Convenience turns 'green' at Grand Pointe Trails

In today's (real estate) environment, "being green" will sell as long as it's close to transportation and shopping.

Providing evidence for that proposition is Grand Pointe Trails in Aurora. This community of 167 townhomes and courtyard condominiums lies in a kind of sweet seclusion, surrounded by protected wetlands and creeks and crisscrossed by walking and bicycling paths. However, Fox Valley shopping and dining also exist nearby, along with access to Interstate 88, the Metra train line, and Indian Prairie School District 308 (Wheatland Elementary School).

"People love it here because it's so open and so green; it leaves them feeling as if they're living in the country somewhere," said Scott Ballard, vice president of sales and marketing for West Dundee-based Grand Pointe Homes, which is building the Trails. "At the same time, I doubt that we would have sold as well as we have (well over 90 percent of the homes) if the Trails hadn't been located to so close to urban conveniences."

Ballard also said price may also have something to do with the community's popularity. Prices start in the $170,000s for the townhomes and the $180,000s for the courtyard condos.

"That's why most of the customers have been first-time buyers and downsizing empty nesters. The price is low, and the luxury is high," said Ballard.

Calling it "luxury" may be somewhat of an understatement. Indeed, several of the models deliver high drama, beginning with the 1,473-square-foot Aster townhome. The two-bedroom, 1½-bath Aster features a living room with a two-story ceiling, a two-story foyer accented by a plant shelf, a formal dining room, an eat-in kitchen, and a master suite with cathedral ceilings and two walk-in closets. The options include a loft, a fireplace, a third bedroom, a second full bath, and a super bath.

The Trails also offers single-story townhomes, including the retro-inspired ranch called the Eaton. The 1,169-square-foot home maximizes living space with its great room, dining nook, and two bedrooms and one full bath. The Eaton and the 1,493-square-foot, single-story Foxfield appeal in particular to empty-nesters and other families who put convenience at a premium. Inventory homes in both the Eaton and Foxfield models remain available.

The courtyard homes include the open layout of the 1,613-square-foot Iris. The two-bedroom, one-bath home contains a two-story living room that's connected to a formal dining room, and a dinette that provides access to a deck outside. The finished lower level encompasses a family room with plenty of seating, and the second floor leads to a laundry room that makes everyday chores a lot more convenient.

For the ultimate in convenience, the courtyards homes include the 1,587-square-foot Gardenia, which puts all everyday living areas on a single floor. . Grande Point Homes