Margaret Ludemann

Conditions are favorable for home sales

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Stepping back from my usual Glen-specific blog content, I thought I would share with you some thoughts about the state of the housing market generally.

The environment for home sales remains strong as it has been for the last couple of years. Jobs are critical to a strong housing market, so I was heartened to see that the nationwide unemployment rate recently dropped to 5.1% which is the lowest rate in many years. Consumer confidence, which of course is influenced by low unemployment, is strong; and that means that people feel good about spending money…and in the context of housing, to purchase their first homes or to purchase higher priced homes.

The other hugely positive factor that is impacting housing is available credit. Sure, it’s not like the wild, wild west days that fueled the build-up to the bubble, and that’s good. But slowly and surely lenders are becoming more reasonable about lending standards, making mortgages more readily available to prospective home buyers. Specifically as it relates to The Glen – which has an abundance of high price point homes – many of the largest banks have loosened credit standards for jumbo mortgage loans which exceed conventional loan limits.

So all of this is good news for home sellers and home buyers. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with me. I am an award-winning Realtor with @properties who lives in the Glen (in Glenview Illinois), and I would be delighted to discuss the benefits of living here.

Margaret Ludemann            847-4-1-1802   margaretludemann@gmail.com

Huge luxury townhomes at Tower Crossing in the Glen

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I frequently receive calls from home buyers interested in The Glen (in Glenview Illinois) who want large homes but without the maintenance of grass to mow and walks to shovel. I immediately tell them about Tower Crossing, a Glen development with townhomes ranging in size from roughly 3,000 sq ft to over 4,000 sq ft.

Tower Crossing is one of 13 development areas (9 with privately owned homes) in The Glen. It was developed by Kimball Hill Homes which built the 154 townhomes beginning in 2003. The development was completed in 2007. All of the homes were sold by the developer and are now available from time-to-time from individual homeowners.

There are six basic models in Tower Crossing.  Here are the sizes of each model:

Valencia – 3031 sq ft  (bridge units 3401 sq ft)

Drake – 3075 sq ft

Astoria – 3210 sq ft  (end units 3500 sq ft)

Biltmore – 3600 sq ft

Omni – 3625 sq ft (bridge units 4105 sq ft)

Blackstone – 3840 sq ft

The point is that Tower Crossing’s townhomes are large by any standard of any kind of home including single family homes. As townhomes go…they are extremely large.  Home prices in Tower Crossing begin in the $600,000’s, and larger models sell in the $800,000’s.

For more information about Tower Crossing you can go to my proprietary website www.towercrossinghomes.com or call me at 847-401-1802. Alternatively you can email me at margaretludemann@gmail.com. I am a Tower Crossing homeowner and an award winning Realtor with @properties.

Margaret Ludemann

 

Your Pie and Funtopia coming to the Glen

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One of the wonderful things about living in The Glen (in Glenview, Illinois) is the vast array of fun things to do and great places to eat…all within a short walk of any home in the development. And there are two additions coming to Glen Town Center, the Glen’s “main street”.

Your Pie is coming soon, and it sure looks tasty, pardon the pun. Your Pie is a make-your-own pizza restaurant where you select the dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings. So you can make a pizza just the way you and your family like it. You can also make your own Paninis and salads. Gelato is on the menu, too, along with your choice of soft drinks or craft beer. I live in the Tower Crossing neighborhood of the Glen which is only a block away from what will soon be this great addition to the Glen. Not only am I excited about Your Pie, but so are my husband and son. OK, especially my son. (He’s a teenager with a teenager’s appetite!)

Funtopia will open in early 2016, and what a great addition to the Glen. Geared especially for kids, Funtopia will offer climbing, games, and a play area. More information will become available soon.

The Glen is a special place to live. There are numerous neighborhoods with every possible housing type including single family homes, townhomes, row homes, two-flats, and condos. The price points are in the $300s to over $2 million. But homeowners will tell you that their homes are only part of the enjoyment in living here. It’s the whole lifestyle…the boutiques, restaurants, movie theater, and bookstore. There is something for everyone in the Glen.

If you may be interested in living in the Glen, give me a call or send an email. I’ve lived here for 12 years, and I am a Glen-focused, award winning Realtor affiliated with @properties.

Margaret Ludemann   847-401-1802   margaretludemann@gmail.com

Great schools serve children living in The Glen

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A dozen years ago my family and I were moving back to the Chicago area after living in Boston for a few years. We began our home search in downtown Chicago where we had previously lived. But the more we thought about it the more our focus turned to school quality, and that led us to The Glen in the near-by north shore community of Glenview.

We have been thrilled with the schools here. Our son recently graduated from Attea Middle School located in The Glen, and one week from today he’ll start high school at Glenbrook South. GBS, as it’s known, is one of the highest ranked high schools in the country. Academics are strong, and the offerings go well beyond the normal curriculum one finds in most high schools. For instance the foreign language program offers courses in five languages. Five! French, Spanish, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. Oh, and American Sign Language. I guess that makes six languages. My son will be taking Japanese, and he can’t wait. Many of his friends will also participate in the Glenbrook Academy of International Studies in English, Social Studies, and World Languages. And the results? Well, 95% of graduates go on to college; the average ACT score is 25; and 89% of students earn AP scores to qualify for college credit.

The GBS experience, though, goes well beyond the classroom. There are 48 clubs at GBS. My son will be joining the fencing club and a few others. Yes, there is a fencing club. Imagine that. And it gets even better. If a student wants a club that doesn’t yet exist, he or she is encouraged to start one. In addition to clubs, GBS offers 8 boys sports and 14 girls sports. There is something for everyone in this outstanding high school.

So, if you are thinking about a move, you should take a long look at The Glen. Homes of all kinds are available including single family homes, condos, townhomes, row homes, duplexes, and two-flats. Home prices range from the $300’s to over $2 million. If you would like to know more about The Glen, the schools, and homes currently listed for sale, please give me a call at 847-401-1802. Or you can email me at margaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann,   @properties Realtor and Glen homeowner

The Glen’s art fair was a huge success…again!

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The annual Glen Art Fair was held this past weekend, August 8 and 9, and as always it was a huge success. This prestigious (and fun!) event attracted scores of artists from throughout the United States to Tower Drive, Glen Town Center’s “main street”. Attendance was high, and as they say, a good time was had by all.

The Glen is the north shore’s premier lifestyle community, meaning it has beautiful homes, an outstanding array of restaurants, upscale shopping, jogging trails, golf courses, tennis courts, and a picturesque lake.  It is located on the site of the former Glenview Naval Air Station in Glenview, Illinois, approximately 18 miles north of downtown Chicago.

Visitors to the fair were treated to art of many genres including paintings, photography, sculpture, glass works, folk art, crafts, cartooning, digital art, and even what is known as “wearable art”. In fact, as I’m typing this blog, I’m wearing a striking blouse that I purchased at the fair. I live in the Glen’s Tower Crossing development only a block away from the fair!

This will all occur again next August. You might want to jot it down in your calendar. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as those of us who are fortunate homeowners and residents of The Glen. And if you may be interested in living in the Glen, please give me a call. I am a local realtor who specializes in Glen properties – single family homes, row homes, town homes, two flats, duplexes and condos.

Margaret Ludemann

@properties Realtor   847-401-1802   margaretludemann@gmail.com