BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Professional Builder's 2012 Housing Giants report shows Orleans Homes has jumped 28 places when ranked among the natio's 235 largest homebuilders. Orleans ranked 35th on the 2012 list, rising from 63rd in 2011.

Each year, Housing Giants ranks the nation’s largest builders, based on sales revenue in the previous year. Orleans had a sales revenue gain of more than $76 million between 2010 and 2011, an increase of nearly 65 percent. By comparison, sales revenue for the No. 1 and No. 2 homebuilders in the nation decreased by 10.6 and 7.3 percent in the same period.

Orleans Homes’ Chief Marketing Officer Lee Darnold noted that the company's communities are focused in northern urban markets (Philadelphia, New York and Chicago), as well as growing southeastern markets (Richmond, Hampton Roads, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte) that rebounded earlier than the country as a whole. "Our communities and floorplans mostly cater to first- and second-time, move-up buyers and active adult move-down buyers. These segments have been among the early gainers in the housing recovery that we are now seeing.” Job growth and diverse industries in the company’s primary markets also contributed to Orleans’ results.

Chief Executive Officer George Casey further noted that, "After several years of tough times for the economy, the housing industry, and our company, we are now seeing steady growth in our markets that has continued into 2012. We are still focusing on the needs of our core move-up and move-down customers through the introduction of new floorplans and brand-new communities in all of our core markets.

"We are also spending more time on programs that help our customers get to know their neighbors more quickly and help develop strong neighborhood bonds. Online social networking using tools such as Facebook are important. However, our buyers have told us that old-fashioned, low-tech, face-to-face relationships are still highly important in creating the sense of community they tell us they want. Orleans community coordinators in every market design neighborhood programs that bring people together.

"The desires of our customers have been shaped by their experiences of the last decade, and we are designing our new homes and communities to reflect those changes. I am excited that our 94-year-old company is able to adapt to this new world and continue to grow," Casey said.

Professionals Builder's Housing Giants Rankings are compiled by the company that publishes Professional Builders, Professional Remodeler and Custom Builder magazines.

About Orleans Homebuilders, Inc.

Founded in 1918, Orleans Homes is one of the oldest, continually operated homebuilders in the United States. It is committed to building thoughtfully designed homes and creating unique neighborhoods that cater to the way people live today. The company builds single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums that range in price from the upper $170,000s - $1.5 million. It is currently operating in 39 neighborhoods in 10 distinct markets:

• Southeastern Pennsylvania
• Central and Southern New Jersey
• Orange County, N.Y.
• Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C.
• Richmond and Hampton Roads, Va.
• Chicago, Ill.

Orleans is headquartered outside of Philadelphia and employs 170. Its website is www.OrleansHomes.com.

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Contact:
The Jewell Agency
David Jewell, 704-347-0399
Dj@thejewellagency.com