AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020 ❚ 1NH A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N C R E AT E D B Y R E P U B L I C M E D I A C U S T O M P U B L I S H I N G
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ASK THE EXPERT: ESCROW AND YOUR NEW HOME
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ASK THE EXPERT: MOVING LINGO
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Home Locator Maps See pages 2 & 3
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE MONTH The Lakes at Annecy Maracay Homes The Lakes at Annecy offers resort-style living amid a setting of mature landscape, multiple lakes with docks, three pool complexes, playgrounds and a basketball court. Seven new Flex Design® floor plans feature open layouts that connect indoor and outdoor living spaces. All homes are ENERGY STAR®-certified and registered with the certification goal of achieving the LEED Certified® designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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Number of homes: 216 Prices: From the high $200s Address: 1679 E. Hampton Lane, Gilbert Directions: One mile north of Loop 202 on Val Vista Beds/baths: 2–4 bedrooms; 2.5–3.5 bathrooms Square-footage: 1,261–2,269 Sales office hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily; 1–6 p.m. Friday Phone: 480-757-2197 Website: MaracayHomes.com
Mark Boisclair Architectural Photography via Maracay Homes
Low energy, high return Energy efficiency in new homes saves money, helps the planet
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Cachet at Union Park Cachet Homes
Cachet Homes
Cachet at Union Park features a newly designed collection of homes featuring single- and two-story floor plans. Located within the Union Park at Norterra masterplan community, Cachet at Union Park features tree-lined streets, shade corridors and architecturally diverse homes. The community is constructed on 400 acres and includes a 5,800 square-foot amenity area with a pool, recreation center and community parks. Number of homes: 88 Prices: From the $500s Address: 2014 W. Union Park Dr., Phoenix Location: NW corner of Happy Valley Road and 19th Ave., just east of Shops at Norterra Beds/baths: 3–5 bedrooms; 3.5–4.5 bathrooms Square-footage: 2,831–4,115 Sales office hours: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily; 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sunday Phone: 602-777-5175 Website: CachetHomes.net
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Palomino Estates Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes
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By Debra Gelbart
here are a lot of ways to help make a brand-new home as energy-efficient as possible. To wit: “Maracay defines energy efficiency as reducing energy use and energy loss in a home,” explained Rashel Beaver, Maracay’s product development specialist and LEED Green Associate. She said Maracay builds homes as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)certified homes. A LEED home is “exemplary in energy efficiency, water use, air quality, building materials, land placement and use, as well as one that is green from top to bottom, inside and out.”
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Kevin McAndrews, president of KB Home’s Phoenix division, said that his company makes sure homeowners are able to create a personalized home “that fulfills their dreams while saving natural resources, reducing carbon emissions and making the total cost of homeownership more affordable through lower utility bills.” Meanwhile, David Everson, CEO of Mandalay Homes, said that Mandalay utilizes insulation techniques to seal each home as tight as possible “and then we install an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) that provides fresh filtered air 24/7.”
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“There are things that seem small — the way walls are framed, the way insulation is installed, the way pipes are located and insulated — that will determine if a home will truly be energy-efficient.” —Rashel Beaver, Maracay Homes
ENERGY STAR® An ENERGY STAR-certified home meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s strict energy-efficiency performance requirements by incorporating advanced science-based construction techniques. McAndrews said KB goes beyond the EPA requirements by ensuring every new KB home has been tested and verified by a third-party inspector to meet the EPA’s strict certification standards, while Beaver pointed out that each Maracay home receives a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score if pursuing an ENERGY STAR certification. “A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections,” Beaver said. A HERS score of 100 or lower means the home’s energy systems meet the current building code. The lower the number, the better the score. Better building codes Building codes are ever-evolving, Beaver said. For example, in 2012, specific air-sealing guidelines were established, stricter building air-leakage rates mandated and compliance inspection and testing were made a requirement. “Over time, the requirements have become more stringent,” she said.
Situated in Cave Creek with panoramic views of the McDowell Mountains, this luxury gated neighborhood is secluded but close to plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Located on estate-size homesites, homes include smart technology, energy features and plenty of personalization options. Number of homes: Now pre-selling five new designs Prices: From the $600s Address: 31513 N. 55th Way, Cave Creek Directions: NW corner of 56th St. & Lone Mountain Road Beds/baths: 2–6 bedrooms; 2.5–5 bathrooms Square-footage: 2,917–3,897 Sales office hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily; noon–6 p.m. Wednesday Phone: 480-605-0763 Website: Pulte.com/Palomino
Mark Boisclair Architectural Photography via Maracay Homes