Variety of designs among handful of remaining homes

By Suzanne Monson
Special to New Homes

BOTHELL -- At The Cornerstone, the only things springing up faster than its vibrant roadside rhododendrons are its home sales.

In the past three months, 17 of the 22 three-, four- and five-bedroom homes in the quiet enclave in south Snohomish County have been secured by "buyers who have been shopping for months," says sales consultant Brian Nelson of The Excell Group.

If this weekend's open tours of The Cornerstone's models are anything like the past, this neighborhood will be sold out in a few weeks, he says.

"Why? It's the combination of quality, design and features," Nelson says. "It's about how good buyers feel when they come through a house here. Our buyers have been shopping for a floor plan with a master suite on the main level or a rambler. Then they come to The Cornerstone and they don't expect what they find."

What they discover at The Cornerstone, Nelson says, "surprises and impresses them."
Remaining homes include a pair of two-story, four-bedroom designs with 2,132 to 2,191 square feet of living space, and a two-story, five-bedroom home featuring a separate great room, entertainment room and bonus room, as well as a daylight basement.

Another design offers 2,455 square feet of living space and includes a full den, upper-level entertainment room and front porch.

"What sets these designs apart is the variety of layouts offering master suites on the main floor and the way the unique craftsmanship and finishes make the most of them," Nelson says.

Homes feature designer lighting, custom millwork accents, 9-foot ceilings and honed marble-surround fireplaces.

Kitchens include wide-plank western pecan-style laminate flooring, stainless steel appliances, slab granite countertops with eased edges and 4-inch granite backsplash, and solid beech cabinets in a variety of designer finishes.

Master bedroom suites include bathrooms with square porcelain tile flooring, porcelain tile countertops with glass tile accent backsplash, and tiled tub surround with glass mosaic accents in various colors.

Exteriors feature HardiePlank finishes, energy-efficient double-pane vinyl windows and 30-year composition roofing, as well as front-yard landscaping.

The Cornerstone's central location places it just minutes from Alderwood Mall and other conveniences. Residents can reach Seattle, Canyon Park and the Eastside without using a toll bridge via any of more than a half-dozen nearby residential back roads that connect to Interstates 5 and 405.

"The sheer fact that we've sold 17 of 22 homes at The Cornerstone in three months -- all before most of the market has seen much improvement -- speaks more than anyone could say about why buyers like this," says Nelson. "There's clearly some real energy happening here."