Chapel Crossing

Real estate in The Glen: August lull, September to pick up

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I have a Glen-specific, proprietary website. In fact you may be reading this blog on that site. It provides information about real estate in the Glen (in Glenview Illinois)and allows visitors to search Glen listings. The search engine optimization firm that I employ provides the tech-marketing magic that brings prospective home buyers to the site; and I am provided with numbers of all kinds weekly.  These numbers show a late summer slow down in the Glen, which is seen nationally as well. In the 4 week period in May over 2,000 first time visitors came to my site. (This is a very POWERFUL tool!) The following 4 week periods declined by 7.6%, 6.7% and 10.9%. In the last two weeks alone (August 10 – 24) the number of first time visitors was down 35% from May. Looking at the site’s first time visitors in previous years shows this same pattern.

The good news for prospective home sellers in the Glen is that the number of first time visitors increases in September and then remains relatively even and strong until December. This trend is supported by my site’s prior-years data. So homowners thinking of selling, should be getting their homes on the real estate market soon to take advantage of the increase in buyer interest just around the corner.

But it’s not only buyers who take a real estate time-out in mid-to-late summer. The listings cupboard in the Glen is pretty bare right now, too. Of the 237 single family homes in the Southgate neighborhood, there is only 1 home listed for sale. The same is true in Tower Crossing, the large, 4 story brick townhomes adjacent to Glen Town Center. In that development there are 154 homes, but only 1 is listed for sale. At the Landings (formerly Concord) and Chapel Crossing neighborhoods (with 311 homes combined) there are only a couple of listings.

Spring interest among buyers is matched by sellers who want to take advantage of that peak selling season. People with children want to make their purchases and get moved in before the new school year begins. In mid-to-late summer interest drops as I’ve shown above; and smart sellers know this so many get their homes on the market in late winter/early spring; and conversely there are few new listings in mid-to-late summer or from Thanksgiving until early March.

Margaret Ludemann, Glen homeowner and @properties Realtor

MargaretLudemann@gmail.com   847-401-1802

Chapel Crossing at The Glen… a great place for families

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Chapel Crossing is an upscale housing development in The Glen, in Glenview Illinois. It consists of 168 luxury homes, all single family detached.

It was constructed 13 years ago when The Glen was just getting under way. The developer was Kimball Hill Homes which also developed nearby Tower Crossing. Homes in Chapel Crossing range in size from 2300 sq ft to 4200 sq ft with most being toward the high end of this range. The architecture is traditional, and the interior designs are elegant yet comfortable. All have large beautifully landscaped yards and detached garages.

The development is named after the lovely chapel at the corner of Patriot Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue which had served as the place of worship for the Naval Air Station Glenview which is the former occupant of the land upon which The Glen now resides. The Chapel still stands, though now it is used mainly for weddings, community events and a pre-school.

The main entrance into Chapel Crossing is from Patriot on Independence Avenue. Kimball Hill Homes wished to create a grand boulevard of large, stately homes; and the firm succeeded masterfully. The boulevard has a broad, wonderfully landscaped median with many park-like amenities including benches, play areas, and large trees.

The real estate market in Chapel Crossing is stable. As the primary homeowner demographic is defined by families with children, the annual turnover of homes is relatively small. In 2013, only 9 homes were sold (5.3% of the development.) Home prices range from about $900,000 to roughly $1.25 million. Prices last year averaged $1,031,527.

Chapel Crossing resides across Chestnut Avenue to Attea Middle School, the Glenview Park Center, Little Bear Garden,  and Gallery Park. It is but a short walk to Glen Town Center, The Glen’s main shopping and restaurant area, and to two impressive golf courses.

If you would like to learn about living in Chapel Crossing please email me at margaret.ludemann@gmail.com or call at 847-401-1802. I am a Glen homeowner and an award-winning realtor affiliated with @properties.

Margaret Ludemann

Must move quickly to buy in The Glen

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If you want to buy a great home in The Glen (Glenview, Illinois) you need to be prepared to move quickly and decisively.  That’s the theme developing in The Glen’s real estate market in the early months of 2014.

The inventory of Glen homes for sale is extremely limited.  Sellers know that prices are appreciating, and many are waiting to list until prices rise even further.  When a well maintained home comes on the market, chances are that it will receive buyer visits on the first day and up to a dozen or more visitors during the first week…unless it goes under contract immediately.

2299 Thistle is a good example.  This stunning single family home resides in the Landings neighborhood of The Glen, adjacent to the Chapel Crossing development and particularly close to Attea Middle School and the Glenview Park Center.  Built 13 years ago the home was meticulously maintained and offers 5+ bedrooms.  I listed this home on March 20, a Thursday.  I had agreement with buyers within 24 hours at 99.5% of the asking price.  Buyers hoping to see the home that weekend found the property already under contract.

2068 Valor Court is another example.  I listed this luxury townhome in the Tower Crossing neighborhood on January 7.  There was strong interest from day one.  One potential buyer expressed interest, but waited too long to make an offer.  Meanwhile a couple who was prepared to move quickly came in with a strong offer and flexibility in negotiations.  The home was under contract barely 17 days later.

The take aways are these:  1)  If you are serious buyer who wants to live in the North Shore’s premier lifestyle community you need to see newly listed Glen properties immediately, and 2) come to the table with what I call a “Godfather offer”…one that the seller can’t refuse.

If you would like to live in the Glen please give me a call at 847-401-1802 or send an email tomargaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, @properties Realtor

The Glen, not just a home, a lifestyle

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The Glen in Glenview Illinois.  Perhaps you’ve driven through it at one time or another.  You’ve seen our lovely homes…townhomes, row houses, duplexes, two-flats, condominium apartments, and of course single family homes.  Many are quite large.  In fact the townhomes in our Tower Crossing neighborhood are between 3031 sq ft and 4105 sq ft.  These are townhomes!  And the single family homes in Southgate and Chapel Crossing are typically over 4000 sq ft.  Other homes in the Glen are more modest in size, and quite wonderful.  Some in our Cambridge neighborhood have lovely front porches, tidy back yards, and picket fences.  Yes indeed, we have homes!  1,255 of them currently with more on the way.

Our real estate market, however, is only part of the Glen’s story.  People select homes because they like their style and appearance.  But they select neighborhoods based on community lifestyle.  And that’s where The Glen really shines.  Whenever I meet a prospective home buyer I always point out that buying here is much more than buying a home, they are buying a vibrant lifestyle that is unequaled on Chicagoland’s North Shore.  Within walking distance of nearly every Glen home you can find scores of restaurants and shops, a book store, Glen 10 movie theater, art gallery, spa, heath club, Gallery Park, Lake Glenview, Kohl Children’s Museum, walking paths, jogging and biking trails, 2 golf courses, paddle ball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, our own Metra station, and a feeling of…well, a feeling of community.

My neighbors in Tower Crossing, for instance, have what we call “mailbox parties”.  We drag out our tables and chairs, and set them up in our beautiful common area near our community mailboxes.  We share stories, catch up on one another’s lives, and enjoy the setting sun.  In winter our get-togethers move to one of our homes or perhaps to the Glenview Prairie Club (open to the public) across the street.

Here in the Glen we have the best of both worlds.  There is the vibrancy of urban living yet enveloped by the beautiful suburban setting of the North Shore.  If you would like to know more about living in the Glen please contact me.  I’ve been a homeowner here for over a decade, and I am a leading Realtor specializing in Glen homes.

Margaret Ludemann, @properties Realtor

margaretLudemannl@gmail.com    847-401-1802

Home sales in The Glen by neighborhood

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The Glen is an upscale residential and retail development in Glenview Illinois on Chicagoland‘s North Shore.  It is home to 1,255 privately owned residences in 9 distinct neighborhoods.  The Glen’s “main street” called Glen Town Center offers scores of restaurants and shops, as well as a movie theater, coffee shop, book store, and Kohl Children’s Museum.  The development also boasts a lake, park, recreation center, playgrounds, and two golf courses.  Recently I did an accounting of all home sales in The Glen in 2013 by neighborhood using MLS data, and here is what I found:

Cambridge is the development north of W. Lake, and it runs from Patriot Blvd to The Glen’s Metra train station.  It has 278 homes (townhomes, duplexes, two-flats, and single family homes).  14 homes sold in 2013 totaling $7,702,500, an average of $550,178.

Chapel Crossing is a development east of Patriot Blvd and south of Chestnut.  It has 168 single family homes.  9 homes sold totaling $9,283,750, an average of $1,031,527.

Glen Shore is a condominium development on the north side of Chestnut, nearly bordering Lehigh.  It has 31 units.  3 units sold totaling $917,500, an average of $305,833.

Landings is a development south of Chestnut and east of Chapel Crossing.  It has 143 single family homes.  8 homes sold totaling $7,110,000, an average of $888,750.

Patriot Commons is a development west of Patriot Blvd and south of Chestnut.  It borders The Glen Club golf course to the west. It has 68 townhomes and condo apartments.  1 home sold at $465,000.

Regency is the new Pulte development a quarter mile north of W. Lake and west of Shermer Rd.  149 townhomes and ranch villas (and 2 SFH) are planned.  All but 9 units have been sold as of 2.15.14.  29 sales totaled $13,397,485, an average of $461,982.

Southgate Single Family Homes is a development south of W. Lake, and it is bordered on the west by The Glen Club’s golf course.  The southern boundary is Independence Avenue.  It has 237 homes.  11 homes sold for a total of $13,037,000, an average of $1,185,181.

Southgate townhomes are in the confines of the Southgate development.  There are 62 units.  6 homes sold totaling $2,320,000 an average of $386,666.

Tower Crossing is a luxury townhome development bordering Glen Town Center on 3 sides.  It has 154 units.  20 homes sold totaling $13,673,900, an average of $683,695.

Obviously it was a very successful year for home sales in The Glen.  For information about homes for sale in The Glen, please contact me at 847-401-1802 or by email margaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, Glen resident and @properties Realtor