Homebuyers Camp For 2 Nights To Reserve Lots In New Development
Aug 3, 2018, 8:25 PM | Updated: 8:31 pm
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – Visual proof of Utah’s red-hot housing market was on full display Friday in South Salt Lake as homebuyers camped out in order to secure lots in a new residential development.
“We actually have a line outside the door of people that are already waiting for a lot that came as early as 40 hours before the time for contracts,” said Megan Miller, a sales associate with Garbett Homes.
Potential homebuyers set up tents as they form a line to reserve lots in a new development by Garbett Homes.
The community, called Granite Legacy, is situated along 3300 South and 500 East, on land that used to house the Granite High School before it was torn down last year.
The appeal of the prime location and the rarity of a new community with 75 single-family homes in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley are just a few of the reasons that about a half-dozen potential buyers set up tents Thursday evening. Garbett Homes will start accepting lot reservations at 9 a.m. Saturday.
“Two days before was very surprising,” Miller said, adding that they did anticipate high demand after more than 200 people expressed interest.
Jeff Johnson talks with his future neighbors as they wait in line to reserve lots for a new development in South Salt Lake.
“I was fortunate to be able to get the lot that I wanted,” said Jeff Johnson, who secured the second spot in line.
Johnson, who moved two years ago from Spokane, Washington, said Utah’s competitive housing market has been tough to navigate.
“I am extremely relieved,” he said. “I’ve been working on this for two years.”
One of the benefits of camping out for two nights, Johnson said, is that he is getting to know his future neighbors as they plan for the future and select the designs of their homes.
“It’s been a bonding experience — meeting my brand new neighbors for the first time,” he said.
The first phase of the development will consist of 30 lots with base pricing starting around $390,000. Garbett Homes expects them to be sold out in a couple of days. To avoid bidding wars on desirable lots, the company decided to take lot reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis.
