Home builder’s luxury cottages with affordable price tags are selling fast on the MS Coast
Known as a luxury home builder, Gulfport-based Elliott Homes has responded to a demand for more affordable houses in South Mississippi by expanding to build cottages with high-end finishes that are priced as low as $232,000-$300,000.
“In this market, they’re meeting the needs of people and their budgets,” said Kaitlyn Gallé, marketing coordinator for the home builder.
As interest rates go up, some home buyers find they must lower their budgets for new homes. Also, the average annual wage for Harrison and Jackson counties was $22.38 an hour in May 2021, about 20% lower than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Brandon Elliott, the founder and CEO of Elliott Homes, also sees an opportunity to attract retiring Baby Boomers from other areas of the country where housing prices are much higher. While Elliott is still building houses that sell for more than $500,000, the award-winning company is no longer building custom homes on individual lots.
Supply-chain issues started the shift away from custom building, Gallé said. Standardizing finishes has allowed the company to lower its costs by buying in bulk rather than for individual homes.
“This allows us to expand into more communities and be able to grow,” Gallé said.
Homes from Diamondhead to Pascagoula
Elliott has built subdivisions on the Coast from Diamondhead to Pascagoula, and is expanding into Alabama.
The construction of its most affordable homes started about five years ago when the company acquired lots in Turtle Creek, a subdivision in Gulfport north of Interstate 10, said Elaine McCrimmon, Elliott online sales counselor.
“We knew we needed to build something more affordable,” McCrimmon said. “They took off.”
While Elliott was “testing the waters” with its first cottage venture, she said, the homes are a big part of the company’s portfolio today.
She said many buyers recognize the Elliott brand and are excited they can find the quality they want at a price they can afford.
Elliott has now built five subdivisions on the Mississippi Coast where home prices start at under $300,000.
The ‘ultimate’ home amenity
The company has built or is building the cottages in neighborhoods in Diamondhead, Gulfport and Ocean Springs.
The company has three floor plans for homes that start at under $300,000:
- The Opal, which is an estimated 1,379 square feet and starts at just under $232,000.
- The Magnolia at an estimated 1,483 square feet and starting at under $247,000.
- The Kai at an estimated 1,892 square feet and starting at just under $275,000.
Prices vary based on the builder’s lot cost in each locality and lot location within the subdivisions.
All the homes feature two-car garages, open-concept great rooms, covered rear patios and three bedrooms. The Opal and Magnolia have two bathrooms, while The Kai features a third bathroom in an upstairs bonus space, where one of the three bedrooms is located.
All the models include finishes often found in more expensive homes: granite counter tops, soft-close cabinets, stainless steel appliances, vinyl plank flooring throughout and walk-in closets in the master bedrooms.
When he was interviewed a year ago by a home building podcaster, Elliott CEO and founder Brandon Elliott said: “Affordability is the ultimate amenity. We’re looking at simpler finishes, but still keeping curb appeal and space in the home and that sort of thing.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
