Payne Family Homes - Blog

PAYNE FAMILY HOMES ADDS ARTERBURN AS V.P. OF OPERATIONS

Comes to St. Louis from national builder based in Atlanta

            Payne Family Homes, the area’s fastest growing homebuilder, has added Shawn Arterburn as vice president of operations.  Arterburn comes to Payne Family Homes from Atlanta-based John Wieland Homes, where he served as division president.

            In his new position, Arterburn will be responsible for assisting Payne Family Homes President Ken Kruse in expanding the business, streamlining company processes, developing new product lines. Additionally, he will be tasked to strengthen the corporate brand and promote increased awareness in quality and industry leading customer service.  

            During his 16 years at John Wieland Homes, Arterburn was instrumental in the company’s growth to $1 billion in revenues and 1,800 homes annually in five cities throughout the Southeast.  In addition, he was a key contributor to the company’s three-time designation as the J.D. Powers #1 Builder in Customer Satisfaction in Atlanta. 

            Arterburn is a graduate of Purdue University, where he received a B.S. degree in building construction and contracting technology.  He is a resident of Creve Coeur.

            According to Kruse, “Payne Family Homes tripled revenue in 2010, and we are on track for another strong year. To keep pace with our expansion, we are excited to add a person of Shawn Arterburn’s caliber as Vice President of Operations.  We know that Payne Family Homes and our customers will benefit from his exceptional experience, industry knowledge and dedication to the community.” 

            Payne Family Homes has 10 well-located communities in St. Charles and St. Louis Counties.  Neighborhoods include Bordeaux Condominiums, Tuscany, The Pointe at Heritage Landing, The Enclave at Heritage, The Meadows at Ohmes Farm, The Townes at Belleau Creek, Bella Vista and Boulder Ridge in St. Charles County, and Ashton Woods and Uthoff Valley in St. Louis County.  All Payne Family Homes neighborhoods are served by an AAA-rated school district and most are located in one of Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live in America.”  For information, call 314-417-1218, or visit www.paynefamilyhomes.com.

“Record Year: With many larger builders gone as a result of the collapse in real estate, a smaller builder, Payne Family Homes in St. Charles County, almost tripled its revenue in 2010, to more than $20 Million, and it’s targeting a 25% increase this year. The firm, owned by David Payne and led by Ken Kruse, closed on 82 homes last year, more than double its closings in 2009.”

We’re honored to achieve such positive results and thank our stakeholders for making it happen! All but one closing in 2010 came from existing communities so these results reflect true “same store sales” growth, which can be partially attributed to new product designs that  appeal to carefully researched consumer demand preferences, our reputation for construction and service excellence, an experienced and talented operational, strategic and customer focused team and outstanding locations priced properly to deliver value to our ihomeowners.   

ST. LOUIS, March 7, 2011 –   Terrific curb appeal.  Interiors flooded with natural light.  Plenty of space for entertaining.  These are just a few of the easy-to-see features that characterize Payne Family Homes’ all-new “Vision Series,” which makes its official debut this month in four popular residential communities.  But there’s a great deal more to this innovative collection – attributes that are sure to mean “love at first sight” for many budget-conscious homebuyers this spring.

Sales and marketing manager Edward Lott explained the decision to supplement Payne Family’s wildly successful 2010 “Lifestyle” design portfolio.  “Due in part to the economy, household configurations are more varied than ever before,” Lott observed.  “Today’s homebuyers run the gamut from singles and couples at all stages of life to extended families with aging parents, adult offspring, or grandchildren who’ve returned to the ‘nest.’   

“Changing households mean changing spatial requirements and, as diverse as our design selection was, customers were asking for still more choices.  And we were listening.”

Customer-designed from the ground up, the Vision Series emphasizes flexibility and universal appeal to first-time buyers, empty-nesters, and everyone in between – at prices and sizes consistent with current market demand.

The eye-catching ranch and two-story plans reflect a compilation of buyer requests, local surveys,   Facebook poll results, national industry data, and the expertise of Midwest regional architect, Paul Knitter, well-known for his research on buyer trends and patterns.

For those who favor single-level living, the Vision Series provides extraordinary freedom to adapt spaces to individual lifestyles.  Basic ranch plans encompass 1302 to 1746 square feet and, depending on the model, offer split-bedroom layouts, dual master suites, huge walk-in closets, expansive great rooms, separate laundry and mud rooms, and a centrally located flex room or French-door den.

Even more unique, ranch purchasers have the option to build up or down – or both, adding a penthouse suite with bedroom, full bath, and bonus room – and/or a finished lower level available in various arrangements – bringing total living area to as much as 3326 square feet!

Two-story fans have a phenomenal choice of living space, from an easy-to-manage 1586 square feet up to a generous 2480 square feet.  The various standard floorplans allow for three or four bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, vast great rooms, upper-level laundries and bonus rooms, separate mud rooms, a space-saving side staircase, formal dining room, and a flex room/den/playroom.

All Vision Series homes can accommodate a 3-car garage (homesite permitting) and offer an optional gourmet kitchen with double oven, microwave, and cooktop.

Now available at Ashton Woods in Eureka and Bella Vista, The Pointe at Heritage Crossing, and Ohmes Farm in St. Charles County, the Vision Series starts from the low to mid-$100’s, depending on location.

“The value built into these homes is amazing!” Lott concluded.  “More choices – at affordable prices – with space that conforms to the way owners want to live.  And like all Payne Family homes, the Vision Series is designed and crafted to stand the test of time.”

ST. LOUIS, March 7, 2011 –   Among the unique product lines comprising Payne Family Homes’ extensive design portfolio are detached cottage homes, which have been a smash hit with buyers in The Townes at Belleau Creek.

Located at the intersection of Mexico and Belleau Creek Roads in St. Peters, the 92-homesite neighborhood is now half-sold, and community sales manager Kim McIver cites several reasons for Belleau Creek’s appeal to a broad spectrum of homebuyers. 

Last fall, Payne began construction of a new display in Belleau Creek, and the hot-selling, 4-bedroom “Givry” opened for touring in January.  Confirming the popularity of this spacious two-story, the original display was also a Givry (and a 2010 Professional’s Choice Award winner), which sold shortly after being put on the market.

The 2011 version, however, is being shown with one of the four bedrooms converted to a sizable loft area, perfect for a casual living or media room.  Other options on display and helping buyers to visualize their choices include “floating” hardwood flooring throughout the main level, premium cabinetry, a coffered ceiling and double-bowl vanity in the master suite.

Four detached cottage home designs are featured at Belleau Creek, starting from a mere $129,000.  The story-&-a-half and 2-story plans provide two to four bedrooms and 1536 to 1931 square feet of interior space. 

“Customers are always impressed by the quality of Payne’s construction and the realistic pricing of these homes,” McIver added, “and they’re astonished by the variety of elevations we offer.”     

Great news for shoppers hoping to move right away…  Two specially-appointed variations of the Givry – one with three bedrooms, the other with four – are available for immediate possession and sale-priced at $154,900 and $169,900, respectively.

Through the end of February, purchasers building to contract will receive half off the first $15,000 worth of their preferred options.  Johnson invites questions at 314-477-1158, or visit PayneFamilyHomes.com

Situated just south of I-70 and midway between Highway K and Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Belleau Creek is instantly accessible to the area’s countless shopping, dining, and recreational facilities.  The new display is located close to the main community entrance from Mexico Road.

“More Choices, Better Living” in Communities by Payne Family Homes

ST. LOUIS, March 7, 2011 –   Purchasing a new home is one of life’s greatest rewards, and it’s a decision that requires careful evaluation.  You may have a vision of the perfect home for your lifestyle, but where you live and how much you can realistically invest are equally important. 

For the homebuilder in today’s market, the challenge of meeting your housing needs – and those of a continually broadening spectrum of buyers – is even greater.  Here’s why:

Contemporary households are more diverse than ever before.  Married couples represent less than half of the current homebuyer market.  Singles of all ages account for a huge percentage of home sales.  Baby boomers, now empty-nesters or retirees, are downsizing.  Multi-generational families are again living under one roof.  And WINKs – a newly-coined term for “women with income and no kids” – are projected to constitute more than 40 percent of Gen Y households within the next five years.

Creating a design portfolio that addresses the expectations of so many different types of buyers is a daunting task for any homebuilder.

Payne Family Homes Meets the Challenge

As the national economy slid into recession, Payne Family was building in some of the most sought-after locations in the region and was recognized by Zanola Research as St. Charles County’s fastest-growing homebuilder in 2009. 

The company’s affordable, low-maintenance townhomes, villas, and detached cottage homes continued to sell well during the downturn, but many changes were occurring in the single-family housing market. 

Anticipating those trends, Payne immediately set to work developing two versatile new single-family product lines, designed for optimum value, curb appeal, and flexibility and geared to the budgets of cost-conscious homebuyers.  As a result, the company’s revenues nearly tripled in 2010!

The key to both collections is the multitude of choices available – in several outstanding neighborhoods – and the opportunity to select from as many as 21 unbelievably flexible home designs, then modify the plan to personal preferences!

Payne’s “Lifestyle Series” features open, expandable floorplans with multi-function spaces, oversize garages and laundry rooms, mudrooms, loads of kitchen cabinetry and counter space, and master suites with luxurious closet and bath appointments.

The 12 Lifestyle ranch, story-&-a-half, and 2-story models vary from 1627 to 3388 square feet, and unique options range from specialized “work zones” to money-saving Energy Packages, state-of-the-art audio/video pre-wiring, “command centers,” and numerous other amenities.

This January, Payne unveiled its equally exciting “Vision Series,” seven additional plans that supplement the Lifestyle Series – and are customer-designed from the ground up! 

Depending on the model, Vision ranches offer split-bedroom layouts, dual master suites, huge walk-in closets, expansive great rooms, separate laundry and mud rooms, and a centrally located flex room or den.  One plan even offers the freedom to build up, down – or both, adding a penthouse suite and/or finished lower level.

Vision two-stories provide 1586 to 2480 square feet of living area and a host of spatial arrangements that can be tailored to virtually any lifestyle.

Whatever your vision, there’s a Payne Family’s townhome, villa, cottage home, or single-family community that’s right for you!  A complete listing can be found online, PayneFamilyHomes.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Payne Family Spotlights New ‘Lifestyle’ Displays in 2 St. Charles Neighborhoods

ST. LOUIS, March 7 , 2011 –    Undaunted by industry conditions, Payne Family Homes tackled the economy head-on last summer, introducing an all-new design collection that has proven irresistible to homebuyers across the metro region.

Highly functional, architecturally distinctive, and remarkably versatile, the “Lifestyle Series” addresses the diverse spatial needs and most wanted features of today’s buyers – at economically realistic prices.

Before moving into her new “Meridian” display in early January, community sales manager Sharon Wright-Bruemmer had already sold 11 Lifestyle homes in The Meadows at Ohmes Farm in St. Peters.  “Response to the Lifestyle Series has been outstanding here at Ohmes Farm,” she remarked.   “Customers are really impressed by the adaptable spaces, unique interior features, and the amount of home they get for their investment.”

Representing the new portfolio, the 2339-square-foot Meridian is a beautifully designed split-bedroom ranch with flex room, formal dining room, main-floor laundry convenient to all three bedrooms, and an island kitchen that Bruemmer describes as “phenomenal.”  The display is also shown with 12-foot ceilings in the great room, café breakfast area, and kitchen.

Lifestyle plans range from 1627 to 3388 square feet in size, and each is offered with a choice of five attractive elevations.  Noting that yards in Ohmes Farm are landscaped and fully sodded, Bruemmer added, “The appeal of these homes starts before you even reach the front door!”

This month, community sales manager Brooke Bailey is familiarizing visitors to Tuscany in St. Charles with a lavish new “Montego” display.  Final touches are being applied to the 4-bedroom story-&-a-half, which provides nearly 2700 square feet of living space and is shown with the luxury features most often requested in this private, upscale residential enclave.

All of the Lifestyle plans are offered at Tuscany, but elevations have been hand-selected to harmonize with the community’s high-fashion streetscape.  “This collection has been a good fit for our affluent customers,” says Bailey, “and three Lifestyle homes have already been purchased here.

People immediately notice the large walk-in closets, well-organized kitchens, the wonderfully open family space – and Lifestyle options allow tremendous freedom to personalize a home.”

Highlights of the Montego display include a screened porch, extensive hardwood flooring, wrought iron stair rail, granite countertops, a butler’s pantry, tray ceiling in the master bedroom, 9-foot foundation pour, and an exposed aggregate driveway and patio.

Pricing for the Lifestyle Series at Ohmes Farm (314-713-0838) starts from $209,900, at Tuscany (314-220-2861) from$249,900.  For directions and more information on these superbly located St. Charles County neighborhoods, PayneFamilyHomes.com