Northwestern valley: Couple to `live smart' in Vista Verde

Newlyweds Jerome and Alberta Lanfair are looking forward to celebrating their new life together in Las Vegas, and they will be doing so in a home filled with Living-Smart features at Pardee Homes' Vista Verde community.

Vista Verde is comprised of two neighborhoods: Aliso and Ventana. It is a showcase for the builder's LivingSmart program, which includes environmentally sensitive features and options in the categories of EarthSmart, EnergySmart and HealthSmart. In addition to water-efficient landscaping, buyers can choose from LivingSmart options and features such as solar electricity, fluorescent lighting, tankless water heaters, low VOC paint and central vacuum systems.

The Lanfairs, who currently live in Detroit, are incorporating all aspects of the Living-Smart program into their new home, a move they acknowledge as "just the right thing to do."

"Being environmentally conscious is the way to go in the 21st century," said Jerome Lanfair, who is retired from the Detroit Police Department. "We need to take a minute to think about the whole concept of the environment in our country, and start thinking about what we are going to leave our children. Pardee has really stepped up to the plate with the Living-Smart program."

Purchasing a home at Vista Verde, which is located in the northwestern valley, was a process that began five years ago, when Lanfair met Pardee sales agent Pat Walmsley while home shopping at another Pardee community.

"Pat always made a point of keeping me informed of new projects and told me about the Vista Verde community," he said. "I became a part of the interest list then flew out this spring for a preview event, where I secured a spot on the priority list and fell in love with Ventana Plan Four."

One more trip west and the Lanfairs purchased in phase one at Ventana, having selected the 3,734-square-foot Plan Four with four bedrooms, three baths, an alcove, den, bonus room and three-car garage. Their home will also feature the following:

--Solar electricity, which allows homeowners to generate excess power through solar panels on trellises;

--Fluorescent lighting, which provides the same amount of light with less than 25 percent of the wattage, reducing utility bills by as much as 50 percent;

--A tankless water heater, which heats only the amount of water needed where it is needed, providing hot water without waste;

--Low VOC paint, a nontoxic, high-performing paint that releases a very low level of volatile organic compounds and no ozone-depleting chemicals, and;

--A central vacuum, which draws floor dirt and dust directly through internal wall pipes into a remote canister in the garage.

The Lanfairs' residence will also feature water-efficient landscaping, as well as flooring made from sustainable and recycled materials, including bamboo and carpet made from recycled plastic soda bottles.

All of these features are in addition to the builder's Energy Star/ComfortWise package, which is now standard in all of the builder's homes and is independently certified to be at least 30 percent more energy efficient than federal standards require.

Another reason the Lanfairs chose Pardee was the builder's commitment to the community.

"We did a lot of research ... and learned about Pardee being named America's Best Builder and all that they have done for the community, which were important considerations for us," Alberta Lanfair said.

The couple were married last New Year's Eve in Las Vegas and plan to become Las Vegans this fall when their home is complete. Jerome Lanfair is looking forward to the move.

"I have many former colleagues and friends who have moved to Las Vegas and have found it to be a very friendly city," he said.

Vista Verde will comprise about 900 homes, starting with Aliso and Ventana. Both neighborhoods offer single- and two-story floor plans.

Priced from $179,950 to $223,950, Aliso features four plans, the largest measuring 2,566 square feet with as many as five bedrooms and three baths. Highlights include great rooms, kitchen islands, and options for lofts and bay windows.

Of Ventana's four designs, the largest measures 4,030 square feet with as many as six bedrooms. The single-story plans offer courtyard entries and an optional sunroom. Plan variations include game rooms, teen rooms and workshops. Prices range from $262,950 to $302,950.

To visit the model park, take U.S. Highway 95 north to Durango Drive and turn left. Go to Oso Blanca Road, turn right, proceed to Severance Lane and turn left. The sales office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Monday, when it opens at 11 a.m.

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