Press Release

Contact: Robert McKnight

Phone: 570-646-1333

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. EST, December 6, 2009

New Building Code Goes into effect January 1,2010.

Blakeslee, PA:

December 6, 2009 – Blakeslee, PA – There is good news and bad news for potential home buyers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The bad news is that a new building code will go into effect in January 2010. The code change is likely to add thousands to the cost of constructing a new home.

The good news is that home buyers who contract before January 1, 2010 can still build a home using the current code. Additional good news is that the code will not require fire sprinklers until January of 2011.

The Pennsylvania Builders Association released the following clarification:

Design/construction contract can extend 2006 code

(Some) Members have voiced their confusion recently regarding exactly when the 2009 International Residential Code will take effect in Pennsylvania and how a design or construction contract signed before the adoption would be affected. PBA reached out to the state Department of Labor and Industry for clarification. A spokesman for L&I explained that a design or construction contract executed and signed prior to Dec. 31 or the adoption of the 2009 codes will only need to comply with the 2006 codes; this would apply indefinitely until the permit is pulled, as long as the permit is pulled and construction begins within 180 days. L&I stressed also that if a design or construction contract is executed for a one- or two-family home after Dec. 31, 2009, but before Dec. 31, 2010, that home would need to meet the 2009 code but not the sprinkler provision that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011. L&I further explained that the design contract does not need to be a sealed document from an architect or engineer.

Press Release

Contact: Robert McKnight

Phone: 570-646-1333

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. EDT, September 18, 2009

Plateau Area Builder Scores a Hat Trick

Pocono Builders Association held its annual awards banquet at the Stroudsmoor Inn on Wednesday September 16. Centennial Homes, Inc. of Blakeslee repeated its 2007 and 2008 performance by earning five more awards (a hat trick).

Centennial Homes, celebrating its 22^nd year in business, has previously won awards in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Centennial Homes, Inc. received awards this year in the following categories:

1. Best Residential Construction under 1500 square feet.

2. Best Residential Architecture under 1500 square feet.

3. Best Residential Architecture under $150,000.

4. Best Residential Architecture between 1500 and 2500 square feet.

5. Best Residential Architecture between $150,000 and $225,000.

Robert Hutchins, Centennial’s Vice President and production manager said, "I always try to be positive so I expected to win at least one award this year. In the past, we have won awards for quality construction, affordability and value but this year we are thrilled to also have won for architecture."

Each year members of the Pocono Builders Association submit homes to a panel of judges from outside of the area. They are judged on quality, value, architecture and affordability. Winners are presented with their awards at their annual banquet and the homeowners involved receive identical plaques.

This year, the awards coincide with the completion of Centennial's first "Living Green home" , a three thousand square foot split level which was built in Tannersville.

Jim Hutchins, Centennial’s CEO put it this way, “We are, of course, very proud of our success in winning five more awards. I think they are yet another indicator of our efforts to always remain in the vanguard of the building community—in this instance, it is thru quality construction, design, and value .”

Press Release

Contact: Robert McKnight

Phone: 570-646-1333

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. EDT, June 1, 2009

Centennial Homes Becomes Second Registered Contractor in Pennsylvania

Blakeslee, PA:

June 1, 2009 – Blakeslee, PA – Jim Hutchins is taking a deep breath this week. After years of struggle to protect the consumer from unscrupulous home improvement contractors, Pennsylvania has begun implementing a state wide Contractor Registration program.

Hutchins who is president of Centennial Homes, Inc., a Blakeslee Home Builder, which is celebrating its 21^st year in the business, has been a major player in the process. He has worked tirelessly with the Pennsylvania Builders Association and the state Attorney General’s Office to produce a program intended to protect both the consumer and the reputable contractor.

When asked, “Why?” Jim Hutchins replied, “This had to happen. It was just a question of how and when. Consumer complaints against home improvement contractors to the Attorney General continue to be a problem. I decided long ago that reputable contractors would need to either drive the bus or miss the bus.”

Drive he did. Jim was an active participant in the Pennsylvania Builders’ Association’s SB1000 task force which developed early recommendations for the legislature. As part of this involvement, he traveled to Scranton and Harrisburg and testified twice in front of the House Consumer Affairs committee. When the program was to be rolled out, Jim was asked to chair the Attorney General’s Implementation Task Force. In addition, Jim made liberal use of conference calls. One task force member commented that Jim ran the most effective conference calls in Pennsylvania Builders’ Association (PBA) history. “He certainly had a lot on his plate”, remarked Bob Hutchins, his brother and partner, “Considering that he was also running Centennial Homes.”

As chairman, he recruited some of the most effective members of the Task Force, set documentation guidelines and authored a short form contract to be used by contractors. In addition, he participated in meetings with the office of the Attorney General in an effort to positively influence the outcome. Throughout the process Jim had to interface with both the government and the private sectors.

Developing the program was only part of it. Jim worked directly with the Office of Attorney General’s project manager to implement an on line application for contractors, scheduled introductory seminars to convince contractors that registering would be good for their business and even presented a few of the workshops. Hutchins says, “This program will drive the unscrupulous from the business and that’s good for everyone.” Consumers will be able to ask to see a contractor’s registration certificate which means that at the very least the contractor will have liability insurance. In addition the commonwealth will be able to track complaints.

As his final act for support of the program Jim made sure that Centennial Homes, Inc. was one of the first in line to register. In fact they were the second company in Pennsylvania to register, gaining them the contractor number #2.

Contractor Registration goes into effect on July 1^st which means that as many as 80,000 home improvement contractors will have to register with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or risk the possibility of felony charges.

Press Release

Contact: Robert McKnight

Phone: 570-646-1333

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. EDT, November 25, 2008

Centennial Homes Joins “Green Communities Alliance”

Blakeslee, PA:

Effective immediately Centennial Homes has become a member of Green Communities Alliance. The alliance is committed to using and promoting green building practices according to strict guidelines as developed by the National Association of Home Builders.

Homes built by Centennial have included energy saving features for years. Earlier this year, Centennial announced the introduction of a new series of homes that offered enhanced insulation, windows and a geothermal heat pump.

Centennial’s next green project will be a 3000 square foot split-level home in Cobble Creek Estates.

Click Here to See Certificate

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Press Release

Pocono Builders Association held its annual awards banquet at the Stroudsmoor Inn on Wednesday September 17. Centennial Homes, Inc. of Blakeslee repeated its 2007 performance by earning five more awards.

Centennial Homes, celebrating its 21^st year in business, has previously won awards in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Centennial Homes, Inc. received awards this year in the following categories:

Robert Hutchins, Centennial’s Vice President and production manager said, “These are our first awards for renovations and kitchens and we are thrilled.” He explained, “When people retire and permanently move into their vacation homes they find that they need more space and updated kitchens.”

Earlier this year Centennial introduced a new line of homes, The Prestige Series. It offers a green options package including enhanced insulation and a geothermal heat pump. “We are evolving along with our market and hope to enter a Prestige Series home in next year’s competition,” explained Sales Manager, Robert McKnight. “Our motto is: we build sensible homes for sensible people. Today sensible means energy efficient.”

McKnight added, “Not that we tired of winning with our homes, but we thought we would do something a bit different with our entries. As it stands right now, no other builder in the area has won in as many different categories as Centennial Homes, Inc.”

Jim Hutchins, Centennial’s CEO put it this way, “More than anything else, I think this shows just how diversified we can be—we build award winning colonials to award winning small kitchen remodels. And with the uncertainty of today’s economy, one has to wonder, ‘Who needs a new home…why not fix up the one you have.’ In our case, we’ll build you a big house or a small kitchen…whatever you prefer. And, in either instance, we want them to be award winners.”

Pennsylvania Builders Association Honors Robert Hutchins of Centennial Homes, Inc.

Blakeslee, Pa, NOVEMBER 20, 2007: Robert Hutchins, Vice President of Centennial Homes, Inc. was recognized by the Pennsylvania Builders Association by being named a Lifetime Director.

Hutchins, who has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the association since 1997, said that he was honored to receive the award which was presented for ten years of meritorious service to the home building industry. Bob has also served on various committees including the Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2001 and again in 2007 he was elected to represent the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Susquehanna as Regional Vice President.

Service awards are not new to Bob, in 1999 he was named the recipient of the prestigious “Builder of The Year Award'' by the Pocono Builders Association, for outstanding dedication to the building industry.

As Production Manager of Centennial Homes, Bob personally supervises the construction of Centennial’s homes. “His goal is to visit every job site, every day,” said his wife Colleen Hutchins who serves as Bob’s production assistant.

In addition to running production for Centennial Homes and serving the builders’ associations, Bob was elected to a six year term as a Coolbaugh Township Supervisor in 2004 and he also serves as secretary on the Pocono Mountain Police commission.

Blakeslee, Pa, September 25, 2007: As part of its 20^th Anniversary Celebration, Centennial Homes, Inc. entered several of its homes in the 2007 Pocono Builders Association Builders Awards. They entered the following value categories:

Accepting the awards was Centennial Homes, Inc. was Vice-President Robert Hutchins who commented, “We pride ourselves in the value of a Centennial home. We are very happy, but not surprised to see that our peers, professionals in the field, see the value in our product.”

“The fact that Centennial Homes, Inc. received awards in two other categories also speaks to the quality found in a Centennial home,” said Sales Manager, Robert McKnight. McKnight went on the say, “Our ads say that ‘We Build Sensible Homes for Sensible People’— These awards show that Quality plus Value equals the Sensible Choice… and now, once again, we have proved it.”

To find out more about the quality and value you can find in a Centennial Homes, Inc. home, call 1.800.669.4769 and ask for Mac. Maybe, you too, can own a Centennial Homes, Inc. award winner.

-End-

Centennial Homes, Inc. - announces a partnership with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to provide Below-market interest rate home purchase loans to qualifying buyers throughout the Pocono area under PHFA's Keystone Home Loan Program. For qualifying buyers this could mean little or no down payment.

In an effort to keep its customers more informed, Centennial has added private web sites so that customers can view the progress on their new home using the web. To view one click here.

Blakeslee, Pa October 8, 2007 – Centennial Homes, Inc. is sad to announce the loss of a dear friend. Big Foot the company’s well known and loved golden tabby passed away on Friday, October 5, 2007. He was 18 years young at the time of his death. Big Foot was interred under an apple tree behind Centennial’s Blakeslee office.

Long time customers, friends and employees will remember him as the always friendly cat who was the first to greet them upon their arrival. One lawyer, who has handled title work for Centennial since they were founded 20 years ago, remembered the day that Big Foot leaped onto the conference table during a closing. He landed on a pile of papers which acted as a sled propelling him over the edge. The lawyer acted as though nothing were amiss continuing with his closing.

Blakeslee, PA – In the midst of what has been reported as a “soft” real estate market, one Pocono area builder is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Centennial Homes, Inc. has managed not only to survive the ups and downs of the building business but actually to thrive since 1987.

When asked about Centennial’s secrets to success Jim Hutchins, President and CEO smiles and says, “We believe that bigger is not necessarily better. We believe that better is better. You see, we don't try to impress with veneer... we try to impress with solid performance, quality and value.” Jim received his MBA in Operations Management from the University of Scranton. Jim has also earned a reputation for being a no nonsense defender of consumer rights. At the request of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, he traveled to Harrisburg to testify before the House Committee on Consumer Affairs on a bill that if passed would have cost consumers dearly.

Jim was responsible for Centennial’s wildly successful tag line, “Who needs a big mortgage? We build sensible homes for sensible people.” He argues, “The average consumer is being sold an oversized home with a big mortgage which might jeopardize his or her future. When the real estate market goes down, the average homeowner could be only a few paychecks from financial ruin. That’s why we specialize in sensible homes.” Centennial boasts that unlike the big national companies, they can offer over twenty homes under $200,000.00—and of that; fourteen are priced under $150, 000.

“We rely heavily on our reputation,” says Bob Hutchins Vice-President and Production Manager. “We frequently build homes for multiple members of the same family.”

Shirley Fowler and her husband Don are new arrivals to the Pocono Area. They recently moved into their new 1300 square foot ranch home built for them by Centennial, in Indian Mountain Lake. Shirley recalled her thoughts as she did her final walk through, “It was everything that I could have expected.” In fact the Fowlers, who regularly stop in for a cup of coffee after church, were convinced to purchase a Centennial home by their daughter and son in law who also bought a Centennial home.

But the homey atmosphere punctuated by a bottomless coffee pot is not all there is to Centennial’s success. A visit to their office reveals a company that is dedicated to quality. The walls are adorned with awards presented to them by the Pocono Builders Association and the Pocono Area Chamber of Commerce.

Bob Hutchins who was named “Builder of the Year” in 1999, by the Pocono Builders Association was one of several visionaries who pushed for a state wide building code. “In the early days it was a little like the Wild West. There was little or no governmental oversight and the consumer had to rely on the builder’s integrity for quality. Those consumers who relied too heavily on price were often faced with a house that either did not get completed or resulted in substandard construction. We were building to the applicable national codes long before Pennsylvania had a building code.”

As part of a year long celebration Centennial has launched a new state of the art web site (www.NowGrow.com) which allows the consumer to investigate the company, get directions, print their own brochures and track their projects.

They are also doing a few things for their customers. Don and Nicki Mattson of Burlington, NJ were surprised to learn that their project included a year of digital cable TV and in August Centennial presented a plaque and gift certificate to Anthony and Karin Price of Green Lane, PA for being their twentieth anniversary customer.

BLAKESLEE, PA -- Robert “Mac” McKnight has recently joined Centennial Homes Inc., a family corporation dedicated to offering affordable, quality built housing in Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1957. Centennial Homes, Inc. is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. His responsibilities will include marketing and sales throughout the area.

He has served clients in the Pocono area as a member of the Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors, Inc. Additionally, “Mac” is a member of the National Association of Realtors.

McKnight brings extensive years of sales and sales management experience in the custom home, real estate and computer industries to his new position.

A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, “Mac” furthered his studies at Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, NJ and Saint Charles Seminary in Philadelphia.

As a member of the Dale Carnegie Speakers Bureau, McKnight gained a wide-range of experience in public speaking and adult education.