American West brings family together

"American West: The builder that brings families together."

That may sound like an advertising campaign, but it's not. It's how Kevin Loughton describes his family's home-buying experience with American West.

Kevin and his wife, Susan, recently purchased their dream home at American West Reserve in Coronado Ranch, and in doing so created a permanent family reunion, so-to-speak.

The Loughtons' new home is located just blocks away from their youngest son, Dustin, and his family, and soon will be just down the street from their eldest son, Jason, and his family.

"We are a really close family, but we've been spread out all over. This gives us a chance to live close to one another again," Susan Loughton said.

The Loughtons, who currently live in Merced, Calif., came to Las Vegas regularly to visit their son Dustin who lives at American West Woodbridge in Coronado Ranch.

During a holiday visit, Dustin encouraged his parents to take a tour of one of American West's newest model homes, the single-story with a BRAG floor plan at the Reserve in Coronado Ranch.

"We walked into the model and fell in love," Kevin Loughton said.

The 2,518-square-foot home houses three bedrooms, two baths, formal living and dining rooms and an upstairs BRAG space, one large bonus room. The home was priced at $249,500.

The BRAG space is a new design unique to American West. It offers homebuyers additional living space. Homebuyers have the option for a guest suite with bath and walk-in closet or a bonus room.

The Loughtons plan to use the upstairs guest suite configuration as their master suite and use the downstairs master suite as a guest room.

"We'll have plenty of family coming to visit," Susan Loughton said.

After the Loughtons paid the down payment on their new home, their eldest son's wife, Danielle, stopped by the model homes while on a business trip to take a look.

"She immediately called our son to tell him he had to see what you get for the money. So, Jason drove to Las Vegas that day. He said, 'we can't pass this up.' And they put a down payment on a home down the street from us," Kevin Loughton said. Kevin and Susan Loughton said they are excited to about the home's design, construction and architectural details.

"The gourmet kitchen. It's a living space more than just a kitchen. It's a place to be with family, have a cup of coffee," Kevin Loughton said.

American West offers homeowners energy-efficient designs and uses energy-saving materials and products in all their homes.

The energy-saving features come standard in the price of the home and include 14-SEER natural gas heat and electric central air-conditioning with Puron ; energy-efficient radiant-heat barrier roof sheathing; protective house wrap that shields the home against air and moisture infiltration; vinyl-framed, dual-paned, low-e windows and sliding glass doors; quick-recovery natural gas water heater; and Moen water-conserving faucets and showerheads.

The Loughtons also chose to install a tankless water heater, which will deliver hot water on demand without continually heating water in a large tank.

The Loughtons said they expect to move into their new home in the beginning of summer and their son Jason and his family will move into their new home, Plan 3019, a few weeks after.

Plan 3019, which is named after its square footage, is the largest home available at American West Reserve.

The two-story home includes four bedrooms, two baths, formal dining and living rooms, family room and an upstairs game room.

It is priced at $273,500. Options for this home include a guest suite in place of two bedrooms and an additional bedroom instead of the upstairs game room.

Plan 2492 is a two-story home measuring 2,492 square feet and priced at $254,500. It includes four bedrooms, two baths, study, great room and dining area.

Plan 2927 is the latest addition to American West Reserve. The two-story home measures 2,927 square feet and has five bedrooms, two baths, formal living room, family room and dining area.

Options include a game room instead of a bedroom, an additional bath for either the game room or a bedroom and a double refrigerator option in the gourmet kitchen.

For more information on Reserve and American West's seven other neighborhoods visit AmericanWesthomes.com or call 308-1111. To visit, take Las Vegas Beltway to Rainbow Boulevard, exit south. Turn east on Wigwam Road. Entrance is on the right.