The impact on Manteca of Del Webb at Woodbridge — Pulte Homes’ community for those 55 years and older — continues to be felt.

In April, Del Webb accounted for 24 of the 52 new single family homes that were started in the City of Manteca.

The remaining 28 homes were split between three builders — Atherton Homes with nine homes, Meritage Homes with 11 homes, and Raymus Homes with eight homes.

During the Great Recession when Manteca was averaging 300 new homes starts a year — more than the combined total in all of the rest of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced counties for three years — Del Webb accounted for between 28 and 40 percent of housing starts each year.

The typical Del Webb buyer for the most part is better financially situated than moist other home buyers given the fact their children are grown and they are either retired or nearing it. The influx has helped boost retail and service spending not to mention support of non-profit efforts and schools through volunteer time and donations.