Building an oasis in Hollister
South of Silicon Valley lies a hilly, smalltown atmosphere with plenty to do; great weather; terrific community events; friendly folks; nearby wineries and state parks, plus burgeoning retail, dining and culture. This much and more, say longtime and newer Hollister residents, can be found in their beautiful oasis, located within commute distance to the tech giants and startups of Silicon Valley.
“It’s also only 30 miles to Monterey Bay,” explained Michael Anderson, co-owner with his brother, James Anderson, of Anderson Homes, which is building new homes in Hollister’s Santana Ranch community. “We have the farmers market and the Hollister concerts series, great restaurants and the San Benito County Wine Trail, just for starters.”
Anderson Homes, which has been in business in California for more than 30 years, has built throughout the Central Valley and is now focusing on two large master-planned communities in Hollister and Los Banos, according to Michael Anderson. “Santana Ranch includes parks and a 12-acre school site,” he said. “We’re seeing people in all stages of life come into the community.”
Their new-home buyers include millennials who are just starting out, families with school-age children, retired couples and younger Baby Boomers like Bill and Nancy Symons. In fact, it was the community amenities, along with the high-quality design and construction of Anderson Homes, that attracted the attention of the Symonses. The former Milpitas residents had been craving
a more relaxed pace of living and are now making the best move of their lives.
Although only in their 50s and not ready to retire, all the Symonses needed was a nudge. That nudge came this past spring by way of two blessings in disguise. “Nancy got laid off in March and I was laid off in April,” said Bill Symons. “We sold our home in Milpitas right away.” Their grown children wanted them to keep the house and rent it to them. “But I said, ‘We’re
Bill and Nancy Symons, not Bill Gates!’ ” Factoring in the couple’s beloved RV, which has hosted countless family adventures, the transition was simpler; they could sell their old house and live in the RV while building their dream home.
In October, they will move into their new house by Anderson Homes at Santana Ranch in Hollister. “It’s a three-bedroom, twoand-a-half bath, with a three-car garage,” said Bill. The bright one-story floor plan includes high ceilings and upscale living spaces with high-end features standard. “It’s
bright and open,” said Nancy Symons. “Our Milpitas house was built in 1962 and was boxy, with rooms the size of a postage stamp!”
Nancy, in particular, has enjoyed the process of designing and choosing the finishing touches for the home. “The Anderson staff has been fabulous,” she said. “It can be hard to envision what a swatch will look like in an entire space, but they walked us carefully through everything.” The Symonses were particularly impressed that they didn’t have to select many upgrades, given that Anderson’s standard
offerings of appliances and finishes include granite or quartz counters plus brand names such as Bosch, Kohler, Milgard and more. “We also like that they are not in an HOA,” said Bill Anderson. Energy efficiency is a priority for Anderson Homes. Each house is built solar-ready. But the Symonses like that they aren’t pressured to purchase or rent solar right away. “They also have the tankless water heaters, which we wanted,” said Bill.
“There are hundreds of ways to personalize an Anderson Home at our design center
with standard flooring, countertops and cabinets included at no additional cost,” the Andersons said. Shaker-style cabinets with pulls come in seven stain colors, two sizes of plank tiles come in various colors, along with quartz and granite counters in seven combined colors. Finished garages come textured and painted and front landscaping is designed with droughttolerant plants.
Additionally, lot sizes range from 6,500 square feet up to about 12,000 square feet, with homes offering 1,675 square feet to 2,460 square feet of living space. “And in
Santana Ranch, much of the land is sloped,” said Michael Anderson. “So although the homes are all on flat lots, the sloping adds privacy and takes advantage of the hillsides.” New-home prices range from $550,000 to $700,000, a steal when considering the proximity to both Monterey Bay and Silicon Valley.
The best way to understand all the community has to offer is to spend a day in Hollister. Nancy Symons said to ask to speak with Tami in sales and Alisa in the design center at Anderson Homes. “They made it so much fun!” she said.