Great Scot! From Scotland to Plainfield

Fraser and Kirsty Cringan and their sons, Mark and Ross will beamong the first to move in at Roycroft West at Grande Park, adevelopment in Plainfield. The Cringan family is from Scotland.

Scotland -- where golf was invented more than 900 years ago.

Scotland -- with plaid kilts, bagpipes, whiskey, paisley, castles,palaces, abbeys, forts, highlands, lowlands and those lakes whichthey call lochs.

Scotland -- when is somebody going to catch that weird giantmonster in Loch Ness?

"When we lived in Scotland, we happened to buy the last home to bebuilt in a neighborhood there. And now we are buying the first homeat Roycroft West," Fraser said. "The timing is good because theDecember delivery date for our new home coincides with the date ourpresent lease expires."

Fraser was born in central Scotland. (A story about centralScotland is presented in the movie "Braveheart," starring MelGibson.)

Kirsty is a native of the countryside between Glasgow andEdinburgh. (In Edinburgh, there is an ancient castle, set high on arocky cliff. At one o'clock every afternoon, residents hear the boomof a mighty cannon.)

The odyssey that has brought the Cringan family to Plainfield is acombination of corporate transfer and personal friendship. Kirstyworks for a multi-national company that offers its work-force manyopportunities for travel and advancement.

"We have traveled to the United States only once before, on avacation to Florida," Fraser said. "When Kirsty was offered theopportunity here, we could have chosen either Connecticut orIllinois. We chose Illinois. We leased an apartment, and our next-door neighbors discovered Roycroft at Grande Park and told us aboutthe community."

The Cringans selected the Asbury floor plan. Amenities include atwo-story foyer, a formal dining room, a breakfast nook and a two-story family room. Upstairs, the Asbury has four bedrooms with walk-in closets plus a tech center.

"We were pleased with the stainless-steel appliances and the woodfloors in the foyer," Fraser said. "Other quality features wereincluded in the price, so we didn't add many extras." (People fromScotland tend to pronounce the letter "R" with an interesting,distinct trill. Imagine what American English sounds like to them.)

As newcomers to the United States and the Chicago area, theCringans had many questions about the Plainfield area and the homepurchasing procedures in the United States. "The Kensington Homesstaff is very good. They really knew their products," Fraser said.

"They told us all about the schools and the other area services,"he said. "If they didn't have an immediate answer, they followed upand e-mailed us. They were always very courteous and never pressuredus in any way."

Fraser plans to start his own computer services business once thefamily settles into the new home, and he is currently taking care oftheir two sons, (four years old and eight- months-old).

"We will be very happy to move into our home at Roycroft West, andwe expect to really enjoy the recreation and the beauty of theneighborhood," he said.

The 77 semi-custom homes at Roycroft East are almost sold out.There are 63 lots in the newly opened Roycroft West. Three models areopen. Base prices range from $291,990 to $393,990. Seven floor plansare sized from 2,310 to 4,048 square feet.

Roycroft at Grande Park, Plainfield. Kensington Homes, (815) 436-5899.

SOUTH ELGIN. Sales have begun at Prairie Pointe in South Elgin, adevelopment in South Elgin. Wyndham Deerpoint Homes plans 29 single-family homes in the first building phase.

"A new high school will open in the fall of 2005," said DianeRobinson, director of marketing for Wyndham Deerpoint Homes. "Afuture elementary school is planned that will literally be a fewquick steps away."

Preconstruction base prices range from the $320,000s to the$490,000s. Fifteen floor plans are sized from 1,931 to 3,996 squarefeet. Houses have 3 or 4 bedrooms, 21/2 to four baths and attached 2-or 3-car garages.

Construction is slated to begin in November. First deliveries arescheduled for spring 2005.

The builder also plans 84 town houses.

Prairie Pointe, on Raymond Street north of Kenyon Road, SouthElgin. Preconstruction sales are being conducted at Bartlett Pointe,on West Bartlett Road, one-quarter mile east of Illinois 25,Bartlett. Wyndham Deerpoint Homes, (630) 497-6000.

PLAINFIELD. Sales will commence on Saturday at the Streams ofPlainfield. About 145 single-family homes are planned. Opening dayfestivities will include a radio remote by WSSR-FM (96.7). Prizeswill include a DVD player and gift certificates to restaurants andHome Depot. Food and refreshments will be available too.

Prices start in the mid-$200,000s. Nine floor plans are sized from1,830 to 3,600 square feet. Houses have 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 or 21/2baths and attached 2-car garages.

"These new home designs reflect the trend toward home buyersrequesting large open rooms," said Gary White, Illinois divisionpresident of KB Homes, the builder. "Many of the homes center arounda large, open kitchen, breakfast nook and family room. In addition,many homes also include a combined living and dining room, separatefrom the family room."

Master bedroom suites with walk-in closets are standard. Some homesites will back up to ponds. A 4-acre park is planned too.

Streams of Plainfield, Illinois 59 and Dayfield Drive, just southof Renwick Road, Plainfield. KB Homes, (815) 609-6622.