Beaumont offers five-star lifestyle from the low $200s

When Cindy Fuller describes what she likes most about her new home in Beaumont off Valleydale Road at Highway 280, it sounds like she's describing a favorite family vacation. "We watch the moonlight together over the lake from our back porch," says Cindy. "It's absolutely beautiful, and its an everyday thing for us because this is our home. Everyday feels like a vacation." The Fullers decided to move to Beaumont along with friends Angelina and Rodney Jones, who live across the street. "We have megaphones and we call to each other from our porches," says Fuller. "I'll ask, 'What are you doing?' and of course, Angelina is always planting flowers. Just look at her yard!"

Flowers, porches, sidewalks, palm trees and American flags give this neighborhood the look of a coastal resort town. It is actually the latest community from Birmingham's own Signature Homes, a company known for creative developments. "Our design inspiration came from Charleston, South Carolina," explains Signature sales consultant Shellie Behrens, "but it could be any All-American hometown where porches line the streets. That's our most prominent feature: our homes all have porches. People love them."

Porches were the original family room for southern homes, a place to gather friends and relatives and to catch up with neighbors. Two-time Signature homeowners Josh and Alicia Hale are continuing this tradition with their young family. "We sit out here all the time," says Alicia. "Our four month old daughter Caroline loves being rocked in these chairs." The Hales first home was in nearby Eagle Trace, another Signature Homes' community. When Beaumont was developed, they were the first family to move in. "We knew Signature would take good care of us," says Josh, "and we love this area."

While Signature Homes deserves credit for creating a beautiful neighborhood, the hometown feel of Beaumont comes from the friendly residents who live there. "Having front porches, sidewalks and walking trails along Lake Heather, that makes it easy to meet people," says Behrens who is building her own home at Beaumont. "Everybody stops to talk and even the dogs have best friends."

The neighborhood will eventually be hidden by commercial offices and retail space along Inverness Center Drive and Valleydale Road. "I tell everyone to come in the Inverness Center Drive entrance first because it gives you a sense of the village that's emerging," says Behrens. "This is one of those neighborhoods that just gets better looking all the time."

The manor homes at Beaumont start in the mid $300s while the cottages start in the low $200s. All homes feature 2-car garages and of course, porches. Some homes offer basements and there are a few manor homes available on lakefront homesites overlooking Lake Heather. The community includes a lakefront park and nature trail. A furnished model home is open daily, and home shoppers can get more information by calling Signature Homes Sales consultants Shellie Behrens at 281-0488 or Anne Lanz at 915-5331. Home plans are available for viewing on the Internet at www.e-signaturehomes.com