Ranch Living Draws Buyers To Meritus Homes
St. Charles, Illinois (PRWEB) February 15, 2017 -- When Denise and Fred Morrone set out to find a new home, they didn’t know it would lead them to builder Meritus Homes—but it did. The couple knew they wanted a ranch. They also knew they wanted to live near their two adult daughters. So they researched resale homes on the market and visited new communities in the Fox Valley. After searching on and off for nearly six months, they found the Marquis at The Reserve in St. Charles perfectly fit their needs.
“We lived in a ranch in Palos Park and keeping that single-level lifestyle was a priority,” said Denise Morrone. “We’re both in our 50s and don’t want the hassle of steps everyday.”
The Marquis, which is one of eight home designs Meritus Homes offers at The Reserve in St. Charles, met their demands. With more than 2,600 square feet, 10-foot ceilings and an open-concept layout, it has an expansive feel. The gourmet kitchen flows into the family room, creating a generous gathering place while the dining room is nearby for formal entertaining. Tucked off the kitchen and steps from the pantry is the laundry room, loaded with plenty of storage. On the opposite side of the home, the master suite has a private luxury bath and walk-in closet. Both secondary bedrooms have walk-in closets, too. A den adds flex space while a full basement and two-car garage complete this luxury ranch.
The Morrones made some modifications to their home. For instance, they added a fireplace in the corner of the family room and removed the tub from the master bath to expand the shower. They also eliminated a wall between the kitchen and family room to open the space even more. They then expanded the island to create a 6-foot-by-7-foot center island, which is the focal point of the kitchen—and Denise’s favorite spot in the home.
“We were thrilled that our vision of the kitchen worked so well with the building plans,” said Denise. “Meritus was very accommodating. The team made sure we received everything we wanted and needed in our new home.”
As a semicustom builder, Meritus Homes understands that the personal choices and attention to detail are what make a new home so attractive. That’s why the company provides a portfolio of floor plans but allows buyers to add their own inspiration to create homes that are truly right for them.
A model home now is under construction at The Reserve in St. Charles, although a model of the Marquis ranch was not available to tour when the Morrones purchased. They were, however, able to visit other properties and homes built by Meritus Homes and could see right away the high quality of the builder’s construction.
“We had built a custom home before so we had an understanding of the process,” Denise explained. “The Meritus sales team was conscientious and went over all the details when we had changes. They walked us through all the steps and worked closely with us throughout.”
Since moving in October, the Morrones have begun exploring St. Charles and neighboring towns including Geneva and Batavia.
“We weren’t familiar with the Fox Valley until we started our home search,” said Denise. “Once we decided on this area, we zeroed in on St. Charles because of everything the city offers. Everyday conveniences, shopping and dining are all nearby on Randall Road yet you get small town charm with the quaint downtown.”
Beyond St. Charles, the community’s location was perfect for the Morrones, as well. Not only is it between both children—one in Aurora and one in Pingree Grove—it also is near the Fox River and natural outdoor spaces. The couple had lived near Cook County forest preserves in their previous residence so having the Fox River Bike Trail and river walk nearby was appealing. They can even park near the bike path and walk or bike into downtown St. Charles.
“While we wanted to live near our family, we also wanted a place where there’s activities for us to do,” she said. “St. Charles offers so much…festivals, parades, fairs, celebrations. We have already become immersed with the culture. We were even out walking along the river—in January.”
Just a few miles from the downtown district, The Reserve in St. Charles offers homeowners like the Morrones open space and neighborhood amenities such as bike trails, ponds and a neighborhood park along with estate homesites with big back yards. Eight customizable floor plans are available, including four all-new designs. Homes range in size from 2,400 to 3,800 square feet and in price from $502,900 to $549,900. Three ranch plans and five two-story designs are offered.
Capitalizing on the popularity of its ranches at The Reserve in St. Charles, Meritus Homes has debuted new single-story plans like the Windsor at Lake Vista in northwest suburban Lake Villa. This 2,253-square-foot ranch has three bedrooms and two full baths along with fine architectural touches throughout. Options such as a box bay window off the breakfast nook, a fireplace in the family room, tray and vaulted ceilings, and French doors allow for personalization possibilities. Plus, walk-out or lookout lower levels are available to bring the outdoors in and add more living space.
Tucked in a mature setting surrounded by existing homes, Lake Vista is an enclave of 28 single-family homes nestled around a single cul-de-sac for privacy. Everyday conveniences are nearby thanks to a fantastic location on the south side of Grand Avenue/Rt. 132, just two blocks east of Rt. 83 and only minutes from Lake Villa Metra Station. The community is within Lakes Community High School District 117 and District 41 for kindergarten through eighth grade.
Homes at Lake Vista are priced from the low $300,000s and sales are by appointment. Two ranch homes are under construction that will be completed in 30 days and are available to view now. For information or to schedule a property visit, call (224) 634-4333.
This spring, Meritus Homes also will be unveiling its newest property, The Enclave at Mill Creek in Addison. The community will feature detached, maintenance-free ranches with approximately 1,500 to 2,250 square feet, two or three bedrooms and up to 2-1/2 baths. Options for a second floor with bedroom, bath and loft will be available for those who need additional living space—especially for visiting family members.
Ideally located, The Enclave at Mill Creek will provide a new housing option for local residents who desire the active adult lifestyle and want to stay close to family and the neighborhood amenities they have come to know. The property will have abundant green space with more than one third of the single-level residences backing to natural areas. The homeowners association will perform all yard maintenance and homes will be constructed of low maintenance materials for easy upkeep.
Base prices for the ranches at The Enclave at Mill Creek are anticipated to begin in the mid $300s. Join the VIP list at http://www.MeritusHome.com and be first to updated about progress at the community. Or call (224) 634-4034.
To visit The Reserve in St. Charles, take Rt. 31 and turn west onto Reserve Drive, which is between Red Gate Road and Silver Glen Road. Proceed to the sales office at 745 Reserve Drive. The sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday (closed Thursday and Friday). It is open on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call (224) 634-4054 or visit http://www.MeritusHome.com.
Debbie Szwast, Stevens & Tate Marketing, http://www.stevens-tate.com/, +1 (630) 627-5200, [email protected]
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