People started lining up at noon on Friday, Aug. 14, as the thermometer climbed to 104F, 22 hours before 40 lots were released at ShadeTree, a community in San Bernardino County just launched by Chinese builder Landsea Homes.

The line swelled to more than 30 buyers, who camped overnight and shielded themselves from the sun with umbrellas, while mostly complying with requirements to maintain social distance and wear masks.