Home building is blooming locally

Published: 4/6/2014 - Updated: 5 hours ago

BY JON CHAVEZ BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Having endured one of the bleakest winters in Toledo area history, the areas home building industry is now seeing signs of a spring full of hope.

Local home builders say since the snow and colds departure, buyers of new homes are popping up in strong numbers that could lead to the best year of sales since the 2007 recession.

For some, business has rebounded enough to allow the building of spec homes houses built on a speculative basis without a confirmed buyer.

Another encouraging sign: Several new housing plats have opened in existing subdivisions, a response to greater customer demand for vacant lots.

I think everybodys glad that January and February have moved on. Hopefully were going to start seeing some warmer weather and, in turn, were going to see a lot of [home foundation] digs going on in April, said Chuck Barchick, owner of Barchick Custom Homes Inc. of Toledo, and the current president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo Inc.

Mr. Barchick said he had been doing more remodeling work than home-building during the last two years, but last month his firm began building two homes for clients.

Its been difficult, but I think it is going back to normal, said Mr. Barchick, who added that he was greatly encouraged by 18 requests for information on his homes during Februarys House & Home Show at the SeaGate Centre downtown.

Aaron Sloan, co-owner of Saba Custom Homes Inc. in Sylvania Township, said he had a good year in 2013 because he built 60 homes. But this year, he said, hes on pace to build 75 homes, weather permitting.

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Home building is blooming locally