By Susan Roush:

2017 July/August Issue

Pages 18 – 24 –

D. Ralph Huff III, CEO of H&H Homes, was willing to risk personal security to start a homebuilding company.  He offered the equity in his home and his wife’s retirement funds (with her support) to Murray Duggins, owner of a Fayetteville, NC real estate company that Ralph had run for several years. The plan was to use his assets with matching funds as seed money. Mr. Duggins said no, but within short order sold the real estate company to Ralph. As soon as the company started making a profit, Ralph began to build houses, one at a time. After two years, he and his brother were building 25 houses a year, then 40 with the addition of another employee. By that point, Ralph convinced his wife Linda that she could make as much building two nice homes a year as she did on her music teacher salary. Linda joined in and eventually took over daily operations, until they reached the point that additional talent was required for the company’s growth.  Ralph said, “This is our 26^th year, and last year we celebrated our 5,000^th closing. Now we’re pushing 6,000.”

Homeowner, Cindy Bement (far right) talks with CEO of H&H Homes, Ralph Huff (second from the right), Myrtle Beach Division Manager, Jason Faulkner (second from the left), and President, Jack Rostetter (far left) in front of the model home in Pelican Bay.  Cindy and her family moved to Pelican Bay in 2016.  She said she chose the community and H&H because, “We liked the location, the large lots, and the included upgrades. A lot of builders don’t give you the upgrades.” She is especially thrilled about the energy efficiency – her utility bills are always lower than friends’ bills with smaller houses.

 

In 2016, H&H Homes moved up two notches to 78^th in Builder magazine’s Top 100 Builders list. This represented a 20% growth for the company. President of H&H Homes, Jack Rostetter said, “Our goal is to get to 1,000 houses a year. That’s based on gaining a small market share in a lot of the growth markets that we’ve expanded to.”  Jack joined the company in 2009; he had been the CEO of a Florida homebuilding company that built 1100 homes annually.

H&H’s initial footprint expanded from Fayetteville to Jacksonville, NC. This was a natural progression given the company’s experience building for Fort Bragg military families. A strategic thinker, Ralph said, “All of our research said that for us to maximize the enterprise value of H&H Homes, we needed to be regional.” They added markets in a stepwise manner by first entering Wilmington and Myrtle Beach followed a year later by Raleigh, and then Charlotte and Charleston. Ralph continued, “So that footprint makes us not the biggest builder in the Carolinas, but the best situated for growth. Jack added, “Presence in these major markets is the health and welfare of the organization and explains why we are as substantial as we are.”

After the housing recession, H&H Homes was the first builder to come to Myrtle Beach that did not have a prior presence.  The company believed they could reprise retirees’ dreams of moving to Myrtle Beach, and introduce a new wave of retirees to the brand.  In return, the Myrtle Beach area has been very receptive. Jack said, “Myrtle Beach showed the fastest acceptance of our brand. We were able to start 10 inventory homes at a time, which made the real estate community and customers sense that we were substantial.” Part of the enthusiasm for H&H Homes is due to being an ecoSelect™ homebuilder, complemented by design features and details that resonate with buyers. Through the ecoSelect™ certification program, all H&H homes are designed and built to be healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient through a combination of green building strategies, water conservation, and superior energy efficiency features.

Bernie & Cimberly Johnson (right) and H&H Homes’ Myrtle Beach Division manager, Jason Faulkner (left), visit in front of the Johnson’s home. The Johnsons have lived in Palmetto Greens at Colonial Charters for nearly two years and love their H&H home. Bernie chose an H&H because of how the homes are built and the energy efficiency package. He had this to say about H&H Homes, “You will not find a better built home. Everyone on my street can vouch for that.”

Jason Faulkner, Myrtle Beach Division Manager, oversees the concurrent growth in eight distinct communities in Horry and Brunswick Counties and provides a synopsis of each:

Shaftesbury – Conway, SC

Shaftesbury is perfectly situated between Myrtle Beach and Conway. Residents who purchase one of the three distinctive H&H product lines have access to lifetime golf at Shaftesbury Glen.  The community also has river and dock access, and pool access.

The award winning Clyde Johnston golf course in Shaftesbury. Residents receive Free Golf For Life when they own a home in one of the three Shaftesbury neighborhoods.

• Shaftesbury Estates is distinguished by larger lots, many with cypress ponds. Single family homes begin at 2,000 square feet, priced from the upper $230s
• Shaftesbury Green homes range from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, priced from the $180s
• Cottages at Shaftesbury especially appeal to buyers who want one-level living and freedom from yard work. The homes range from 1,400 to 2,000 square feet, priced from the $160s

Astoria Park – Conway, SC

The newest H&H Homes community has the added feature of natural gas. There are seven different models, and square footage ranges in 1,600 – 3,000. Prices begin in the upper $180s.

Pelican Bay – Longs, SC

This gated community offers wooded half-acre lots, boat storage, a day dock, and boat ramp to take advantage of the Intracoastal Waterway. A quick trip over the bridge makes for easy access to all the conveniences of North Myrtle Beach.  Sixteen sites remain in this special enclave for homes with a minimum square footage of 2,400, starting in the upper $330s.

The gourmet kitchen with large center island in the Hickory plan available in Pelican Bay.  

Palmetto Greens at Colonial Charters – Longs, SC

• Palmetto Greens Townhomes at Colonial Charters square footage runs from 1,600 to 2,000, priced from $170s. These townhomes have two-car garages. Exterior and lawn maintenance is included

• Condos are coming soon – 48 units will be available with two bedrooms / two bathrooms in 1,000 square feet. Prices will start in the low $100s
• There are limited home sites remaining in the 87 single-family home section of Palmetto Greens at Colonial Charters

Aberdeen at Spring Mill Plantation – Calabash, NC

Situated between Meadowlands and Farmstead Golf Courses this community is within minutes to multiple other courses, shops, restaurants, Sunset Beach and boating/fishing venues.  Homes range from 2,000 – 2,900 square feet, priced from $209s.

Lighthouse Cove – Carolina Shores, NC

Lighthouse Cove is another H&H Homes easy-lifestyle, easy-access community whether retired or raising a family.  There are four plans to choose from for homes ranging 1,600 to 2,600 square feet, priced from $170s.

North Shore – Sunset Beach, NC

This is truly a boutique project with expansive waterway views. In 2017, National Geographic named Sunset Beach one of the top beaches in the world.  H&H Homes offers a limited production opportunity of four homes starting at 2,000 square feet from the $400s.

Brick Landing Plantation – Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Brick Landing is a known community that offers a great golf course, community pool and tennis. Sunday brunch or post-round drinks / lunch are a tradition at The View Restaurant located in the clubhouse that overlooks the course and Intracoastal Waterway. Homes begin at 1600 square feet, priced from $214s.

Apart from the varied portfolio of communities, why should potential homebuyers consider H&H? Jack Rostetter had no hesitation, “Our value and substance.” Ralph added, “We’ve never walked away from a project once we started.”

Building Industry Synergy spoke with two homeowners that chose H&H Homes.  Bernie and Cimberly Johnson moved into their Colonial Charters home nearly two years ago. Bernie recalled, “We traveled to a lot of neighborhoods up and down the Strand – we looked at about 30 homes.” A realtor took them to Colonial Charters and that was it. “What appealed to us was the FROG – we never heard of it – having that extra room over the garage.” They liked the location, the friendliness of the neighborhood and the Cumberland model that they chose. Bernie said, “This house excites me. The energy efficiency package is great!” He has since become the VP of the HOA and likes having a say in the community’s upkeep.

Bernie said, “You will not find a better built home. Everyone on my street can vouch for that. When Rob showed us how these homes were built, we were sold. I like knowing what kind of sticks are holding it up – no one else did that.”  New Homes Consultant, Rob Layman, was one of the top three consultants in the company in 2016. Bernie also gave credit to Mark Wisdo, H&H Homes Warranty Technician. “He did a phenomenal job. They came back within the year and did the blue tape thing and fixed imperfections. I was very happy how he went about it.”

The open living room and kitchen in the Calabash model home in Pelican Bay.

Cindy and Rich Bement and their children Austin and Brittany moved into their Pelican Bay home in the winter of 2016.  Cindy said, “We liked the location, the large lots, and the included upgrades. A lot of builders don’t give you the upgrades.” The Bements chose to build the Washington model and added the option of a three-car garage. They also added a pool, which was easy to do on the large lot. The building process went as expected with the house delivered on time. Cindy added, “You’re not going to make everybody happy all the time, but when you buy a lot / house with H&H, I think you get more bang for your buck.” She is especially thrilled about the energy efficiency – her utility bills are always lower than friends’ bills with smaller houses.

Cindy was unaware of the faces behind H&H until she went to the selection showroom. It came as a surprise to learn that Ralph and Linda are the essence of H&H Homes. She had gone to high school with Ralph’s younger brother in Raeford, NC. She said, “You couldn’t ask for better people.”

For Jack Rostetter’s part, it is rewarding to see the growth of H&H Homes, “but it doesn’t hit your heart until you drive in the community and see the families.” For the man who was willing to take a big risk to start the company, his vision keeps paying. Ralph said, “The effect of H&H doing 620 closings is the same as 1,600 families getting a paycheck. A lot of my satisfaction comes from knowing that I can afford to put smarter and better business people around me.”

For further information regarding H & H Homes and any of their 12 Coastal Communities call (843) 491-4205,
email Info@HHhomes.net or visit www.HHhomes.com.