A new homebuilder in Cleveland offers quality homes at an affordable price. Kendall Homes, based in Katy, Texas, and has roughly a dozen homes under construction in the Glen Park community in Cleveland, was the featured guest at the Aug. 2 luncheon for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
Kendall Homes’ founder Ken Wickens explained how he came to Cleveland after an invitation from a friend, local realtor Scott Lambert.
“I was talking to him one day and Scott said, ‘Why don’t you build houses in Cleveland?’ I said that would be good, but where can I find some lots? Scott said, ‘I have a hundred over here for you in Glen Park, so that’s where we are going to be,'” Wickens shared at the chamber luncheon.
Kendall Homes was founded 25 years ago by Wickens and his brother. The company is named after one of Wickens’ four children.
The company offers starter homes that range in price from $169,000 to the $200,000s.
“We get people out of renting an apartment and put them in their own homes. That was a big deal to me 25-30 years ago, having my own home, especially with four kids,” he said. “It’s really nice to have your own home and that’s one of my goals – to see people have their own homes.”
The company is finding success in Cleveland, with several of their homes either sold or under contract. Qualifying buyers can get in with zero down-payment and very little out-of-pocket costs. Monthly mortgage payments range from $1,000 to $1,300 per month. The company specializes in getting financing for people who are credit-challenged.
To view a Kendall Homes, drive over to the 900 blocks of Parkhurst or Jefferson avenues. The sales office is located on Parkhurst. Some model homes are available for tours.
For more information, call Kendall Homes’ main office at 281-398-4010 or send email to info@kendallhomes.net.
In other chamber business, American Legion 393 and Sears Hometown Store of Cleveland were picked as the Businesses of the Month. Tim Magee, who acts as emcee of the chamber luncheons, explained that the chamber has changed the way it is picking a business of the year.
Each month a business will be picked and at the end of the year, the 12 businesses will be on a ballot and chamber members will pick the top business from among the 12. Since the chamber is starting the selection process later in the year, two businesses were picked for the month of August.
The chamber also welcomed four new businesses to its membership – Extra Mile Catering, JLA Realty – Elizabeth Robertson, Kendall Homes and First Liberty National Bank.
Extra Mile Catering is owned by Nikki Edwards, who started her business in Coldspring in 2015. Her company’s goal is to work with clients to make sure their events are memorable.
Elizabeth Robertson with JLA Realty has been a resident of Dayton for more than 25 years. According to information presented by Chamber Chief Operating Officer Jim Carson, Robertson is a skilled negotiator and her clients’ best interests are her priority.
Kendall Homes, Carson said, is another great homebuilder in the Cleveland community and offers great homes at great prices.
Tim Hopkins represented First Liberty National Bank during the new membership plaque presentation. FLNB is the oldest bank in Liberty County, founded in 1913 by Bert G. Riviere.
Riviere started the bank with an initial $10,000 capital investment. The bank is headquartered in Liberty and has three other locations in Dayton, Hardin and Huffman. In addition to banking, First Liberty National Bank offers mortgage, investment and insurance services.
Carson reminded chamber guests that the Sept. 6 luncheon will feature Omar Deleon, the Liberty County engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation. To sign up for tickets to the luncheon, call the chamber office at 281-582-8786 or go online to http://www.clevelandtxchamber.com.
