If you are looking to move to the McHenry County area, Gerstad Builders can assist you in designing and building the home of your dreams in Liberty Trails. This popular community has been a favorite among local buyers and now just one home site remains in the first phase. At Liberty Trails, we offer a wide variety of plans and customization options to fit your family’s needs, with prices ranging from $198,990 to $308,490. Here are a few of the perks of building in Liberty Trails: […]

McHenry County homes near the Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival If you're a McHenry new homes resident looking for a fun way to kick off the month of August, don't miss the McHenry Rotary's Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival this weekend! Held from Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 4 at Petersen Park on scenic McCullom Lake, this annual event is one many residents look forward to all year long. Attendees will find a wide array of quality barbecue cooked to perfection by well-known restaurants, as well as all of your favorite side dishes and sweets to satisfy your taste buds. Items on this year's menu include ribs, rib tips, BBQ pulled pork pizza, pulled pork, pulled brisket, chicken wings, BBQ Chinese riblets, hot dogs, burgers, corns, funnel cakes, ice cream and shaved ice. While you're chowing down, sit back and enjoy the sounds of some of the best Blues music the Chicago area has to offer while sipping on your favorite brew. […]

When it comes to picking the best location for our new communities, at Gerstad Builders, we not only consider access to major roadways, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and recreation areas, but also to state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. Residents of our McHenry real estate are less than a five mile drive away from healthcare at Centegra Hospital, which has been named by HealthGrades, Thomson Reuters and Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of the best systems nationwide for quality and service. […]

Are you a home buyer looking to purchase your first McHenry County new home, but in need of some assistance? The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) can help you go from potential home buyer to first-time homeowner through their SmartMove assistance program. This excellent program offers affordable interest rates and down payment assistance for buyers needing a little help in order to purchase their dream home. Highlights of the program include: First mortgage with an affordable interest rate. Second mortgage up to $6,000 for down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Variety of loan products including FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans. Reduced PMI pricing for conventional loans. […]

When looking for new McHenry real estate, you may think that it is cheaper to rent, but according to recent reports, that may not be the case. At the end of the summer, Trulia released a report that showed that homeownership was 45 percent cheaper than renting on average in the US. While that number increases or decreases depending on the location, numbers still show that in the current economy, it is typically more affordable to buy a home than rent. You may be asking how, since recent reports also show that the housing market is improving and as a result home prices are rising. Well another report by Trulia showed that new home asking prices were up 2.9 percent year-over-year in October, but rents rose even faster at 5.1 percent. Home prices are going to continue to rise as things stabilize, so why not go ahead and take this opportunity to purchase the home of your dreams instead of putting money into a property that you will never own? […]

Are you tired of touring the same floor plans? Are you looking for a unique new home? Well, we have just the thing for you. Construction on two new Poplar Grove homes will begin soon in our Dawson Creek subdivision. The first home will feature a new model that will be available to interested buyers in July at a price of $159,900. The floor plan will be a three bedroom, two bath ranch with a full basement and two-car garage, allowing this home to accommodate any buyer’s needs. Until it is sold it will be used as a model home with tours available Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. […]

Although you may have missed out on our sweetheart deals on new McHenry County real estate, we have something that will cheer you up. How would you like to live life in the lap of luxury? No, you don’t have to start playing the lottery or already have millions; all you have to do is buy a new Gerstad Builders home! From now until May 1, buyers will receive a free luxury package when purchasing a residence at one of our amazing communities. This great incentive package includes nine-foot ceilings on the first floor, Puron 13 SEER energy efficient air conditioning, larger windows throughout with transoms above the front entry and patio doors, oak railings and insulated eight-foot overhead garage doors. When you need to relax at the end of a long day, you’ll love the fact that our luxury package includes master baths with soaking tub and separate shower, large or separate vanities with double bowl sinks and ceramic tile tub and shower surrounds. Your family’s chef will appreciate the 42-inch upper kitchen cabinets with crown molding, full GE appliance package with refrigerator, range, hood, dishwasher and garbage disposal included in our luxury package. […]

Decisions to purchase a home are tempered by consumers' cautious attitudes toward home buying in the current economic environment and a more conservative housing finance environment. However, the aspiration to own McHenry County real estate and maintain homeownership remains strong, despite the ongoing turmoil in the housing market. With all this in mind, the desire to move is increasing with each challenge homeowners might meet. Homeowners still have a positive attitude toward obtaining the American Dream. Buyers are also showing interest in smaller homes. The tightly built, energy efficient smaller home is one segment of real estate sales that is doing relatively well. Gerstad Builders has met this need for their current prospects by designing five new homes. […]