Centex to Engage Home Shoppers with Exclusive Design Tips, Appliance Upgrades

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The hammer meets the paintbrush as home builder Centex launches the "Design Your Space Event," running on cable network HGTV October 1 – November 30 as part of an ad buy, to help home shoppers explore how to get the most for their money in a new home. The event consists of online, television and in-person components.  Plus, as an added bonus, shoppers can download and print a Whirlpool stainless steel appliance upgrade certificate to use should they choose to make Centex their new home.

Centex specializes in building homes that put first-time buyers in a better place. HGTV Dream Home Designer Linda Woodrum will provide the inspiration, ideas and instruction to truly customize that place. As renters realize they can stop dreaming about a home and start building one – often for about the same monthly payment – many are closer than ever to making the leap from temporary to permanent.  Centex demystifies the home-buying experience with lots of helpful information including a basic home-buying glossary and key questions to ask; mobile shopping applications; renting vs. owning and new vs. used comparison tools; as well as an online mortgage calculator.

Consumers will be directed to a micro-site (HGTV.com/NewHome) through an HGTV custom television vignette or commercials.  At this site, consumers will have access to exclusive style guides featuring tips and tricks for budget-conscious, first-time buyers created by Linda Woodrum.  After the online visit, shoppers then are encouraged to visit a Centex community to take a tour where they can receive a special code to "unlock" additional tips and color palettes at HGTV.com/NewHome.

"The Centex Design Your Space Event is targeted toward first-time home buyers who are looking for value in their purchase of a new home and may not realize just how advantageous new construction can be over re-sale homes – from research-based floor plans that make the space live larger than the square footage suggests to energy efficient materials and design," said Deborah Meyer, chief marketing officer for PulteGroup, Centex' parent company. "The event works in layers to draw interest, attract and engage consumers in a creative, entertaining and intellectual way – Centex offers the canvas, designer Linda Woodrum provides the palette and Whirlpool makes the hard-working hardware beautiful."

During The Design Your Space Event, HGTV will air custom vignette spots referring consumers to the site and offering first-time home buyer tips. These vignettes will air predominantly around My First Place, Property Virgins and House Hunters programming.  Online media will run on sites such as HGTV.com and FrontDoor.com, October 1-31. Additionally, online media will use geo-targeting to help interested in-market home buyers connect easily with Centex communities in their targeted search area.

About PulteGroup, Inc.

PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is America's largest home building company by revenue with operations in about 60 markets. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex for first-time buyers, Pulte Homes for expanding families and Del Webb for active adults 55+, the company is one of the industry's most versatile players able to meet the needs of multiple buyer segments in response to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide home buyers with innovative solutions and new homes designed for the way people actually live today. As the most awarded home builder in customer satisfaction, PulteGroup brands have consistently ranked among top home builders in third-party customer satisfaction studies.

For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, visit media.pultegroup.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com.

SOURCE PulteGroup, Inc.