Twenty Years of Building Dream Homes: A Journey Worth Celebrating!

This month marks an extraordinary milestone in our company's history – it's our 20th anniversary! We are thrilled and humbled to celebrate two decades of making dreams a reality for almost 10,000 homeowners. It feels like only yesterday that we embarked on this journey, and yet, looking back, we can't help but marvel at how far we've come.

Humble Beginnings

In the 1950s Harvey Roberts “Bum” Bright began investing in oil and natural gas leases which enabled him to purchase a large parcel of land in Lewisville to be used as a family ranch. He then expanded to trucking, savings and loans, banking, and real estate, and eventually founded Bright Industries. This steadily grew to encompass several well-diversified organizations in commercial real estate, banking, and real estate development.

Visionary Leaders:

Many years later, Bright’s sons, Clay and Chris Bright led the critical development and growth of Bright Realty, which is the commercial and residential real estate arm of the corporation. In partnership, the brothers expanded the Bright’s holdings into some of the most recognizable developments in north Texas, including the family ranch, which became the award-winning, master-planned development now known as Castle Hills.

In the 1990s, they began to realize a unique need for residential homes featuring flexible floor plans with a wide array of options and striking architectural features. After 10 years of extensive research and careful evaluation, American Legend Homes was founded in 2003 with a handful of passionate individuals and an unshakable belief in their vision. Just one year later, in 2004, the first American Legend home was completed and sold in Jackson Ranch, a community in Lake Dallas.

Our Co-Founder, Chris Bright believed that the personal involvement of family members in the overall organization gave us the ability to provide outstanding customer service and focused warranty follow-up, with an emphasis on quality-built homes. He always took pride in what we delivered, how our customers perceived us and how we operated, and this continues to be the American Legend way.

Withstanding the Test of Time:

Throughout the years, the DFW real estate market has undergone significant changes, which have presented many opportunities and challenges. After successfully navigating the uncertain economy in 2008, American Legend continued to flourish with the launch of its sister company, Belclaire Homes, which was specifically developed to fulfill an increased demand for high-end custom homes.

Employee Ownership:

With the establishment of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2017, American Legend Homes took a significant step towards aligning our employee’s interests with the future success of the organization. “Putting the ESOP in place has been key to providing an additional long term financial reward for the hard work and dedication of our team members, who are the driving force behind our achievements,” said President, Paul Miller.

Broadening Horizons:

Our homes and construction practices are only part of the key to our success. The geographical areas and communities in which we build require just as much thought and planning. This was especially true with the 2018 expansion into Colorado. Building homes in the Colorado landscape is significantly different than that of Texas, however, by utilizing the same philosophies and business practices that were developed and perfected for many years in Texas, American Legend successfully established roots in Colorado that will continue to grow for years to come.

Our Incredible Team:

None of our accomplishments would have been possible without the incredible team that makes up American Legend Homes. We're more than just colleagues; we're a close-knit family. Together, we've celebrated successes, supported one another during challenging times, and always rallied around our shared purpose – to make a positive impact on the lives of our customers.

Looking Ahead:

As we stand on the threshold of a new decade in our journey, our primary focus remains the same—to deliver the best possible homebuilding experience. “We will continue to provide our customers with thoughtfully designed, quality-constructed homes in the most sought-after communities, while providing an unparalleled level of customer service,” added Miller.

With a dynamic team, the trust of our customers, the support of our developer and vendor partners, and an unwavering commitment to delivering the best possible homebuilding experience, we are confident that the next 20 years will be even more remarkable.