A Legacy of Making Life Better: The History of Challenger Homes

For 25 years, Challenger Homes has been building more than just homes. We’ve been building communities, relationships, and futures. Founded in 2000 with a mission to Make Life Better, our journey from a garage in Colorado Springs to one of the region’s most respected private homebuilders is one of vision, growth, and enduring values. As we reflect on the history of Challenger Homes, we’re proud of how far we’ve come — and more excited about where we’re going.

Humble Beginnings: Built from the Ground Up

The story of Challenger Homes began with Brian and Heather Bahr, who started the company in their family garage. Their vision was clear: create quality homes that real families could afford, without compromising integrity or craftsmanship. From the beginning, Challenger Homes focused on serving the people who serve others: active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and hardworking families. That foundation of service and accessibility still guides every decision we make today.

Growth with Purpose

Over the years, Challenger Homes has grown into a leading homebuilder in Colorado Springs with over 5,800 homes built across Colorado. But our growth has never been about numbers, it’s been about impact. For example, in 2013, we launched the Making Life Better Foundation to support food, shelter, clothing, and education for those in need. In addition, we’ve built homes for families in Mexico, supported local food banks, and created programs to help our own employees become homeowners through our Employee Wealth Plan. In other words, our work isn’t just about building: it’s about up-lifting.

Innovation in Homebuilding

Challenger Homes is part of The Challenger Group of Companies, which has a nationwide presence in the home building marketplace. As the housing market has evolved, The Challenger Group has evolved with it. In 2018, National Builder Group was launched, which is comprised of a network of owner-operator homebuilders who share the same values and vision. This move allowed The Challenger Group to expand across the country while staying deeply rooted in local communities. Additional expansion has also happened through Goodwin Knight, a multifamily division focused on providing high-quality rental housing for the “missing middle” (those who make too much to qualify for subsidies but still struggle with affordability).

Throughout the history of Challenger Homes, our core philosophy has remained unchanged: treat people with respect, build with excellence, and leave communities better than we found them.

Looking Ahead

Today, Challenger Homes continues to lead with purpose. Our team has grown, our reach has expanded, and our communities have multiplied, but our heart remains the same. As we look to the future, we remain committed to creating opportunities for homeownership, building neighborhoods where people can thrive, and finding new ways to Make Life Better. We invite you to explore our communities and see firsthand how 25 years of experience, service, and heart shape every home we build. The history of Challenger Homes is just getting started. Come be part of what’s next.