Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers, Inc. is a Fortune 500 luxury homebuilder headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, in the Philadelphia suburbs. Founded in 1967 by brothers Robert Toll and Bruce Toll, the company has grown from building homes in suburban Philadelphia to becoming America's leading builder of luxury homes, operating in 24 states. Toll Brothers is known for building upscale, customizable homes in affluent communities, from single-family estates to urban high-rises. The company remains headquartered in the Philadelphia region, representing local entrepreneurship that achieved national scale.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Origins (1967)
[edit | edit source]Toll Brothers was founded in 1967:
Beginning:
- Robert Toll and Bruce Toll*** founded company
- Philadelphia suburbs origin
- Started with affordable homes
- Brothers partnership
Early Growth
[edit | edit source]1970s-1980s:
- Bucks County focus initially
- Moved upmarket over time
- Developed luxury positioning
- Regional expansion
National Expansion
[edit | edit source]Growth strategy:
- Expanded beyond Philadelphia
- Entered new states
- Acquisitions
- National footprint
Public Company
[edit | edit source]IPO:
- Went public (1986)
- NYSE listing
- Capital for expansion
- Shareholder base
Luxury Focus
[edit | edit source]Premium positioning:
- Became luxury homebuilder focus
- Move-up and affluent buyers
- Custom features
- Community amenities
Business Model
[edit | edit source]Luxury Positioning
[edit | edit source]Target market:
- Move-up buyers
- Affluent purchasers
- Empty nesters
- Second home buyers
Customization
[edit | edit source]Differentiator:
- Extensive customization options
- Design studios
- Upgrade selections
- Personalized homes
Community Development
[edit | edit source]Master-planned communities:
- Golf communities
- Resort-style amenities
- Age-restricted communities
- Urban developments
Vertical Integration
[edit | edit source]Control:
- Land development
- Architecture
- Construction
- Mortgage services
Products
[edit | edit source]Single-Family Homes
[edit | edit source]Core product:
- Luxury single-family
- Estate homes
- Custom features
- Premium locations
Townhomes and Condos
[edit | edit source]Attached housing:
- Luxury townhomes
- Urban condominiums
- Resort properties
- High-rise units
Active Adult Communities
[edit | edit source]55+ communities:
- Age-restricted developments
- Amenity-rich
- Low-maintenance living
- Growing segment
City Living
[edit | edit source]Urban:
- High-rise condos
- Urban infill
- City center locations
- Walkable communities
Geographic Reach
[edit | edit source]National Presence
[edit | edit source]24 states:
- East Coast concentration
- California
- Texas
- Southwest
- Other markets
Philadelphia Area
[edit | edit source]Home market:
- Continued building in region
- Suburban Philadelphia communities
- New Jersey
- Delaware
Philadelphia Connection
[edit | edit source]Fort Washington Headquarters
[edit | edit source]Corporate base:
- Montgomery County location
- Corporate functions
- Suburban Philadelphia
- Regional hub
Toll Family
[edit | edit source]Founders:
- Robert and Bruce Toll
- Philadelphia-area natives
- Local success story
- Philanthropic involvement
Regional Operations
[edit | edit source]Local building:
- Active in Philadelphia suburbs
- New communities
- Renovation projects
- Employment
Financial Performance
[edit | edit source]Revenue
[edit | edit source]Scale:
- $10+ billion annually
- Fortune 500 company
- Cyclical industry
- Market leader in luxury
Margins
[edit | edit source]Profitability:
- Higher margins than average builders
- Luxury pricing power
- Brand premium
- Operational efficiency
Industry Position
[edit | edit source]Market Leadership
[edit | edit source]Luxury leader:
- #1 luxury homebuilder
- Premium brand recognition
- National scale
- Quality reputation
Competition
[edit | edit source]Major rivals:
- Lennar
- D.R. Horton
- PulteGroup
- Other national builders
Challenges
[edit | edit source]Housing Cycles
[edit | edit source]Cyclicality:
- 2008 financial crisis impact
- Interest rate sensitivity
- Economic cycles
- Market volatility
Labor and Materials
[edit | edit source]Cost pressures:
- Skilled labor shortages
- Material costs
- Supply chain issues
- Regulatory costs
Land Acquisition
[edit | edit source]Strategic challenge:
- Finding suitable land
- Entitlement process
- NIMBYism
- Competition for sites
Leadership
[edit | edit source]Toll Family
[edit | edit source]Founders:
- Robert Toll - longtime CEO (now Chairman Emeritus)
- Bruce Toll - co-founder
- Family involvement
- Entrepreneurial culture
Corporate Governance
[edit | edit source]Structure:
- Public company
- Professional management
- Board oversight
- Transition to non-family leadership
Community and Culture
[edit | edit source]Company Culture
[edit | edit source]Values:
- Quality focus
- Customer service
- Employee development
- Integrity
Philanthropy
[edit | edit source]Giving:
- Toll Brothers Foundation
- Community support
- Housing initiatives
- Education
Future
[edit | edit source]Strategy
[edit | edit source]Direction:
- Geographic expansion
- Product diversification
- Rental development
- Technology integration
Market Trends
[edit | edit source]Opportunities:
- Baby boomer downsizing
- Millennial home buying
- Work-from-home trends
- Suburban demand
See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Toll Brothers". Toll Brothers. Retrieved December 31, 2025