Builders see good future in Lehigh for new homes
Brian Goss
The owners of a new home construction firm in Lehigh Acres say the economy in Lehigh has improved enough that the construction company will close on five new homes over the next month.
Brian Goss, a Realtor for 12 years, a top producer with Remax, who won numerous awards, is now with Team Realty and has been the rental manager for six years. In 2009, when Goss started, the rents were close to an all-time low, he said.
“And home prices were the lowest I’ve seen in the 34 years that I have lived in Lehigh. Thee prices forced many people into foreclosure and thousands lost their homes. Builders went out of business and thousands of jobs were lost,” Goss remembered.
It was the beginning of the Great Recession and Lehigh was hit hard.
Goss said that over the next few years as homes sold and inventory went down, prices slowly started to increase. And in 2013, a partnership was formed with Goss telling a local builder that the inventory was depleting and prices were increasing so new homes needed to be built.
“That’s when we formed Dastani Homes,” Goss said.
The general contractor has been in business since 2002 and licensed as a state certified building contractor.
“I was brought in because of my years of sales and real estate experience and construction background. Together we redesigned the floor plans of new homes to fit today’s lifestyles and we purchased groups of lots and began to prepare for the time to build again,” Goss said.
An office was purchased at 4207 Lee Blvd. and over the next six months, a new parking lot was added and the building was brought up to current codes with remodeling inside turning it into a sales center. What followed was the hiring of a staff.
“During our first year we only sold one house, but then the prices increased more and as the investors who own the rentals started to sell the homes, the rental prices started to increase, we started getting people asking about new homes.
“In 2015 we started construction of 10 new homes and we have sold five for 2016 closings so far.
“But the good news is still to come … we just became an FHA/VA approved builder and just got the approval with a local bank and now we can build new homes with as little as 3.5 percent down and with government grants of up to $5,000 toward closing costs and interest rates hovering at just over 4 percent, payments on brand new house payments are as low as $950 a month.
He said many rentals are more than that amount and most pre-owned houses are sold at prices only a few thousand dollars less than new home prices.
“Now remember even a house built in 2005 is 11 years old now and those houses are in need of some repairs.
“Our new homes come with a two-year warranty – top to bottom – and 10 years coverage on the structure of the home.”
Goss said that with major systems and electric components warranted for up to 10 years from the manufacturers, a lot of buyers are beginning to see the value of building a new home.
“In 2016 as the year begins, we hope to build more than 30 new homes in Lehigh and we plan to employ more than 35 people.
“In 2017 we project as home prices approach normal values that we will build around 50 to 70 homes.
“We really believe times have turned around. We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are glad to invite people to come and visit us. They can also go on our website at www.Dastanihomes.com,” Goss said.
“You know, we are a local company and want to work in Lehigh to improve our community and make Lehigh a better place for families to raise their kids. I and the two other owners all live here in Lehigh and we all have kids who attend Lehigh schools, so the community is very important to all of us,” Goss said.
Builders see good future in Lehigh for new homes
Brian Goss
The owners of a new home construction firm in Lehigh Acres say the economy in Lehigh has improved enough that the construction company will close on five new homes over the next month.
Brian Goss, a Realtor for 12 years, a top producer with Remax, who won numerous awards, is now with Team Realty and has been the rental manager for six years. In 2009, when Goss started, the rents were close to an all-time low, he said.
“And home prices were the lowest I’ve seen in the 34 years that I have lived in Lehigh. Thee prices forced many people into foreclosure and thousands lost their homes. Builders went out of business and thousands of jobs were lost,” Goss remembered.
It was the beginning of the Great Recession and Lehigh was hit hard.
Goss said that over the next few years as homes sold and inventory went down, prices slowly started to increase. And in 2013, a partnership was formed with Goss telling a local builder that the inventory was depleting and prices were increasing so new homes needed to be built.
“That’s when we formed Dastani Homes,” Goss said.
The general contractor has been in business since 2002 and licensed as a state certified building contractor.
“I was brought in because of my years of sales and real estate experience and construction background. Together we redesigned the floor plans of new homes to fit today’s lifestyles and we purchased groups of lots and began to prepare for the time to build again,” Goss said.
An office was purchased at 4207 Lee Blvd. and over the next six months, a new parking lot was added and the building was brought up to current codes with remodeling inside turning it into a sales center. What followed was the hiring of a staff.
“During our first year we only sold one house, but then the prices increased more and as the investors who own the rentals started to sell the homes, the rental prices started to increase, we started getting people asking about new homes.
“In 2015 we started construction of 10 new homes and we have sold five for 2016 closings so far.
“But the good news is still to come … we just became an FHA/VA approved builder and just got the approval with a local bank and now we can build new homes with as little as 3.5 percent down and with government grants of up to $5,000 toward closing costs and interest rates hovering at just over 4 percent, payments on brand new house payments are as low as $950 a month.
He said many rentals are more than that amount and most pre-owned houses are sold at prices only a few thousand dollars less than new home prices.
“Now remember even a house built in 2005 is 11 years old now and those houses are in need of some repairs.
“Our new homes come with a two-year warranty – top to bottom – and 10 years coverage on the structure of the home.”
Goss said that with major systems and electric components warranted for up to 10 years from the manufacturers, a lot of buyers are beginning to see the value of building a new home.
“In 2016 as the year begins, we hope to build more than 30 new homes in Lehigh and we plan to employ more than 35 people.
“In 2017 we project as home prices approach normal values that we will build around 50 to 70 homes.
“We really believe times have turned around. We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are glad to invite people to come and visit us. They can also go on our website at www.Dastanihomes.com,” Goss said.
“You know, we are a local company and want to work in Lehigh to improve our community and make Lehigh a better place for families to raise their kids. I and the two other owners all live here in Lehigh and we all have kids who attend Lehigh schools, so the community is very important to all of us,” Goss said.
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