Drees Homes is expanding into its 12th operating market: Columbus, Ohio. The move brings Drees into three Ohio markets, joining Cleveland and Cincinnati in the company’s portfolio.
“The market’s similarities to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Indianapolis, along with its adjacency to existing operations, allow us to leverage established resources and deliver exceptional homes to a new community,” Drees Homes Midwest regional president Steve Tuckerman tells Builder. “With less than two hours of travel from our headquarters, overlapping product offerings, and many existing trade partners already active there, expanding into this market was a natural fit.
Columbus, with a population of nearly 1 million, is the most populated city in Ohio and the second most populated city in the Midwest region, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The market has experienced a 22% increase in technology jobs since 2023 and the presence of larger corporations in the sector like Intel, Google, and Microsoft makes it a budding and intriguing job market moving forward. The metro also benefits from a strong university presence and a housing market that Drees Homes says remains underbuilt, offering a prime opportunity for development and growth.
“Columbus is a robust, active market with a strong employment base and, of course, The Ohio State University,” says Tuckerman. “Like our other Midwest divisions, there are ample submarkets within the Columbus metro area that will support the introduction of Drees and our upmarket product and strategy.”
Columbus ranked as the 32nd largest new-home market and the largest Ohio housing market in 2025, according to Zonda’s Local Leaders list. The metro generated 4,623 new-home closings in 2024. According to Local Leaders data, Drees Homes is the second-largest builder in the Cincinnati metro (the 44th largest new-home market) with a market share of nearly 20%.
Drees Homes broke ground on its first model home in the Columbus market in early March. The model home, the Ash Lawn floor plat at Alton Place in Hilliard, is slated to open this summer. The builder’s inaugural community will feature nine single-family floor plans designed with modern layouts and customizable options with pricing starting in the $800s. Tuckerman says Drees Homes plans to open three communities in 2026 and aims to achieve its first sales by the summer.
Columbus division president Andy Arztner will bring decades of industry experience to the new Drees division. With a background in land acquisition, customer experience, and cost control, Artzner will take the lead in introducing Drees to the central Ohio market while building out a strong team across sales, construction, operations, and land.
The Columbus expansion is part of Drees Homes Centennial Strategy, which outlines goals for the builder as it approaches its 100th business anniversary in 2028. Entrance to new markets is one of six pillars of the strategy. Since announcing the Centennial Strategy, Drees Homes has expanded to the San Antonio market through its acquisition of Monticello Homes and Columbus.
Additional elements of the Centennial Strategy include growing each division to 300 annual closings, growing the company’s build-on-your-lot business Elevate, and improving customer experience and lot acquisition.
“While we recognize it will take time for the Columbus division to reach [the 300 closing] milestone, we will measure our success by our ability to thoughtfully plan and enter communities in key submarkets, while consistently delivering high-quality homes and exceptional customer experiences,” says Tuckerman. “Our goal is to uphold and extend the reputation for integrity and excellence that Drees Homes has established in its other markets.”
Drees Homes, ranked No. 39 on the 2025 Builder 100 list, closed 2,304 homes in 2024 and generated revenue of $1.7 billion.
