The Olson Company
The Olson Company is a Southern California urban infill homebuilder founded in 1988, designing and selling townhomes and single-family homes across 100+ California cities for first-time and move-up buyers seeking energy-efficient, walkable communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSeal Beach, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Olson Company does
Founded in 1988 in Seal Beach, California, The Olson Company (operating under the trade names Olson Homes, Olson Urban Housing, and In-Town Living, Inc.) is a privately held for-profit homebuilder specializing in urban infill residential development across Southern California. The company has built more than 11,000 homes in over 100 California cities and currently operates with 251–500 employees. Olson's portfolio is concentrated on attached and small-format detached for-sale housing in infill locations, where the company leverages entitlement expertise and long-standing municipal relationships developed over more than three decades.
The active community portfolio spans Claremont, Cypress, Downey, Glendora, and Whittier, with homes priced in the $600,000s–$900,000s. Product is delivered through the branded "Walk" community line (Descanso Walk, Figtree Walk, Heritage Walk, Madera Walk, Tesoro Walk, Tierra Walk, Uptown Walk), supplemented by the Live Better Program (energy-efficient construction including Nest and Brilliant Smart Home System equipment), a Style Studio interior-selection process, and the Champion Program. The company has received the Eliant Award for customer satisfaction 11 times, indicating consistent service-quality performance relative to industry benchmarks.
Olson's revenue model is one-time home sale transactions to individual consumers, primarily first-time and move-up buyers, distributed through on-site direct sales complemented by Realtor and broker referral channels. The company is broadening its mix to include affordable and workforce housing product (16 moderate-income units in Monterey Park; 40 affordable townhomes in Yorba Linda) alongside market-rate offerings. Recent operating signals show Olson expanding community count and headcount while the broader Orange County new-home market contracted approximately 16% year-over-year in 2025.
The Olson Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Olson Company
- Legal name
- Olson Urban Housing, LLC (doing business as The Olson Company)
- Website
- https://olsonhomes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Olson Company is a Southern California urban infill homebuilder founded in 1988, designing and selling townhomes and single-family homes across 100+ California cities for first-time and move-up buyers seeking energy-efficient, walkable communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Olson Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Homebuilding
- NAICS
- New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), Residential Building Construction (23611)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Single-Family Home Construction (Detached Homes) (IMAFABAA), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL), Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)
Keywords
Where The Olson Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seal Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Olson Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- New Home Sales: Olson Homes generates revenue through the sale of newly constructed townhomes, single-family homes, and live/work residences across Southern California communities. Revenue is one-time per transaction, with pricing ranging from approximately $600,000s to $900,000s depending on community and floor plan. The company also operates a Style Studio for customization upgrades that generate additional revenue per home.
- Referral and Broker Commissions: The company pays referral rewards to existing homeowners ($1,000-$3,000 per referral) and broker commissions (up to 2% per sale) to licensed real estate agents who bring buyers, creating a channel-driven revenue component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Descanso Walk, Claremont - Townhomes and flats from the $600,000s |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Madera Walk, Cypress - Three-story townhomes from the high $700,000s |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Tesoro Walk, Downey - Townhomes (Sold Out) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Heritage Walk, Glendora - Single-family homes anticipated from the $900,000s |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Uptown Walk, Whittier - Gated townhomes from high $600s to low $800s |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Figtree Walk, Glendora - Townhomes approx. 1,336-1,564 sq. ft. |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Quick Move-In Homes - Various communities |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Olson Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Olson Company builds and sells new construction townhomes, single-family homes, and live/work residences in walkable urban infill communities across Southern California. The company acquires underutilized urban parcels, secures entitlements with city partners, and develops communities branded under the "Walk" naming convention featuring energy-efficient construction, smart home technology, and proximity to jobs, transit, and retail.
Product overview
The Olson Company operates as a residential homebuilder in Southern California with a portfolio of new construction communities under the 'Walk' brand naming convention. Current active communities include Descanso Walk (Claremont), Figtree Walk (Glendora), Heritage Walk (Glendora), Madera Walk (Cypress), Tesoro Walk (Downey), Tierra Walk (Cypress), and Uptown Walk (Whittier). The company offers complementary programs including the Live Better package (sustainable/connected home features), Style Studio (design customization), Champion Program (ongoing homeowner support), and Homebuyer Referral Program. The company has completed over 30 previous communities across the region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Descanso Walk
Quantifiable outcome
- Olson Company was among the few Orange County homebuilders to grow sales while the broader market dropped 16% in 2025 (1,785 homes sold by top 14 builders vs. 2,133 in 2024)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Olson Company
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Olson Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Olson Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 100+ Cities and Neighborhoods in CaliforniacoreOlson Homes has cultivated strong partnerships with over 100 cities and neighborhoods across California since 1988. The company takes a community-first approach, collaborating with city staff, officials, and community stakeholders to deliver urban housing developments that enhance quality of life. Partner cities include Alhambra, Anaheim, Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Compton, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Downey, Glendora, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Ana, Torrance, Whittier, and many others.
- School DistrictsminorOlson partners with school districts near its communities including Centralia School District (La Palma), El Monte Union High School District, Fountain Valley School District, Pacifica School District, Santa Ana Unified School District, and Ventura Unified School District.
- Water DistrictsminorPartnerships with Golden State Water District, Rancho Dominguez Water District, and Suburban Water Company support utility infrastructure for new communities.
- Transit AuthoritiesminorOlson communities are strategically located near transit hubs including Alameda Contra Costa Transit District, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, MetroLink, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, enabling walkable, transit-oriented development.
- UniversitiesminorPartnerships with California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Pepperdine University, and University of California Santa Barbara for community development and workforce initiatives. Steve Olson serves on the Board of Visitors of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy.
- Pepperdine UniversityminorSteve Olson received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Pepperdine University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Pepperdine University.
- Aquarium of the PacificminorSteve Olson serves as past Chairman and current member of the Board of Directors of the Aquarium of the Pacific.
- ONX WineryminorSteve Olson serves as past Chairman and current member of the Board of Directors of ONX Winery.
- Licensed Real Estate Brokers and AgentscoreLicensed brokers and agents can earn up to 2% commission on home sales by registering clients in person during their first community visit. The program includes a new Realtor Social Media & Marketing Program for social promotion.
- Preferred LendersminorPreferred lenders familiar with the new construction process provide financing options to homebuyers and may offer closing cost incentives. Homebuyers can also use their own lenders.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Olson Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KB Home: KB Home is one of the largest for-sale residential builders in California with a deep SoCal footprint and a similar first-time/move-up buyer focus. Olson CEO Scott Laurie was previously KB Home's Inland Valley President, underscoring the close strategic and operational comparability.
- Shea Homes: Shea Homes is a long-standing California-based builder operating attached and detached for-sale product across Southern California. It is comparable in product mix, geographic concentration, and community-based marketing approach.
- Richmond American Homes: Richmond American Homes (M.D.C. Holdings subsidiary) is a for-sale builder with a long-standing Southern California presence and comparable entry-level/move-up buyer focus. It directly competes in many of the same SoCal submarkets.
- TRI Pointe Homes: TRI Pointe is a California-headquartered for-sale homebuilder with comparable size, premium/exurban community focus, and Pacific Coast operating region, making it a natural mid-size public comparable for Olson's urban infill strategy.
Broad incumbents
- PulteGroup: PulteGroup is a top-three US homebuilder with significant California exposure through Centex, Pulte, and Del Webb brands. It is broadly comparable as a residential builder targeting first-time and move-up buyers in the same SoCal metros.
- Brookfield Residential: Brookfield Residential is a major California- and Western Canada-focused homebuilder with infill and master-planned communities. It competes directly for SoCal land deals and buyer demand, particularly in infill-adjacent locations.
- Meritage Homes: Meritage Homes is a publicly traded US homebuilder with a meaningful California footprint and a focus on energy-efficient construction. Its ENERGY STAR and efficiency-forward positioning parallels Olson's LIVE BETTER™ differentiation.
- D.R. Horton: D.R. Horton is the largest US homebuilder by volume with extensive California operations across multiple sub-brands (Express, Emerald, etc.). It is a broader incumbent competing for entry-level buyers that Olson targets.
- Lennar Corporation: Lennar is the largest US homebuilder with a substantial Southern California presence across a wide spectrum of price points and product types. It competes with Olson for both land and buyers but operates at far greater scale and broader geographic diversification.
- Toll Brothers: Toll Brothers is a national luxury and move-up homebuilder with active Southern California operations and an attached-product (t townhome/condo) division. It overlaps with Olson's higher-ASP products but at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Olson Company social profiles
Digital presenceThe Olson Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Olson Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Olson Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Olson Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Olson Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Olson Company
What does The Olson Company do?
The Olson Company builds and sells new construction townhomes, single-family homes, and live/work residences in walkable urban infill communities across Southern California. The company acquires underutilized urban parcels, secures entitlements with city partners, and develops communities branded under the "Walk" naming convention featuring energy-efficient construction, smart home technology, and proximity to jobs, transit, and retail.
Is The Olson Company a public or private company?
The Olson Company is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Olson Company founded?
The Olson Company was founded in 1988. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The Olson Company based?
The Olson Company is headquartered in Seal Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Olson Company make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. New Home Sales are the primary driver. The others are referral and Broker Commissions.
Who are The Olson Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KB Home, Shea Homes, Richmond American Homes and TRI Pointe Homes. Broad incumbents are PulteGroup, Brookfield Residential, Meritage Homes, D.R. Horton, Lennar Corporation and Toll Brothers.
Does The Olson Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Olson Company.
What industry is The Olson Company in?
The Olson Company's product category is Residential Homebuilding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAB, Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes), with a secondary code of IMAFABAA, Single-Family Home Construction (Detached Homes). Its NAICS code is 236117 and its SIC code is 1520.