Family always comes first for Sandy and Mike Francis. Originally from Michigan, the couple moved to North Carolina after they retired, where they’ve been living for more than eight years. But when their daughter decided to start a family, Sandy and Mike moved to New Jersey to be closer and to help with their new grandchildren. They moved in with their daughter and her family in Freehold, but eventually realized it was time to look for their own home in the area. After moving to a temporary apartment in Howell, they began their search.
One day, while Mike was driving home from church, he saw a sign for K. Hovnanians Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods, promoting new models in a new 55+ community. “We had been looking for over a year,” Mike explained, ”and we had seen a lot of homes, used ones, 55+ homes. But many of the properties were outdated and needed renovation. So when I saw that sign, I figured instead of looking at any more used homes, we should just get a new one. I drove home, picked up my wife and said, ’Let’s go for a ride!’”
What they found when they visited K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods was a brand-new community in development, just off of Route 9 in Howell, offering attractive single-family homes for 55+ buyers, along with a low-maintenance lifestyle and a wealth of resort-like amenities. They were immediately impressed.
”We met Diane Breen, our sales associate, and we really connected with her right away,” Sandy said. ”She immediately put us at ease. She took us through the models and we ended up coming back later that same day to look again! We had already planned to look at some other homes that day with a Realtor, but nothing we saw compared with this, so we came back. We spent a few more days thinking about it before we decided to buy here. It was the ideal location, right where we wanted to be — close to the beach and close to our family. We liked the smaller size of the development and the community atmosphere. Being new to New Jersey, from out of state, we dont know a lot of people in the area. We want to meet some people around our age, so we like the idea that there will be a clubhouse and activities. Plus, we liked the quality of the builder.”
”We really did like the reputation of K. Hovnanian,” Mike added. ”We did some digging around and I’m telling you, it seemed like everything we saw online and everyone we talked to knew this company and was really impressed with them. That gave us real peace of mind. We also got our mortgage through K. Hovnanian American Mortgage, LLC, and we really liked working with them. The people there were wonderful and our mortgage went really smoothly, smoother than others we’ve had in the past.”
Buyers at K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods can choose from a selection of 12 different floorplans, including four loft-style and eight ranch-style single-family homes. Homes will feature up to 3,664 square feet of living space, with two or three bedrooms, priced from the low-$400s (subject to change). The selection of home designs includes some brand-new floorplans previously unavailable at any of K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons communities in New Jersey. All homes within the community are subject to an age restriction whereby the homes are restricted to use and occupancy by at least one person of age 55 years or over, and with no permanent resident being under the age of 19.
Sandy and Mike Francis toured several of the community’s models, but ultimately chose the Grenada model, a single-story home with 1,747 square feet of living space, including two bedrooms and two baths. Among other features, the Grenada includes a spacious pantry, optional attic storage in the garage, a formal home office, and beautiful fireplace options. Sandy and Mike say progress is moving along nicely on their new home and they anticipate moving in by summer.
“As soon as we walked into the model, it made sense for us,” Mike shared. The price was fair, the size was right, and we could get it just the way we wanted.” Sandy agreed, adding, ”It’s just the two of us, so we don’t need a lot of space. The square footage in the Grenada was right for us, we liked that it was all on one floor, and that there was a lot of useful space. We also liked being able to visit the Design Center to choose our options and features, to personalize our home.”
K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods provides a location that is among the most convenient in Monmouth County. The community offers easy access to Routes 9, 33 and I-195, as well as the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Homeowners will enjoy the convenience of a nearby NJ Transit Park and Ride Howell bus terminal, with direct service into New York City. The surrounding area offers a wealth of shopping, dining and entertainment options. New Jersey’s second largest mall, Freehold Raceway Mall, is nearby, with more than 225 retailers. Homeowners will appreciate being close to premier outlet centers at the Jersey Shore and Jackson Premium Outlets. Route 9 is also home to many major retail chains, just a short drive away. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate being so close to the Manasquan Reservoir County Park and several other local parks. The Jersey Shore is less than a half hour away and there are plenty of great golf courses in the area, as well.
But residents wont have to travel at all to enjoy a variety of recreational and social opportunities. Living at K. Hovnanians Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods, homeowners will have access a 6,900-square-foot clubhouse right in their neighborhood, with an outdoor pool, a kiddie pool for the grandchildren, a putting green, tennis courts, pickle ball, bocce ball courts and more. Residents will also be able to participate in a number of clubs, social activities and events.
“We’re golfers and we lived in a golf club community in North Carolina, with a pool and fitness center, so we love that community atmosphere,” Mike commented. ”And as Sandy said, we really wanted that connection with others in the neighborhood. We’ve been to some events the community has had for those of us who have purchased and we already love our neighbors! We’re talking about dinner dates and other social outings with couples in the community.”
If it sounds like Sandy and Mike Francis are cheerleaders for their new home and the new lifestyle waiting for them when they move to K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods, that’s because they are. Sandy summed it up nicely. ”Were very excited! We feel like were in a very lucky spot and in just the right location. We like that we’re getting new construction. We really like the neighbors we’ve met so far, the home designs, and the community overall. We’re very happy and confident that this is the right place for us!”
Visit K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods and see why more and more 55+ buyers are choosing to be part of this emerging community. The three furnished and decorated model homes are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The community is located just off 47 Harvest Ridge Road in Howell Township (GPS: please use 1231 West Farm Road, Howell Township). For directions or more information, call 888-422-9488. Learn more about the new community online at khov.com/MonmouthWoods.