Homeowners Establish Holiday Traditions at Tehaleh

Over 200 decked-out holiday homes have been carefully decorated and are set to compete in the annual resident holiday lights contest at Tehaleh, the region’s top-selling new home community. The spirit of the season is evident and Tehaleh residents are doing it big this year, with everything from a classic North Pole theme, a sports theme and synching their lights to music.

“We’re going to knock their socks off this year,” said Tehaleh homeowner and Boeing engineer Rodney Baumchen. “We’d just moved in last year, so we didn’t get to go all-out. But this year…let’s just say - it is going to be impressive.”

Those looking to start the New Year in a new home, or, who just want to get into the holiday season, will find a lot to love at Tehaleh. The joyful mood is contagious at The Post, Tehaleh’s inviting information center and café. Visitors can warm up with a cup of hot cocoa from Caffé D’arte while enjoying views of Mount Rainier and fluffy artificial snow falling magically every hour. Santa will visit The Post this Saturday, December 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking photos with kids.

Those looking for the ultimate family Christmas present – a new home –will love touring the 12 model homes and 17 quick move-in homes from five renowned builders: Richmond American Homes, Lennar, Pulte Homes, Quadrant Homes and Trilogy at Tehaleh.

Visitors who come early can make a day of it with a stroll through Tehaleh’s 7.5 miles of trails, seven parks and a visit to The Post to take in the merry scene. Once night falls, a walk through the lit up neighborhoods will make for a complete winter wonderland experience.

“This is a perfect time of year for prospective homebuyers to visit and get a sense of the community we have here at Tehaleh,” said Scott Jones, Vice President and General Manager for Newland Communities. “Last year the lights just blew everyone away, we’re very excited to see what this season will bring.”

Baumchen and his wife, Valerie, have three grown children and a grandson who is celebrating his first Christmas this year. They look forward to hosting this year’s celebrations in their new Tehaleh home. “When we purchased our home, we loved the open floor plan, close proximity to trails and nature, and the value for our investment,” Baumchen said. “We also loved being able to customize our home, and we expanded the master suite. I even anticipated hanging lights during the holidays and had extra outlets installed in the roof eaves!”

Tehaleh residents are also giving back to the local community this holiday season. For the second year in a row, Tehaleh has partnered with Donald Eismann Elementary, the community’s highly rated public school, to set up a Giving Tree. Residents can pick a wish off the tree, shop for it, wrap it and return it back under the tree, granting the wishes of children from Donald Eismann and Liberty Ridge Elementary who would otherwise go without gifts during the holidays.

“We love the chance to give back and bring a smile to the kids,” said Jones. “Along with the Giving Tree, we’ll have a mail box at The Post where kids can mail their letters to Santa. We hear that they even get a reply!”

Tehaleh is owned in a joint venture between two strong companies; North America Sekisui House, LLC (NASH), the U.S. business unit and full subsidiary of Sekisui House Ltd., Japan’s largest homebuilder and leading diversified developer, and American Newland Communities, LLC, whose development business, Newland Communities, is the master developer of Tehaleh. Collectively, the NASH-Newland partnership owns or manages more than 30 communities across the country.

Visitors are invited to celebrate the season at Tehaleh. With Mount Rainier as a backdrop, Tehaleh makes for a picture-perfect place to visit or live in year-round.

“This year, we’ve gotten to know our neighbors and created a real community here,” says Baumchen. “We’ve picked out our tree from nearby Hillside farm and I hung the lights. My wife and I say that when we’re home, we never want to leave.”

View these homes: Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily at 19001 Cascadia Blvd. E., Bonney Lake

Prices: Base prices from mid $200s to low $400s

Information: www.Tehaleh.com or 253-205-8190

Tehaleh Builders: Pulte Homes, Lennar, Quadrant Homes, Richmond American Homes, Trilogy at Tehaleh

Model Home Count: 12

Model Home Hours: Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily