Your Building Blog for the Rochester Area

One of the most important aspects of building a new home in the Greater Rochester area is deciding where you’re going to live. While you certainly want to pay close attention to the floor plan you choose for your new home (to ensure your home fits the needs and lifestyle of your family), the fact is that you won’t spend all of your time inside the walls of your house.

Just as the design of your home should fit your needs and personality, you’ll want your community to reflect your lifestyle and sense of home. The good news is that in addition to lots of home design options, you also have a nice variety of communities from which to choose in the greater Finger Lakes region.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few.

Webster, New York

Webster is known as the place “Where life is worth living!” and this community has a lot to offer, including employment opportunities as it is home to a number of established businesses and start-up companies. Webster also places a high value on its pristine environment, and recently purchased 1,023 acres of land to be used for hiking trails and other recreational activities for current and future generations. There are also numerous parks throughout the town and village, including Webster Park with its breathtaking views of Lake Ontario. Another great feature of the town is the Webster Arboretum in Kent Park, which has an incredible variety of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The town is also conveniently located near State Route 104 allowing residents easy access to downtown Rochester or the Greater Rochester International Airport within 15-25 minutes. With an excellent geographical location, business and educational opportunities, and a friendly, community environment this might be your pick.

Check out our wonderful new home communities in Webster: Briarwood Estates and Coastal View. 

Ontario, New York

Ontario is named after the beautiful Great Lake on its northern border. Minutes away from Lake Ontario, residents are surrounded by an abundance of parks, arboretums, wildlife sanctuaries, and natural splendor. Nestled between Rochester and Syracuse, Ontario is the perfect safe haven for those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of big-city living without sacrificing urban amenities. Ontario offers a vast selection of venues for shopping, dining, entertainment, art, and so much more -- perfecting the phrase "small-town living".

Explore our two beautiful new home communities in Ontario: Summer Lake and Centennial Village.

Canandaigua, New York

Canandaigua is a charming town located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, blessed with beautiful scenery and a number of attractions that make it unlike any other town in the region. Often referred to as "the chosen spot", Canandaigua is known as one of the best places to live because of its tight-knit community, prestigious education, superior quality of life, and incredible recreational activities. Find a restaurant for every occasion or taste palette on Main Street, attend a legendary summer concert at the CMAC (Constellation Brands, Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center), enjoy some sunshine at the pier of Canandaigua Lake, or even windsurf and paddle board on the water -- Canandaigua lives up to its reputation.

Browse our available home sites in our two stunning new home communities in Canandaigua: Fox Ridge and Old Brookside.

Sodus, New York

Sodus is a small-town in close proximity to Lake Ontario and numerous beaches. This wonderful community is surrounded by state parks, farmers markets, restaurants, and more family-friendly activities. Spend the day at Sodus Point Beach, or maybe even explore the local historical lighthouse. Escape the noisy and busy city life in quiet and cozy Sodus, a place residents can slow down their pace of life in order to happily stop and smell the roses.

Want to live in the charming town of Sodus? Check out our incredible home sites in the Fairways.

Perinton, New York

Perinton is one of the best places to live in New York and the nation due to its high quality of life, reputable educational institutions, sprawling city center, and tight-knit community that residents benefit from every day. Surrounded by parks and natural beauty, it's easy to start the day biking or hiking then finish it on the patio of a local restaurant. With no short of recreational and professional opportunities, Perinton is a playground for all walks of life.

Interested in building your new home in Perinton? Browse our available home sites in Magnolia Manor.

Victor, New York

Victor is a cozy little town, approximately 20 minutes away from Rochester. This beautiful and quiet community offers everything from numerous parks to an abundance of hip food and drink establishments. Known for being one of the most prosperous and upscale towns surrounding Rochester, Victor is a great place to set down roots or raise a family. Whether you're a single-family home or a multi-generational home, Victor will take care of you. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of land for hiking, biking, golf, and more; Victor allows you to balance city living with an active, outdoor lifestyle.

Get your own piece of paradise in our Scout Reserve community in Victor! Browse our available home sites here.

Huron, New York

Huron is named after the Great Lake that borders the town on the north, and is a superb location for those who love open spaces. The topography of the town is comprised of rolling hills, tracks of wooded areas interspersed over acre upon acre of open land, crop fields, orchards and pasture land. Agriculture and farming are an essential and integral part of the character of the community. Huron offers the benefits and enjoyment of extensive public waterways and resort facilities and properties. For those looking for a community with a truly rural character, this is an ideal spot.

Discover our available home sites in Huron in our Bayshore Heights community.

Fair Haven, New York

Fair Haven prides itself on being a place for all seasons. A quiet and peaceful community along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Fair Haven offers small town hospitality that is enjoyed by visitors year after year. Located on the Seaway Trail, between Rochester and Syracuse, Fair Haven, NY has year round seasonal activities for everyone, including winter activities such as the Winter Festival and the annual Winter Festival Progressive Dinner and Dance. 

Make Fair Haven your new home! View our selection of home sites in our Fair Haven community. 

We invite you to check out the other great communities (and new home options) in the Greater Rochester area so that you can find the home and the community that best fits your family’s lifestyle and personality.

If you’re considering building a new home in the Rochester area, you’ve no doubt heard the real estate mantra: “Location, location, location!” Where you build your home is as important as the style of home you build and choosing the right floor plan. But there’s much more to choosing your home’s location than just the physical coordinates on a map. Finding a community that feels like home is a big factor for many homeowners. So how do you find great new home communities in the Rochester, NY area?

What Makes a Great Rochester area Community?

When we at Gerber choose the locations in which we’d develop communities, we looked for towns and areas that would enhance the lives of the people living there. We chose locations that show a promising future for growth and development. Here’s a post that talks a bit more about the importance of a good community.

A Few Examples

Here are a few examples of local areas we reviewed before deciding that they were great candidates for developing communities.

• Webster, NY has a vibrant Chamber of Commerce that carefully invites businesses that they feel will enhance the quality of life of the overall community. In addition, they created Town Center shopping as a place for the community to come together. Visitors from as far away as Toronto, Canada stop by Town Center on the bus to shop while on their way to the Finger Lakes region. But the townsfolk of Webster didn't stop there. The town earned the rank of Sports Town USA, boasting more ball fields per capita than any town around.  The addition of their Aquatic Center, Hockey Rink, Marching Band, and proximity to water recreation makes Webster a fun and inviting place to live. 

• Canandaigua, NY and Victor, NY both offer so much to new residents.  They are both vibrant, growing communities that are close to businesses and shopping opportunities.  That eliminates long commutes—a real plus for quality of life.  And when it’s time for residents to relax, they have easy access to great areas such as Canandaigua Lake and the Wine Region not far from their doorsteps.

At Gerber Homes, we have been building new homes for more than 50 years.  But we do more than just construction. We study trends and patterns so that we have a pretty good idea where a new community will really blossom.  Among other things, we look for communities where people can:

• Have the easiest commute to work
• Live in a home that is tailor-made to fit their needs
• Enjoy their leisure time with great access to outdoor activities and the amenities that make life comfortable and enjoyable

That’s why we’ve built in great New York communities such as:

Click here for more information about these communities and for individual home sites.  You can also click here to take a look at just some of the floor plans that are available in these communities—whether you’re looking for a Colonial style home; a home with a first floor Master Bedroom; a patio home, or a home that features an in-law suite. Or, if you prefer, simply pick up the phone and call us at (888) 437-2373 with any questions you have.

Where you choose to live is important. And with Gerber, you have plenty of options regarding which community—and which kind of floor plan best fits your needs.

A lot of people love to visit the Finger Lakes region because it has so much to offer. But if you live here, you can take advantage of so much more — anytime you like. So what is it that people love about the Finger Lakes region? Here’s just a small taste.

Wineries 

Speaking of taste, the area is known for producing some great wines. You can tour wineries in Cayuga Lake, Skaneateles-Syracuse, Canandaigua Lake, Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake, among others.

Theater

There are many opportunities to take in great shows around the area. You can check out the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, catch a show at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca or explore options at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.

Art 

Want to expand your artistic horizons? The Corning Museum of Glass marries art with theater as gaffers (otherwise known as glassblowers) explain their craft while creating beautiful works of art. Or you can visit the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film or the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn.

Dining

There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat — whether you’re looking for fine dining or casual fare. Two Canandaigua favorites are Nolan's on Canandaigua Lake and The Inn on the Lake.

Boat Tours

It would be ridiculous to talk about the Finger Lakes without mentioning getting out on the water.  There are a wide variety of options ranging from one-hour general sightseeing cruises to wine cruises and even full-course dinner cruises for you and your family.

Of course, you may just want to drive around and take in the sights, like the Eagle Cliff Falls at Havana Glen (pictured above)!

It’s no wonder people love to visit the Finger Lakes region! Some people, however, are lucky enough to call this area home. And if you’d like to make it your home, we build beautiful homes in several communities in the area. Why just visit when you could actually live here?