds of CO2 per year.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 20% more efficient than standard new homes built today.
“We have always been on the leading edge of providing our customers a healthier, more energy-efficient home. Ashton Woods Homes is proud to be a leader in the industry and committed to building environmentally friendly homes,” stated Ralph Farrell Sr. VP of Operations.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.
“The value you get from an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home goes far beyond energy efficiency,” said Sam Rashkin, National Director for EPA’s ENERGY STAR Homes Program. “ENERGY STAR Qualified homes provide more comfort, durability, and a healthier environment than homes built to code. On top of that, they’re tested and inspected to perform.”
Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners, Americans saved about $18 billion on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 33 million vehicles. Nearly 1.2 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995.
About Ashton Woods Homes
Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 126,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2010, by partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) May 17, 2011
Ashton Woods Homes, a premier builder of eco-friendly and energy efficient new homes today announced recently achieving the Builder 100’s Top-10 Private Companies.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Ashton Woods builds high-performance homes for sale in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Raleigh growth communities. Close to jobs, shopping and transportation, Ashton Woods effectively balances healthy-house features with energy efficiency in their Power House Green homes for sale – which could save homeowners as much as 45% per year on utility bills.
Every year, BUILDER magazine asks the nation’s builders to provide their sales and closings. The Builder 100 list is an annual compilation of the largest homebuilders in the country. The Builder 100’s Top-10 Private List is comprised separately of for-profit, private builders.
The article, written by Builder magazine’s senior editor, John Caulfield, points out that, “Georgia-based Ashton Woods USA converted $125 million of its public debt to private debt, which appears to have given this company breathing room to grow. The company has since expanded its operations into Raleigh, N.C., and Austin, Texas. Ken Balogh, a former Centex executive who was Ashton Woods’ COO, was promoted to CEO after Tom Krobot, who had held that post since 1995, retired on Dec. 31, 2010.”
The Builder 100’s Top-10 Private List is a milestone achievement for Ashton Woods as it continues to earn recognition, awards and accolades – from industry experts and customers alike – for its energy-efficient and affordable new homes for sale.
As recently as March 2011, Ashton Woods made the cover story of Big Builder magazine, which proclaimed Ashton Woods as having the right business model, management talent, experience and funding which allows them to capitalize on current market conditions and be well positioned for new market conditions going forward.
“With our ‘Power House Green’ and ‘Yours Personally, Ashton’ incentives, we’re hitting the right balance of new home science and design,” stated Tad Serbin, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing. “We’ve also adopted the Department of Energy’s E-Scale Home Energy Rating System to help educate homebuyers on the utility savings when comparing an Ashton Woods home to other new and used homes,” added Mr. Serbin.
Read the Builder magazine article at http://tinyurl.com/PrivateTop-10List, or visit Ashton Woods Homes at http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.
About Ashton Woods Homes
Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Raleigh, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Phoenix. Visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com for more information.
Helps Define “MPG” for New Homes – Saves Homeowners Money
Atlanta, GA May 03, 2011
Ashton Woods Homes, a premier builder of eco-friendly and energy-efficient new homes today announced the release of their Home Energy Rating Scale, in accordance with the Department of Energy.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Ashton Woods builds high-performance homes for sale in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Raleigh in growth communities, close to jobs, shopping and transportation.
If homes had a miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating, Ashton Woods would be the eco-friendly leader in building “fuel-efficient” homes. Leveraging a long history of building energy-efficient homes in all of its communities, the national builder has incorporated the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in the marketing and sales information of their new homes.
The E-Scale, based on Residential Energy Services Network’s (RESNET) Home Energy Rating (HERS) Index, involves the analysis of a home’s construction plans and includes onsite inspections. According to RESNET, since a rating quantifies the energy performance of a home, the HERS Index provides an easily understandable means to compare the relative energy efficiency of different homes.
The HERS Index is a scoring system based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is.
When it comes to scoring low on the E-Scale, Ashton Woods has an average score of 70. This means, when compared to other new homes, Ashton Woods’ homes are 30% more energy-efficient. When compared to used homes, a new home from Ashton Woods is as much as 46% more efficient in its energy use. This can save homeowners as much as $1,078.00 each year.
While the E-Scale from the Department of Energy may be new to consumers, building energy-efficient, eco-friendly homes is old hat for Ashton Woods: they’ve been doing it for 10 years with their Powerhouse Green Homes.
“It’s just the right way to build a home,” says Ralph Farrell, VP Operations at Ashton Woods Homes. “By designing a livable home first and then adding energy-efficiency, we develop a comfortable and environmentally-sound home,” added Mr. Farrell.
But, E-Scale is only a measurement tool. Homes need to incorporate energy-efficient attributes like Energy Star, or Environments For Living, as a general baseline. According to Sam Rashkin, National Director Energy Star for Homes, even just a typical Energy Star-compliant home saves 20-30% in energy costs when compared to homes built as recently as 2009. “As a compliment to Energy Star, the E-Scale is a great thing,” added Mr. Rashkin and homes built by Ashton Woods are all Energy Star-compliant.
Environments For Living (EFL) brings yet another whole layer of efficiency to an Ashton Woods home. Homes built under the Environments For Living® program are energy-efficient homes that have been constructed using the principles and the discipline of looking at a house as an integrated system of systems that all work together. Things like durability, water-efficiency, indoor environmental quality and energy-efficiency are all part of EFL’s advanced building techniques, which require a lot more effort on the part of homebuilders, like Ashton Woods. “All these things create a quality product,” says Mr. Rashkin.
Ashton Woods is a strong advocate of quality products and energy-efficiency programs, like EFL and Mr. Farrell states, “It’s a big deal to have a healthier, well-balanced, clean home and Environments For Living has really helped.” And it’s created a demand for homes built by Ashton Woods, who, last month, made the cover of Big Builder magazine, partly as a testament to its ability to deliver ongoing value to homeowners through continued energy-efficiency savings.
“Ultimately, new homeowners could use the savings from reduced energy costs to pay down their mortgage sooner, which is an attractive option for many buyers today,” stated Tad Serbin, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing. With this idea in mind, Ashton Woods has created an energy performance calculator using the E-Scale to help new homebuyers understand the impact of savings from living in an energy-efficient home.
The energy performance calculator is located at http://www.ashtonwoods.com/escale and can help individuals determine the amount of yearly savings they could realize.
To learn more about E-Scale: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/energysmart.html
To learn more about the HERS Index: http://www.resnet.us/home-energy-ratings
To learn more about Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/
To learn more about Environments For Living: http://www.environmentsforliving.com
About Ashton Woods Homes
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group, a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America. From land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master planned communities. For more than 40 years, Ashton Woods has built a solid reputation for building comfortable, energy-efficient, high-performance new homes and is honored with the most coveted local, regional and national awards.
Visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com for more information.
New Features Assist Homebuyers and Encourages Home Personalization Options
Atlanta, GA January 12, 2011
Ashton Woods Homes, a premiere builder of eco-friendly and energy efficient new homes today announced that they launched their new web presence and marketing campaign, both of which encourage homebuyers to take advantage of their new home personalization options for 2011.
Headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, Ashton Woods builds high-performance homes for sale in growth communities in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Raleigh. Close to jobs, shopping and transportation, Ashton Woods effectively balances healthy-house features with energy efficiency in their Power House Green homes for sale – which could save homeowners as much as 45% per year on utility bills.
The “Yours Personally, Ashton” campaign reflects the builder’s ability to meet today’s homebuyer demands in personalization. Things like granite counter tops, archways vs. standard doorways, paint and trim color options and more are enabling new home buyers to create homes that fit their unique lifestyles and personalities.
“The ability to personalize your home; make it your own and the ability to save as much as 45% on utility bills each year are design factors that sets Ashton Woods apart from other builders,” stated Tad Serbin, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing.
As one of Ashton Woods’ “Four Cornerstones,” along with location, quality and service, new home design is a critical factor and both the campaign and the new website help to bring these important aspects of new home building to the forefront.
With homes for sales in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Raleigh, Ashton Woods is considered as one of the Nation’s top-20 new home builders.
The “Yours Personally, Ashton” campaign is at http://www.ashtonwoods.com/yours-personally/.
About Ashton Woods Homes
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group- a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America – from land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master planned communities. For more than 40 years, Ashton Woods has built a solid reputation for building comfortable, energy-efficient, high-performance new homes and is honored with the most coveted local, regional and national awards. Visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com for more information.
Considered a “Select Group of Builders” by EPA Director
Atlanta, GA October 12, 2010
Ashton Woods Homes, a premiere builder of eco-friendly and energy-efficient new homes, today announced that they had been commended by the National Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, Ashton Woods builds high-performance new homes in growth communities in Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh and Tampa. Close to jobs, shopping and transportation corridors, Ashton Woods effectively balances healthy-house features with energy-efficiency in their Power House Green homes – which can save homeowners as much as 45% per year on utility bills.
In an e-mail from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in Washington, D.C., Sam Rashkin, Director, ENERGY STAR for New Homes says, “A select group of large builders are leading the Nation’s housing industry to high-performance homes by committing to all of their divisions to construct 100% ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes. Ashton Woods is one of those builders. Their efforts will help provide homes that are better for our nation, our communities, and home owners across the country.”
“We are very pleased to be recognized from the Director of Energy Star representing the EPA,” said Ralph Farrell, Senior V.P. of Operations at Ashton Woods Homes. “Over the last eight years Ashton Woods Homes has been 100% committed to providing our customers the most energy efficient, healthy homes in our markets. We appreciate being recognized in doing so, but we are most proud that we do it because it is the right thing to do,’” added Mr. Farrell.
During the past eight years, Ashton Woods Homes has demonstrated its commitment to providing green, energy efficient homes. With more buyers each year purchasing high-performance, energy-efficient homes, Ashton Woods continues to provide state-of-the-art features and benefits to its buyers in each of its new homes. Visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com/powerhouse to learn more.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).
About Ashton Woods Homes
Ashton Woods Homes is a subsidiary of the Great Gulf Group- a fully-integrated collection of companies that spans the entire real estate spectrum in North America – from land acquisition and development to the design and construction of master planned communities. For more than 40 years, Ashton Woods has built a solid reputation for building comfortable, energy-efficient, high-performance homes and is the winner in Overall Quality in the 2009 J.D. Power Survey for New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Ranking and is honored with the most coveted local, regional and national awards. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.
