Westgate at the Glen

Homeowner associations’ role in a home sale

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Home sale transactions in The Glen generally involve homeowner associations after an agreement has been reached between buyers and sellers. When the Village of Glenview Illinois took ownership of the former Naval Air Station Glenview in the late 1990’s it developed a master plan for its use. The result is what we now know as The Glen with large areas of luxury homes, a retail area known as Glen Town Center, commercial space for corporate and professional offices, and open space as well.

The residential areas were divided into several large parcels, and home builders were allowed to submit bids for development. This resulted in the following neighborhoods being built: Cambridge, Chapel Crossing, Glen Shore, Landings, Southgate, and Tower Crossing. Three additional developments have since been built: Regency, Patriot Commons, and Westgate. The latter two are still under construction. Homeowner associations, generally referred to as HOAs, were created; and they are governed by boards of directors composed of residents.

Generally speaking if a home is being sold in an area governed by a homeowners association – whether it is The Glen or elsewhere – that association will likely be asked to provide governing documents such as articles of incorporation, bylaws, covenants, rules, and regulations. They also are asked for financial information and the status of legal actions. Attorneys representing the buyer, seller, and lender review these documents. It is important for the buyer and the lender to understand the financial and legal health of the association. Among other things they want to know whether there are outstanding obligations that could impact the new owner. If there are lawsuits or excessive debt a buyer may not wish to complete the purchase and/or the prospective lender may choose to deny the home mortgage application.

The HOAs that I am aware of in The Glen are sound, and seldom do I hear of problems that result in a failure of a housing purchase. I am a Glen resident, and I am an active Realtor in the local real estate market. If you may be interested in buying or renting a home in The Glen, please contact me at 847-401-1802 or margaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, @properties Realtor

The real estate market is strong this year…nationally and in the Glen

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As a realtor I’m asked about the real estate market every day.  And since I live in The Glen, a luxury home development in Glenview Illinois, everyone wants to know how homes are selling here.  Well, the market is strong, thank you very much.

Home sales are up nationally and in in the Glen. New construction is leading the way; and in the Glen that means in the Westgate and Patriot Commons neighborhoods.  It’s anticipated that new home sales will be up over 20% across the country. Existing home sales nationwide will likely increase 5% to 7% this year which is also strong.

The strength of home sales is primarily due to three factors:

  1. First time home buyers. Rents have increased substantially this year, encouraging many renters to purchase homes.
  2. Lending standards have eased up which is increasing the buyer pool.
  3. Continued low interest rates. Mortgage interest rates have trended up modestly in the last few months (about a quarter point), but they remain low by historical standards. Thirty year fixed rate loans are currently at about 4.1%, and jumbos are at this same level. Many home sales in the Glen – particularly in the Southgate, Tower Crossing, Chapel Crossing, Landings, and Cambridge neighborhoods – involve jumbo loans. Jumbos typically carry a somewhat higher rate, though that is not the case currently. Interest rates may increase a bit more in 2016 and 2017 making now a good time for buyers (and therefore for sellers, too).

The Glen is a wonderful place to live. In addition to all of the beautiful homes, the community lifestyle is hard to beat. There are two great golf courses, both within walking distance of any home in the Glen. The central marketplace is called Glen Town Center which has numerous restaurants (casual and upscale), many shops and boutiques, a movie theater, and a book store. If you are interested in living in the Glen, please contact me. I am a long time Glen homeowner and an award winning realtor affiliated with @properties.

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

If you love golf you’ll love living in The Glen

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Name another community like the Glen that has two quality golf courses within walking distance of every home.  (I’m waiting.  Still waiting.  Yup, still here…and still waiting.)

One of the great things about living in the Glen is the easy access to The Glen Club and Glenview Prairie Club…two courses of very high quality and open to the public. The Glen, as you may know, is a Chicago north shore residential and retail development on the grounds of the former Glenview Naval Air Station. There are 2,000+ luxury homes of all varieties; and home prices range from the $300’s to over $2 million.

The Glen Club is well known and highly regarded locally and throughout the country. It’s an 18 hole championship course designed by the legendary Tom Fazio. The course is beautiful to look at and challenging to play. Golf Magazine currently rates it as the fourth best courses you can play in Illinois and among the Top 100 in the United States. When it opened in 2001 Sports Illustrated listed it as a top 10 new course. A stately 48,000 square feet clubhouse offers overnight lodging and first class dining. The club offers private corporate memberships, but it is also available to non-member individual golfers.

Located just across West Lake Avenue you’ll discover a jewel of a public course, the Glenview Prairie Club which offers Paddle Tennis courts as well as golf. The course is meticulously maintained (by The Glen Club!), and it is beloved by Glen residents who prefer a shorter round of golf.

Many Glen homes have great views of these picturesque golf courses, and several are currently for sale. Fifty-five magnificent “estate” single family homes in the Southgate subdivision border the Glen Club’s course as do nine stunning townhomes in Tower Crossing. Several townhomes and villas in the lovely Regency and Patriot Commons neighborhoods also have great views. A new housing development in the Glen (Westgate, still under construction) will have views of one or both courses.

If you are a golfer who may be interested in living in the Glen please contact me for additional information. I am a long time Glen resident and an award winning Realtor with @properties.

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

Home prices in The Glen…by Neighborhood

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Home prices in the Glen vary by neighborhood, and they range from the $300,000’s to over $2 million. There are ten subdivisions within the Glen development. Each was conceived, designed, and built by its own developer between about 2000 and…well, two neighborhoods are still being built. I’m frequently asked about home prices in these various neighborhoods, and that’s the topic of today’s blog.

But first a little background. The Glen resides on the land which was formerly Naval Air Station Glenview. When the base closed the land was sold to the Village of Glenview for development. In addition to privately owned residences, the Glen has an exciting retail area known as Glen Town Center. There are also parks, a lake, golf courses, a middle school and so much more. It has become the North Shore’s premier residential and retail community.

OK, now for housing prices; and I’ll break them down for you by neighborhood:

Cambridge has 244 single family homes, townhomes, row homes, duplexes, and two-flats. Prices range from the $400’s to over $1 million depending on housing type.

Chapel Crossing has 167 single family homes with prices between the mid-$800’s to approximately $1.4 million

Glen Shore offers 31 condo apartments priced in the $300’s to $500’s.

Landings’ 143 single family homes reside adjacent to Chapel Crossing with similar price points.

Patriot Commons currently has 68 completed townhomes and condo apartments; and more are under construction. These can be purchased from the $400’s to $700’s.

Regency is a newly completed subdivision with 149 townhomes and attached villas (duplexes), and two single family homes. Price points are in the $400’s to the high $700’s.

Southgate is composed of 237 single family homes ranging from $1 million to over $2 million. This community carries the highest price points in the Glen.

Southgate (on Langley Circle) has 62 townhomes and villas selling in the high $300’s to $500’s.

Tower Crossing’s 154 townhomes offer several models with prices in the mid-$600’s to mid-$800’s.

The Westgate neighborhood (currently under construction) will have 171 homes, a mix of single family, townhomes and row homes. Price points are between the high $400’s for townhomes to the low $800’s for single family homes.

So as you can see there is a great deal of variety in neighborhoods, home types, and pricing in the Glen. If you would like to learn more about homes in the Glen, please contact me at 847-401-1802 or margaret.ludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, Glen homeowner and @properties Realtor.

Construction of Westgate at the Glen is in high gear…homes are still available

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There are still single family homes, row homes and townhomes available at Westgate at The Glen in Glenview Illinois on Chicagoland’s north shore. Westgate is a new residential development at the corner of Shermer Road and West Lake Avenue, across the street from two outstanding golf courses.  It is also a short walk to Glen Town Center‘s many shops and restaurants. The developer is E.R. James Homes, a well-regarded local builder who earned his Glen props over a decade ago when he developed the super popular, high end Southgate neighborhood.

The Westgate development is well under way. In fact the Phase 2 Grand Opening for the row homes is scheduled for this upcoming weekend (May 2 & 3). The important thing to know, however, is that there are still new construction homes available whether your interest is in single family properties, row homes or Mews townhomes.

Perhaps the hottest residential trend these days is first floor master bedrooms. Westgate’s single family homes and some of their row homes offer first floor masters, so if that’s important to you and if you want to live in the Glen, this is the place for you.

Westgate’s single family homes range in size roughly between 2600 and 3000 square feet; and they offer three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and two-car garages. The gourmet kitchens will take your breath away. Delivery of the single family homes will be in 2016. Prices range between the upper $700’s and low $800’s.

The row homes range in size between about 1885 and 2464 square feet and in price between the low $500’s and low $600’s, great pricing for new homes of this size and quality. This is especially true given that it is in the ultra-popular Glen. A few first floor models and end units are still available!

The Mews townhomes have three levels, screened in porches and decks. A very cool option is to build the porch into an internal den. These homes range in size between 2000 and 2200 square feet, and a few end units are still available. Delivery can be anticipated in late 2015 to early 2016.  Prices range between the high $400’s and low $500’s.

If you’re interested in Westgate homes and Glen living please contact me. I am a long time Glen homeowner and @properties Realtor, and I would be delighted to help you select your perfect home whether in Westgate or elsewhere.

Margaret Ludemann, Realtor

margaret.ludemann@CBexchange.com     847-401-1802