In a world where big builders just get bigger, it seems that Atlanta based Knight Homes will keep “building more of what matters” but now as Dan Ryan Builders (aka DRB Group and DRB). DRB announced it has signed a definitive agreement with the Knight family to acquire Knight Homes.  The two companies expect to close the transaction later this year. The addition of Knight Homes to DRB as its new Atlanta division will expand Dan Ryan Builders’ footprint to nine mid-Atlantic states. Prior to the purchase, DRB Group operated in seven states and fifteen metro markets across the mid-Atlantic region.

Knight Homes was founded in 1978 by brothers Perry and Scott Knight, who started the company as framing contractors. The brothers framed homes for Northside builders, started building homes and then developed their first neighborhood in 1984 in Clayton County.

Knight Homes is the second-largest private builder and a top 10 builder overall in the Atlanta market, closing approximately 750 homes in 2020. Knight currently builds in South Atlanta, Middle Georgia and Auburn, Alabama. Chris Knight, along with Jay Knight and Amanda Knight Statham, will continue to lead the Atlanta division which will be rebranded over time as Dan Ryan Builders. This transaction gives DRB an instant and significant foothold in a market that boasts nearly 30,000 annual new home permits.

Since inception, DRB has built over 23,000 new homes and Knight Homes over 9,000 new homes.

Chris Knight, who will serve as the Atlanta Division President says, “We have been extremely impressed by everyone we’ve met at DRB and are excited and thankful to be joining the DRB team. This opportunity will allow us to continue fulfilling our mission of building an enduring legacy of integrity and value. We will not lose sight of the honor and responsibility we have to provide the place that people call home. DRB’s core values are our core values. We could not be more excited about the future.” Jay Knight will serve as VP of Land Acquisition and he agrees, “For the on-going benefit of our customers and employees, the timing for partnering with DRB makes sense and much like us, they believe in building well-crafted homes and doing things the right way with a sense of urgency and passion.”

Knight Homes has a heart for giving back. The builder is a long time supporter of HomeAid Atlanta leading projects at House of Dawn and other southside facilities. Chris Knight served as a Builder Captain for the construction of a Second Chance Home in 2019. This project added 10 beds for very young mothers, ages 13-19. He lead HomeAids build project for Tapestry Youth Ministries in 2005, adding 12 beds for young mothers and their babies.

More on Dan Ryan Builders (DRB Group) –  www.drbgroup.com

Since its partnership with Sumitomo Forestry America, Inc. in 2016, the #25 largest homebuilder in the nation – DRB Group (“DRB”) – has continued to expand its organization.  Under CEO Ronny Salameh, DRB has strengthened its hold on the mid-Atlantic region by increasing both market share and brand offerings.  The multi-brand platform includes flagship Dan Ryan Builders, Elevate Homes (Active Adult), Fielding Homes and DRB Coastal. DRB Group is a growing dynamic organization that is the parent company for four residential homebuilders, a title company and the residential development services branch that provides entitlement, development and construction services for outside investors.

Updated 5/10/2022

As of June 1, 2022 Dan Ryan Builders is rebranding as DRB Homes. Its parent company is consolidating five homebuilding units into two new brands, DRB Homes and DRB Elevate.

The parent, DRB Group, said the rebranding  consolidates more than 100 active communities from Dan Ryan, Knight Homes, an Atlanta builder acquired in 2020, and Fielding Homes, a North Carolina builder acquired in 2018. DRB Coastal, which was building homes in Delaware and Charleston, S.C., will also be rolled into the new brand. Dan Ryan has communities in Fulton, Fayette, Coweta and Gwinnett counties.

DRB Group’s 55+ active-adult builder, Elevate Homes, which operates in Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina, will become DRB Elevate.

“In recent years, we’ve been fortunate to fulfill our goals of expanding further into several key competitive markets,” President and CEO Ronny Salameh said in a press release. “Unifying our five exceptional builder brands into DRB Homes and DRB Elevate is a natural next step that will allow us to alleviate consumer confusion, continue the exciting growth we’ve seen in recent years while maintaining both the culture and the core values that have driven our success.”

DRB Group is a top 30 U.S. homebuilder with operations in nine states and 18 metropolitan areas on the East Coast. Its title company, Keystone Title Settlement Services LLC, will continue providing in-house real estate settlement services to DRB Homes and DRB Elevate customers.