WHY IT WORKED: Size definitely matters, especially in the world of high-end luxury real estate. Lots at Sanctuary average 22,000 square feet; floor plans, some featuring as many as five bedrooms and a four-car garage, top out at a whopping 5,599 square feet.

  • Architectural extras are the rule at this award-winning community. Select elevations of Plan 3 feature a turret, while casitas and cabanas are options on some Plan 1 and Plan 3 homes.
  • Despite their sprawling square footage, homes at Sanctuary live the way families function these days. That means plenty of outdoor areas (courtyards, loggias, and decks), downsized living rooms, and more space dedicated to formal dining rooms and the all-important family room.
  • Sanctuary opened at a time when the luxury-home market was starting to experience an upswing. Strong architecture pulled buyers into the community, which borders one of San Diego's most cherished open-space preserves.

    • BACKYARD BEAUTY: A rear view of the best-selling Plan 3 shows some of the features that make it a success: a double loggia, an impressive cabana, and a heavy emphasis on stone and brick.

    PROJECT CREDITS

    Project: Sanctuary at The Estates at StoneBridge, San Diego;
    Sales started: February 2006;
    Sales through June 2007: 47;
    Units planned: 82;
    Price: $1.3 million to $1.7 million;
    Unit size: 4,435 to 5,599 square feet;
    Builder: Shea Homes, San Diego;
    Developers: Brookfield Homes and The Corky McMillin Cos., San Diego;
    Architect: Lim Chang Rohling & Associates, Pasadena, Calif.;
    Land planner: RBF Consulting, San Diego;
    Landscape architect: Van Dyke Landscape Architects, San Diego;
    Interior designer: Color Design Art, Pasadena lance Gordon

    Downtown Delight

    Element, Atlantic Station, Atlanta

    WHY IT WORKED: A whiz-bang marketing campaign targeted toward young urban professionals helped reel in buyers at this development, part of Atlanta's hot Atlantic Station, a live/work/play community in the heart of midtown.

  • High-end amenities at Atlantic Station, a Lane Co. development, include lush courtyards and fountains, a swimming pool with sun deck, a business center, an Internet cafĂ©, a clubroom, a conference room, and a fitness center.
  • Units have open floor plans, some with two-story lofts. Apartments on the top floor have 10-foot tray ceilings and great views. Each home has a patio or balcony.
  • Kitchens and baths have granite countertops and European-style cabinetry. The bathrooms boast soaking tubs; some have separate, glass-enclosed showers.
    • PROJECT CREDITS

    Project: Element, Atlantic Station, Atlanta;
    Sales started: October 2004;
    Sales through June 2007: 280;
    Units planned: 322;
    Price: $172,499 to $449,900;
    Unit size: 814 to 1,631 square feet;
    Builder: Lane Realty Construction, Alpharetta, Ga.;
    Developer: Lane Investment & Development Corp., Atlanta;
    Architect/Land planner: The Preston Partnership, Atlanta;
    Landscape architect: Park Landscape Services, Atlanta;
    Interior designer: Design Environments, Atlanta