WHY IT WORKED: Size definitely matters, especially in the world of high-end luxury real estate. Lots at Sanctuary average 22,000 square feet; floor plans, some featuring as many as five bedrooms and a four-car garage, top out at a whopping 5,599 square feet.

  • Architectural extras are the rule at this award-winning community. Select elevations of Plan 3 feature a turret, while casitas and cabanas are options on some Plan 1 and Plan 3 homes.
  • Despite their sprawling square footage, homes at Sanctuary live the way families function these days. That means plenty of outdoor areas (courtyards, loggias, and decks), downsized living rooms, and more space dedicated to formal dining rooms and the all-important family room.
  • Sanctuary opened at a time when the luxury-home market was starting to experience an upswing. Strong architecture pulled buyers into the community, which borders one of San Diego's most cherished open-space preserves.
    • BACKYARD BEAUTY: A rear view of the best-selling Plan 3 shows some of the features that make it a success: a double loggia, an impressive cabana, and a heavy emphasis on stone and brick.
    BACKYARD BEAUTY: A rear view of the best-selling Plan 3 shows some of the features that make it a success: a double loggia, an impressive cabana, and a heavy emphasis on stone and brick.

    PROJECT CREDITS Project: Sanctuary at The Estates at StoneBridge, San Diego;
    Sales started: February 2006;
    Sales through June 2007: 47;
    Units planned: 82;
    Price: $1.3 million to $1.7 million;
    Unit size: 4,435 to 5,599 square feet;
    Builder: Shea Homes, San Diego;
    Developers: Brookfield Homes and The Corky McMillin Cos., San Diego;
    Architect: Lim Chang Rohling & Associates, Pasadena, Calif.;
    Land planner: RBF Consulting, San Diego;
    Landscape architect: Van Dyke Landscape Architects, San Diego;
    Interior designer: Color Design Art, Pasadena lance Gordon

    Learn more about markets featured in this article: San Diego, CA, Atlanta, GA.