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All I Want for Christmas is a
5-Bedroom Home!

Issaquah -- When Port Blakely Communities began developing Issaquah Highlands, John F. Buchan Homes was one of the developer's first choices for homebuilders.

^ Actual view photo as seen from
the central park neighborhood

"When we began building at Issaquah Highlands, the community was a new, untested concept in the region - an urban oasis in the suburbs built with sustainable innovations," said Louis Howard, Executive Vice President of Real Estate for John F. Buchan.

"As with anything new, there's a risk involved, but we shared and embraced the vision of the community and wanted to be a part of it. Since then, the community has been recognized with numerous awards and is the fastest selling new home community in the Puget Sound region. We are delighted to be a part of it."

John F. Buchan was founded in 1961. Earlier this year, John and his brother were awarded FORUM's Citizen of the Year in recognition of their contribution to the local economy, through new home sales, employment and resale transactions. "Our name has become synonymous with quality," said Howard. "We've built a solid reputation for exacting craftsmanship. It's why people choose John F. Buchan Homes."

The homebuilder is currently building in two neighborhoods at Issaquah Highlands, Hudson Heights and Hudson Place. Both offer a mix of home designs, with homes at Hudson Heights starting in the $800's and homes at Hudson Place starting in the $500's.

"Our first homes at Issaquah Highlands were San Francisco style homes. Now when those homes go up for re-sale, the homeowners are enjoying a good return on their investment. It's been fun to see how the neighborhood and our own designs have evolved over the years," said Howard.

The homes at Hudson Heights and Hudson Place both offer ENERGY STAR® features such as Thermador and Bosch appliances and Low-E ENERGY STAR windows, saving energy and reducing utility bills for homeowners. "We are strongly committed to sustainable building," said Howard. "We use a great deal of natural and recycled materials when building. For instance, all of the carpeting we use contains recycled products."

Howard also explained that in future neighborhoods at Issaquah Highlands, the John F. Buchan Homes will be ENERGY STAR certified. "We're always looking for ways to raise the bar with our homes. Our homes already meet most of the ENERGY STAR requirements, so by certifying them ENERGY STAR in our future phases we're adding another benefit for homeowners."

Currently, there is one home in each of the neighborhoods available for move-in before the end of the year, giving homeowners the chance to celebrate the New Year in their new home. The five bedroom home at Hudson Heights is priced at $1,015,950 and includes a den, bonus, recreation room and three car garage. Hudson Place has a three bedroom home available for $619,950.

For homes still under construction, homeowners can personalize their homes in John F. Buchan's Interior Design Center. Buyers meet with the Buchan design team, which walks them through a step by step selection process. Depending on the construction phase of the home they are purchasing, individuals can select some or all of the interior and exterior finishes.

John F. Buchan shares Port Blakely Communities' commitment to building green. Currently all new homes at Issaquah Highlands are required to be built to either the four-star Built Green™ or ENERGY STAR standards, enabling residents to live in healthier homes that tread lightly on the environment. Sidewalks and trails allow residents to explore generous shared open space including 1,400 acres of naturally preserved land and 100 acres of parks.

Issaquah Highlands has continually been recognized for its distinctive approach to community building that includes principles of urban village planning and environmental stewardship, while emphasizing timeless and traditional architecture, pedestrian orientation, and high-tech infrastructure. Since January 2005, nearly 400 homes have been sold.