House hunt while on the way to the coast

Heading to the coast on your summer vacation? Why not drop by some towns along the way where you’ll discover beautiful new construction in communities that are a short drive to beach towns and coastal mountains, while still within commute range of Silicon Valley.

Make your first stop in San Benito County, just after you exit Santa Clara County. In the hills above the charming, close-knit city of Hollister, Anderson Homes is building

out its Highlands at Santana Ranch (No.

45 on this newspaper’s New Home Finder map), where mountain vistas are further accented by views of the valleys, including the Santa Clara Valley and skylines.

All of this beauty is made even more amazing by the lifestyle that newhome owners are enjoying in any of the four homesite plans. There, you’ll find four single-story floor plans plus one two-story floor plan ranging in size from 1,675 square feet to 2,698 square feet.

These homes feature architecturally pleasing exteriors and interiors and finely appointed interiors that demonstrate how Anderson Homes provides upgraded features as a standard. The homes are priced from the upper $500,000 range with no HOA fees.

Next, while passing through Hollister’s historic Old West charm, be sure to include a stop at Cerrato by Century Communities (No. 43 on the New Home Finder map), where turnkey homes are ready for move in. Century’s spacious new homes at Cerrato are filled with character and innovation, all while positioned in a community with walkable, tree-lined streets, parks, schools, shops and restaurants.

Homeowners enjoy these one- and two-story homes up to 3,015 square feet in size, priced from the $520,000 range and only a few blocks from downtown Hollister. Here, homes are built with flexibility to meet different needs. An abundance of options and customizations allows each family to create the perfect setting for their lifestyle.

Just west of Hollister is the storied town of San Juan Bautista, which is rich with history from the mission that was first founded more than 220 years ago and was the site of famous scenes in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.” Priced from the mid-$600,000 range, the grand opening of Copperleaf by Edenbridge Homes in San Juan

Bautista (No. 115 on the New Home Finder map) has exactly what newhome buyers crave, all within commute distance of the South Bay.

Not only are Copperleaf homes generously sized at 2,332 square feet to 2,906 square feet and include single-story plans, but nine homesites feature a detached 402-square-foot studio home with its own kitchen, living room, bathroom and garage.

And finally, before you continue your ride out to the coast, be sure to head due south to the beautiful oasis of Soledad. Priced from the low $400,000 range, Summerfield in

Soledad (No. 117 on the New Home Finder map) boasts five single- and two-story plans ranging from 1,568 square feet to 2,636 square feet in size.

Now releasing Phase 3, certain plans within this Monterey County community offer a sevenbedroom option, by way of converting the first-floor office and upstairs loft into bedrooms. Either way, spacious and flexible living spaces feature immaculate kitchens opening to luxurious great rooms as well as nooks for privacy. Summerfield is near good local schools, parks, shopping and freeway access.

Before you strap the surfboards to the SUV for vacation, load this publication’s New Home Finder Map onto your tablet or into your bag and head for San Benito or Monterey counties. Witness how life in a new-construction home so close to the country, the mountains and the ocean can feel.