Meritus Homes says the first offering of new home sites includes standard and look-out basement locations.

Deerfield-based Meritus Homes, in a release on Wednesday, announced it plans to start sales in early 2013 for its first release of home sites at The Reserve of St. Charles, 100 semi-custom single-family homes just three miles north of the downtown.

An on-site sales center will open in mid-December, the company said.

“We couldn’t be opening this community at a better time,” said Brian Brunhofer, president of Meritus Homes. “With more positive signs of the housing recovery every day, buyers are increasingly confident and ready to buy, particularly in a community like The Reserve of St. Charles that offers such a great mix of terrific area amenities, beautiful surroundings, top-notch schools and a convenient location in one of Chicago’s most sought-after suburbs.”

Located amid 56 acres of conservation areas and wetlands, The Reserve of St. Charles offers a scenic Fox River Valley setting complete with prairie grasses, mature trees and walking trails. The community will offer seven floor plans, including ranch, master-down and two-story designs. Homes will range in size from 2,600 to 3,800 square feet and feature four to five bedrooms, 2½ to 3½ baths, full basements and an attached two- or three-car garage. Priced from the $460,000s, homes will include gourmet kitchens; luxury master suites; 10-foot first-floor ceilings; dens; and two-story foyers, living and dining rooms, per plan.

As a semi-custom community, The Reserve of St. Charles will also give buyers the opportunity to work with Meritus Homes to customize one of the available floor plans with optional features and even structural changes. “In today’s market, and especially in an in-demand area like St. Charles, buyers want to be able to put their own stamp on their home,” said Brunhofer. “We understand that desire for personalization, and so we will work with our buyers to include their specific requests in our designs.”

Brunhofer noted that like other Meritus Homes communities, The Reserve of St. Charles is an established community with portions already developed by a previous builder. “Anyone who investigated buying in St. Charles during the peak of the market and thought they were priced out of the area will be pleasantly surprised to see we’re offering our homes at a great value in today’s market,” he said.

He added that the 17 home sites in the initial release include locations offering views of wooded areas and detention ponds. Additionally, both standard and look-out basement sites are available. “The added windows and light in a look-out basement can transform the space so you don’t even feel like you’re in a basement,” said Brunhofer. 

One showcase home is under construction in the community; it features the Dunberry floor plan, one of Meritus Homes’ most popular designs, and will be available for May 2013 delivery.

“At all of our Meritus Homes communities, we’re seeing growing confidence among home buyers and a lot more interest in quick-delivery homes. Many buyers have been able to sell their existing home sooner than expected, or are simply ready to buy and move in right away, which makes a spec home a great option,” said Brunhofer.

All homes at The Reserve of St. Charles will include upscale standard features and finishes, including island kitchens with granite countertops, 42-inch cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors. Buyers can also choose from optional features such as fireplaces, tray ceilings, deluxe laundry rooms, art niches and wet bars. Home sites are fully sodded and include trees and foundation plantings. 

Residents of the Reserve of St. Charles have easy access to downtown St. Charles, which offers public parks, unique shopping, plentiful dining and entertainment options, and popular community events. The nearby Fox River provides recreational opportunities such as canoeing, kayaking and paddleboat rides, as well as biking and picnicking along riverfront paths. Other amenities in the area include Geneva Commons, an upscale shopping center, Pheasant Run Resort Golf Course, the Fox River Trail and the Great Western Trail.

The Reserve of St. Charles is served by the highly acclaimed St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, and is located less than one mile from St. Charles North High School, which was ranked 24^th among all Illinois public high schools in the 2012 U.S. News ranking of America’s Best High Schools.

The Reserve of St. Charles is located on the west side of Rt 31 between Red Gate Road and Silver Glen Road. When it opens in mid-December, the on-site sales office will be located at 745 Reserve Drive and will be open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

For more information, call 1-847-609-9777 or visit www.MeritusHomeBuilders.com.

SOURCE: Meritus Homes