Californians plan to retire in William Lyons home
While planning for their future retirements, Jerry and Bobbi O'Neill decided that they wanted move out of Los Angeles. During their research, they found the Mountain Falls master-planned community in Pahrump.
"We were looking on the Internet for a place where we can retire, looking at options on the entire West Coast," Jerry O'Neill said. "I was looking for a smaller town with a relaxed environment and a golf course community.
"We learned about Mountain Falls when I read a story about a San Fernando Valley resident buying a home and retiring to Mountain Falls. After reading the story, I visited the Mountain Falls Web site and saw the floor plans, the prices and all of the beautiful pictures. We then researched the builder, William Lyon Homes, and were impressed. We decided to come and check it out for ourselves."
The longtime residents of Toluca Lake, Calif., first visited in August 2008, when they discovered the Tramonto neighborhood by William Lyon Homes, a single-story design on a home site with views of nearby mountains. Because the home site was in a future phase of development, they monitored the different phases of construction.
"We are a little different because we were not in a hurry to move into the home right away because our retirement is a few years away," Jerry O'Neill said regarding his employment at a television network and his wife's career in property management. "Buying a brand-new home was really fun and it was enjoyable to see all of the steps of construction. We saw the lot when it was totally empty, when it was staked out, when there was a concrete slab. We saw it when there was only framing and then the walls were built. It all ended with a beautiful home."
The O'Neill's home features a master suite, two additional bedrooms and a fourth bedroom converted into a den. The kitchen opens up to a living room and is adjacent to a separate dining room. They chose from options to customize their home's interior through choice of counter tops, flooring and cabinetry. They also made the structural choices of radiant roof sheeting and a covered patio.
"Most people downsize at retirement. But we are moving up by purchasing a much bigger home on a much bigger lot than we have in Los Angeles," Bobbi O'Neill said while comparing their new home that measures more than 2,200 square feet to their Los Angeles home, built in 1937, measuring 1,200 square feet where they have lived for 22 years.
"Everyone has been great to us in the buying and building process and after we have moved in. One of our sales agents, Vicki Gardner, has become our friend and is like a member of our family now."
Next to their home site is a paved walking trail that leads to the nearby Mountain Falls residents' facility and to the Mountain Falls Golf Club as well as various neighborhoods.
"I don't feel like I am living in the desert. Mountain Falls is really like a hidden oasis with the greens of the golf course, the trees and the views of the mountains," Jerry O'Neill said.
William Lyon Homes offers the Bella Sera, Cascata Ancora and Tramonto neighborhoods, with single-story homes ranging from 1,157 to 2,897 square feet and are priced from $99,000. The sales offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Monday, when models open at noon.
Classic Homes' Paradiso neighborhood offers five single- and two-story floor plans with up to 4,300 square feet. Office hours at Paradiso vary.
To visit from Las Vegas, travel about 45 miles west on Highway 160 (Blue Diamond Road) past Interstate 15. Before reaching Pahrump, turn left on Manse Road. Proceed to Hafen Ranch Road, turn right and follow the signs. For information, visit mountainfalls.com.
