The Daily Herald – Saturday, February 16, 2013
Make way for the 21st century home buyer! Today’s home buyer is not necessarily looking for the big house and sprawling back yard. Instead, they’re seeking a comfortable home, maybe a white picket fence, upkeep independence and an ideal address that suits their very specific needs; a “right-sized” home which doesn’t skimp on luxury. And they’re finding it — at four very different Airhart Construction communities all located within a three-mile radius of each other.
“What we used to think of as the typical home purchaser has dramatically changed over the last 20 years. So the challenge for us as a builder is to continually ask: ‘what is the modern home buyer looking for today?’” said Court Airhart, president of Airhart Construction. “Yesterday’s nontraditional buyer has become today’s traditional home buyer. They represent active, on-the-go people, whether they are families, singles, couples without children, or empty nesters; they all want a high-quality home that can be customized and personalized to meet their specific needs.
Consequently, in planning their current new home neighborhoods, the team at Airhart Construction has been careful to focus on the active lifestyles of the many market segments whose focus is beyond their own backyard. They cater to this demand by locating these properties with outdoor amenities nearby such as the Illinois Prairie Path, neighborhood parks and a golf course. Airhart is providing a variety of home designs and amenities that appeal to this wide variety of prospective homeowners who share a single commonality: an active, engaged lifestyle.
“This has meant building communities that offer this freedom and also flexibility to buyers who want a spatially efficient home with low maintenance living,” Christy Whelan, Director of Sales said.
Maintenance-free single-family homes with golf course views
For those wanting the roominess and privacy a detached home provides, yet the carefree advantages of a low-maintenance attached home, consider Fisher Farm, Airhart’s community of 71 semi-custom single-family homes in Winfield.
“I describe Fisher Farm homes as ‘scaled-down spaces for live-it-up lifestyles.’ Many of these buyers aren’t looking for huge residences overflowing with excessive square footage that won’t be used and that cost a lot of money to heat, cool and maintain,” said Christy Whelan. “These are people that do not want an attached townhome or condo. What these people do desire are big, scenic views that, for instance, overlook a golf course, pond or natural preserve area—all of which Fisher Farm offers. They want great outdoor amenities commonly found at more expensive locations.”
Homes at Fisher Farm provide two to five bedrooms, two to four baths, with base prices starting in the mid $300,000s.
Cottage style homes
House hunters seeking for a hassle-free home in a convenient location, along with having their yard work taken care of for them, will want to visit College Station in Wheaton, Airhart Construction’s newest single-family community of only 14 homes. College Station’s cottage style homes are rear-loaded, with a two-car garage, resulting in a more efficiently spaced design and an attractive, charming front exterior.
Set conveniently at the intersection of Blanchard and Avery, College Station is located within an established neighborhood that is across the street from a park, the prairie path, is a block away from the College Avenue Metra train station, a half mile from both downtown Wheaton and downtown Glen Ellyn, and near local shopping destinations.
“These residents are close to all the action without being in the center of it all. They receive a custom home with a convenient address that also provides privacy,” Christy Whelan said. “This buyer leads an active lifestyle but not necessarily at their house. They may have children that are active in off-site event-oriented sports and have no need for a large backyard that they are never home to use.”
College Station buyers can choose from three ranch and two-story distinctive designs ranging from two bedrooms and two to two and one-half baths base priced from $339,000.
Spacious rooftop decks are a popular option at College Station and are approximately 200 square feet, providing ample outdoor living space that’s ideal for entertaining friends, barbecuing, catching a suntan, growing plants and vegetables in pots, and more. A modest monthly fee covers routine maintenance for lawn care, landscaping upkeep and leaf/snow removal.
Townhomes with first floor master bedrooms
Airhart Construction also offers Mackenzie Place, a small community of luxury townhomes in “a quiet corner of Wheaton”, according to Christy Whelan.
“Mackenzie Place buyers want a high-quality home on a well-landscaped property and may prefer a first-floor master suite,” he noted. “They don’t want to move away from friends or family, and they’ve owned a few homes previously. As a result, they know exactly what they want, which is generous amenities. They don’t need abundant square footage any longer, and low-maintenance in a close-knit community is high on their list.”
Shoppers can select from eight different townhome designs in all — four ranches and four two-story designs (two of which include a first-floor master suite). Every townhome provides two to four bedrooms; two to four baths with base prices ranging from $428,000 to $625,000. Options depend on the home selected, and can include a private elevator, custom bookcases and a screened-in porch.
Sales for Airhart Construction communities are being conducted at 1N578 Golf View Lane, Winfield, IL, 60190. Hours are Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.airhartconstruction.com or phone 630-293-3000.
