Centex tops J.D. Power home survey

Centex Homes ranked highest in customer satisfaction with new home builders in the Las Vegas market for a second consecutive year, according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2008 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study.

In addition, Centex Homes ranks highest in the New-Home Design Study and New-Home Quality Study.

"Home builders have adapted well to changes in the market that have necessitated a shift from an order-taking mode to an intensified focus on sales, service and negotiation with prospective homebuyers," said Paula Sonkin, vice president of the real estate and construction industries practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Strong home-building companies have recognized the importance of offering superior product quality, delivering homes on time and providing skilled sales staff in order to excel in hypercompetitive markets."

The New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study, now in its 12th year, includes satisfaction ratings of builders in 33 of the largest U.S. home-building markets.

The average customer satisfaction index score in Las Vegas is 799 -- 20 points above the 33-market average of 779. In addition, satisfaction has improved substantially in the Las Vegas market in 2008 -- up 44 points since 2007.

J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually.

For more information on home building and home improvement, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more,, visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.