Percentages can be boring, except maybe to teachers, accountants, financial reporters. Actually, numbers are also important to the rest of us, especially if a nice, round 10 percent increase shows up on our paychecks or if the mortgage rate plops down to 3 or 4 percent.
But percentages are quite interesting when they reveal what people want in a home. At the Grand Haven in Romeoville, a community for the 55-and-up set, half of the 250 homes already sold have the Syracuse floor plan.
That’s worth looking into considering there are 13 different plans and 11 models.
When it comes to options, a whopping 70 percent of those 250 homes will have sunrooms, according to sales associate Lynn Cohn; 50 percent of total buyers want vaulted ceilings; 40 percent add basements.
This one you can figure: 35 homes face the adjacent Mistwood public golf course; 30 have been sold, even though prime sites come with a premium price tag.
None of these options come out of petty cash: Adding a sunroom can tack on $5,000 to $10,000; vaulted ceilings go for $1,500 to $6,000; attic storage above the garage–another very popular option–means $1,800 to $2,000.
So those single-family homes base-priced from $165,990 to $206,990–quite reasonable–easily can jump to $185,000 to $255,000, not including other upgrades such as hardwood floors and bay windows. That’s still good pricing for what becomes a lot of house.
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Those numbers are impressive because Grand Haven opened for sales just last July and the first homeowners started moving in during March. That’s fast and indicates that the southwest suburban market was practically waiting for this type of community.
Grand Haven is the first joint venture of Lakewood Homes and Del Webb, now part of Pulte Homes; each name packs clout. Lakewood is local, based in Hoffman Estates, and has a good reputation; Del Webb is the father of the “resort retirement community” concept, which conjures images of a grand clubhouse and lots of activities. Grand Haven will have both.
That Syracuse model with two bedrooms, a den and two baths is part of Lakewood Homes’ Cove Series and it’s both the largest (1,740 square feet) and most costly, base-priced at $191,990. What buyers like is the wide-open feel and look of the house.
Entry is through a long foyer which becomes sort of a divider; one side of the house is a front-to-back lineup of small bedroom, bathroom, den (all opening off that foyer) with the master suite (bedroom, very large bath and walk-in closet) beyond them.
The other side of the house is fronted by the two-car garage, opening to the utility room leading to the kitchen, breakfast area and family room.
In the center, starting with the foyer, are the dining then living rooms; the optional sunroom is beyond the living room, opening from the family room.
If I were buying, I’d make some minor changes that would have visitors walking from the foyer into the living area with the dining area beyond that.
That would bring breakfast and dining areas closer to each other, making for better entertaining possibilities; that would also keep eating and more casual living (family and sun rooms) at the rear of the home and more accessible to the backyard.
Most of the Cove Series homes have this open space feeling with rooms flowing from one to another and often into a light-filled sun- or three seasons-room that so easily becomes part of the greatroom ambiance.
In the Bay Series, branded as Del Webb homes, the St. Martin model (at 1,990 square feet and base-priced at $206,990) is the most popular. It’s not my favorite, with the front door opening directly into the great room–which is simply a living room with a big dining table in the corner ahead.
The most comfortable looking part of the house comes next; it’s a pleasant family room open to the kitchen, breakfast area and patio. The bedrooms and den line up on the other side of the house.
Only two plans, both in the Bay series, do not have the garages immediately adjacent to the home’s front door (hooray!).
Of these the New Port offers a more novel floor plan with entry from a porch to a foyer opening to a 20-by-24-foot great room; the kitchen’s off to the left of the foyer and it’s big and centered with an island. Bedroom, den and master bed line up behind the garage.
Dividing the great room from the sleeping rooms are a really big utility/laundry room, two bathrooms and closets. It’s far less traditional so worth taking a look-see.
Though they’re not huge homes–all are less than 2,000 square feet–they seem ideal for empty-nesters, downsizers.
Except for one plan, all have two bathrooms and at least two bedrooms, perfect for couples with temporary guests or even for an elderly parent.
Most buyers are from suburbs fairly near Grand Haven such as Naperville, Downers Grove, Darien, Lisle, Orland Park, Palos Park or Lockport, according to Cohn.
“Most have children and want to be close to family,” she said, adding conspiratorially, “which really means they want to be close to their grandchildren.”
Grand Haven
Address: 746 Flint Ct., Romeoville
Developers: Lakewood Homes, Hoffman Estates, and Del Webb, Bloomfield, Mich.
Phone: 815-436-1122
Description: A 55-and-over community with 677 single-family homes and townhouses on 186 acres with a clubhouse, two swimming pools, tennis courts, jogging/bike paths.
Prices: Base-priced from $165,990 to $206,990 for two-bedroom, 1 1/2- to 2-bathroom single family homes, with 1,128 to 1,990 square feet, 2-car garages; monthly assessments, $139. Base-priced from $149,990 to $173,990 for two- to three-bedroom, 2-bath townhouses, with 1,150 to 1,550 square feet, 2-car garages; assessments, $163. Prices as of June 17.
Amenities common to all homes: Exterior maintenance, 24-hour attended gatehouse. Vinyl siding; 9-foot first-floor ceilings; grab bars in showers; appliances.
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Neighborhood: Between Bolingbrook and Plainfield, 5 miles south of Interstate Highway 55. Near shopping, Lake Renwick Nature Preserve; adjacent to Mistwood public golf course.
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More House Hunters: Past column by Genevieve Buck are available at CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM/HOMES