Open a newspaper or turn on the television, and it's not hard to notice that the housing market isn't doing so hot. But despite the slump, one home builder has something to smile about.

Atlanta-based John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods was ranked highest in customer satisfaction among new home builders in Atlanta and Charlotte in the 2008 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study recently released by J.D. Power and Associates. This marks the second consecutive year that Wieland has ranked highest in the Atlanta and Charlotte market customer satisfaction studies.

'We're excited to see these remarkable results for the second year in a row,' says Eric Price, Wieland president and CEO. 'It's an important achievement for our company,' 'We've always maintained and will continue to maintain a strong focus on quality and our customer experience at every level of our organization. We're grateful for the confidence our customers place in us. It will always be our goal to deliver the highest level of quality everyday.'

Now in its 12th year, the J.D. Power study measures nine factors that drive overall customer satisfaction (listed in order of importance):

• Builder warranty and customer service
• Construction manager
• Builder's sales staff
• Home readiness
• Price and value
• Workmanship and materials
• Recreational facilities
• Builder's design center and location

The study's rankings are compiled from responses by new home buyers who have lived in their homes an average of four to 18 months.

John Wieland homes
Founded by John Wieland in 1970, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods is currently building in 60 neighborhoods with operations in Atlanta; Charlotte and Raleigh, NC; Charleston, SC; and Nashville, TN. In its 35-year history, the company has won more than 600 awards for excellence, including the industry's top award, America's Best Builder in 2005. Also named National Builder of the Year and a winner of the National Housing Quality Award, Wieland is the Southeast's leading builder of move-up homes. Widely recognized for excellence in home design, quality and neighborhood planning, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods offers a selection of home and townhomes from the $200s to over $ 1 million.

So from all of us here at HomeFinder.com, congrats to John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods for a job well done!

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@HomeFinder.com.