Work to start on 508 homes at Goodyear community; 500 more lots in discussions

Work to start on 508 homes at Goodyear community; 500 more lots in discussions

By Angela Gonzales

A groundbreaking event on Jan. 30 will kick off construction of 508 homes at the 20,000-acre Estrella master-planned community in Goodyear.

Miami-based Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) and Denver-based Richmond American Homes will build 508 homes in the Montecito village within the sprawling master-planned project.

Construction of these homes comes at a time when Estrella Development Co. is in negotiations to sell more than 500 more lots to homebuilders, Jeff Zimmerman, vice president of development for Estrella Development Co., told the Business Journal.

That company oversees Estrella Development LLC, the joint venture that owns the project composed of Scottsdale-based Harvard Investments Inc., Pennsylvania-based Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) and Minneapolis-based Varde Partners Inc.

In October 2025, the joint venture paid $212.5 million to San Diego-based Newland Communities, the former owner and developer of Estrella.

Since taking ownership, the joint venture has added new parks and neighborhoods, Zimmerman said.

Estrella is adjacent to the 19,000-acre Estrella Regional Park.

Residents have exclusive access to community amenities including two residents’ clubs with resort-style pools, fitness centers, restaurants, a water park area for kids, and more.

Lennar on track to match 2024 homebuilding levels

The community also provides residents with a Yacht Club, 72 acres of lakes, and the award-winning public Championship course The Golf Club at Estrella. There are more than 65 miles of hiking and biking trails and more than 50 community parks within Estrella.

"Estrella has all of the utilities in place that builders need to sell homes all ready," Zimmermn said. "Goodyear has water in place. Builders can come to Estrella because our utilities are known — that also makes it attractive. That is one of the reasons why builders are interested."

Plus, he said, Estrella has a huge runway of land available.

"We have another 9,000 lots," he said. "Estrella is only 50% built out right now."

Jeff Gunderson, senior vice president of land acquisition for Lennar, said he looks forward to building homes within Estrella.

"It's an amazing master plan with amazing amenities that are not duplicated in the entire Phoenix metro area," Gunderson said.

Lennar, which closed on more than 2,600 homes in metro Phoenix in 2024 — including 359 lots at Estrella — is on track to do the same in 2025, he said.

The revival of Estrella comes at a time when Lennar and other homebuilders are still looking for more land in Arizona.

"Our hope is to take this division to over 3,000 homes a year and continue to grow from there," Gunderson said. "We love being in master-planned communities like Estrella."

Final Thoughts: Estrella Shines Bright for New Homebuyers

Estrella continues to set the standard for master-planned communities in Arizona, offering unparalleled amenities like a Yacht Club, lakes, parks, and miles of trails, all within the serene backdrop of Goodyear’s growing community. With Lennar and Richmond American Homes spearheading the next phase of development, now is the perfect time for out-of-state movers to explore the best of Arizona living. Whether you're looking for resort-style relaxation or an active lifestyle, Estrella's unique offerings are designed to meet the needs of modern families. Don't miss your chance to be part of this thriving community with homes that fit every stage of life.