Olthof Buyers Relish Lake Hills Lifestyle

For many local empty-nesters, the decision to downsize does not happen overnight.

After carefully considering all their options over the last 3 years, David and Roberta Mabry made the decision to test the waters and list their personally-built custom home for sale last August. Imagine their surprise when it sold in September.

"We always had the intention of staying in St. John, but we did check out a number of other options in different communities," David said. "For us, Lake Hills was the place to be."

"The scenery here is amazing," Roberta said. "But, it was ultimately the value of the amenities offered by Olthof Homes, not just the area that sold us. The homes here come complete with a lot more of the options we were looking for - like 9' ceilings, 42" kitchen cabinets, a den, sun porch and finished lower level - at the same price point as others in the area."

Leaving behind nearly 5,000 square feet and just a few items they no longer wanted, David and Roberta Mabry moved into their new 2,705 square foot Paired Villa by Olthof Homes in Lake Hills last November.

"We were fortunate that this home was nearly complete and ready to go," Roberta said. "Since it was at the drywall stage, they were able to accommodate us with some very specific selections when it came to our flooring, cabinets, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures."

"The floor plan had everything we wanted," David said. "Not only is there storage, but plenty of it. I do a lot of wood working, and there was no problem finding a spot for my 10-foot work table and saw."

"A lot of people wondered what we were going to do with all our stuff, but honestly, with everything moved in, it doesn't feel any different here," Roberta added. "Everybody is so surprised by how big it is. They say, ‘it just goes on and on.' It's also nice to have the master bedroom on the main floor, and it's the right size -- our four-poster bed, armoire and everything else fit nicely with plenty of space to walk around."

"Plus, everything is so nice and bright during the day," she continued. "We came from a large, wooded lot so there wasn't nearly as much natural light in our previous home."

"We're really looking forward to summer," David added. "With no lawn to mow or trees to trim, there will be plenty of time to enjoy the neighborhood and our 2 outdoor spaces - a concrete patio and wood deck."

Because so many people are listing an existing house for sale before buying their next home, Olthof Homes strives to have at least one complete, Ready-to-Move-In home as well as one at the drywall stage like the Mabry's, according to Cheryl Slivka, the company's Lake Hills new home consultant.

"Lake Hills is an ideal setting to enjoy all the benefits of maintenance-free living," she said. "Along with the opportunity to build an elegant paired villa or townhome from the ground up, we want to offer new home buyers the option to move in a bit more quickly if the need arises."

Peacefully tucked away on the east side of Route 41 between 85th and 93rd, Lake Hills features the lovely rolling wooded terrain of a former beloved golf course. Now, this fabulous neighborhood includes a tranquil 38-acre lake, 3 parks, 3 ½ miles of walking/biking trails, community amphitheatre and a core of stunning executive-style homes, with many valued over a million dollars.

Bordering the south side of Lake Hills, you'll find Olthof's Paired Villas starting at $199,900 for an all-on-one floor 1,645 square foot home with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, large open-concept kitchen with breakfast area, sun room, formal dining room, large master bedroom suite, 2 full baths, good-size laundry room, 11 x 16 concrete patio, pull-down storage above the garage with light and ladder plus brick and stone exteriors with concrete driveways.

"One of the features that really sold us on our home was the finished lower level walkout," Roberta said. "Our daughter and her family stayed with us over the holidays, and everyone was extremely comfortable. They had their own private space with the third bedroom and bath down there."

Offering the ability to nearly double your square footage with some very flexible living space, there are just three remaining Paired Villa homes that can accommodate the option of a magnificent walkout lower level in Lake Hills, according to Slivka.

Olthof's townhomes are on the north side of Lake Hills, just across the street from the lake and community center. Available with 1-3 bedrooms and 1 ½-3 baths, the Muirfield and Augusta plans offer a great deal of flexibility to meet your needs starting at $204,900. You can choose one of two complete and Ready-to-Move-In townhomes, from four currently at drywall stage or build a completely new one from the ground up.

"We definitely had other options, but Lake Hills is the right place for us," Roberta said. "We're used to custom everything, and Olthof Homes met all our expectations. They are detail oriented and use quality products. Plus, it's a great neighborhood, and you've got to buy with resale value in mind."

To learn more about your options for maintenance-free living in Lake Hills, visit the Olthof Homes sales center Tuesday-Thursday 11am-6pm, Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday 10am-5pm. You can also call Cheryl Slivka at (219) 365-3674 or go to www.olthofhomes.com/communities/lakehills-stjohn.php.