6 best-selling homes that hit buyers’ hot buttons

3. Perpetual Vacation

Plan: Plan Two at Sandalwood at La Costa Oaks, Carlsbad, Calif.
Square footage: 3,563
Date introduced: May 2011
Sales to date: 4 
Architect: Woodley Architectural Group, Santa Ana, Calif.
Builder: ColRich, Carlsbad, Calif.

Of the four plans offered at Sandalwood, Plan Two is the most dramatic, says Kelly Hiltscher, director of sales and marketing for the builder, ColRich. “It has an open floating corner with a larger outdoor room off the entire rear of the home,” says Hiltscher. “People love this custom feature, which is complete with a vanishing panoramic door system.” Apropos of Sandalwood’s location, the blend of indoor and outdoor space suggests an oceanfront resort.

Plan Two has a three-car garage, split into two-bay and one-bay configurations. Options for the one-car garage include a casita and guest suite. Upstairs, buyers can opt for a fifth bedroom in lieu of the loft. But it’s the outdoor spaces that really sizzle: a covered patio wraps around the back of the home and there’s a spacious courtyard outside the front door. The kitchen, breakfast nook, and great room open to the patio, while the formal dining room has optional French doors to the courtyard.

ColRich has sold 11 homes at Sandalwood since opening the model in May, which is quite a feat in a tough market — especially since prices start in the high $700,000s. Plan Two accounts for four of those sales so far, making it the bestseller.