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MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS ON SALE
River Islands now offering unique custom home sites
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The Boathouse Restaurant at River Islands with Mt. Diablo in the background.

Here come the million dollar views.
River Islands at Lathrop is now selling the first 70 of what will arguably be the 990 most breath-taking home sites in the Northern San Joaquin Valley when it comes to panoramic views of the Sierra, the San  Joaquin River, and Mt. Diablo along with the rest of the Coastal Ranges.
The lots will sell for between $200,000 and $400,000. Once homes are built, each home site will essentially have $1 million plus homes.
What makes them rare are a number of things:
uNowhere else along the San Joaquin River can you build a home that is basically atop the levee. River Islands is able to do so thanks to the super-sized 300-foot wide level that gives the 11,000-home planned community protection exceeding 200-year flood standards.
uThe elevated vantage roughly at mid-point across the width of the valley provides an unparalleled view not just of the San Joaquin River, Old River and Paradise Cut but Mt. Diablo and the Coastal Ranges as well as the Sierra mountains.
uA 17-mile circular greenbelt  park around River Islands with a jogging/bicycling path will literally be accessible from your backyard.
uThe elevated vantage point will also provide a commanding view of the community that will be dotted with manmade lakes and parks.
River Islands Project Manager Susan Dell’Osso said that in talking with prospective buyers they have found they are taken aback somewhat  from the process required to custom build a home. It’s a process that can take a year even when you know what you are doing.
River Islands is in the process of securing a firm that will essentially provide concierge style services for a custom home lot buyer who needs to secure an architect, builder and apply for various permits and financing. Custom homes typically involve two loans — one to build the home and then a replacement loan for the traditional mortgage.
Making the process a little more challenging is the review process needed to assure buyers that no two homes among the 990 that will be built will be a carbon copy of another home along the greenbelt  while at the same time complementing other homes.
For local river enthusiasts, the first 70 lots may have a somewhat stronger appeal. That’s because they are on the wider San Joaquin River and overlook sandy beaches and natural habitat areas plus are between the iconic Mossdale railroad bridge crossing and the new Bradshaw Crossing for River Islands Parkway.
That said, Dell’Osso notes all 990 lots have been planned to offer panoramic views of water ways, River Islands, the mountain ranges to the east and west as well as the valley in general.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com