New & Custom Home Builders in Chesterton, IN
The Appeal of Chesterton for New Home Construction
Chesterton is a charming town just south of the expansive Indiana Dunes. Home to both a national and state park, the Indiana Dunes are a popular destination for swimming, boating, fishing, and sunning along the soft sandy shores of Lake Michigan. Chesterton offers ample outdoor highlights of its own with miles of hiking and biking trails and spacious local parks like the 60-acre Dogwood Park, 12-acre Coffee Creek Park, and 10-acre Chesterton Park.
Chesterton is a historic community dating back to the 1800s when agriculture was essential to the growing town. Today, this has transformed into a thriving agritourism industry that gives residents easy access to gourmet highlights like local wineries and breweries, farm-to-table restaurants, u-pick orchards, and abundant farmers’ markets.
Chesterton is a great place to live with low crime rates and highly-rated schools. The area has a median home value of $265,800 and 71% of Chesterton residents choose to own rather than rent. If you’re looking for a friendly community for your next home, building in Chesterton is an outstanding choice.
Top Home Builders in Chesterton
Steiner Homes is among the best home builders in the Chesterton area. If you’re looking for ample options and impressive customizability in your new home, this is the best homebuilder for your needs. You’ll find the team attentive and helpful with expert suggestions on the best way to approach the home-building process at every stage.
The owner and president of Steiner Homes got started in the home-building industry more than 43 years ago. A premier custom home builder in Northwest Indiana, Steiner Homes takes on the role of chauffeur, artfully guiding you through the home-building process. You’ll work with a dedicated Housing specialist whom you can discuss your needs and preferences with.
While you can begin with one of the company’s many floor plans, you’ll also have the opportunity to customize it with features like a finished basement, hardwood flooring, or a third-car garage. Customers rave about the bespoke experience, like Matthew and Melissa of Crown Point, Indiana, who said, “Our experience with Steiner Homes was nothing short of fantastic.”
If you’re new to the process of building a custom home, you’ll enjoy the way Steiner Homes takes you by the hand and makes the roadmap clear. At every touchpoint, you’ll receive complete transparency so you’re never in the dark about what’s happening currently or what will happen next. There’s no better partner to have when you’re building a new home in the Chesterton area.
What to Look for in a Home Builder
It’s important to find a home builder that you feel comfortable with. You can typically begin with a consultation that will give you a good feeling about whether the builder is attentive to your needs and responsive to the type of floor plan and customization you want. Take a look at the finished product from the home builders you’re considering as well. Tour model homes or open houses in the area and inspect details like carpeting, trim work, paint jobs, cabinetry installation, and plumbing fixtures.
Always get a contract and payment schedule in advance. Every reputable home builder will readily deliver these things. Read your contract carefully and make sure you don’t find any unexpected details. Ask for a copy of the builder’s business license as well as proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance. These are essential to any trustworthy business and no good builder will hesitate to provide them to you.
Trends and Innovations in Home Building
The housing market in Northwest Indiana has been thriving in recent years, with a trend toward luxury and single-family homes. Walk-in master closets are a trending feature, as are dedicated laundry rooms. Both types of spaces help families stay efficient and organized, eliminating clutter in the areas where you relax and recreate.
Eco-friendly features are popular, especially in the form of low-emissivity (low-e) windows. However, home buyers are less enthusiastic about more complex systems like geothermal heat pumps and solar water heating and cooling. Hardwood finishing and wood floors are popular, while cork flooring in the main living areas doesn’t impress home buyers, despite its eco-friendly nature.
Navigating Chesterton’s Building Regulations
If you’re planning on building a new home in Chesterton, Indiana, you should review the regulations and information provided by the Town of Chesterton Building Department. The Town’s website provides a wealth of resources including a list of the current building codes and links to building permit applications.
Explore Your Dream Home in Chesterton Today
Your selection of homebuilders is one of the most important choices you’ll make when designing a custom home. Far more important than your carpet shade or faucet style is the experience and dedication of your design and build team. Take the time to find a well-reviewed, reputable builder that you can trust to build a safe and stunning home for your family. Tour the newly constructed homes in Chesterton to experience the quality and craftsmanship of dedicated local builders here firsthand.
Chesterton, Indiana, is a popular destination for new home building thanks to its quaint small-town appeal and convenient northwest Indiana location. With easy access to everything from the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan to the urban excitement of Chicago less than an hour away, this is one area that truly seems to have it all. If you’re interested in building a custom home in Chesterton, having the right home builder will make all the difference.
Chesterton High School serves the tri-town area and is home to 5 public schools: Liberty Elementary School, Bailey Elementary School, Yost Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, and Brummitt Elementary School. Chesterton also has two private schools: St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School and Fairhaven Baptist Academy.
Why Move to Chesterton, IN?
If you're considering moving to Chesterton, Indiana, you should know a few things. Chesterton is one of the best towns to live in Indiana for various reasons. Chesterton benefits everyone, from real estate and schools to jobs and the local community. Families...
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Chesterton New Home Builder
Chesterton is a small city in Indiana nestled right along the southernmost shore of Lake Michigan. With a population of about 13,000 people, the Chesterton community has a suburban feel with small-town sensibilities. Bustling with unique small businesses, artisan markets, and outdoor adventures, Chesterton has a little something for everyone. Discover why Chesterton is one of the best up-and-coming cities for laying your roots by learning about everything this Midwestern gem has to offer.
History of Chesterton
Image via Flickr by Steve A Johnson
The land that would eventually become Chesterton was initially home to the Potowatomi and Miami peoples of the Great Lakes Woodland Culture, who enjoyed the lush flora and fauna for thousands of years before colonization. The booming fur trade attracted European settlers to the Chesterton area, and eventually brought French-Canadian fur trader Joseph Bailly to the area in 1822, marking the beginning of Chesterton’s development as an American city.
Chesterton’s Founding Families
Bailly and his wife Marie opened a trading post on the Little Calumet River that enabled other pioneers to settle in the area. The Bailly homestead would become a pillar of the Chesterton community and is currently listed as a historic site that visitors can enjoy to this day. In 1833, pioneers Jesse and Jane Morgan arrived in Chesterton and built a stop on the stagecoach route from Chicago to Detroit, attracting an influx of pioneers. Chesterton’s founder, William Thomas, arrived in the early 1830s and opened a general store and sawmill that helped to kickstart the local economy, which has continued to grow to this day.
How Did Chesterton Get Its Name?
The community that cropped up around William Thomas’s property initially went by the name of Coffee Creek, until it was renamed Calumet in 1850 as a reference to a Potowatomi cultural ritual. Another town on the same railroad line also had the name Calmut, causing the town to be re-named in 1870 to reduce confusion. So, the name changed to Chesterton in 1870, referencing its location in the Westchester Township.
Chesterton Today
Chesterton has transitioned from a bustling industrial town to a comfortable, family-friendly suburb with wholesome values and a strong community spirit. Chesterton’s modern claim to fame is the animated movie Over the Hedge, which used Chesterton as the idyllic suburban setting for goofy animal antics. Several professional athletes call Chesterton home, including Olympic gold medalist swimmer Blake Pieroni and multiple MLB players.
Is Chesterton a Good Place to Live?
Just an hour from Chicago and minutes away from the picturesque Indiana Dunes National and State Parks, Chesterton residents benefit from the town’s convenient location that provides easy access to both urban and natural areas. With a low cost of living, high home-ownership rates, excellent public transportation, and plenty of local attractions, Chesterton is a great place to buy a home and start a family. Whether you are looking for a quiet home base with an easy commute to Chicago or simply want the charm of a close-knit community, Chesterton is one of the best places to live in the Chicago metro area.
Is Chesterton Safe?
Safety is one of the first things you look at when deciding on a new place to build your life, making Chesterton’s low crime rates and high safety rankings especially appealing. As one of the safest cities in Indiana, Chesterton’s violent crime rate is close to zero and it ties with St. John’s for having the fewest property crimes in the entire state. You can relax knowing that residents in the close-knit community of Chesterton are always looking out for one another to cultivate a safe and secure environment for you and your family.
Things to Do in Chesterton
You’ll find plenty of ways to stay entertained in Chesterton, with a wealth of parks, walking trails, art events, historic sites, and opportunities for outdoor adventure. Eclectic markets crop up throughout the year, giving you the chance to find unique gifts and artisan wares by local entrepreneurs. Take a picturesque walk through the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve and snap pictures of the native wildlife, or enjoy a round of golf at one of Chesterton’s pristine courses. Explore Chesterton and discover museums, galleries, well-maintained campgrounds, and even a brewery and winery for a taste of local flavors.
Chesterton Restaurants
Chesterton is home to a vibrant restaurant scene with a variety of local and international cuisines that will satisfy your every craving. From casual counter-serve burger joints to upscale Italian dining in a historic house, Chesterton has an impressive range of food options for a town of its size. Whether you’re looking for a cozy cafe where you can read your favorite book or want a quick sweet treat at a classic ice cream parlor, you’re sure to find the perfect spot strolling around Chesterton’s downtown area.
Great Schools in Chesterton, Indiana
When you live in Chesterton, you don’t have to worry about finding quality education for your kids. You can choose between Chesterton’s highly-rated public schools or opt for one of the private schools in the area. Chesterton public schools boast a high graduation rate, test scores that are much higher than the state average, and a wide variety of extracurricular activities to keep students active and involved in their community.
Chesterton is also a perfect place to pursue higher education, conveniently located within a few miles of several community colleges, trade schools, and universities. Students can take classes at nearby Ivy Tech Community College, or enroll in one of Purdue University’s two esteemed campuses in the area. Valparaiso University is also only a short drive from Chesterton, and everyone who lives in the area benefits from the vigor of a nearby college town.
It’s easy to see why people are coming to Chesterton for a taste of the ideal American dream. Chesterton makes a perfect respite for people who commute to the city for work, which is why we at Steiner Homes are ready to help you find or build your dream home in one of four Chesterton subdivisions. At Steiner Homes, we’ll work with you to select a gorgeous location and floor plan that suits your lifestyle. Contact us today and learn about our affordable pricing, or schedule a tour in one of our gorgeous model homes and start visualizing your future in Chesterton.