One of the nation’s largest homebuilders has appointed a long-serving team member to lead it in Southern California.
PulteGroup announced Monday that Norman Brown had been promoted to president of the company’s Southern California division.
Brown has been at Pulte since 2001, when the brand merged with homebuilder Del Webb. He formerly served as Pulte’s vice president of sales in Southern California.
“Having served as a key leader within the division, Norman brings an invaluable level of market understanding and business experience that has more than prepared him for his new role," Chris Edgar, PulteGroup West Area president, said in a statement.
The Atlanta-based homebuilder is the nation's third-largest, according to the latest rankings from Builder magazine. In Southern California, it has homes in Los Angeles, Orange County and Riverside County.
PulteGroup is adapting to a changing market
Brown’s appointment follows other new developments at the company as Pulte adapts its strategy to meet the needs of today’s market.
For example, earlier this year, the brand launched its Del Webb Explore developments. Typically, the Del Webb brand focuses on homes for buyers 55 and older. The new Explore developments, however, will offer the same resort-style living to buyers of all ages.
“We’re seeing a convergence of Gen X reaching their peak earning years, with sophisticated tastes shaped by decades of travel and lifestyle experiences," Ryan Marshall, PulteGroup president and CEO, said in a statement at the time. "The extension of the ageless Del Webb brand means we can now offer a product to those who crave a vibrant, active lifestyle, regardless of age.”
The company has launched two Explore communities, including one in Palm Springs, California.
At the same time, though, the homebuilder has been grappling with the effects of tariffs on the cost of building. In a call with investors to discuss Pulte’s first-quarter financials, executives warned that buyers should expect to see their home prices increase by about $5,000 by the end of the year.
“I do think the industry needs to be prepared, and not just the industry. The world needs to be prepared for some disruptions, as a result of things that are going on, tariff-induced,” he said at the time.
