Quick getaway
Nearby vacation homes shorten the distance
The housing market is hot and sales are brisk for vacation homes too — especially those close to Chicago.
Vacation home buyers have a wide array of nearby options. Popular locations include Southwest Michigan, Southeast Wisconsin and scenic Illinois spots. New developments, most situated on the water, offer resort-like amenities.
Weekenders like being within a short drive of their getaways. Short-distance travel has allowed them to continue their visits even during the pandemic.
Nearby vacation homes give the entire family a place to reconnect. Parents, adult children and grandchildren in the Chicago area can easily get there without a lot of hassles.
A better fit
Last fall, Bill and Liz Murphy bought a townhome at Heritage Harbor Resort in Ottawa. Located about 90 minutes from Chicago, Heritage Harbor is situated along the Illinois River and 15 minutes from Starved Rock State Park.
The couple has a primary residence in west suburban Woodridge. They had owned a second home in Door County, Wisconsin, but had tired of the four-hour drive to get there. No one in their extended family used the place in the winter.
This year has been different. The Murphy’s four adult children and six grandchildren have visited the Heritage Harbor townhome during the winter.
Everyone can enjoy the activities, including boating, tubing, biking and hiking in the four nearby state parks. Heritage Harbor includes a marina, three swimming pools and a restaurant. There’s even a dog park for the couple’s grand dogs.
“The home we purchased is modern,” says Bill, who, before retiring, was an educator and served as the Mayor of Woodridge for 32 years. “The view of the cove and the Illinois River from the big windows on the main floor is beautiful.”
With three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, the townhome is big enough for the extended family. The lower level has a large family room outfitted for fun. “The kids are becoming avid ping-pong players,” says Bill, who plans to host family tournaments this summer.
Homes at Heritage Harbor range from one-bedroom, one-bath condominiums to large custom homes. Prices start at about $189,000 with custom homes as much as $1 million.
The Boat-House neighborhood is a popular option. It offers single-family houses on the water with walk-out basements. Prices start at about $299,000. “We have a lot to offer,” says Tammy Barry, vice president of sales and marketing at Heritage Harbor. “This is a place for families to reconnect.”
Always on vacation
Mary and Mark Kravchuk bought a house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at Stone Ridge, a development by Shodeen Homes. Stone Ridge offers new single-family homes on top of a hill, within walking distance of downtown Lake Geneva.
Soon to be empty nesters, the Kravchuks wanted a house close to the Chicago area. Mary had fond memories of summer in Lake Geneva as a child. “It’s so beautiful here,” she says. “It’s a place everyone wants to visit.”
The couple built a new house at Stone Ridge and sold their home in west suburban Wheaton. They moved to Lake Geneva last July and still work for organizations in the Chicago area.
Mark likes to fish. They both love the lake and walking around it is a fun activity. The little nearby towns have lots of activities to enjoy.
Their house has an open floor plan and a lot of windows. “It feels like we’re always on vacation,” says Mary.
Home prices at Stone Ridge start at about $430,000. Thirty lots are still available. The semi-custom homes have a variety of options. “The market is hot,” says Anna Harmon, director of marketing at Shodeen Homes, which is based in Geneva, Illinois. “We can’t build them fast enough.”
Michigan too
In Southwest Michigan, Harbor Shores Resort offers homes as well as an amenity-rich setting. The 530-acre master-planned community on Lake Michigan features an 18-hole golf course, a waterfront hotel, restaurants, an athletic club, walking trails, and a deep-water marina.
About a third of the buyers are from the Chicago area and use their homes as a weekend retreat, according to Kerry Wright, director of sales and marketing at Wright Properties, the broker for the Harbor Shores development. Another third of the buyers spend half the year at Harbor Shores and the winter in a warm place. The remainder of the residents live there full time.
“People are looking to get out of the dense urban
environment,” says Wright. “This is an ideal location.” Just 90 minutes from Chicago, Harbor Shores is an easy drive. Wright thinks that as the pandemic hopefully subsides people will return to the office but probably not five days a week, spending more time at their second homes.
Sales are underway in the Harbor Village neighborhood. Low-maintenance townhome prices start at $389,000. Different floor plans are available. “Inventory is selling quickly,” says Wright.
Buy, sell, buy
Back in Ottawa, Bill and Sheila Kendall have had a second home at Heritage Harbor for three years. Their main residence is in suburban Bolingbrook. “Heritage Harbor is literally 54 minutes from my house,” says Sheila.
The couple like Heritage Harbor so much that they’ve sold their townhome there and they’re building a custom home where they plan to retire. “Ottawa is awesome,” says Sheila.
The couple’s children visit and there’s lots to do. They have a boat, and everyone enjoys the amenities and activities. “It’s like a resort,” says Sheila.
The family also likes to hike, even in winter when the waterfalls freeze at Starved