D. R. Horton still thriving during slowdown

PHOTO COURTESY/D.R. HORTON Catalina Isles in South Fort Myers has been one of D.R. Horton's most sucessful projects in Southwest Florida. Elizabeth Galloway says she works for one of the big dogs.

D.R. Horton is the St. Bernard or Great Dane, if you will, of home builders, found in over 80 markets in 27 states.

"We're actually the nation's largest builder," Galloway said. "And according to Builder magazine, we were ranked No. 1 builder for six years in a row. And that is based on closings."

Galloway joined the company two years ago and coordinates all of the marketing efforts in Southwest Florida and supports the sales staff. She works with the sales and marketing manager, developing marketing campaigns and advertising campaigns. She also maintains their Web site.

"Everyone has to wear a couple different hats," she said. "We work as a team here. And we've rolled with the punches and rolled with the changes and we've adapted. Everyone is working really hard to stay in this market and stay where we are."

PHOTO COURTESY/D.R. HORTON The Carlet model is an example of a Sorrento series home at Catalina Isles where impact glass windows - resistant to force up to 130 miles per hour - are being installed. And where does that ability to roll with the punches come from?

Experience.

"D.R. Horton started in 1978, so he's been around," Galloway said. "We have excellent leaders who have been through down markets and up markets, and the leadership at D. R. Horton has been amazing, because it hasn't scared them off. We've got experience behind us, we've got the time behind us and the knowledge to get us through any kind of market, whether it's good or bad.

"When it's good, there's a lot of people around, and jobs are great. When it takes a turn, you really got to buckle down and tighten up your machine, and I'm one of the lucky ones who has gotten to stay along for the ride and see it through. And when it goes back up, it's going to be great."

Galloway, who has an undergraduate degree in marketing with a minor in German and international business from Indiana's Ball State University, is glad for the opportunity to utilize her education.

The Southwest Florida division of D.R. Horton is active in five communities, building in Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, South Fort Myers and Naples.

They are the sole builder in their communities and don't build in any communities they haven't developed.

According to Galloway, D.R. Horton's developing five communities that are open today. River Club in Port Charlotte, across the street from the Peace River, is going to have 350 single-family homes available in two series. A gated community, it offers family-friendly amenities such as a clubhouse, a community pool, a fitness center, children's playground and a barbecue area - amenities available at all D. R. Horton communities here.

"This is a gated community, where it's ideal for families," Galloway said. "Schools are close by, shopping. You really get that sense of community, of belonging to something. It's not just 'This is my piece of land and my neighbor's next to me and that's their piece of land.' "

PHOTO COURTESY/D.R. HORTON Impact glass is a standard feature in Sorrento series homes at Catalina Isles such as this 5- bedroom, 4 ½ -bath Petaluma model. The Grove, in Lehigh, is one of the first gated communities there, she said.

Right now, they're only selling singlefamily homes at the Grove, but will introduce a series of twin villas. They plan to build 795 units.

"It's right across the street from Veterans Park," Galloway said. "And the elementary school is right there. We spend a lot of time researching the land that we bought to make sure that the people buying in here have accessibility to all that they need for their lifestyle."

Another community is Bella Vida in Cape Coral, off Del Prado extension, west of U.S. 41. In addition to the usual amenities, Bella Vida will have basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and a children's pool. The developer is offering three different series of homes with 150 town homes and 359 of their 50 series. They will also build between 200 and 300 of their signature series on estate-sized lots.

PHOTO COURTESY/D.R. HORTON A Naples address and a gorgeous threebedroom, three-bath Mistella model home at Valencia Golf & Country Club for less than $350,000. In South Fort Myers, there's Catalina Isles off of Summerlin and the Winkler extension.

"It's less than 10 miles to the beach, to Fort Myers Beach and the bridge to Sanibel," she said. "The location is great: close to the beach, close to all the great shopping, close to schools."

Catalina Isles is proving to be popular for D.R. Horton; over half the 282 singlefamily homes are already sold.

The fifth community they're developing is the Valencia Golf and Country Club in Naples, off Immokalee Road, just across the street from Palmetto Ridge High School.

"So many people want to live that golfing, Naples lifestyle," Galloway said. "It's that very prestigious lifestyle that people want, and we're making it affordable for them. Homes start at just $300,000."

Buyers can opt to buy a membership to the golf club, pay as they play, or just enjoy the view.

They hope to build a total of 833 units at Valencia Golf and Country Club.

PHOTO COURTESY/D.R. HORTON Catalina Isles in South Fort Myers