Richmond’s Santa Rita gets personal

Robert and Lindsay Smith and their 10-year-old daughter Samantha said they look forward to their July move into their new home in Richmond American's Santa Rita in the southwestern portion of the valley.

"We fell in love with Richmond American's three-story layouts," Lindsay Smith said, "and we especially liked the Amethyst. The grand entry was the first thing that caught our interest. When you walk inside, it has a beautiful staircase and railing overlooking the lower level. I was immediately thinking of how I could decorate the space. And with three bedrooms upstairs and a spacious media room on the lower level, it's the perfect size for us."

"We really liked the wide open floor plan," Robert Smith said, "and we also loved the area. We don't live too far away from Santa Rita now, so we knew that the Southern Highlands area was quiet and family oriented."

Priced from the $280,000s, the Amethyst offers 1,550 square feet. The lower level features a media room with vaulted ceilings, as well as a laundry room and powder room. The main level includes a great room, dining room and kitchen with balcony, while the third level includes three bedrooms and two baths.

Once the Smiths selected their floor plan, they visited the Home Gallery to choose their design options.

"It was so much fun," Lindsay Smith said. "For me, that was the best part of the whole experience. It was a nice thing for me and my daughter Samantha to share. Just being able to personalize our home was great. There were so many options."

The homes are from Richmond American's Mosaic Collection. Ranging from 1,550 to 1,950 square feet, they include three to four bedrooms and 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 baths.

The floor plans are three-story designs with media room, bonus room or optional bedroom on the lower level. Prices range from the $280,000s to the $310,000s.

To tour, take Interstate 15 to the Blue Diamond Road exit and go west. Turn left on Jones Boulevard and right on Cactus Road. Sales offices and model homes are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Friday, when they open at noon. For more details, call 290-8282.

The 22,000-square-foot Home Gallery offers professional design consultants and new home specialists. Visitors can search floor plans and neighborhoods, while mortgage counselors are on hand to answer financing questions.

Located at 7770 S. Dean Martin Drive, Suite D-10, hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except Saturday when it closes at 6 p.m. and Sunday when it opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 877-420-1868 or visit RichmondAmerican.com.