By Angela Gonzales | Phoenix Business Journal
Mark Weber is making big land buys in metro Phoenix at a time when it’s getting tougher to find new acreage.
The Arizona division president for Houston-based David Weekley Homes said he is spending $117 million on land and development for 12 new projects totaling more than 1,000 homes in metro Phoenix this year.
Weber said he’s on track to build about 400 homes in metro Phoenix this year, shooting for 500 a year by 2022.
“Land deals are hard to find right now, based on rising costs, but we’re still working on a number of new land deals right now,” Weber said. “Labor and material supplies continue to be a challenge for all of us. We’re consistently meeting with our trade contractors trying to identify solutions to the labor and material shortage problems.”
“We don’t do lotteries.” – Mark Weber, David Weekley Homes
“Demand has been extremely robust,” he said. “Most builders right now are forcing a softening in the demand by controlling sales. We don’t do lotteries. I’m not a big fan of lotteries. That’s not the right way to treat our customers. We’ve done an interest list — first come first serve.”
According to Vizzda LLC, a Tempe-based real estate database, David Weekley Homes paid $6.65 million for 38.81 acres at Storyrock.
Shea Homes, which had purchased 51 homes in the first phase of Storyrock, paid $6.61 million for another 34.08 acres east of the northeast corner of 128th Street and Ranch Gate Road, according to Vizzda.
Vizzda records also show that Rosewood Homes paid $6.64 million for 36.84 acres southeast of 128th Street and Alameda Road and paid another $3.16 million for 18.87 acres at the northeast corner of 128th Street and Alameda at Storyrock.
Scottsdale-based Taylor Morrison Home Corp.also is opening new models soon.
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