By DENNIS WYATT
The Bulletin
The weather isn’t the only thing that’s hot in Manteca.
New home builders are starting 50 homes a month as demand is starting to surge.
And no one knows this better than Kathy Hammons.
She’s the director of sales for Atherton Homes.
Atherton Homes since 1998 has consistently been either the No. 1 or No. 2 leading builder and seller of homes in Manteca. That string, however, is about to come to an end. It’s because the housing market has picked up faster than Atherton Homes can break ground on new neighborhoods.
Atherton Homes have five model homes, two spec homes, and three lots left until next year when they expect to have lots ready to build in a new neighborhood east of Pillsbury Road south of the 120 Bypass.
Atherton Homes had hoped that building homes on two former school sites — Union Ranch and Tesoro — would carry them until the new project was ready to go. But the 61 lots sold in just less than six months.
What Atherton Homes has left are five model homes in Union Ranch, two spec homes under construction in Union Ranch, and two lots that will be available when the sales pavilion is moved. There is also one lot left in Tesoro where there is a temporary construction yard. Actually there is a second lot but Atherton Homes plans to house the sales pavilion there for pre-sales when they start for the Pillsbury Road project.
The first sale at the 315 homes that Atherton built in Union Ranch came in 2008 at the start of the housing slump.
Hammons noted Atherton Homes was able to keep subcontractors on the job, something the firm is proud of given they are all local firms that employ Manteca area workers. In fact, Hammons noted, they have been able to add new workers thanks to Union Ranch sales.
Arguably the best
deals in Manteca
The five model homes Atherton Homes have to sell might just qualify as the best new housing deals in Manteca. Since they are ready to move in, interest rates can be locked in immediately. At the same time buyers using Academy Mortgage qualify for $10,000 toward closing costs.
And — if the buyer is so inclined — they can make an offer for the interior and exterior furnishing. That couples with mature landscaping means a buyer would have a home ready to move into.
The two spec homes and lots also come with the $10,000 incentives toward closing costs of Academy Mortgage is used. They also have a $10,000 upgrade incentive.
The reason the model homes don’t have the upgrade incentive is simple. They are loaded with all valuable upgrade ranging from $102,000 worth of upgrades to $165,000 worth.
The model homes range from the single-story Capstone with 2,141 square feet, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two-car garage with storage a gas fireplace at the lanai and a beverage center on a 9,000-square-foot lot featuring $105,000 worth of upgrades for $499,990 to the two-story Pinnacle model featuring 4,041 square feet with five bedrooms including a casita (second generation living quarters), 4.5 bathrooms, bonus room, two-car garage with side storage, wine room on an 8,389-square-foot lot with $164,000 worth of upgrades for $629,900.
New neighborhoods
offering new concepts
Hammons noted the next Atherton Homes neighborhood featuring 360 homes will offer some new concepts in neighborhood layouts. There also will be new model homes plus several carryover models that have been popular with buyers at Union Ranch.
They will offer large lots and five single home plans — along with a two-story plan. Several of the single floor homes are larger to meet the market demand of having larger homes that are single story. There also will be more second generation living areas included as well as a host of drought-resistant landscaping option.
The Union Ranch sales office for Atherton Homes is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2517 Edgebrook Lane. For more information go to www.atherton-homes.com or call 209.824.2072.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
