American West Homes rolls out '99 product

     Special to Real Estate
      The calendar says it's still 1998, but American West Homes is wasting no time in introducing its 1999 series of homes. Three new neighborhoods will be opening this fall -- each featuring the company's most popular amenities and latest innovations.
      "Our 1999 series is a culmination of feedback from our homeowners. We have refined some of our best-selling homes in order to offer an even more affordable neighborhood for first-time buyers at Silverado Ranch," company president Larry Canarelli said. "We've introduced basements at American West TimberLake, and we now have home sites over one-third acre at the gate-guarded Grand Estates neighborhood. Incorporating homeowner suggestions has made American West better than ever."
      The locally based and privately owned company has ranked in the top 100 builders in the nation for the past eight years.
      "American West is a building company `born and raised' in Southern Nevada, yet we're still able to compete with all the giant public companies," Canarelli said. "This recognition to a Las Vegas builder brings credit to our community, particularly to the character and quality of homes in Southern Nevada."
      Canarelli cites other achievements, such as closing its 8,000th home in Las Vegas this year, pioneering several custom amenities and winning more than 100 local and national awards. The company is the only Las Vegas-based builder to have received the ACE award for quality construction and the only builder in the nation to receive it twice.
      "It is comforting for homeowners to know they're buying from an award-winning quality builder, and that their home is recognized by the industry for its livability and beauty," he said. "We anticipate our 1999 home series will be some of our most-applauded homes."
      Answering the call for affordable homes in Silverado Ranch, Canarelli said the company starts the string of grand openings with Silverado Terrace.
      "We brought value pricing, large bedrooms and architectural style to these very affordable homes at Silverado Terrace. We're thrilled the first- or second-time home buyer now has the opportunity to live in an American West home at Silverado Ranch," said Dan Moore, vice president of sales and marketing.
      As part of this community's 1999 series, five new floor plans are offered, priced from $117,950 and ranging from 1,400 to more than 2,000 square feet.
      Among the new floor plans, one includes a downstairs owner suite and the opportunity for an additional upstairs owner suite and game room. The largest home, anticipated to be priced in the $140,000s, features formal living and dining areas, a peninsula fireplace, four bedrooms and an optional game room addition.
      Each two-story home includes a media center, ceramic-tile counter tops, pot shelves and vinyl-framed windows. Model homes are under construction; presales are scheduled to begin in November.
      At the other end of the valley, American West TimberLake adds to its collection a new floor plan and several new amenities. The 3,900-square-foot home features formal living and dining rooms, four bedrooms and the option for a downstairs owner suite, game room and basement.
      "We are so excited about this home," sales agent Bob Amico said. "Not only is this floor plan perfect for an executive family, but with the addition of a basement, it really is a dream come true."
      Canarelli said basements continue to be a request from home buyers valleywide.
      "Building a basement in Las Vegas takes a lot of dedication. We're giving them to buyers at our cost because we believe so much in how they enhance the home and expand the living area," he said. "Now, our homeowners repeatedly confirm what a wonderful addition the basement makes to their homes."
      A new model of Plan Three also is being built, complete with the latest amenity, a gate house.
      "The gate house is a perfect addition to an executive home. It's ideal for an extra garage, private home office, game room or hobby house," Amico said. "Home buyers must see this new feature to appreciate its incredible utility."
      Homes in the neighborhood also will feature a remote keyless home-entry option.
      To visit the neighborhood, take the U.S. 95 Expressway to Centennial Parkway and turn north. The sales office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
      The second grand opening this fall, Grand Estates, is located in the northwest valley. This new gate-guarded community will feature homes measuring as many as 5,100 square feet on home sites of one-third acre. Basements will be available in four of the five floor plans.
      "Grand Estates will continue American West's value-driven pricing. We think home buyers deserve the opportunity to get their own `mansion' on a huge home site at an affordable price," Canarelli said. "Not surprisingly, even before opening this new neighborhood has generated phenomenal response from quality-conscious home buyers."
      Grand Estates also will feature homeowners' favorite neighborhood amenities -- a gate-guarded entry, green belts and front-yard gas lamps.
      To visit the sales office, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, take Cheyenne Avenue west of Durango Drive and turn north at El Capitan Way.
      Two other neighborhoods will be opening next spring in the southwest valley's Pinnacle Peaks planned community.
      The first neighborhood will be in a gated setting, and include homes with basements. A 2,800-square-foot plan will be the first single-story home to offer a basement. It will be accompanied by four other floor plans -- two-story and tri-level homes -- ranging to 5,100 square feet.
      The second neighborhood will feature downstairs owner suites, as many as six bedrooms, curved stairways and optional basements. Single-story, tri-level and two-story homes ranging to 3,600 square feet will be included. Information on these neighborhoods can be obtained from the builder's main office after the first of the year.
      American West has eight neighborhoods, with homes ranging from 1,400 to 5,100 square feet. Northwest valley projects are American West TimberLake, American West Classics, American West Estates, American West Country and Grand Estates. In the southeast at Silverado Ranch are Silverado Crossing, Silverado Canyons and Silverado Terrace. Sales offices are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.