Sweetwater Mill offers buyers a basic, functional house in a reasonable price range.
The development of single-family homes on Illinois Highway 83 near Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach includes 129 ranch, split-level and two-story styles. The six models offer from 1,226 to 1,986 square feet and are priced from $106,400 to $128,790.
The builder, America Today Inc., plans to open an additional 50 homes in Sweetwater Mill in January.
“We’re getting a lot of first-time buyers and people trading up from small, starter condominiums or townhouses,” said Tom Hoffman, sales counselor.
The Honeysuckle is a 1,690-square-foot split-level with three bedrooms and one bathroom. A fourth bedroom and a finished family room can be added for $2,490 and $3,490, respectively. A full bath in the family room space will add an extra $2,190 to the price.
For the base price of $112,900 to $114,890, depending upon exterior style, buyers receive ample space. By offering unfinished rooms in the standard layout, the builder is giving buyers the flexibility to upgrade or finish the space themselves.
This should be particularly appealing to buyers who are eager to buy their first house, but cannot afford 1,600 square feet of finished space.
This model opens with a small but comfortable living room on the left of the foyer.
The kitchen is behind the living room and is raised one-half level. The kitchen is open to an eat-in breakfast area that has room for a table for four. The kitchen is a 10-foot-1-inch square, and includes an average amount of storage space.
The eat-in area includes a wall with a cutout space near the floor that provides a view of the lower-level family room. This feature might help parents with small children who want to watch their children while in the next room.
The family room, 18 feet 8 inches by 12 feet 6 inches, is shown in the model as a finished space with the full bathroom and fourth bedroom.
The bedroom, a 10-foot-6-inch square space, would be convenient for overnight guests, particularly if the bathroom is added. Couples with children might feel crowded without the finished family room and the added bathroom.
The top floor includes two bedrooms-10 feet 5 inches by 10 feet 4 inches and 10 feet 7 inches by 10 feet 4 inches-and a master bedroom-14 feet 1 inch by 11 feet 1 inch. All include an appropriate amount of closet space and windows for this price range.
The hallway is wide enough for children and parents to safely dash back and forth during their morning routines.
A full bathroom opens into the master bedroom and the hallway. While a separate bathroom for the master bedroom might be preferred, it may not be realistic in this price range.
The house also includes a 2 1/2-car garage, a crawl space below the house and a laundry room.
Other upgrades available include: an unfinished basement, $8,190; a brick or marble-face fireplace, $2,990; and air conditioning, $2,390.
Options at this development vary by floor plan, exterior and price. For example, the Hibiscus ($117,900 to $119,890) and the Hibiscus Royale ($126,790 to $128,790) include the finished family room as standard. The least expensive model, the Lilac ($106,400 to $108,390), does not offer the optional fourth bedroom.
To reach Sweetwater Mill, drive north on Interstate Highway 94 to Illinois Highway 132. Travel west to U.S. Highway 45, south to Rollins Road, and west to Illinois 83.
Models are open from noon to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Telephone is 708-223-9199.
