Lennar Announces More SolarPLUS Homes

Lennar has announced the upcoming pre-sale of their new Classic and Vintage homes in the RiverVillage (River Village) development in the Valencia area of Santa Clarita.

The Classic and Vintage homes at RiverVillage will be part of Lennar's SolarPLUS series of homes, with solar power and additional energy efficient features. These homes will have similar features to the current Patina at West Creek solar homes, but with larger floorplans.

Classic homes will have 3,684-4,381 square feet, and Vintage homes will have 3,387-3,800 square feet. Pricing has not been announced yet, and likely will not be announced until the day they start pre-sales in mid-to late May.

Current pricing of the Heirloom homes at RiverVillage ranges from $772,000 to $777,000 for the 3,512 square foot model and from $742,000 to $747,000 for the 3,396 square foot model, so expect the new Classic and Vintage homes to be priced in a similar manner.

The Classic and Vintage homes at Valencia RiverVillage will be similar to all other Lennar homes in this area, with certain features included and not subject to change. This helps to create a higher quality product overall for the home buyer, and also keeps Lennar's costs down since they are able to purchase materials in bulk. Included features will be granite kitchen counters, GE appliances, Merillat/Quality cabinets and upgraded flooring as well as the energy efficient features that are part of the SolarPLUS program.

SolarPLUS features include Sun Power SunTile roof tiles that blend into the existing roof line, improved insulation, energy efficient windows, tankless water heaters, energy efficient lighting, online performance monitoring, and more.

It's really pretty cool to see the electric meter running backwards on these homes, which happens when your solar panels are producing more electricity than you're currently using. Current residents of the Patina development in West Creek have reported electric bills as low as $15 a month!

Don't Go There Alone, or You'll Miss Out on the Best Deals!

As always, Lennar requires all buyers to be accompanied by their Realtor on their very first visit to the RiverVillage models. Santa Clarita Realtor Linda Slocum specializes in assisting new home buyers in getting the best deal possible, and is available to help you get your best new home deal as well! Linda's services cost you nothing and can gain you a lot of advantages in builder incentives, and in making your new home buying experience a pleasant experience and a smooth transaction.

Be sure to read our Tips for Buying New Construction, and then either call Linda at 661.670.0349 or email her to set up an appointment to see these RiverVillage homes, or any other new construction that you may be interested in.

Lennar has announced that it will be consolidating its efforts into only a few of its projects within the Valencia West Creek and Valencia West Hills developments, even though plenty of homes have already been pre-sold in the projects that have been put on hold.

The newest on-hold development is Claridad, the townhome development adjacent to Rio Norte Junior High. These are the low-end homes for that area, but still have some nice features and floorplans.

People who signed up for pre-sales on these homes are now being offered the option to purchase in the Esperto development instead, one of the few of Lennar's developments that is actually moving forward. Those who opt to transfer over to the Esperto homes will be looking at a September, 2008 move-in date instead of the April, 2008 date that they were originally promised. Buyers will apparently be able to keep all incentives that were offered to them in their initial negotiations for the Claridad homes.

Sales will also continue for the Artenati townhomes at West Creek Valencia. The Artenati homes feature up to four bedrooms, small back yards, and some have views overlooking the Santa Clara River. The Artenati townhomes are adjacent to the Albertson's shopping center on Copperhill.

Looking for homes in the Santa Clarita area? Santa Clarita Realtor Linda Slocum specializes in both new construction and resale homes. Call her at 661.670.0349 or email her to set up an appointment, and be sure to check our Tips for Buying New Construction before you visit any new home sales offices!

Photo of RiverVillage Chef's Kitchen courtesy of Lennar.

If you're looking for a gorgeous fully-loaded home adjacent to the Valencia area for a rock-bottom price, then it may be time to give Lennar's RiverVillage (River Village) another look.

The homes in Valencia RiverVillage are identical to the homes in Valencia West Hills, other than the architectural design for the front of the house. So if you've seen the Mosaic and Patina homes in Valencia West Hills, then you've seen the Brookville and Heirloom homes at RiverVillage.

These are absolutely gorgeous homes in a price range that's affodable for many families. As you can see from the picture above, they've opted to upgrade the kitchens even more to see if they can move more homes.

This new Chef's Kitchen includes granite counters, granite island, European-inspired grotto and backsplash, solid-wood cabinetry with slide-out shelving, full-extension self-closing drawers, and a deeper sink and cabinets than standard.

The drawbacks? In a word, the location... Sandwiched between Soledad Canyon Road and Newhall Ranch Road (the Cross Valley Connector), these homes sit on a fairly narrow piece of land bordered by two busy roadways. You'll need to make sure you get a good location in this development to avoid excessive road noise and vehicle exhaust fumes. And don't be fooled by the "Valencia" name... these homes are actually located in nearby Saugus.

However, if you are successful in finding a good location within the RiverVillage development for these Brookville and Heirloom homes, then you'll have a stunning home at a very cheap price. Prices are now starting at $599,000 for a 2756 square foot Brookville home in Valencia RiverVillage.

RiverVillage will feature a 29-acre park with 20 miles of hiking and equestrian trails when complete, as well as the signature Valencia paseos.

Don't Go There Alone, or You'll Miss Out on the Best Deals!

As always, Lennar requires all buyers to be accompanied by their Realtor on their very first visit to the RiverVillage models. Santa Clarita Realtor Linda Slocum specializes in assisting new home buyers in getting the best deal possible, and is available to help you get your best new home deal as well! Linda's services cost you nothing and can gain you a lot of advantages in builder incentives, and in making your new home buying experience a pleasant experience and a smooth transaction.

Be sure to read our Tips for Buying New Construction, and then either call Linda at 661.670.0349 or email her to set up an appointment to see these RiverVillage homes, or any other new construction that you may be interested in.

Imagine living in a private, gated golf course community built around a brand-new top-of-the-line Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, surrounded by lush rolling hills with either golf course or city views, with access to Santa Clarita's highly-rated schools, and all within easy driving distance from downtown Los Angeles.

Los Valles will have all this to offer and more! The Los Valles golf community in Santa Clarita will feature 209 custom and semi-custom homes built around an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, with golf course memberships open mainly to those who own homes within the Los Valles community. Homeowners at Los Valles will also enjoy a private clubhouse with tennis courts, a swim and athletic club, and an upscale restaurant. For nature lovers, there will be hiking trails and parks to enjoy.

Homesites at Los Valles will have an average lot size of approximately 17,000 square feet, with some lots as large as one acre. Pricing is expected to start in the $700,000s for the lot only.

Homes at Los Valles will be either custom or semi-custom, depending on the homebuyer's preferences. There will be some "spec" homes available for purchase as well. The minimum home size is expected to be 3,500 square feet, and the average home size is expected to be between 4,500 and 4,800 square feet. Plan on building costs to be around $225 per square foot, so you'd be looking at close to $1.5 million as your minimum investment for a home in beautiful Los Valles.

Unlike homes in nearby Westridge (adjacent to the TPC Valencia Golf Course), Los Valles will have all underground utilities with no ugly power towers to ruin the view or the landscape. There may be opportunities for builders to build "spec" homes in the Los Valles development, subject to developer approval.

Building will start near the Front 9 adjacent to Hasley Hills and move towards the Back 9 as the project is built out over the next two years or so.

The Los Valles project still has a lot of grading to be completed before the golf course and homes can be started. So far, 2 million square feet of soil has been moved as grading progresses, which is only one fifth of the total soil that will be moved as the project reaches completion.

Golf course memberships are in addition to the price of the lots (and homes), although all homeowners will be able to enjoy the other amenities that the community has to offer. Golf memberships will be $40,000 for Los Valles homeowners, with monthly dues expected to be about $500 per month. A maximum of 375 memberships will be sold to "golf members" (as opposed to Founders or Corporate, which will allow up to 25 members each). Those who are not residents of Los Valles can apply for membership to the golf club, subject to approval, and are pretty much targeted towards those who live in the golf course homes at Westridge or similar areas.

So what's involved in buying a home at Los Valles? In order to be added to the interest list, you must place a $15,000 deposit with the builder to hold your spot. The $15,000 is fully refundable if you decide not to purchase, and will be held in an escrow account. So far the interest list is fairly short, with only about 30 slots taken, but as they ramp up their marketing efforts in the next month or so I'd expect more of these "reserved" slots to be taken. Sales are expected to begin in November 2007, with the final lots expected to be sold in late 2009.

Lots are selected on a first-come-first-served basis, according to phase releases. Or at least that's the initial intent, and this may change at the builder's discretion (or whim). The larger and more private lots are mostly more towards the Back 9, so those wanting these lots may have to wait up to two years before being able to purchase. However, as they "pass" on the earlier phase releases, those with higher reservation numbers (the earliest to ante up and reserve their slot) should retain their priority until their desired lot is released for sale. The builder's rep actually wanted me to delete this section, so suffice it to say that the earlier reservations should get some priority, but there is no guarantee that you'll get the lot you want as other factors may come into play, as in any builder's sales office.

Interested in reserving a home site at Los Valles? Contact Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email me at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to set up an appointment to take a look at the Los Valles facility and add your name (and your deposit) to the interest list. Unlike other local builders, this reservation must be made in person, and requesting an appointment with the builder's rep is recommended to make sure that he's on-site when we arrive.

Also, be sure to take a look at our Tips for Buying New Construction before you venture into any of the new home developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Disclaimer: Linda Slocum is a licensed real estate agent specializing in the Santa Clarita area and is not a representative of Los Valles Properties, LLC.

Lennar's Patina at West Hills Valencia is now available for previewing, featuring four bedroom two-story luxury homes. Pricing is from the high $700,000's. This gated development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, across from Rio Norte Junior High School.

These luxury single family homes located in the gated community of West Hills Valencia range from 2,756 square feet to 3,060 square feet, and feature attached 2 to 3-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and GE Monogram stainless appliances (including fridge), maple cabinets and handrails, laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, and wiring for surround sound and high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are expected to be about $162 per month, which includes gated access to the community featuring three private recreation centers with pools, spas and community rooms and the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park.

These homes will have identical floorplans to the Brookville homes at Valencia River Village, but with modified exteriors to suit the neighborhood design. There will be a total of 67 homes in the Patina West Hills community. Most will have smallish back yards (15 x 30 is standard), but there will be lots in later phase releases that have more space.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1
  • 2,756 square feet
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Downstairs Master Bedroom Suite
  • Secondary bedrooms have walk-in closets
  • Large loft upstairs
  • 2-car garage
  • There will be additional property tax assessments (Mello Roos taxes or Community Facilities District fees) on these homes of about $4,014 per year.
  • Pricing from the high $700,000's
• Residence 2
  • 3,060 square feet
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Huge walk-in closet in the Master
  • Separate formal living and dining rooms
  • Bedrooms 2 and 3 have walk-in closets
  • Large loft upstairs
  • 3-car tandem garage
  • There will be additional property tax assessments (Mello Roos taxes or Community Facilities District fees) on these homes of about $4,175 per year.
  • Pricing from the low $800,000's

What to watch for:

• Secondary bedrooms are fairly small.
• These homes will have more architectural details than the sister community River Village, and will also be priced higher than the River Village homes.
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.
• Patina homes will also be offered at West Creek Valencia at a lower price.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Lennar's Mosaic at West Hills Valencia is now available for previewing, with four and five bedroom two-story luxury homes. Pricing is from the mid $800,000's. This gated development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, across from Rio Norte Junior High School.

These luxury single family homes located in the gated community of West Hills Valencia range from 3,396 square feet to 3,512 square feet, and feature attached 3-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and GE Monogram stainless appliances (including fridge), maple cabinets and handrails, laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, and wiring for surround sound and high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are expected to be about $162 per month, which includes gated access to the community featuring three private recreation centers with pools, spas and community rooms and the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park.

These homes will have identical floorplans to the Heirloom homes at Valencia River Village, but with modified exteriors to suit the neighborhood design. There will be a total of 111 homes in the Mosaic community. Most will have smallish yards (15 x 30 is standard), but there will be lots in later phase releases that have more space.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1
  • 3,396 square feet
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 3 1/2 baths
  • Large loft (teen room) upstairs
  • There will be additional property tax assessments (Mello Roos taxes or Community Facilities District fees) on these homes of about $4,364 per year.
  • Pricing from the mid $800,000's
• Residence 2
  • 3,512 square feet
  • 5 bedrooms
  • 3 3/4 baths
  • Two walk-in closets in the Master
  • There will be additional property tax assessments (Mello Roos taxes or Community Facilities District fees) on these homes of about $4,364 per year.
  • Pricing from the high $800,000's

What to watch for:

• Secondary bedrooms are fairly small.
• These homes will have more architectural details than the sister community River Village, and will also be priced higher than the River Village homes.
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Lennar's Claridad at West Creek Valencia is now previewing, with two and three bedroom two-story townhomes. Pricing has not yet been released for these homes, but they are expected to be in line with the Esperto townhomes in West Creek. This development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, adjacent to Rio Norte Junior High School.

These townhomes range from 1,259 square feet to 1,512 square feet, and feature attached 2-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and stainless appliances (including fridge), laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, and wiring for high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are expected to be about $220 per month, which includes insurance and exterior maintenance. Amenities include the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park, three community pools and recreational facilities.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1
  • 1,259 square feet
  • 2 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Large loft upstairs
  • Patio and porch
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,500 per year
  • Pricing not yet available
• Residence 2
  • 1,389 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Patio and porch
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,500 per year
  • Pricing not yet available
• Residence 3
  • 1,430 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Kitchen with small island
  • Porch and large patio
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,500 per year
  • Pricing not yet available
• Residence 4
  • 1,512 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Large balcony
  • Porch and large patio
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,600 per year
  • Pricing not yet available

What to watch for:

• Downstairs living space is somewhat limited.
• These homes have fewer architectural details than the neighboring West Creek developments.
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Lennar's Artisan at West Creek Valencia is now previewing, with three bedroom two-story townhomes. Pricing has not yet been released for these homes. This development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, adjacent to Rio Norte Junior High School.

These townhomes range from 1,513 square feet to 1,997 square feet, and feature attached 2-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and stainless appliances (including fridge), laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, and wiring for high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are expected to be about $250 per month, which includes insurance and exterior maintenance. Amenities include the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park, three community pools and recreational facilities.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1B
  • 1,513 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Walk-in closets in all bedrooms
  • Patio and porch
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,600 per year
  • Pricing not yet available
• Residence 2B
  • 1,664 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Patio and porch
  • Upstairs loft / study area
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $2,600 per year
  • Pricing not yet available
• Residence 3B
  • 1,997 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Kitchen with small island
  • Large patio
  • Large loft / den upstairs
  • Additional property tax assessment expected to be about $3,000 per year
  • Pricing not yet available

What to watch for:

• Washer and dryer are "unitized" (or stackable) rather than side-by-side
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Lennar's Esperto at West Creek Valencia is now available for sale, with two to three bedroom townhomes starting at the high $300,000's. This development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, adjacent to Rio Norte Junior High School.

These townhomes range from 1,219 square feet to 1,625 square feet, and feature attached 2-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and black appliances (including fridge), laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, and wiring for high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are from $209 to $219 per month, which includes insurance and exterior maintenance. Amenities include the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park, three community pools and recreational facilities.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1
  • 1,219 square feet
  • 2 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,500 per year
  • Currently sold out, but was priced near $355,000
• Residence 2
  • 1,372 square feet
  • 2 bedrooms
  • 2 baths
  • Tandem 2-car garage (all others are side-by-side)
  • Balcony
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,500 per year
  • Currently priced from $370,000 to $373,000
• Residence 3
  • 1,418 square feet
  • 2 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,500 per year
  • Currently sold out, but was priced from $385,000 to 415,000
• Residence 3A
  • 1,597 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Balcony
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,625 per year
  • Homeowners dues of $219 per month
  • No pricing is available for this model
• Residence 4
  • 1,585 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Separate living and dining rooms
  • Porch and balcony
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,625 per year
  • Homeowners dues of $219 per month
  • Currently sold out, but was priced from $417,000 to $434,000

What to watch for:

• Some of the secondary bedrooms are exceptionally small.
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Lennar's Artenati at West Creek Valencia is now available for sale, with two to four bedroom townhomes starting at the low $400,000's. This development is located near McBean Parkway and Copperhill Drive in Santa Clarita, adjacent to Rio Norte Junior High School.

These townhomes range from 1,384 square feet to 1,941 square feet, and feature attached 2-car garages, fully-appointed kitchens with granite counters and stainless appliances (including fridge), laundry rooms complete with washer and dryer, living rooms with fireplace and media niche, and wiring for high-speed internet access.

Homeowners association dues are $250 per month, which includes insurance and exterior maintenance. Amenities include the nearby Terry Miller Memorial Park, three community pools and recreational facilities.

Here's a breakdown of the available models:

• Residence 1
  • 1,384 square feet
  • 2 bedrooms
  • 2 baths
  • Deck (balcony)
  • All living is upstairs (downstairs includes only the garage and a small entryway).
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,500 per year
  • Currently priced from $405,000 to $480,000
• Residence 2
  • 1,625 square feet
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 1/2 baths
  • Separate living and dining rooms
  • Traditional U-shaped kitchen
  • Additional property tax assessment of $2,625 per year
  • Currently priced from $455,000 to $525,500
• Residence 3
  • 1,941 square feet
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 2 3/4 baths
  • Traditional U-shaped kitchen
  • Downstairs bedroom
  • Additional property tax assessment of $3,000 per year
  • Currently priced from $495,000 to $549,500

What to watch for:

• Some of the secondary bedrooms are exceptionally small.
• All buyers must pre-qualify with Lennar's in-house lender, but there is not a requirement to use this lender for your purchase. ASK YOUR REALTOR about your financing options.
• The property tax assessments noted above are IN ADDITION to the regular property tax of about 1.25%.
• On transfer (upon the sale of your home), a "donation" of .05% of the sales price must be made to Lennar's Charitable Housing Fund. This is a deed restriction and cannot be avoided.

CAUTION: Buying a new home is a very complicated process, and although the builder's sales team is generally highly qualified, they're working for the builder and NOT for you, the buyer. Read our Tips for Buying New Construction and BRING YOUR REALTOR with you on your FIRST VISIT to any of these new home developments.

Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 or email her at Linda@SantaClaritaRealEstateBlog.com to make an appointment to see these new homes, or any other new developments in the Santa Clarita area.

Many people have been wondering about what's going on with the Valle di Oro development in Santa Clarita, since its opening has now been delayed several times.

Valle di Oro, located in Canyon Country off Golden Valley Rd. near Sierra Highway, is a townhome community featuring homes from about 1,800 square feet to about 2,700 square feet. This is a gated community with larger than average yards and easy access to nearby public transportation.

We've been hearing each month that they'll be "opening soon", often with expected opening dates of mid-March, or mid-May, and now mid-June.

While there's no way of telling exactly when they'll actually be ready to open, their marketing manager did spill the beans on the expected pricing for these townhomes. She was hesitant to say that they start in the mid-$500,000's, so I expect that these will start closer to the $600,000 range.

The pricing for these is a lot higher than most people were expecting for this Canyon Country location, so I expect a lot of people to be disappointed that these will be out of their price range.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Valle di Oro development, and remember: Don't visit any new home developments without bringing your Realtor along on your very first visit! To make an appointment to see these or any other new construction in the Santa Clarita area, call Linda Slocum at (661) 670-0349.

Lennar recently reduced the prices on the West Creek townhomes in Valencia. Mum's the word on how long these price reductions will last, since they're an attempt to encourage more buyer activity in the area.

Starting in the $350,000 range, the West Creek Esperto townhomes are 1,233 square feet and up with 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 car attached garages, granite countertops, CAT 5 wiring and come complete with washer, dryer and fridge.

Remember, as always, that the builder's sales team works for the builder, not the buyer. So be sure to bring your Realtor with you on your very first visit to these new developments! It costs you nothing and can save you plenty in the long run, since a knowledgable Realtor is familiar with the "builder games" and can help ease the process for you. Call Linda Slocum at 661.670.0349 to make an appointment to see these great West Creek townhomes!

Castaic Lake Water Agency Conservatory Garden

A field trip to the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) Conservatory Garden today turned out to be a rare treat!

With picture-perfect blue skies and a few whispy clouds, a slight breeze and the entire garden to myself, I couldn't have asked for more on my first visit to this wonderful garden oasis.

Perched above Santa Clarita's Central Park, the Conservatory Garden shows off an abundance of plants and planting methods to help people understand how to plant gardens that are water-wise as well as fire retard