Windsong Properties, leading active adult courtyard home builder, won Best 50+ Community of the Year for its Somerset community in Woodstock, Ga. during the 30th Annual OBIE Awards Ceremony on Nov. 13 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. Windsong also received four additional OBIEs for their achievements in home building.
Somerset is a popular community, especially for selling 50 EarthCraft certified homes since its opening in 2007. There are only seven home sites still available with the EarthCraft certification, so act fast if you too would like to be a “green” home owner. Somerset is gated, located in a rural setting, yet still in close proximity to a wide range of shopping and dining options. The community clubhouse is a great place for residents to socialize, with a garden retreat as well. Homes in the Somerset community feature no-step access, wide doorways, and lever handles among other amenities to assist changing life situations.
Windsong Properties’ achievements in addition to Somerset being named Community of the Year, were:
* Gold Award Winner for Windsong at Seven Hills for Best Building Design (detached home) for all builders ($299,000 and under)
* Gold Award Winner for Somerset Best Building Design (detached home) for all builders ($300,000 to $399,999)
* Silver Award Winner for Windsong at Seven Hills for single-family builder that builds 1-99 homes per year ($290,000 to $349,999)
* Silver Award Winner for Somerset Best Building Design (detached home) for all builders ($300,000 to $399,999)
The annual OBIE Awards are presented each November by the Sales and Marketing Council of the Home Builders Association. The awards began in 1980, and have consistently grown to now feature over 100 remodeling, building, marketing and personal achievement categories, in which professionals may enter. The highest honor in the Atlanta housing industry, is to receive an OBIE award.
Although Windsong Properties had a challenging year in 2010, they have had a 450 percent increase in closings on new homes in the first half of this year, compared to 2009. To achieve this effectiveness the builder controlled costs (overhead and construction), and re-positioned their products, which ended up reducing overall costs as well. For the total of 2010, Windsong is predicting 36 closings, a mark that was last reached in 2007.
“We really learned to listen to our customers one at a time, focusing on them and their needs,” said Steve Romeyn, managing partner at Windsong Properties. “We really slowed down to speed up, managing risk with smart decisions. I think our ability to adjust in difficult times has really paid off for us in terms of sales.”
Much alike to the Somerset community, Windsong at Seven Hills experienced great success, selling seven homes in October alone. Also due to customer demand, Windsong recently added 16 new lots from which home buyers can choose.
Windsong at Seven Hills is situated atop Seven Hills in Paulding County, with homes priced from $180,000. Homes in the community feature four unique ranch courtyard floor plans to choose from, with two and three-bedroom styles. Home owners get many opportunities for exercise, with a 13-acre amenity park in the community, that contains tennis courts and other sports courts, an aquatic center with water park and zero-step entry pool, a playground and much more. The decorated clubhouse is also available for social activities, and has an any time access, state-of-the-art fitness room.
For more information about Windsong Properties, or their many communities including Somerset and Windsong at Seven Hills, call 770-516-3409 or visit www.windsonglife.com.
