About Simplicity by Hayden Homes
About Us
Prior to 2009, we were often asked to build Hayden Homes on land outside our communities. This was the beginning of Simplicity. A company that holds the same value of building affordable quality housing, but for customers who own land or are looking to purchase land. Today, we offer a wide variety of efficiently designed residential, workforce and investor housing plans, for our price-conscious, value-driven homebuyers throughout the Pacific Northwest. With years of building experience and an extremely dedicated team, we have the expertise you want in an on your land homebuilder. With 30+ years of building experience.
We recognize excellence in homebuilding begins with a talented team. That's why we take great pride in hiring knowledgeable, dedicated employees that live our mission of building value-driven, high-quality homes and providing an unparalleled customer experience every day.
Our Brand Family Story
At Hayden Homes we're on a mission to be the best homebuilder on earth. We exist to Give As You Go™ so together, we build a strong community and lead fulfilled lives. And every single day, our Hayden Homes family brands is devoted to achieving this legacy in partnership with you.
Hayden Homes, Simplicity by Hayden Homes, and First Story.
Together we are uniting our team members, homebuyers, and industry partners to become the next generation of givers who understand that building a strong community takes all of us. At the foundation of that community are homes, but it's about so much more than the houses. It's about providing community members with the essentials needed to thrive.
Here's how our brand family is growing the next generation of givers:
- First Story is a nonprofit lender dedicated to creating affordable homeownership opportunities for under-resourced families across the Northwest, empowering them to build financial stability and break the cycle of generational poverty.
- Almost 100 percent of our team members donate to First Story with every paycheck, matched dollar for dollar by Hayden Homes and Simplicity by Hayden Homes
- Since we were founded in 1989, our companies have donated more than $80 million to charities focused on food insecurity, youth and homelessness, inspiring other businesses to give
Simplicity by Hayden Homes
Housing is complex, but the solutions don't have to be. Simplicity by Hayden Homes is our answer to the diverse housing needs across the Northwest. Turn-key homes built on infill lots and individual parcels. ADUs. Cottages. Nine-plexes. Agricultural housing. Simplicity is the nimble and adaptable builder our region needs to provide solutions that work for families, communities and investors.
By providing a wide range of housing types, including missing middle and infill residential options, Simplicity is expanding Hayden Homes' ability to address the needs of communities struggling to close the gap on workforce housing shortages.
Meeting workforce housing needs is critical to the economic development of both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. With Simplicity, our Hayden Homes brand family is pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve on our journey to create a strong community. And we're nowhere near done with what we believe can be accomplished.
Giving is our heart and
First Story is the sound of its beat.
When Hayden Watson founded First Story in 1998, it began as a simple way to share kindness—providing groceries, clothing, toys, and canned food to neighbors in need. But soon, through an innovative partnership with Hayden Homes, Simplicity by Hayden Homes, and generous industry partners, First Story discovered a way to make an even greater impact: providing affordable homeownership.
Today, more than 125 families have received homes of their own through First Story’s zero-down, zero-interest mortgage program. For families once priced out of the dream of homeownership, this key unlocks far more than a front door. It opens the way to stability, dignity, and the chance to build generational wealth.
Of the families served by First Story:
100% are first-time homebuyers
100% earn at or below 80% of area median income
80% are the first in their families to ever own a home
23% identify as a member of the Black or Latino community
25% of families include a member with a disability
It’s been more than 25 years since Hayden Homes founded First Story and the ripples of impact are beyond measure. What we do know is this: by uniting team members, homeowners, and industry partners behind our mission to Give As You Go™, we’ve opened doors of opportunity for families across the Northwest—without a single dollar of government funding. And we’re just getting started.
Through a special partnership with Simplicity, First Story’s Fresh Start Program keeps affordable housing within reach for families who need it most. When a First Story homeowner is ready for their next chapter, First Story steps in to purchase the home. Simplicity then fully renovates it, breathing new life into the home before it’s sold again through First Story’s affordable home loan program.
The result is something truly beautiful: a cycle of renewal where homes are preserved, hope is passed forward, and every fresh start opens the door to a new chapter for the next family.
