TRI Pointe Homes Southern California reported late Tuesday that its first homeowners have taken up residence at Viridian at Esencia, its new hilltop neighborhood located in the master-planned community of Rancho Mission Viejo.

Viridian won the Detached Community of the Year at the 2018 SoCal Awards presented by the Greater Sales & Marketing Council and BIA of Southern California.

TRI Pointe's Viridian at Esencia.
TRI Pointe's Viridian at Esencia.

“The 30 homes sold to date at Viridian validate not only its outstanding design and construction, but also the keen repositioning strategy for the community,” said Tom Grable, division president of TRI Pointe Homes Southern California. “Viridian attracts in many ways, including its transitional architecture with traditional roots and a contemporary twist, high-functioning layouts, and a series of backyard options.”

The Viridian parcel was originally planned as an extension of a TRI Pointe Homes neighborhood that debuted in 2015 at Esencia, with homes ranging from 3,100 to 3,750 square feet, starting at over $1 million and targeting a move-up buyer who had many similar luxury choices in the local market area. Upon the completion of its first enclave of homes, TRI Pointe Homes recognized an opportunity to redefine luxury for young families: bigger backyards, less interior square footage with greater flexibility, and a lower, more attractive price point.

TRI Pointe Homes worked closely with Rancho Mission Viejo, the master developer, to re-imagine the neighborhood, one best suited for the marketplace. After eight months of planning, the result was a redesigned neighborhood that offers fresh designs, energy-efficient features and three open-concept floorplans.

Upon completion, Viridian will comprise 72 solar-paneled homes priced from the low $900s to low $1 millions. Ranging from 2,516 to 3,171 square feet, the two-story homes come with 4 to 6 bedrooms, 3 to 5.5 bathrooms and 2-car garages. The floor plans include a variety of personalized indoor/outdoor options via a detached casita, cabana and ranch room. The casita can become a game room or a bed and full bath, and the breezy ranch room and optional cabana can double as a lounge and entertainment area. Offering a lifestyle that is typically only available in larger residences at higher price points, the over-sized backyards allow for multiple outdoor experiences, from outdoor bars to swimming pools to grassy play yards and more. Whether it’s laid-back alfresco dining, a complete poolside cabana bar with built-in beer tap, or a sunken fire pit situated across a large lawn from a farmhouse-inspired playhouse, the outdoor options offer many engaging, social spaces for homeowners.

The homes at Viridian feature the balanced, attractive design by architect Bassenian Lagoni and native drought tolerant landscaping by Forma that appeal to a largely Millennial buyer. The Santa Barbara, Interpretive Farmhouse and Adobe Ranch architecture styles deftly deliver a traditional look, but with an updated contemporary feel. Accomplished through material applications such as board and batten siding or brick, and building features such as wrap-around windows, these elements helped TRI Pointe Homes successfully deliver a transitional architecture style – one that is rooted in old California architecture, but pushed forward with more current up-to-date design.

Viridian residents share in Rancho Mission Viejo’s many amenities, including the Hilltop Club, which offers a resort-style pool and a host of fitness and entertainment activities.

“In a competitive region like Southern California, a thoughtful approach to cater to what today’s buyers want, as seen with our redesign of the residences at Viridian, has powered stronger interest and sales results. Since we started in May, home sales at Viridian have been averaging about one a week,” said Grable. “Perhaps the best testament to the success of the neighborhood has been in the number of referral customers — five in the first two phases.”