O.C. home sales jump, builders follow | Article by OC Register – Jon Lansner

“It’s taken perhaps six years, but here come the homebuilders.

With Orange County homebuying of all types of homes running at a six-year high, developers other than the Irvine Co. are finally getting in gear.

Analysts have made it official, Orange County is now a sellers’ market.

KB Home plans to start selling 174 homes in the hot-selling north Irvine area as soon as this month.

The homes – which will run up to 3,425 square feet – will be in the Portola Springs neighborhood near the 133 and 241 toll roads. Pricing has yet to be made public.

Steve Ruffner, president of KB Home’s Southern California division: “This is our largest investment in Irvine to-date, a sought-after and thriving market.”

KB Home’s new offerings in Irvine:

•Sage neighborhood: Homes with up to four bedrooms and three baths in less than 2,000 square feet. Says KB: “Home designs are already loaded with attractive features such as spa-like master bathrooms, kitchen islands with breakfast bars and plentiful storage space.”

•Garden Hill neighborhood: Homes start at 2,681 square feet and go up to 3,425 square feet with as five bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. Says KB: “Floor plans are open and airy with large great room living spaces adjacent to smartly-designed kitchens with large built-in islands providing extra space for prep work, enjoying a quick bite at the breakfast bar or entertaining. Other desirable features include large covered patios that extend living space outdoors as well as luxurious master baths, multipurpose loft spaces and walk-in closets.”

The north Irvine area has been Orange County’s hottest seller for new homes. The New Home Co. says it’s sold out the 42 new luxury homes it has released at its Lambert Ranch project in the Portola Springs area.

Of course, selling new homes is relatively old hat to the Irvine Co. It says it’s now sold out four new-home neighborhoods in north Irvine this year, bringing its total of completed and sold-off projects to 16 since it began its homebuilding push in January 2010.”

Read more of this article at the OC Register here: “O.C. home sales jump, builders follow“.