Client Testimonial: Avanterra

Just sixty miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana sits Avanterra, a modern oasis on 100 acres of lush woods and natural prairie. We spoke with Rob Harte, Principal at NWI Development Group, to explore the allure of Avanterra and how @properties Development Group (@DG) helped plant the seed for success.

The name Avanterra stems from the words ‘avant,’ meaning innovative in thought and ideas, and ‘terra,’ which refers to land. “60 of the project’s 103 acres are in permanent conservation, with 23 oversized lots surrounded by open, natural space,” says Harte. “It’s a really thoughtful and progressive land plan, and the name creates an opportunity to talk about the ideas behind the property with prospective buyers.

In addition to natural amenities such as walking and hiking trails, Avanterra is teeming with unique features, including a restored log cabin that serves as a part-time nature education center and wellness studio. “The building code also allows for the inclusion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on individual site plans,” explains Harte. “@DG helped us navigate how to encourage buyers to take advantage of ADUs for guest suites, studios, home offices or any number of uses that require an additional layer of privacy.”

Another everyday luxury at Avanterra that might be commonplace to city dwellers is high-speed internet. According to Harte, “As you move away from urban comforts into rural areas, connectivity becomes increasingly important, especially as more people opt to work from home. We worked with the county to route a fiber optic line directly to Avanterra — in fact, we’re the first fiber to the home (FTTH) residential project in Northwest Indiana.”

Avanterra attracts primary and second home buyers experiencing lifestyle changes, such as embracing remote work or simply seeking space to grow. “Many of our residents are city dwellers and young families looking for opportunities for their children to experience the joys of nature,” says Harte, “as well as empty nesters who have passed their suburban homes onto the next family, but still want to be close to the city.

And while Avanterra is only an 80-minute drive from Chicago, they faced challenges with getting people to make the trip. In addition to securing a billboard on I-94, they offered a drive and dine promotion with a nearby restaurant to create a more robust experience. “We collaborate with @DG and the local listing brokers to bring marketing ideas like these to life,” says Harte.

Avanterra is the fourth property that NWI Development Group has partnered on with @DG. “On all of these projects, having access to @DG’s professionalism and expertise was crucial,” says Harte. “They worked closely with us to develop the name, branding, marketing strategy and collateral for each of the projects, and the work speaks for itself. Avanterra is currently in active sales, while the others have successfully sold out.”