Making The Most Of Opportunity

Chris Cinker's return to Pittsburgh was cause for celebration. "I love it here," said Cinker, general manager for the western region of S&A Homes, and a man who grew up in Pittsburgh. "It's such a great family town."
Based in State College, Pa., long-established S&A Homes has expanded from its geographical base throughout its home state and into West Virginia. The homebuilder made its initial move into Metropolitan Pittsburgh as a scattered-lot builder. While S&A Homes still does some off-site new home construction, it now concentrates on developing land and building entire communities, most located in southern Butler County and Westmoreland County.
In 2007 the company sold 500 homes. Ninety-six of those were in western Pa., which was almost double the number built and sold in 2006. That growth, said Cinker, confirms that "the Pittsburgh market is a great opportunity for us."
Typically, homebuyers choose from a variety of floor plans and designs, which can be customized. Recently, with good foot traffic at all locations, S&A made the decision to open decorated model suites in a number of its dozen or so communities.
That decision, as well as recent sales numbers, reflects Cinker's optimistic view of Metropolitan Pittsburgh's appetite for new homes. "Pittsburgh," he said, "has its own economy. There are plenty of upward trends here. Just take a look at the growth in southern Butler County."
S&A Homes has seen that growth firsthand with Seaton Crest, a community it developed in Butler County. "We've got one- to three-acre home sites that start in the $350,000 range," said Cinker, who believes these homes represent great buys in a high-end area. Home sizes range from 2,500 to 3,200 square feet, with a long list of standard features.
As further evidence of the viability of the housing market in Metropolitan Pittsburgh, Cinker points to Westmoreland County, where S&A is developing Meadowlane Heights, in the City of Greensburg. "Meadowlane Heights offers beautiful views of Greensburg," he said, "and you would be hard-pressed to find a community with so many conveniences at such an affordable starting price point." These traditional two-story single-family homes, on one-quarter and one-half acre lots, start in the $210s.
With the success it has enjoyed in Metropolitan Pittsburgh thus far, S&A Homes has its eye on developing new communities throughout the area. Wherever that happens to be, the homebuilder will continue to do what has attracted buyers to it. "Each community is for different buyers," said Cinker, "but wherever the communities are located, we put an emphasis on quality."
As a boomeranger—someone who left Pittsburgh only to return to his roots—Cinker couldn't be more pleased to be back here with his wife and their three small children. "This is," he said, "where I want to raise my family."