Local homebuilder busy with latest project

Someone forgot to tell The Development Group by Elliott Homes that the Yuma-area real estate market is in a slump.

  Go onsite to the homebuilder's latest project and the initial reaction is "Wow." An entire street - a total of 17 homes - is under construction simultaneously at Araby Crossing at the southeast corner of 32nd Street and Araby Road.

  Everywhere you look up and down the street, there is a bustle of activity as construction workers frame one house and insulate its neighbor, roof a third and put in stonework on yet another. Other workers are plying their trades, whether installing windows, laying carpet or constructing a swimming pool.

  It's the same story all along the block, the initial phase of a project that will have a total of 198 homes when completed.

  Best of all, there are "sold" signs in front of two of the homes and four model homes are nearly ready for viewing.

  But that isn't keeping people from looking - not to mention dreaming. The homes are even more enticing with special early buyer prices ranging from $169,900 for a 1,138-square-foot home to $199,900 for a 1,637-square-foot house.

  Next-door neighbors in Araby Acres come through on their daily walk to check out the progress, noted Bobbie Cooper, sales manager. Some are coming back for a more serious look.

  The welcome mat is out for any potential homebuyer, with those involved in the project more than happy to show off the homes in progress.

  "We have hard hats available if people want to come by for a guided tour," said Cooper. "We're really excited about the development ... very proud of what goes on behind the paint."

  Araby Crossing is one of several TDG communities with amenities included that other builders call options, said Eddie Argomaniz, TDG construction manager. "We didn't cut out the good stuff to get to a lower price. It has the same quality as our other products."

  Perhaps the homes are a bit smaller than in other TDG subdivisions, but they're designed for maximum living space, Argomaniz said. They also have such features as TDG's signature closets designed to be more than "a rod and shelf," vaulted ceilings, plant ledges, rounded corners, recessed lighting, hardwood oak cabinets and fully insulated and finished garages.

  Standard exterior features include tile roofs, stucco siding, cultured stone accents and finished covered patios.

  The houses even sport such "green" features as low-E dual pane windows, extra insulation, special framing techniques, water-saver faucets, high-efficiency air conditioners, programmable thermostats, "smart design" window placement and drip irrigation to ensure a comfortable and fuel-efficient home, Cooper said.

  Spacious backyards are included for families to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, Cooper noted.

  The homes are inside the city limits with such city services as water, sewer and public safety.

  The sales office onsite is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, with the exception of Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 783-1800 or 345-1623.

  The Development Group was established in Yuma in 1989. In 2006, the builder became part of the Elliott Homes team, which has been in business since 1914, to combine their homebuilding expertise, local experience and resources. They also partner with a number of local suppliers and subcontractors, said Argomaniz.

  Other TDG by Elliott Homes products include Estrella, The Terraces at the View, Arroyo de Fortuna and  Sunset Terrace Townhomes. Soon it will start on Las Barrancas, Cooper said. For more information, visit TDGhome.com.