A Charleston, South Carolina-based homebuilder recently opened an office in Wilmington as it works toward building homes in Riverlights, the 1,400-acre master-planned community on River Road.

New Leaf Builders, founded in 2010, is occupying office space at Common Desk in downtown Wilmington, the company's first office location outside the Charleston area.

The company recently closed on four lots in Riverlights and has 40 lots under contract, said Alan Degen, New Leaf's division president for the Wilmington region.

New Leaf Builders LLC purchased four lots from a Riverlights LLC in a $244,000 transaction, according to a New Hanover County deed dated Oct. 20. 

Degen said Wednesday that New Leaf is currently working through the permitting process and is targeting a construction start in the middle to end of December.

“We want to put our best foot forward and come out of the gate very strong with a strong product launch and offering in Riverlights,” Degen said.

Starting in the mid $300,000s, some of the 1,500- to 2,400-square-foot homes are expected to be complete in time for spring move-in, according to a news release. New Leaf also anticipates opening a sales center with a furnished model at Riverlights in the spring of next year.

Degen said New Leaf will have eight home plan offerings and emphasize low country architecture.

“Based on homebuyer feedback and a strong desire for an active coastal lifestyle, homes will feature abundant natural light and easy living spaces that marry indoor and outdoor settings,” the release stated.

Adam Baslow, co-founder of New Leaf, said in the release, “Our company has always prioritized the voice of the homebuyer in our siting, architecture and design. Our strong, steady growth in greater Charleston has given us the confidence to expand to Wilmington, a market that shares many traits with our home base.”

Baslow said the company behind Riverlights, Brookfield, also owns another neighborhood where New Leaf is a builder, Nexton in Summerville, South Carolina.