North Shore

Planes, Trains and Automobiles: The Glen is a convenient place to live.

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One of the great advantages to living in The Glen (an upscale development in north shore community Glenview, Illinois) is its proximity to rail, automobile and air transportation.  When my family and I moved here 10 years ago, our primary considerations were the quality of schools, the Glen Town Center lifestyle, and the stunning townhome we were purchasing at Tower Crossing.  Only after we moved here did we learn how easy and fast it is to get around.

Having previously lived in the city we hoped to make regular trips downtown.  We were happy to learn that the new Glen Metra station would deliver us to Union Station in 30 – 45 minutes depending on time of day.  The station is especially close to the Cambridge neighborhood with its many townhomes, duplexes, two-flats and single family homes.

Speaking of trains, Amtrak stops at the Glenview station, about 5 minutes away by car; and it is very helpful to people needing to get to Milwaukee (67 minutes) or to Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport (52 minutes).  Using Mitchell gives air travelers an additional option.

A huge surprise was the speedy trip to O’Hare.  At that time my husband was travelling extensively.  How pleasant to discover that the morning trip to O’Hare took 23 minutes, and an evening return trip took about the same time.  Reverse commute traffic is to thank for that.

The best news of all is that if you don’t want to go anywhere there is much to do right here in The Glen.  We have 15 restaurants, a movie theater, spa, art gallery, and scores of shops in Glen Town Center which is walking distance or very short drive from any home in The Glen.  It is particularly close to the Chapel Crossing, Patriot Commons, Cambridge and Tower Crossing developments.

If you would like to learn about homes in The Glen, please give me a call at 847-401-1802 or by email at margaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, Glen Resident and @properties Realtor

Rising Home Sales & Prices in The Glen

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Recently I was asked to give a presentation about the real estate market to a group of business men and women.  While preparing my presentation I was struck by the words I saw on my laptop’s screen, words that I had written, but startling none-the-less:  sales are up, prices are up, time on market down, far fewer distressed properties.  Seeing these words on the screen put a smile on my face.  I decided to create another slide that I would have prepared not very long ago:  sales stagnant, prices flat & still falling in some areas, time on market still way too long, too many distressed properties dragging down prices.

Bob Dylan was right, The Times…they are a-changin’

Real estate in The Glen is doing quite well.  Most north shore communities saw increases in prices in 2012 of between 2% – 3%, most of those gains being won late in the year.  But prices in zip code 60026 (dominated by The Glen) rose 4.5% last year, in contrast with greater Glenview (zip code 60025) at 2.9%.  While there are many reasons for The Glen’s superior price performance, I believe the attractiveness of our community’s lifestyle is at the top of the list.  Glen Town Center’s many shops and restaurants (as well as its theater, spa, book store and art gallery), along with Lake Glenview, Gallery Park and golf courses, make this a particularly wonderful place to live.  Our variety of homes, from stately single family homes in Southgate, Chapel Crossing, and Landings to stunning townhomes and villas Tower Crossing, Cambridge, and Regency also attract buyers.

Improving prices are welcome news to Glen homeowners, but buyers have reasons to smile as well.  Prices are still well below their peaks of 5 years ago.  North shore communities are still between 20.5% and 26.1% below those highs.  So this is a great time to buy a Glen home while prices are still below their peaks and before they get any higher.

Margaret Ludemann, resident of The Glen, @properties Realtor

Market Update: Townhomes in The Glen

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It has been a busy spring for attached homes (townhomes, row houses, villas) in The Glen, the premier residential, retail, and dining venue in Glenview, Illinois.

The newest housing development in The Glen is called Regency.  Pulte Homes is currently building 109 townhomes and 40 villas ranging is size from 1523 sq ft to 2493 sq ft.  The development is not yet sold out, but homes are moving rather quickly.  Buyers are attracted to The Glen, and also by the prospect of purchasing new construction at competitive prices in an area known for excellent schools.

The row homes and villas in Southgate were built approximately 9 years ago; the development offers 38 row homes and 24 villas ranging in size from 1585 sq f to 2055 sq ft.  There are no homes on the market currently.  (Homes do show on the MLS and in this website, but they are under contract.  They are removed from the MLS and website when the purchases close.)  3 have sold so far in 2013 and 6 were sold in 2012.  These homes are so popular that they sell rapidly.

There are 3 Tower Crossing townhomes currently for sale.  This development includes 154 homes in 6 models which range in size from 3031 sq ft to 4105 sq ft.  2 of the homes currently for sale are Drake models (3075 sq ft) with elevators!  They have direct views of Lake Glenview and Gallery Park.  The other home for sale is an Astoria model with 3210 sq ft.  There are 2 Tower Crossing homes for rent currently.  7 homes in this development have sold or are under contract so far in 2013, and 3 have rented.  11 sold and 12 rented in 2012.

If you are interested in a luxury townhome or villa on the North Shore, please contact me at 847-401-1802.

Margaret Ludemann

 

Living near The Glen Club, Glenview Illinois

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Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to be thinking about golf!  One of the great benefits of living in The Glen is proximity to The Glen Club’s 18 home championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio.  The course is open to the public, and it also offers memberships.

The Glen Club opened in 2001 to rave reviews.  It is the only golf course in the country that was named in all three of the Top 10 New Course lists (Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Sports Illustrated). More accolades followed including the Zaget Survey which put the club on its list of America’s Top 50 Golf Courses (2003 – 05); and Great Lakes Golf Magazine named it the best golf course in Illinois.  The club has been host to numerous Nationwide Tour tournaments; and it is the permanent home of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

The Glen Club is located in The Glen within walking distance of nearly every home.  55 homes in the Southgate On the Glen development and 8 Tower Crossing townhomes border the course, and several other homes in these developments have course views.  In addition to these neighborhoods, homeowners in Regency in The Glen and Cambridge at The Glen are particularly close to the clubhouse.

The Glen is unique and wonderful in so many ways.  Homeowners’ proximity to one of the country’s premier golf courses is one of them.  The Glen Club is located at 2901 West Lake Avenue in Glenview, Illinois.  You may reach the club by phone at 847-724-7272.  If you will be visiting from out of town, the club offers elegant hotel rooms in the clubhouse.

Margaret Ludemann,   Resident of The Glen, @properties Realtor

Phone:  847-401-1802,   Email: margaretludemann@gmail.com

Big year for home sales in Southgate in The Glen

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Southgate sign at the corner of Patriot Blvd and Independence.

Southgate in The Glen is experiencing a big year in home sales.  In fact, nearly double as many Southgate homes have already sold in 2012 vs. all of 2011, and the year isn’t over!

Southgate is one of the wonderful communities in The Glen, Glenview Illinois.  There are 299 homes in the 104 acres of Southgate.  237 of these are single family detached homes,  55 border The Glen Club’s championship golf course.  There are also 62 attached homes:  38 are row homes and 24 are villas.

A little sales history will prove my point regarding the big sales jump in 2012.  Seven Southgate homes sold in 2011, which is about the average over the last three years.  But so far in 2012, thirteen homes have sold.  Plus there are three homes under contract, waiting to close.  I suspect that at least two of these will close yet in 2012, so Southgate should end up with 15 sales for the full year.

What’s behind the increase in sales?  Let’s begin with the community itself.  Southgate is one of the most desirable neighborhoods on the north shore.  The homes are stunning in appearance and built with the highest quality of materials and workmanship.  Second, many people waited to buy their next homes until the economy improved and jobs became more secure.  Well, that time has arrived, and the buyers are looking for quality properties. Third, prices are well below their 2006 highs, but they are beginning to increase.  So now is an ideal time to buy.  Finally, mortgage interest rates are at historically low levels.  It all adds up to a boom in Southgate sales.  If you are interested in a Southgate home, please contact me at 847-401-1802.