REIAC Southwest Home Builders Panel

Steven J. Hilton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Meritage Homes

Steven J. Hilton co-founded and has led Meritage Homes for the last 31 years. Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH) builds homes in 21 markets and 9 states across the U.S. and has delivered almost 100,000 homes since it was founded.  Meritage is the 7th largest public homebuilder in the U.S.

Mr. Hilton holds a bachelors degree in accounting and real estate from the University of Arizona and has been honored as an Entrepreneurial Fellow by the University’s Eller College of Management.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) and volunteers on boards for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute; TGEN National Pancreatic Cancer Advisory Council and is a Foundation Trustee for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

David Kitnick, CEO, Rosewood Homes

David is the Founder and President of privately-owned Rosewood Homes with over 30-years of homebuilding and land development experience.  He and his team have earned dozens of local, regional and national awards including being recognized by homeowners in 4-consecutive years with the Eliant “Homebuyers Choice Award” for providing the “Best Overall Purchase & Ownership Experience” in North America. David successfully navigated the housing downturn while also helping Rosewood earn the “Small Volume Builder of the Year Award” from the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA). Earlier in his career, David started and led the Arizona operations of NYSE-listed Greystone Homes in the 1990’s and Ashton Woods Homes in 2001 while earning Greystone and Ashton Woods the HBACA’s “Builder of the Year” and “Small Volume Builder of the Year” awards, respectively. David also served as Region President for NYSE-listed Lennar Homes upon its merger with Greystone Homes including serving on Lennar’s 5-Member Western Region Land & Executive Committee.

David has been described as “one of the most innovative builders in the marketplace” for his product design, land planning and marketing while building over 10,000 homes in a broad range of price-points including being recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders for producing the “Best Affordable Detached Home in America.” David and his team were also honored with the HBACA’s first ever “Rising Star of the Year Award.” He is a two-time HBACA Board of Directors member and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASUCLA. In addition, David helped establish and served as the first “Bruin-in-Residence” at UCLA’s College of Letters & Science. David holds a real estate Brokers license, a BA from UCLA and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Matt Cody,  President, Cachet Homes

Matt Cody came to Phoenix after receiving his graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, one of the few schools in the nation to offer a degree in real estate development. He worked with a prominent developer for close to ten years, learning the details of the development business. In 1990, Matt founded Cachet Homes and was able to surround his company with quality subcontractors and a professional staff that ensures each project runs smoothly and meets the expectations of the homebuyer. Matt knows that the best homes are a collective result of many homebuilding professionals committed to the same uncompromising standard. He has worked intently to cultivate a championship caliber team of craftsmen and service providers.

Together with award-winning architects and professional interior designers, Cachet Homes incorporates traditional architectural treatments and amenities that enhance the home’s character and ambiance. Cachet targets outstanding value for the dollar with unique, yet practical floor plans and attractive architectural elevations. Whether building a 5,500 square foot semi-custom home, or a 1,300 square foot Villa, Matt takes a personal interest in the product Cachet Homes offers. Matt’s concern for the community as a whole has helped to make Cachet Homes one of the most respected homebuilders in the Valley.

Moderated by Steven La Terra, Managing Director, Meyers Research
Steven La Terra is the Managing Director of Meyers Research, a subsidiary of Kennedy Wilson Company (NYSE: KW). Mr. La Terra runs the Capital Markets Group at Meyers where he works closely with institutional capital providers and real estate operators. Prior to Meyers, Mr. La Terra owned a land investment/lot banking company and served in Principal and Senior Executive positions with Land Advisors Capital,APEXCapital and Acacia Capital Corporation

Mr. La Terra is the Chair of the Arizona District Council of the Urban Land Institute and has served as the National Chair of the Residential Neighborhood Development Council at ULI.  He is an active member of several charitable organizations and serves on the Board of Directors of the Accesso Group, an international real estate investment company.