There is a reason why Del Webb was able to sell almost three out of every 10 new homes in Manteca during the past five years of The Great Recession.

Del Webb has a history of offering what targeted buyers - those who are over 55 and enjoy active lifestyles - want.

If you doubt that consider this: During the deepest point of the mortgage crisis, values of most homes in Manteca regardless of age or size plunged almost 59 percent. That wasn’t the case for Del Webb at Woodbridge resales. The few that were on the resale market were off the peak value by 10 to 15 percent at most. Conventional wisdom would say that’s nuts. Why? Well, the more restricted your market is, the argument is there are less potential buyers which means less demand and therefore lower prices.

Del Webb, though, is astute at listening to the wants and desires of their clients and adjusting floor plans and communities accordingly.

That is way the latest generation of Woodbridge by Del Webb models that debut to the public today during a grand opening event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  are creating a buzz.

“Several years of research, thought and creativity have gone into the design of these homes to ensure they support personal rejuvenation, social interaction, entertainment, and easy, effortless living,” according to Patricia Morgan, vice president of sales for the company’s Northern California Division. “These new home plans represent an exciting, fresh direction in home design, blending the concepts of universal design for ageless living with higher energy efficiency and connectivity.”

The new plans range in size from 1,329 to more than 2,618 square feet, with options that can include oversized garages, “snore rooms,” flex spaces, wet bars, hearth rooms.

They are the first new models since the first home sold six years ago at Woodbridge northwest of Union Road and Lathrop Road in North Manteca. The planned community of 1,408 homes is about at the halfway mark in terms of building homes.

Those original models are still innovative today. The largest floor plan, for example, offered a master bathroom suite with his and her commode areas - (with privacy doors or course) - and little touches such as smooth transactions (no threshold bumps) from bathroom floor to shower floor.

It may not seem like much but Del Webb works at eliminating irritations and inconveniences in a home’s design while catering aggressively to active lifestyles.

Some examples of Del Webb’s consumer research incorporated into the latest models are as follows:

Love to entertain

The new plans are designed with living spaces that are brighter and more open than ever before. There is excellent flow between eating and entertaining spaces, options like ‘hearth rooms” that expand the family room space for use as hobby area, more entertaining space or lounging.

Want their home to be more convenient and efficient

Things like laundry rooms near owners suites, low threshold entries, optional low threshold master showers and “everyday entries” where you can put down items as you enter the home.

Seek places for rejuvenation

Spa-like master bathrooms, optional hearth rooms, optional retreats and dual master suites (often called snore rooms).  The “retreat” (snore room) provides a secondary bedroom connection to the master bedroom for couples who are on different schedules.

Want flexibility

Rooms that allow homeowners to determine usage based upon their desires and needs.  These flex spaces offer options that allow customers to configure them as secondary bedrooms or dens and can be used any way they want.

Woodbridge by Del Webb features 28,000-square-foot Lakeview a Clubhouse with state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools and spas, billiards, club and craft rooms, community living room and retreat, multi-purpose rooms, demonstration kitchen, and outdoor barbecue and fire pit areas.  The community’s 12-acre park is complete with a catch-and-release fishing lake, walking and biking trails, bocce, basketball and tennis courts, 18-hole professional putting course and the Del Webb Softball Field featuring spectator seating, concession stand and electronic scoreboard.

Models are open daily. For more information or for driving directions, please visit www.delwebb.com/woodbridge or call (877) 922-9322.