Area home shoppers seeking fresh design choices and favorable pricing in east Ventura County will find both at Waverly Place, where grand opening celebrations are all set for today. Hosted by Waverly Place builder Pardee Homes, the grand opening includes self-guided model tours and special activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Waverly Place model homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and throughout this weekend.

Priced from the $400,000s, these distinctive town homes are part of the master-planned community of Moorpark Highlands by Pardee Homes. "Waverly Place brings new, stylish and upscale plan designs to Moorpark Highlands, and will also feature a private recreation center," said Joyce Mason, vice president of marketing for Pardee Homes. "Waverly Place buyers will find a best of both worlds' setting here, with retreat ambience plus convenience to freeways, schools, shopping and entertainment."

Waverly Place homes will provide about 1,136 to 1,819 square feet of living space, in three floor plan designs. Two of the three plans provide private yards, while the carriage unit features a private balcony. All Waverly Place homes include an attached, direct-access garage. Favorable financing enhances these purchase choices.

"Qualified buyers working with Pardee Homes Loans can secure excellent loan terms, and they can also benefit from our BuyingSmart program, which will keep them informed on all opportunities at Waverly Place," said Gary Probert, senior vice president of sales for Pardee Homes. Probert recommended registration on Pardee Homes' prospective Homebuyers List via www.pardeehomes.com or by visiting any model home center. Broker co-op is welcomed at Waverly Place; brokers must accompany prospective buyers on the initial visit to a Pardee Homes neighborhood. Waverly Place includes:

Plan One — a carriage house design with a porch entry and staircase leading to its living space of about 1,136 square feet. This plan features an open social area, a spacious master suite with walk-in wardrobe and private balcony, plus two bedrooms and full bath. Buyers may specify a den in lieu of the third bedroom. Plan One also provides a two-bay tandem garage with direct access to the home's ground-level entry.

Plan Two — a two-story design sized about 1, 443 square feet, plus a private yard and a two-bay attached garage with direct access to the interior. This includes a large entertainment space with media niche and fireplace and an adjacent, stylish kitchen. A first-floor laundry room and a powder room complete this level. Upstairs, Plan Two features a large master suite with compartmented bath and walk-in wardrobe, plus two additional bedrooms and full bath.

Plan Three — a two-story design with approximately 1,819 square feet of living space plus a private yard and a two-bay garage with direct access to the interior. The plan provides three bedrooms, a den and two baths plus powder room. Buyers also may select an optional fourth bedroom in lieu of the den and an optional full bath in lieu of the powder room. Both options are on the first level, which features living, dining and a large kitchen, a fireplace and media niche. Upstairs spaces include the master suite and two additional bedrooms and bath.

Modeled in the distinctive Craftsman style, Waverly Place buildings also will feature Early California and Italian styling enhanced by textured stucco and architecturally specified exterior color palettes. Residents will enjoy a setting reminiscent of the area's ranch-based heritage. Moorpark Highlands encompasses some 400 acres on a scenic, elevated site, with plans for a seven-acre park and multi-purpose trails with linkage opportunities to surrounding open space and trails. Residents will be served by the Moorpark Unified School District, and close to Highways 118 and 23 and to the new Moorpark Marketplace. Waverly Place residents become part of the Moorpark Highlands Homeowners Association, which maintains the adjacent park and recreation center.

Moorpark Highlands includes additional new home choices at three neighborhoods with a total of nine floor-plan designs and selected optional alternates.

Magnolia Lane's designs are priced from the $700,000s, for plans of about 2,115 to 3,364 square feet featuring three to five bedrooms and two and one-half to four baths, with two-bay and three-bay tandem garages included.

Shenandoah's designs are priced from the $900,000s, with about 3,112 to 3,916 square feet, for one- and two-story homes of four to five bedrooms and two and one-half to four and one-half baths plus two- or three-bay garages.

Cherry Hill is priced from the high $700,000s, for two-story designs of up to five bedrooms and up to four baths, sized about 2,607 to 3,479 square feet along with a two- or three-bay garage.

To reach Moorpark Highlands take Highway 118 to New Los Angeles Avenue; exit and head west into Moorpark. Turn right on Spring Road and continue past Charles Street, following signs. Model center sales offices are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Monday, when hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Call Waverly Place at (805) 529-7621. Call Cherry Hill at (805) 530-1508; call Magnolia Lane at (805) 529-1098 and call Shenandoah at (805) 529-1642. Also see www.pardeehomes.com.