Construction is set to begin and sales are open to establish several new homes in the 101 lot River Road Estates subdivision, furthering the development of the newly established neighborhood in Hahnville.
The project, which was to originally be called Berkshire Estates, was approved for construction by the parish’s Planning Commission in 2018. D.R. Horton is the construction company taking on the task. The subdivision is located between 16011 and 16061 River Road.
Horton’s website notes the price of the new constructions starts at $234,900 and the home plans will range between 1,300 and 2,100 square feet. Each home will have three to four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with some also including an office or study.
The company plans to fulfill the 101 homes in the neighborhood in phases, with a significant chunk of those set for this first wave. Horton began work on it in early May, breaking ground on some of the homes. Approximately 30 homes are planned for this phase, and those homes will be built regardless whether all are contracted. It’s estimated the homes will take approximately five months to build from the start of each construction.
Brandy Nichols of GL Realty said the influx of new homes is nothing but good news for those looking to buy in the area, and called it something that’s been needed.
“We have been needing new, affordable homes in St. Charles Parish for a long time now,” Nichols said. “The real estate market is crazy right now and as soon as homes come on the market, there are bidding wars. That means more than likely, houses are going under contract for more than they are appraising for, and people are having to overpay for homes just to get one.”
She said that effect comes down to supply and demand, as it is driven by a national housing deficit and thus homes will continue to rise in value until more homes are added to the equation.
“The U.S. housing market is 3.8 million single family homes short to meet the demands of our country, (so) builder’s coming into our area and providing homes for an affordable price is helping our housing deficit here in St. Charles Parish for sure,” Nichols said. “There are several neighborhoods going up throughout the parish and that should be a plus for both homebuyers and sellers.”
The plus point for sellers, she said, is because in order to sell a home, the ability to buy another is necessary more often than not.
“I have sellers that are afraid to sell their house right now because they don’t think they will be able to find a house for them to move into,” she said.
The D.R. Horton homes in River Road Estates are not currently listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), but Nichols said the company is working with buyer agents and the ball can get rolling on a purchase immediately.
“If you’re a buyer working with a realtor currently, just call your realtor and have them reach out to D.R. Horton,” said Nichols, who is not affiliated with D.R. Horton but has worked with the company many times as an independent agent. “I will say that I have sold several homes with DR Horton and they care about the quality of homes that are going up and are very easy to work with.”
In 2007-08, the project was initially planned by former New Orleans Saints football player Willie Whitehead Jr., but he lost it due to financial problems.
Whitehead said he lined up new investors, including another former Saints player, but the property ended up at a sheriff’s auction and sold to River Road Estates LLC of Metairie.
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