New Homes & Lifestyles

Mattamy Homes - A Deeply Satisfying Buy

For more than 28 years, Mattamy Homes has been associated with quality in the home-buying industry. Founded in 1977 by Peter E. Gilgan in Ontario, Mattamy is Canada's biggest builder and now ranks among the 20 largest homebuilders in North America.



In 2004 Gilgan reinvented the company by splitting it into seven divisions-four in Canada and three in the United States-with a dedication to serving the individual needs of each market. The shift enabled Mattamy to become a leader in customer service.



Mark McHone, with Mattamy Homes since 2002, played an essential role in building the company's customer service reputation. Originally recruited by Gilgan from Lennar Homes in California to helm Mattamy's Halton division in Toronto, McHone was selected as president of the company's expansion in Arizona.



<strong>JD Powerful</strong>

"We strive to satisfy every sale," McHone says, echoing the philosophy that has garnered the builder high praise within the industry. According to the JD Power and Associates 2006 Canadian New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study, Mattamy Homes ranked, "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with New-Home Builders in the Greater Toronto Area."



McHone's Halton division also was the winner of the 2006 NRS Award - "Best in Class, Rated Highest in Customer Satisfaction for North America among Production Builders (500 Closings Annually)," a first for a builder based outside of the United States.



Thanks to its talent for satisfying customers, the Halton division enjoys repeat business most companies can only dream about. Survey results showed 96 percent of its customers would recommend Mattamy Homes to a friend or family member and 27 percent made six or more referrals.



<strong>And the Survey Says...</strong>

As a privately held company, Mattamy is committed to answering directly to home buyers. Quite simply, Mattamy builds homes people want. Through focus groups and surveying past buyers, the company ensures its on the right track in highly specific categories. This attention to detail and meeting the customer's needs underlie everything Mattamy does. Being fiscally responsible and doing the right thing should be givens in the home building industry, but Mattamy has clearly found a way to exceed expectations. As McHone says, "If your main focus is on customer satisfaction, profitability will flow."



For example, McHone found through his surveys that some Halton homeowners weren't happy with the light fixtures in their homes. He challenged the contractor to correct the problem while not costing the company any more money. After the fix, he noticed their NRS scores increased.



<strong>Entering Arizona</strong>

Mattamy came to the Valley of the Sun in November 2006, closing its first deal in December of the same year. The Arizona division, which opened Circle Cross Ranch in Queen Creek in April, is the latest addition to the U.S. market that includes divisions in Florida, Minnesota and North Carolina. Despite missing the housing boom of the last few years, McHone feels they're in a good position to grow in Arizona based on their ability to buy finished home lots, and their fiscal responsibility, dedication to customer service and focus on the first-time buyer.



"Even with the downturn in the economy, the one segment of the marketplace that has viability is the entry-level market." McHone says. Though the market is not producing as many permits as it was a year or two ago, McHone points out that people are still moving to Arizona.



Sometimes first-time buyers find the price point in certain areas is out of reach for them. McHone's strategy is to find a way to build a quality product below $150,000, an approach that has served him well. Mattamy-Halton primarily catered to first-time home buyers, but the combination of affordability, high-quality product and excellent customer satisfaction enabled the company to earn up to 40 percent of those first-time buyers back as repeat customers.



<strong>Outlook</strong>

So far, it would seem Mattamy is on the way to replicating its track record here. According to Carolyn Morrison, vice president of sales and marketing for Mattamy's Arizona division, 32 people have already purchased homes in Circle Cross Ranch. Positive sales numbers in the third quarter are encouraging to management team members as they look to expand into areas such as Gilbert, Casa Grande, Avondale and Buckeye.



Both McHone and Morrison attribute steady sales to the fact they're offering something new and different-but also that their new home buyers know from whom they're buying and expect more value.



McHone remains optimistic about the future of Mattamy in Arizona. "This is a very tough market, but at the same time, this is not dissimilar from other downturns in the economy-and I've been through three of them."



Staying true to the proven philosophy he helped lay out for Mattamy's past success seems a reliable indicator for Arizona. "Come buy a home," McHone says with a smile. "You'll love it."



<h1 style="color: #039;padding-top:15px; font-weight: bold;">Circle Cross Ranch</h1>

With the San Tan Mountains to the south and the Superstition Mountains to the northeast, Circle Cross Ranch is on Gary Road just north of Hunt Highway in Pinal County.



The 242-home neighborhood within the master planned community of Circle Cross is dotted with parks, ramadas and children's play areas. Buyers may choose from six newly designed floor plans, one or two stories, ranging from 1,113 to 2,563 square feet; each home site is 120 feet deep, allowing for spacious, family-sized backyards.



Home features include:



<ul>
<li>Front yard landscaping with timed drip system</li>
<li>Natural gas</li>
<li>Covered patio</li>
<li>Post-tension slab application</li>
<li>12-inch-square ceramic tile floor in entry</li>
<li>Behr washable flat, two-tone paint</li>
<li>Maple kitchen cabinets with choice of stain</li>
<li>Whirlpool microwave</li>
<li>Energy efficient 14 SEER A/C system</li>
<li>Low E-Windows</li>
</ul>


Homes start from the low $130s and first occupancies are under way.



<a href="/showcase/index/241">Mattamy Homes - Arizona Division</a>, 480.302.6080