Business gives back: Developer Works to Boost Affordable Housing Options

 

For Dan Ryan, building houses means building communities.

"We get involved in the communities where we build," said Ryan, president of Dan Ryan Homes. His company builds houses in Frederick and Washington counties, as well as in southern Pennsylvania.

Ryan also supports the Interfaith Housing Alliance, which develops affordable housing projects in those same areas. "Our footprints match," he said.

If the nonprofit can raise $25,000, Ryan will match it.

"Our mission meshed really well with Interfaith," said Ryan in an interview at IHA's headquarters on North Market Street.

Ryan said he was inspired by his father, also a builder, to provide affordable housing.

"Being a builder, I know how difficult it tends to be to get families into houses," he said. "There is an educational process, what you need to do to get financing, qualifying for a loan and more."
Mary Ellen Mitchell, director of community relations for IHA, said the organization holds workshops on subjects ranging from money and foreclosures to showing teenagers how to open and manage a checking account.

Ryan, who has been building locally for more than 20 years, partnered with IHA in the cost and construction of Rolling Hills, an affordable community in Pennsylvania.

"A big reward is to see things being passed on," Ryan said. "Dave Doseff, my former chief financial officer, served on the IHA board."

The key to any organization is to maintain it, Ryan said. "All organizations see peaks and valleys, the question is how do you keep it going."

One way is awareness, getting the word out on what IHA does, Ryan said. That brings in not only donations, but volunteers as well.

"People have been through a lot in the past seven years," he said. "There are so many foreclosures, people losing homes. We need to help get families in homes and build up our neighborhoods, build the county back up."

For 2013, IHA has a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work on homes that need repairs. People must buy the homes, with no down payment, and there is a limit of $20,000 in repairs, Mitchell said.

"There is a 'sweat equity' component, but it is a win-win situation," she said. "It helps stabilize the neighborhood."

The goal is to help repair 20 homes in two years.

The Sweet Life Starts at Home

Visit one of our model homes today to see how Dan Ryan Builders can put you into a NEW HOME during our "SWEET LIFE" Home Event!

Dan Ryan Builders Supports Reemerging Carroll County, MD Chapter of Habitat for Humanity!

At Dan Ryan Builders, we are passionate about people and home ownership and we were delighted to be able to support the great cause that is Habitat for Humanity through a financial donation of $10,000. The donation was in support of Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County- an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.

Board President- Sister Nancy Stiles, a Holy Union Sister  |  Executive Dir. Bryan Lyburn | Dan Ryan

The organization built its last home in 2008, and before that it hadn’t built a home since 2004. Bryan Lyburn, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County, hopes the organization can become more active in the community.

In an interview with The Advocate, Lyburn stated “It would be my goal to grow our organization’s capacity, so that we can make an impact in the housing needs of county residents, and so we can have more folks that work here and that spend time here in the county who can also afford to live here in the county,”

Most of the organization’s volunteers, who build and repair the houses, are from Carroll County, too, he said. It generally takes hundreds of volunteers to complete a new construction project from the ground up. Lyburn said Habitat for Humanity has opportunities for both long-term and short-term volunteers.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County visit their website at www.cchabitat.org
Dan Ryan is well known in the community, not only for his quality homebuilding, but also for his philanthropic contributions. Each of the Dan Ryan Builder’s divisions gets involved locally in the school, charities, associations and overall communities.

Dan Ryan Builders, one of the country’s few privately owned, regional homebuilders, is headquartered in Frederick, MD. The company currently operates in six states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina) and in 10 Metro markets – with a focus on providing the best value in home ownership to predominately first time and move up buyers. Dan Ryan Builders is looking forward to creating Better Value-Better Living opportunities in the Carroll County and greater Metro Areas.

Dan Ryan Builders sponsors the 2nd Annual Mission 10 Miler- Dan Ryan Builders Race for Recovery!

Dan Ryan Continues his support of the Frederick Rescue Mission by once again sponsoring the Mission 10 Miler- Dan Ryan Builders Race for Recovery. This is the mission’s second annual race and is sure to be even better than last year’s!

Through a donation of $10,000, Dan Ryan reiterates his passion for people and community. All proceeds of the race benefit the Frederick Rescue Mission, a ministry providing a long-term residential recovery program to the chemically addicted, food to the hungry, and clothing and furniture to the needy. For more information on the Mission visit their website at www.therescuemission.org


The Mission 10 Miler supports the Mission's programs and services to those in need! Race day is Sunday, March 24, 2013. Beginning and ending at Harry Grove Stadium, the race boasts a beautiful, primarily flat certified course on smooth terrain. Runners will be scored on chipped timing, and the top three finishers overall will receive prizes, along with the top male and female finishers in each age category. All finishers will receive a finisher medal and great swag.
In 2012 over 300 runners showed up and we expect it to grow this year! Sign up today to guarantee your spot and look for Dan Ryan Builders at the start and finish line cheering you on! Visit the official race website at www.mission10miler.com

Dan Ryan Builders wins Quality Builders Warranty Corporation’s “2013 Builder of Integrity” Award

Jan. 4, 2013 – Frederick, MD – Dan Ryan Builders is an honored repeat recipient of Quality Builders Warranty Corporation’s (QBW) “2013 Builder of Integrity” award – an achievement that acknowledges excellence in the delivery of the highest levels of customer service and quality construction within the homebuilding industry.

The QBW’s “Builder of Integrity” award started in 2004 and Dan Ryan Builders has won 5 since the award’s inception. “Home building is about people. We build homes for sale. We build communities to provide lasting value to our customers. We offer additional services to our customers through affiliate organizations to meet specific customer needs in order to enhance their home ownership experience and we are proud to be recognized as a builder of integrity. This third party accreditation confirms that we are achieving success through putting the customer first.” said Dan Ryan, President and CEO of Dan Ryan Builders.

As a recipient of the 2013 Builder of Integrity Award, Dan Ryan Builders is part of a select group of QBW members to achieve this recognition. At a time when many builders are cutting corners on such things as customer service and warranty work, Dan Ryan Builders has remained dedicated to delivering a quality home with exceptional service.

Dan Ryan Builders is commended for their dedication to customer satisfaction and contribution to the homebuilding community as a recognized leader in the many markets in which they serve, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Established in 1985, Quality Builders Warranty Corporation is the nation's premier 10-year, new home warranty program. As a builder member, Dan Ryan Builders has passed QBW’s steadfast screening methods, and has adhered to a strict set of standards for industry excellence, with the goal of providing great peace of mind to its valued homebuyers.

A Home Gym to Reach your Goals

It’s Day 4 in the New Year- How are you doing so far to achieve your fitness goals?

Whether you are in a new Dan Ryan Builders Townhome or Single Family home or in the market for a home, a home gym is something to consider when deciding how to best utilize a room’s function and what floorplan or options would be best.
The room to set up your home gym depends on your needs and lifestyle.

Need the motivation and constant reminder to work out? A home gym in your Morning Room extension might be the ticket as it is in a location you see every day. Surrounded by windows- it might be the perfect sunny spot to achieve your yogi downward dog or run that extra mile on the treadmill.

Need Space to Move? If your home has a basement, (Sorry Homeowners in the South- this might not be an option for you!) you have the perfect space for the “Mac Daddy” Home Gym. Circuit Train, hang a large mirror to check form, invest in a Total Gym or other larger equipment. You have the space- now all you need is the time! Warning: The basement might present an out of site out of mind situation. Set goals and stick to them!

Need a Multifunctional Space? The bonus room might be the perfect place carve out some space for your workout. Set up the boom box with some motivational jams and organize a space to hold your equipment so you can still use the room for other functions.The key benefit of having your very own home gym is that you get to set up a training environment that you enjoy- and your bonus room just might be the best place to achieve this environment.

The home gym is an amazing resource that you should be taking advantage of. Between hectic schedules to the non-sense going on in commercial gyms, home gym training is the safe-haven for people looking to train in a manner that actually produces results.

At Dan Ryan Builders- We offer and build homes for today’s modern families! Be creative in how you determine the right home for you! Check out our Home Gym Board on Pinterest for ideas on creating yours! pinterest.com/danryanbuilders/home-gym

Post written by Sarah H at Dan Ryan Builders (the one doing Wii Zumba in her Living Room)