By Robert Ramirez, Truvi Realty
If you've driven through the east side of town lately, you've seen it: framing going up on three separate fronts. Los Banos has three active new-home communities selling right now, from three different builders, at three different price points. If you're weighing new construction, here's an honest look at what's actually available this fall — not a sales pitch, just what each community offers and what it costs.
Sierra Heights, built by Lennar, is the most affordable entry point of the three. It's an all-electric community with three floor plans ranging from about 1,469 to 2,261 square feet, three to five bedrooms, and two to three bathrooms. Move-in ready homes have recently been priced from roughly $459,880 to $494,880. The community sits within a short drive of downtown Los Banos and backs up to the Rail Trail, with easy access out toward San Luis Reservoir and the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge for anyone who wants a hike or a kayak within reach of home.
Harvest Hills II, built by D.R. Horton, sits on the southwest side of town. It's the newer, larger phase of D.R. Horton's Harvest Hills development — up to 2,530 square feet, five bedrooms, three baths, with two- or three-car garage options and a choice of Farmhouse, Spanish, or Traditional elevations. Recent quick-move-in pricing has started around $499,490.
The Pointe at Stonecreek, built by Legacy Homes, is currently the highest price point of the group, with four plans from about 1,818 to 2,836 square feet. Listed pricing starts around $501,990, with larger plans like a four-bedroom, three-bath, roughly 2,438-square-foot design priced from around $570,990. It's positioned near the SR-152/I-5 area, within walking distance of schools, parks, and retail — a consideration if commuting toward the Bay Area or getting around town without a car matters to your household.
Square footage and price alone don't tell the full story. Sierra Heights' all-electric construction may mean different long-term utility costs than a gas-and-electric home, which is worth asking about directly. Standard finishes vary by builder and community — confirm what's standard versus optional before comparing sticker prices apples to apples. And lot size, orientation, and proximity to future phases of construction (meaning: how long you'll be living near an active job site) vary within each community, not just between them. Walk the models, but also ask to see the plat map.
As of early September 2026, 30-year fixed mortgage rates are sitting in the mid-6% range nationally — figures move week to week, so treat this as a snapshot, not a guarantee for your loan. Builders in a rate environment like this typically lean on incentives to keep buyers moving: temporary rate buydowns, closing cost credits, or design center allowances. These offers change monthly and vary by builder and even by specific lot, so the number you see online today may not be the number quoted next week. It's worth asking each builder's sales office directly what's currently on the table, and running the numbers against resale options in the same price range before deciding.
New construction isn't automatically the right move, and it isn't automatically the wrong one — it depends on your timeline, your financing, and what you're trying to get out of the home. If you'd like a second set of eyes on any of these communities, or want to see how they stack up against resale listings in the same range, reach out. I'm happy to walk through it with you, no pressure attached.
Pricing, square footage, and availability noted above are based on builder websites and third-party listing sources as of early September 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Confirm current pricing and incentives directly with each builder's sales office.