MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Six new single-family homes are coming to the Plum Creek Subdivision as Liberty Communities enters the Hutchinson housing market for the first time.
The Wichita-based homebuilder has pulled permits for the residences on Hutchinson's north side. Tony Huffman with Liberty Communities said the company decided to expand into Reno County after identifying demand for additional housing.
"We see there's a demand for housing in Hutchinson," Huffman said. "It seems like Reno County and Hutchinson, in general, are trying to reinvest back into the community, and obviously that fits our business model where we're chasing demand."
The initial five houses are being built on speculation, meaning Liberty does not have buyers committed to them before construction begins.
"We are investing in Hutchinson first," Huffman said. "None of these houses that we're building right now have a commitment to any individual buyer at this time."
The locations of the residences are:
- 1103 East 40th Avenue (Independence floor plan)
- 4002 Ridgewood Drive (Georgetown floor plan)
- 4004 Ridgewood Drive (Rushmore floor plan)
- 4100 Ridgewood Drive (Hamilton floor plan)
- 4102 Ridgewood Drive (Cleveland XL floor plan)
- 4104 Ridgewood Drive (Franklin floor plan)
You can view the floor plans on their website.
Liberty Communities specializes primarily in single-family, single-level homes. Huffman said the company is targeting a price point intended to make new construction attractive to prospective buyers as well as current homeowners interested in moving into a newly built property.
The company is purchasing its Plum Creek lots from developer Jim Strawn. While the first phase consists of five homes, Huffman said additional construction could follow if there is enough demand.
Liberty currently offers about 15 floor plans, providing another avenue for buyers who want something different from one of the initial spec homes. Huffman said the company would consider purchasing another available lot and constructing a particular floor plan when the arrangement is feasible.
"If there's somebody that wants a specific house on a specific lot, if we have the opportunity to where we can buy that lot and build on it and offer the similar price point, we'd obviously entertain that," Huffman said.
Kayla Doyle and Chelsea James, local real estate agents with Berkshire, will handle the listings for the Plum Creek homes.
Huffman said Liberty also tries to make its homes largely turnkey when they reach the buyer. Appliances, sod, irrigation, a storm shelter, blinds and a warranty are generally included in the advertised price. Buyers could face additional costs if they request upgrades or other features beyond the standard package.
The Hutchinson project comes during a period of rapid expansion for Liberty Communities. Huffman said the company traces its beginnings back roughly four to five years and closed on about 160 homes last year. Its goal is 250 closings this year, followed by a target of 400 next year.
Liberty is now involved in approximately 15 subdivisions. With several more developments scheduled to come online, Huffman said the company expects to be active in more than 20 subdivisions by the end of the year.
Once a permit is issued, Liberty typically aims to complete a home in about 120 days. Huffman said another roughly 30 days is generally needed beforehand for soil samples, plot plans and the permitting process. Weather, subcontractor schedules and delays in obtaining building materials can push those timelines back.
The five Plum Creek homes add to recent residential development activity in Hutchinson as the community looks to expand its housing inventory. For Liberty Communities, the project will also provide its first test of demand for the company's homes in Reno County.