The nation's best housing is right here at Santaluz in San Diego, according to top building industry publications and organizations. The 3,800-acre master-planned golf course community adjacent to Rancho Santa Fe also ranks as the best-selling custom homesite community in San Diego County in two decades. In addition, prospective buyers were lined up for the opportunity to purchase the newest phase of production homes to become available this month.

"Project of the Year," "Home of the Year" and "Detached Community of the Year" are among the honors Santaluz has garnered from the industry's prestigious trade publications and industry organizations.

Homebuyers share the enthusiasm for Santaluz, fueled by a shortage of luxury homes and custom homesites in North San Diego County, and specifically in the Rancho Santa Fe area. In just 18 months, 158 custom homesites and 393 production homes have sold in this premier golf course community situated just five miles east of Del Mar.

Some of the most desirable custom homesites in Santaluz have just been released for sale, according to Richard York, vice president of Santaluz Realty. Prices for these 24 premium homesites range from $625,000 to $1.7 million.

"The Rim Collection of 16 properties offer panoramic vistas of the coast, the rugged territorial canyons and our pristine private Rees Jones championship golf course," York said. "180-degree views from La Jolla all the way to Carlsbad can be enjoyed from several of the homesites."

Also now available are some of the largest homesites in the master-planned community, with lots up to 1.74 acres and pad sizes up to 48,000 square feet. The custom lots at Santaluz are sized from six-tenths of an acre to more than 2 acres, and overall density at the 3,800-acre community is one home per 4 acres.

The newest neighborhood of production homes at Santaluz became available this month, when Davidson Communities initiated presales for the first of its 71 homes. Priced from the mid-$800,000s, a grand opening is scheduled for fall.

The newest neighborhood of production homes at Santaluz became available this month, when Davidson Communities initiated presales for the first of its 71 homes.

Designed by Robert Hidey Architects, the master architect of the village of Santaluz, Davidson's homes at Santaluz range from approximately 3,802 square feet to 4,672 square feet on minimum 8,500-square-foot lots. The two-story floor plans have four bedrooms, 3.5 to 4.5 bathrooms and three- and four-car garages. Like all the guest builder homes at Santaluz, Davidson's feature "early California" designs, including courtyards.

These reminiscent designs are a key draw of national attention. Earlier this year, Professional Builder magazine, a national trade publication covering new residential projects and those who market them, named The Sentinels at Santaluz "Home of the Year" for Baywood Development's innovative arrangement of homes in 10 hilltop clusters.

Placed atop some of the community's most prominent hillsides, "each home's relationship to the rest of its cluster makes it so special," according to the magazine's editors. "Each home within the cluster plays off the homes adjacent to it to create special outdoor areas that feel secluded ..."

The National Sales and Marketing Counsel, an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders, selected The Sentinels at Santaluz as the best "Detached Community of the Year" among homes priced $500,000 and up. The award-winning homes were designed by architect Bob White of Scheurer Architects to "reflect the rustic, rural early 1800s-style California hacienda."

The unconventional arrangement of home clusters also attracted attention in 2002, when the National Association of Home Builders' trade publication, Builder Magazine, named The Sentinels "Project of the Year."

The land-use plan for custom homesites at Santaluz, featuring curvilinear sculpted lots, received a Builder's Choice award in 2000 and a Gold Nugget Grand Award in 2001 at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. This curvilinear quality helps protect the natural character of the land and allows buyers to position their custom homes in a way that optimally captures desired view corridors.

The Santaluz community's designs, together with luxury amenities, make it unusually popular.

"The early California-style village and golf community appeals to buyers because it offers private courtyards, easy access -- with three exits into and out of Santaluz -- and a future new high school," said Alan Nevin, director of economic research for MarketPoint Realty Advisors.

Highlighting lifestyle opportunities is the private Rees Jones-designed championship golf course, which is limited to 400 private equity golf memberships.

Now well under construction, the Santaluz Clubhouse and Spa is scheduled to open in spring 2004 for members' enjoyment. Rising majestically on a knoll overlooking the 18th green with panoramic views of the Del Mar coastline, the Santaluz Clubhouse and Spa will become the centerpiece of the community's dramatic landscape.

The 35,000-square-foot clubhouse will feature a world-class spa, casual and fine dining, and full-service locker rooms. The spa will rival many world-class destination resorts, with its open and airy world of overflowing gardens, sun-drenched courtyards, dramatic water features, whirlpool, saunas and indoor and outdoor treatment areas. The spa's private villas allow for relaxation in quiet seclusion before and after each pampering treatment.

Already open to members is The Hacienda at Santaluz, another dimension of the club lifestyle of the village. Within its 19,000 square feet, The Hacienda offers a resort-style pool, tennis complex, complete fitness center and a hardwood basketball court/gymnasium area. Also planned at Santaluz is a 30-acre sports field that will accommodate a variety of athletic endeavors.

A private cafe within The Hacienda serves Santaluz-blend coffee and other refreshments to complement the recreational amenities of the community.

Adjacent to The Hacienda is the 11-acre Village Green at Santaluz. This natural open area is the perfect gathering spot for family and community events such as picnics, sports activities and concerts in the park. This is a central element in the "early California" setting of Santaluz.

Santaluz is being developed as a partnership of DMB Associates Inc., a real estate investment and development firm, and Taylor Woodrow Homes Inc.

Klassen is a senior account executive at Scribe Communications.

Related Link

Santaluz: www.santaluz.co