One of the bright spots in the Treasure Valley housing market has been the influx of retirees. And why not? We have a temperate climate, great outdoor activities, amazing cultural opportunities, and a relatively low cost of living. If you think that’s just some local’s inflated opinion of his hometown, just click on this link:

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That’s right! CNN / Fortune / Money ranks Boise among the Top 25 Best Places to Retire. And we’re seeing that play out every week in SpurWing Greens where we have welcomed newly adopted Idahoans from states like Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Dakota and more.

In addition to the many great attributes our valley has to offer, SpurWing Greens residents appreciate the unique amenities that only this community can offer: open space, miles of walking paths, and a Lifestyle Membership to the Club at SpurWing including fine dining, a fully equipped fitness center, swimming pool and tennis center. Purchase a full membership and you have access to the picturesque SpurWing Golf Course. Quite simply, SpurWing Greens is the best community in one of the country’s best places to retire. You owe it to yourself to visit SpurWing Greens and see why we say it’s “at the Intersection of Exclusive + Accessible.”

IBR journalist Jennifer Gonzalez said it best, “ So, just when you thought residential construction was dead and nothing was happening, a quick drive to this neck of the woods [Barber Valley] will prove you wrong.”

We couldn’t agree more! Brighton Homes is reporting strong numbers for the first quarter of 2011, with 19 sales – 13 of which are from River Heights in Barber Valley. Out of 19 total sales, there has only been one cancellation for a 5.3% fall ratio. We’re anticipating an increase for the second quarter with a new phase now available in River Heights. Across town, Paramount also has a new phase available and is reporting a rise in sales for new construction, as well.

To read the complete Idaho Business Review (IBR) article, click here>>

Andrew Grove was one of the earliest employees at Intel and ultimately its driving force in attaining preeminence as one of the world’s most successful companies.  He is also widely credited with coining the motto, “Only the paranoid survive.”  In his book by the same title, Grove discusses the concept of strategic inflection points – which he describes as “a time in the life of a business when its fundamentals are about to change. That change can mean an opportunity to rise to new heights. But it may just as likely signal the beginning of the end.”

Grove goes on to say that, “Strategic inflection points can be caused by technological change but they are more than technological change. They can be caused by competitors but they are more than just competition. They are full-scale changes in the way business is conducted, so that simply adopting new technology or fighting the competition as you used to may be insufficient. They build up force so insidiously that you may have a hard time even putting a finger on what has changed, yet you know that something has. Let’s not mince words: A strategic inflection point can be deadly when unattended to. Companies that begin a decline as a result of its changes rarely recover their previous greatness.”

“But strategic inflection points do not always lead to disaster. When the way business is being conducted changes, it creates opportunities for players who are adept at operating in the new way. This can apply to newcomers or to incumbents, for whom a strategic inflection point may mean an opportunity for a new period of growth.”

Finally, Grove concludes, “You can be the subject of a strategic inflection point but you can also be the cause of one.”

At Brighton, we share Mr. Grove’s healthy dose of paranoia and more importantly his sense of power or capacity to shape the future and to bend our own curve in an upward trajectory at the strategic inflection point.  Great companies recognize inflection points and respond.  And, yes, they can even create them. Great companies invest in both their human and financial capital to ensure an upward trajectory.

The real estate industry is positioned at just such a generational, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime inflection point and Brighton is responding vigorously.  Here are just a few of the things we’re doing.

Building the Best Team in the Industry

Over the last year Brighton has been hiring – and we’re hiring some of the best in the industry.  Our business is growing and in order to service the increased demand and build an organization that will accommodate even greater future growth we needed to add some great talent.  Of course, we’re very excited about that.  For more information on Brighton’s new team members and organization click here.

Developing the Most Innovative Product Line

We know that you want a home designed for today’s lifestyle.  That home your parents raised you in was a great home to grow up in but probably not what you’d choose today.  In fact, we have a notion that you want something more up-to-date than what was available even 5 years ago.  For that very reason, Brighton isn’t building a single plan it built 5 years ago.  What’s more, over the next 4 months Brighton Homes will completely overhaul its product line, with refinements to 12 of our existing best sellers and the introduction of 24 completely new plans spanning several market profiles.  That’s about 2 plans a week so check the Brighton Homes website regularly to see the latest additions.  www.brightonhomes-idaho.com

Investing in Infrastructure:

Regular followers already know that Brighton invested heavily in new developments in 2010.  We started the year with two great projects in full stride, Paramount and Mill District at Harris Ranch.  Over the course of the year we added River Heights at Barber Valley, SpurWing Greens, and Tuscany – five great projects in the best locations in the valley. What you probably don’t know is that we’ve been every bit as active in developing our internal infrastructure, including the technology and processes that will enable us to provide our customers the best service possible.  Also on the horizon for 2011 is a new Brighton Homes Design Center located at our headquarters in Brighton Plaza.

Shaping the future requires vision and execution.  It’s hard but scintillating work.  Brighton is doing so by hiring the best team in the business and arming them with industry leading technology and practices.  We’re pairing the most innovative product with the best neighborhoods in the Treasure Valley.  We invite you to check us out and follow our progress.

Please see the attached press release for more details:  Brighton_Ldrshp_FINAL

It’s no secret that our country, our state, and our valley are experiencing unusually challenging economic times. Yet for Brighton Corporation, 2010 has been a year of growth and progress. Founded in 1968, Brighton Corporation has weathered a few economic downturns over four decades, including a very severe recession in the late 70’s and early 80’s. When I joined the company in 1990, my partner and founder, Tom Tomlinson, taught me a very valuable lesson by asking the simple and perhaps most overused question in the business: “What are the three keys to success in real estate?” Of course I answered as he expected, “Location, location, location.” “Wrong”, said Tom. “It’s location, timing and staying power.”

I have never forgotten those words and I attribute the success of Brighton Corporation and its affiliated companies to my partner’s sage counsel. When the economy is booming it can be easy to forget those fundamental precepts – and many did. When times are too good some pretty poor decisions and business practices can be covered up. But as Warren Buffett said a couple of years ago, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.” Today you can find a lot of distressed developments that are poorly located, poorly timed and overburdened with debt. Conversely, there are a few that stand the test of time and weather the economic storm.

Brighton is successfully navigating today’s challenging economy as it has always done, by focusing our investment and development activities in premium locations. The recent timely acquisition of properties such as SpurWing Greens and Tuscany are further testament of our philosophy. And finally, Brighton’s financial staying power gives us the ability to invest for the future of our company and our clients. These are important considerations when choosing your family’s next home or your company’s next headquarters.

David Turnbull
President

Idaho Business Review (IBR) journalist Jennifer Gonzalez sat down with Brighton principal, Peter Oliver, to discuss Brighton Corporation’s history with business park developments and the key elements to attracting tenants. Brighton’s two new projects at opposite sides of Ada County, a development at Ten Mile Interchange, and the mixed use development of Barber Station in Barber Valley, have the components essential to success.

Click either one of the links below to read the complete article:

IBR business parks 112210

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Brighton Corporation is pleased to announce another very exciting acquisition – 195 homesites in Tuscany. “This acquisition fits perfectly with our philosophy of focusing on premier communities in the best locations”, said David Turnbull. “We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to expand our presence on the south side of Interstate I-84 and Tuscany is simply the best location south of the freeway. Tuscany residents enjoy the unique combination of a tranquil neighborhood with easy access to anywhere in the valley.”

Brighton is also pleased to continue with the marketing efforts of John L. Scott and a team of builders that include it’s own Brighton Homes division along with Eaglewood Homes, Riverwood Homes, Berkeley Building Company, Boise Hunter Homes and James Clyde Custom Homes.

Brighton Homes will be breaking ground on several new models in the coming weeks and months. “We’re extremely excited add this premier location to our portfolio of communities”, said Lars Hansen – Brighton Homes Director of Operations. Other Brighton Homes locations include Paramount and SpurWing Greens in North Meridian and River Heights and Mill District at Harris Ranch in East Boise’s Barber Valley.

Please read the full release below, or for more information on Tuscany, see http://www.tuscany-meridian.com/

Download Brighton_TuscanyAcquisition_v2_102710

Brighton Corporation announced the launch of SpurWing Greens today, with a special event highlighted by guest speakers Mayor Tammy de Weerd and SpurWing Country Club General Manager Roger Behling. The event was located in the heart of SpurWing Greens, adjacent to a beautiful pond with three waterfalls and stunning views of Squaw Butte and the Boise foothills.
Driven by a collaboration between SpurWing Greens, LLC and Brighton Corporation, the SpurWing Greens community revives a neighborhood previously halted by challenging economic conditions and delivers a dramatic new vision where residents will enjoy a unique range of outdoor recreational opportunities at their doorstep. Brighton Corporation and Spurwing Greens, LLC acquired the project from a third party real estate developer earlier this year. For more details, please refer to the attached documents or the Web site.

Press Release: Download Brighton_SpurWingGreensLaunch_FINAL

FAQs: Download Brighton_SpurWingGreensFAQs_v4

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Brighton is ready to announce its newest residential project! The community launch event takes place on July 9, 2010, and is coordinated by Red Sky Public Relations. For complete event details, please Click Here>>

A quick project overview: Located next to SpurWing Country Club, Brighton’s newest community in Meridian, Idaho offers residents a unique blend of outdoor recreational opportunities at their doorstep. Homebuyers will enjoy social memberships with the SpurWing Country Club, including clubhouse and pool access, in addition to neighborhood amenities that will eventually include tennis courts and a community pool.

Brighton is currently selecting builder partners to create nearly 100 homes and begin developing this visually stunning North Meridian location into a community known for its convenient access to outdoor amenities and inviting homes. Multiple homesites are available in the current phase, with construction starting in the near future.

Nearly 120 business owners, city officials and guests attended the Lowe’s Grand Opening and Reintroduction of Alameda Square in Denver, Colorado on March 11. The event included an A-list of speakers including Mayor John Hickenlooper and City Councilman Chris Nevitt, with guest appearances by the Denver Bronco Cheerleaders. Developer Brighton Corporation partnered with the mega home improvement retailer along with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority in hosting this much anticipated and celebratory event. This is the first Lowe’s Home Improvement store to enter the Denver market, and to date has brought over 100 jobs to the southwest Denver economy.

Originally built in 1959, Alameda Square was Denver’s first shopping mall development. Over time, the nearly 20 acre site attracted key tenants including King Soopers, Woolworths, and Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI). During the economic hardships of the mid 1980s, the overall project declined. In November of 1991, the Denver City Council and DURA approved the Alameda Square Urban Renewal Plan to address the under utilized site and resultant lack of retail services available to the surrounding neighborhoods. After 15 years of various redevelopment plans and proposals, Brighton Corporation acquired two distinct ownership parcels with the Urban Renewal Area resulting in a land assemblage of more than 17 acres. With tax increment financing assistance from DURA, Brighton is transforming the site into a modern shopping center anchored by Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Beginning in the spring 2010, Brighton will renovate the remaining 50,000 s.f. of grocery and inline retail space.

First photo, left to right: Brighton Principal Matt Smith; Mayor John Hickenlooper, City of Denver; Brighton Area Director Sverre Jensen; Second photo, The audience during opening comments.

We’re doing cartwheels at Paramount, just as the headline stated in a recent real estate article! Paramount recorded a successful year in production, in spite of a challenging economy. The sales team reported 51 sales in new home construction, and gained some new commercial tenants, as well.

Paramount has several quality builders, with Brighton Homes leading the way with 60% of the homes built and sold in 2009. We hope to keep that momentum in 2010 with an even better year! Looking at 2009 in review, we feel that strong community support was an attributing factor as this neighborhood is filled with some of the most talented, industrious and generous people found anywhere! Please see the attached file for the complete article and related press release, which outlines the commercial successes of the community as well.

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