Del Webb Corporation, the nation's leading builder of active adult communities, is capitalizing on the power of firsthand experience to sell homes in its active lifestyle communities. In 1999, the company is in the process of expanding its benchmark "Vacation Getaway" program by more than 30%, from 180 to 247 units available for a "test drive" at its four actively selling Sun Cities throughout California and Nevada, and Arizona.

Company officials cited the power of the program to showcase the Sun City lifestyle for potential buyers, noting that 30% to 50% of its sales were to people who had stayed in Vacation Getaway villas at one or more Sun City Communities. In their Western Region alone, this program has accounted for as many as 100 sales per month

Del Webb's Vacation Getaway program allows age-qualified buyers to experience first-hand each community's social life, recreational and fitness-oriented activities, settings and home designs. "'Vacation Getaways'" give our visitors a chance to test-drive the Del Web lifestyle," said LeRoy Hanneman, President and CEO. "Buyers have told us that this program reveals, in a very compelling way, the real value that Del Webb offers its residents."

The Vacation Getaway program played an important role in Jim and Joanne Street's decision to buy a Sun City Palm Desert home. "It was great being right here in the community, said Jim. "We played golf, ate at the clubhouse restaurant, and jogged around to get the feel for the community. Everywhere we went, people were very friendly. We met some folks in the clubhouse and got to talking to them. They toured us around and even took us home with them to see their place."

The Getaway packages vary by length of stay, from two nights to seven nights. Most offer complimentary golf, use of recreation and fitness facilities and afternoon or evening socials with community residents. There are resident-guided tours of the community, which give would-be homebuyers the chance to talk to people who aren't there to sell, but to share experiences.

Among Del Webb's most popular Vacation Getaway destinations are its communities in California, Arizona, and Nevada; Sun City Grand, near Phoenix, Sun City Anthem in Las Vegas, Sun City Palm Desert, near Palm Springs, and Sun City Lincoln Hills, near Sacramento. Upon arrival, guests receive a golf cart for ease of travel around the community, and a "passport" granting them access to golf courses, tennis courts, fitness centers, recreation lodges, and social events, as well as other amenities. Every villa is fully furnished, with linens, dishes, and appliances. A variety of floor plans allow visitors to really get the feel of a home and envision their art and furnishings in place.

Stays in Vacation Getaway Villas are prices from $130 for two nights to $675 for seven nights, depending on the community and the season. Reservations are essential; Sun City Grand has the largest program with 147 villas, Sun City Palm Desert follows with 43, 18 villas recently opened in Sun City Anthem, and while the new Sun City Lincoln Hills completes their villas by fall of 1999, guests may stay at nearby Sun City Roseville's 35 villas, only a 12-minute distance away.

Del Webb Corporation, based in Phoenix, is the seventh largest builder of single family homes in the United States and last year recorded revenues of $1.2 billion. The company operates 13 active adult (age 55 and over) communities in markets including Phoenix and Tucson, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Pal Desert, Lincoln and Cloverdale, CA, Hilton Head, SC, Georgetown, TX, Ocala, FL, and Chicago, IL. The company also builds family communities in Phoenix and north Central Arizona and Las Vegas, NV in addition to building country club communities in Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Published: June 30, 1999

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A veteran of the real estate and homebuilding industries since 1986, Dena Kouremetis first joined Realty Times as a new homes writer in 1998. Since then, she has authored four books, written consumer columns on new homes issues for websites and newspapers all across the country, contributed to builder trade magazines, appeared as a guest expert on several radio shows and even created a ten-chapter podcast for LendingTree.com’s homebuilder website, iNest.com, now available on iTunes, entitled Uncharted Waters; Navigating the Purchase of a New Production Home. Kouremetis recently joined her local Folsom, CA Coldwell Banker office as a broker associate while continuing to write for the real estate industry. For the past three years, she has been training real estate agents for both the resale and new homes industries, putting her experience, research expertise and gift of expression to work to help others entering the business.