According to Northbrook, Ill.-based Red Seal Homes vice chairman Brian Hoffman, building communities with this downsizing demographic in mind means taking the “down” out of the equation. “It’s our experience that the more affluent downsizer isn’t looking to truly downsize at all. Rather they want plenty of square-footage, but they just need that space to work a little differently,” he says, noting that while this group’s longtime family home may have had specific rooms serving specific functions, now they are looking for open plans with flexible layouts.
Also high on their wish-list is maintenance-free living, he says. “After decades in an older home requiring constant upkeep, our buyers very much want a brand new home. And, by the same token, a maintenance-free community is a big plus. Having it as part of their community assessment further simplifies life for them.”
To meet these needs, Red Seal Homes is offering two new-construction communities in Chicago’s North Shore: Provenance in Northbrook and Willow Lake in Lake Forrest. The semi-attached, maintenance-free homes at Provenance measure up to 3,700 square feet and are priced from $649,900. The semi-attached, maintenance-free homes at Willow Lake measure up to 4,800 square feet and are priced from $800,000. Both offer high-end finishes, gourmet kitchens, optional elevators, choice of exterior elevation style and the ability to structurally customize the floor plans.
