townhomes

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

Glen Home Types: Something for Everyone

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I’ve heard some residents suggest that there are far too few townhomes, condos, and villas in The Glen.  I’ve heard others say that the development is over populated with attached housing.  The truth?  Well, they’re both…wrong.

The Glen is a development within Glenview, Illinois on land that was once Naval Air Station Glenview.  But calling it a development doesn’t do it justice.  It’s really a village within a village as evidenced by Glen Town Center (the shopping and dining “main street”), multiple neighborhoods, parks, two golf courses, commercial offices, and a lake, school, and movie theater.  And just like any other town or village, it has a variety of housing types.  One of the brilliant strategies of the Glen’s master plan is the balance of single family homes and multi-family, attached home types.

My research shows that approximately 52% of Glen properties are single family homes.  Currently there are 670 such homes ranging in size from about 2500 sq ft to nearly 7,000 sq ft.  The largest SFH neighborhood is Southgate with 237 properties, followed by Chapel Crossing with 167 homes, Landings with 143 homes, and Cambridge with 123 homes.

This leaves approximately 48% of the Glen’s properties as multi-family.  Within this broad category are 5 different home types.  There are 409 townhomes, 99 condos, 64 villas, 35 duplexes, and 13 two-flats.  These 620 homes range in size from under 2,000 sq ft to over 4100 sq ft.  Multi-family housing is found in the Tower Crossing, Southgate, Cambridge, Glen Shore, Patriot Commons, and Regency neighborhoods.

So there is something for everyone in The Glen, whether you are looking for a comfortable condo or a majestic mansion…or anything in between.

Margaret Ludemann, resident of The Glen, @properties Realtor, email margaretLudemannl@gmail.com

How fast are Glen homes selling? REALLY FAST!

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Don’t blink your eyes or you’ll miss the sale of a home in The Glen.  Really!

The days on market for homes in The Glen have gone from a snail’s pace a couple of years ago to “not bad” last year to warp speed in 2013.  About a month ago I put a Tower Crossing townhome (Blackstone model with 3840 sq ft) on the market at $789,000, and it sold the same day.

A couple of weeks ago I put a single family home on the market in Glenview.  The next day I had 50 people tour the home with appointments, and a day later over 70 people attended my open house.  A contract was signed within 4 days.

A couple of days ago I put another Tower Crossing townhome on the market at 11am.  I received my first call  36 minutes later.  I showed the home over the lunch hour, and a purchase contract was in by 3pm.  It took 4 hours to sell a property listed at $699.000.

The same dynamic is occurring throughout the several neighborhoods in The Glen and in greater Glenview.  So, what’s going on?  Well, the real estate market has turned.  Buyers used to have all of the leverage.  So they made low ball offers, many of which were accepted by desperate sellers.  But now…well, there are only 2 homes for sale in the uber-upscale Southgate neighborhood of 299 homes.  Not a typo.  TWO!  In Tower Crossing’s 154 home development only 5 homes are for sale.  Limited inventory and high demand can be seen in other Glen communities such as Chapel Crossing, Landings, and Cambridge.

So anyone interested in buying into The Glen needs to move fast.  But…it’s worth it to live in this magnificent community.

Margaret Ludemann (847-401-1802)

Resident of The Glen, @properties Realtor

Prairie Golf & Paddle Club Almost Ready

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The Glenview National 9 Golf Course in The Glen (of Glenview, Illinois) has added a new 2600 sq ft clubhouse over the winter months.  I got a sneak preview this weekend, and I really mean “sneak”.  I was taking photos of the exterior of the new facility – which has NOT yet opened – when an employee came out an asked me what I was doing.  I explained that I am a local Realtor who blogs about The Glen regularly.  When he walked back inside…I followed him, much to his surprise.

The new clubhouse is beautiful and functional.  When opened (best guess, early May) it will have a pro shop, bar & grill area, fireplace, and event space.  An outdoor patio is also under construction.

The bigger news is the addition of four paddle tennis courts just outside of the clubhouse.  Paddle tennis is a cross between tennis and racquetball played in enclosed 60′ X 30′ courts.  These courts (and the clubhouse) are directly across the street (Lake Ave) from the north commons area of the Tower Crossing townhome development, which means it is also across the street from The Glen Club Championship Golf Course designed by Tom Fazio.  They are about one block from the western edge of the Cambridge development which has single family homes, townhomes, villas and duplexes.   In fact the course, clubhouse and paddle tennis courts are within a short walk of many Glen homes and within a few minutes drive from any home in The Glen.

Because of the addition of paddle tennis, the old name (Glenview National 9) is being replaced by a new name, Glenview Prairie Golf & Paddle Club.  From my brief, very unofficial tour of the new clubhouse I would say it’s about 95% done.  A few small things are still to be done inside, and I see that landscaping is missing a few items yet to plant.  If you would like more information about living in The Glen, please contact me at 847-401-1802.

Margaret Ludemann, resident of The Glen and Coldwell Banker 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