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Winnetka, IL Real Estate News

By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Wild and Wet Spring in Winnetka and the North Shore Suburbs Hold on to your hat (if you're smart enough to wear one!)  It's not just the rain, but wind and hail too. Whatever little sayings you have heard about Midwestern weather, they are surely all true this Spring of 2011. One of the first things that transplants moving here must get used to are the wild swings in weather - 80 and sunny on Monday, then 45 and blustery on Tuesday.  This spring has seen many of those kinds of days but mostly it's been just plain . . . damp. If  you have taken to watching the new HBO show, The Killing, where Seattle is the backdrop, you will have an idea of how much rain we've been getting.  I've been buying umbrellas only to have them whipped inside out and made dangerously unsafe with spokes dangling ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
I Saw the Home Alone House Today in Winnetka Today, the Home Alone house, at 671 Lincoln St. in Winnetka, IL,  was open for brokers to preview - a business card was required to insure that only licensed real estate agents were viewing the home. The home was built in 1921 and is gracious, comfortable, and . . . well, famous.   But other than a few Home Alone posters, it feels like all well-kept homes built in that era.  Beautiful moldings, large rooms, high ceilings and enough updates to feel like you could move right in.   The dining room is enormous (17 x 15), the family room is off the thoroughly modern kitchen but the real delight is the lovely screened porch that overlooks a very deep and lush backyard (lot size:  114 x 206 or about one-half acre.)   There are three bedrooms on the ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Toni Preckwinkle Coming to Winnetka Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is coming to the Winnetka Community House to discuss "The State of the County."  She is planning to answer questions about taxes, programs and goals of her administration.  Toni Preckwinkle has an aggressive and reform minded goal for Cook County, which she took control of after the election against Todd Stroger in November of 2010.  She was the first woman president of Cook County and took two-thirds of the vote. Registration for this event is required and can be done by emailing:  newtrierdems@sbcglobal.net with the subject line "Preckwinkle Forum" and you must add the names of all attending. Did you know that Cook County is the second-most populated county in America and 19th largest government in Americ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Buying a Home in Winnetka?  Hire an Agent That Represents YOU You've been looking for homes online for months that might work for you in Winnetka or another North Shore village. Sometimes you go out on Sundays and check out a few open houses to get a better feel for the area and neighborhood.  Then Boom!  You see the perfect house for you online and can't wait to call and make an appointment, or you've walked into an open house and know you've found your new home. What happens next?  Regardless of how you found the house, you may be tempted to call the listing agent and set up an appointment with them to see the house.  After all, they are the ones who put up all the advertising or sit at the open house with their names and contact information readily available.   Don't do it!. When you...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka Public Schools - "Little Learners Program" In September 2010, the Winnetka Public Schools launched a new preschool program entitled "Little Learners," in coordination with the Northern Suburban Special Education District.  The program is held at Greeley School in Winnetka and is open to 3-5 year olds. This blended class has a maximum enrollment of 14 students, of which seven spaces are for students with special needs.   The program is designed to target 50 different goals for young students in various areas of development including cognitive, language, motor development and social-emotional.  Children in the class will explore interests such as dramatic play, games, art, sand and water, music and movement, cooking, computers and outdoor activities.   The program is open to Winn...
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By Ilyce Glink, Best-selling author, award-winning TV/radio host.
(Think Glink Media)
Whether you are in the market for a home for your family or looking for a place to foil burglars, the home from the 1990's movie Home Alone can be yours. On today's CBS Moneywatch blog, I give you the scoop about this iconic piece of real estate and movie history. Home Alone was ranked number one in the box office and grossed $476,684,675 worldwide. The protagonist "Kevin!" played by Macaulay Culkin, is left behind over Christmas and successfully defends the 4 bedroom, 3 bath 4,250 square foot, three-story home from burglars. The home could be yours for just $2.4 million. The home is located in Winnetka, an affluent suburb of Chicago and is just blocks from the shores of Lake Michigan. The property was built in the 1920s and features a red-brick, Georgian-style architectural design. Of ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
UPDATED 2022   Is Your American Flag Ready for Retirement? I know that you are not supposed to let an American flag touch the ground and that it should be burned when it's too old and tattered for use anymore.  Did you know that it is disrespectful to fly an old faded and torn flag?  Did you know that burning them used to be easy when they were made of cloth, but nowadays many are made of nylon and burial is actually proper for those types of flags.There are some very explicit directions to follow when disposing of an old flag - just tossing it whole into a burning fire is not proper protocol.  The flag needs to be treated with dignity and respect as befitting our national symbol. It has led the way in many American battles, untold numbers have died for it, and it even is proudly situat...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
There are currently 21 homes under contract/pending that are priced over $2 million in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth and Glencoe, with the high end home priced at $7,785,000.  That breaks down to 7 in Glencoe, 4 in Kenilworth, 1 in Wilmette, and 9 in Winnetka.   I think that's a tremendous rebound from a sluggish high-end market, particularly in light of the fact that there are only 25 homes under contract priced under $500,000! Check out the numbers in this chart:     The highest number of under contract homes is still under $1,000,000.  The total of under contract homes is 167 across all price ranges, which leaves 473 homes still for sale. An interesting side note is that these 167 homes wipe out the equivalent of everything for sale in Winnetka.   Not all homes close, and some of th...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka Spring Town Meeting The 2011 Annual Winnetka Spring Town Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at the Washburn School auditorium at 515 Hibbard Road.  There will be reports by the presidents of the Winnetka/Northfield library Winnetka Park District, Winnetka District 36 Board of Education Village Council. There will be a question and answer period with a microphone at the front of the auditorium, and residents only are allowed to ask questions and are limited to one. For more information, please see:  The Winnetka Caucus Council Spring Town Meeting
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
UPDATED 2019  "Home Alone" House in Winnetka  Plucky hero, Keven McAllister (Macaulay Caulkin), hasn't set foot in this Winnetka house since 1990, but the memory of him setting off wildly inventive booby traps lives on in this Winnetka home.  On any given day, cars can be seen slowing down in front of the home to snap photos and imagine the young child left behind trying to thwart off the two home burglers, Harry and Marv.   The 14 room, four-bedroom brick home famously features the staircase that Culkin sledded down, and sits on approximately 1/2 acre, just a few blocks north from downtown Winnetka. The current homeowners purchased the home for $1,585,000 in 2012.    SEE ALL WINNETKA HOMES FOR SALE  Sign up to get monthly North Shore real estate news delivered to your inbox.It's free, ...
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By Anne West, Your Guide to Real Estate on Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker)
Bargain shoppers and yard sale hounds, you will think you died and went to heaven when you come to Winnetka Congregational Church’s spring rummage sale on May 12. While there are several good sales on the North Shore, this one is the grand-daddy of all rummage sales. It raises more than $200,000 in eight hours and has had the distinction of being recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest one-day rummage sale in the world. There are 31 “departments”  at this sale, with pretty much anything you can think of: clothing (men’s, women’s, kids’), shoes, furniture, electronics, toys, tools, linens, housewares, antiques, books, etc. There are 800 volunteers who work for weeks to sort, assemble, organize and sell all of the donations they get throughout the year. Although rummage ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Closed Home Sales for April 2011 Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield Winnetka - Sales were up by 7 units in April over March for a total of 16 and the list price to sell price ratio improved to 90%. Wilmette - Sales were up by 1 unit to a total of 16 with the ratio staying about the same at 90%. Kenilworth - Kenilworth posted 2 sales, down from 4 in March. Glencoe - Sales were down by just 1 unit, with a total of 14 and 82% of list price. Northfield - Five units sold, up from just two in March, but the list price ratio was down to 75%. As of today, May 3, 2011, there are 531 single family homes for sale in the five villages, 105 are under contract (still waiting to clear contingencies) and 68 are pending (contingencies have cleared.)  These numbers indicate a 10 month ab...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka Annual Spring Clean-Up Week is Here May 2 - 5   Piles of junk everywhere.  Or at least piles of stuff since a lot of what Winnetkans throw out looks like it's very reusable.  In fact, the quiet streets of Winnetka are fairly busy with people driving trucks arounds looking to make some good "finds."   The village will pick-up just about anything except  yardwaste, dirt, stone, construction materials or debris, logs, liquid and paint.  Just pile your stuff on the curb and if the rehabbers and junkmen don't take it, the Village surely will.  The village website says they will pick up anything that 2 men can reasonably pick up. Here's the schedule for the Winnetka Annual Spring Clean Up: Monday, May 2 - north of Tower RoadTuesday, May 3 - Tower Road to Pine Street Wednesday, May 4 ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
"Kids Against Hunger" Comes to the Winnetka Community House Today, Saturday, April 16 I volunteered (along with several hundred other people) to pack specially prepared high-protein meals bound for Nicaruaga.  The Winnetka Community House in Winnetka was the location for an assembly-line production where bags were filled with four ingredients that would feed one family for a day.   First we put in a vegetarian chicken-flavored powder, then freeze-dried vegetables, followed by a soy protein, and finally rice.  The bags were then weighed, sealed, and boxed.  Added to water, these ingredients make an extremely protein-rich nutritious meal.  Volunteers today packed 100,000 meals which are already on their way to Nicaragua. This event was hosted and coordinated by KIDS AGAINST HUNGER, a huma...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Calling All Artists to Winnetka Every artist dreams of their own studio - a place full of bright natural light.  A space large enough to spread out and have several easels going at once and where it's quiet and private yet just within reach of other family members.   If you are an artist and are looking for a great home in Winnetka, this may be just for you. The artist-in-residence here built this studio ten years ago and thought of everything.  Floor to ceiling windows, skylights, and a floor made to handle spills and splashes.  Yet there is still a living room, den, and basement recreation room for others to pursue their interests. 3 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Bathrooms Landscaped yard Close to schools and transportation $689,000
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By Judy Chapman
(Referral Network of Illinois LLC)
During the most recent 12-month period, real estate in Winnetka remained flat when compared to the prior 12-month period. For an average-priced home currently valued at $1,264,585, this works out to be a loss of around $5,592, or .4%. This bodes extremely well for selling your Winnetka home, since the suburb seems to be escaping the persistent downward trend of some nearby suburbs. In order to stay ahead of the curve, it’s still good to keep in mind the persistent weak market that’s taken market value down. 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. You never get a second chance to make a first impression When your ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Winnetka Landmark Preservation Awards Nominations Due Thursday,April 12 The deadline is near if you are planning to nominate a home for Winnetka's annual Preservation Awards.  Each year, Winnetka honors construction projects that are done in keeping with the history and character of the village.  Their are three categories: Restoration, Rehabilitation, and New Construction.   Rehabilitation The project restores the property to its original appearance using original plans and required research. The project may be a full-scale or partial restoration. An example of a partial restoration would include the replacement of an asphalt shingle roof with original roof material, or the restoration of a porch to its original condition Restoration The project is sympathetic to the building's origina...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Affordable Housing in Winnetka Winnetka has gotten a lot of press lately (much of it negative) due to its decision to take up the discussion of affordable housing in the community.  Some of the discussions and comments  have been wildly off mark so it's really  important to be knowledgeable about this proposal. Tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 12, at 7:30 the Winnetka Village Council will have a study session and begin talks on this controversial subject.  The Village Council originally looked into affordable housing in 2005 when it directed the Plan Commission to further study the issue.  Focus groups were held and the conclusion suggested that "there is a quantifiabl need for affordable housing in Winnetka."  A vocal group of opposed residents is the Winnetka Home Owners Association (WH...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Cook County Forest Preserves Cutting and Burning Buckthorn! Invasive Species. Kudzu. Pampas Grass. Yellow Starthistle. They are all a problem somewhere, but here in the midwest, it's Buckthorn.  I know, because my neighbor has one that overhangs my yard, and it's a big chore to clean up and get rid of new growth.For the beautiful forest preserves that wind in and around the Chicago area, Buckthorn is a major intruder choking out the native flora. The Forest Preserve District of Cook Count Volunteers works hard to maintain the forest preserves in their original state. It's a big job - fully 11% of Cook County, or 68,000 acres, are forest preserve land.  Volunteers are an integral part of this mission - from cutting and burning buckthorn, maintaining trails, and sowing native seeds.Many ...
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By Noah Levy, Coldwell Banker Highland Park IL
(Coldwell Banker)
Cafe Buongiorno in Winnetka Illinois One of My Favorite Spots on Chicago's North Shore. Situated in the Laundry Building in Winnetka this small eatery serves breakfast and lunch only.  This is one of my favorite spots to meet friends or clients. Mary Jo and Themis, the owners, are always there to greet you. If you frequent there more than a few times Mary Jo will greet you by name. The service is always great and the food is that is served in made from scratch.  Terrific and creative omelets for breakfast, if you prefer  an egg white omelet just ask.  The homemade soups are divine - my favorite is the butternut squash. Great sandwiches and salads too - I suggest the Greek Salad. The last time I was there, I just picked up a of bowl of soup to go. If you are having a busy day and are loo...
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