You’ll want to be caught in THIS loop!
“We were not out of the lock until after dark. The marina had a guide boat lead us into the harbor, provided us with a late dinner, and exceeded all of our expectations. This is one excellent marina.” -sminard “
If you haven’t yet heard of the Great Loop, it is a continuous waterway including part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America’s heartland. Any mariner who completes the full journey officially earns the ‘Looper’ title.
From the Wall Street Journal Today
Getting Away—but Not Too Far
As Vacation-Home Sales Gain Momentum, Travel Costs Keep Buyers Closer to Home
This article by Robbie Whelan was in today’s Wall Street Journal. It really reinforces what we have been witnessing here at Heritage Harbor. People are starting to select better values closer to home as they seek to invest wisely in their second home / vacation home / “pretirement” home. Starved Rock Country is close to Chicago, suburban Chicago, Bloomington, Peoria, Rockford, and Champaign/Urbana but it feels like a world away. Located in historic Starved Rock Country, Heritage Harbor offers a world class itinerary of vistas, venues, events and adventures. Heritage Harbor offers waterfront luxury at a greater value for discerning home shoppers.
Here are a few of the highlights from the article. The first sentence tells the whole story…
- Sales of vacation homes are picking up as low prices pull buyers off the fence. But with travel costs rising and consumers still uncertain about the economy, many buyers are snapping up properties closer to home.
- The shift in buying habits partly reflects the changing portrait of the typical vacation-home buyer. In the recent past, the vacation-home market was led by families looking for places with attractions for children as well as adults. But a growing number of buyers are older and seeking vacation homes that transition into retirement homes.
- “People want to stay within driving distance because they’re more able to maintain the homes, they have better networks in place and friends and family nearby to use and sustain the homes,” said Jon Gray, vice president of HomeAway.com, a website that lists vacation rentals. A survey in March by site operator HomeAway Inc. found that the most popular markets among vacationers this year are those that can be reached in a drive of four hours or less from home. That makes those markets good investment opportunities for the 91% of vacation-home buyers who plan to rent their properties when they aren’t using them.
- The rising cost of gas and airfares is a huge factor for many buyers. The average cost of a gallon of gasoline was $3.83 this week. While down from the two-year peak of $3.97 reached in May 2011, gas prices have been rising steadily since mid-December, when they fell to a 10-month low of $3.23 a gallon. Airfares, meanwhile, jumped 14% between March 2010 and March 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
To read to entire article you can visit the Wall Street Journal online at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303990604577370234158880826.html
Why Not “Live” on Vacation!
Start the New Year off with a Home at Heritage Harbor!
Spring will be here before you know it. Now is the time to plan how you will spend your warm days of summer and all your weekends with family and friends. You will need 4-6 months of planning if you wish to build a custom home or you could choose from one of our few remaining designer created inventory homes. You will be moved in and decorated before the trees are in bloom. Interest rates are still low, which also makes ‘now’ the right time to buy. Save thousands on our two remaining single family homes:
The Scout on Lot 43 Cottage Green-This spec home offers a first-floor master bedroom, a second bedroom & loft, 2.5 baths, a full unfinished basement, a crow’s nest, detached two-car garage and a front porch that expands the whole width of the home… less than 150 steps to the scenic Harbor Walk, Boat Slips and Conservation Cove. Reduced priced under $399,000, call for details.
Our signature Lincoln Model Home-After much consideration, we have decided to move our Sales Office down by the marina. With a new permanent marina entrance coming in the Spring, a newly enclosed restaurant and an extensive calendar of events, the warm weather months will be mean more activity on the east end for our Sales Team.
This decision has allowed us to officially place our Model Home on the market. It’s a must see! The Lincoln model features an open floor plan with a fireplace, an abundance of porches & decks, a finished walk out basement with patio/fire pit, custom paint & decor, first floor master, detached carriage home & two car garage… All located on a beautiful Harbor Lot. Optional furnishings and decor are also available.
At the reduced price under $550,000, it is an amazing deal.
If you are looking for something smaller, less expensive and want to be in by the time summer rolls around, you should take a look at our Heritage Series. Two floor plans with two bedrooms, two baths, and one-car garage, located near the Harbor for less than $180,000.
Please call Janet or Tammy regarding any of the above listings or any of Heritage Harbor floor plans at
(815) 433-5000.
Thanks For An Amazing Year !!!!!
This past year has blessed the Heritage Harbor Ottawa family with many memorable moments and many new friends. We have had a wonderful year in 2010.
From the Boat Show… to the “Toast of the Town”… to the unveiling of the new Pool… “Sunset Showcase”… Island Party… River Games… Venetian Night… ArtiniFest… Chilifest… and more…
It has been a year filled with great memories.
We look forward to 2011 with great anticipation. The newly improved restaurant will be making its debut .
We have several new homeowners preparing to join our community and many of our boaters already signed up and ready to “launch” as soon as boating season returns.
Starved Rock Country is beautiful in the winter. We encourage you to enjoy the local events or make a special winter getaway. Our welcome center will be open (except for Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day) and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Happy Holidays from your friends at Heritage Harbor Ottawa!
Welcome Home For The Holidays!
Harry and Ann Hultgren’s Home at Heritage Harbor
Decorated by Cheryl Mettille of TPM Stems
The Hultgren house is just one of a number of cottage-styled homes offered by Heritage Harbor. The Hultgren’s home was all decked out for the holidays and a proud participant in the local charity event “Holiday House Walk” which benefited the Ottawa Regional Hospital Auxiliary.
The Hultgren’s home design is known as the “Scout”, named in honor of Ottawa’s William D. Boyce, founder of the Boy Scouts of America. It features a lighthouse design reminiscent of Cape Cod and the East Coast.
The inviting front porch spans the entire front of the home. The Scout features a spacious living room, ideal for holiday entertaining or for romantic evenings in front of the fireplace. The walkout deck just off the dining area is perfect for taking in the natural beauty that surrounds this beautiful home no matter what the season.
The second floor has a guest bedroom and a loft area with views of the river. The walkout basement is close to Conservation Cove and Illinois River. The spacious family room is perfect for entertaining family and friends. The guest room with a view of the river is essential when yours is the home everyone wants to visit during the holidays.
Imagine yourself surrounded by family and friends in a house where you can truly come home for the holidays.
Can’t you just picture yourself here next Christmas?
” Life is an Adventure… Live it Here!”
What’s It Like To Live Here?
The homeowner experience at Heritage Harbor is something that we are very proud of. Although we can tell you all about the area and the homes we thought it would be better to let some of current homeowners share their experience in their own words. So in case you were wondering what it is like to own a home at Heritage Harbor Ottawa and the adventure lifestyle that is available in Starved Rock Country. Here are just a few of the testimonials…
“A low maintenance getaway not far from home in beautiful surroundings” “Heritage Harbor is where we kick back and relax after a long week” – Harry & Ann H.
“We had been talking about buying a vacation home for a while but our main concern was travel time. Originally, we were looking in the Geneva or Delavan Wisconsin area. Because we wanted activities that we could take advantage of in both the summer and winter months. But, we were still looking for something a little closer. Heritage Harbor was our answer. It is only one hour from our home in Downers Grove! It has the Illinois River, Starved Rock, the I&M Canal, and the downtown area of Ottawa which can be enjoyed year round. Each weekend is a different experience” – Dan & Julie M.
“We like the long term vision of the project where you can enjoy the tranquility of looking at the river and the social aspect of the marina, the pool and the restaurant” – Jim & Laurie R.
“The benefit of a home in Heritage Harbor is not just investing in memories but also it is a good real estate investment on the water” – John & Christina V.
“My experience is in Ottawa has been very fulfilling. I have always wanted to have a property with river access. I grew up in Peoria on the river and now that I live in Chicago I can maintain contact with friends and family have a place to entertain. Additionally, I have found the people of the surrounding communities very friendly.” – Tom S.
“Everything is wonderful at Heritage Harbor, some times I have to pinch myself because I can’t believe I’m living here” – Laura S.
Come for a tour of Heritage Harbor and see “first hand” what they are talking about!
The Advantages of Buying a Second Home…
When you think of all the advantages of buying a vacation home sometimes tax benefits are not what first jumps out at you but the truth is that right now low prices and attractive tax benefits make now the perfect time to purchase a vacation home . Not only can you look forward to having a place to relax, you also can garner some attractive tax benefits for your home at Heritage Harbor. Read the following article on the several tax breaks available:
Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2007/01/secondhome.html#ixzz12jbr9LmS
Lifestyle, location and activities are important factors when making the decision to purchase a vacation home rather than spending money year after year to go on family vacations. Places like Lake Geneva,WI,Galena, Il, Bay Harbor, MI or New Buffalo, Michigan offer similar activities, but Heritage Harbor Ottawa can offer a peaceful unique community and an adventure lifestyle that doesn’t seem to be available much any more. Tap into this amazing location now for prime real estate selection, a great investment opportunity, and a lifetime of family memories.
Price is always another consideration when deciding on where to buy and Heritage Harbor is currently offering our most attractive pricing on the three Cottage Homes currently available. With our largest savings ever on these professionally designed homes, stop by and visit Janet or Tammy to find out more.
Now is the time to make your move and have a new home for the Holidays