Although Signature Homes’ staple is Birmingham, Ala., in the eight years it’s been in business in Baton Rouge, La., it’s carved out a niche by being a builder that constructs detached product as well as attached. The company says closings in Baton Rouge in 2006 will increase by one-third to about 200 units, with little growth a result of Hurricane Katrina. Its strategy during the rebuilding is to play conservatively, refraining from what it considers inflated land purchases and keeping prices at pre-Katrina levels (a base of $275,000 for detached and $180,000 for attached). Bottom Line
Company president Dwight Sandlin says that although KB Home and D.R. Horton have moved swiftly into the Baton Rouge market, bureaucracies, acute labor problems, and substandard infrastructure may prevent their anticipated growth. “We’re not too afraid of big builders coming in and taking away all our ability [in the market],” Sandlin says. “We think if we do a good job, the market will respond to us.”
SIGNATURE HOMES 2148 Pelham Parkway, Building 600
Pelham, AL 35124
Phone: 205-989-5588
Fax: 205-989-8884
www.e-signaturehomes.com
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Baton Rouge, LA.
