Sam Magruder and Joanne Burton, an older adult couple, moved to New Durham Estates just a few months ago, and they haven’t looked back. We sat down with this couple, who met just one year ago and decided to build a new life together, to talk about what brought them here, what surprised them, and why they believe manufactured home communities are the future of affordable living.
Tell us a little about yourselves and how you ended up at New Durham Estates.
Sam: We both came from Valparaiso. We were trying to figure out a way to live together, and if you’ve looked at real estate prices in Valpo, Michigan City, or La Porte lately, they’re incredibly high. We needed something more affordable.
We actually came out here to visit some friends of Joanne’s. I drove into the community, and I was very impressed with the neatness and the village’s look. It’s like a small town with nice homes that would cost four times as much in Valpo. Liz in the office took us around and showed us some places priced at levels that were just incredibly attractive. Then we found a home in the paper and, well — darn if we didn’t buy it.
Joanne: We just love it here. We really do.
You’re both new to manufactured home living. What’s it actually like?
Sam: No different than living in Valpo, quite frankly. The neighborhood here would be quite attractive anywhere. The properties are very, very nice. There are enough homes in here that it’s like living in a pristine small town that you can afford.
I think this concept has got to grow. With real estate prices the way they are, you can’t buy a quality home at a reasonable price any other way that I know of.
Joanne: We even looked at homes in Westville proper, and they were expensive. Nothing compared to what we bought here. It’s a lovely, lovely home.
What’s surprised you most about living here?
Joanne: The lot we have is exquisite. It’s the most beautiful area I’ve ever lived in, even compared to homes I’ve owned before. We have a gorgeous, wooded backyard with a big blue spruce tree and a pond. It’s so serene. I sit in the dining room looking out the windows every single day, and I just love it.
I’m planning bird feeders, birdhouses, and a little fire pit with chairs. It’s going to be beautiful.
Sam: For me, the pleasant surprise was watching how she responded to it. She’s the reason we bought this place. When she looked at it and loved it, that made the decision.
I’ll tell you another moment, our garage door wasn’t working. I called the office, they sent someone out, and in about 30 minutes, it was fixed. I now have a two-car garage for the first time in years. My car loves it, and I love getting out of the snow. That was a moment for me where I thought, this is home.
Was there a specific moment when you really felt at home?
Joanne: After a couple of weeks, once we started unpacking and I got my kitchen together, that’s when I felt it. Our home has plenty of windows. We get beautiful sunshine from the east, the west, and the south. You wake up in the morning, and it’s just beautiful.
Sam: For me, it was about the two-month mark. We really do feel settled.
Let’s talk about the financial side. You mentioned affordability was a big factor.
Sam: In Valpo, you can’t touch anything for under $250,000, and you’re at the bottom of the line at that level. The sign out here advertises a brand-new home for $103,000. Brand new.
The simple fact is you can prefabricate a home in a factory with all the right fixtures for about 40% of what it costs to build on a slab. And the quality today is the same standard, or better, in terms of insulation and energy efficiency. People hear “manufactured home,” and they think of old trailers, thin walls, drafty rooms. That’s not what this is. Our walls are thick, it’s warm, and there are no leaks. It’s a quality home at a reasonable price, full stop.
For me, I’m security-motivated. Being able to live this quality of life, it can’t be touched any other way.
What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about moving to a community like this?
Joanne: The neighbors are wonderful. Very friendly. People walk their dogs, stop, and chat. We are both very sociable, and we can hardly wait to get to know people better and have them over for a backyard barbecue this summer. And I have friends who have lived here for 25 years, and they love it. That really helped us make our decision.
Sam: New Durham Estates has done an excellent job keeping this place pristine. A lot of manufactured home communities don’t look this nice. But the quality ratio here is very high. Every home around us is well cared for.
The location is outstanding, too. You’re 20 minutes or less from Michigan City, Valpo, and La Porte. Across the street, there’s a full-service hardware store with staff who actually know hardware, which you won’t find at a big-box store. There’s a park nearby with hiking trails. And right here in the community, there’s a gym. I’m three minutes away, and it’s free. It’s perfect.
There doesn’t seem to be many vacancies either. Things are going fast.
Any final thoughts?
Sam: There is no other way we could have done what we’ve done. At this stage of life, to be able to live the way we do for what we pay, it can’t be beaten. Joanne has guaranteed me she’ll live to 100, and if she does, that means I’ll be 95. So, what a good way to spend those years.
Joanne: It’s just a wonderful community. I would advise it to anybody. We really do love it here.
We would like to thank Sam and Joanne for their time and for sharing their experience at New Durham Estates. For more information about our community or to view our housing stock, contact our community office.
