[November 15, 2009] Josh Brodesky: Out in suburbs, pair finds solitude amid vacant lots Tweet Nov 15, 2009 (The Arizona Daily Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Roy and Lisa Hoskins live on the outskirts of town and right in the heart of the housing free-fall. In normal times their three-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot home really wouldn't stand out. But then again, in normal times the Hoskins would have neighbors. Head out to Marana, past the farm fields and dirt lot remnants of sprawl, and you will find the Hoskins' casa standing tall in a Meritage Homes development called Solara. It's hard to miss because it's the only home on the block. All around the Hoskins' home is dirt. Dirt to the left. Dirt to the right. Dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt. "It's a little odd," Lisa Hoskins said. "I mean, I came from suburbia, so it's different. But at the same time, it's nice not to have neighbors to annoy or be annoyed by them." Of course, the Hoskins are in suburbia, just without the homes. They are suburban pioneers, so to speak, and to some degree they chose this situation. Meritage wasn't building on their particular section of the subdivision, but they liked the lot so much they asked Meritage to make an exception. They knew it would be a while until neighbors moved in -- but it's not so clear they thought it would take this long. The Hoskins are a friendly couple in their 20s who moved to the Tucson area from Southern California a few years ago. They came here for work. Roy Hoskins is an engineer with Raytheon. They also came here for affordable housing. The Los Angeles area was just too expensive, and they wanted a home to grow into as they raise a family. So after about a year of renting, the couple bought their home in 2008 for about $285,000. The market has fallen a long way since then, though, and it's safe to say the Hoskins are not just all alone but also upside down. RealtyTrac pegs the median home value in Marana at about $205,000. "We took the chance knowing that we may take a hit, but we were just hoping that it wouldn't go too low," Lisa Hoskins said. Like a lot of builders in this downturn, Meritage Homes has changed its floor plans and is now selling smaller, more affordable homes in Solara. The get-you-in-the-door prices range from $142,900 to $170,900,, and the new models can get as big as 1,872 square feet. Even though the Hoskins were pretty upbeat and gracious throughout the interview, it's clear this bums them out at least a little bit. How could it not? But they also put their best spin on it. When the neighborhood fills in, they'll have the biggest house on the block in a prime corner location. "We have our reservations," Roy Hoskins said. "Hindsight is 20/20. But if you question every move you are going to make, you are going to regret everything. I've planned to be out here with work for a long time." And so in the meantime they wait. They wait for a grocery store to come in nearby, for neighbors to fill in their development, for values to return. It could be a long time, but to their credit, they aren't complaining. Well, except about the dust. "The only thing that kind of bugs us is the amount of dirt," Roy Hoskins said. Said Lisa, "We go through filters like crazy. And if it's windy, forget it. Close all the windows. You will get a layer of grime on everything." "We took the chance knowing that we may take a hit, but we were just hoping that it wouldn't go too low." Lisa Hoskins Solara resident, commenting on area's market conditions Real estate reporter Josh Brodesky is also surrounded by dirt but that's because his inner-city rental has no landscaping. He can be reached at 573-4178 or [email protected] To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]