Molly Peters

Photographer

Urban Exiles - Bloomberg Businessweek

License

Clients: Bloomberg Businessweek, The Intercept, The Wall Street Journal, High Country News, HuffPost

School: Bard College Hartford Art School

The majority of the ShadeTree d... finished and already occupied.

The majority of the ShadeTree development is still under construction, though some homes are finished and already occupied.

All potential buyers had to be ...houses, even during a pandemic.

All potential buyers had to be approved in advance, and roughly 40 homes were released for purchase all at once. The first people began lining up around noon the day before the release, which meant waiting 22 hours overnight, during a record-breaking heatwave, to hopefully purchase their preferred model of home in the morning when they began accepting buyers at 10am. It was the first time that people lined up overnight for the homes, pointing to their popularity and demand for new houses, even during a pandemic.

Lilyan watches over her husband, Jesus, as he sleeps.

Nam and Stephanie wait in line to hopefully purchase a home.

Many prospective buyers comment...ame section of the development.

Many prospective buyers commented that they hadn’t planned to spend the night, and instead had driven by the afternoon or evening before to take one last look at the neighborhood and model homes. When they arrived and saw people already lining up, they stopped and stayed the night to guarantee their own spot in line. Buyers at the end of the line arrived 4-5 hours before the release. A strange camaraderie developed among those waiting in line; though they were competitors for the same homes, they are all also future neighbors. When those who purchased homes move into their new houses in early 2021, they will live in the same section of the development.

Pratibha dozes off while killin...many after hours spent waiting.

Pratibha dozes off while killing time in line. Exhaustion and boredom set in for many after hours spent waiting.

The majority of the ShadeTree d...nt is still under construction.

The majority of the ShadeTree development is still under construction.

Despite record-breaking 108 deg...ion workers continued to build.

Despite record-breaking 108 degree temperatures, construction workers continued to build.

Jingjing, a realtor waiting in ...e due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jingjing, a realtor waiting in line on behalf of her clients, stands near tape marking proper social distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebecca waits inside the Landse..., and the anxiety was palpable.

Rebecca waits inside the Landsea office. She and her husband, Jason, were trying for the second time to procure a home in the ShadeTree development. Just before 10am, four families at a time were allowed into the offices to choose and finalize their purchases, starting a frenetic few hours of sales. Lots were shouted out as they sold, and the anxiety was palpable.

COVID-19 precautions were visib...any time people changed places.

COVID-19 precautions were visible everywhere, as workers went to great lengths to provide a safe and sanitized environment for their clients. More people than usual were invited into the general office area to wait in the air conditioning as the heat outside got more oppressive, while Landsea employees tried to keep people distanced from one another and disinfect thoroughly any time people changed places.

Donna helps Jason and Rebecca w...s counselors and their clients.

Donna helps Jason and Rebecca with their paperwork to purchase their home. In addition to the required masks and sanitizing procedures, plexiglass shields stood between sales counselors and their clients.

John and his wife Jean were one...s the husband was an ex-Marine.

John and his wife Jean were one of the couples near the front of the line. John works as a counselor for veterans and had struck up a friendship with the couple in line behind them, as the husband was an ex-Marine.

A completed home in the ShadeTree development.

A single dress hangs in the clo...e during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A single dress hangs in the closet of a model home at ShadeTree. Model homes are available for viewing during open hours, preferably by appointment but walk-ins are occasionally allowed. Masks are required, and only one family is allowed inside a home at a time, in an effort to keep distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The view from a bedroom window ...imity of the neighboring house.

The view from a bedroom window in a model home shows the proximity of the neighboring house.

Jeffrey is a real estate agent ...start lining up the day before.

Jeffrey is a real estate agent waiting in line on behalf of one of his clients. He was near the end of the line, even though he arrived hours early, not realizing that people would start lining up the day before.

The ShadeTree development is pr...e at this point in development.

The ShadeTree development is primarily a construction zone at this point in development.

Homes in varying stages of cons...are visible in the development.

Homes in varying stages of construction are visible in the development.

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Thumbnail of The majority of the ShadeTree de_e finished and already occupied.

Thumbnail of All potential buyers had to be a_ houses, even during a pandemic.

Thumbnail of Lilyan watches over her husband, Jesus, as he sleeps.

Thumbnail of Nam and Stephanie wait in line to hopefully purchase a home.

Thumbnail of Many prospective buyers commente_same section of the development.

Thumbnail of Pratibha dozes off while killing_ many after hours spent waiting.

Thumbnail of The majority of the ShadeTree de_ent is still under construction.

Thumbnail of Despite record-breaking 108 degr_tion workers continued to build.

Thumbnail of Jingjing, a realtor waiting in l_ce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thumbnail of Rebecca waits inside the Landsea_d, and the anxiety was palpable.

Thumbnail of COVID-19 precautions were visibl_ any time people changed places.

Thumbnail of Donna helps Jason and Rebecca wi_es counselors and their clients.

Thumbnail of John and his wife Jean were one _as the husband was an ex-Marine.

Thumbnail of A completed home in the ShadeTree development.

Thumbnail of A single dress hangs in the clos_ce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thumbnail of The view from a bedroom window i_ximity of the neighboring house.

Thumbnail of Jeffrey is a real estate agent w_ start lining up the day before.

Thumbnail of The ShadeTree development is pri_ne at this point in development.

Thumbnail of Homes in varying stages of const_ are visible in the development.

Public Project

Urban Exiles - Bloomberg Businessweek

Copyright Molly Peters 2025

Updated Aug 2020

Location Ontario, CA

Topics Business, Capitalism, Community, Documentary, Editorial, Epidemics, Family, Housing, Media, Pandemics, Photography, Photojournalism

As part of a larger flood of people rushing to purchase homes in California's Inland Empire, prospective buyers lined up overnight during a record-breaking heatwave in Ontario, CA, for a chance to purchase a home in the ShadeTree development by Landsea Homes, one of many developments in the region. Despite 108 degree temperatures and worries of exposure to the coronavirus, those waiting in line felt the temporary discomfort was worthwhile for the tradeoff. Among other things, they cited being attracted by low mortgage interest rates, the development's amenities, which include a dog park, and the size and design customizations available. As the day went on, a buying frenzy ensued. By mid-afternoon, everyone who waited had either purchased a home or decided to wait for the next phase, if they weren't able to get their first choice(s). Almost immediately, new couples and families began arriving to view the model homes, beginning the next phase of the cycle.

Shot on assignment for Bloomberg Businessweek, view the full story here.

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