In one of the toughest economies in recent history, some people are getting much more for their housing dollar, at far less cost. Four Seasons residents in Belvidere enjoy luxurious, energy-efficient homes at the most affordable prices in northern Illinois.

Just as importantly, homeowners there discover a neighborhood so friendly and connected that one resident compared it to Mayberry.

Either of these things are rare, but to find them both in one place makes this the retirement community you’ve always dreamed of.

It’s the neighborhood that sets Four Seasons Dream Homes apart, according to Carma Yoder, who has owned the company along with her husband Amos and daughters Nicole and Michelle since 1986. Residents of the community recently attended an anniversary celebration marking the neighborhood’s 25th year.

Cyndie Hunter, who moved to Four Seasons with her husband, John, in 1992, said she wanted to stay in the Belvidere area to be near family, and Four Seasons Dream Homes was the perfect choice.

“The homes are very nice and you have the feeling of space,” she said of her 1,600 square-foot home. Financial factors also played a role in her decision, she said, because the affordable prices of Dream Homes were far less than properties in other neighborhoods.

The sense of community at Four Seasons Dream Homes is kept strong through neighborhood-wide events and activities. Residents enjoy festive dinner parties in the community room, monthly community coffee hours, home decorating contests, game nights, day trips, classes, and poolside gatherings. Four Seasons also maintains a close relationship with the Boone County Council on Aging and the Keen Age Center, which provide extensive services and activities for local seniors. A monthly newsletter is published monthly to keep homeowners informed of upcoming events, the arrival of new neighbors, and profiles of residents.

“It’s a safe community, and friendly. People help each other,” Hunter said. “I was just talking to a new neighbor and he said, ‘If you ever need anything, just call.’ And I just met him!”

The Four Seasons design and landscaping contribute to the sense of old-fashioned neighborliness. Curving tree-lined streets are decorated with lush flowers and feature a flag park and green areas. The pool complex serves as a community gathering place.

The entire neighborhood is meticulously maintained, making it aesthetically pleasing year round.

All homes in Four Seasons are senior-friendly ranches, making it easy to move throughout the home without climbing stairs. Luxurious interiors include features such as gourmet kitchens with all appliances; vaulted ceilings, fireplace, skylights, bay windows, spa baths, walk-in closets, window treatments, central air and a 2-1/2 car attached garage. Models are move-in ready, or may be custom-ordered. Prices start at just $69,900.

Part of what keeps costs so low, according to Yoder, is the fact that these are manufactured homes. Construction costs per square foot are as much as 40 percent less for a manufactured home compared to site-built homes.

“Finances are the biggest thing,” Hunter said. “If you come here, it’s easier to pay for your home.”

Quality is higher with manufactured homes, too, she said, because quality of construction is invariably higher in an indoor factory rather than outdoors where material and work are subject to the weather.

Because materials are purchased by the manufacturer in bulk, costs are even lower for luxurious, quality fixtures and appliances. Hunter’s home, for example, had a Jacuzzi bath, fireplace, screened-in porch, three-season room and a covered patio in back.

Manufactured homes are subject to the same code that regulates and controls site-built homes, ensuring certain standards in design, construction, strength and durability, energy efficiency and overall quality. HUD Code also sets standards for the heating, plumbing, air-conditioning, and thermal and electrical systems.

Yoder and her family are only the second owners of Four Seasons. When they purchased the 16-year-old business in 1986, it consisted of 142 homes. Today that number has risen to 587 homes.

For more information on Four Seasons Dream Homes, call 815-544-2700 or visit the website at www.fourseasonsdreamhomes.com.