Silverstone Ranch well-suited for Californian

Purchasing a Pulte home was a gratifying experience for new Las Vegas resident Hank Povinelli.

"During my search for a new home in a new city, I received such positive feedback about Pulte Homes and especially the golf course community of Silverstone Ranch," Povinelli said. "I have friends that live in Silverstone Ranch who encouraged me to buy out here and move out of the San Fernando Valley."

Povinelli, who works in the vacation resort industry, said he was pleased with the "inherent value" of The Oakmont Collection's 1881 plan in the northwestern valley community.

"The great room is my favorite room in the house," he said. "The fact that the kitchen overlooks the great room allows me to visit with my guests while cooking. It's an ideal home for entertaining."

His home also includes three bedrooms, two baths, and a 2 1/2-car garage.

The single-story homes in the collection range from 1,520 to 1,881 square feet and are priced from $314,990 to $337,990.

Five additional collections of homes are available, including townhomes. The homes measure from 1,583 to 3,448 square feet and are priced from $284,990 to $524,990.

Presales are under way for the townhomes in The Pinehurst Collection. They measure from 1,346 to 2,016 square feet and are priced from $254,990 to $304,990.

Each home is constructed with the builder's Platinum Plus Series Environments for Living technology. In addition to being recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as Energy Star homes, they offer a three-year heating and cooling energy-use guarantee.

Povinelli also enjoys playing golf so the fact that Silverstone Ranch is built around the fairways of Silverstone Golf Club was attractive to him.

"When I decided to buy my first `new' home, I knew it had to be located in a golf course community," Povinelli said.

Designed by architect Bob Cupp, the golf club offers a 27-hole championship course with three nines. A 34,000-square-foot clubhouse offers fine dining and is available for events.

The community consists of several neighborhoods with amenities such as parks, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds and arbors. One will have a guard-gated entry, and the townhome development will include a social center and a swimming pool.

To visit, take U.S. Highway 95 to Durango Drive, head east to Grand Teton Drive and turn right. Proceed to Buffalo Drive, turn left and follow the signs.

The sales center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Monday, when it opens at noon.

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