Richmond American Homes traces its roots back to 1977, when it was founded by Larry Mizel as part of what would become MDC Holdings. The company trades today under MDC on the New York Stock Exchange and has grown into a significant national builder serving markets across the country.

One thing that makes Richmond American particularly interesting is its long-standing focus on paired homebuilding and mortgage services. Early on, the company recognized that controlling both construction and financing could create a smoother path to homeownership — a strategy that helped fuel its expansion.

A lesser-known but fascinating detail: Richmond American has historically emphasized structural personalization — offering buyers meaningful floor plan options rather than just cosmetic upgrades. For many homeowners, that ability to tailor the way a home lives (not just how it looks) has been a major draw.

Today, Richmond American operates as part of a large public corporation but still maintains a reputation for practical, flexible floor plans and buyer choice. In master-planned communities like Valencia by FivePoint, their homes often appeal to families who want customization flexibility within a production-builder framework.

Builder:
Richmond American Homes

Founded:
1977

Headquarters:
Denver, Colorado (parent company’s HQ)

Stock Symbol:
NYSE: MDC (delisted after acquisition)

Builder Type:
Large national builder brand; now part of Sekisui House (Japan)

First Homes in Valencia by FivePoint:
2022

Richmond American is now backed by Sekisui House, a major Japanese homebuilder — a fascinating “global parent company” twist most buyers don’t know. (PR Newswire)

Their origin story is very “scrappy beginnings”: in the first year, 27 homes closed and 65 were under construction.