Our Featured Home Of The Week

The model at 809 Catalina Cove is listed at $136,900 ; others are available from $119,000.

News flash: you don t have to be a lottery winner to afford a beautiful home at the lake. So often, we see homes near the water and think, who owns those? How do they afford them?

Evans Landing at Lake Erie in Luna Pier is a development of rowhouses in Luna Pier, Michigan, just 10 minutes away from downtown Toledo. They are across the street from Lake Erie, and just a block or two away from the public pier and beach, a marina, restaurants and more.

And they are surprisingly affordable.

The development stands out due to its sunny yellow exterior and coastal architecture. These beautiful rowhouses each have a two-car garage on the first floor. A stone and wood stairway with low-maintenance vinyl handrails takes you to the front porch.

On the interior units, the two units share the front porch but that is as much as they share. Builder Alan Nowakowski explains that each wall is insulated, and beyond the insulation, there is a gap so that noise cannot travel. Likewise, the floor begins and ends in each unit vibrations don t travel, either.

The front door has a wide transom and sidelights, bringing lots of light into the room. The first floor of the model has an oak floor, but carpet and laminate are available. High 9 4 ceilings with fans make the room appear larger.

The great room leads to the kitchen, where a peninsula snack bar is lit by pendant lights in brushed nickel. Stainless steel appliances by Kenmore include a refrigerator, range, a built-in microwave and dishwasher. There are four different choices of cabinetry; the model features 42-inch oak cabinets. In this model, the counters are topped by beautiful natural granite.

Off the kitchen on the first floor living space is a powder room, coat closet or pantry, the back door that leads to a semi-private deck, and carpeted steps to the garage. The garage is tempered, which means it is partially heated. All the home s mechanicals furnace, hot water heater, electrical box are located in the garage so as to not take up room in the home.

The second floor of the home is reached via a staircase near the front door. A light Berber carpet covers the stairs, and white wood molding sets it off beautifully.

At the top of the stairs, a closet holds a full-size stackable washer and dryer. To the left, a bedroom with a double closet and ceiling fan overlooks the back.

A hall bath is shared by both bedrooms. This full bath has a tile floor and an oak vanity with a cultured marble top.

The master bedroom also has a double closet and ceiling fan. In addition, a balcony makes a perfect spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or an evening nightcap.

The Evans Landing development has a picturesque pond and a large pier where you and your friends can gather. The pond is not only pretty, it is practical as well it is stocked with fish. In addition, the pond is fed by rainwater from the whole development, which is re-used for the lawn sprinkler systems.

An affordable $75 monthly maintenance fee covers lawn care, the pond, snow removal and outdoor cleaning.

Phases I and II of Evans Landing are complete and sold out. Phase III is under construction. The developers strongly encourage the use of American Made materials, and where possible, Owens Corning materials are used. In fact, Rowhouse Environment LLC is one of Owens Corning s largest local residential building partners, and a member of the Owens Corning Builders Alliance program for their extensive use of the firm s cultured stone, windows, roofing, insulation, siding and pink wrap. Other suppliers include Mohawk, Kohler, American Standard and Therma-Tru.

New in Phase III of the project is the availability of elevators. Who would have ever thought you could purchase and move into a home with an elevator in it for under $158,000?

The model at 809 Catalina Cove is listed at $136,900 ; others are available from $119,000. Rowhouse Environment LLC also offers a lease-purchase program. The model is open seven days a week, 1-4 p.m. Today, Saturday and Sunday, the model will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The builder is offering a special incentive to Homes readers: bring in this issue of Homes, and if you purchase $5,000 in upgrades, you will receive $5,000 in upgrades free. For a private appointment, please call Wayne Nowakowski at 419-262-2435.