Meritus Homes Starts Two Showcase Homes at The Reserve of St. Charles

With home inventory remaining low while buyer confidence continues to grow, Deerfield, Ill.-based Meritus Homes has started construction on two showcase homes that will be quick-delivery options for buyers this spring at The Reserve of St. Charles, the builder’s community of semi-custom and custom homes located three miles north of downtown St. Charles. 

“We anticipate that quick-delivery, new-construction homes will increasingly be sought out by buyers who’ve entered the market and found availability of resale homes to be limited,” said Brian Brunhofer, president of Meritus Homes. “With these two inventory homes underway, we’ll be able to give buyers a new-construction option on a condensed timeline, while also showcasing our work in the community to other interested buyers.”

The Reserve of St. Charles is a semi-custom and custom home community, meaning buyers have the option of working with Meritus Homes to tailor one of the builder’s existing floor plans to their needs or collaborating with Meritus’s custom-build team to create a brand new design. In the case of the two showcase homes, the builder is starting with two popular floor plans from its portfolio. Brunhofer noted that depending on the status of the homes at the time of purchase, buyers might still have opportunities to select finishes, add customized features and choose other special design elements to personalize their home. 

“Typically we work with our buyers through the entire new-construction process, from selecting their home site to tailoring a layout to their needs and choosing all the finishes and features,” said Brunhofer. “But in this scenario, we’re getting things rolling by packaging together proven floor plans and popular design elements. While buyers may have a chance to weigh in on some decisions depending on when they purchase the home, they can also rest assured that every choice we’ve made is based on the feedback of other buyers who’ve told us how much they love a particular finish or feature.” 

One of the showcase homes features the 3,300-square-foot Prescott plan. Priced at $577,000, the home features four bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, 3½ baths, separate living and dining rooms, a den, and a two-story family room. It also has a side-load three-car garage that Brunhofer said takes advantage of the oversized home sites available at The Reserve of St. Charles.

“Every lot in the community measures at least 1/3 of an acre or more, so a design like the Prescott allows buyers to get a home with plenty of livable square footage, as well as a really nice yard with ample outdoor space to add a deck, patio, or even a pool.” 

The other showcase home features the 3,716-square-foot Dunberry plan, which has been one of Meritus’ top-selling designs at its other Chicago-area communities. The home, which is priced at $608,000, has four bedrooms, 3½ baths, a first-floor den and a full basement. Like the Prescott, it will also feature the suite of high-end finishes Meritus includes in all of its semi-custom home packages as a starting point for further customization, such as a gourmet kitchen with hardwood flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 42-inch maple cabinetry, a pantry, double ovens and a preparation island and/or a breakfast/serving bar per plan.

Also included are 10-foot first-floor ceilings, upgraded trim details, oak railings, and fully sodded and landscaped home sites, including trees and foundation plantings.

The two showcase homes are expected to be available for March or April delivery.

“If our experience over the last few months holds true, these showcase homes won’t be available long,” said Brunhofer, noting that each time Meritus Homes starts construction on an inventory home, it sells very quickly. “Buyers are jumping at the opportunity to purchase a new-construction home, with all the modern features and conveniences, on a shorter time frame – particularly in a high-demand area like St. Charles. So anyone with plans for a spring move should act quickly.”  

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 Reserve of St. Charles is less than one mile from St. Charles North High School, one of the top public high schools in Illinois. The community is served by the highly acclaimed St. Charles Community Unit School District 303.  

The Reserve of St. Charles is located on the west side of Route 31 between Red Gate Road and Silver Glen Road. An on-site sales center, located at 745 Reserve Drive, is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (630) 549-6486 or visit www.MeritusHomeBuilders.com.

About Meritus Homes

Meritus Homes was founded by homebuilding veterans Brian and Karen Brunhofer. The couple has more than 30 years of combined homebuilding experience, during which time they led teams that delivered more than 10,000 homes to the Chicago area. Meritus Homes is currently building in Long Grove, Park Ridge, Inverness, Naperville and St. Charles.