by Matt Shouse | May 1, 2019 | Blog, Bridge Awards
I am very pleased to announce the honored members of the Home Builders Association of Greenville who were recognized at the sixth annual Bridge Awards,presented by GBS Building Supply. The Bridge Awards recognizes and honors businesses and professionals in the Home Building and Remodeling industry for excellence in design, construction, craftsmanship, marketing, and professionalism.
The Bridge Awards winners in the craftsmanship category were announced at a banquet on April 4.
Bridge Award Winners: Craftsmanship
New Homes Awards, presented by Piedmont Natural Gas:
New Homes under $250,000
Best Overall and Best Exterior
Essex Homes, Hartland Place
Best Kitchen
Great Southern Homes, Screech Drive
Best Bathroom
Great Southern Homes, Bromley Fold Lane
New Homes $250,000 to $500,000
Best Overall
Meritage Homes, Jones Peak Drive
Best Kitchen
Essex Homes, Lakeway Place
Best Bathroom
Ryan Homes, Edwin Ellis Drive
Best Exterior
Ryan Homes, Santa Ana Way
New Homes $500,000 to $1,000,000
Best Overall
Dillard-Jones Builders, Jessen Drive
Best Kitchen
Hollison Custom Homes, Rembert Street
Best Bathroom
Fairview Custom Homes, Panther Park Trail
Best Exterior
Sexton Griffith Custom Builders, Morning Mist Way
New Homes $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
Best Overall, Best Kitchen, Best Bathroom, Best Exterior
Goodwin Foust Custom Homes, Great Lawn Drive
New Homes, $2,000,000 to $3,000,000
Best Overall and Best Kitchen
Gabriel Builders, Sweet Fern Trail
Best Bathroom
Dillard-Jones Builders, Spring Cove Way
Best Exterior
Dillard-Jones Builders, Stoneholme Court
New Homes, $3,000,000+
Best Overall and Best Kitchen
Dillard-Jones Builders, Creek Stone Court
Best Bathroom and Best Exterior
Gabriel Builders, Buckthorn Trail
by Matt Shouse | Apr 23, 2019 | Approved Professional Builder, Blog, Bridge Awards
Bathrooms overtook kitchens as the most popular remodeling project, according to a new survey by the National Association of Home Builders. According to the survey of remodelers nationwide, 81 percent reported the most common remodeling project was the bathroom, followed by 78 percent who said the kitchen.
May is National Home Remodeling Month—just in time for the Home Builders Association of Greenville to honor some of the Upstate’s Approved Professional Remodelers with awards at its annual Bridge Awards Gala, presented by GBS Building Supply, for craftsmanship and professional excellence in home remodeling.
Bridge Award Winners: Remodeling Craftsmanship presented by Jeff Lynch Appliance and TV Center
Full Home Remodel, $100,000 to $250,000:
Best Overall, Best Kitchen, Best Exterior, and Best Bathroom
Hadrian Construction Company, Inc., Sevier Street
Full Home Remodel, $250,000 to $500,000:
Best Overall, Best Bath
Hadrian Construction Company, Inc., Grove Road
Best Exterior
Stageberg Builders, Inc., Alaska Avenue
Best Kitchen
Smith and Webb Custom Crafted Homes, Chapman Road
Full Home Remodel, More than $500,000:
Best Overall, Best Kitchen, and Best Exterior
CarsonSpeer Builders, Stratton Place
Best Bathroom
CarsonSpeer Builders, League Road
Partial Home Remodel:
Best Overall
Stageberg Builders, Silver Creek Road
Best Innovation of Space
CarsonSpeer Builders, Collins Creek Road
Highest Degree of Difficulty
CarsonSpeer Builders, Rockbridge Road
Palmetto Exterminators Remodeler of the Year
The 2018 Palmetto Exterminators Remodeler of the Year is Mike Freeman, APB, ACA/Freewood Contractors.
Why Hire an Approved Professional Remodeler?
Your Home Builders Association has helped you take the guesswork out of hiring a contractor to improve your home. Approved Professional Remodelers are verified annually to meet high standards of professionalism. Learn more about our standards and start your search for a contractor by selecting an Approved Professional Remodeler. Visit HBAofGreenville.com/approvedprofessionalbuilder.html to get started.
by Matt Shouse | Apr 7, 2019 | Blog, Bridge Awards
Each year the Home Builders Association of Greenville honors its members for their contributions and achievements at the annual Bridge Awards presented by GBS Building Supply. Individual 2018 Bridge Awards honorees are:
BB&T Builder Member of the Year
James Speer, APB, Partner, CarsonSpeer Builders
James Speer, APB, is Immediate Past President of the Home Builders Association of Greenville. He and his partner, Steve Carson, operate CarsonSpeer Builders, a custom home building and remodeling firm based in Greenville and operating throughout the Upstate.
Palmetto Exterminators Remodeler of the Year
Mike Freeman, APB, Partner, ACA/Freewood Contractors
Mike Freeman, APB, is a partner in ACA/Freewood Contractors, a home building, remodeling, and commercial contracting company based in Greenville that operates throughout the Upstate. Mike is a member of the Leadership Council of the National Association of Home Builders and a Past President of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.
Richard A. Ashmore, Sr., Associate Member of the Year, Sponsored by BB&T
Ben Moseley, Director of Operations, The Heirloom Companies
Ben Moseley is a leader in the family business, The Heirloom Companies. Ben currently serves the association as Vice President and Chairman of the Southern Home and Garden Show.
Acopia Home Loans Professional Woman in Building Award
Sarah Ratcliff, Michael’s Janitorial and Floor Service
Sarah Ratcliff served as the 2018 Chairwoman the Professional Women in Building Council of the Upstate. She also was a Director of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.
Dan Rawls Community Service Award sponsored by Palmetto Exterminators
Rebuild Upstate
Rebuild Upstate helps families in need remain in their homes by facilitating much needed repairs as well as upgrades like wheel chair ramps. The Home Builders Association of Greenville is proud to partner with Rebuild Upstate.
Committee Chairman of the Year
Dave Hagan, APB, Ryan Homes
Dave Hagan has served as Chairman of the association’s Political Education Committee. He also is a member of the association’s Board of Directors.
Membership Award
Emily Raines, APB, Dan Ryan Homes
Emily Raines has been active and effective in growing the Home Builders Association’s membership as a Trustee of the Professional Women in Building Council of the Upstate.
Rookie of the Year Award
Trina Montalbano, APB, Essex Homes
Trina Montalbano became involved in the Home Builders Association in 2017 and is a Trustee of the Sales and Marketing Council of the Upstate.
Spirit of the HBA Award
Alan Wilson, Clark’s Termite and Pest Control
Alan Wilson epitomizes the Home Builders Association. He has served as a Director and Associate Vice President of the association and has led the association’s Associate Members Committee.
Sales Agent of the Year
New Home Sales Agent of the Year: Kate Edge, APB, Ryan Homes
Sponsor: The Greenville News
Sales Executive of the Year
New Home Sales Executive of the Year, Under $50 Million: Trina Montalbano, APB, Essex Homes
New Home Sales Executive of the Year, More than $50 Million: Lindsay Simpson, APB, Ryan Homes
General Brokerage Sales Executive of the Year: Haro Setian, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
Sponsor: The Greenville News
Lender of the Year
Amanda McCall, Prime Lending
Sales Team of the Year
Sales Team of the Year, General Brokerage Large Office: The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
Sales Team of the Year, General Brokerage Small Office: The Wilson House Group
Sales Team of the Year, New Home Sales and Marketing: Ryan Homes
Million Dollar Circle
Sales and Marketing Council of the Upstate members who achieved new home sales of between $1 million and $5 million in 2018:
Monica Agema, APB, Great Southern Homes
Cozette Bond, APB, Meritage Homes
Shay Brown (Michael and Shay Brown), Greenville’s Property Couple
Crystal Daniel, APB, Meritage Homes
Jessica Franco, Blackton Property Partners
Pamela Fulmer, APB, Meritage Homes
Michael Johnson, The Haro Group of Keller Williams Historic District
Lorraine Lewis, APB, Meritage Homes
Monica McKiernan, APB, Great Southern Homes
Jessika Poole, APB, Great Southern Homes
Nicole Tucker, APB, Great Southern Homes
Emily Wilbourne, APB, Dan Ryan Builders
Jennifer Winton, Re/Max Moves
SMC members who achieved new home sales of between $5 million and $10 million in 2018:
Robert Albert, APB, Meritage Homes
Charlie Binns, APB, Essex Homes
Erica Brooks, APB, Meritage Homes
Tom Catafygioiu, APB, Meritage Homes
Sherry Criminger, APB, Meritage Homes
Norell Mitchell Grissett, APB, Great Southern Homes
Jennifer Hendrix, APB, Essex Homes
Wendy Hendrix, APB, Meritage Homes
Peg Higgins, APB, Meritage Homes
Hunter Hurst, APB, Meritage Homes
Matt Johnson, APB, Dan Ryan Builders
Rita Norton, APB, Meritage Homes
Stacy Rector, APB, Dan Ryan Builders
Danielle Simmons, APB, Dan Ryan Builders
Stacie Thompson, Re/Max Moves
JoAnn Williams, APB, Great Southern Homes
SMC members who achieved new home sales of between $10 million and $15 million in 2018:
Mary Beth Berry, APB, Ryan Homes
Joe Blackton, Blackton Property Partners
Kate Edge, APB, Ryan Homes
Marcia Jarisch, APB, Meritage Homes
Chelsea Ware, APB, Ryan Homes
SMC members who achieved new home sales of greater than $15 million in 2018:
Steven Dyal, APB, Ryan Homes
Government Affairs Award
For his leadership in the association’s engagement in government affairs.
Bob Barreto, Falcon Development Group
Champion of Housing Award
For her leadership in developing a strong working relationship between the City of Greenville and the Home Building Industry.
Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle, City of Greenville
Distinguished Service Award
For his legacy of service to the Home Building Industry and the Home Builders Association.
Rick Quinn, APB, Quinn-Satterfield, Inc.
ABCD Award
For support of the Home Builders Association that is “above and beyond the call of duty.”
Jon Statom, Palmetto Exterminators
Leigh Ann DeYoung Southern Home and Garden Show MVP Award
For his support of the Southern Home and Garden Show.
Mike Freeman, APB,ACA/Freewood Contractors
MembershipWORKS Award
For leadership in development of the membership of the Home Builders Association using the greatest number of members in their Bridge Awards projects.
Dillard-Jones Builders
President’s Citation Award
Our 2018 President, James Speer, APB, honored the following members for their contributions to the association in 2018:
Bill Kane, APB,Ryan Homes
Jennifer Willis, Bilt Rite Garage Doors
Ben Moseley, The Heirloom Companies
by Matt Shouse | Jan 14, 2019 | Blog, Bridge Awards, Top Stories

Featured Home: Sexton Griffith Custom Builders was presented with a 2017 Bridge Award, presented by GBS Building Supply, for Best Kitchen, New Home $2 million to $4 million, for their project on East Fort George Way.
By Matt Shouse, APB, President, Home Builders Association of Greenville and Partner, LS Homes
The housing market has become very tight nowadays. In most places, prospective buyers are seeing fewer and fewer properties, especially ones that meet their budget. Based on this Housing Trends Report finding by the National Association of Home Builders, those who plan to buy this year should not expect their choices to grow.
This issue is also very common here, around the Upstate. According to the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS®, the current time on the market for residential listings is less than 100 days. Further, based on building permit data collected by the Home Builders Association of Greenville, new home building activity has only returned to pre-recession levels in just one Upstate county: Spartanburg County.
As a result, affordability continues to be a concern for home buyers. Nearly 8 out of 10 prospective buyers in the survey said fewer than half of the houses they saw in their search were priced within reach. The survey shows that the average new home search takes more than three months.
In fact, 49% of those who have been looking for at least three months, had not yet purchased a home because they were unable to find one that fits their budget. The survey also found that 44% of buyers prefer an existing home to a newly built one. But almost as many as 38% have no preference, while 18% prefer new construction. These findings prove that either a newly built or existing home would suit most shoppers. An uptick in the supply of homes, whether new or existing, will improve the picture for most buyers — as long as the new supply comes in at an affordable price.
So what happens if people hoping to buy don’t find what they want in the next few months? 61% of those polled said they will continue looking for the right home in their preferred location. Some said they will expand the area of their search, accept a smaller or older home, or pay more than they originally intended. Just 18% said they will give up and try again in the future.
Want to learn more about the Upstate Housing Market?
The Annual Upstate Housing Market Forecast is set for Tuesday, January 22, 11:30 a.m., at the Greenville Convention Center. The keynote speaker is Dr. Robert Dietz, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders. To register, visit HBAofGreenville.com.