New Home Development & 55+ Community Strategy
Not just sold. Sought after.
We don’t just build communities. We build raving fans.
NAHB M.I.R.M. Designee | 55+ Housing Industry Council Trustee | NAHB Certified Sales and New Home Marketing Professional | NAHB National Design Committee
Denise Lones is a NAHB M.I.R.M.-designated strategist developers and builders call in when a new home community isn’t performing.
Sales have stalled, absorption has slowed, or the project just isn’t connecting with buyers. Denise diagnoses why. Sometimes it’s the product itself. Sometimes it’s a mismatch between what’s being built and who it’s being built for. Sometimes it’s a quality issue, or a sales team that isn’t following up or closing.
That diagnostic ability — pinpointing the problem, and creating a framework to fix it is rare, and it’s why she’s brought in, with particular depth in 55+ and active adult communities. She also designs and builds custom homes for individual clients. Whether you’re troubleshooting a stalled community, planning a boutique neighborhood of 40–75 homes, or building a large-scale master-planned community, Denise’s skillset is the one you need.
The Augusta model home at Muirfield has been honored with two Silver Awards at The Nationals, the most prestigious new home community awards presented annually by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The Augusta received Silver Awards in two categories: Best Single-Family Detached Model Home 2,501 to 3,000 square feet and Best Single-Family Detached Home for a 55+ Buyer. These honors recognize the highest achievement in new home construction, celebrating excellence in design, creativity, and quality across the building industry.
The Augusta was also recognized with a Gold Nugget Award for Best Single Family Detached Home in its size category.
If you’re planning a 55+ or active adult community, this is exactly the kind of result our development strategy is built to deliver.
Get the strategic eye of an NAHB M.I.R.M. on your next community, from demographic analysis to sales team training.
Design and build support from a team that acts as your liaison from first sketch to final walkthrough.
Specialized demographic analysis, product strategy, and sales training built specifically around the 55+ and active adult buyer — Denise’s deepest area of expertise.
Q: What does Denise Lones do?
A: Denise Lones is a NAHB M.I.R.M.-designated strategist and NAHB Nationals judge who advises developers and builders on master-planned and 55+ active adult community strategy, from land use and site planning through sales and absorption. She also designs and builds custom homes for individual clients.
Q: What is an NAHB M.I.R.M.?
A: M.I.R.M. (Member of the Institute of Residential Marketing) is the National Association of Home Builders’ top professional achievement for new home marketing, held by only a small number of professionals in Washington State. Denise Lones holds this designation.
Q: Does New Home Strategists work with 55+ and active adult communities?
Yes. Denise Lones serves on the NAHB 55+ Housing Industry Council Board of Trustees. She has created strategies for 55+ communities as well as designing the award-winning Muirfield development. She won two NAHB Silver Awards and one Gold Nugget Award recognition for the Augusta at Muirfield, and won a Gold Nugget award for best floorplan in its class for the Sussex at Muirfield.
Q: What areas do you serve?
A: We primarily serve builders, developers, and custom homeowners in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington, although on a consulting basis, we can help builders and developers across the country and beyond! As a M.I.R.M., Denise Lones analyzed developments near and far to determine why they weren’t successful and what it would take to make them so.
Denise Lones Wins the 2026 Gold Nugget Award for the Sussex at Muirfield
Nationally recognized builder and developer earns one of the housing industry's most prestigious honors for exceptional design, innovation and livability Denise Lones has won a 2026 Gold Nugget Award for the Sussex floorplan at Muirfield in Semiahmoo, Washington — the...
Semiahmoo New Home Development Wins National Awards for Design
BELLINGHAM, WA – February 5, 2026 – The Augusta model home at Muirfield has been honored with two Silver Awards at The Nationals, the most prestigious new home community awards presented annually by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The Augusta...
Denise Lones Presents: Custom Homes = Big Money
Are you a custom home builder who has found that custom homes are lucrative, but have gotten too cumbersome and risky? Too much HGTV has caused clients to have unreasonable expectations in terms of time and performance. There is a way to lower the drama and ramp up...
NAHB Instructor
NAHB National Design Committee
55+ Housing Industry Council Board of Trustees
M.I.R.M.
IRM Instructor
1,2,3,4
Certified New Home Sales Professional
CSP Instructor
Certified New Home Marketing Professional
Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist
AAC Star Builder Award 2025, 2026
Washington State Legislative Policy Committee
Housing Solutions Workgroup Lead
Washington Home Builders Foundation
BIAW Remodelers Awards Judge
Hill Day in Olympia and in Washington DC
2024 Superior Associate Award
Board of Directors
Government Affairs Committee
Crocktoberfest Chili Cookoff Winner (yes, really!)
Professional Women in Building State Board
Building Industry Association of Whatcom County Professional Women in Building Chapter Chair
Have a project you’d like Denise’s eye on? Engagements are reviewed individually, so tell us about your project and we’ll follow up.