Stuart Nacht, owner/developer of the Regent Square Brownstones located by Kings Harbor in Kingwood, is providing home owners with a different experience. The three-story units he is building offer high-end standard features, such as an elevator, quartz and granite countertops and maple cabinets.
“One of the best things about our brownstones is that everything is included. We didn’t build a BMW and sell people a Hyundai and make them upgrade. We built a BMW and that’s what we sell. Our houses are priced from $359,000 to $450,000 and everything is standard,” said Nacht.
The townhomes range in size from 2,430 to 3,250 square feet. The Regent Square complex was originally begun more than 10 years ago by a different developer who put in the infrastructure for 35 town homes and built 11. The undeveloped property was later sold to a friend of Nacht, who eventually sold the property to Nacht.
“My friend told me he had a jewel box on the water and asked me if I wanted to build it out. Per the HOA rules, the new units must look 99 percent like the existing units that were built 10 years ago. So, we took the original plans and redesigned the interiors. We opened up the kitchens and put in hipper master bathrooms,” said Nacht.
Nacht said the brownstones are being built with quality in mind.
“The quality of our framing is very good–we use 2x6s–and between each unit is sound-proof foam, which we put on each side. It’s the best sound proofing you can get. Our sub-flooring is screwed down every six inches so it doesn’t squeak or lift. Our finishes are upgraded. We have solid core doors, our baseboard is six inches high, and our cabinets are maple and come in a variety of stains and colors. We are also planning to gate this community by the springtime, to separate Kings Harbor traffic from the homes.”
The monthly HOA fees are $360, and include trash, water, landscaping, sewer, building insurance and a roof maintenance fund. Nacht said their ideal buyers are semi-retired people in their 60s and 70s who are downsizing from big houses and want the quality of a high-end house, but also want to “lock and go” and have the HOA take care of landscaping.
“For prospective buyers, it is not necessarily how big is your house, but how is your house big. Sometimes a house can be smaller and more economical, but if the interior is designed right, the functioning rooms are bigger than a big house with a lot of wasted hall space,” Nacht said. He added that they have also seen a second market of young professionals buying in the development.
With respect to the proximity of the development to the water, Nacht is not concerned about flooding.
He said, “When people go to closing, they get a certified engineer surveyor-stamped certificate that they are out of the flood plain. Years ago, the master developers brought in fill and increased the height of developments in this area. When we had that severe flooding several months ago, I hired a drone to fly over and it was perfectly dry.”
For more information, visit the Regent Square Brownstone visitor center in Kings Harbor.
