|
By Becky LaPlante
Whether you’re looking for a luxury condo or a rustic chalet, the state of Wisconsin real estate market has everything to offer – even when you’re talking about golf course living. And it doesn’t matter if you want a permanent or vacation home, a place for your family to relax or a place to relax without your family. With the following three developments – which span the length of western and central Wisconsin – you’ll be sure to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Fairway Creek Townhomes, Onalaska Lined up along No. 17 at La Crosse CC, Fairway Creek Townhomes in Onalaska are the only adult community homes located on a golf course in the greater La Crosse area. Developer Barry Blomquist said it was a niche that needed to be filled. “It’s kind of a unique project for La Crosse because La Crosse is not an extremely high income place,” he said. The duplex condominium community was developed four years ago on a 10-acre site. Twenty-two of the 34 units are on the golf course, and the other 12 have golf course views. The exposed ranch condos have 3,200 square feet of finished living space, with the option to finish more. The main level consists of a master bedroom suite, den, kitchen, dining room, great room, laundry room and half bath so residents in this age 55-plus community can live on one floor and don’t have to go downstairs. However, an additional two bedrooms, bathroom and family room are finished in the walkout basement. The community is for those 55 and older, but Blomquist said there are exceptions. No permanent resident children under age 18 are permitted, and zoning allows Fairway Creek to sell up to 15 percent of its condos to people under 55 who don’t have children. Fairway Creek isn’t tied to La Crosse CC in any way, so residents don’t receive discounts or privileges at the golf course. However, Blomquist said, nearly 80 percent of Fairway Creek’s residents belong to the club anyway. A red brick exterior and light green cement-based siding make the homes attractive from the outside. Once indoors, it is easy to see the developer’s meticulous craftsmanship, attention to detail and high standards. Ten units are still available, and only one – the model – is completely done. That means buyers have the option to pick finishes and make upgrades. Units not on the golf course start at $379,000, and those on the course range in price from $400,000 to $550,000. For more information about Fairway Creek Townhomes, visit www.fairwaycreek.com or call (608) 781-9411.
Spring Brook Golf Resort, Lake Delton Spring Brook Golf Resort in Lake Delton just may be the perfect spot for your family’s vacation home. Developed in 1987, the Spring Brook community sits on a 360-acre parcel of land with 486 home sites, all with city utilities. The final phase of development is selling out, and there are currently 80 sites left. “We’ve been here a long time, and we’re a well established development in the Wisconsin Dells area,” owner and developer Dar Mor said. “This is a development where we build relationships with our guests and our owners. There’s a real strong community feel to Spring Brook.” Homes at Spring Brook, which is typically a vacation and retirement community, range from simple cottages to elaborate chalets. Some are located on Spring Brook Lake, and others line the golf course. There are over 1,000 floor plans to choose from, and every one can be customized. A two-story chalet on Spring Brook GC that was completed in June has over 2,000 square feet of living space. Mor said the cedar siding home with a finished basement, wet bar, pool table, Whirlpool, fireplace, deck and fire pit costs $359,000. “Really we can custom build for whatever a person’s needs are,” Mor said. Home ownership at Spring Brook comes with optional features like lawn and maintenance services, plowing and snow removal and even housekeeping. There is also an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse complex with indoor and outdoor pools and a hot tub, fitness center, game room and restaurant and bar, all located just minutes from Wisconsin Dells. Golf memberships are available to residents of Spring Brook, and though the nine-hole golf course is open to the public, owners receive perks and preferential treatment. Mor said a resident family golf and swimming pool membership costs around $1,000 a year. Since a majority – but not all – of the homes at Spring Brook are vacation properties, owners are allowed to rent out their homes. Around 50 homeowners take advantage of the service, which Spring Brook manages. “When you get a vacation home, you’re not able to use it as much as you would like,” Mor said. “For some people it works out well to have some of that additional revenue come in from the overnight rental business.” For more information on Spring Brook, visit www.springbrookgolfresort.com or call (800) 228-4349.
White Eagle Community, Hudson The concept behind White Eagle Community at White Eagle GC in Hudson is different from any other. In fact, developer and golf course owner Bill Block credits his idea to “temporary insanity.” At White Eagle, each wooded homesite is larger than three acres. From the golf course, it’s hard to see the homes, but Block said the homes still have a feeling of being located on a golf course. “The golf course plays through ravines and the homes sit above the golf course in wooded areas,” Block said. Block acquired the 360-acre property from a farmer in 1998, and White Eagle GC opened in 2000. Houses starting popping up about a year later, but to this day there are only eight homes on 42 lots. Block said 20 of the lots have been purchased, but he didn’t place restrictive covenants on when they needed to be built upon.
White Eagle owners are free to choose their own architect and builder, and the asking price of most lots is around $200,000. Once fully improved, most of the homes in White Eagle are worth around $1 million. The attraction to White Eagle and Hudson, Block said, is that it’s only 25 minutes from downtown St. Paul, Minn. – that and the views.
“In the autumn out here it’s just unbelievable,” Block said. “Part of the golf course is built through the hardwood forest. ... It’s just a totally different deal. It’s a spectacular look. There’s a lot of elevation change.”
When a lot is sold, Block includes about $10,000 worth of golf course privileges along with it. That credit can be used for things like family or single memberships. Eleven of the lots are zoned for twin homes, but Block doesn’t anticipate putting them in. He’s working with local officials to get the go-ahead to put up detached townhomes, which are basically single-family homes that are part of a condo association. For more information on White Eagle Community, visit www.whiteeaglegolf.com or call (651) 225-4653.
|
