William Lyon homes in northern valley draw military families

Military families have landed at William Lyon Homes' four northern Las Vegas Valley neighborhoods -- Fields, The Commons, The Crossings and The Cottages. The home designs and access to the northern Las Vegas Beltway have made these neighborhoods a popular choice among personnel stationed at Nellis Air Force Base and Creech Air Force Base.

"Having spent most of my early life in military service, I fully understand and support the importance of providing housing for those men and women who so bravely serve our country," said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Lyon.

Among the Air Force families choosing the Fields at Aliante are neighbors Jeremy and Sandy Granger and Jawann Wilson.

"After we were stationed in Las Vegas, we wanted to buy a home that we could move into quickly, so we began our home search by looking at foreclosures and short sales. So many of the foreclosed homes that we saw were not in good condition and needed many repairs," Jeremy Granger said.

"Our Realtor suggested that we look at Fields because they had a few homes nearing completion. When we visited Fields and walked into the nearly complete home, it was like a breath of fresh air. It was a home in a neighborhood that we could picture ourselves living in."

Wilson and the Grangers chose the Plan One design, a 2,210-square-foot two-story residence. It includes four bedrooms, 2½ baths, den, great room, second-floor laundry room and two-car garage. Options include a loft or master suite retreat in lieu of the fourth bedroom, home office in place of the den, and a covered patio or deck.

The two-story neighborhood features two additional models measuring 2,513 and 2,723 square feet with five bedrooms and three baths. Prices start from $183,000.

To visit Fields, take the northern Las Vegas Beltway to Aliante Parkway and head north. Turn left on Elkhorn Road and the neighborhood is on the left.

Just northwest of Fields is The Commons. Located near the intersection of North Decatur Boulevard and Grand Teton Drive, its two-story residences offer 2,254 to 2,727 square feet, three to five bedrooms, 2½ or three baths and a three-car garage. Homesites that accommodate RVs are available. Prices start from $197,000.

Located farther northwest, off of North Jones Boulevard near Horse Drive, is The Crossings, a gated single-story neighborhood with homes ranging from 2,652 to 3,068 square feet and homesites measuring up to half an acre. Prices start from the $260,000s.

Priced from the $110,000s is The Cottages at Centennial Ranch, a gated neighborhood with 1,335- to 1,775-square-foot homes. To visit The Cottages, take Losee Road to Centennial Parkway and head west. Turn south on Bruce Street and then west on Azure Avenue.

Sales offices and model homes are open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Monday, when they open at noon. For more information, visit lyonhomes.com.