NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Building momentum and preparing for an increased rate of growth, John Laing Homes today announced the addition of Patrick Higgins as Vice President of Sales.

Higgins will focus on managing the execution of John Laing Homes' award-winning sales processes among the company's existing sales force and also oversee sales training programs for new hires. The second largest privately held homebuilder in the United States expects to increase home deliveries in its current markets in California and Colorado as well as expand into new markets with the financial backing of its new partner Emaar Properties, a Dubai-based global real estate development company.

"We've embarked on a new chapter in our company's history, and we want the best and brightest on our team as we move forward," said William (Bill) Probert, executive vice president of sales and marketing for John Laing Homes.  "Patrick fits that description and we are excited he has chosen to join our team. His experience and skills in managing growth while emphasizing execution will ensure we continue to deliver the best homebuying experience possible."

Higgins, who was hired by Larry Webb as a salesperson at another homebuilding company nearly 20 years ago, comes to John Laing from Centex Homes.

"The opportunity to participate in John Laing's growth and vision for homebuilding mirrored my own goals, and I'm looking forward to contributing immediately," said Higgins. "With our emphasis on our homebuyers' overall experience, John Laing occupies a unique position in today's new home market and I intend to help solidify and expand that position in the months ahead."

Higgins brings more than 20 years of experience in the homebuilding industry in California and Colorado to John Laing Homes. In an exemplary 15-year tenure with Centex Homes, Higgins worked his way up to executive leadership positions from the frontlines of the sales force. Along the way, he garnered numerous internal awards for excellence and became a trusted strategic advisor to division presidents. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Sales for the company's West Coast region as well as Acquisition and Development Manager for coastal Southern California.

Earlier in his career, Higgins spent three years with KB Homes (formerly Kaufman & Broad) in California and he began his career with Re/Max Metro Properties in Colorado.

Higgins attended the University of Northern Colorado where he majored in Finance. An avid runner, Higgins currently lives in Laguna Hills, Calif. with his wife and four children and enjoys playing active role in his children's sports teams, including coaching soccer, baseball, and basketball.

About John Laing Homes
Combining global resources with a tradition of quality dating back more than 150 years, John Laing Homes is one of the largest privately held homebuilders in the United States. Backed by one of the world's largest global real estate development companies, Dubai-based Emaar Properties, the company consistently ranks among industry leaders in overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates. The homebuilder has received numerous industry awards, including "America's Best Builder" for 2006 from Builder magazine, "2005 Most Admired Builder of the Year" from Big Builder magazine, "2004 Builder of the Year" from Professional Builder magazine, and "Builder of the Decade" in 2000 from independent research firm Eliant. The company finished 2005 with revenues of more than $1.6 billion on 2,891 residential closings. Based in Newport Beach, California, John Laing Homes concentrates its homebuilding efforts in California and Colorado.