Pacific Palace

BUilDeRs
01
Mark Timothy Inc. Luxury Homes
cOMbiNiNG A luxuriOus lOcAtiON AND tiMElEss stYlE ON
sOuth FlOriDA’s OcEANFrONt
by Brian Libby
Mark Pulte followed in his father’s footsteps in
more ways than one. Just as Bill Pulte started
Detroit’s Pulte Group at the young age of 18
back in 1950 (eventually becoming the nation’s
largest home builder), so too did Mark set out on
his own at a young age. “When I was 24, while
working for my father in the late 80’s, they transferred
me to South Florida,” the younger Pulte
remembers. “I observed that there was a lot of
demolition taking place. People were tearing
down million dollar houses and rebuilding.”
Mark went to Pulte Homes and said, “You guys
should start a high-end division. We bought five
lots on the ocean. But right after we bought
them, Pulte Homes decided they didn’t want to
go into that market. My father said to me, ‘I still
think it’s a no-brainer. Why don’t you go do it on
your own? We’ll loan you the money.’”
Flash forward 32 years, and Mark Timothy
Luxury Homes is South Florida’s largest luxury
homebuilder, with seven projects currently under
construction. But it’s still the lessons of his
father and a few initial clients that he believes set
the company on its way. “The first few clients I
had took me under their wing and gave me great
advice,” he explains. First, it’s all about location:
a residence along the beach trumps every other
amenity. In the home industry, Pulte learned that
it’s also important to never grow beyond what
you can deliver. But most of all, he says, “If you
521 South Ocean
For this oceanfront property in
Delray beach, not only did Mark
timothy luxury homes act as developer,
but the company’s owner,
Mark Pulte, also designed it. “i
knew the market was scaling down
in size of homes. bigger houses
were really no longer desired. this
house’s floor plan was compact,
manageable and not overwhelming.
it had a lot more practical spaces,
not your sitting rooms, piano rooms
or theaters. in vogue now are media
rooms, which can be a family room
converted into a theater. it makes
it more manageable.” the house is
also maintenance-free, with a classic
south Florida white-stucco façade,
with aluminum stainless-steel
windows, and concrete roof tiles.
“Five years ago everything used to be
dark Mediterranean. Now it’s lighter,
brighter colors. We used light blues,
white, butter yellow—soothing colors
that make people feel good.”
40 luxury home quarterly SPrING 2012 luxuryhomequarterly.com