Italian theme accents Foothills homes

After opening its gates a little more than a year ago, The Foothills Tuscany Series at Southern Highlands is almost 50 percent sold.

The 24-hour guard-gated neighborhood features Tuscan-style homes, some with casitas and private courtyards, on lots measuring at least one-quarter acre. They are priced from the mid-$200,000s to the mid-$300,000s.

"The quality of our craftsmanship behind every home, combined with the high-quality lifestyle that this community offers, positions The Foothills among the fastest-selling neighborhoods in Southern Highlands," said Bob Evans, assistant development director at Pacific Southwest Homes.

The Foothills Tuscany Series offers six semicustom floor plans ranging from 2,585 to 4,360 square feet.

Bellasera, which measures 4,360 square feet, offers as many as seven bedrooms, a loft and three-car garage. The two-story home, priced at $354,990, also has a first-floor guest suite, library with a vaulted ceiling and 4 1/2 baths.

Starting at $344,990, The Venetian is a two-story home measuring 4,106 square feet. The floor plan includes four bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, a library, loft, five-car garage and front courtyard. It offers as many as seven bedrooms and a courtyard casita.

Measuring 3,743 square feet and priced at $323,990, Las Brisas is a two-story home with four bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths and three-car garage. Other features include a spiral staircase, loft, master suite with a retreat, and first-floor guest suite. A fifth bedroom is optional.

The Palatina is a two-story, four-bedroom home with an optional fifth bedroom. It features a library, 3 1/2 baths, a first-floor master suite and a three-car garage. This home, starting at $318,990, also has a curved staircase and a loft.

The Tapatio is a single-story home offering three bedrooms, an open library and 2 1/2 baths. Measuring 3,088 square feet, it can be customized for an optional fourth bedroom or an enclosed library. Prices start from $304,990.

The Trovas, priced at $269,990, is a single-story home measuring 2,585 square feet. It features three or four bedrooms, three baths, an enclosed library, great room, formal dining room and three-car garage.

The Foothills is part of The Villages at Southern Highlands, which features more than 20 subdivisions. Homes are priced from the $130,000s to the $400,000s.

To visit the community, take Interstate 15 south to Lake Mead Drive, go west and follow the signs.

Models are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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