Special offer

Wilmette, IL Real Estate News

By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
  Plaza del Lago Condos for Sale WilmetteUPDATED 2022Plaza del Lago is a tiny strip of lakefront land along Sheridan Road in Wilmette that has a history all its own. There are a total of seven condos or co-ops that were mostly built in the late 60s. They have been a perennial favorite of people that have sold their nearby homes and wanted to downsize and stay in the area. One building, 1630 Sheridan, is designated as 55 years and older.  Historically, prices at the Plaza del Lago condos were no bargain - they were expensive, had cachet, and were extremely sought after. In recent years they have been harder to sell because of new competition from senior housing such as V at the Glen (formerly the Hyatt) or the expansion of Mather Lifeways. Along with the drop in housing prices, these uni...
Comments 3
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Wilmette Homes for Sale Market Snapshot as of November 21, 2011 Wilmette has had fairly strong sales all year - and by strong I mean more sales than Winnetka, Kenilworth and Glencoe.  Strong also means that homes were priced better and sold faster.  Today is the Monday before Thanksgiving, so there are no new listings, but here is a breakdown of current Wilmette homes for sale: Under contract and pending are slightly different:  under contract means that a buyer has put in an offer but there is still a contingency period which typically includes holding an inspection and having an attorney review the contract.  The buyer can still easily cancel the contract at this point and recoup their deposit.  Pending is the stage after the inspection where the contract have been approved and the bu...
Comments 2
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
Wilmette Homes Sold in October 2011 Last month, 13 Wilmette homeowners sold their homes. 3 homes sold were Foreclosures. 2 homes sold were Short Sales. Currently, 131 homes are for sale. 31 homes have a pending contract. Based on last month’s sales, it will take 10 months to sell current inventory. Data provided by the Midwest Real Estate LLC (MRED) multiple listing service and includes properties listed and sold by various participants in the MLS. Data supplied does not reflect all market activity in the area.   Extraordinary value Houses that sell faster offer extraordinary value. Houses that offer extraordinary value are priced correctly at the get-go and show like a model home. If you want to sell your home quickly, you must offer extraordinary value. If you want to buy a home that ...
Comments 0
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
Homes for Sale in Wilmette (November 2011) Upscale homebuyers are discriminating and careful, and want the best home the North Shore has to offer at the right price. If you’re a homebuyer looking for a great deal on Chicago’s North Shore, look for properties where the homeowners are motivated. One indicator of motivation is market time … how long the property has been for sale. Another sign of motivation is by comparing current list price to original list price. The greater the price deduction, the more the homeowner has settled into the realities of the market place. Usually the two go hand-in-hand … but not always since homeowners who understand the value of their house are willing to wait for the right offer. Below is a sampling of homes for sale in Wilmette. Data provided by the Mid...
Comments 0
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
Have you been thinking of buying a house? The road to homeownership isn’t an easy path, but if you approach the process one step at a time, you’ll get there. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you purchased a house before, it’s going to be brand-new experience. So here’s a short primer. 1. Establish your purchasing power – If you plan to buy with all cash, then you’ll need to submit proof of funds. If you’re going to finance your purchase, you should be pre-approved for a loan. Be careful, though. Not all pre-approvals are created equal. A legitimate pre-approval requires verification of your stated income as well as a credit report. 2. Find a real estate agent to put your trust in– A good real estate represents your best interests, guides you through the buying process...
Comments 1
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka/Wilmette Chambers of Commerce host Women in Business Luncheon Unique Holiday Gift Ideas!   The Winnetka and Wilmette Chambers of Commerce are hosting the Women in Business luncheon tomorrow, Friday, November 4 and are presenting a very creative agenda.  Unique items from local stores will be displayed as suggestions for your corporate holiday shopping list.  Chamber member businesses have carefully chosen gifts for you to give this year. While most gifts chosen will represent an appropriate corporate gift, most items can also be given as personal gifts.   Stores from Winnetka/Northfield include:                        Oui Madame Artistica Italian Gallery Creme de la Creme Rocky Mountain Chocolate Ellen's on Elm Stores from Wilmette include:   The Raven and Dove Backyard Barbequ...
Comments 2
By Anne West, Your Guide to Real Estate on Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker)
Every year I look forward to seeing how the Weyermullers have decorated their yard for Halloween. For over ten years they’ve been lampooning local and national politicians with life-size statues and vignettes about some of the more controversial policy issues. They will happily skewer either or both political parties but say they draw the line on sex scandals. So you won’ be seeing any Anthony Weiner statues this year.   And the fun is not limited to politics. Being die-hard Cub fans (one can only assume) there’s always some “commentary” on the Cubs’ latest season. This year there’s a Cub fan rising from the dead with his heart in his hand and a sign that reads: “The Cubs yanked my heart out”  And, of course, there’s a statue of the Cubs’ new President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epst...
Comments 4
By Anne West, Your Guide to Real Estate on Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker)
This fall all Wilmette’s a stage as the Bard of Avon comes to town for a community-wide Shakespeare festival, courtesy of the District 39 Educational Foundation. In the past the Foundation’s Fine Arts Fund has brought us performances by Second City, Broadway Ballyhoo and  The Jubilate Children’s Choir. I asked Fine Arts Committee Co-chair Tim Scherman how they decided on a Shakespeare theme for this year. I suspected that Tim may have been biased by the fact that he is an english professor, but he said that the real reason they chose Shakespeare is that they were looking for something on a bigger scale than a single performance, in order to bring more visibility to the Foundation and its work. A Shakespeare festival offered the opportunity to have a multi-faceted event, with readings, ...
Comments 0
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
The Bahai Temple in Wilmette IL Sometimes taking the scenic route along Sheridan Road in Wilmette can take you off the beaten path. I was on my way into Chicago, but when I saw the dome of the Bahá'í Temple, I had to take a detour.   Bahá'u'lláh said, The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”   In a word, the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette IL is stunning. As you drive along Sheridan Road, the dome rises up, unmistakable in its power and beauty. The building was designed by Louis Bourgeois and built in stages between the 1920s and the 1950s, and formally dedicated in 1953. In 1978, the temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The day I pulled off Sheridan Road was a fine, sunny day. A wedding was taking place inside, so visitors weren’t welcome. But there we...
Comments 0
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
You earned it. You bought it. You loved it. Now you want to sell your Wilmette home. Last month, 21 Wilmette homeowners sold their homes. Nine homes sold within 2 months. All of those homes sold within 10% of list price. What does the future hold for Wilmette real estate? Only this … You can’t change the past. Or predict the future. You can only deal with the present. I know this isn’t the answer you were looking for. But if I told you anything else — like real estate is about to explode and prices will skyrocket through the roof — you wouldn’t believe me. I could tell you to sell now by arguing the market will get even worse next year. But I really don’t know what the market will be like next week much less 12 months from now. I could tell you to wait until the market bounces back. But...
Comments 0
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Wilmette Rain Barrels for Sale The Village of Wilmette recently purchased 40 rain barrels to resell to Wilmette residents who are interested in these water-saving devices.  The rain barrels collect and store rain water for future use in watering your lawn and garden. There are two sizes:  50 gallon (the red one) and a 55 gallon (the gray one.) The specifications for these rain barrels are: Diameter – Approximately 70 inches (terra cotta) and 72 inches (grey) Height – Approximately 35 inches (terra cotta) and 39 inches (grey) Colors Available – Terra Cotta and Grey (see picture below) Includes – Flex elbow for attaching from downspout and linking hose The rain barrels can be purchased at the Wilmette Village Hall for $55.46 and picked up at the public works facility at 711 Laramie.   Cli...
Comments 3
By Anne West, Your Guide to Real Estate on Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker)
Price and presentation are the two reasons we usually think of when a home doesn’t sell. But there’s another reason, one that sellers don’t always realize can an obstacle to getting an offer: buyers cannot get in to see the house. Maybe the owner places restrictions on showing: 24 hour notice required, no showings between 12:00 and 3:00 pm, etc. Home owners may think that these are reasonable restrictions…can’t the potential buyer just rearrange his schedule or come another day? Well, maybe and maybe not. In a strong seller’s market, you can probably get away with it, as there are more buyers competing for fewer houses. But in today’s market, when buyers have plenty of other choices, they may not bother to come back at a more convenient (for you) time. Here’s a situation I ran into last...
Comments 6
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
The Village of Wilmette — population 27,000 — is a beautiful suburb on Chicago’s North Shore. Just north of Evanston, Wilmette hugs Lake Michigan and boasts homes built just last year or a hundred years ago. Known for its excellent school system, its close-to-the-city location, tree-lined streets, proximity to the commuter rail line as well as the Edens Expressway and the Wilmette-to-Downtown-Chicago el service from Linden Street Station, Wilmette has it all. Find newer homes or vintage homes. Many have been rehabbed and updated, and some are left for new homeowners to do themselves. Choose from a multitude of architectural styles, such as bungalows, American 4-square, cottage, arts & crafts, prairie, colonial revival, craftsman, Italian renaissance, cape cod and more. Houses for sale r...
Comments 16
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
The Cage or Indian Hill Estates in Wilmette? Where to Buy a Home? Updated 2022Home buyers looking to buy an upper-end home often concentrate on the CAGE area of Wilmette - roughly the area east of Green Bay Road comprised of Chestnut, Ashland, Greenwood, and Elmwood streets (I include Forest as well.)  In Wilmette, as in Kenilworth, the more expensive homes are located east, or closer to the lake.  Or are they?Indian Hill Estates is an enclave located just southwest of Indian Hill Club and matches the CAGE in terms of home prices.  In ambiance, they are decidedly different.  Indian Hill Estates was a planned community with most homes having been built in the 1930s and later - lots and homes here are larger and most homes are brick. The CAGE's housing stock is much older, some turn of t...
Comments 5
By Anne West, Your Guide to Real Estate on Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker)
Are you eager to find a good deal on some antiques? Or maybe you have what you think is an antique and want to find out what it’s worth. You can do both this Saturday, September 17 in Wilmette. You can buy antiques and collectibles at the St. Joseph Oktoberfest and Antiques Market or you can bring your treasures to the North Shore Treasures Appraisal. Here are the details: St. Joseph Oktoberfest and Antiques Market An annual event held in the church parking lot on the corner of Ridge and Lake in Wilmette, features antiques vendors from Sandwich and Kane counties from 9 am to 4 pm. There is also a Family Festival, with games, entertainment and a “biergarten” tent. In the evening there’s a traditional German dinner at 6:00 with an Oompah band, followed by a dance at 8:30 featuring HipHugg...
Comments 3
By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
You earned it. You bought it. You loved it. Now you want to sell your Wilmette home. Nothing can stop you if selling your Wilmette house is a must-do goal You cannot test the market. Or dip your toes in the water. You have to go full throttle and pull out all stops to make your dream become a reality. Listing your house for sale isn’t the same as selling your house If you own a house in Wilmette, consider yourself fortunate to live in such a vibrant and popular community. It may be ‘cooler by the lake’, but it’s still a hot real estate market. Wilmette won’t ever go out of style.   Data provided by the Midwest Real Estate LLC (MRED) multiple listing service and includes properties listed and sold by various participants in the MLS. Data supplied does not reflect all market activity in t...
Comments 0
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Files Stuffed With Old Bank Statements and Checks? Old Medicines and Cell Phones Lying Around? Wilmette Has a Special Shredding Day for You I've been into offices and basements of Wilmette clients who have not thrown out any important paperwork in dozens of years.  These bank statements, canceled checks, income tax statements and credit card summaries may have private and sensitive information on them.  It's not smart to dump them in the garbage. If you are faced with this dilemma and are thinking of clearing out some files, you will be happy to learn that the Wilmette Park District is having a shredding day at the Mallincrodt Community Center parking lot.  Just bring in your boxes -  a shredder, provided by Edens Bank, will make mincemeat out of your paperwork.   At the same time, they...
Comments 17
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Avoca West School Parents Meet & Greet with Dr. Gendel, Principal There is still time to attend an informal meet and greet with Dr. Gendel - she will be meeting with small groups of parents in the Avoca West conference room.  Here are the dates and times: Tuesday, August 16 at 5-6 p.m.   Tuesday, August 16 at 7-8 p.m.   Wednesday, August 17 at 8-9 a.m.   Wednesday, August 17 at 10-11 a.m.   Thursday, August 18 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.   Thursday, August 18 at 4:00-5:00 p.m.   If you can attend, please e-mail Mary Herlinger at herlingm@avoca37.org to sign up, or call 847-724-6800       Avoca West School, 235 Beech Drive, Glenview, IL    Avoca School District 37 serves portions of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glenview, and Northfield Illinois.  
Comments 0
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Dare I Say the "F" Word? No!  Not that word!  The other one, the real estate related "F" word.  Flip. So, now that you're over that shock - let me explain.  I have been seeing properties on the market that are offered for very good prices.  No surprise there - except that some of them seem ripe for a do-over that might yield a dividend when sold.  These houses are crying out for some simple (not inexpensive, mind you) change that will bring them up to par with others in the neighborhood. I recently saw several three-bedroom homes in Wilmette that have the perfect layout for a family room and master bedroom addition. Lots of people used to buy those types of homes then add on these rooms as their family grew. Maybe they also expanded and updatee the kitchen at the same time and had it op...
Comments 7
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
  Wilmette School District 37 2011-2012 School Calendar Oh yes - it's that time again.  We are just getting adjusted to the heat and humidity and suddenly we have to start thinking about Back-to-School.   Schools in Wilmette District 37 include Avoca and Marie Murphy.  Avoca  and Marie Murphy school are located in Wilmette but serve a wide area including portions of Wilmette, Northfield, Glenview, and Winnetka.  Avoca serves kindergarten through 5th grade, while Marie Murphy is for 6th through 8th graders.   Wilmette District 37 School Calendar - Avoca School Wilmette District 37 School Calendar - Marie Murphy School
Comments 1