Moving on up, phase by phase
Developer has noted buyers at Copper Hills purchasing bigger homes as new phases open
When Chris and Vania Dale bought a new home in the first phase of Copper Hills four years ago, they were already looking ahead to their next home and the home after that.
When the builder, the Preston Group, opened Phase 2, they moved to a larger home on a larger lot.
“I’ve been trying to move every phase and to get to the final phase on a larger piece of land,” explains Chris Dale, who owns Markham Garage Doors. “My dream is to own one at the end of the property.”
He and Vania are considering buying another home in the recently launched Phase 3, which offers 159 detached homes on 50- and 52-foot lots in four-bedroom and four-bedroom-plus loft designs with 2,470 to 3,667 square feet.
The Preston Group has noted that a number of buyers are moving up as new phases open, says architect Richard Aubry.
Chris Dale says they’ll look for a home that’s about 500 square feet larger than their current 3,000square-foot home on a 50-foot lot. Their first Copper Hills home was 2,500 square feet on a 45-foot lot. The homes in the previous phases of the development have demonstrated good appreciation in value, which makes it financially viable to move up, says Dale.
“But we have another child on the way, so we may not be ready to move yet.”
He does like the third-storey loft introduced in the new home designs for Phase 3.
“I’d like to have a loft. It lets in a lot of light and is a really cool space,” he says. Some of the home designs in Phase 3 also include offices, in recognition of the growing trend to work from home, says Aubry.
Preston Homes has always attracted a good number of buyers through referrals and of the buyers
“I’ve been trying to move every phase and to get to the final phase on a larger piece of land.” CHRIS DALE COPPER HILLS PURCHASER
so far in Phase 3, 42 per cent have been referred by people who already live in Copper Hills. “We attribute that to a number of things. People recognize that it’s a great neighbourhood, a good place to invest and they are happy with the quality of construction and the finishes they are getting, which would be upgrades at many other developments,” says Aubry. “And if their overall experience is positive, from purchase to occupancy, they feel confident in recommending the site to friends and family.”
He also says Preston has a “great team” that strives to give buyers a “one-on-one experience,” and because Preston pre-services its lots, the possibility of a delay in completing homes is minimized.
The launch of Phase 3 in Copper Hills included the opening of four new model homes which showcase a variety of styles, including classic, contemporary, urban and casual, and are designed by award-winning interior designer Flora di Menna.
Exteriors are brick with stone and stucco and homes include nine-foot main-floor ceilings and granite kitchen countertops as standard. Prices range from $695,900 to $825,900.