WHY IT WORKED: These semi-rural estate homes, located in an established community that borders one of the region's largest open-space preserves, have been especially popular with move-up buyers. They like having more square footage and a bigger yard without having to leave a quality school district.
- For the square footage—4,630 to 5,818—Scripps Preserve's million-dollar homes are priced remarkably well, especially given all the bells and whistles included with each plan.
- An average of one home per week was sold at Scripps Preserve in the first quarter of 2007, with zero cancellations.
- The best-selling Plan 1 features four bedrooms plus an optional den or fifth bedroom; 3 ½ to 4½ baths; a courtyard and roomy kitchen nook; an optional casita; and a two- to four-car split garage.
CURB APPEAL: Plan 1 at Scripps Preserve at The Estates at StoneBridge has a lot to like. Old World Tuscan style, a stone-and-stucco façade, and plenty of details give this home extra punch.
Project: Scripps Preserve at The Estates at StoneBridge, San Diego; Sales started: October 2006; Sales through June 2007: 21; Units planned: 61 (24 released); Price: $1,062,900 to $1,181,900; Unit size: 4,630 to 5,818 square feet; Builder: Davidson Communities, Del Mar, Calif.; Developer: The Corky McMillin Cos., San Diego; Brookfield Homes, Del Mar; Architect: Case Group Architects, Solana Beach, Calif.; Land planner: Hunsaker & Associates, San Diego; Landscape architect: MW Peltz & Associates, Solana Beach; Interior designer: Design Line Interiors, San Diego
Smooth Sailing
Providence Island at Queen's Harbour, Jacksonville, Fla.
WHY IT WORKED: Attractive, no-maintenance townhomes, plenty of storage, and access to the Intracoastal Waterway for yachts up to 100 feet—what could be better for an active downsizer?
- Buyers love the Westminster, a 2,187-square-foot end unit with an upstairs master, a two-car garage, and room for an optional elevator.
- Amenities at the 17-acre neighborhood include the Queen's Harbour marina, a 72-hole golf course, lighted tennis courts, and a junior Olympic–size swimming pool.
- Among the standard features at this 52-unit project are granite countertops in the kitchen, Kohler fixtures in the master bath, and brick pavers at the front porch, rear driveway, and public sidewalks.
PROJECT CREDITS
Project: Providence Island at Queen's Harbour, Jacksonville, Fla.; Sales started: February 2007; Sales through June 2007: 7; Units planned: 52 (13 released); Price: $618,000 to $747,900; Unit size: 2,000 to 2,500 square feet; Builder: Brylen Homes, Jacksonville; Developer: MLT Investments, Jacksonville; Architect: The Evans Group, Orlando, Fla.; Land planner/Landscape architect: Genesis Group, Jacksonville; Interior designer: Sisler Johnston Interior Design, Jacksonville
Designed to Sell
Winnick Homes at Knightsbridge Gate, Novi, Mich.
WHY IT WORKED: Even in uncertain markets, homes that are well-located, well-designed, and well-priced continue to sell. At Knightsbridge Gate, Winnick Homes came up with plans that work well on smaller lots, which allowed the builder to charge less than the going rate for new construction.
- Market research showed that having the standard features and floor plan elements that buyers wanted would compensate for smaller home sites.
- Open floor plans, two-story great rooms, and two-story foyers make the best-selling, 2,533-square-foot Wellington plan feel much larger than it actually is.
- As part of a “Novi's Best Value” campaign, Winnick Homes will pay anyone $500 who visits Knights-bridge Gate but elects to buy a home elsewhere.
PROJECT CREDITS
Project: Knightsbridge Gate, Novi, Mich.; Sales started: June 2006; Sales through June 2007: 52; Units planned: 348 (116 released); Price: $280,000 to $339,990; Unit size: 2,000 to 2,653 square feet; Builder: Winnick Homes, Bingham Farms, Mich.; Developer: Grand/Sakwa/Jacobson, Farmington Hills, Mich.; Architect: DJW and Associates, Commerce Township, Mich.; Land planner: Zeimet Wozniak and Associates, Novi; Landscape architect: Calvin Hall & Associates, Southfield, Mich.; Interior designers: Designer Interiors by Mary Olk, Troy, Mich.; Eleni Interiors, Chicago