As GlobeSt.com reported last week, TRI Pointe has acquired 301 lots in three desirable Southern California locations in Azusa, Temecula and Huntington Beach and plans to open four new single-family home communities at these locations, one in late 2013 and the rest in 2014. Bauer describes some of the design elements that are becoming trends in single-family homes like those the firm plans to build, including a great room, which takes the place of a standard living/family/dining room; a “California room,” which is the extension of the great room and kitchen—an indoor/outdoor living/family room for entertaining, eating outside, fireplaces and TVs; drop zones in entryways—a place to drop keys, shoes, backpacks, purses, etc.; and expanded laundry rooms for additional storage and cabinet space. “This was a real memory point with consumers,” says Bauer of the laundry-room idea. “You can always put some wow in the kitchen, bedroom or dining room, but these things are becoming real selling points.”