Experience the Meridian Homebuilding Advantage
Meridian brings together the talent and expertise of individuals accomplished in their respective fields, creating a team whose credentials, style, and commitment to excellence have kept them as Central Florida’s premier developers for a combined 48 years.
Meridian collaboratively provides real estate development, design, building, and consulting services, along with legal consulting, to create communities of the future.
Their collective expertise gives you the confidence to know that from concept to construction, design to development, you have found your way home.
Nearly 20 years of homebuilding experience, we understand details matter. Our collective expertise gives you the confidence to know that from concept to construction, design to development, you have found your way home.
We use one of the most sought-after architectural firms in Florida to design distinctive homes using the highest quality finishes. Your new home will garner a WOW response from your guests.
Our focus is on you. We want your home to be your happy place. We create beautiful and functional homes families will love for generations to come.
We have received several industry awards for our superior design and quality craftsmanship.
Learn more about our awards. While it’s an honor to be acknowledged by our peers, we live for customer satisfaction and stories of how much our home buyers love their new homes.
Meridian is known for beautiful, high-quality finishes that blend craftsmanship with natural elements to transform houses into true homes. We thoughtfully design indoor and outdoor spaces that inspire comfort, connection, and a sense of sanctuary.
As we look ahead, our vision extends beyond individual homes. We are shaping vibrant communities across Florida and the Southeast, from custom residences to thoughtfully planned Build-to-Rent neighborhoods. Every project reflects our commitment to enduring design, lasting value, and spaces where families and communities can thrive for generations.
From the first look at an Meridian home, you can feel the distinctive architecture quality of craftsmanship.
Meridian Leadership Team
I have known and represented Meridian for many years and have been involved from the beginning as Meridian built this real estate development company and this team of professionals. After practicing law for 40 years and representing many developers, I can say without reservation that I have been impressed with Meridian’s ability to identify opportunities in the real estate market, creatively structure transactions, and execute on the vision in order to deliver great homes for his clients and customers.
This team has broad experience in all facets of the real estate business, including land acquisition, finance structure, marketing, development, and construction.
My team and law firm are proud to be a part of his team and look forward to many years of his success.
I have been very impressed with the development team that Meridian has put together. Meridian’s team have been able to locate and contract exceptional development opportunities that are often not available on the open market.
Once this team has a property under contract, they move quickly to secure the entitlements needed to develop the property, arrange financing, and get sitework and construction started promptly. Ryan Courech builds an outstanding product at a reasonable price, even in this inflationary environment. Dwayne Gray and his legal team also do an excellent job navigating municipal approvals and closing the transactions.
I feel very fortunate and blessed to have been part of two of their projects. Both were very successful and profitable, and both have happy end users enjoying their homes today.
If you are thinking of renovating or building new, Meridian should be on your list. I have worked with them over a few years, and they are quality contractors who stand behind their work, and I am sure other past clients would agree. When you hire them, you will work directly with the principals of the company, they are hands on and communicate well.
It is a big decision to renovate or build, and Meridian understands the process and budgeting so there are no surprises. I have worked with them professionally and personally, they are great.
We love our new house built by Meridian Homes. Meridian takes pride in their work, and they stand by their product. Unlike some mass production builders that we looked at, Meridian spent quality time working with us to build our home. Even though they had already finished the design of our house by the time we bought in, the process felt very personal. We were impressed by all the design choices they made so we didn't really have to change anything. I am extremely impressed with the quality of construction, materials, appliances, and detail work.
I would say that the best thing I can say about Meridian, other than the quality of the work they do, is that they stand by their product. Like in any new construction, we have had a few small issues since we moved in (Jan 2014). They have been 100% accessible and responsive which, as I have heard from friends, is rare among most builders. I have Ryan's direct cell phone number, and he picks up when I call. He and the team bend over backwards for us to make us happy which is the biggest reason that I would recommend them to a friend.
For example, we had an issue with our gutter on the back porch that caused some water damage to the paint on the back door. They wasted no time in getting back over to replace the gutter and repaint the door. We have been in the house for over a year, and they are still willing to fix any issues we have at no cost to us and in a timely matter. We feel confident that they will continue to stand by their product because they take pride in the work they do.
We love our home, and couldn't have been happier with Meridian!
I recently purchased a new townhouse built by Meridian Homes. It has been a pleasure from the start of this process to closing. From Day 1 - Howard Axner and Ryan Courech provided outstanding customer service. They were and still are always available to answer questions and provide support. They went over and above making sure I had all the information I needed after the sale including all electrical, HVAC, Plumbing (and more) contacts as well as providing detailed information about the workings of the house. The house is well constructed with all the latest in modern development.
Not only did they build my house but they also established great relationships with my neighbors during the development including providing amenities for their homes as well.
I picked a great developer--Meridian Homes!
Our new home truly is our dream home! We were so blown away at the level of detail that was considered for every single room in this house. From the unique tile work in each bathroom, paneling done on the first floor, the dream kitchen, etc. It is more than we could have ever dreamt of (and certainly would not have picked out ourselves!). The quality of materials used is exceptional. And the quality of work met all of our expectations. If we ever leave this house (not likely!), we would move to another Meridian home!
Our team has been working with Real Estate Development Team alongside their other partner Meridian homes for several years now. The team is very effective at selecting development sites others would turn away due to their ability to quickly and knowledgeably navigate the intricate process of approvals and site preparations. and his crew have been making some very impressive and impactful developments in our area since working with them. We would recommend them to anybody searching for a full encompassing development and building team.
We have had nothing but great experiences working with Meridian Homes. They are always willing to go the extra mile and get things done right the first time. I would highly recommend using them on your next project!
As an interior designer, I understand the enormous value of working with a builder who listens. I have worked with Meridian Homes on two recent projects. In both cases, Ryan and Howard at Meridian Homes, have made it clear that they value design details. They listen to their clients and collaborate with experts to create designer homes.
Your home is a big investment. Meridian Homes understands the market and the importance of resale value. Their combined experience flipping homes and investing in real estate gives them an edge that not all builders have.
When choosing a builder to renovate your existing space or build your dream home from the ground up, you will have confidence in your decisions knowing that Meridian Homes will guide you in the right direction throughout the entire building process.
There's no limit to what can be accomplished when collaboration between trades is encouraged and supported. Bringing designs to fruition is extremely exciting and I highly recommend allowing Meridian Homes to lead the way on your future home!
This company had great advice and recommendations for different contractors & specialists to help me with the process. If you are looking for a team who will be a true ally and will not spare time or effort in finding what you need, this company is it!
Meridian’s story began well before the company formally existed—and long before the merger that brought Real Estate Development and Meridian together. From the outset, the firm has been shaped by long-standing relationships, complementary skill sets, and a shared commitment to disciplined execution, integrity, and capital stewardship.
Ryan Courech and Howard Axner first crossed paths through youth baseball, where Ryan and Howard’s son played on the same Little League team. That early connection evolved into a personal and professional relationship spanning nearly four decades. As a teenager, Ryan worked at Axner Co., Inc. during a summer break before leaving for college, gaining early exposure to entrepreneurship, accountability, and how businesses are built, operated, and sustained.
As their careers progressed, each followed a different—but highly complementary—path. Howard founded and scaled multiple successful businesses, including Axner Co., Inc., which he sold in 2006 and which continues to operate today. He later transitioned into commercial real estate and served as a director of the local CCIM chapter. Ryan pursued formal business training, earning an undergraduate degree in finance followed by an MBA, before beginning his professional career.
In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the residential real estate market experienced a historic dislocation. Recognizing the opportunity, Ryan and Howard aligned around a clear, disciplined framework that would guide every decision:
Ryan and Howard formed Meridian Capital Holdings, d/b/a Meridian Homes. Early investors were brought in, and the firm operated with conservative underwriting during one of the most volatile housing markets in modern history. Meridian acquired and renovated approximately 50 homes, many sourced directly from courthouse foreclosure sales. While qualified to pursue large institutional portfolios, the firm consistently passed on bulk acquisitions that failed to meet return and risk criteria.
As competition increased and margins compressed, Meridian made a pivotal strategic shift: transitioning from renovations to ground-up construction.
At a time when many builders remained sidelined, Meridian acquired a residential infill lot and constructed its first new home. Demand quickly validated the strategy. With limited new housing inventory available, the home was pre-sold early in construction at a strong return. The firm expanded rapidly, brought construction in-house, scaled its development pipeline, and fully exited the fix-and-flip business. In 2015, Ryan obtained his Florida General Contractor’s license, further integrating development and construction under one roof.
Meridian became known for taking on complex projects others avoided. In one notable example, the firm worked collaboratively with a Central Florida municipality to amend its municipal code to enable a multifamily development that aligned city objectives with economic feasibility. This effort went beyond securing entitlements—the code itself was rewritten. At the City’s request, Meridian’s legal team drafted the revised ordinance, which was approved through all required committees and City Council.
2019 — Expanding Our Development Platform
In 2019, Meridian expanded its focus beyond custom homebuilding and into larger-scale residential development and investor-backed projects. The company began applying its construction expertise to townhome and multifamily communities, creating a more integrated approach to development, construction, and project execution.
This period marked an important evolution for Meridian, establishing the foundation for the company’s continued growth in residential development, build-to-rent, and investment-focused real estate projects throughout Central Florida.
2022 — Scaling Into Build-to-Rent
In 2022, Meridian significantly expanded its residential development and construction platform, moving into larger-scale build-to-rent and townhome communities throughout the Southeast. The company combined development strategy with builder-led execution to manage projects from planning and entitlement through vertical construction and delivery.
During this period, Meridian constructed hundreds of homes for institutional and private investment clients while continuing to strengthen its reputation for quality, disciplined execution, and modern residential construction.
Today — Integrated Development, Construction & Investment
Today, Meridian operates as an integrated real estate development and construction platform focused on creating long-term value through residential communities. The company combines development, construction, and investment expertise to pursue build-to-rent, townhome, and select residential opportunities throughout Florida and the Southeast.
With experience delivering hundreds of homes for institutional and private partners, Meridian brings a builder-operator mindset to every project—emphasizing disciplined execution, durable construction, operational efficiency, and strong alignment with investors and capital partners.
Zero Latitude has been designing luxury custom homes in Florida and the world for over ten years. Zero Latitude is a full-service custom home design firm. They opened offices two years ago in beautiful Historic Sanford, FL, just outside Orlando, FL, and now have a home showroom.
Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe was established in 1984 in Orlando, Florida by Bernard J. Zimmerman, Wendell J. Kiser, and Roland A. “Jerry” Sutcliffe.
Since then, they have grown to over 40 attorneys, practicing in a wide variety of areas, partnering with clients from all over the world representing their businesses, financial interests, and real estate needs here in Florida.
CyCorp Engineers, Inc. is a civil engineering firm specializing in a wide range of services. including stormwater design, development permitting, to geotechnical planning, water and sewer, and site planning.