Berkshire Estates home provides tri-level living

When Darren Paul toured the tri-level Artisan plan at Centex Homes' Berkshire Estates in North Las Vegas, he said he knew the residence would provide space and privacy for all of its occupants.

"It's my mom, my girlfriend, her 13-year-old daughter and me under one roof. This plan is perfect for us because no one bumps elbows," Paul said of the 2,294-square-foot residence he purchased within the Centex neighborhood.

Dubbed an upside-down house, the Artisan's main living space is on the second floor. A great room, dining room and island kitchen highlight the upstairs space, along with a master suite and secondary bedroom, which can be built as a den.

In addition to a three-car garage, the first floor includes a storage area, two bedrooms and a fifth bedroom. A second-floor balcony is optional. The layout includes 21/2 baths.

"Mom has the entire first floor to herself," said Paul, whose original wish list included a casita. "This is better than a casita because Mom's area is actually part of the house. We all have privacy, but we can meet up in the main living area and kitchen whenever we want."

A Las Vegas native, Paul said he originally planned to purchase a resale home. That all changed when his real estate agent led him to Berkshire Estates.

"I was renting and knew I had to buy something because of the amount of money I was throwing away. I figured I'd never be able to afford a brand new home of the caliber I wanted. Turns out I was wrong. My new home is really affordable, has lots of space and exceeds my expectations," he said.

With a north-facing orientation, the front and rear of Paul's home escapes direct sunlight. Paul said it's ideal for enjoying one of his favorite features, a full-length patio that forms the structure of the balcony off the great room and dining room.

He said his other favorite feature, the home's three-car garage, will get plenty of use.

"I love rebuilding and modifying motorcycles. The garage is the perfect space for a big shop," he said.

In addition to the 2,294-square-foot plan Paul purchased, Berkshire Estates offers two other two-story designs.

At 2,368 square feet, the Beckett plan has as many as four bedrooms, two full baths and two half-baths. The layout includes a three-car garage, raised island kitchen overlooking the living room and super family room with wine niche. The second level includes an owner's suite, two secondary bedrooms and a laundry room. Structural variations allow for a family room and fourth bedroom in place of the super family room.

The Ashley plan has three bedrooms and three baths in 2,945 square feet, but the plan can accommodate up to six bedrooms and four baths. The living and dining room area is separated from the kitchen and family room by a three-sided fireplace. Home buyers can opt for a loft, computer desk and bonus room.

Standard kitchen features include slab granite countertops, pantry, food-preparation island and cabinets with concealed hinges.

Backyards include a barbecue stub-out, and many home sites have a pool-size rear yard. The homes are Energy Star-certified and include such features as dual-pane, low-emittance windows, digital programmable thermostat, energy-saving, insulated 50-gallon gas water heater and water-saving showerheads.

Prices start in the low $300,000s. Homes come with Centex Homes' Two-Year Fit and Finish Warranty, which extends the normal one-year coverage to two years at no extra cost, according to company officials. Centex also offers incentives to educators, health care providers, firefighters and law enforcement personnel as well as active, reserve, retired or veteran military members.

To visit, take Interstate 15 and exit Craig Road west. Turn right on Losee Road, right on Azure Avenue, right on Pecos Road and right on American Rose Drive to the sales office. From Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, exit south on Losee Road, turn left on Azure, right on Pecos, right on American Rose and left on Pacesetter Street to the sales office.

Sales hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Monday when the office opens at noon. For more information, call 839-4002 or visit centexvegas.com.