It is in the pioneering spirit of Henry Greathouse that Sandy Creek Properties and Brazier Construction bring you Greathouse Estates—carefully planned townhomes to match your individual or family desires and the needs of the growing Decatur community. Perfectly situated just north of the Wise County square in Decatur, Greathouse Estates offers quiet country living with ease of access to all that Decatur offers. Wonderful floor plans complimenting stylish construction makes this the only choice for townhome living in Decatur and the greater Wise County area.

Greathouse History
In 1871, Henry Greathouse and his family left Idaho, where they operated a successful stagecoach line. Looking to loan money and buy and sell foreign exchange, they settled in the small town of Decatur, Texas and eventually organized The Decatur Bank, which was the forerunner of The First National Bank of Decatur. Known for the huge lawn parties thrown at his country estate of Sleepy Hollow, Henry Greathouse was immensely influential in shaping the financial posture of Wise County. Years after Greathouse’s death in 1902, his son-in-law, C.B. Beard, was commissioned by the city to build the Greathouse Hotel on the south-side of the square. This building replaced the International Hotel, which burned in 1921.

Development Specifics
Each townhome is located on a 33 ft wide x 105 ft deep lot. Of this depth, each owner will have a 25 ft deep front yard and a 20 ft deep back yard. As a standard, an automatic sprinkler system is included with each front yard. Each back yard is enclosed with a privacy fence and access gate.

Due to the slope of the development’s property, townhome foundations are stepped such that any given townhome is approximately 18” lower than its neighbor to the east. In addition, the development will have a number of retaining walls adding to the development’s strikingly attractive appearance. To further add to the development’s character, each townhome will utilize a different rock or brick face than the home on either side. This will give each home is own unique and varied look.

Greathouse Location
The Villages at Greathouse Estates townhome development is located in North Decatur just south of the US380 bypass with a community entrance located off of North Trinity Street.
Click here for a map and directions.

What is a Townhome?
A townhome is a single-family home which may be attached to other single-family homes on one or both sides. A townhome is not an apartment and it is not a condominium. Unlike apartments and possibly condominiums, residents of townhomes will not have anyone living in a separate “unit” above them or under them.  Each townhome is located on an individually platted lot and is separated from its adjoining neighbors via firewall's which extend from the foundation to the roof structure. In addition, townhome maintenance assessments (or HOA dues) are generally substantially less than their condominium counterparts. Condominium owners only own the airspace within their “unit” and must pay high monthly assessments for their share of insurance and the overall maintenance of the entire building or subdivision in which their “unit” is located.  Owners of our townhomes, however, enjoy low monthly assessments, because the homes within Greathouse are neither covered under a blanket insurance policy nor are they maintained by the association. Therefore, while our owners are still bound by the deed restrictions and covenants of the subdivision, they enjoy the freedom to shop insurance and maintenance costs at their discretion.

Advantages of a Townhome

• Less maintenance – the HOA is responsible for Common Area and front lawn maintenance
• Homeowners association (HOA) – protect your property values by actively participating in the HOA and get a stronger sense of community through HOA functions
• Lower homeowners insurance premiums – rates can be up to 10% lower than a single home of equivalent value
• Amenities – residents can expect to enjoy the exclusive neighborhood playground & park, landscaped entrance and common areas
• Common area - developer will transfer several acres of common area property to the HOA upon completion of the development, at which time the association can elect to further develop any unused areas if so desired
• Get more for your money – townhome architecture inherently allows buyers to get more value for their money, as any single home of equal content would cost far more to construct than its townhome equivalent
• Security – nearby neighbors adds for a more inherently secure neighborhood

Other Advantages
Decatur is definitely a growing city and is coming into its own. After the city adopted ordinances and design standards that emulate nearby cities which surround the Metroplex, the Villages at Greathouse Estates became the first residential development in Decatur to be held completely to the City of Decatur’s new design standards. As a result, Greathouse residents enjoy sidewalks and landscaping not required in earlier developments. 

Likewise, residents will not have to worry about occurrences such as premature street deterioration as has been commonplace in other recent developments, as our streets were built to meet or exceed the standards the city has put into place and were covered by the required maintenance bonds. 

As of July 2009, HOA control was successfully transferred from the builder to the homeowners. We think it goes without saying that the Villages at Greathouse Estates is the most successful subdivision to have ever been developed in the city of Decatur.