Misty Ridge Sales Hot Despite Housing 'Doom'

While national reports suggest a real estate market in chaos and local commentary paints only a slightly more favorable portrait, one Chicagoland builder is flourishing despite the forecasts of doom.

The Misty Ridge community in Romeoville is one of Chicagoland’s hottest-selling new home communities, prompted in large part by Beechen and Dill’s custom-building background and price points as much as $100,000 less than comparable homes in the area. The Whistler, shown here and with a starting price of $358,990, is the community’s largest home at more than 3300 square feet.

Beechen and Dill Builders has encountered excitement, interest, and sales at its Misty Ridge community in Romeoville, an award-winning community recently recognized by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago for excellence in housing design.

A collection of 166 single-family homes, Misty Ridge stands as one of Chicagoland’s hottest-selling new home communities, many prospective buyers attracted by the starting price points under $300,000 and a desirable location within minutes of interstates 55 and 355. The brainchild of Beechen and Dill,a Burr Ridge-based builder with more than 30 years experience, Misty Ridge boasts customized single-family homes at production home prices.

“That’s a key reason we’ve been able to distinguish ourselves – we come to this project with a custom building background and create homes here that are $80,000 to $100,000 less than our competitors,” said Ed Kubiak, Misty Ridge project manager.“That’s attracted plenty of traffic and buyers.”

Such value is certainly what led Jeff Jarzabek and his wife, Jennifer, to purchase a home in Misty Ridge earlier this year. On the lookout for a step-up home after outgrowing their two-bedroom, two-bath abode in Bolingbrook, the Jarzabeks listed additional land,size,value,and hopes to stay in the southwest suburbs as top priorities. Only by happenstance did Jeff stumble upon Misty Ridge.

“I was impressed immediately with the overall presentation, the attention to detail, and the quality of products they used. But the price point got us,too.For the price we paid, there’s nothing even slightly comparable in the area,”said Jeff,an IT director for a construction and architecture firm.

In selecting everything from their appliances to flooring and countertops, the Jarzabeks were limited only by their imaginations. Given its custom-building background, Beechen and Dill provides buyers a four- to five- page list of options, one consistently adding new elements as homeowners broaden their sights.

“Key to the success of Misty Ridge has been the fact that we are listening to our clientele and working to fulfill all of their wishes,”saidAmy Brooks,Misty Ridge community consultant. “We’re not telling the consumers what they can have; we’re letting them tell us what they want.”

The buyer-centered approach is one shining throughout the building process. Outside of the limitless options,Misty Ridge homes also go green with insulated foundations and low-e glass windows affording homeowners current and long-term savings on both energy and repairs.

“The goal is not only to give our buyers what they want today, but also build their home for what they will need in the future. An energy-conscious home is a piece to that equation,”said Kubiak.

In a town characterized by ranch homes, Misty Ridge’s two-story homes stand a testament to Romeoville’s growth and civic ambition. Within walking distance of the Misty Ridge entrance, in fact, sits a new elementary school and middle school with library, further evidence that Misty Ridge will emerge as Romeoville’s premier residential community.

The Jarzabeks,meanwhile,have comfortably settled into their Misty Ridge home, confident they have discovered the home for their present and future.

“We got everything we could have wanted,” said Jeff.“Everything.”

More information on the Misty Ridge community is at 815/886-7000 or beechendill.com. Misty Ridge, located at 720 North Sunset Drive in Romeoville, sits on Normantown Road one half-mile west of Route 53.