Bob & Cara Kadel

Taylor Ridge, IL

Down Payment: $300

Equity Earned: $40,000

“We saw a flyer at a local restaurant advertising build your own home for less than $1,000 with Homestead Homes.  We’d been trying to build for five years, but couldn’t get the down payment together because the banks wanted so much.  With Homestead, we only put $300 down on our new home and had $40,000 in equity the day we moved in – that was more than I expected!” says Bob. 

“I didn’t have any construction experience prior to building our home and was pretty limited in my abilities.  I didn’t even own a saw.  Even though I hired someone to frame the house and help me do the siding and build the deck, we did all the interior work ourselves with help from our parents and friends.  Homestead made it easier than I thought it would be – their people, products and financing – I was surprised how much I could do with their help,” Bob says.  “Homestead took the time to answer of our all our questions, every time we needed anything, and never thought they were stupid questions.  They were good to work with,” adds Cara.

“Years ago we drew plans for an A-frame house to be built in the woods where I grew up.  Homestead’s Lakewood model was almost identical to what we had drawn. We told Homestead what changes we wanted to make and they redrew the plans,” says Bob.  “I grew up playing in the creek and now my kids are doing the same thing.  It’s just what I wanted.”  Cara continues, “I love our home . . . it’s a dream come true.  The openness of the plan lets me be in the kitchen while the kids are in the living room and we’re all still together.  I never want to leave our home.”

“I’m an avid outdoorsman.  I’ve seen pictures in magazines where the guy is coming in from the hunt and his house is all lit up.  Now I come down through the creek and my house is lit up just like in the books.  It’s just perfect,” claims Bob.