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May 23, 2008 - 1:07PM
Some builders seeing sales activity spike
Misty Williams, Tribune
Bright spots are popping up amid the Valley's gloomy housing market with some builders reporting increased sales.
National builder Shea Homes said that sales so far this year in its active adult communities were up 10 percent from the same time a year ago.
Aimed at baby boomers, the company's Trilogy communities in Queen Creek and the West Valley posted 220 sales from January through April 2008. More than 65 of the homes sold in April - surpassing sales projections by 20 percent.
The company says Shea's focus on selling lifestyles, not just houses, to people who are 55 and older has helped grow sales despite the threat of recession.
"Unlike other residential housing developments, our communities are designed to attract affluent, sophisticated boomer-age consumers who aren't feeling pinched by the economy," said Hal Looney, president of Shea's Trilogy division in Arizona.
Shea has sold nearly 100 houses in its Encanterra project, near Combs and Gantzel roads in the Queen Creek area, since it opened in November. It will have more than 2,200 houses once completed.
Mountain Bridge
More than 100 home buyers flocked to northeast Mesa last weekend to take advantage of one-time pricing on homes in a new master-planned community.
Initially hoping to sell 62 houses, Valley-based Blandford Homes sold 106 houses in its Mountain Bridge development. Located at McKellips and Hawes roads, the project will eventually include 1,200 houses.
People began lining up five days before the sale with nearly 80 individuals camping out.
"Never did we think the camp out would start as early as Monday - not in our wildest dreams," said spokeswoman Joanie Flatt.
The builder gave individuals $1,000 in upgrades for each night they camped out, Flatt said. Houses were priced from $239,950 to $790,950 for the one-day event. Blandford hasn't announced prices for its next round of sales, which will likely take place in the fall.
Onyx Tower
Plans for more new houses in the Tempe Town Lake area are also moving forward.
Developer WestStone Communities opened a new sales center for a 26-story luxury condominium tower it's building on the lake's north shore near Rural Road and Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway.
Construction on Onyx Tower is slated to begin late this year.
Units range in size from 711 square feet to 2,364 square feet with prices running from the low $300,000s to more than $2 million for penthouses.
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