Ridgetop setting offers views from many homesites

By Suzanne Monson
Special to New Homes

AUBURN -- At Vista Pointe, a new community on Auburn's West Hill, a blend of views, quick commutes and a quiet ridgetop setting gives buyers the sense that the homes are the center of their universe.

Some homesites at Vista Pointe are surrounded by views of the Auburn Valley, the Cascades Mountains and/or Mount Rainier. Connections to Highway 18, state Route 167 and Interstate 5 are all less than three miles away.

Since the community opened in early April, three homesites have been sold and the sales team is ready with more this weekend.

"We hear from a lot of homebuyers who tell us, 'If I could design a neighborhood, this is what it would look like,' " says Jennifer Clarke, a sales consultant for MainVue Homes, Vista Pointe's builder. "They love that they feel surrounded by a native-growth protection area and greenbelt space -- and yet they can see through the trees to the amazing Auburn Valley and out to the Cascade Mountains."

"Unlike most of the other planned developments around here, this is very protected," says Marc Davidson, also a sales consultant at Vista Pointe. "People seek us out, in part, because it's only three miles to downtown Auburn and the Auburn transit station, barely 11 minutes to Renton and just 20 miles to Seattle.

"What really sets these homes apart from anything else in the market is the MainVue-signature outdoor room," he says. "Something special happens every time our first-time guests -- and even our returning guests -- tour this space."

Incorporated into many of MainVue Homes' designs, the outdoor room is surrounded by the house on two or three sides and covered by the roof. One or two wall-size sliding glass doors open to the outdoor room, while flow-through flooring ties into the adjacent indoor spaces.

"The outdoor room is especially popular at Vista Pointe because the larger lots here give buyers an even greater sense of privacy," Clarke says. "People like to look at all outdoor-room designs to see how each would best fit to take advantage of their views."

Options can be viewed firsthand at the builder's World of Model Homes, a collection of 11 walk-through home designs ranging in size from 2,663 to 3,024 square feet.

All of the model designs can be built at Vista Pointe, says Clarke. They include covered entry porches leading to foyers, some with open-to-the-upper-level ceilings; generous use of windows to maximize natural lighting; privacy-protected dens for at-home work and study; kitchens with islands and walk-in butler's pantries; and great rooms that open to a dining space and a fireplace.

Kitchens feature stain-resistant, nonporous countertops with 2-centimeter slab granite or Caesarstone; full-height tile backsplashes; and European frameless full-overlay cabinets. Frigidaire appliances include stainless steel ranges with canopy-style hoods, energy-efficient dishwashers and built-in microwaves.

Master bedroom suites have bath amenities and walk-in closets.