Looking forward, rather than short-term, made sense for Dr. Carrie Chun and her husband, Matthew Waizmann, when they decided to buy a new home at Bridle Ridge in Carmel Country Highlands.

“We can really see ourselves living here for an extended amount of time,” said Carrie Chun, M.D. “After buying several homes and moving a few times, this is the first home we were really looking forward to buying because we are planning on staying here for the long term. Bridle Ridge is a nice, easy commute to work and having a home located on a canyon offers us a lot of privacy. Bridle Ridge was just what we were looking for, both in size and price.”

Dr. Chun and her husband were also impressed with their new home’s layout and choice of options, as well as the ease of buying a new home from Pardee Homes. “From the sales team to the on-site construction superintendent, everyone was very helpful,” said Chun. “The sales staff was easy to work with, and the design center staff was especially helpful when it came to guiding us in making any number of decisions when selecting options.”

Smart home buyers like Carrie and Matthew know that in today’s changing economic times buying a new home is truly an investment in the future, and with Pardee Homes’ LivingSmart® program they are getting a new home that offers a distinctive way of life, one that helps preserve the land and its precious resources while also making the home environment more comfortable and efficient. The LivingSmart® program of earth-friendly features is designed to encourage conservation and the use of recycled or sustainable resources. Standard and optional features include such choices as energy- efficient lighting, solar electric power and tankless water heaters.

In addition to being a LivingSmart® neighborhood, Bridle Ridge is a certified California Green Builder neighborhood, which means these homes offer significant improvements in energy efficiency, indoor air quality and comfort, on-site waste recycling and water and wood conservation. California Green Builder homes are designed and built to exceed Title 24 standards by at least 15% and use at least 20,000 gallons less water than similar, newly constructed ‘non-green’ homes.

As part of the Carmel Country Highlands master-planned community, every homeowner at Bridle Ridge enjoys easy access to open space, hiking trails, nearby schools, parks and convenient shopping all in a coveted, coastal close location, adjacent to Carmel Valley and just minutes from La Jolla, UCSD and the beaches of Del Mar. The community is currently served by schools in the highly rated Del Mar Unified School District and the San Dieguito Union High School District.

The Derby Hill Customer Care and Sales teams received stellar scores from home buyers Kyong and Gloria Limas An in a Eliant, Inc. consumer research survey rating Pardee’s teams as well as the buyer’s overall satisfaction. “Straight A’s translate into 100% satisfaction and means we are doing our job and reaching our goal of excellence when it comes to meeting the needs of our buyers,” said Ricki Fein, Derby Hill sales representative. “We’re thrilled that the An family is so happy with their new home and take great satisfaction in knowing that we met or exceeded their expectations.”

“Along with safety, customer satisfaction is Pardee’s top priority,” said Randy Baggett, construction superintendent for Pardee Homes. “Our goal is excellence, so it looks like we are on the right track.”

Eliant, a consumer research company catering exclusively to the new home industry, surveys new home buyers in categories that include overall satisfaction, purchase, home personalization , construction, home occupancy and finance experiences as well as installation and workmanship.

Kyong and Gloria Limas An are no strangers to the home buying experience. Their new Plan 3 home at Derby Hill is their third Pardee home. They previously owned homes at nearby Saratoga at Carmel Country Highlands and before that they lived at Pardee’s Pacific Ridge. The An family, which also includes eight year old Melanie, five-year old Danny and Gloria’s father, Jesse Limas, knew exactly what they wanted, and waited for the perfect Derby Hill cul-de-sac lot with a canyon view. They are enjoying everything about their spacious Derby Hill home -- from the third floor playroom to the warm and inviting entry courtyard. Gloria is still enchanted with home’s design and layout, while Kyong who is an engineer, is all about the energy-efficient features.

“We have the solar electric power system with rooftop photovoltaic cells, tankless water heater, whole-house water conditioning system, and energy efficient appliances which translate into big-time savings,” said Kyong. “We are paying less in energy bills here than we did at Saratoga, a home that was half the size. We are ever so grateful that Pardee offers energy-saving features at Derby Hill.”

The An family’s move to Derby Hill was also the merging of two households and three generations. With Gloria’s dad living in the casita and the kids having their own hangout in the third floor loft there is privacy for everyone. “We are in love with the design and layout of this home,” added Gloria. “We were already sold on the walkable location and good schools before we moved here. Now we have it all.”

Pardee Homes’ distinctive LivingSmart® program of earth friendly features and options makes sense for Portico home buyers, especially those that opt for a roof-integrated solar electric power system. Buyers like Steve and Inez Elgie say paying an electricity bill is almost a thing of the past at their Portico home.

“Electricity is pretty much a wash,” said Steve Elgie. “We are running our air conditioning 24/7 this summer and are still happily surprised to see our gas and electric bill every month. It has fluctuated between $12 and $19 a month.” (Energy savings may vary.)

The Elgies, who purchased a Plan 3D at Portico in 2005, chose this particular home for its location and the 2.4kW solar package. Select home sites at Portico have been designed and properly oriented to the sun to accommodate a roof-integrated solar electric power system.

“We had no idea how great the solar would be,” added Elgie. “I am a huge proponent of renewable energy and would now, after living at Portico, never own a home without it. I am currently looking into adding more roof top panels so we can switch our hot water heater and gas dryer to solar.”

Priced from the high $600,000s, Portico features a stylish collection of detached homes and an exceptionally pleasing street scene that incorporates authentic early-California architectural details and the convenience of garages with rear alley entries. An inviting green belt weaves through parts of the neighborhood and residents can easily walk to the private, Pacific Highlands Ranch Recreation Center. In addition, all front yard installation is included and front yards are maintained by the HOA.

There are for four floor plans available with three to four bedrooms, two and one-half to three baths and approximately 2,165 to 2,408 square feet. Interior features include dramatic ceilings, stately entry foyers, fireplaces and spacious master bedroom suites with luxurious bathrooms, private dressing areas and walk-in closets. Gourmet kitchens have convenient food preparation islands, spacious storage pantries, and a General Electric® Profile™ appliance package. Standard energy-saving features include fluorescent lighting, General Electric® Energy Star® dishwashers, dimmer switches and engineered high-performance lumber. Living Smart® options include a tankless water heater, high-efficiency air filtration systems and low fiber flooring.

For more information call (858) 350-9492 or visit www.pardeehomes.com. To visit the sales office and model homes from I-5, take 56 east to Carmel Valley Road and turn left. Go north and then turn left at Pacific Highlands Parkway.

The Southern Nevada Division of Pardee Homes has received a straight-A report card from home buyers surveyed by a consumer research company focusing on customer satisfaction, according to Doug Cazin, Pardee corporate director of customer service.

“Along with safety, customer satisfaction is Pardee’s top priority,” said Cazin. “Our goal is excellence, so it looks like we are on the right track.”

Eliant, a consumer research company catering exclusively to the new home industry, surveys new home buyers in categories that include overall satisfaction, purchase, home personalization , construction, home occupancy and finance experiences as well as installation and workmanship. Based on 120 surveys, the most recent report period gave Pardee all A scores.

So do Bob and Lisa Lawson, who live in Pardee’s Highgate neighborhood in Providence with their children Tori, 16, Taylor, 12 and Ellie, three. One of the reasons is the quick response they get from Pardee customer service representative Bill Bruce when they have questions about their new home. “Pardee is on top of everything and Bill is one of the best service people in the industry,” said Bob, a Metro Police detective in the Homeland Security division. “From sales to financing to service, this has been a very pleasant experience.”

Lisa, a stay-at-home mom and substitute teacher, said that while there have been no problems with their new home, “Bill still knocks on the door to see if we need help with anything. He even introduces us to new neighbors who have become good friends.”

Cazin, who has worked in Pardee’s customer service area for 18 years, said the builder’s focus is always to exceed home buyer expectations.

“The success of the Las Vegas team is a result of the commitment made by our President Mike McGee to be a leader in homeowner satisfaction,” Cazin said. “That commitment was embraced by the Las Vegas team.”

Mark and Becky Talcott, who love living at Canyon Hills, purchased a home here five years ago, and are still as sold on the community today, as they were then. “The area is the main reason we moved here from Menifee,” said Mark Talcott. “It’s secluded, quiet, and the views are awe-inspiring. I am happy to know that the open space and hills surrounding our home will remain intact. Plus we love the location and appreciate having great recreation amenities and a new shopping center in the neighborhood. Almost everything we need is nearby. There is no comparison between the beautiful topography and amenities here at Canyon Hills and in neighboring communities, plus I work at home and geographically, this location is ideal. There is easy access to two interstate freeways and two major airports are just an hour away, as are the beaches, mountains and desert.”

The Talcotts purchased a home at Pardee’s Laurel Ridge, one of the first five neighborhoods to be built at Canyon Hills, not long after the community opened in 2002. They were fortunate enough to be among the first to experience the high-tech connectivity that helped make Canyon Hills so successful. “Pre-wiring in every room has given me the freedom and ability to work from home just as easily as if I worked from a large corporate office,” added Talcott. “Our Verizon™ FiOS™ internet connection is awesome, providing me with extremely fast and reasonably priced service via an underground fiber optic network.”

With a variety of new, reduced-price homes available for sale, location is even more important than ever for the homebuyer looking for a good deal. Master planned communities, like Pardee Homes’ Canyon Hills in Lake Elsinore, offer not only a variety or new home choices, but added value found in community amenities, recreation, schools and a beautiful, serene setting that has been known to make a lasting impression not only on first-time visitors, but long time residents as well.

There are currently four new home neighborhoods, with prices starting in the mid $100,000s at Brookview Terrace, now selling. Brookview Terrace is a collection of two-story townhomes with two to three bedrooms and up to approximately 1,633 square feet. This gated neighborhood has its own outstanding recreation amenities including a swimming pool, spa, steam room, saunas, state-of-the-art fitness facility, elegant great room, catering kitchen and clubhouse. The final homes are selling at Silverthorne, Broadleaf and Stonefield, neighborhoods that feature detached single-family homes priced from low $300,000s.

Ideally located amidst the scenic rolling hillsides of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Hills residents enjoy a unique, natural setting where over 900 acres are dedicated to open space and a community Intranet with Verizon’s™ FiOS™ fiber optic network connection that reaches every new home. The nearly 2,000-acre community is projected to include up to 4,000 homes, three themed villages with their own unique identifiable elements and land forms, schools, neighborhood parks and community recreation centers, many of which are already in place, including Creekside Park, and Creekside Recreation Center featuring a junior Olympic-size pool, clubhouse, picnic areas, playground and basketball court. A second brand new private community recreation center with a beautiful swimming pool and spa is now open in Foothill Village. Nearby Canyon Hills Marketplace offers convenience shopping, dining and additional services, including Starbucks®, Bank of America and Longs Drugs.

Justin and Nanda Olney were the first to discover Pardee Homes’ Chestnut Hill neighborhood in Providence. It wasn’t long after that their friends Dale and Katy Horba decided to make the move, too, to Chestnut Hill.

Justin Olney and Dale Horba are both Clark County firefighters, assigned to the same station, and now they reside on the same street with just one house separating them.

“It is a great neighborhood, with lots of young families like ours,” said Dale Horba. “And we love all that is planned for Providence, including parks and ball fields. It is a great community for families.”

The Olneys, along with their children Ryan, age 5, and Rochelle, age 3, purchased a Residence Three at Chestnut Hill and moved in last November. The Horbas, along with their infant son Zachary, also purchased a Residence Three and moved in just a few weeks after their friends.

“We looked at several builders in the area, and, had even gone as far as making a deposit on another house when we discovered Chestnut Hill,” said Justin Olney. “Our Pardee experience was far superior to what we had experienced from other builders -- from our sales agent to the customer service representatives – it has all been very positive.”

Justin Olney and Dale Horba both moved to Southern Nevada in 2005 and became friends while training to be firefighters. Horba was previously a firefighter in his hometown of Cleveland, while Olney moved from Southern California with a goal of becoming a firefighter.

“The opportunities here are great and we’re proud to be a part of the community,” said Dale Horba.

A limited number of homes remain at Chestnut Hill, with final homes being sold from Pardee’s Highgate neighborhood, located just down the street. Chestnut Hill features four two-story floor plans that range in size from approximately 2,159 to 2,896 square feet while Highgate offers four floor plans that range in size from approximately 2,221 to 3,413 square feet.

The Olneys and Horbas both selected Residence Three at Chestnut Hill, which measures approximately 2,221 square feet with up to four bedrooms, three baths and a two-bay expanded garage.

Chestnut Hill Residence One measures approximately 2,159 square feet with up to four bedrooms and a two-bay garage while Residence Two measures approximately 2,432 square feet with up to five bedrooms, two bay garage, living and dining areas, large entry and spacious family room and kitchen.

Chestnut Hill Residence Four measures approximately 2,896 square feet with up to five bedrooms, three baths and expanded two-bay garage and optional loft in lieu of bedroom three.

To reach Highgate, exit from the 215 Beltway at Hualapai Way and travel north. Take Dorrell Lane north and follow the signs to Highgate. For more information on available homes at Chestnut Hill or Highgate, please call 702-696-2852. Pardee Homes’ sales offices are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday. Visit www.pardeehomes.com for information on all Pardee Homes’ neighborhoods in Southern Nevada.

The families of two sisters who grew up in Hawthorne, Nevada, have returned to the state to find homes next door to each other in the new Pardee Homes neighborhood of Montclaire in the heart of new Henderson.

Ragini Bhakta, her husband Snehal and three-year-old daughter Hridi, joined her sister Bhavana and her husband, Dr. Sushil Patel in moving from Kansas City to Southern Nevada to look for a community close to parks, shopping, restaurants and good schools – all the family-friendly amenities they liked in their former location.

“But we wanted a warmer climate,” said Snehal.

“Luck, chance and destiny brought us to Montclaire,” he said. “After shopping all over Las Vegas we found that Pardee Homes was the right choice for us.”

He said while other builders were willing to work with them in dealing with numbers, Pardee representatives presented their cases and let their product speak for itself. The families were attracted to Montclaire because of the floor plans, convenient location, and because Hridi could walk to a private park within the gated community.

“We also liked the fact that Pardee builds environmentally responsible homes,” said Ragini, a professor at the Pharmacy School at the University of Southern Nevada. Bhavana, an elementary school teacher, liked the flexibility of design that includes a hobby room in her floor plan, in addition to a walk-through pantry.

Located in Henderson just south of St. Rose Parkway at Horizon Ridge Parkway and Jeffreys Street, Montclaire is a Pardee EnergySmart™ neighborhood where homes are enhanced with money-saving and energy-efficient features such selective glass that helps keep the homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, as well as increased ceiling insulation and sealed ducts for improved air quality. Every EnergySmart home is designed and independently certified to exceed local energy codes.

Montclaire’s collection of six one- and two-story luxury homes features up to six bedrooms and four baths in approximately 2,368 to 3,959 square feet of living space. Price from approximately $329,950 to $411,950, the homes feature large kitchens, two- and three-bay garages, dens and bonus rooms.

Montclaire Plan One measures approximately 2,368 square feet in a single-story design with a three-bay garage, three bedrooms and a den or optional fourth bedroom. The home also can be built with an optional master-bedroom retreat. Plan Two at Montclaire measures approximately 2,786 square feet in a two-story design with a three-bay tandem garage. The home can be built with up to six bedrooms and three baths. Montclaire Plan Three measures up to approximately 3,380 square feet with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and two-bay garage in a two-story design. The home can be built with an optional fourth bedroom suite with bath and an optional media room/optional bedroom five and loft or bathroom in lieu of the standard bonus room.

Plan Four measures approximately 3,643 square feet with up to five bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The two-story home has a three-bay garage, laundry/hobby room or optional four-bay tandem garage, bonus room and den or optional bedroom five.

Montclaire Plan Five is available in two versions – Five and FiveX. Plan Five measures approximately 3,449 square feet with four bedrooms and three baths, three-bay garage, library and loft while the Plan FiveX measures approximately 3,959 square feet with six bedrooms and up to four bathrooms, loft, library and three-bay garage.

To reach Montclaire, take Eastern Avenue south of St. Rose Parkway and turn right on Horizon Ridge Parkway. Follow Horizon Ridge west then turn left on Jeffreys Street. The entrance is ahead, on the left. Pardee Homes’ sales offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday. For additional information, please call 492-0129 or visit www.pardeehomes.com/montclaire.

One of the West’s largest and longest-established home builders, Pardee has built homes for more than 35,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952, and has developed several master-planned communities, including Spring Valley, Rancho Las Palmas, Eldorado and Nevada Trails.

Joshua and Cassidy Stanley were finally ready to purchase a home.

“We had been living with my parents while I attended school to become a pharmacist and we were ready to have our own home,” said Joshua Stanley, who now works as a pharmacist for a major retail chain.

The couple, parents of young sons Jordan, age 6, and Andrew, age 4, spent a full year only looking at resale homes and foreclosures. Finally, their real estate agent took them to Pardee Homes’ Horizon in the Eldorado master-planned community of North Las Vegas.

“We were amazed at what we could get at Horizon, where we were able to purchase not just a home -- our dream home -- for a little bit more than we were preparing to spend on a resale or foreclosed home that would have needed a lot of work,” said Joshua Stanley. “We are thankful that our real estate agent showed us what a new home could offer and grateful to have a beautiful new home to call our own.”

The family is also excited by the location, which is close to well-established parks, including the boy’s favorite Nature Discovery Park. They also like that their new home is part of Pardee’s EnergySmart™ program.

EnergySmart homes are enhanced with money-saving and energy-efficient features including spectrally selective glass that will keep the homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter and additional ceiling insulation and sealed ducts for improved air quality and reduced energy loss. Every EnergySmart home is designed and independently certified to exceed local energy codes.

Rob Tuvell, regional sales director for Pardee Homes, said Horizon is a great neighborhood choice for first-time homebuyers like the Stanleys.

“When you buy a home from Pardee, you are also buying into our legacy in Southern Nevada, where we’ve built homes for more than 30,000 families since 1952,” said Tuvell. “And, you get the backing of a company that stands behind its product, something you won’t always get when you purchase a foreclosure.”

Located in Eldorado Highlands, on the north end of Pardee’s Eldorado master-planned community and near Aliante, Horizon features one- and two-story homes with up to five bedrooms and four baths in four floor plans that range in size from approximately 2,027 to 3,010 square feet of living space with home sites that average approximately 6,000 square feet. Exteriors feature Spanish Colonial, Andalusian and Italian designs and prices start from approximately the high $200,000s.

Horizon Residence One measures approximately 2,027 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, studio and two-bay garage in a single-story design that can be built with an optional den in lieu of bedroom three.

Horizon Residence Two measures approximately 2,377 square feet in a single-story design with three bedrooms, two baths, den and two-bay garage with workshop. The floor plan features an optional fourth bedroom and third bath in lieu of the den and optional three-bay garage.

Residence Three measures approximately 2,769 square feet in a two-story design with four bedrooms, three baths, loft, three-bay tandem garage and optional fifth bedroom in lieu of the loft. The home also features an optional guest suite. Horizon Residence Four measures approximately 3,010 square feet with four bedrooms, three baths, bonus room and two-bay garage with workshop. The two-story home features an optional fifth bedroom and fourth bath in lieu of the bonus room and optional three-bay garage.

The Eldorado community includes a fire station, an elementary school named in honor of the late Pardee executive Lee Antonello, the adjacent Eldorado Park, and the 23-acre Seastrand Park, both donated by Pardee to the City of North Las Vegas.

To visit the Horizon neighborhood from the 215 Beltway, exit south on Aliante Parkway then turn left onto Deer Springs Way. Take Deer Springs east to Gentle Brook Street and turn right. The sales office and models are located just ahead and are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 702-642-0281 or visit www.pardeehomes.com/horizon.

For Kerry and Alison Christoffersen, the Sunrise Mountain area has been home for more than two decades. And, when the couple and their four children began looking for a new home, they found exactly what they wanted at Pardee Homes’ Crestline at Sunrise Highlands.

“Our previous house had been our home for more than 20 years and was where we welcomed each of our four children,” said Alison. “But, it was time for something new and more in line with our current needs so we started looking at model homes and visited many from Aliante to Mountain’s Edge.”

To the family’s surprise and delight, they found just what they were looking for right in their own backyard, the Residence Four at Crestline.

“We really liked the layout of the home and the fact that it has five bedrooms – one for each child,” said Kerry. “But, what has made us happiest is our experience with Pardee – from our sales agent to the customer service representatives. This home buying experience has been very positive for us and in sharp contrast to what we experienced with our previous home.”

The Christoffersens’ four children include daughters Kayla, age 17 and Keaton, age 14, both students at nearby Las Vegas High School, son Kaden, age nine and daughter Kennedy, age seven, both students at nearby Iverson Elementary School. The move meant new schools for the children and they couldn’t be happier about it.

“This has been a great move for all of us with new schools, a beautiful new community and yet our familiar Sunrise Mountain home,” said Alison.

Prices start from the low $300,000s at Crestline, which features four floor plans that range in size from approximately 1,979 square feet to approximately 3,369 square feet with up to seven bedrooms and six baths.

Crestline Plan 4, selected by the Christoffersens, measures approximately 3,084 square feet with a three-bay garage, living and dining rooms, bonus room or optional fifth bedroom, upstairs laundry room and optional game room or optional sixth bedroom and fourth bath. The Plan 4XC provides the flexibility of up to seven bedrooms.

Another spacious floor plan at Crestline is the two-story Plan 3, which measures approximately 2,631 square feet with a bedroom and full bath on the first floor, upstairs laundry room, bonus room or optional bedroom five with fourth bath or optional super bonus room. The home can also be built with an optional sixth bedroom or optional super bonus room and an optional balcony off of the master bedroom suite.

Also offered at Crestline is the single-story Plan 2 which measures approximately 1,979 square feet with three bedrooms and dining room that can be built as an optional den or optional fourth bedroom, breakfast nook, large great room and master bedroom suite.

To reach Crestline at Sunrise Highlands from U.S. 95, exit at Charleston Boulevard and head east to Hollywood Boulevard. Turn right on Hollywood and then left on Sahara Avenue to the models. The sales center and model homes are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. For more information on Crestline, please call 702-431-3426 or visit www.pardeehomes.com.

One of the West’s largest and longest established home builders, Pardee has built homes and communities for more than 35,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952.

For tranquility and beauty, you can’t beat Pardee Homes’ hilltop Tremezzo neighborhood at Lake Las Vegas, according to new residents Bill and Marianne Blackburn, who recently moved into their new home overlooking the resort community.

“After 25 years of lakefront living in Seattle, we found rare lakefront living in Southern Nevada,” said Bill. But that wasn’t the Blackburns’ goal when they moved their construction tool business to Nevada.

“We thought we were going to live in a condo near the Las Vegas Strip, but after looking at several of them we decided that the fabulous night views couldn’t make up for the road noise,” he said. “Then a friend recommended we look at Tremezzo and we were hooked by the time we stepped into the courtyard.”

Marianne loves her night view at Tremezzo, especially seeing the outline of their “private mountain range” set off by the glow of the Strip behind the jagged peaks that resemble sharks swimming along the horizon.

“You don’t hear anything out here,” Bill said. “It’s tranquil, and that’s what we were looking for. We realized we didn’t want the urban crush so we opted out of the Strip lifestyle, which is what we thought we wanted.”

The Blackburns are also impressed with the amenities at Lake Las Vegas. “We’ve got great restaurants right here – in fact, we’ve got it all,” said Bill.

Lake Las Vegas is a premier residential and resort destination situated on a privately owned 320-acre lake located 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Within the 3,592-acre master planned resort is a variety of residential offerings, world-class resorts, three golf courses, casinos, full-service marinas, water’s edge restaurants and cafes and boutiques.

Pardee provides initial country club memberships to home buyers at Tremezzo and Bella Fiore, also at Lake Las Vegas. Offered through The Club at Lake Las Vegas, Silver memberships include access to swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, concierge service and limited golf at The Falls or Reflection Bay golf courses.

The guard-gated neighborhood of Tremezzo offers spacious homes ranging in size from approximately 3,168 to 4,320 square feet. With Tuscan, Andalusian and Italian Hilltop designs, one- and two-story Tremezzo homes include features such as expansive interior courtyards for intimate outdoor entertaining, as well as a second-story club room on the Plan Two X.

Four floor plans include three to five bedrooms, two-and-a-half to five baths and up to three-bay garages, with prices starting from the high $800,000s.

Tremezzo is Pardee’s second neighborhood at Lake Las Vegas. The Bella Fiore gated neighborhood of award-winning homes is located alongside The Falls Golf Club near the resort’s main entrance. Prices start at the high $600,000s.

To visit Pardee’s Lake Las Vegas neighborhoods, take I-215 east to the freeway’s end at Lake Mead Parkway. Continue east on Lake Mead Parkway to Lake Las Vegas Parkway, turn left and follow the directional signs to Bella Fiore and Tremezzo. The model parks are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday. One of the West’s largest and longest-established home builders, Pardee has built homes for more than 35,000 families in Southern Nevada since 1952. The builder currently offers more than 20 new home communities, covering the Las Vegas Valley with a wide range of product and prices that attract first-time, move-up and luxury buyers.

With twins and another child on the way, the Buswell family likes the location and "room to grow" in their Pardee home at Esmeralda.

For one local South San Diego family, moving into Pardee Homes' Esmeralda neighborhood in Ocean View Hills was an easy choice. The Buswell family needed a home close to the border but also wanted a newer neighborhood. Esmeralda offers both.

"My husband Jordan works as a project manager in Tijuana for a sand and gravel company so being near the border is extremely important to us," said Rebecca Buswell. The Buswells moved into their Plan 3 home at Esmeralda in November 2005. Jordan and Rebecca have one-year old twins with another baby on the way.

"The homes are nice and new, and the area gives us the space we need to grow," said Rebecca. "Since the twins came, we finally have the space we need and then some."

Esmeralda is part of the master-planned community of Ocean View Hills, conveniently located just off of Otay Mesa Road and close to Interstates 805 and 905. Ocean View Hills provides residents with a short drive to South Bay beaches and Baja California. The Ocean View Hills lifestyle includes sparkling new venues for recreation, work, shopping and entertainment.

"We are the happiest we have ever been," said Rebecca. "We have really enjoyed getting to know our neighbors. And we love the neighborhood so much that we have already recommended buying in Esmeralda to two family friends!"

Traci and Tony Traverso were very happy with their first home at Fair Oaks Ranch, purchased when the master-planned community opened. Then triplets, Lauryn, Emma and Brady, grew from babies to toddlers, and it was time for bigger space. The couple found it at Hearthstone in Fair Oaks Ranch, choosing from distinctive homes with approximately 2,273 to 2,783 square feet of living space, 3 to 5 bedrooms and up to 4 baths, plus attached garage. Prices are from the mid $500,000s.

“We loved Cedar Creek and our first home-buying experience with Pardee Homes, so it made sense to go with this great builder again,” said at-home mom Traci. “Our triplets are two-and-a-half now, and have the growing room they need with our spacious home and homesite.”

Hearthstone’s Plan Three was the choice, with 4 bedrooms in about 2,774 square feet, and an open design with “fully utilized space,” reports Traci. “All square footage is used to best advantage, and with triplets, this counts,” she said. “We love the huge great room, and we made the bonus room into a playroom. As our children grow, we’ll turn it into a TV/entertainment area with a pullout couch for guests.”

Added Tony, “This home is absolutely perfect for us, and it’s wonderful to to see how it will evolve with our needs. Lauryn and Emma share one of the upstairs bedrooms, and Brady has the third. Later, we’ll move him to the downstairs bedroom with adjacent bath, and the girls will each have their own room and share a bath.”

A partner at a general contracting firm, Tony noted outstanding quality with Pardee Homes. “We looked at communities by other builders, but Pardee quality beat the others by far,” he said. “Our experience with the Pardee Homes team was phenomenal. Everybody was so helpful, and made our transition into our new home very easy.”

A host of little things meant a lot. “The sales staff was wonderful, every step of the way,” Traci said. “Pardee Homes’ Design Studio was just as helpful. They made sure our choices were installed and ready to go—with two loads of laundry every day I was especially happy to see my new washer and dryer!”

The Traversos also enjoy such recreational opportunities as the pool and water park at The Ranch at Fair Oaks. For residents of Hearthstone and other selected neighborhoods, it is part of The Ranch at Fair Oaks Homeowners Association. At the new Fair Oaks Ranch Park, approximately 6 acres include play and picnic areas, soccer/softball field (non-regulation), basketball court, restrooms and lawn volleyball court. Traci enjoys play dates with other moms and kids—often in her family’s new playroom. “I grew up in Santa Clarita, so I have high school and college friends in the area, and we like getting together,” she said.

Like the Traversos, families seeking room to grow find it with outstanding new homes and the Fair Oaks Ranch environment. Home shoppers will also find purchase opportunities at Fairmont, where move-in ready homes are among selections. Fairmont living space ranges from approximately 3,194 to 4,353 square feet, plus attached garage. Plans offer 3 to 5 bedrooms and 3 to 5.5 baths. Selected plans feature attic spaces, morning rooms, lofts and courtyards. Prices are from the mid $600,000s.

Also enhancing each new home is the company’s EnergySmart™ program, which helps reduce home energy consumption. Pardee Homes offers broker co-op; brokers must accompany prospective buyers on the initial visit to a Pardee Homes neighborhood.

To visit Fair Oaks Ranch, exit the 14 Freeway at Via Princessa. Going south, turn left at Via Princessa; going north, turn right. Turn left at Lost Canyon Road and follow the signs to model centers, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays and 1 to 6 p.m. on Mondays. Call Hearthstone at 661-424-9001 or Fairmont at 661-299-1429.

As a preschool teacher in Imperial Beach for the last 15 years, Mark Sotomayor has made it a lifelong goal to positively affect the children in his classroom. Pardee Homes, a builder of master-planned communities that include schools, libraries, parks and plenty of open space, also is determined to support the communities in which it builds, long after the last nail is hammered. That approach made the company a perfect fit for Sotomayor when he began looking for a new home in Ocean View Hills.

Recognized as “Teacher of the Year” in the district, Sotomayor has taught at the VIP Village Pre-School for a decade and a half. He said, “I feel that I have made a difference in children’s education, and I will continue this goal. As long as you put your ‘heart’ in what you do, you can make a difference in your community, too.”

That’s exactly what Pardee Homes set out to do with its award-winning Ocean View Hills community. Sotomayor discovered Ocean View Hills’ Esmeralda neighborhood and decided it offered him exactly what he was looking for -- beautiful architectural designs and an open, inviting indoor space.

The friendly staff was a bonus. “I had a positive experience during the purchase of my home with friendly, understanding people,” he said. “The office staff went beyond my expectations to make me feel welcome and important.”

Pardee Homes’ Esmeralda offers four floor plans, plus some of the best views in all of Ocean View Hills. In addition, the community is home to a beautiful neighborhood park and play area.

Just minutes from a myriad of dining and recreational opportunities, Sotomayor appreciates living in the South Bay. “Within minutes, I can go to downtown San Diego for a quiet, nice dinner, to Julian’s wonders of forest and nature or to Mexico for cultural delicacies,” he explained. Growing up in a multi-cultural, bilingual family, he especially likes the proximity to Mexico. “We are close to a country that influences our community and culture in a positive way.”

During the day, Sotomayor is inspired by the children in his classroom, “who are honest and talk to you from their hearts.” When he goes home, he appreciates his architecturally-inspiring neighborhood and gives top grades to the private, well-built community. “Esmeralda is a neighborhood I can call home,” he concludes. “I’m happy in the ‘Esmeralda Community.’”