Booming town of Silverwood where homes are $400K and buyers have to sign kindness waiver

A quirky California community where homeowners are asked to pledge kindness to their neighbors is rapidly growing, with hundreds of families already buying into the unusual experiment.Silverwood, a sprawling master-planned development in the Inland Empire city of Hesperia, has sold 225 homes since opening its first neighborhoods last year, according to developer officials.The 9,000-acre project first grabbed headlines for its affordable prices — starting in the low $400,000s — and for requiring residents to sign a “kindness pledge” aimed at fostering empathy, acceptance and neighborliness.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Now, developers say demand has remained strong despite high mortgage rates and broader economic uncertainty.“The first year was a success,” Silverwood general manager John Ohanian told Business Insider.“We had strong community engagement, experienced strong buyer interest, and made our place despite no softening in the mortgage market and general economic ups and downs.”The development sold more than 40 homes within weeks of its opening in April 2025, and sales have steadily climbed over the past year as buyers search for more affordable alternatives to Southern California’s notoriously expensive housing markets.Developers estimate roughly 300 families will be living in Silverwood by the end of 2026.

The long-term vision is far larger: more than 15,000 homes spread across neighborhoods connected by parks, trails and community gathering spaces.The community sits near Silverwood Lake and is framed by mountain views, with outdoor recreation forming a major part of its identity.“This property is surrounded by the mountains.You can see Big Bear on one side and a lovely panorama of mountains on the other,” Ohan...