July 4 comes early at Patriot Estates

Sales are on the upswing at Patriot Estates, a Cunat Brothers subdivision aimed at the market of adults 55 years of age and older at the southeast corner of Bull Valley and Crystal Lake roads.

“The subdivision is on the move as we have sold multiple homes with a couple in the construction stage and interested buyers in the wings. There has been a 360-degree turnaround in the project,” salesman Casey Voris said.

Voris, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate, spearheaded the sales turnaround.

He was asked in late 2013 to revive a subdivision that had lain dormant since the economic recession of 2008.

To celebrate the turnaround, the developer will host a four-day tent event culminating with a McHenry Chamber of Commerce mixer June 28 to July 1. Voris calls it “a Pre-Independence Day extravaganza.”

Each day, food and refreshments will be provided free of charge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“All visitors will receive a gift and can enter to win a complete vehicle detailing at Fast Eddie’s Car Wash and Detailing at either the McHenry, Crystal Lake or Barrington location,” Voris said.

One of his first steps after taking charge of sales at Patriot Estates was to put four sales models on the market. Under the former marketing company, the models were used for sales purposes only. “I wanted to get them on the market immediately. Then we could go from there,” Voris said.

Two of those four were sold in the past six months. Another buyer opted for new construction, “and we have six interested buyers for whom we are pricing out new homes,” Voris said.

Besides his approach to sales, Voris credited an uptick in the economy and incentives being offered by the developers, Brian and John Cunat of McHenry.

“The incentive varies by month, but currently the developers are offering $2,500 to be used for appliance upgrades or landscape maintenance,” Voris said.

Voris is concentrating sales in the Residences and Manors neighborhoods of the subdivision.

When the subdivision is completed, Patriot Estates will consist of 101 ranch single-family houses in the Residences neighborhood, 100 single-family duplexes in the Manors and 204 town houses in the Villas area. Construction is underway on a new town house building in the Villas.

“At the Manors, we have a lot of interest, and construction should start this summer on two buildings there,” Voris said.

Floor plans at the Residences include the Jackson, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington and Lincoln. The five ranch plans include two bedrooms, two bathrooms and attached two-car garage. Each sits on an 80-by-120-foot lot.

The 1,200-square-foot Jackson model with a three-season room is priced from $169,500. The 1,380-square-foot Franklin is priced from $190,500, the 1,500-square-foot Jefferson from $199,500, the 1,890-square-foot Washington from $239,900 and the 1,970-square-foot Lincoln from $248,900.

These prices reflect a reduction from 2007 and 2008, when prices started at $249,900 before the economic recession.

“Homes can be customized to a customer’s liking. Buyers are choosing basements and other features, which include an extended garage, a three-season room, den and more,” Voris said.

There are no special assessments, such as a Special Service Area tax, but there is an annual $500 homeowners association fee, which includes membership in the nearby Greens of Irish Prairie Health Club. That facility has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, exercise equipment, a putting green and basketball and volleyball courts.

The association fee covers exterior building, common areas and driveway maintenance, landscaping, accounting, legal and management services. In some new housing developments, an SSA tax is set up for improvements made by the developer and collected by local governments.

Patriot Estates is within city limits and is served by municipal water and sewer systems, plus street maintenance, police and fire protection and garbage pickup.

The subdivision is adjacent to Holy Apostles Catholic Church. Centegra Hospital – McHenry is nearby.

“The new residents and those interested in becoming new residents are coming from Kane, McHenry, Cook, Lake counties. We have had interest from folks moving back from Florida and Wisconsin,” Voris said.

For information, email kcv@mc.net or visit www.rbroker.com. Those interested also can call the sales office, 815-679-6766 or visit www.patriotestates.com.

On-site sales hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays or by appointment.