In the first six months of 2017, the Eastmark community in Mesa has sold 502 new homes, the same number previously sold in all of 2016. Home sales have been averaging 82 per month, double the monthly rate in 2016, earning it a spot among the top 20 best-selling master-planned communities in the nation according to real estate advisory firm RCLCO (Robert Charles Lesser & Company) Mid-Year Report.
“In its fourth year of sales, Eastmark has performed extraordinarily well, selling a similar volume of new homes in just the first six months of 2017 as in all of 2016,” the report states.
This is the third year in a row Eastmark has been ranked No. 1 in Arizona on the prestigious RCLCO list. With more than 500 total homes sold each of the last two years, Eastmark finished No. 7 nationally in 2015 and #11 in 2016.
“In the competitive Phoenix East Valley market, Eastmark stands apart because of its high quality, connected living,” says Dea McDonald, General Manager for the community and Senior Vice President for DMB Associates, Inc. “Our plan and design for Eastmark is thoughtful and deliberately flexible so we can grow organically to respond and deliver to the needs of the marketplace and to our homeowners over time.”
In total, the community, spanning 3,200 acres near Ray Road and Ellsworth Road, has sold 1,943 homes since its grand opening five years ago. Home prices start in the low $200,000s.
Eastmark attributes its success to its location within one of the best-selling zip codes in the Phoenix area, among other factors. New home permits in Mesa surpassed the City of Phoenix for the top spot in May, according to Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.
The 2017 sales pace for Eastmark represents a healthy growth in the Phoenix East Valley economy. Niagara Bottling recently announced it is establishing a 450,000-square-foot facilty in Mesa; Constant Aviation, a full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul operation, is establishing a new operation at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport; and DuPont Fabros Technology, a leading data center provider, is building a data center campus in Mesa.
The acceleration of new Eastmark neighborhoods, amenities and businesses in the community is attractive to buyers.
“As we enter our 5th year, Eastmark currently offers 16 residential neighborhoods by 11 builders and will be adding four more neighborhoods by the end of 2017. This is our widest selection of home options to date, and homebuyers have an excellent opportunity to find the best home size, style, floorplan and value to fit their lifestyle,” says Garilyn Bourgeois, Director of Marketing for Eastmark.
In the coming months, a new phase will be introduced that includes a gated neighborhood by David Weekly Homes and new design options from Taylor Morrison and Woodside Homes. CalAtlantic will also be offering smaller, yet spacious homes in the Inspirian Park neighborhood, rounding out this intimate, park-side living opportunity that already includes Pinnacle West Homes and Ashton Woods. Eastmark continues to mature with attractive landscaping, beautiful streets, neighborhoods and robust residential programming through DMB Community Life.
The community is entitled for over 20 million square feet of nonresidential projects with development plans in the works for future phases of retail, commercial, civic, light industrial and other attractive amenities. Eastmark’s first restaurant, the Handlebar Diner, opened in April adjacent to The Eastmark Great Park and has quickly become Eastmark’s newest gathering spot. Already home to two of the nation’s top-ranked charter schools, a preschool is in development to open in late 2017; this July, the community welcomed its first church. Other retail and civic uses are expected to be announced in the near future.
“People choose Eastmark because they want to live where they can engage and connect with neighbors within the borders of our community,” said Suzanne Walden-Wells, Director of Community Life for Eastmark. “Our growing amenities and programs calendar provides just that. For example, our community center, aka The Bus Stop, offers one-of-a-kind family fun from the comforts of a retrofitted bus for seating. And this past weekend Eastmark neighbors celebrated July 4th with our community’s unique traditions including patriotic flag display, community parade, pancakes, and a country rock concert with fireworks show at The Eastmark Great Park.”
