Astoria Homes starts '99 with two grand openings

     Special to Real Estate
      Astoria Homes is starting off 1999 with Saturday grand openings of the Spring Meadows and Autumn Ridge neighborhoods in the Silverado Ranch planned community.
      "When we're designing homes, our first priority is identifying and then offering what the customer wants," said Tom McCormick, president of the company. "We survey the market, survey the competition and then research what made our most successful communities so successful before beginning the design process."
      The construction firm opened for business in 1995, with projects in the northwest and southeast. McCormick said 1997 marked a banner year for the company with five Homer awards received from the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. The 1997 Home of the Year award went to the Maple plan at Summer Heights, a home that is offered at Autumn Ridge.
      The momentum continued in 1998, as the company closed nearly 300 homes, according to McCormick, who said it received two more Homers at last year's ceremony and was recognized by a national industry magazine.
      Geoff Gorman, director of sales and marketing, said Spring Meadows and Autumn Ridge are the company's seventh and eighth projects in the valley. The sixth venture, Summer Fields, sold out all 130 homes in eight months.
      "We expect the sale rate on these communities to be commensurate with our success at Summer Fields. Offering the same great value, fantastic architectural detail and specifically designed homes for our target market, it would seem to hold true that our success would be constant," Gorman said. "In fact, before it was substantially sold out, Summer Fields was the best selling community in the greater Las Vegas Valley."
     When asked about the sales process at Astoria Homes, Gorman says, “You won’t find high pressure sales tactics used in our sales offices. Because our superior floor plan designs are combined with prices that can’t be beat, we don’t need to use those kinds of tactics. Our sales teams truly care about our customers. Not only do they want to help the customer find the home of their dreams, but also assist in the financing and customization options that meet their specific needs. Quality customer service comes first in the Astoria sales office.
      He said the homes at Spring Meadows, which range from 984 to 1,525 square feet, have picture windows, 9-foot ceilings in single-story plans and pantries.
      Interiors include breakfast bars in select plans, cultured-marble bath vanities and ceramic-tile counter tops.
      "Various factors went into designing these homes, but most important was maximizing the value -- putting space where people use it best and making it all look great," McCormick said. "For instance, The Cardinal plan at Spring Meadows is a home we are offering for the first time and it completely breaks with convention. People love this split-level design. Downstairs it offers a large game room and an oversized bedroom that can act as a second master suite. Upstairs is the main living space with a huge great room, gourmet kitchen with extra cabinetry, dining room and master suite. We also offer an enormous balcony option that is just perfect for entertaining. There is no house in the same price range with this kind of feel to it."
      He believes the most popular plan at Spring Meadows will prove to be the most popular. The 1,410-square-foot, two-story home has three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths and is priced from $116,350.
      "At a price of less than $117,000, this home is an incredible value," McCormick said. "From the moment people walk into this home, people just love it. The kitchen is huge and features extra cabinetry and a giant pantry. Upstairs is a large master suite and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom placed between the second and third bedrooms."
      Autumn Ridge has single- and two-story plans ranging from 1,502 to 2,500 square feet.
      "Large home sites, spacious backyards and dramatic architecture are just a few things that set Autumn Ridge apart from others," McCormick said. "These homes pick up where Spring Meadows leaves off. We believe these home are bigger and grander than any other homes offered in their price range."
      The neighborhood's Harvest plan has done the best in presales, according to McCormick. The home has four bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths in 2,500 square feet.
      "This is the kind of home that will make you proud to invite guests into," he said. "You won't get more for your money anywhere else in Silverado Ranch. The presale figures speak for themselves about the value and design of this home.
      The award-winning Maple plan comes with three bedrooms and a loft in 1,883 square feet. The owner suite on the first floor features a dual vanity and separate tub and shower.
      "The downstairs master suite is a concept that has been very successful in two other communities we've recently sold out," Gorman said. "People enjoy the convenience of having the master suite located on the first floor, while still having all the advantages of two-story living."