Business Details
38 Years
experience
New Homes in Los Angeles & Orange County
Olson Homes has been creating vibrant, walkable communities in Southern California since 1988. Our approach begins with strategic urban development, transforming underutilized spaces into energy-efficient homes near jobs, transportation hubs, and local amenities. With over 35 years of industry experience, we prioritize sustainable building practices and personalized home customization through our Style Studio. Our commitment to quality is reflected in eight Eliant Awards for Best Builder and a focus on affordable housing solutions.We emphasize community integration, offering homes designed for modern lifestyles with connected technology and health-focused features. Our leadership team brings decades of expertise in real estate development, construction, and customer satisfaction. Backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, we ensure a seamless homebuying process from initial consultation to post-purchase support.
Services
New Home Construction
Community Development
Home Customization
Urban Infill Projects
Sustainable Building
Smart Home Integration
Affordable Housing Solutions
Homeowner Support
Land Development
Walkable Community Design
Details
- Year established: 1988
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of experience in Southern California homebuilding
- Our communities feature walkable access to local amenities and transit
- We provide personalized home customization through our Style Studio
- We've won the Eliant Award for Best Builder eight times
- Our homes include energy-efficient and healthy living technologies
What people say
BEST out of all builders
Truly proud of quality
Seamless homebuying process
Consistent communication
Accountable and timely
Services
New Home Construction
We build energy-efficient single-family and multi-family homes in Southern California urban centers. Our process includes site selection, entitlement, and construction of walkable communities with modern amenities. Homes feature sustainable materials and technology that reduce environmental impact while enhancing resident comfort.
Community Development
Our team redevelops underutilized urban spaces into vibrant residential communities. This includes rezoning, infrastructure planning, and creating mixed-use developments that integrate with existing neighborhoods. We focus on minimizing new infrastructure costs while maximizing accessibility to local amenities and transit.
Home Customization
The Style Studio offers personalized home finishes and layouts. Buyers can select from various design packages including flooring options, kitchen configurations, and smart home technology integrations. Our advisors help create spaces that reflect individual lifestyles and functional needs.
Sustainable Building
We incorporate energy-efficient systems like solar panels, low-emission furnaces, and water-saving fixtures. Our homes feature advanced insulation, air purification systems, and eco-friendly materials that meet or exceed California's strict environmental standards while reducing utility costs for homeowners.
Smart Home Integration
Our homes include Wi-Fi thermostats, security systems, and automated lighting controls. The Brilliant Smart Home System integrates security cameras, garage access, and appliance controls through mobile apps, enhancing convenience and home monitoring capabilities for residents.
People
Stephen E. Olson
Executive Chairman & Founder
With over 35 years in homebuilding, he founded Olson Homes and received industry honors including Americas Builder of the Year. He focuses on strategic vision and affordable housing initiatives.
Scott Laurie
President & CEO
Leading Olson Homes since 2007, he oversees operations and strategic planning. Under his leadership, Olson Homes won multiple Eliant Awards and maintains industry leadership in Southern California real estate.
William E. Holford
President, Olson Communities
Responsible for homebuilding operations since 2003, he ensures quality control across planning, construction, and customer satisfaction. He previously led marketing at The Walt Disney Company.
Todd J. Olson
President, Community Development
With 30 years experience, he specializes in urban infill projects and has entitled over 10,000 homes across California. He focuses on creating affordable housing solutions in coastal areas.
Chris Campbell
Chief Financial Officer
Managing financial operations since 2004, he oversees corporate finance and risk management. He previously worked in capital markets and holds a CFA designation.
Questions
What types of communities does Olson Homes Homes build?
We specialize in walkable, urban infill communities with energy-efficient homes near transit hubs, schools, and local amenities in Southern California.
Can I customize my Olson Homes home?
Yes! Our Style Studio offers extensive personalization options for finishes, layouts, and technology features in every new home.
What awards has Olson Homes Homes won?
We've received the Eliant Award for Best Overall Purchase Experience eight times and were named Americas Builder of the Year in 2000.
What smart home features are available?
Our connected tech includes Wi-Fi thermostats, security systems, motorized shades, and smart appliance integration in all new communities.
Do you offer affordable housing options?
Yes, we develop ownership affordable homes in coastal urban areas through partnerships with local housing authorities and redevelopment agencies.
Videos
Reviews (5)
Michael W.
Feb 02, 2022
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I would never buy a home from Olson again. I bought a Condo from them in 2010. Compton Willow Walk. I would steer clear from them. I will also never buy a home in a HOA again. Oh and the real estate agent lied about us getting that parking lot next to the community. I would call her out but what's the use. I found out that Olson deeded back the parking lot back to the city the year before I bought.
Nenny D.
Mar 25, 2021
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This review is long overdue. We decided to go with Olson Homes for our first home purchase in California and boy was that the biggest mistake. I will say that I had a pleasant experience with one of the sales individual that we worked with which played a huge role in our decision to purchase. Everything outside of that was lackluster. We purchased a new build through Olson 3 years ago. First and foremost, the value for what we paid is appalling. The quality of materials used and the workmanship is beyond inferior. Im happy to share the details outside of this forum but I will say that my concerns
Marcia Mohler
Feb 01, 2021
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I would not buy a home built by an organization that was founded by such an unethical individual as Steve O! He owned OMC Apartment complex in Newport Beach for close to 30 years and he and his property manager rented toxic units causing serious health problems to tenants.
West C.
Jan 06, 2021
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Carlos at Flora Walk was a pleasure to tour the models homes with he was polite and had alot of knowledge about the area. The Flora Walk town houses in Torrance are beautiful. The construction seemed well done the finishes were nice. We appreciate the Covid19 precautions and allowing us to see the remaining options today.
Hank M.
Dec 26, 2020
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Bought an Olson built home in 2015. The house was built in 1997. Learning from all of the other home-owners in this community that every house in the community has had electrical issues, plumbing issues, foundation issues, and just poor workmanship in general. Im definitely outside of the statute of limitations for getting anything corrected, but people should know that this builder does not do good work. They cut corners anytime they can. Do your due diligence if purchasing a home built by them.
