Solera fits new retirees

After vacationing in Southern Nevada for the past 40 years, John and Joan Murray were ready to leave Massachusetts and retire in a warmer climate. They found the ideal spot at Del Webb's age-qualified Solera at Anthem community in Henderson.

"A Realtor ... brought us to Solera based on our home-buying criteria of a new home in an (age-qualified) community. She had three other communities lined up after Solera, but once we saw the Clark model, we told her we didn't need to look any further, we had found our home."

The 1,251-square-foot design has three bedrooms, two baths, a combined living and dining room, a two-car garage and a covered patio.

Five single-story designs measure from 1,140 to 1,771 square feet.

Prices start from the low $300,000s to the low $400,000s.

Homes include features such as two-tone paint, ceramic-tile flooring, ceiling fans and Corian kitchen counter tops.

"Everyone that we've met from Del Webb has been absolutely tremendous, from our sales representative to our superintendent to our customer relations representative. We couldn't have asked for better people, especially being 2,700 miles away during the whole home-buying process," John Murray said.

John Murray worked as vice president for a management recruiting company in Boston, and Joan Murray worked as a travel agent. Now settled in their new home, the couple has been getting acquainted with their neighbors and enjoying the community's amenities.

"We've met some of our neighbors and spent the Fourth of July holiday with them last weekend at the festivities at Anthem Park," he said, adding, "I want to get more involved, which will give me a chance to get to know the people of this community."

He plans to join the community's architectural review committee.

Tennis and bocce courts are open. A recreation and fitness center with a swimming pool, billiard tables, and rooms for clubs, hobbies, computers and crafts is planned.

In addition, residents have access to The Revere at Anthem Golf Club, which features two championship courses.

The Murrays also touted their home's energy efficiency.

"Our home's energy efficiency is wonderful. We cannot hear any outside noise because the insulation is so great. Even with the warmer weather, our home remains at a constant temperature," John Murray said.

All homes within the community have earned the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label and include energy-saving features such as low-e windows and blown-in cellulose insulation. They use Environments for Living building technology and offer a three-year heating and cooling energy-use and comfort guarantee.

To visit, take Eastern Avenue south to Anthem Parkway, turn left and go to Somersworth Drive. The office is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Del Webb is a subsidiary of Pulte Homes Inc., one of the nation's largest home builders. It also offers the age-qualified Sun City Anthem in Henderson and Sun City Aliante in North Las Vegas, as well as the all-ages Club Aliante.

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