Today, homebuyers want more than the perfect home-they want a good living environment

They want to live in a community with amenities that promote a sense of health and well being such as natural areas, green spaces, walking trails, seating areas, parks and recreation and gathering spaces where they can meet and interact with neighbors and friends.

To allow residents to have a good quality of life and healthy lifestyle, builders look to the big, beautiful outdoors to create more beneficial and useful spaces in their new home communities where today's discerning buyers will love to live.

These communities offer not only the perfect home, but also a good living environment.

Provenance in Northbrook by Red Seal Homes features a Community Common and waterfall--the focal point of the development--which is interconnected with a series of smaller parks and walkways. Also, trails, covered benches, playground and water features create gathering spaces for residents.

The 44-acre master planned community is a soft presentation that doesn't include a clubhouse or pool, but linear parks. The community is designed for residents of different ages, so the amenities are multi-generational.

The main part of the pedestrian circulation waterfall faces inward so it can be experienced by residents in the park rather than just folks driving by, said Brian Hoffman, vice-chairman of Red Seal Homes.

"Market response has been terrific," Hoffman said. "People like the feel of the community even though it is conveyed from drawings, and the word is getting through that people are finding it to be an exciting place to live."

Meadow Ridge by KZF Development sits in a park-like setting on 40 acres in Northbrook with natural landscaping, water features and a mile-long walking/biking path around the perimeter of the development. People use the trail a lot; whenever I drive through the community, people are out walking their dogs, and there are always people gathered at the gazebo, said Steve Friedman, partner with KZF.

These amenities bring residents together outside, and they get a sense of community. The development also offers opportunities to engage in an activity with neighbors in organized book clubs, the symphony, Ravinia and an annual dinner.

Timber's Edge, the builder's newest development, also in Northbrook, offers a refreshing alternative to the typical sprawling subdivision in the suburbs with a more cozy and neighborly atmosphere that homebuyers of all ages appreciate, Friedman said.

"Timber's Edge is designed as an interactive neighborhood where walkways and landscaped seating areas connect homes and residents, helping form a more close-knit community." Two parks and large open areas with a pergola and benches beckon residents to linger a while.

With a mix of home styles, the community features a coastal New England theme where all the homes have front porches placed forward set up for neighbor interaction, which is what people are looking for today. It's nice to know your neighbors and keep an eye out for one another.

Clubhouse communities

Clubhouse communities typically offer pools that rival the town's water park, outdoor spaces for relaxing with family and friends and state-of-the-art fitness centers.

These communities range from single-family homes in master-planned communities to luxury townhouse, condo and apartment developments.

Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a 142-acre master planned community with a traditional neighborhood design reminiscent of the day when people enjoyed meeting and living off the front porch.

The community features a resort lifestyle with a 32-acre marina surrounded by pocket neighborhoods where green space fosters a sense of community among residents. Walking paths throughout include a 1.5-mile Harbor walk trail that circles the development.

The epicenter harbor town features a restaurant, marina store, swimming pool, bath and shower facilities and picnic and grilling area.

There are a lot of outdoor activities and recreation such as sand volleyball, kayaking or watching the barges. An entertainment tent and open space offer a variety of events including wine tasting, live music, art classes and exercise.

Cambridge Lakes features an impressive boulevard entrance with landscaped entry monuments and a bridge over the lakes that sets the tone for the community and provides a distinctive identity that inspired its name.

Situated in Pingree Grove, Cambridge Lakes features homes set amid 360 acres of conservation areas with 12 lakes and landscaped open space. The family-oriented community features the amenities of a small village.

Outdoor amenities include an aquatic center, walking nature trails, seven community parks, five public parks with baseball diamond, soccer fields, several playgrounds, tot lots, skate park and miles of trails

Residents like to gather at the pool or park or in the welcoming gathering lounge at the clubhouse. The 30,000-square-foot recreation/community center features three outdoor pools for all ages, a gymnasium with facilities for indoor soccer, basketball and volleyball, fitness center and aerobics room, plus locker rooms, meeting rooms for community groups, and an inviting gathering room with a kitchen for community events.

A wide variety of clubs, classes and other activities are offered for all age groups.

Greenbrook at Highland Woods is Meritus Homes' exclusive neighborhood of 22 single-family homes within the master-planned Highland Woods development on Elgin's west side.

"As a master-planned clubhouse community with a great location and on-site amenities, Highland Woods offers a terrific lifestyle for buyers at so many different stages of life," said Brian Brunhofer, president of the company.

"Families love that during the summer they can just head down the street to the pool rather than drive to a public pool or water park with fees and long lines. And it's a great place for kids to make friends in the neighborhood."

Highland Woods offers extensive amenities as a fully developed lifestyle community by Crown Community Development. Residents have access to the exclusive Owners Club with a clubhouse, fitness center, sports courts, and resort-style pool and water park.

The community is set among 196 acres of open space, with beautiful grounds featuring natural preservation areas, an 18-acre lake, more than five miles of walking and biking paths, and seven neighborhood parks and playgrounds.