Wonder Lake · McHenry County · IL
Homes for sale in
Stonewater.
- Active listings
- 44
- Median list
- $392K
- Avg time on market
- 28 days
- Sold · last year
- 139
Active listings
44 homes on the market
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About the community
Wonder Lake's large new-construction master-plan.
Stonewater is by far the biggest thing happening in Wonder Lake: a D.R. Horton master-planned community begun in 2021 and planned for roughly 3,700 homes across about 1,400 acres, still actively building at 125 to 150 homes a year. It is the modern new-construction exception in an older lake town, single-family two-stories, single-level ranches, and townhomes, wrapped around an aquatic center, miles of trails, and a lot of open water and green space. For a buyer who wants a brand-new home at an attainable price in McHenry County, there are few options this large or this new.
At a glance
New construction, selling now
D.R. Horton is actively building 125 to 150 homes a year.
Planned for ~3,700 homes
One of the largest master-plans in McHenry County, on ~1,400 acres.
Aquatic center / water park
A community pool and water-park amenity for residents.
Miles of trails
D.R. Horton cites about 11 miles of paved paths.
Lakes and open space
Around 142 acres of water and 160 acres of parks and open space.
Ranches, two-stories, townhomes
One and two-story single-family plus attached townhomes.
Harrison District 36
Harrison School (PK to 8) plus McHenry High School District 156.
Attainable new pricing
New homes commonly from the low $300,000s into the $400,000s.
Near parks and golf
Minutes from Moraine Hills State Park and Boone Creek Golf Club.
What’s close
Stonewater runs between Route 120 and McCullom Lake Road in Wonder Lake, in central McHenry County near McHenry and Woodstock.
- Amenities on-site
- Aquatic center, parks, playgrounds, and about 11 miles of paved trails.
- Shopping
- Retail in McHenry along Route 31 and Route 120, a short drive east.
- Hospital
- Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, nearby in McHenry.
- Outdoors
- Moraine Hills State Park, Glacial Park, and Boone Creek Golf Club close by.
- Train
- Metra service toward Chicago from the McHenry and Woodstock stations on the Union Pacific Northwest line.
- Schools
- Harrison School District 36 (Harrison School, PK to 8) and McHenry Community High School District 156.
- College
- McHenry County College is nearby.
What it’s actually like to live here
Stonewater is a new-construction, family-first community dropped into an established lake town. The draw is straightforward: you get a brand-new house, a real amenity package (the aquatic center and the trail network are the day-to-day hubs), and a McHenry County price that undercuts most new construction closer to the city. Because it is still building, the community skews toward younger families and first-time and move-up buyers moving in as each phase delivers.
There is real choice in what you buy here, which is unusual for one community. D.R. Horton is selling single-level ranches, two-story single-family homes, and townhomes side by side, so a first-time buyer, a growing family, and a downsizer can all find a fit in the same neighborhood with the same amenities. The tradeoff of that variety is that build quality and floor plans differ by product line and phase, so tour the specific model and plan you are considering rather than assuming they are all the same.
The honest context is location and timing. Wonder Lake is a quieter, further-out corner of McHenry County, so the commute and the drive to big-box shopping are longer than in Crystal Lake or Algonquin, and because Stonewater is an active build you are buying next to ongoing construction with a builder still setting prices on unsold inventory for years to come. For buyers who want new and affordable and do not mind being early, that is the deal; for buyers who want a finished, quiet, built-out neighborhood tomorrow, it is worth knowing this one is a work in progress.
Market trends
Why this market moves the way it does
Stonewater trades on new construction and value. With D.R. Horton actively selling, the builder sets the pricing and resales compete directly against brand-new homes, so the market is deep for the price point but a resale has to be priced sensibly against current inventory to move.
What holds value
The fundamentals matter more than the cosmetics here. Buyers want floor plan, lot, and basement, in that order. Cosmetics are the tiebreaker.
- New construction sets the comp
- The builder is still selling, so early resales compete against brand-new homes and need to be priced against current D.R. Horton inventory.
- Product type
- Ranches command a premium with downsizers who want single-level living; two-story family homes anchor the middle; townhomes are the entry point.
- Amenity access
- The aquatic center, parks, and trails come with the community and are a real draw for young families weighing this against a plain subdivision.
- Lot and open-space position
- Homes backing to water, a park, or open space carry a premium over interior lots facing another home.
- Phase and timing
- As buildout moves through phases over the coming years, being in a completed pocket versus next to active construction affects both livability and resale.
Real talk
Who shouldn’t buy here
Here is the honest version before you tour.
You are buying into a construction zone for years, not a finished neighborhood. Stonewater is planned for roughly 3,700 homes with buildout stretching well into the 2030s, so an early buyer lives with ongoing construction, changing sight lines, and a builder who is your pricing competition on unsold inventory. That is the normal tradeoff of getting in early on new construction, just go in with eyes open rather than expecting a quiet, complete community on day one.
It is Wonder Lake, which is further out than the McHenry County towns most buyers start with. The commute and the drive to major shopping and services are longer than in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, or Huntley. The upside is exactly why the pricing works, but drive your real commute before you commit, because distance is part of what you are trading for a new home at this price.
Confirm the schools for the specific address. Harrison District 36 serves the elementary and middle grades and D.R. Horton points its Stonewater listings to McHenry High School District 156, but the broader Wonder Lake area is split and some parts feed Woodstock District 200. If schools matter, get the assigned schools in writing for the exact home rather than assuming, because the line is not uniform across the village.
One piece of advice
“Stonewater is one of the few places in McHenry County to buy a genuinely new home with real amenities at an attainable price, and the ranch, two-story, and townhome mix means most buyers can find a fit. Just decide honestly whether you are comfortable being early in an active build, drive the commute, and confirm the assigned high school for the exact address. Sort those out and it is a strong value.”
The questions buyers actually ask
Stonewater FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Stonewater. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- How much is the HOA?
- townhomes and condos are $330 per month.
- What does the HOA actually cover?
- Assessments run roughly $27 to $330 per month depending on home type (single-family homes at the low end, attached townhomes higher for exterior upkeep). The HOA and community fund the amenity package: the aquatic center, parks, trails, and open space. Confirm the current assessment for the specific home and home type.
- What are property taxes like?
- Roughly $5,000 – $9,000 per year, depending on home size and value. McHenry County assessor records are the source of truth. Happy to pull a specific bill on any home you're considering.
- When was Stonewater built?
- D.R. Horton built the community between 2021 and 2026. There are 3,700+ homes total.
- What's the typical closing timeline?
- 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to keys. Cash deals can close in two weeks. Conventional financing is usually closer to 45.
- Is Stonewater new construction?
- Yes. It is an active D.R. Horton master-planned community begun in 2021, planned for roughly 3,700 homes, still building at about 125 to 150 homes a year, so new homes are available alongside early resales.
- What kinds of homes does Stonewater have?
- Three product lines side by side: single-level ranch homes (roughly 1,500 to 1,950 square feet), two-story single-family homes (roughly 1,800 to 2,600 square feet), and three-story townhomes (from about 1,580 square feet). New homes have commonly started in the low $300,000s, with larger single-family plans into the $400,000s.
- What amenities are in the community?
- An aquatic center and water-park amenity, playgrounds and parks, and about 11 miles of paved trails, set among roughly 142 acres of lakes and water features and 160 acres of parks and open space. Moraine Hills State Park and Boone Creek Golf Club are close by.
- What schools serve Stonewater?
- Harrison School District 36 serves elementary and middle grades (Harrison School, PK to 8), and D.R. Horton's Stonewater listings reference McHenry Community High School District 156. Parts of the broader Wonder Lake area feed Woodstock District 200, so confirm the assigned schools in writing for the specific address.
- What are the HOA dues and what do they cover?
- Assessments run roughly $27 to $330 per month depending on home type, with single-family homes at the low end and attached townhomes higher for exterior upkeep. The dues and community fund the amenity package, the aquatic center, parks, trails, and open space. Confirm the current assessment for the specific home and home type.
- What is the catch with the pricing?
- Mostly location and timing. Wonder Lake is a further-out part of McHenry County, so the commute and drive to major shopping are longer, and because the community is an active build planned into the 2030s, early buyers live next to ongoing construction and a builder still setting prices. That is the tradeoff for a new home at this price.
- Who is the real estate agent for Stonewater?
- Joe Keegan is the local licensed Illinois real estate broker who covers Stonewater in Wonder Lake, IL through Subdiview, a neighborhood-first home search for the Chicago suburbs and collar counties. Joe prices and negotiates from the live MRED sold comps for Stonewater specifically, not national averages, and can help you buy or sell here. Reach Joe at 224-385-8779 or joe@joekeeganhomes.com.
Your local agent
Joe knows Stonewater
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the places I actually know, and the things that move value here don't show up in the MLS write-up: which streets and buildings hold demand, what the HOA or assessments really cover, how the comps read once you account for condition and location, and where buyers consistently want to be.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who has read the last 50 closed comps in this specific market, not a national average, and can tell you what they actually mean for your price. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Licensed Illinois broker
- Comp-driven pricing
- Wonder Lake specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Market snapshot
Stonewater, by the numbers
Live MRED data, refreshed daily. The numbers below tell you what this market is doing today, not what Zillow's algorithm thinks it might be doing six weeks from now.
Typical list price
$392,495
Typical sale price · last 90 days
$373,990
Homes for sale right now
44
Avg time on market
28 days
Sold in the last year
139
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC for the period August 29, 2025 through August 29, 2026. Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
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Schools serving Stonewater
Where Stonewater homes go to school
Homes in Stonewater are most often zoned to McHenry CHS. Open a school to see its area, the district, and every home for sale that feeds it.
School assignment is derived from the school the MRED listing agent entered and is not a guarantee. Always verify current attendance boundaries with the district before writing an offer.
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