ARCHIVED  January 1, 1998

Hot new subdivisions feature affordability, design, location

What makes a successful subdivision and home builder? Some of the region˜s top home builders say that affordability, flexible design and location are high on the list.

The huge U.S. Homes, with three of the fastest-selling subdivisions in Larimer County and the Parkview subdivision in Greeley, the top seller in Weld County, is finding success in the production of "value oriented" homes.
Bill Stenberg, vice president and project manager for U.S. Homes in Northern Colorado, describes the new Inaugural Homes Series as homes for first-time buyers and empty nesters.
While new homes typically start at about 1,700 square feet, these homes will start at 1,100 to 1,600 square feet and have two bedrooms and two baths.
"We are trying to get back to a good price, from the $120s to the $140s," Stenberg said. "It˜s tough to build a home in that price range, but this series will give buyers more value per square foot."
In Greeley, however, the Parkwood development does U.S. Homes one better by starting its homes at $79,500 with an average of about $89,000.
"This subdivision has the lowest-priced homes that meet all FHA [Federal Housing Administration] requirements in the state of Colorado," said Clifford Clift of Pro Realty in Greeley. "There may be some condos in Denver that are less expensive, but for a detached, single-family home, there is nothing that compares. Modular homes can˜t compete."
The philosophy that has made Parkwood both unique and successful in Northern Colorado is the volume building of basic homes.
Gary Schneider, one of the builders in Parkwood, has sold out of the 800- to 1,000-square-foot homes he has built. As of Oct. 1, 1997, he sold an average of 4.8 homes per month.
Clift, who markets Parkwood, is very clear about the target market for the homes in this subdivision: first-time homeowners, as well as mobile-home and apartment dwellers.
He points out that 80 percent of the residents of Weld County have an income that qualifies them for a $106,000 home. He is also clear about the fact that more builders could be tapping this market if they wanted to.
"The profit margins are small, and so lots of builders aren˜t interested," he explains. "But we make up for the small margins through keeping overhead low, keeping good statistics on our market, and by building in volume."
Gary Hoover of Hartford Homes Inc. attributes the success of his two projects to the flexibility he offers through 16 different floor plans.
Stone Ridge, with its homes in the mid-$200s, is sold out; Stetson Creek, also on the southeast side of town, is on its way.
"We try to keep people happy with a near-custom product," Hoover said. "We have good follow-up after the sale and have built up to three homes for the same family. We have a long list of standard features that buyers can easily upgrade."
Features that are in: bigger baths, bigger bedrooms, bigger kitchens, new homes reflect a kind of architectural oxymoron: Make it big and cozy, private and neighborly.
And, while you˜re at it, make it affordable.

What makes a successful subdivision and home builder? Some of the region˜s top home builders say that affordability, flexible design and location are high on the list.

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The huge U.S. Homes, with three of the fastest-selling subdivisions in Larimer County and the Parkview subdivision in Greeley, the top seller in Weld County, is finding success in the production of "value oriented" homes.
Bill Stenberg, vice president and project manager for U.S. Homes in Northern Colorado, describes the new Inaugural Homes Series as homes for first-time buyers and empty nesters.
While new homes typically start at about 1,700 square feet, these homes…

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