Realtors win Focus Group Sales promo

For Lenny and Juliette Zbinden of Open House Realty, the reward for selling homes usually comes in the form of satisfied clients. But the Realtors recently received a different kind of reward for their efforts; an all-expenses-paid trip to Pasadena for the 2008 Rose Bowl, the top prize for a special Realtor promotion in the master-planned communities of Mountain's Edge and Providence.

The Zbindens participated in the sales promotion that ran Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. For every home sold during that time, the Realtors received an entry into the drawing for the Rose Bowl package. The reward included three nights' hotel accommodations in Pasadena, end zone seats at the Rose Bowl, airfare and transportation to and from the game. The Zbindens also enjoyed grandstand reserved seats at the Tournament of Roses Parade prior to the football game.

"We really wanted to win the tickets. When we won we were so excited and really looking forward to going to the parade and the Rose Bowl game, since neither of us had ever been to a parade or a bowl game," said Lenny Zbinden, who along with his wife, own and operate Open House Realty. "The parade was impressive and being at the stadium surrounded with so many other people enjoying a great game was a wonderful experience."

Focus Property Group, master planner of Mountain's Edge and Providence, launched the promotion to generate awareness and excitement about the excellence of its master plans within the real estate sales community during the final few weeks of the year.

"Realtors like the Zbindens have played an integral part in the success of both Mountain's Edge and Providence, and we wanted to do something to reward them for all of their hard work," said Deonna Stocker, manager of information center operations for Focus Property Group. "We were thrilled to be able to offer a promotion like this and to see the Zbindens win the prize. We are appreciative of the efforts of all of the Realtors who participated."

"Mountain's Edge has excellent parks and outdoor recreational options that make it a popular choice for home buyers," said Lenny Zbinden, who noted that his office works primarily with buyers looking for new homes. "The community is a great place to live for people who love the southwest part of the valley, and there's a home for just about anyone interested in living in the community."

According to Juliette Zbinden, Providence's classic design is growing in popularity among the office's clientele.

"Providence is perfect for people who want to own a home in a beautiful part of the valley that's growing quickly," she said. "The staff at the information center is an incredible resource, and the information they help us gather ensures that our clients get great deals that help them realize the dream of owning a new home."

Home buyers visiting Providence for the first time will find the master plan allows for 33 acres for parks and 10 miles of trails systems. To name the parks, and capture the spirit of community that serves as the theme of Providence, Focus Property Group utilized names of American literary and historical icons.

One of the community's signature parks, Huckleberry Park, drew its naming inspiration from Mark Twain's classic character, Huckleberry Finn. Providence's Knickerbocker Park was named in honor of Washington Irving, whose "Knickerbocker Tales," a collection of stories from 18th century upstate New York, which include "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Home builders actively selling at Providence include Avante Homes, Beazer Homes, KB Home, Kimball Hill Homes, Lennar Homes, Meritage Homes, Pardee Homes, Pulte Homes, Ryland Homes, Toll Brothers, Warmington Homes Nevada and Woodside Homes. Astoria Homes, Fairview Residential and R/S Development are expected to begin selling homes there in the spring.

To learn more about Providence, visit the community's information center, which resembles an old-fashioned soda shop with wood siding and a wraparound porch. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 433-5084 or visit providencelv.com.

Mountain's Edge recently was certified by Robert Charles Lesser & Co., a leading independent real estate advisory firm, as the second fastest-selling master-planned community in the United States in 2006. In 2005, the community ranked third-fastest-selling in the nation.

When fully developed, the community will have four elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. In addition to the fire station that's under construction, the community will soon have shopping centers, restaurants and more than 500 acres of parks, trails and open space.

Exploration Peak is a mountain park, with several trails that lead up to the top of the 2,846-foot peak. The series of hiking trails were designed for people of all ages, and include ramadas at two different stages to serve as a shady rest area for hikers and walkers.

A series of paseos wind through Mountain's Edge, connecting residents and their neighborhoods with the community's parks and recreation areas. With several paseos already complete, and others set to be built, the trails integrate the existing desert landscape into paths.

Builders with actively selling neighborhoods in Mountain's Edge include Amstar Homes, Avante Homes, Beazer Homes, D.R. Horton, Engle Homes, KB Home, Kimball Hill Homes, Lennar, Meritage Homes, Pardee Homes, Phillips Homes, Pulte Homes, R/S Development, Ryland Homes, Toll Brothers, Warmington Homes Nevada and Woodside Homes. Astoria Homes and StoryBook Homes are expected to begin sales in the next few months.

The award-winning Home Search Café is located at the community's entrance on Buffalo Drive and Blue Diamond Road. It is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. For more information, call 898-5777 or visit mountainsedge.com.

To learn more about Focus Property Group, visit focuspropertygroup.com.