Business Wire
From the article:
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(Business Wire)--William Lyon Homes (the “Company”) (NYSE: WLH) has announced the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire an infill portfolio of residential land from City Ventures, LLC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $174.5 million. The acquisition includes approximately 540 lots in eight new home communities located in Orange and Los Angeles Counties in Southern California, and Santa Clara County in Northern California. The Company believes these markets represent three of the most land constrained markets in the Western U.S. and also demonstrate strong homebuyer demand. The acquisition is expected to occur in phases beginning in the first quarter of 2014, subject to certain customary closing conditions.
Three of the new communities are expected to open for sale by the end of 2014, with the balance opening in the first half of 2015. The homes in the portfolio are expected to have average sales prices in the mid $900,000s and are expected to contribute more than $500 million in incremental revenue by 2016.
Pro forma for the acquisition, the Company owned or controlled 14,288 lots, including over 4,200 lots in California, as of December 31, 2013, positioning the Company for meaningful growth in deliveries in 2015 and 2016.
“The acquisition of this portfolio represents a unique opportunity to exceed our short term growth objectives in some of the most desirable and land constrained locations in all of California,” said William H. Lyon, Chief Executive Officer. “We expect this transaction to meaningfully increase our revenues for 2015 and 2016 and to be accretive on an earnings basis for our shareholders.”
“The diverse range of product offerings in this portfolio speaks to the breadth of product expertise that William Lyon Homes can deliver to prospective new home buyers,” said Matthew R. Zaist, President and Chief Operating Officer. “The new communities are consistent with our operating strategy to provide innovative new homes that meet buyers’ desires across the entry-level and move-up markets within some of the best coastal California submarkets.”
Set forth below are highlights regarding each new home community in the portfolio:
Northern California
Mountain View – 33 planned single family attached homes with three and four bedrooms. The project is located in close proximity to the 101 Freeway and some of Silicon Valley’s largest employers. Anticipated pricing from the low $1 million range.
Morgan Hill – 110 planned single family attached townhomes. The project is located in close proximity to the Morgan Hill downtown area and within walking distance to the Cal Train station providing access to the major job centers in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco peninsula. Anticipated pricing from the mid $500,000s.