Santa Clarita, Calif. – August 2018 – Join Lennar on Sunday, August 26th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an ice cream social to celebrate the Grand Opening of Galloway’s Recreation Center. Galloway is the only active adult community in the Five Knolls masterplan and provides its residents with their own exclusive Recreation Center, an ideal setting to connect with friends, family and neighbors. Mark your calendars for this exciting event and come cool off with some refreshing ice cream as you tour the amenity-rich lifestyle Galloway in Santa Clarita offers.

“We could not be more excited to be Grand Opening Galloway’s Recreation Center for residents, providing them with ample space to entertain, relax and make the most of their new home community,” said Ken Melvin, Division President for Lennar LA/Ventura. “Galloway presents a relaxed setting where homeshoppers can discover that resort-inspired lifestyle they’ve been seeking with low-maintenance homes and nestled in a prime Santa Clarita location near plenty of top-rated recreation and entertainment.”

Although situated in the Five Knolls masterplan, residents don’t have to venture past their own community to find fantastic amenities. The Recreation Center is exclusive for Galloway residents and includes a private swimming pool, whirlpool spa, fitness center, outdoor kitchen and enclosed lounge. Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day and sit back by the pool or get a workout before starting your day at the fitness center, Galloway has everything you need to make the next chapter in your life count.

In addition, the neighborhood is located across from Golden Valley Park and next to the new YMCA and SCV Senior Center facilities that are coming soon.  Situated on two and one-half acres of newly-developed land, the 30,000-square-feet state-of-the-art Senior Center will provide residents with a new setting to connect, mingle, keep healthy and explore new passions. The center will boast high-end amenities including a luxurious banquet hall with seating for more than 250 people, a cozy fireplace lounge/library, six multi-purpose rooms, fitness center and dance studio, billiards room, outdoor cabana with outdoor seating and much more.

Experience an upscale collection of floorplans tailored for the active adult boasting carefree and single-level living. Choose from three distinct designs ranging in size from approximately 1,840 to 2,458 square feet and starting from the upper $500,000s. Find the elegant master suite conveniently on the first floor, as well as the main living area encompassing the great room, dining space and elegant kitchen that through an open layout connect effortlessly. Upstairs is a bonus space with many possibilities—curate a dream playroom for the grandkids, guest suite to host the family during holidays or simply use it for extra storage space.

With Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program, popular upgrades are included in each new home as standard—enjoy elevated kitchens with center islands, granite countertops, high-quality cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and more, plus it now includes Lennar’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs which feature built-in wireless access points throughout for whole-home connectivity.

Residents and prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to attend the Grand Opening event and experience the amenities and lifestyle available at Galloway located at 20568 Galloway Drive in Santa Clarita to tour the model homes. For more information, please visit www.lennar.com/Valencia.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

 

Corona, Calif. – July 2018 – Lennar is excited to celebrate the Grand Opening of two new communities at Sycamore Creek in Corona this Saturday, August 25. Prospective homeshoppers are invited to attend and enjoy complimentary strawberry shortcake, smoothies, a balloon artist for the little ones and the first opportunity to tour the professionally-decorated model homes.

“We are so excited to bring two new communities to the amenity-rich Sycamore Creek masterplan and unveil these stunning model homes,” said Tara Conklin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Inland. “In addition to the beautiful homes we’re bringing, residents of Sycamore Creek will enjoy a nature-inspired lifestyle with incredible amenities just steps from their new front door.”

Oakwood at Sycamore Creek offers homeshoppers a collection of three spacious single-family home designs to choose from. These homes range from approximately 2,409 to 3,162 square feet of living space with four to five bedrooms, two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms and two-bay garages with select homesites that feature additional tandem storage space.

Hideaway at Sycamore Creek also presents three more spacious home designs to choose from ranging from approximately 2,287 to 4,134 square feet of generous living space. These floorplans offer three to seven bedrooms, two to four and one-half bathrooms and two to three-bay garages.

Available in both communities are Lennar’s Next Gen® The Home Within a Home®, created specifically for multigenerational families. These unique homes include an attached private suite with its own separate entrance, bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchenette.

Every home at Oakwood and Hideaway comes complete with Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® package, which outfits all their new homes with a high level of standard features and upgrades. Homeowners get to enjoy items such as granite kitchen countertops, beautiful cabinetry, solar, stainless steel appliances, integrated home automation products and more – all at no additional cost.

Situated in the Sycamore Creek masterplan, residents gain access to exclusive amenities. At the Swim Club and Recreation Center, residents and their guests can enjoy two swimming pools, a children’s pool, an interactive water play zone, relaxing covered areas and barbecues, an upscale clubhouse with a lounge, exercise room and food prep facilities for events.

Located in the heart of Corona, Sycamore Creek offers an incredible lifestyle with more than 125 acres of parks, paseos, natural open space preserves, walking trails and an elementary school.

Interested homeshoppers are encouraged schedule an appointment at the Welcome Home Center, located at 26035 Almond Court in Corona to learn more. Schedule yours by visiting www.lennar.com/inlandempire or calling (888) 203-9186.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Sacramento, Calif. – August 2018 – Homeshoppers on the search for a upgraded new home for sale are in luck because Lennar Sacramento has just released several model homes at closeout communities across the Greater Sacramento area. These stunning residences are complete with a high-level of designer-selected finishes and are move-in ready!

“These stunning model homes showcase impeccable design with modern elements, beautiful kitchens and enhanced backyards,” said Michelle Velky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “Each residence features designer-selected custom elements throughout that offer a stylish, elevated and lavish lifestyle opportunity. Interested homeshoppers should act fast before the model homes are gone!”

In Roseville, Carrington at Westpark has just released the model homes for sale with two designs available. The Brighton is a single-story home that offers 2,658 square feet, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a three-bay garage. And the Buckingham, a two-story Next Gen® The Home Within a Home® that offers 3,512 square feet, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a three-bay garage.

In Sacramento, two Lennar communities are offering model homes for sale. Edgewood at Natomas Meadows is selling The Hydrangea plan, a two-story home with 2,786 square feet of living space and dual master suites. The Carmel Collection at Heritage Westshore, an active adult community for those 55 and better, is selling three model homes. All single-story, these upgraded residences range in size from 1,295 to 1,531 square feet.

The Ridge at Blackstone is a luxury community in El Dorado Hills and is down to two final model homes for sale. Residence Two is a single-story home that offers 3,108 square feet of space while the other model showcases the Residence Five plan, a super spacious Next Gen® home that offers 4,253 square feet.

In Lincoln at highly-acclaimed Twelve Bridges, Mira Vista, a former CalAtlantic community, two models remain.  These high-end homes offer approximately 3,100 to 3,853 square feet of living space and up to five bedrooms.

All of these model homes showcase elevated features including custom lighting, wall treatments, upgraded cabinetry and flooring, water features, enhanced landscaping and more per plan. Contact a New Home Consultant by emailing LennarSacramento@Lennar.com, calling 877-368-8464 or visiting www.lennar.com/sacramento to learn more.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Portland, Oregon. – August 2018 – Lennar celebrated a highly successful Grand Opening event for their newest neighborhood in Portland, Iron Ridge Heights. Homeshoppers came out to the event and joined in the festivities with complimentary snacks and refreshments as they toured the stunning model home. Iron Ridge Heights is an executive community nestled in a prime Portland location near plenty of the city’s most sought-after recreation and entertainment. Homes showcase thoughtful floorplans designed for the modern buyer with wonderful Everything’s Included® features and Lennar’s popular multigenerational Next Gen® design. If you missed the event, the model home is now open, so stop by and experience this premier setting for yourself!

“We could not be happier with the turnout and feedback we received from homeshoppers during the Grand Opening of Iron Ridge Heights,” said Sia Howe, Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland. “Homeshoppers loved the convenience to downtown Portland, only fifteen minutes away plus the high level of Everything’s Included® features in the home now including home automation technology—all at no additional cost.”

Suitable for families of every type, homeshoppers can choose from an upscale collection of eight two- and three-story floorplans. Homes range in size from approximately 2,448 to 3,422 square feet of living space including three to five bedrooms, two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms and two-car garages.

Each floorplan is thoughtfully designed to reflect the way people choose to live today with open-concept living spaces that effortlessly blend the kitchen, great room and dining spaces for the ultimate entertaining space. The master suites are exceptional and boast luxurious bathrooms with enviable walk-in closets and separate vanities. Cook in the kitchen of your dreams with large kitchen islands with gorgeous countertops and plenty of walk-in pantry and cabinet space. Loft space on the second floor provides additional room to entertain or curate a study space for the kids. The Silverdale floorplan offers a fifth bedroom on a third floor plus a large bonus room and full-sized bathroom.

For buyers looking for a convenient floorplan for a multigenerational living situation, Lennar’s popular Next Gen® – The Home Within a Home® is available with the Bainbridge model. This floorplan includes a separate but attached living suite fully equipped with its own kitchenette, living area, bedroom and full bathroom, a perfect living situation where neither party needs to sacrifice comfort, style or privacy.

Each new home features added value through Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program. Enjoy upgraded and popular features as standard and at no additional cost, including home automation products and technology, stainless steel appliances, quartz kitchen countertops, high-quality cabinetry and so much more. Also embedded in the program are the new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs by Lennar that provide homeowners with a more connected way to live through integrated home automation features and built-in commercial strength Wi-Fi. Turn on or off the lights, play music or a movie, lock the door or see who’s there—all remotely from any smart device or voice controlled with Amazon Alexa.

Portland offers plenty of opportunity to get outside, enjoy the great outdoors and discover your best life. Visit one of the many parks and trails available with more than 550 acres of greenspace located throughout the city including Bonny Slope Park, Washington Park, Forest Park and Tualatin Hills Nature Park. Spend some quality time with the family at the Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Gardens or Cedar Hills Shopping Center. For additional entertainment, downtown Portland is just a short drive away offering plenty of great retail, dining, arts and nightlife.

Prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to visit the Iron Ridge Heights for model tours located at 11240 N.W. Elise Lane in Portland. For more information, visit www.lennar.com or call 888-208-0503.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

According to this Twice article, Smart-Home technology continues to rise in popularity and it is predicted to grow in homeowner adoption within the next year. Luckily for homebuyers in the market, Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program allows them to enjoy all the benefits of home automation with the purchase of their new Lennar connected home.


Encouraging incremental smart-home purchases may be tech retail’s most valuable opportunity as sales of smart speakers continue to grow, new research from The NPD Group suggests.

Sales of voice-activated speakers are expected to grow 50 percent by 2019, NPD said in releasing its two-year “Future of Tech” report, helping the streaming-speakers segment reach nearly $2.7 billion in that time. Smart speakers will account for $1.6 billion in that period.

Sales of home automation devices, meanwhile, will reach $1.7 billion through 2019, with 19 percent of consumers planning to purchase a device in the next 12 months.

“While many new households will explore the smart-home experience in the next two years, propelled by the growing ownership of voice-activated speakers, the biggest and best opportunity for retail may remain in encouraging the installed smart-home base to make incremental device purchases, and to then provide services to help consumers fully leverage the technology in their smart home,” said Stephen Baker, VP, industry advisor for NPD.

“For example, upgrades in networking equipment are a crucial incremental sales opportunity,” Baker noted. “As the number of connected devices on the home network increase, consumers will come to the realization that they need better equipment to support those devices.”

Home wireless networks are becoming strained by the increase in smart-home and video-streaming devices, NPD said, motivating consumers to upgrade to mesh Wi-Fi networks. U.S. mesh networking sales are expected to grow 88 percent from 2017 to 2019, with about half of every dollar in the consumer networking category spent on mesh Wi-Fi, according to the market research firm.

Renton, Wash. – August 2018 – Lennar celebrated an amazing turnout at the Grand Opening of Addison Park last week with a fun and surprisingly wet event, and the first model home tours. Halfway through the beautiful, mild-temperature Washington day, a downpour drenched the great-spirited homeshoppers and associates! Everyone piled into the exceptionally-designed homes to seek refuge and explore the floorplans and décor. It was a wonderful introduction to this premier community, where three model homes are now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We were thrilled with the amount of people who came out to see these brand-new model homes, all the while braving the weather and sharing a laugh about it together,” said Bill Salvesen, Division President of Lennar Seattle. “We received so much positive feedback on the models on everything from the design, décor and home automation features.”

With 88 homesites in total, homeshoppers have six distinctive single-family home designs to choose from with sizes that range from approximately 2,494 to 3,395 square feet. These floorplans offer four to five bedrooms and two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms. They showcase open-concept living areas, gourmet kitchens, expansive master suites and additional common areas such as dens, lofts and bonus rooms. Homes are priced starting from the mid $600,000s.

Every new Lennar home at Addison Park will offer the latest in home automation technology as standard, allowing homeowners to manage lights, locks, front door monitoring, music, movies and more via voice control from Amazon Alexa. Additionally, Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program outfits these homes with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, window blinds, landscaping and more at no additional cost.

Residents will get to enjoy extensive outdoor amenities such as a large nearby park system with a soccer field, bike path, walking trails, play structures, picnic tables and more.

Homeshoppers may now visit the model homes by scheduling a tour or stopping by the Welcome Home Center, located at 18450 138th Ave SE, Renton WA 98058. Visit www.lennar.com/seattle or call 855-860-9571 for more information.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Saving for a down payment is a crucial step of the home buying process. Some experts recommend a 10% – 20% down payment. However, you don’t always need a large down payment. In some cases you can buy a home with as little as 3.5% down. Learn more in this The Street article by Brian O’Connell.


Knowing how much to save for a down payment on a house can spell the difference between buying your dream home, or not.

A down payment on a house is a key first step in buying and owning your own home. If you’re new to the housing market, you might be completely lost and not know where to start.

Buying a house doesn’t have to be scary. As long as you come in knowing the basics, like how much payment is expected up front, how it will have an impact on your credit and more, you’ll be ahead of the crowd.

What is a Down Payment?

By definition, a down payment on a house is the money a home buyer gives to a home seller to lock in the home purchase deal.

In most cases, the remaining cash owed on a home purchase is paid via a mortgage loan obtained by the buyer. In that regard, the lender views a down payment as proof you’re invested in the home purchase, and that you’re committed to buying the home and making all your mortgage payments.

In financial terms, a home down payment is calculated as a percentage of the total home purchase. For example, if you’re buying a home for $200,000 and you pay $20,000 as a down payment, your down payment is 10% of the entire home purchase.

Your down payment has a significant impact on the total cost of your home. For instance, your interest rate on the home is calculated, in large part, based on the amount of your down payment. The larger your down payment on a house, the lower your interest rate will be, and the less you’ll wind up paying for your home.

The link between home down payments and interest rate aids lenders in calculating what mortgage industry professionals call the “loan-to-value” (LTV) ratio of the home. Loan-to-value, along with the debt-to-income ratio (i.e., the amount of money you owe weighed against the amount of income you earn) and your credit score are the primary factors a mortgage lender considers when making a home loan.

The loan-to-value ratio is basically defined as the percentage of the home’s value you owe after making a down payment on a new home. It’s calculated by taking the mortgage loan amount and dividing it by the appraised value of the house you’re buying. So if you’re buying a house that costs $100,000, you put down $10,000 and you’re borrowing $90,000, your LTV ratio is 90 percent.

Minimum Down Payments and the 20% Rule

Conventional wisdom usually says that you need 20%  as a down payment to get the deal done. That’s not so, as home buyers can buy a home with 3.5% down a U.S. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan on a 30-year fixed-rate home mortgage.

3.5% FHA down payments are usually capped at $417,000 home mortgage loans, although there are exceptions to that rule depending on where the home for sale is located. Higher-incoming areas like San Francisco and New York City may see higher FHA loan down payment ceilings well beyond the traditional $417,000 limit.

Even conventional bank loans are often approved with down payments as low as 5% for loans up to $417,000. If the loan size is higher than $417,000, banks and other mortgage lenders usually ask for another 5% down.

Continue reading the full article at TheStreet

Irvine, Calif. – August 2018 – Now is the time to stay connected with family and friends, get closer to the ones you love and move to a place where you can experience life together. Situated in a prime Irvine location close to the Great Park Neighborhoods, Travata by Lennar is a gated masterplan community designed for individuals aged 55 and better. Travata offers three distinct neighborhoods—Aldea, Castillo and Palencia—showcasing beautiful home designs, resort–style private amenities and an unbeatable location. Make the next chapter in your life count at Travata!

“Travata presents homeshoppers with a great opportunity to purchase a new home with no Mello-Roos and low tax rates in a setting that keeps them close to their family and friends, as well as promoting their lifestyle through rich home designs and fantastic amenities,” said Janet Price, Marketing Director for Lennar California Coastal. “Travata is tailored to fit the needs of the sophisticated 55+ demographic with low-maintenance, Everything’s Included® homes and close proximity to the Great Park Neighborhoods.”

The Aldea collection offers three distinct single–story and two–story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,417 to 1,910 square feet of living space including one to two bedrooms and one and one-half to two bathrooms, starting from the mid $600,000s. Castillo is a collection of four courtyard-style home designs in single-story and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,281 to 1,947 including two to three bedrooms and two to two and one-half bathrooms, starting from the mid $700,000s. Palencia has the largest home designs with five two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,848 to 2,565 square feet including two to three bedrooms and two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms, starting from the low $1 millions.

Homeshoppers interested in the Aldea collection are encouraged to attend the model opening event of three brand-new furnished model homes on August 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For single-level living, everything you need is on one floor with first floor master suites and large entertaining areas encompassing the great room, dining space and upscale kitchen with large center island. Each home boasts Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program which adds value, convenience and style through a high level of standard features. Granite or quartz kitchen countertops, stainless steel appliances, shaker-style cabinetry, built-in commercial-strength Wi-Fi coverage, home automation technology and more come included at no additional cost!

Situated in the heart of Orange County, Travata offers a convenient distance to the Great Park Neighborhoods, Orange County Great Park, Great Park Sports Complex and easy access to neighboring cities so you’re never far from your family and friends. Travata residents also have exclusive access to their own resort-inspired amenities at the Travata Club, a private facility that features a 65-foot saltwater lap pool, spa, bocce and pickle ball courts, a fitness center, inviting indoor and outdoor lounges, dog park, yoga lawn and so much more.

For more information on Travata and its three neighborhoods, please visit www.lennar.com/travata or call 949-234-7880.

About Lennar

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.

Diane Keaton, the beloved film star who set fashion trends with 1977’s blockbuster film Annie Hall, is now a tastemaker in home and interior designs. That’s according to Elle Décor, a glitzy design and lifestyle magazine, which just this spring published an article about Keaton’s 2017 book, The House That Pinterest Built.

Yes, Pinterest. Even the always-fabulous Keaton clicks there to check the pulse of today’s decorating trends and contemporary tastes. Of course, that’s where so many of us also go when we pine for pins that give us a glimpse into movie-star tastes and how we can live like celebrities, too.

At Lennar, Everything’s Included®, and that includes our rundown here of the hottest new interior-design styles, especially as they’re seen Pinterest. (If you’re not hip to the tipster site, Pinterest is the go-to social media platform for everyone from soon-to-be-brides to would-be bakers).

Here, then, are among the top tips from Elle Décor’s list, which may include some of your own pins and may even lead you to some of Ms. Keaton’s faves:

Meanwhile, HGTV says kitchens are cooking up bold colors, too.

Nina Magon, the interior-design celeb who, incidentally, graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, says “designs from cabinetry to sink materials” are taking on stronger hues than in years past:

“Expect to see bolder color choices that range from natural neutrals to charcoal to sage providing a more chic and sophisticated alternative to modern homes. To complement the darker palette, we can also expect to see a shift from stainless and all white sinks to more color-rich materials such as copper, concrete, and granite.”

Some of the latter design features are included in some Lennar models, so ask your Lennar Design Center professional about those and other options, as well as tips about how you can pin down some of today’s top trends. Then create the home interior that appeals to the movie star in you.

For more about Lennar resources, talk with your New Home Consultant or, while you’re busy clicking through Pinterest’s Home section, visit our online Resource Center.