Couple uses Lennar.com to find their new home at Coldwater Ranch

Matt and Heidi Idoux went to the Live Chat feature of Lennar's Web site and found a four-bedroom home in North Las Vegas that suited their needs, the couple said.

"Before I got the final offer on a new job, which would take me from Reno to Las Vegas, I was already online to see what was out there," Matt Idoux said. "When I got the good news that the job was locked in, my wife and I started seriously shopping. That's when we found all the Lennar communities and Coldwater Ranch."

The Live Chat feature allows home shoppers to have an online conversation in real time with a Lennar Internet new home consultant, who can guide buyers to neighborhoods that best meet their requirements. Matt and Heidi Idoux's online conversation helped them focus on Coldwater Ranch, a neighborhood of one- and two-story designs in North Las Vegas. The couple chose the one-story Dakota floor plan with four bedrooms and two baths in 1,700 square feet.

"We already knew about Lennar, more specifically, the fact that many of the features we wanted would already be included in the design and the price," Heidi Idoux said. "We looked at other builders briefly, but you have to pay for everything a la carte with them. It was just too expensive once we added in everything we wanted."

The couple share their home with 8-year-old Roxy, a greyhound/shepherd mix.

"We love this house," she said. "Since it's just my husband, the dog and me for the time being, we were looking for something very specific in a one-story plan. There aren't too many nicely designed one-story floor plans in this town, especially ones so affordable. We found exactly what we were looking for at Coldwater Ranch."

Buyers can choose from four Dakota floor plans that offer up to nearly 2,700 square feet with prices ranging from the $240,000s to the $290,000s, with many upgrades included in the base price, according to Jeff Galindo, vice president of sales and marketing for Lennar's Las Vegas Division.

The neighborhood features parks and picnic areas, a greenbelt, soccer field and sports court, tot lot, walking/jogging trail and volleyball courts.

"We knew right up front everything that was included. There was no edging up the price with every feature," Matt Idoux said. "Secondly, we were able to contact an Internet new home consultant from Lennar.com. Between the Live Chat instant messaging, phone and e-mails, we had all our questions answered personally and quickly. The entire buying process went so fast; we were amazed."

Lennar revamped its Web site last year to provide buyers "with the simplest path to homeownership," Galindo said.

After chatting online, Lennar's Internet consultants can refer buyers to a sales agent at one of the builder's Welcome Home Center locations in the Las Vegas area, he said.

"It's all about providing home buyers the simplest, most efficient and enjoyable buying experience possible," Galindo said.

The couple said the kitchen was their favorite room in the Dakota model. The design showcases a number standard features, such as granite countertops, raised-panel cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. Other upgrades included in the base price were ceramic-tile entries and a landscaped front yard with drip irrigation. The homes also are Energy Star-certified, reducing power consumption to lower utility bills.

"The value that we got with this home enabled us to purchase a much larger floor plan than we thought we could, Heidi Idoux said. "We have furniture, heirlooms and other things that have been packed in boxes for years. Now we have room for everything, including a beautiful dining room to display our wedding china."

Lennar has been one of the leading U.S. home builders since 1954. The company offers hundreds of neighborhoods nationwide.

To visit Coldwater Ranch, from Interstate 15, exit at Craig Road and go west. Turn north on Commerce Street and make a right on Tropical Parkway. The subdivision is on the left at 117 Sharp Edge Ave.

Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; noon to 5 p.m. Monday; and by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday. For information, call 800-497-3519 or visit Lennar.com.