SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP
What makes someone decide to move, to buy a new home? The residents of Newport Cove have one answer: Water. Newport Cove, with its lakefront location, planned community and coastal style architecture, makes residents feel they are living the good life 12 months a year. We like living in Newport Cove, said Pat Vogler who, with her husband Don, built a waterfront home there, moving in just over a year ago. It is always enjoyable looking at the water. It changes morning to night and with each season. Newport Cove is a great place to entertain friends and family. We feel we are on a permanent vacation.
The 42-acre community overlooks Bluff Lake, one of the deepest lakes on the Chain ‘O Lakes. The single-family-home development features custom-built homes and offers its residents a private 130-plus-slip marina complete with water and electricity, a private eight-acre waterfront park, and paths meandering throughout the community and bordering its 1,800 feet of shoreline. Anchoring the waterfront park is a large pavilion with outdoor kitchen and restroom facilities. Forty percent of the community is open space, much of it landscaped with native plants and wildflowers.
“Newport Cove is unique in that we have new beautifully constructed homes in a lakeside community setting”, said Joe Rippel. He, his wife Toni and their two college-aged children moved into their new home last year. After a hard day of work, there is nothing more refreshing than a walk down to the lake, or an evening fishing on the pier and enjoying the beautiful sunsets. Its better than going on vacation since you live where you can enjoy your life every day of the year.
Zoned for 67 single-family residences, the community offers three distinct neighborhoods, each appealing to a different customer demographic. Award-winning custom builder New American Homes is building residences priced from the $300,000s to more than $1 million. “Although we have a wide range of prices, we find that all of our customers have the same goal: To live where they play”, said Susanne Tauke, president of New American Homes. ”Family time is important to most of our buyers. Almost every one of them has told me they want to live in a place their children and extended families can enjoy.”
The first neighborhood, the Cottages at Newport Cove, includes a cluster of 31 maintenance-free homes designed for the empty-nester or weekend homebuyer. Ranging in size from 1,500 to more than 2,400 square feet (plus full basements), the Cottages have low-maintenance exteriors of fiber cement siding and stone, first-floor master suites, large open living spaces with designer kitchens, two to four bedrooms and tech centers.
Amenities such as hardwood floors, extra-tall interior doors, extra-tall Pella windows, extra-wide trim, stainless steel appliances and solid-surface countertops are standard. All four Cottage models come with two-car garages; in the larger models, the garage also has room for a golf cart. The Cottages are priced from $335,000.
On the waterfront is a neighborhood of 21 large home sites designed for custom, build-to suit homes, all accommodating walkout lower levels. Prices for the waterfront lots start at $375,000. Buyers can bring in their own builder, or have New American Homes build the home for them. New Americans waterfront home and lot packages start in the high $700,000s.
Finally, a neighborhood of 15 estate home sites is located just off the water. Again, the buyers can design their custom home and have it built by an approved builder, or use New American Homes. Prices for the estate home sites start at $120,000; New Americans house/lot packages start in the $400,000s.
While most of the houses on the Chain depend upon individual septic systems, Newport Cove has its own state-of-the-art community sewer system, ensuring a clean green environment for its residents. Water comes from individual wells.
“Newport Cove is planned to ensure a pleasant, attractive environment for years to come”,said Tauke. Strict architectural guidelines govern the building of each home. For example, all trim must be white and all roofs the same color. The developers architectural review committee must approve all plans. And, strict covenants ensure that residents can enjoy a serene, peaceful lifestyle.
“We are fortunate to have a high site several feet above flood level with a rolling topography. Extensive landscaping, much of it featuring native plants and highlighted by white fencing and stonewalls, enhances the waterfront look”, Tauke added.
New American Homes, through its primary lender Home State Bank of Crystal Lake, is offering below-market 30-year financing or a program where the developer will pay several months of the first years mortgage.
”We find a pent-up demand for new homes”, said Tauke, ”but in todays environment customers are afraid to make the purchase until they have sold their existing house. These programs help fill in the gap.”
The Fox Rivers Chain O Lakes is the second largest inland water-oriented recreational asset in northeast Illinois (number one is Lake Michigan) and ranks second in popularity in the entire United States. It includes more than 7,100 acres of water with 15 lakes, 40 miles of river and 450 miles of shoreline. Boaters can easily travel from lake to lake via a system of canals.
In recent years, land and home values on the Chain have rapidly escalated as the area has attracted boaters and water sports lovers who desired a destination close to Chicago. Numerous rustic cottages on the Chain have been replaced by large, modern homes. Another reason for the increase in property values is the massive strides the federal and state government has made in improving the water quality of the Chains rivers and lakes.
Newport Coves sales center is open noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or by appointment.
To visit from Interstate 94 and Lake Cook Road, proceed north on I-94 approximately 23 miles to Route 172,west (left) about eight miles to Route 59, south (left) about two miles to Grass Lake Road, west (right) about one mile to Bluff Lake Road,
north (right) to the sales center.
To visit from Rand Road (Route 12) and Lake Cook Road, proceed north on Route 12 approximately 18miles to Route 59,north (right) about six miles to Grass Lake
Road, west (left) about one mile to Bluff Lake Road, north (right) to the sales center.