Ernie Sandoval — Award-Winning New Home Consultant
New Home Consulting in Chicago & North Texas · Hospitality & Design on the California Coast
Ernie Sandoval has spent a decade inside production homebuilding — now on your side of the table across Chicagoland and North Texas: builder strategy, floor-plan and structural decisions, construction oversight, and a straight answer at every milestone. On the California coast, he leads hospitality concepts, restaurant design, and creative direction from concept to completion.
New Home Consulting — Chicago & North Texas
Award-recognized work with Ashton Woods, Beazer Homes, and Pulte Homes — builder strategy, floor-plan and structural decisions, and construction oversight.
Hospitality & Design — California Coast
Surfer Rose in Santa Monica and Cliffdiver in Malibu — concept direction, design, and build-out from first sketch to opening day.
- 97% SatisfactionGuildQuality Verified
- Top 9 NationwideAshton Woods
- 4.85★ AverageVerified Reviews
- 400+Families Guided
- $100M+Career Sales
Chicago, IL
Biography
About
For over a decade, Ernie Sandoval has been a trusted name in new-home construction across two of the country’s most competitive markets. As an award-winning new home consultant, he has represented national builders — including Ashton Woods, Beazer Homes, and Pulte Homes — guiding buyers through every phase of the new-construction process. His portfolio spans the build of new homes, anchor developments, and master-planned communities across North Texas, as well as niche residential communities throughout the Chicagoland area. Known for an approach that is equal parts patient and precise, Sandoval has built a career on trust, thoroughness, and a near-obsessive commitment to his clients.
Beyond real estate, Sandoval is a hospitality insider whose concepts have been featured in Time Out Los Angeles and LA Weekly. Drawing from his family’s restaurant background and years of international travel, he develops beverage and food programs that blend personal history with a sharp sense of place. Surfer Rose was ahead of the curve as one of the first restaurants in the country to wrap its exterior in a bold, all-pink façade — a design move that’s since become a national trend.
“Every storefront design tells a story.”
From concept to execution across Malibu and Santa Monica, where Cliffdiver and Surfer Rose opened — two distinct spaces unified by his eye for design, atmosphere, and hospitality. Photography is part of the same practice — a continued study of architecture, materials, light, lifestyle, and the everyday details that shape how a home feels. Work is shared on Instagram at @mister.ernst.
Featured In
Concept to Completion
Remote creative direction and project management for concept-driven spaces.
Ernie Sandoval provides remote creative direction and project management for concept build-outs and design renovations across Chicago, Chicagoland, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Greater Los Angeles — from initial concept through vendor coordination to opening day.
Virtual Design Studio
By Handsome Kibitzer Group LTD
Access the Virtual Studio- 1
Concept & Direction
Creative briefs, mood boards, spatial planning, and identity development — shaped around your vision, not a template.
Weeks 1–4: positioning, reference gathering, layout studies, material palettes, and a written creative brief every vendor can build from.
Design strategy - 2
Vendor & Contractor Coordination
Sourcing, vetting, and managing the right specialists — from millworkers to material suppliers — across markets.
Bid packages, scope comparisons, lead-time tracking, and a single point of contact so trades aren't waiting on each other.
How builders are vetted - 3
Build Oversight
Remote progress reviews, milestone tracking, and on-site coordination via local liaisons — keeping your project on time and on brief.
Milestone walkthrough checklists, photo documentation, and change-order review at framing, rough-in, and finish stages.
Construction quality - 4
Launch
Final walkthroughs, punch-list resolution, and styling direction — so the space feels like yours from day one.
Punch-list tracking to closeout, systems and warranty orientation, and final styling so opening day looks like the brief.
Long-term performance
Your project awaits — whether it's a restaurant, a retail space, a home renovation, or a design styling concept. Every space starts with a conversation.
Identity
Verified Profiles
9 verified profiles across real estate, hospitality, and the arts.
Real Estate
New-construction practice, listings, and buyer reviews.
Social & Professional
Day-to-day updates on homes, neighborhoods, and market news.
Architecture, Home Design & Lifestyle
Architecture, interiors, materials, and lifestyle detail — the same eye applied to new construction and home design.
Follow along
New builds, neighborhoods, design work, and market notes — posted where you already are.
Testimonials
Independently verified. Consistently delivered.
Buyers who want to go deeper can explore the New Construction Intelligence™ hub.
Verified Satisfaction
Builder recognition, buyer ratings, and firsthand accounts.
- Markets & CommunitiesChicagoland & North TexasA decade of new construction homes designed and built across the Chicago and Dallas–Fort Worth markets.Including Ashton Woods, Beazer Homes, and Pulte Homes.Specializing in new build navigation, construction liaison, and master-planned community placement — including The Station, Creeks of Legacy, Erwin Farms, and major live-work-play developments in McKinney, Prosper-Celina, and Sachse, Texas.
- Ashton WoodsA Name You Can TrustErnie was 1 of only 9 community representatives nationwide recognized by Ashton Woods for outstanding homeowner reviews — selected from hundreds of community reps across the country.
- GuildQuality97% Customer Satisfaction“Ernie was patient, knowledgeable, and made our first new-construction purchase a joy.” — Recent Buyer, verified by GuildQuality.
- Video — FacebookHear From a Real HomebuyerAn Ashton Woods buyer shares what it was like working with Ernie.
Source: Ernie Sandoval on Facebook
Verified Google Reviews
18 five-star client reviews · Google Reviews
★★★★★
“Ernie was extremely patient and remained transparent throughout the entire process — the best first-time home buying experience ever.”
Dalontae D.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie explains every aspect of the homes for my clients, stays friendly, and has the patience to go over things again.”
Renuka M.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“As first-time homebuyers, Ernie was a tremendous help — he even spent after hours answering all of our questions.”
Jamila M.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie was very thorough explaining the timeline and the overall process. An amazing and memorable experience.”
Kelly T.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie took care of even the smallest issues in a timely manner. He was always there with us, through thick and thin.”
Nick M.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie is the best! As first-time buyers we had an outstanding experience — he answered all of our texts and emails.”
Alex H.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“From the beginning Ernie made us feel at home — professional, thorough, and clear about every detail.”
Hezekiah B.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie was extremely helpful throughout the entire process and available whenever we had questions.”
Adam
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie Sandoval was AMAZING — very patient and very thorough in every little detail of buying a new build.”
Darwing E.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Moving from Colorado to Texas was daunting, but Ernie made finding and building our new home surprisingly easy.”
Chad J.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie Sandoval was incredible. From contract all the way to closing he was on point and made the process seamless.”
Debasish P.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“My clients built from the ground up and Ernie assisted us throughout — professional, with regular construction updates.”
Amanda H.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“My first time buying a home and Ernie put my mind at ease. I'll definitely recommend him.”
Coco M.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie helped me throughout the buying process and really made it an incredible experience.”
Jason L.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“I really appreciate Ernie Sandoval's knowledge and timely service. Excellent customer care.”
Pravin K.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Knowledgeable and professional. Look for Ernie — you won't be disappointed.”
Minh H.
Google Reviews — The Station by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“Ernie displayed the utmost professionalism — honest, highly knowledgeable, responsive, and transparent.”
Lisa T.
Google Reviews — Monticello Park by Ashton Woods
View on Google★★★★★
“We've dealt with many builders and sales managers over the years — the experience with Ernie cannot be compared.”
Mike
Google Reviews — Aria Estates by Ashton Woods
View on Google
Swipe or use the arrows to see all 18 reviews
As featured in
Press & Features
Interview
In Conversation
Ernie Sandoval in conversation.
“Every concept starts with a feeling — the design, the menu, the music all follow from there.”
Market Overdrive — Host Karla Mina — December 19, 2019
Reference
Frequently Asked
Ernie Sandoval is an award-winning New Home Consultant and Real Estate Advisor with more than a decade guiding buyers through new-construction homes in Chicago, Chicagoland, and North Texas. He has worked with national builders including Ashton Woods, Beazer Homes, and Pulte Homes, and is Principal Managing Partner of Handsome Kibitzer Group LTD.
He guides buyers through new-construction purchases with national homebuilders across North Texas and the Chicago suburbs, and operates hospitality and design ventures through Handsome Kibitzer Group LTD.
North Texas master-planned communities and anchor developments, plus niche new-construction neighborhoods throughout Chicago's suburbs. Because most production-builder sales aren't MLS-fed, his Zillow transaction history reflects only a portion of his 13 years of experience.
Patience, thoroughness, and genuine follow-through. The attention to detail is the same whether he's walking a family through a first home build or opening a new space.
Photography is part of the design and home-focused work, not a separate profession. It documents architecture, interiors, lifestyle, and the details that matter in new construction and home design. Shared on Instagram at @mister.ernst.
It's the holdings group through which Ernie operates his hospitality and creative ventures. He has served as Principal Managing Partner for several years.
New construction across Chicagoland — including Willowbrook, Wheaton, and Woodridge — and North Texas / Dallas–Fort Worth, including McKinney, Sachse, Prosper, and Celina. Hospitality and concept build-out work extends to Malibu, Santa Monica, and Greater Los Angeles.
Yes. Client feedback includes five-star Google reviews and a 97% satisfaction rating on GuildQuality. Ernie was also recognized by Ashton Woods as one of only nine community representatives nationwide for outstanding homeowner reviews.
Start with the New Construction Intelligence hub to understand builder strategy, design decisions, and construction quality — then send an inquiry through the form in the Inquiries section. The first conversation is a no-pressure walkthrough of your timeline, market, and budget.
The best way is the Get in Touch button in the Inquiries section, which opens a direct email. You can also find him on Instagram at @mister.ernst.
Still deciding? Start with New Construction Intelligence™, compare builders and construction quality, or read the market guides for Dallas–Fort Worth and Chicagoland. Then send an inquiry.
Inquiries
For new-home consultations, concept build-outs, design and renovation project management, or business inquiries — reach Ernie directly.
Free Guide
The New Construction Buyer's Guide
Builder strategy, design-center decisions, construction milestones, and the questions most buyers don't know to ask — collected in the New Construction Intelligence™ hub.
Read the guide