Family opts for Cortona Hills

Toni and Greg Weeks selected Pulte Homes' Cortona Hills neighborhood in Southern Highlands in the southwestern valley as an ideal home for their four children.

"The Southern Highlands master plan attracted us because we liked the location and the community atmosphere," Toni Weeks, a law enforcement officer, said. "We fell in love with the design and layout of the home. That marked the beginning and the end of our search."

The Weeks picked the Marsala plan for their family, Jason, Brittany, Danielle and Steven, as well as their two dogs, Ginger and Gracie. With 3,910 square feet, the home contains five bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, a library, formal living and dining areas, great room, kitchen, morning room with computer center, bonus room, and three-car garage.

"The one thing we truly liked about this particular floor plan is that it provided us with a lot of rooms so everyone could have privacy, but at the same time offered a spacious family room and kitchen for us to spend time together," Greg Weeks, also a law enforcement officer, said.

The neighborhood showcases single- and two-story floor plans, ranging from 2,320 to 3,910 square feet with three to five bedrooms. Options include lofts, game rooms, libraries, exercise rooms and wine cellars.

Prices start at $222,990.

Homes include garage door openers, patio covers, prewiring for security systems and ceiling fans, front-yard landscaping, 9- and 10-foot ceilings, ceramic-tile entry flooring, raised-panel doors, and gas fireplaces.

The kitchens feature roll-out trays in cabinets, crown molding, gas cook tops, dishwashers and microwave ovens.

The homes have acquired the Engineered for Life-Platinum Series seal for such energy-efficient features as gas heat, ground-mounted air-conditioning units and blown-in insulation.

Parks, trails, small lakes, sites for future schools, and tree-lined streets are among the neighborhood highlights.

To visit, take Interstate 15 to Blue Diamond Road and head west. Turn south on Decatur Boulevard and follow the signs. The sales office is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Monday, when it opens at noon.

Also located in the Villages of Southern Highlands is the builder's Siena Vista neighborhood, which features six floor plans ranging from 1,418 to 2,665 square feet. Prices start at $153,990.

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