Anthem's Open House Extravaganza showcases more than 100 homes
by Dawn Abbey

ANTHEM - More than 100 homes will open for potential buyers to see firsthand this weekend during Anthem's Community Open House Extravaganza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27.

Home tour registration starts at 10:30 a.m. with a drive-through registration area set up at 3701 W. Anthem Way. (Exit Interstate 17 at Anthem Way and follow directional signs east. Turn right at the first street, Venture Court, where welcome tents and balloons will greet visitors.)

Volunteers from the Anthem business and residential community will welcome their potential new neighbors with free refreshments, a "Thank You" bag filled with maps, lists of homes to see and community information, as well as discount coupons for shops and restaurants, and gifts from Anthem retailers. Included are discount tickets for the Anthem train, which circles the park.

Registered home viewers will be automatically entered into the drawing for the two grand prizes: a foursome of golf at Anthem Golf and Country Club and a full-day family pass for Big Splash Water Park. Separate drawings, one at each listing, offer additional prizes.

Gated communities, The Landing, which is usually not accessible for open houses, as well as the Anthem Country Club neighborhood, welcome potential home buyers during the Extravaganza weekend.

According to the Multiple Listing Service, homes in Anthem range in price from about $228,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath condominium to almost $1.2 million for a six-bedroom, five-bath home. Most sell between $300,000 to $600,000, the MLS reported.

Anthem, a master planned community created by Michigan-based developer Del Webb, opened in February 1999.

Michigan-based Pulte Homes in 2002 purchased Del Webb and is continuing to develop the community.

Pulte Homes spokeswoman Jacque Petroulakis said the community was originally slated to have 16,000 houses but 12,000 will be built instead.

"We are more than three-fourths complete of our estimate," she said.

Anthem continues to expand west of Interstate 17, with new homes, retail, medical and office space.

Real estate agents will attend the open house weekend event to answer questions and present offers. Agents are also welcome to bring potential buyers for a day of house shopping. For more information, contact Bonnie Smith at (602) 316-2142.