Country Life Homes celebrates 20 years
Elmer and Mary Ann Fannin held a family meeting in 1992, and it was at the meeting that they decided to found Country Life Homes family home builders. They had three young sons who said their parents worked seven days a week to build their company and provide for the boys.
“My father and mother would sell houses on the weekend, and my father built on site during the week,” middle son Brent Fannin recalled. “We’ve built thousands of homes throughout Sussex County, Long Neck and Millsboro.”
Twenty years later, the sons have have grown up and started their own families, working and living in communities they've built in Lewes, Milton, Milford, Bethany and Rehoboth Beach. As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, its patriarch is retiring, ready to pass on leadership. Sons Mike, Brent and Todd Fannin said they are set to lead the business and will celebrate by offering incentives for home buyers throughout the year.
“Over the past year we have been value-engineering our products and improving our processes,” eldest son and Country Life Homes President Mike Fannin said. “Our team of dedicated employees includes many five-, and 10- and 15-year veterans that make Country Life Homes a solid team, ready to meet the needs of today’s home buyers.”
The business began in Millsboro, building homes at varied sites, Mike said. After building Plantations East in 1996, the company has evolved into its current status as an exclusive home builder of communities.
Guided by their parents’ principles and vision the Fannin brothers agreed they wanted to remain active within their communities, which include Hearthstone Manor, in Milford; River Rock Run, in Milton; Ocean Farm, Bethany Beach; and Woods Cove, in Rehoboth. The brothers are also active in philanthropic causes such as Delaware Food Bank and with Beebe Medical Center.
“We like to keep an open line of communication; we are active in all the homeowners associations in our communities,” Mike said. “That type of relationship keeps the builder actively involved.”
Woods Edge homeowner Tom Hendricks agreed. He moved into his condo in 2009 and said he is still in love with his home and his community.
“The workmanship is very good; the homes are beautiful. They all have garages, and he’s not finished building in the community,” Hendricks said. “Trust, that’s what we have. It’s very nice, and we love Michael and his family.”
The family at Country Life Homes said they are already gearing up for the future, looking forward to the growth of programs such as a green initiative, building sustainable homes and five-star customer care.
“We are really excited about 2012 as a company, still being competitive as a family business, and we are excited to have families come through our communities,” Mike said. “We are looking forward to the next 20 years under our leadership.”
For more information about Country Life Home or any of their communities, visit their website at www.countrylifehomes.com, or call the corporate office, 610 Marshall St. in Milford, at 302-265-2257.
