Business results at Lake Chapin Shores buck
nationwide trend
Second-home
buyers purchase one-third of available lots in just over a year
BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. (February
16, 2010)—Lake Chapin Shores—one of southwest Michigan’s newest
vacation-home developments—has attracted second-home buyers
despite the general economy and slowdown in real estate activity
locally and across the country. The 21-home community on Lake
Chapin is now one third sold, in sharp contrast to many home
development properties the past two years.
Managing partner Steve Sprengel
said, "It's been a
little nerve-testing at times, but I think our decision to 'build
it and they will come' was the right one."
He’s referring to the two model homes they built and sold last
year. “2009 was our first full season and we’ve already
sold seven sites.” Buyers
have 12 designs to choose from if they select their own lakefront,
lake view or forested site in the development, but the models
speed up the process, so buyers can start using their new home
right away.
"Once we saw the community, the lake and the homes, we were sold," said
Grant Armstrong, who purchased one
of the model homes this past spring. "We talked about choosing a
lot and a home design and picking out our own finishes, but in the
end we were so anxious to get an extra summer on the lake, we
decided to buy the model. We realized their designer had selected
most of the same things we would have chosen ourselves, and it
saved us a five or six month wait." Another one was sold a couple
of months later, and the developer’s decision appeared to have
been a good one. Two more models are under construction now, to
be available this spring.
Originally from the Chicago area,
three of the four partners have strong networks of contacts and
recognize that most second home buyers in Southwest Michigan want
an easy, convenient drive to their property. Lake Chapin Shores
offers a 90-minute drive from the Chicago Loop to a weekend
getaway surrounded by great, old growth Oaks, Maples, Black
Walnuts and more. It is set on rolling terrain leading down to the
waterfront of one of the largest all-sports lakes in Southwest
Michigan.
"Families enjoy taking their boats
on long rides to just sightsee," Sprengel points out, "or if the
kids can hold on, they can take one of the longest waterskiing
rides on some of the calmest waters anywhere."
A stretch of approximately 11 miles between the end of the lake at
Berrien Springs and the next dam on the connected St. Joe River
offers not only great boating, but some of the area’s best
fishing, stocked with 250,000 steelhead every year.
Lake Chapin Shores is minutes from
the regionally popular Harbor Country and world famous Lake
Michigan beaches. Homes are built on half-to-one acre lots, with
wooded sites from the low $400's, and lake view and waterfront
homes from the mid $500's. Ten homes will have lake frontage,
offering private lake access and spectacular views. Others will
have lake views or secluded wooded settings, all with access to a
heated pool, waterfront, and private piers.
Beginning April 17th through October 30th, Lake Chapin Shores is
hosting open houses and tours of its model homes Saturdays and
Sundays, noon to 4:00 pm, and by appointment. Call
888-TO-MICHIGAN (888-866-4244) or visit their website at
www.LakeChapinShores.com.
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