About Ball Homes

Our Story
Ball Homes has been making dreams come true since 1959.  Incorporated by Don and Mira Ball more than sixty years ago, our family-owned business is now operated by the second and third generations of Ball management.  Incorporated in Lexington in 1959, our company's first homes were starter homes designed to make home ownership feasible for first responders who were required to live within the city limits.  From there it blossomed--in the 1990’s we expanded our strong Lexington base into the surrounding Central Kentucky communities.  In 1997 we began building in the Louisville area, starting with nine lots in one neighborhood and growing rapidly to be one of Louisville’s best-selling builders.  Since 2011, Ball Homes has established a presence in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Ranked annually among the nations Top 100 builders since 1999
, our company has built thousands of homes in Kentucky and Tennessee neighborhoods.

Learn more about our current communities in Central Kentucky, Louisville, and Knoxville.

Simply put, we love what we do.  We are honored to be play a part in our customers' lives by providing beautiful, well-located, high-quality homes at attainable prices.  We believe that our homes are for everyone, and we build in a variety of neighborhoods, and for a diverse group of people.  Many of our customers and their families, some of whom are living in their second and third Ball Homes, have grown with us as their needs and lifestyles changed, taking advantage of the larger floor plans and increasing level of amenities offered.  We've been honored to be voted Favorite Home Builder in the Lexington Herald-Leader's Readers' Choice Awards multiple times since the award's inception in 2008.

Our family of companies includes Walden Mortgage Group, a full service lender able to offer all types of home loans.  This allows us to offer home buyers both the convenience of a one-stop shopping concept and an unparalleled level of partnership, cooperation and communication. 

Everywhere we go, we look for like-minded companies that focus on exceptional knowledge and service, and build a team of dedicated Ball Homes Specialists.  In Central Kentucky, we are represented by Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass. Our Louisville division is marketed by Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services Parks and Weisberg, and our Knoxville locations by Realty Executives Associates.  

Some of our signature Central Kentucky neighborhoods over the past couple of decades include Chilesburg, Glasford, and now The Peninsula, a rare lakefront opportunity on Lexington's east side.

In Louisville, our homes can be spotted in East and South side locations, often in conservation designs that preserve significant areas of existing tree canopy.  Notable developments include The Reserve at Glenmary, Wolf Trace, and Wyndover Hills.   Bellingham Park and Parkside at Mount Washington are among our newest signature developments in Louisville.

Our Knoxville locations include Hardin Valley and West Knoxville areas, with communities such as The Reserve at Hickory Creek, The Grange,  Bluegrass Ridge and Westland Oaks, and Clover Meadow in Maryville.

We design our own floor plans, and always have a large selection to choose from, as well as something new in the works.  In 2019, we launched the Trend Collection, a series of floor plans designed to provide the essential spaced and flexibility that home buyers value most, with finishes and features selected from the most desirable and cost-effective products that modern building has to offer. 

We're always on board to meet new home buyers during organized home tour events, like the Building Industry Associates (BIA)  of Lexington's annual Grand Tour of Homes, Knoxville's Parade of Homes, and Louisville BIA's Tour of New Homes.  We've been honored to receive dozens of best of show awards for our floor plans.   We've also been awarded Sales and Marketing Council Awards by the Lexington BIA for our design center, floor plans, television and radio ads, model home decorating, and various model homes.

We believe in supporting, joining, and serving at the local, regional, and national level.  Ball Homes is a Registered Builder member of the BIA or equivalent organization in the areas where we build, as well as a member of the Better Business Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.   It's part who we are to
promote home ownership and affordable housing, both in Kentucky and Tennessee and at the national level.  In 1999, our co-founder Don Ball was honored by BUILDER Magazine and Hearthstone with a national award for his long-term community service.  In 2000, both Don and Mira Ball were honored with the Optimist Cup Award, and in 2004 with the A.B. "Happy" Chandler Foundation's Kentuckian Award. In 2011, Don and Mira Ball were honored to be the recipients of the W.T. Young Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lexington Chamber of Commerce.  This award recognizes persons who have achieved unparalleled success in business and who have also made significant other contributions to the public well-being in Lexington and the state of Kentucky.  Ball Homes and the Ball family are long-time supporters of Habitat for Humanity, the Hope Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, the United Way, KET, the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the University of Kentucky, Junior Achievement, the Junior League Horse Show, and a host of other philanthropic organizations and events. One of our annual favorites since 2009, is the Ball Homes Night of Hope, a benefit for Lexington's Hope Center.  This event has featured guest speakers such as public figures and authors Christopher Gardner, Maureen Walls, Steven Lopez, and Chef Jeff Henderson. 

In 2012, our co-founders were inducted into the Home Builders Association of Lexington's (now the BIA) Hall of Fame, recognizing nearly 60 years of good business practices and philanthropy.  Among the contributions commemorated at the ceremony were Don Ball's service in the Kentucky state legislature, his work with the Hope Center and other Recovery Kentucky projects, and Mira Ball's service as Chair of the UK Board of Trustees.  The couple was also honored for their impact on the Central Kentucky community as a provider of quality, affordable homes that have helped generations of families to build their personal futures.  In 2016, Don and Mira Ball were honored by the University of Kentucky with honorary degrees.
  Both were awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters, which recognizes extraordinary contributions to philanthropy, human development, education, or societal well-being.  In 2018, Don Ball passed away, his family continues his legacy.

We make it our mission to build both strong homes and strong communities.  Sometimes, the opportunity to give back comes in the way of doing what we do best: making new home dreams come true.  In 2000, we built and auctioned a fully furnished new home in the Canterfield development in Lexington, with all proceeds going to benefit the Hope Center Recovery Program for Women.  Similarly, in 2002, we participated in the redevelopment of the aging Charlotte Court public housing development in downtown Lexington, which replaced deteriorating barracks-style apartments with 95 new affordable single family homes.  This highly successful project, which included a well-attended Home Tour, was funded in part by a community revitalization grant and completed in cooperation with the Lexington Housing Authority and other local builders.  We also participated in the redevelopment of Lexington's former Bluegrass Aspendale housing project, now a community of single family homes known as Equestrian View.  Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, we built and auctioned two new homes, one in Louisville and one in Lexington, for the benefit of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.  This project, which was overwhelmingly supported by contributions of time and materials from suppliers, tradespeople, and employees, achieved a total contribution of $500,000 to the relief fund. 

We continue to be grateful for the opportunities to participate in the life stories of so many people, to work together with those who share a desire to create better places to live, and to give back to the communities of which we are a part.  Above all, we are grateful for the chance to help make so many dreams come true.

Our Mission 
Ball Homes provides quality communities for the people of Kentucky and Tennessee. 

Our Core Values  
We value our customers by being sensitive to their needs and providing a quality product that 
represents a good value.
We value long-term, successful relationships with suppliers, realtors, and contractors.
We value investing in the community by helping to meet the human needs of its citizens.
We value our employees by providing secure employment, mutual respect, a caring environment, 
and fair and equitable compensation.
We value our reputation as long-standing, family-owned, financially responsible company. 

Our Vision 
Ball Homes will pursue excellence in diverse markets to provide neighborhoods to satisfied customers.

Our Memberships  
Registered Builder Member of the Lexington, Madison County, Scott County, Greater Louisville and Greater Knoxville Area Building Industry Associations or Home Builders Associations.
Lexington Apartment Association
Lexington, Georgetown-Scott County, Richmond, and Woodford County Chambers of Commerce 
Better Business Bureaus of Central and Eastern Kentucky and Louisville, Western Kentucky, and Southern Indiana, and Greater Knoxville

Community Involvements  
Habitat for Humanity
Realtor-Community Housing Foundation
Volunteers of America
Virginia Place/Scholar House
Shepard's Place and Serenity Place
HOPE Center
HOPE Center for Women
Lexington-Frankfort Scenic Corridor
REACH
Greenspace Commission
Lexington Humane Society
Relay for Life
American Cancer Society
Alzheimer's Association
Lexington Opera House
Kentucky Education Television (KET)
YMCA/YWCA
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass
Kentucky History Center
University of Kentucky
United Way of the Bluegrass
Ronald McDonald House Charities 
UK's Dance Blue
UK HealthCare's Overture to Healing
Hoops for Haiti
American Lung Association
The Salvation Army
Junior Achievement
Ball Homes Night of Hope
GLI Member
March of Dimes
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, Southern Lights Sponsor
Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County
Commerce Lexington and Lexington Full Stride
American Heart Association and the Central Kentucky Heart Ball
CASA of Lexington (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children); Bourbon and the Bayou sponsor
Georgetown Fire Department Cancer Foundation
Surgery on Sunday; The Perfect 10 Miler and 10K
Markey Cancer Foundation
Bluegrass Care Navigators

Honors and Awards 
Consistently included in BUILDER Magazine's top 100 builders since 1998, placing 47th in the rankings for 2009.
Over 100 Best of Show Awards from the Lexington BIA and Scott County Tours of Homes
Honored for contributions to Lexington's Urban League, 1998
Voted Favorite Home Builder in the Lexington Herald-Leader's Readers' Choice Awards, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015.
GE Appliances Distinguished Builder Award
Co-Founder Don Ball honored in 1999 as the first recipient of the Hearthstone-Builder Lifetime Public Service Award 
Founders honored as co-recipients of the Optimist Cup, 2000
Founders honored as co-recipients of the A.B. "Happy" Chandler Foundation's Kentuckian Award for 2004
Honored as a Friend of the Lexington-Fayette Housing Authority
Homebuyer's Warranty Commitment to Quality Award 
EPA's Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award, 2009
Best Scoring Home Award, Energy Star for New Homes program, 2009
W.T. Young Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Don and Mira Ball by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2011
1n 2012, co-founders Don and Mira Ball were inducted into the HBAL (now BIA) Hall of Fame, recognizing nearly 60 years of good business practices and philanthropy.

Awarded 2014 Environmental Commission Award for preservation of historic burr oak tree at Tracery Oaks
In 2016, Don and Mira Ball were awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Kentucky.
Lisa Ball named Builder Member of the Year by Building Industry Associates of Central Kentucky,  2017
Best New Construction Home by an Energy Smart Builder, Building Industry Associates of Central Kentucky, 2017
Best Showroom for Central Kentucky Design Center, Building Industry Associates of Central Kentucky, 2017