A Becoming Home testimonial
“It came out immaculate, and it’s beyond words.”
Ryan Butcher spent 21 years serving in the U.S. Army. When he retired, he moved to North Alabama and took a role as a government contractor on Redstone Arsenal. He needed a home, a short timeline, and a builder he could trust.
He found all three at Graystone Estates in Toney, Alabama. For Ryan, building a home near Redstone Arsenal with Newton Homes was more than a purchase. It was the start of his next chapter.
Why Build Instead of Buy
Ryan looked at homes already on the market. None of them felt like his.
“I wanted something that was mine. And knowing the market, building was the right answer for me.”
Before he committed, he did his homework. He heard plenty of builder horror stories from friends and coworkers. One name never came up in them.
“Everyone told me horror stories about everyone but Newton.”
That reputation made the decision clear. Ryan chose Newton Homes to build his custom home in Toney, an easy drive from Redstone Arsenal.
A Military Timeline and a Lesson in Trusting the Process
Anyone who has served knows military timelines rarely leave room to spare. Ryan had a tight window to transition from active duty to civilian life in Huntsville.
“As a military veteran, our timelines… I had a very tight timeline. And it was exceeded.”
There were a few early questions around vendors. The Newton team worked through each one, and the schedule held. Ryan says he couldn’t be more pleased.
The bigger challenge was personal. Ryan describes himself as deadline driven and Type-A. Before the build started, he asked a lot of questions. The answer he kept hearing from his Realtor and the Newton team was simple: trust the process.
“Trust the process. That was absolutely correct.”
That trust paid off. Ryan still walks through his finished home amazed by how it turned out.
A Realtor and Builder Working as One Team
Ryan worked with Brooke Brunsvold, Broker of Ally and Co Real Estate. Ryan stayed involved from the ground up. When he had a question or concern, he brought it to Brooke. Brooke then worked directly with John Steger and the Newton Homes team to get answers.
“We had a lot of things to look into, to check on, and to get reassurance for. That was what we needed throughout this process, and we were able to get that.” (Brooke Brunsvold)
That open line of communication kept Ryan informed at every stage. In Brooke’s words, both she and Ryan were more than pleased with the final outcome.
A Floor Plan Built for the Long Term
Ryan customized his home with the future in mind. His favorite space is upstairs: a bonus room over the garage with a third full bathroom added.
On paper, he had doubts. During the build, he sometimes wondered if he had made the right call on square footage.
“There’s been plenty of times walking through and like, man, did I just mess up on square footage?”
Once the home came together, those doubts disappeared. The upstairs suite now works as its own efficiency apartment. It gives Ryan flexibility for guests, family, or whatever comes next.
Country Living, Close to the City
Ryan was born and raised in Alaska. He loves the country, and that drew him to Graystone Estates.
“It’s the country life, and close enough to go to the city when you want to or need to.”
Graystone Estates is a private community in Toney, with a quiet setting and easy access to Huntsville, Madison, and Redstone Arsenal.
The neighbors sealed it. From his first interactions, Ryan felt a real sense of community. He sees families walking the neighborhood together and kids being kids.
“I look for something that’s close-knit. And this community clearly has that.”
Ryan’s Advice for Veterans Relocating to Huntsville
If you are a service member or veteran heading to Redstone Arsenal, Ryan’s advice is direct.
“For veterans that are looking, I would 100% recommend this community.”
And if he had to do it all again?
“I would confidently choose Newton Homes to build my next house.”
Start Your Own Becoming Home Story
Whether you are retiring from service, relocating for a role on the Arsenal, or ready for country living near the city, Graystone Estates has homesites and inventory homes available now.
Contact John Steger at (256) 457-0556 to schedule a tour of Graystone Estates in Toney, AL, and see why buyers like Ryan choose Newton Homes.
