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Walters Homes Poised for Record Growth; Builder to Expand Custom Home Division

Entering 2015,  Ocean County builder Walters Homes announced that it will sell the single-family lots at its Whispering Hills and Ocean Acres communities to Ryan Homes, and will concentrate exclusively on its thriving ReBUILD custom home division and developing workforce and market-rate housing communities.

“Our company is stronger than ever and will continue delivering high-caliber real estate projects throughout New Jersey,” said Ed Walters Jr., company founder. “As the market continues to rebound, our company’s emphasis will involve mixing sustainable building practices with custom home building. Over the next three years Walters Homes will construct more housing products than at any other time in our company’s history, including more than 500 new workforce and market-rate apartment units.”

With 74 employees, the company also plans to hire more staff to accommodate its anticipated growth and expansion, according to Walters. “Our custom home division is performing well above all expectations,” he said. “Since Superstorm Sandy we have sold more than 150 custom homes; in 2014 we closed on 80 ReBUILD homes in coastal locations ranging from Little Egg Harbor Township to Lavallette. Just weeks into 2015 we already have 70 custom homes scheduled to close in 2015, which is a testament to our success as a custom home builder.”

Since its inception in 2012, Walters’ ReBUILD division has been focused on reconstructing coastal homes that were destroyed or severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. In addition to meeting FEMA’s guidelines for building in designated flood zones, these newly constructed homes also are Energy Star certified. ReBUILD offers dozens of floor plans and design elements from which to choose. Each home is specifically crafted for a homeowner’s existing lot with layouts ranging in size from 500 square feet to more than 2,400 square feet. ReBUILD has two sales offices in Ortley Beach and Manahawkin.

“Our ReBUILD team is helping people understand what they need to do to reduce the risk of future wind and flood damage. Rather than renovate, many homeowners are opting to rebuild from the ground up, creating residences with new construction features that are safer, smarter and built to withstand a major storm,” said Walters. “We work closely with home owners to assist with permitting, financing, insurance claims and more, essentially making the rebuilding process as seamless as possible. The decision to build new is creating more equity in the property than if the owner lifted the home up and renovated, and the homeowner has the added benefit of living in a brand new Walters home.

“Customer can choose any of our standard plans,” added Walters, “or we can schedule a meeting with our architect to design a unique custom home that we are able to build at an affordable price.”

Walters also will continue to build  communities that benefit the environment. Laurel Oaks and Whispering Hills apartments are new workforce apartment communities recently completed by the company in Barnegat. These projects were built using green building methods and materials. Laurel Oaks achieved LEED Platinum and Energy Star certification.

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