Rhodes expands 'affordable' golf-course lifestyle

     Special to Real Estate
      Rhodes Homes offers a golf-course lifestyle for families and second-home buyers at Rhodes Ranch Country Club, where presales are under way for another phase of homes.
      The new phase of more than 300 homes will be priced from the $130,000s.
      "(The new phase) offers a great opportunity for country club living at an affordable price," sales agent Mark Warden said. "Presales have been better than expected. We have already sold more than 100 homes, and the (model homes) have not even been completed."
      Sales manager Ron Sgrillo said the builder's goal is to provide an affordable golf course community in the southwestern valley.
      "The golf course and our location are our main selling points," Sgrillo said. "If you could buy a comparable home for $160,000 with another builder, would you rather live in an open subdivision or a gated golf course community? Since some of our present housing ranges over the $400,000 mark, this new phase at Rhodes Ranch allows residents to live in a very exclusive setting that can be affordable and include great amenities at the same time."
      Buyers can choose from six single- and two-story designs in the new phase, which will feature two neighborhood parks. Floor plans range from 1,490 to 2,774 square feet and are priced from $138,750 to $190,450. Model homes are scheduled to open by the end of the year.
      Warden said Plan 2556 is an updated version of the builder's tri-level model featured at the Northern Lights and Tiburon neighborhoods, while Plan 1733 comes with an island workstation in the kitchen that opens to a great room. All homes are built with a two-car garage with the exception of Plan 2774, which has a three-car garage.
      Mountain view and golf-course home sites are available aligning the Ted Robinson-designed championship course, which opened in November 1997. The 6,800-yard course comprises several of Robinson's signature par 3s, valley views and hundreds of palm trees.
      "Homeowners and residents get course discounts and advance tee times, and the clubhouse is available to the public and residents for breakfast and lunch," Warden said.
      The 7,000-square-foot clubhouse has a restaurant, lounge, indoor and outdoor seating and a pro shop. A two-mile walking and jogging path winds through the golf course. Construction is slated to begin next year on a recreation center with a pool, tennis courts and sand volleyball pits.
      Residents are assessed homeowners association fees.
      To visit, take Rainbow Boulevard to Warm Springs Road, travel two miles west to Durango Drive and turn south. Sales office hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
      The builder is also selling homes at The Meadows II, Northern Lights and The Preserve at Elkhorn Springs; Tiburon, Granada Hills, Madrid, Spanish Hills and Vistana in the southwest; and The Estates and Sunset Pointe at Palm Hills and Palm Gardens in the southeastern valley.