Buyers Avoid Bidding Frenzy at Tehaleh

Bidding wars, overpriced homes and the lack of inventory have made finding the ideal home more of a headache than a happy house-hunting adventure. Savvy buyers have discovered a solution at Tehaleh, the Puget Sound’s top selling new home community, situated between Seattle and Tacoma. With spectacular views of Mount Rainier, nearly 10 miles of trails, 10 parks, and the widest selection of new homes in the region, it’s no wonder the tight-knit community has risen to the top.

As the Seattle housing market reaches saturation, home shoppers are struggling to find the exact home perfect for their families. 2015 is on track to be the largest year yet for residential real estate since the 2008 recession according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, and the housing shortage is expected to continue well in 2016.

The richness of what Tehaleh offers is unparalleled. Home shoppers can experience the community’s full lifestyle this Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a free food truck, bounce house, caricature artist, magician and activities for all ages celebrating the Grand Opening of Conner Homes and Azure Northwest Homes at Tehaleh. Visitors can tour 12 model homes, five move-in ready homes, and a variety of hiking trails and outdoor amenities.

Conner Homes and Azure Northwest Homes join a formidable lineup of builders at Tehaleh: Lennar, Oakridge Homes, Pulte Homes, Quadrant Homes, Richmond American Homes and Trilogy at Tehaleh. With prices starting in the mid $200,000s, buyers are finding everything they want for less.

When Jason and Kelli Cruz began looking for a home for their family of five, they were discouraged by the price tag that came with the homes they looked at in West Seattle and the amount of work older homes would require. Issaquah’s newer homes came at a steep cost – hundreds of thousands of dollars over their ideal price range. Then they discovered Tehaleh and they knew the search was over.

“We fell in love with it. We liked the fact that the school was right there for our kids,” Jason Cruz said, referring to Donald Eismann Elementary, a leading public school at the heart of the Tehaleh community.

Cruz says they test-drove the community before buying. “We went to the park on a sunny day and, from the get-go, everyone was so friendly. We felt like it was the perfect place for our family to set down roots.”

They loved the modern look of the homes, the variety of builders, access to the outdoors and the ability to find a home and move in quickly. The Cruz family purchased a Lennar model home that included all of their dream fixtures and upgrades, including an air conditioner. They were able to move in to their new home within a month.

Since the move, Cruz said they regularly use the parks and trails, attend resident events and love that their seven-year-old son can ride his bike to school every day. “Everything we thought we were getting at Tehaleh has been true – it’s even exceeded our expectations,” he said.

During the Grand Opening celebration, visitors to The Post, Tehaleh’s community information and gathering space, can enjoy a free smoothie giveaway from Caffé D’arte and take in breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier.

“Buyers run the risk of overpaying on existing homes with the current bidding frenzy,” said Scott Jones, Vice President and General Manager for Newland Communities. “The new home market offers the chance to skip the bidding wars and repairs, and get exactly the home you want. No one is offering what we have here; the attractive pricing, the extensive level of amenities, the variety of builders and selection of new floor-plans. If you are looking for your dream home, you really need to check out Tehaleh.”

Tehaleh is owned in a joint venture between two strong companies; North America Sekisui House, LLC (NASH), the U.S. business unit and full subsidiary of Sekisui House Ltd., Japan’s largest homebuilder and leading diversified developer, and American Newland Communities, LLC, whose development business, Newland Communities, is the master developer of Tehaleh. Collectively, the NASH-Newland partnership owns or manages up to 36 communities across the country.

View these homes: Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily at 19001 Cascadia Blvd. E., Bonney Lake

Prices: Base prices from mid $200s to low $400s

Information: Tehaleh.com or 253-205-8190

Tehaleh Builders: Azure Northwest Homes, Conner Homes, Lennar, Oakridge Homes, Pulte Homes, Quadrant Homes, Richmond American Homes, Trilogy at Tehaleh

Model Home Count: 12

Model Home Hours: Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily