In the early 1960s, Marvin Katz dared to be different. Like many other builders at that time, Marvin built affordable bi-level and split-level single-family home communities. But, he also improved the common design with features too expensive to be copied by other building firms. "When I started to build," Marvin says, "I always wanted to include something unique in my homes, something no one else had." As a result, he easily attracted buyers to his communities and to his homes.
Four decades later, daring to be different is now a family tradition. Marvin is joined in Katz Builders and Developers with his three sons: Steven, Craig, and Terry. All have the same high level of energy, combined with a true love for home building and a passion for architecture that has kept the Katz name on the forefront of residential construction in the suburban Philadelphia market for a total of four generations and nearly 80 years. Concentrating solely on community development and residential construction the Katz family has built thousands of award-winning condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes throughout the area without skipping a beat. At the same time, they have created and maintained a reputation for producing high quality finished products with unique design twists that could only bear the Katz signature.
"We have never conformed to the 'cookie cutter design' most high-production builders are known for," Marvin says. "We know buyers shop. We know they are looking for a home that is not only within their price range, but is also attractive, different, and reflects their personality. We give them vaults, lines, cuts, angles-features that are often too 'custom' to be copied by other builders. We offer our clients price and product."
Much of the look, the distinctive architectural features of the nearly 150 homes they build each year, can be attributed directly to Marvin and Steven. Steven is both an architectural designer and a builder. Like his father, Steven understands that customers in every price range are looking to make their home a statement of their lifestyle.
"He adds that the loyalty of the entire Katz Builders team makes their job easier:" A lot of the contractors and suppliers we work with now have worked with the Katz family for a long, long time. Some are even second-generation Katz buyers."
Marvin looks at his sons thoughtfully and says, "If someone were to say to me, 'They don't build 'em like they used to,' I would agree. We build 'em better. New materials and technology have made great improvements in quality since I worked for my father. These same improvements have progressed home design by leaps and bounds.
"I know that when someone walks through one of our homes they may not remember the name of the house. They may not remember the name of the community or even our name. But they will remember a detail. It may just be something small that caught their eye. And later they'll say, 'Remember that house we saw that had...'"

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For further information, contact Katz Builders and Developers, (215) 491-6900.