Barrington IL Real Estate

Abandoned Barrington Homes - The Neighbors Were Thrilled About This One

Although Barrington has a much lower foreclosure rate than other parts of the Chicago suburbs, we have not escaped it totally. Our foreclosure rate is still relatively low but that is of no consolation to the neighbors that live next to an abandoned property for months on end until finally it is sold.

Illinois is a judicial state which means that foreclosures must go through the courts. A typically time-frame from start to finish is 10 months but in the last few years with the increased foreclosures in northern Illinois this has gone up. So if you have an abandoned home going into foreclosure next to you, you are probably going to have to look at an uncared for home for longer than you would like.

Yesterday I was asked by a bank to carry out a broker price opinion (BPO) on a home in the village. I knew where the house was, I had done a BPO about a year ago on the same property. At the time it was an abandoned unfinished project. It was originally a ranch home and the owners were adding a second level. Obviously they had run out of money as the house was only at Tyvek wrap stage and there was no-one there. It was listed for sale but as an unfinished home the price was far too high.

I arrived at the street and was completely perplexed. I know the house was on this street but it was no longer there. OK so maybe the heat was getting to to me. I made a couple of passes and found an empty lot. No I am sorry that's not possible, I am clearly going mad. So I drove home to look up the plat to make sure I was not suffering from heatstroke.



Today I revisited the site and the empty lot. I had indeed got the right property and the house was gone. The lot was all grass. Um? I knocked on a couple of neighbors doors and found a very helpful resident who explained that the property was abandoned, the basement had become flooded and so the Village of Barrington came and tore the house down. A very neat job too, you would never know it had a house on the lot. So the neighbors on that street were very happy. No ugly eyesore to look at or live next to anymore.

I called the bank this morning to leave an explanation. I am waiting their response!

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - * Abandoned Barrington Homes - The Neighbors Were Thrilled About This One *

Inverness On The Pond-Gated Community of Homes Inverness Illinois

One of the prettiest gated communities in my area is Inverness On The Pond which is located in Inverness Illinois. This community is home to about 400 resident families, lots of ponds and therefore geese, ducks and swans. I visited Inverness On The Pond to take pictures of a home that has unfortunately gone into foreclosure. I provide these for the banks when asked and give them an estimate of property value. Although today was not sunny it was nice to see the trees in bloom and the grass and shrubs are greening up nicely.

Inverness Illinois is home to primarily single family homes and most of the homes in this gated community - called Inverness On The Pond for very good reason - are also single family homes. There are a few townhomes here. Ownership is condominium which does mean they are condos. It is a type of ownership not a type of property. To you this means that your association is responsible for exterior maintenance, yard care, snow removal, for which you will pay a monthly assessment fee.

Access to this gated community is off Roselle Road just opposite the Inverness Golf Course entrance. Inverness On The Pond has a guard on the gate so only residents, service providers and those with appointments can get inside. This affords the residents with both security and a peaceful neighborhood.

Look at the swans on one of the ponds. Such majestic creatures - Mama to be is happily sitting atop her nest which no doubt has several eggs and signets will be here soon. There were a few Mallards around and both these birds live in relative harmony. The Canadian Geese were not around and generally do not get along with the swans very well. Swans are used as a deterrent to the Canadian Geese.

If you live at Inverness On The Pond you can take a leisurely walk around the gated community with a safe place for kids to ride their bikes away from constant traffic. Children will go to Marion Jordan Elementary School, Walter Sundling Junior High School and Fremd High School.

Real estate information for Inverness On The Pond in Inverness Illinois.

There are approximately 400 homes which were built in the 1980's. There are many ranches here which appeal to buyers like me with bad knees-too much skiing in my younger days! There are some 2 story homes. Construction is brick and frame and most homes have 2 car garages. Square footage ranges between 2000 and 3000 square feet. You'll find mostly 2 and 3 bedroom homes and full or partial basements are common. The townhomes are available in single story ranch style and 2 story.

An average real estate tax bill is $8000 a year and an average monthly assessment is $500

If you would like to view homes for sale in Inverness Illinois and the Gated Community of Inverness On The Pond feel free to use my search tool below. View the results already showing on the left or click the green button on the middle of the map and all the homes for sale will pop up on the streets. Have fun looking and if you have any questions please ask.

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Inverness On The Ponds-Gated Community of Homes Inverness Illinois*

 

Lake Barrington Shores Real Estate-Condos and Town Homes For Sale in this Gated Golf Course Community

Over the last 2 days I have spent much of my time in Lake Barrington Shores either looking at condos and town homes for sale with clients or attending home inpections for homes my clients have decided to buy. Based on my personal experience in the last two weeks Lake Barrington Shores is an in demand gated golf community in Lake Barrington.

So why is Lake Barrington Shores Real Estate popular?  First let's discuss the lifestyle. Look at the grounds as shown in these photos, think about a very large lake for leisurely boating and fishing - a club house with 2 swimming pools-one indoor - a fitness center - conference rooms and ballrooms - the 18 hole golf course - walking paths through-out the community - beaches and outdoor grills along the shoreline of the lake - a bike riding path - well now perhaps you can imagine that this is a little like being on vacation year round.

One of my clients has decided to buy a Lake Barrington Shores Townhome and this is the spring view from the front of that home. Many of the condos and town homes are located on small cul de sacs like this and the landscaping is gorgeous. Although there are no flowering trees or gardens during the winter there are towering evergreen trees providing some very pretty scenes with the snow so your view will never be dull. The landscaping companies are out in full force adding mulch - weeding - trimming and tidying up.

Residents whether real estate owners or renters have full access to Lake Barrington Shores Clubhouse. The view above shows the back of the clubhouse across from one of the many ponds and is where the outdoor swimming pool is with a big area for relaxing. It was almost warm enough for the umbrellas to go up on the picnic tables but the pool is not yet open. I expect in May if our weather holds they will open it up but for now the indoor pool is the place to be.

If you enjoy wildlife there is plenty of it in the gated golf course community of Lake Barrington Shores. Be prepared for deer-geese-squirrels-ducks-chipmunks and more. As i was sitting a home inspection I watched Mr and Mrs Mallard duck wandering across the back of the home no doubt on their way from pond A to pond B. And then comes along Mr Mallard no 2. I wondered if he had a crush on Mrs Mallard he was certainly in a hurry!

On an April day the weather here in Lake Barrington Shores was glorious. At 65F with the sun high in the sky the lake was beautiful. The trees are in bloom or halfway to full leaf coverage and now all you can see are the rooftops of the homes across the water. The Canadian Geese were pausing on the beach. Looks like he wanted to go back to swimming and she was heading for some grass for lunch.

If this type of lifestyle living is what you are looking for in the Barrington Illinois area - Lake Barrington Shores real estate is the place to be. You can search for your perfect condos and townhomes at my Barrington real estate web site or map the condos and townhomes for sale in Lake Barrington Shores and see which location would be perfect for you.

You can read more about my recent days in Lake Barrington Shores and the real estate for sale in my next blog post.


Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Lake Barrington Shores Real Estate-Condos and Town Homes For Sale in this Gated Golf Course Community*

Fox Lake IL Homes For Rent - 6 N Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, Illinois

Summer is coming and Fox Lake is glistening. It will not be long before the boating season gets under way and perhap you are looking for homes to rent in Fox Lake. Forget the condos - think single family home. Just listed a cute little ranch home very close to Pistakee Lake. This would suit one or two people and would make a great home for some-one who wants to love in the Fox Lake IL  area. At only $849.00 a month this is one of the most desireable smaller homes for rent in Fox Lake and is available from May 1st 2010.



The home is a 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom home and has the following features.
Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Foyer, 2 bedrooms, 1 large bathroom-no squeezing in here!

 

The large foyer could be used in many ways. Current tenant has it set up as a dining room and uses the other dining room as a family area.




There is a partial basement with laundry, the crawl storage space is reserved for the owner but you'll have planty of space. A large deck leads off the living room for lazy summer afternooons and the space inside this cute white picket fence is yours too. There is no rear yard which means no grass to cut. Great more time for enjoying the lake!



Got a boat? Lighthouse Marina is a short walk from the house and provides in - out boat service and slips are available for a very reasonable annual fee. So whilst the home does not have it's own dock or slip, it will not break the bank to have one at the Marina,



Owner is looking for a minimum one year lease please. No pets. No Smokers.
If you are in the market for rental homes in Fox Lake or Pistakee Lake Illinois call Corinne on 847-363-3686.

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Fox Lake IL Homes For Rent - 6 N Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, Illinois*

Barrington Hills Polo Club - A Very Well Kept Secret

Polo players, horse lovers and equestrian residents of Barrington Hills are likely to know all about The Polo Club of Barrington Hills.  Yet The Polo Club of Barrington Hills is a very well kept secret and cannot be found on an easy drive around the Barrington Hills Countryside. To visit the club you must be either a member or be invited as a guest.

So where is it and what goes on there? Although the formal address is on Bateman Road in Barrington Hills the Polo Club can only be reached by crossing private property. It is therefore necessary for the owners of that property to grant an easement for access to the polo club field. Members and guests that visit the club to play or watch matches or training must drive down a private residential road. So regardless of whether you know where it is or not, you cannot just go and watch, you must be a member or be invited. This is due to the restrictions laid down by The Village of Barrington Hills.


Originally founded in the late 1980's the Barrington Hills Polo Club has both a regulation grass field with full irrigation and a regulation outdoor arena as well as 2 smaller indoor facilities for the winter months. Barrington Hills Polo can be played year round. Barrington Hills Polo Club is the only Chicago-land club to have a training school. They offer fast paced matches and training as well as a juniors club. So even if you have never played before the school can have you playing polo on your very first lesson. Teacher are USPA rated players and students follow a proven-effective program. Guys and gals all welome to join.

If you would like to join and start playing polo call the lub at (847) 854-1415
The only "Open to the Public" event at Barrington Hills Polo Club in 2010 will be The Annual Kalaway Landowners Cup on September 12. See you there! The rest of the year is filled with events but remember-Members Only.

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Barrington Hills Polo Club - A Very Well Kept Secret*

Barrington IL Houses For Sale-Lakeview in Barrington Subdivision

Amongst the hundreds of Barrington IL Houses For Sale there are homes available for buyers interested in homes on the subdivision of Lakeview in Barrington. This is a subdivision of masonary and cedar sided homes of approximately 3000 to 4000 square feet in size and offers an opportunity to buy a larger home in the boundaries of the village. Located off Hillside Ave or Eastern Ave by Route 14 the subdivision of Lakeview got it's name from it's neighbor Bakers Lake -The Heron Rookery of Barrington Illinois.



There are 80 properties in Lakeview in Barrington Subdivision and all the homes conform to the neighborwood.  The homes are between 10 and 15 years old wth 4 to 5 bedroom and 2 and a half bathrooms up  to 4 and a half, 2 or 3 car garages and lot sizes are on average 0.30 acres. The average home size is 3500 square feet but you can buy smaller or larger as needed for you and your family.

Street names are:

• Lakewood Drive
• Lakewood Court
• Oakland Drive
• Oakland Court

Although the subdivision is fairly young the landscaping has become much more established in the last 5 years now the trees have grown and filled in. During the summer Lakeview in Barrington is alive with deciduous trees with gorgeous foliage added to the numerous conifers that provide year round greenery. On my visit the landsapers were busy mulching all the common flowerbeds and Daffodils were poking their leaves up in anticipation of warmer weather. Both entrances to Lakeview In Barrington appear very well cared for. There is an annual assesment of $700 which covers the maintenance and landscaping of Lakeview in Barrington.



If you are looking at Barrington IL Houses For Sale and do not want an acre or more to care for then this may be the place for you. Perhaps you want a house in Barrington Village so you are close to the Metra Line for commuting-if so Lakeview in Barrington is perfect for you too. The location is also close to the elementary and middle schools and not too far from Barrington High School either.

Currently there are 4 homes on the market with prices from $685,000 to $799,000. One of the homes in under contract. Not all of the basements in Lakeview in Barrington are finished - some are walk-out or English. If you are in the market to buy or sell your Lakeview in Barrington home I would be happy to assist you. Well priced young homes like these will sell under average market time which currently stands at 251 days  for the entire Barrington area.

To search these and all Barrington IL Houses For Sale please visit my Barrington web site.

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Barrington  IL Houses For Sale-Lakeview in Barrington Subdivision*

Barrington IL Townhomes For Sale-Lochshire of Barrington

Hillside Ave just off Route 14 in Barrington is home to a townhome complex called Lochshire of Barrington IL. Lochshire is home to 1 bedroom condos as well as 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes all in the brick and tudor syling shown below. Homes have 1 car garages.

The street names for Lochshire of Barrington are:

• Queens Cove
• Bristol Drive
• Hillside Ave

Lochshire Barrington is in a great location for commuters to Chicago. Just a minute to the Metra line station in Barrington or a 10 minute walk which will save your parking charges. Or just hop on Route 14 for a quick drive to the Village of Barrington or head south towards Palatine and Arlington Heights.The complex  is very close to Bakers Lake, home to hundreds of herons and other protected birds. Many units have a view of the lake.



You can buy a 1 bedroom condo in Lochshire for about $160,000 although there are no units available today. There are 2 townhomes available both with 2 bedrooms. One is a short sale listing at $220,000 the other also listed at $220,000 is not a distressed home. Both are updated homes with hardwood floors, granite counter-tops and stainless kitchen appliances. The units were built in the late 1970's and the complex looks well cared for.



Homes have 1 car garages but there are extra allocated parking spaces for many of the homes and visitor parking for friends and relatives as well. Some of the end unit town homes have fenced in personal courtyards for outdoor patios and grills.

Taxes on units here are less than $4000 a year and the monthly assessments are around $250.00 for the townhomes. The complex allows cats and dogs and with your close proximity to Bakers Lake walking Fido will be a joy not a chore. You can sit at the observation point and watch all the birds on the lake, it's right outside your front door. Keep Fido on his leash though, he'll be temtped to go for a swim on a hot summers day.

If you are ready to look at Barrington IL Townhomes For Sale, let's put Lochshire of Barrington on your list of places to consider. You might like to search for other condos and townhomes at my Barrington Real Estate web site.


Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Barrington IL Townhomes For Sale-Lochshire of Barrington*

Shorely Drive-Shorely Woods-Barrington Illinois-Condos For Sale

Shorely Woods of Barrington Illinois offers condos and townhomes for sale that are now priced very well and offer a great way for 1st time buyers to enter property ownership in one of the nicest and most respected villages  in the northwest suburbs of Chicago Illinois.



Shorely Drive is the only street in Shorely Woods Barrington IL which  is a small complex on a no through road and is located in the heart of the village. You can walk to the Barrington Library although most shops and the Metra station are probably a little too far to walk.



Both the condos and town homes are all brick construction and the homes were built in the early 1970's. You can buy a 1 bedroom condo at an entry level price of about $120,000. Other options are 2 bedroom condos, or 2 or 3 bedroom townhomes. Current prices go up to $195,000. Many of the townhomes also have basements.



Above you'll see some of the units are laid out in a courtyard style. There is adequate parking in front of your home as well as extra parking on both sides of the street which is still wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic. Not that it is every that busy here. Many of the units, even a 1 bedroom condo can have a garage.



The landscaping at Shorely Woods of Barrington Illinois is well established. With towering trees and conifers this small subdivision of condos and townhomes is very pretty especially in the summer. The subdivision is very well cared for and they certainly have a head start on their green grass, mine is still brown after all the snow. If you would like to buy a well priced condo or town home in Barrington IL, consider Shorely Woods. I would be glad to help you find a home here that is perfect for you.

Call me today 847-363-3686 or search for Shorely Drive Homes. 

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *Shorely Drive-Shorely Woods-Barrington Illinois-Condos For Sale *

It's Chilly Today at The Heron Rookery on Bakers Lake in Barrington Illinois.

Bakers Lake in Barrington Illinois is a natural beauty of the area. Located on the northwest outskirts of the Village of Barrington motorists drive up and down Route 14 every day passing the lake and might wonder what the contraption is that is in the middle of the lake and it's purpose. Today I visited the lake and spent some time watching the bird activity from the Bakers Lake Observation point which is just off Hillside Ave and Route 14. On a warmer day you can sit on the benches or wander along the trails but it was a little nippy as our temperatures are falling and the wind has picked up.



In the middle of the lake is an island is a utility pole construction that was constructed for the sole purpose of providing a safe environment for the herons to live and breed. It is home to a number of protected breeds of heron and provides over 200 nests. The lake is 112 acres but the nature preserve is 209 acres and does provide a sanctury for many other birds and wildlife. It was dedicated to the endangered herons in 1984 but underwent renovation in 2000. After Christmas every year Cook County Forest preservation who is responsible for maintaining the area adds used Christmas trees to provide the birds with nesting material.



The Heron Rookery is home to Colonial Nesting Birds; Black-Crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Double Crested Cormorant and Great Blue Heron. There are many other birds supported by the lake especially during the migration season. Late March and Early April will see the arrival of many of the birds. You will need a pretty good scope to see them. I could see a few flying and resting but later on in the spring the lake will become populated with hundreds of birds.



Bakers Lake is large and would be a temptation for boaters and swimmers but neither are allowed. In the distance you can see a home. There are a few properties that have lake frontage on the west side of the lake, no doubt the scenic views are breathtaking.

Bakers Lake is owned by Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Barrington Park District and Village of Barrington.

Copyright 2010 Corinne Guest All Rights Reserved  - *It's Chilly Today at The Heron Rookery on Bakers Lake in Barrington Illinois.*

As a real estate agent in Barrington Illinois and a resident of the Barrington area, I help people decide which Barrington Village is right for them. If you have decided that South Barrington Illinois is the village for you I can help you search all South Barrington Homes for sale until you find the perfect piece of South Barrington Illinois real estate. If you need more information this article will give you a little insight into South Barrington IL.  Of course if you have questions - feel free to call me or leave a comment here and I'll get back to you quickly.

South Barrington Illinois is located in Cook County IL and has a land area of about 6.5 square miles- it was incorporated as a village in 1960. There were about 1200 residential homes in the year 2000 with on average 30 new property permits issued every year with a peak in 2006 of 118. There is not much undeveloped land in South Barrington available for homes. Some of the permits issued are for lots previously bought by owners for future custom home building.

In 1976, Alexander Stillman donated land in South Barrington to the Audubon Society of Chicago.  The Society created the Stillman Nature center, which is a prairie preserve.  The village is also understandably proud of the fact that 45 private lakes and ponds contribute to the charm of the area. The largest is an 85 acre lake in The Coves of South Barrington.

Willow Creek Church is in South Barrington and the church owns some of the undeveloped land. A large piece of commercial land has recently been developed and is now the shopping center at The Arboretum of South Barrington at Higgins Rd and Route 59.

Where is South Barrington IL. Apart from the obvious that it is south of The Village of Barrington, you'll find it north of Higgins Rd, South of Palatine Road with most of the village between Barrington Road on the East and Route 59 on the west. Residents like the easy access to I 90 to commute to Chicago by road, the children go to the award winning Barrington school district 220, don't forget the new shopping mall - The Arboretum and South Barrington is close to Saint Alexius Medical Center a full service 331 bed community hospital

South Barrington Illinois Real Estate - Perhaps you need to know more about South Barrington Homes and Vacant Land before you can decide if this is the place to be. If you want a condo or a townhome you will not find any in South Barrington. There are only single family homes on 1 to 5 acres and luxury homes also on acres and lakes. Prices in South Barrington have come down since a high in 2005, with prices for some of the smaller and older homes starting as low as $550,000. The median price has dropped from about $1 million to $875000.

Sales of homes in South Barrington over time. In 2005 we had 65 homes sold, in 2006 it dropped to 36 but has remained steady with 37 sales in 2007, 33 sales in 2008 and to date 2009 we have closed 35 sales and there are 9 homes in South Barrington under contract.

South Barrington Foreclosure Homes - Short Sale Homes - There are 4 homes listed in South Barrington as a short sale - 3 have contracts on them. There are no South Barrington Homes listed as a foreclosure. The tax records indicate 16 properties either in pre-foreclosure or bank owned. 1 of the bank owned properties is a commercial property. The other bank owned is a home but has not yet been listed for sale. The remaining 14 are in the pre-foreclosure state. They may or may not become a bank owned home - Ask me why they don't all come up for sale.

If you are looking for luxury homes in Barrington, South Barrington is one of the villages to consider - It has long been known to have the highest price per acre of land - although Barrington Hills and parts of North Barrington come a very close second. Some of the subdivisions in South Barrington are:

• The Coves of South Barrington

• The Glen

• The Woods - Regency -Active Adult 55 Community

• Terra Vita Estates

• Magnolia Point

• The Ponds

• South Barrington Lakes

• Grey Cliffe

• Cutters Run

• Hidden Lakes

• Falcon Lakes

• Nathan's Glen

• Forest Knoll

• Hunter's Ridge

• Spring Creek

• The Preserve

• Willow Bay

• Crabtree Trails

• Stoneridge

• Eastings Mere

• Bridlewood

• Sunset Ridge Farms

• Cotswold Manor

Prices of homes in South Barrington start at $430,000 for a ranch on the active adult 55 community in The Woods to $8,900,000 for a luxury 23 room home in Hidden Lakes. The average home in South Barrington is 20 years old with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms on a 1.5 acre lot. You will find that construction quality is above average in most homes. There has never been a better time to buy a home in South Barrington, prices are as low as they'll likely get. Why? Well activity has increased in all areas of Barrington in the last 5 months, December has never been this active and so prices may start to creep up next year. Don't forget the $6500 tax credit if you qualify.

You can search for South Barrington Homes on the Barrington MLS at my Barrington real estate site - Or call today for personal help or a list of homes that match your needs.847-363-3686 - You can also browse for South Barrington Homes below.