Signature Homes is unveiling a “single family home” concept that is new to the Northern San Joaquin Valley at River Islands at Lathrop.

Think Livermore townhouses without the endless row of homes and the garage on the alley. And they range from 1,625 to 2,200 square feet of living space in a 2-story floorplan and not three stories with two sets of stairs.

They are townhomes with a valley twist, complete with a small back yard and a small front yard.

It takes the triplex of your grandfather’s era and rethinks it.

There are three-attached single family homes in a row.

Each are sold separately and incudes the land.

There are common walls but only home-to-garage or garage-to-garage.

There are no second floor windows looking into another home.

And the neighborhood includes a clubhouse with a swimming pool.

It’s Enclave by Signature Homes.

The second generation of family home builders is debuting Enclave that features three model home floorplans on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prices will start in the low $500,000s.

The builder is able to reduce costs by having one crew pour the foundation, frame, and such using one set of plans. That, coupled with high density that allows more homes, enables Signature to build to the same quality level and standards as their other River Islands neighborhoods at a lower price point.

More non-traditional

‘tract’ homes on the way

River Islands builders are also cueing up more options involving detached single family homes that:

*increase affordability without reducing the interior amenities.

*reduce infrastructure costs by “clustering” homes on a shared driveway.

*enhance interaction between neighbors that those who live in similar housing clusters rate high to enhanced lifestyles.

*law enforcement experts indicate reduces the chance of property crime due to neighbors looking out for each other.

*reduced long-range infrsascfrture maintenance and replacement costs given there are more homes per 1,000 linear feet of sewer, water, and storm lines. That means when major city work is down in the future, the cost is spread out among more households.

*slow farmland and open space conversion to provide housing needed due to growth.

River Islands already has two packs and four packs as well as their kissing cousin known as motor courts.

Motor court homes using a shared driveway are breaking ground soon as part of the next phase of the 818-home Lumina at Machado Ranch in Manteca on the southwest corner of Airport Way and Woodward Avenue.

River Islands builders are introducing detached single family homes in an eight-pack configuration.

Van Daele — a third generation builder — is also offering another neighborhood featuring their popular bungalows.

The bungalows feature three free standing two-story homes.

There are a pair of two-story bungalows with front courtyards facing the street with an access walkway between them to the ground floor entrance to a two-story carriage house in the back. The carriage house sits atop garages for all three residences. The garages are accessed from the alley.

The two bungalows have backyards.

The existing Van Daele bungalow neighborhood features homes ranging from 1,447 to 1,826 square feet.

River Islands & market

has hit sweet spot

River Islands builders, just like most statewide, have had to make adjustments to housing prices that brought them down between 10 and 20 percent lower, depending upon where they are located in California, due to higher interest rates.

Contracts for new homes at River Islands are now average six to eight a week, after falling from the steady average of 10 a week through the first part of the year.

That means River Islands is still on pace to sell 420 to 500 homes by year’s end in the planned community of 15,001 homes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com