Del Webb and California Pacific Top Buyer Survey

California Pacific Homes and Del Webb Communities tied for first place in customer satisfaction for the Southern California/San Diego home-building market, according to a J.D. Power & Associates survey of individuals who bought homes from 38 area builders.

The study, in its sixth year, was conducted in 16 U.S. home-building markets. Homeowners provided feedback after living in their homes on average from four to 18 months.

“With the housing market continuing to sizzle across the United States and interest rates at the lowest we’ve seen in decades, competition in the home-building industry is intensifying,” said Paula Sonkin, a senior director at Westlake Village-based J.D. Power.

The study’s index scores nine factors of customer satisfaction, including customer service, home readiness (the timely completion of the home), sales staff and the quality of workmanship and materials.

Following California Pacific and Del Webb in the rankings were Greystone Homes, Shapell, Lennar, Pacific Bay, Van Daele, Shea, Continental, Pardee, McMillin, William Lyon, Centex, John Laing, MBK, Warmington, Beazer and KB Home, which all finished above average in the study.

Southern California builders must have sold 150 or more homes in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties in 2001 to be included in the study.

For more details about the survey, visit www.jdpa.com or www.jdpower.com.