The Newest 'New Town'

"Situated 60 miles east of San Francisco on Interstate 580, a major commuter artery, Mountain House lures families priced out of the Bay Area but looking to stay close. Demand is so great that builders are running lotteries to sort out potential buyers. Houses that were expected to sell for $130,000 when the county approved the developer's plan in 1994 have been bid up past $400,000." But whether or not the current expectations and consumer demand will be fulfilled is a matter for time to tell. "What Mountain House can expect, if the past is a guide, is a buildout over 15 years that strays from its carefully crafted plan."