By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

SOUTH BELOIT -- One local businessman is profiting from an emerging market of retired people and young single women. Despite what some perceive as challenges in the marketplace, Lonnie Ackerman, president of Advantage Development Group, claims his condominiums are going like hot cakes.

"I am very encouraged that Manchester Trails seems to be bucking current market conditions because we've continued to have low interest rates since the first of the year," Ackerman said.

Located at the corner of Willowbrook and Manchester Roads, Manchester Trails is a 108 unit condominium community. Ground broke in June of 2007 and so far Ackerman has sold to 10 customers. Half of his customers are retirees and half are young single people.

The condominiums are two bedrooms and include a garage and access to the community's shared nature trails and gazebo.

Although Ackerman said there is a psychological recession going on with people worrying about the housing market, Ackerman has been able to break through buyers' resistance with a product targeting seniors and young people who want their slice of the American dream. Most of the single people buying his condominiums are young women.

One of those is 24-year-old Chelsea Francik.

Francik was renting an apartment on the west side of Beloit with two other young women. When one moved away and one got married, Francik said she started thinking it was time to buy a home. After all, she had a good job as a database manager at First National Bank.

"I didn't want to rent and throw any more money away ," Francik said.

Francik said she decided she wanted to move in Manchester Trails even before she saw a model. Francik knew she didn't have time for mowing or shoveling and she figured the location, next to Interstate-90 and close to her hometown of Rockton, was reason enough to move in.

Once she saw a model, she quickly became a buyer and moved in August. She has already added her own fixtures, furniture and has painted each room in olives, oranges and neutrals. She figures her upgrades will only increase the value of the condominium, something that is increasing every day she spends time in her posh pad.

Although she plans on getting a house one day down the road, she enjoys the maintenance free lifestyle and the chance to have her own home for now.

"I love it," Francik said.

On the other side of the buying spectrum is seniors. Because pensions are not taxed in Illinois, many flock to the state from Wisconsin. Other seniors just want to be closer to their families or travel and not have to worry about maintenance.

One widow, who preferred not to give her name, moved to a condo from a three bedroom home to Manchester Trails. She doesn't miss the lawn maintenance. She prefers to spend her time scrap booking and traveling. Last year she even made it to Europe. The woman also appreciates the fact there are other retirees her age and a restriction on the number of dogs each unit owner can have. Although residents can have common house pets, pitbulls and rottweilers are frowned upon.

Don Johnson, moved to Manchester Trails from Kansas in April so he could spend more time with his grandchildren.

"I love it. It's great," Johnson said. "I really enjoy living here. I'm retired now so I'm able to take off and travel whenever when I want. At my last home I had to hire people to mow lawn. This is a lot better for me. It gives me lots of freedom."

Ackerman expects continued success with Manchester Trails. With interest rates dropping, he said more people are coming to look at the condominiums.

For more information visit www.manchestertrails.com.