Builders prepare for changing seasons

Buying an already-built, "speculation" home can be a smart move for prospective buyers of all generations. New construction appeals to buyers who are relocating from another city and don't have time to build a custom home, or those who sold their existing home quicker than expected, or those whose leases are ending and they've decided to become homeowners again or for the first time.

And it isn't too late in the year to make that big move, according to area builders.

Most new-home communities have a nice selection of immediate-delivery houses you can move into within weeks or a month or two, if you so desire.

"We noticed last year that December through March was our busiest time of the year, which is a big departure from tradition," said Richard Bridges, sales manager for the Chicago division of David Weekley Homes. "It was a frenetic time."

Most of the buyers were responding to the sale of their existing home, whether they were moving up, down or just to a different community, he said. "The timing of everything is compressed today. People get into the market in the fall and want to move right away. For instance, we have many dual-income families who want to move from the city to the suburbs and they want to do that when their rental ends or when they sell their condo in the city."

David Weekley Homes makes a point of always having an abundant selection of homes available for immediate move-in, Bridges said, so it is able to meet buyers' moving needs.

"We don't see this kind of quick moving in every market in the country. But Chicago has always been a reactive market. There is a lot of 'if this, then this' thinking here, so we have highly motivated buyers moving into finished homes and snapping up end-of-the-year opportunities," he said.

David Weekley has eight townhouses available in Naperville and one in Buffalo Grove, as well as three single-family homes in Glenview and six in Barrington. It also has more than 12 custom homes built on lots in established neighborhoods in communities like Glen Ellyn, Wilmette, Western Springs and Highland Park. Those custom homes range in price from $829,000 to $1.364 million, while the townhouses begin in the upper $300,000s and the single-family homes in David Weekley subdivisions range from the lower $400,000s to the upper $600,000s.

To see a complete listing, visit www.davidweekleyhomes.com/new-homes/il/chicago.

Taylor Morrison

Bob Meyn, Taylor Morrison's Chicago Division vice president, has seen a similar interest in immediate occupancy homes.

"There is still that transferee component to the quick move-in market, but there are also the people who have sold their homes and want to get into a new home quickly - and if it is around the holidays, they want to be in by Jan. 1," Meyn said.

"More and more, people don't want to end up with two homes so they are waiting until their existing home is sold before they buy a new one," he said. "That is why we make sure all of our neighborhoods have at least one home available for immediate occupancy. And toward the end of the year we make sure that we have homes available because we have seen the trends and know what to expect.

"We also plan to start a good number of homes in the next 30 days so we have the foundations in the ground before winter and can have the homes built and ready for the springtime market," Meyn added.

Because there is no such thing as a "one-size-fits-all" house, Meyn said Taylor Morrison chooses which models to build on speculation, based on which models have historically been the most popular in each neighborhood. Inside they generally include gourmet kitchens, hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances because the company knows those are amenities most buyers seek.

Taylor Morrison has six townhouses available at Colfax Crossing in Des Plaines, ranging from $274,900 to $329,900. There are also, for example, two single-family homes available at Blackberry Creek in Elburn ($336,285 to $377,900), one at Verona Ridge in Aurora ($419,900), one at Riverside of Barrington ($449,900) and one at Woodland Hills in Lakewood ($459,900). To see all of the available homes, visit www.taylormorrison.com/new-homes/illinois/chicago/homes-for-sale.

K. Hovnanian Homes

K. Hovnanian Homes also carries a healthy inventory of quick-delivery homes in its Chicago area communities - usually two to four per subdivision, said Andy Konovodoff, Chicago Division president.

"We are very disciplined about what we put in the ground without someone specifically ordering it, so we don't start spec homes lightly," he said.

"We have 38 homes ready to go right now across 14 communities," he said, "because people are waiting until they have a contract on their current home before they buy a new one. Many of them shop while they have their home listed and identify what they want. But they don't actually call the sales people and buy until they know their existing home is sold. Then they want to get in fast. We also get transferees in fits and spurts."

K. Hovnanian homes in the suburbs range in price from the $290,000 to just under $1 million. They are located all over the Chicago area from Aurora, Sugar Grove and Naperville to Chicago, Mundelein and Lake Forest. While the majority are single-family homes, duplexes are available at Meadowridge Villas in Sugar Grove and at the Villas at Trafford Place in Naperville.

For details, visit www.khov.com/find-new-homes/illinois.

New American Homes

New American Homes has two models available for immediate occupancy in Newport Cove, a 67-lot community located on Bluff Lake in the Chain 'O Lakes. Both are located in the maintenance-free "Cottages" area of the resort-style community, where landscaping and snow removal are provided.

The first available home is a one-and-a-half story Stillwater model that lists for $380,000. The 2,215-square-foot home features two bedrooms, 2½ baths, a loft and a large office. It features a 2½-car garage, a deck and a semifinished full basement with 9-foot-tall ceilings.

The other home is a 1,670-square-foot ranch listed at $365,000. The Highmeadow floor plan features two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a den, as well as a two-car garage, screened porch and a basement with 9-foot ceilings.

"While 70 percent of our buyers have been empty-nesters, we also have younger people and those who are buying these homes for the weekends," said Susanne Tauke, president. "Costs have gone up since these two models were built, so they are priced very competitively and have the extra finishes that are put in model homes."

For more information, visit www.newamericanhomes.us.

Next Generation Development

Two single-family homes and one townhouse, in Plainfield and Aurora, respectively, are currently available from Next Generation Development LLC for immediate move-in, according to Gail Payonk, director of sales and marketing.

Springbank is a 600-acre, master-planned community in Plainfield that features an aquatic center, walking and biking trails and parks. The builder has two single-family homes immediately available there. One is the 2,557-square-foot Harrison model that lists for $316,864 and features four bedrooms, 2½ baths, a full basement and a two-car garage. The other is the Crane floor plan with four bedrooms, a bonus room, 2½ baths, a full basement and a three-car garage. It is 2,832 square feet.

Next Generation also has a 1,632-square-foot townhouse available at Union Square in Aurora. It lists for $321,077 and features two bedrooms (including a large owner's suite), a second-floor den with balcony and a full basement with roughed-in plumbing.

"We have these available for someone who has been transferred and wants to get in by the end of the year in order to let their children start school right after winter break, or for someone who has sold their home and needs to find a new place quickly," Payonk said.

"Frankly, this is a great time to buy because we want to get these homes off our inventory before the end of the year," she added. Visit www.mysignaturehome.com/about-us for more information.

Toll Brothers

Toll Brothers also has some homes that are available for quick move-in.

"We have two homes currently available in Tanglewood Hills in Batavia," said Bridget Reedy, sales manager. "One is a home that is located across from the pool and close to the elementary school, that features four bedrooms, 3½ baths, an extra-deep basement with roughed-in plumbing, a three-car side-load garage and a second-floor laundry room. Listing for $714,995, this 3,800-square-foot Duke model features an open floor plan with hardwood floors throughout the first floor and in the second-floor hallway, a fireplace in the family room and first- and second-floor outside balconies."

The other home is the Hopewell model, which lists for $639,995. This four-bedroom home also features 3½ baths, a second-floor laundry room and a three-car garage. It is 3,800 square feet. It is notable for its large family room windows, expanded kitchen, master shower and hardwood floors throughout the first floor.

Both of these homes feature brick fronts and fiber cement sides and backs, and have varying amounts of sod and in-ground irrigation.

At Bowes Creek in Elgin, Toll Brothers also has two homes available for immediate move-in. The 3,100-square-foot Columbia New England floor plan is located on the 15th fairway of the Bowes Creek golf course. It lists for $504,995 and includes four bedrooms, 2½ baths, a three-car side-load garage, a full unfinished basement, two-story family room with fireplace, an open kitchen, formal dining room, living room and study, said Craig Vermeulen, senior project manager.

Located in the U-46 school district, the house features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops; hardwood floors in the kitchen, powder room, living room and dining room; and carpet in the bedrooms, study and family room.

Also available soon is a 2,500-square-foot Parker Charleston model that lists for $384,995. Located in the Fairway section of the community, it features four bedrooms, 2½ baths, second-floor laundry room, full basement, two-car garage and covered front porches on both the first and second floors.

Amenities include granite countertops, a gourmet kitchen, stainless appliances, ceramic tile in the bathrooms and hardwood floors in the foyer, kitchen and powder room. It is located within the Burlington Unit District 301 section of Bowes Creek.

Visit www.tollbrothers.com/luxury-homes/Illinois for details.