Chioffe, 55, camped out for 19 hours in order to be first in line for the grand opening of the Valencia Reserve sales office Saturday morning. The 55 and over community is just an empty plot of land in suburban Boynton Beach, but by November, the first of the homes are expected to be occupied, according to Marcie DePlaza, division president for G.L. Homes. The Sunrise-based home-building company has built more than 10 communities in the greater Boynton Beach area.
Right now, the site plan calls for 1,061 homes on 378 acres, although that number could change depending on demand, DePlaza said. Prices range from $249,900 to $503,900. They were lowered by $50,000 to $100,000 in Valencia Reserve and the other G.L. Homes communities in order to accommodate the current market conditions. The drop rolls prices back to what they were in 2004, DePlaza said.
More than 840 registered guests and their friends and family came out over the two-day grand opening to tour nine model homes. They enjoyed music from a DJ and carnival-type food from a vendor.
"Is there really a recession?" one woman asked her friend as they looked around at the crowd.
DePlaza said she and everyone else with G.L. Homes are thrilled about the response.
"Could any builder in the country ask for more than that in this economy?" she said.
In addition to 1,061 homes, the community will have a 41,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with a ballroom, Internet cafe, card rooms, three different pools, nine tennis courts, a Wii interactive gaming room and other amenities. Despite the recession, G.L. Homes began moving forward with Valencia Reserve as planned because of the demand they saw for homes in Valencia Pointe.
"There is pent-up demand for the brand," DePlaza said. The large grand-opening turnout is proof of that, said Theresa Fowler, vice president of operations for G.L. Homes. "They respect us and trust us," she said.
Shelly Barnett was one of hundreds of people who ventured out to the sales office Jan. 24. Her brother and cousin live in Valencia communities, and she said they are very happy there. Although Barnett likes her home in Mizner Country Club in suburban Delray Beach, she said it has become too expensive.
"The cost of belonging to a golf course community seems like an exorbitant amount of money in these economic times," she said. "I love that house, but I know I could be very happy here."
She paid the $5,000 refundable fee in order to reserve a lot that day. By the end of the two days, 19 other people had done the same. Arthur Garfield, 64, who lives in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., was the second person to reserve a lot in Valencia Reserve. Like Chioffe, he camped out the night before with his wife, Carol. Their daughter and two grandsons live in Canyon Lakes, a G.L. Homes family community also in suburban Boynton Beach. "I can't wait to be near them," he said.