Homebuilding company KB Home today announced "the nation's first HomeKit-enabled community," which comes with the opportunity for buyers to build homes with Apple's HomeKit platform integrated from the get-go. A report last month brought news that Apple was working with homebuilders to install HomeKit and the Apple ecosystem of connected devices into properties at the beginning of construction.

Now the Promenade at Communications Hill in San Jose will be the first community of homes to include a HomeKit smart package that buyers can purchase. Following the debut in San Jose, the packages will also be available for curious home buyers at KB Home's Magnolia at Patterson Ranch community.

homekit-homes

A few exterior models of the homes in San Jose

As detailed in the original report, the smart homes utilize HomeKit at the beginning of a home's construction to install products like lights, window blinds, garage doors, doorbells, and more at added cost, so the homeowners don't have to add them gradually over time. In one of the test homes displayed in Alameda, California, a total of $30,000 worth of smart products fueled the smart package.

A model home showcasing how KB homeowners can simply and securely monitor and control Apple HomeKit-compatible accessories, such as lighting, door locks and other security features, and more, conveniently from their iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, is now open at Promenade at Communications Hill.

Designed with today's tech-savvy buyer in mind, Promenade at Communications Hill offers convenient city living close to San Jose's shopping, dining, nightlife and cultural attractions, as well as to the area's major Silicon Valley employers. The community also provides easy access to Interstates 880, 680 and U.S. Highway 101.

KB Home said that the plans available at the Promenade community range in size from 2,148 to 2,178 square feet, with the option to choose up to five bedrooms, four baths, and a two-car garage. Pricing on the properties begin in the low-$900,000s, which seemingly doesn't include the smart package expenses.

Top Rated Comments

BerMuc Avatar
120 months ago
The real bad news is the homes start at $900,000!!!! That's insane!!!! Thank god I don't live there
Funny, my first thought was that it's kinda cheap for the area...
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cmd-Z Avatar
120 months ago
The bad news is that it will be soldered to the home motherboard and not user-replaceable. /s
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
craigsharp Avatar
120 months ago
The bad news is that it will be soldered to the home motherboard and not user-replaceable. /s
The real bad news is the homes start at $900,000!!!! That's insane!!!! Thank god I don't live there
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
120 months ago
Really really bad idea. Apple cans technologies all the time. Welcome to the disposable home. Now fans can not only drink the kook aid, they can live in it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrX8503 Avatar
120 months ago
Really really bad idea. Apple cans technologies all the time. Welcome to the disposable home. Now fans can not only drink the kook aid, they can live in it.
A prerequisite of mine when buying smart products is that it must work with physical switches.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smirking Avatar
120 months ago
Funny, my first thought was that it's kinda cheap for the area...
Something is very wrong when housing just under a million is considered a budget option.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...