There are various yardsticks to judge a neighborhood before you buy — the overall cleanliness, low crime rates, and amenities such as plenty of walking paths.

Union Ranch in north Manteca has another measurement that speaks volumes. Of the three homes available on the resale market, two of them are from families planning to move into another home in the same neighborhood.

“Its great neighborhood,” said Jessie Barrett of PMZ Real Estate who has one of those three homes listed at 886 Golden Pond Drive of $329,999.

Barrett should know. She also lives in the neighborhood.

So why are the residents so sold on the neighborhood?

There are a number of reasons. Almost from the first day a home was finished, there have been neighborhood gatherings. The design of the streets makes it a “closed” neighborhood eliminating through traffic to further enhance safety and reducing noise. There is also a large neighborhood park.

There are numerous walking paths, a feature that attracted Barrett. There’s neighborhood shopping nearby including a Raley’s, East Union High is less than a half mile away. Freeway access is easy to Highway 99. Plus you are within easy traveling distance of other shopping and amenities.

But perhaps the biggest draw is where the neighborhood is located. It is north of Lathrop Road – something that doesn’t mean much – unless you know that it is the current top loop of the city’s sewer system, Because of that, all but a few hundred of the 14,000 homes in various stages of the planning  and development process are not anywhere near Union Ranch.

Most of the housing growth is to the south of the 120 Bypass. That means it will be a long time before the area east and north of the neighborhood is anything much more than almond orchards and farmland.

The neighborhood even has its own Facebook page to help residents keep tabs on everything from lost pets to neighborhood happenings.

OK, so the neighborhood passes muster with flying colors. What about the homes? Atherton Homes and Woodside Homes — the two neighborhood builders — have a sterling reputation for quality.

As for the home at 886 Golden Pond it is 1,651-0quare-foot home with the feeling of a much larger dwelling thanks to its layout. At the same time it features a rarity for a newer home its size. It is on a relatively large lot of 7,619 square feet. The result is an oversized backyard and an usually large side yard.

The home itself is three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Built in 2010, the sellers have since upgraded the tile throughout, put in new backsplash and quartz counters in the kitchen, added garage cabinets, and added a sink in the laundry room.

There is a tankless water heater, fans in all bedrooms, lights over the dining bar, and garden beds with automatic sprinklers

The laundry room is off the oversized entry hall.

The two secondary bedrooms are to one side of the home in a “wing” to their own complete with a bathroom.

The master bedroom suite is kitty corner on the far side of the home off the kitchen/dining area. It has oversized windows looking out to the backyard and a large master bathroom.

The living room also has a bank of large windows looking out on the covered patio. There is also a gas log fireplace in the living room.

As for the sellers, if you buy the home they will be your new neighbors. They are moving into a larger home under construction on the street directly behind the home they are selling.

For information on the home call Barrett at 209.239.6119 or email jessiebarrettrealtor@gmail.com.