Construction on a new 55-plus community is underway off Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Georgetown.
The neighborhood, called Sunbird Ranch, will offer 343 homes at full build-out. Developer High Point Living specializes in taking the land-lease model common among manufactured homes to more traditional single-family detached homes, said Rich Love, vice president of sales and marketing.
“People have been selling homes the same way for decades, and now we’re coming in and saying, ‘Alright, let’s take this new concept of land-lease and apply it to site-build homes,’” Love said.
The big picture
Currently, there are 20 speculative homes under construction that will be finished by the end of the year. Prospective residents can either purchase one of these inventory houses or pick a site and build their own.
High Point Living dubs its homes as “semicustom.” In a market flooded by choice, Love said the company aims to simplify the options while allowing people to still feel in control of their house.
The company offers five floor plans, two elevation options, three color palettes and four interior design packages. The five floor plans range from 1,574-1,955 square feet, and each has at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
“I want people and customers to envision this as a home-building menu,” he said. “You pick from Section A, B, C, D and you’re done.”
The company plans to build about 48 homes per year for the next six years or until full build-out.
How it works
Love said the land-lease model allows High Point Living to lower the barrier of entry for homeowners. Because buyers purchase the home, but lease the land it's on, he said there are considerable savings, anywhere from $80,000-$120,000, depending on the market.
Residents then pay a site rent fee every month—starting at $775—that covers the cost for on-site professional management, landscaping and yard maintenance, and all of the community’s amenities.
Sunbird Ranch will have a pool, pickleball and tennis courts, yoga lawns, fire pits, an indoor club room, golf simulators, a fitness center, pool tables and walking trails.
Love said company leaders hope this model enables residents to walk out their front door and ask what they are going to do today.
“There’s so much freedom of choice associated with buying into this type of community,” he said.
One more thing
Lani Farley, High Point Living's senior manager of brand marketing, said the developer was intentional about choosing Georgetown for the location of the community.
Love hopes Sunbird Ranch allows families in Austin to have their grandparents nearby in Georgetown.
The neighborhood wants to engrain itself in the community, he said, with plans to sponsor grandparents’ night at local football games and partner with area YMCAs and animal shelters.
Quote of note
“It’s really exciting for us to offer affordability and accessibility in such a turbulent time within the real estate sector,” Love said.
