KB Home announced the opening of Bella Sol, a gated community in Riverside, California, and Maplewood, a gated community in St. Augustine, Florida, both unveiled on February 10, 2026. Bella Sol offers two‑story homes with up to five bedrooms and three bathrooms, priced from the mid‑$600,000s, and features a barbecue area, playground, and proximity to schools and parks. Maplewood provides one‑ and two‑story homes with similar bedroom and bathroom counts, priced from the mid‑$300,000s, and includes a playground, covered picnic area, and open play field near top‑rated schools and beaches.
The new developments are part of KB Home’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the Sun Belt, a region that has been a focus for the company’s growth. By launching these communities, KB Home is expanding its built‑to‑order (BTO) portfolio, which the company has identified as a higher‑margin, customer‑centric model that can better withstand the current housing‑market volatility. The BTO shift has already begun to pay off, with the company reporting improved build times and higher gross margins in its Q4 2025 earnings.
Housing‑market data for the two regions underscore the timing of the openings. Riverside’s median home price has risen to $650,000, with inventory levels remaining tight, while St. Augustine’s median price sits around $350,000 amid strong demand from families seeking beachside proximity. Both markets exhibit limited new construction, creating a favorable environment for a new gated community that offers amenities and a sense of exclusivity.
KB Home’s Q4 2025 results—released on December 18, 2025—showed total revenues of $6.2 billion and net income of $430 million, a decline from the prior year but still beating analyst expectations. The company’s earnings per share beat consensus by $0.24, driven by disciplined cost control and a favorable mix of BTO projects that offset a modest decline in spec‑home sales. Management highlighted that the BTO model’s higher pricing power and lower inventory risk are key to sustaining profitability in a market where inflationary pressures and supply‑chain constraints are still present.
In late January, KB Home announced that COO Rob McGibney would assume the CEO role on March 1, 2026, with current CEO Jeffrey Mezger moving to executive chairman. The leadership transition signals continuity in the company’s strategic focus on energy‑efficient, sustainable homes and a commitment to maintaining a strong customer experience. McGibney emphasized that the new communities would reinforce KB Home’s reputation for quality and community amenities, positioning the company to capture a growing segment of buyers seeking turnkey, family‑friendly neighborhoods.
The opening of Bella Sol and Maplewood represents a tangible step toward KB Home’s goal of expanding its footprint in high‑growth markets while reinforcing its BTO strategy. By delivering homes that combine modern amenities with a strong sense of community, the company aims to capture a larger share of the Sun Belt’s resilient demand, potentially offsetting the broader market’s headwinds and supporting long‑term revenue growth.
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