Ivory Homes still top builder along the Wasatch Front

Ivory Homes held its top spot among Wasatch Front homebuilders during the first six months of 2005, according to a report by Construction Monitor, a publication that tracks home construction.

For the first half of 2005, Salt Lake-based Ivory built 517 single-family homes valued at $101.4 million.

Rankings are based on residential valuations, which include the costs of materials and labor but not the costs of land, architectural fees or landscaping.

Ivory has ranked as the No. 1 homebuilder along the Wasatch Front for 17 consecutive years. And it appears that in 2005 Ivory may continue to hold that ranking, knocking off outside builders such as Dallas-based Centex Homes, which pulled out of Utah in April.

"We've really been focusing on core business principles like customer service, quality and locating premier locations," said Chris Gamvroulas, president of Ivory Development Co. "That has led to our company growing even though we don't have growth goals like other national builders. We've grown as a result of focusing on those core principles."

Gayle Goodman, a spokeswoman for Centex, said the company's decision to leave Utah was a result of greater investment opportunities in other operations.

Richmond American Homes, owned by Denver-based M.D.C. Holdings Inc., ranked second with 403 units valued at $61 million along the Wasatch Front.

Yet, owner-builders — people who act as their own general contractors — outpaced all Wasatch Front homebuilders with 511 permits valued at $114.9 million.

Dave Mineer Sr., president of Construction Monitor, said home building in Utah continues at a fast pace.

"It's almost like you can feel the California population moving up the I-15 corridor to St. George and here in Cedar City where we're based," Mineer said. "Three years ago we used to get 50 permits out of St. George every week. Now it's 120."

The top builder in southwestern Utah was St. George-based Ence Homes at 220 units valued at $26.9 million. In northern Utah, Logan-based Kartchner Homes ranked No. 1 at 23 units valued at $2.1 million.

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