It’s priced at $599,000 and here’s why it’s such a great value:

• It’s light and bright and has charming vintage details including a fireplace, hardwood floors throughout, formal dining room and a kitchen with good storage space, as well as a family room off the kitchen. The basement is finished with a play room and office area. A walk-up attic offers plenty of additional storage. The two-car garage is an unusual bonus for homes of this vintage.

• The location in Kenilworth Gardens can’t be beat. It’s on a quiet street with an easy walk to Harper School and Highcrest Middle School, Thornwood Park and the Kenilworth Metra station.

• It’s priced lower than comparable homes in Kenilworth Gardens, which go for between $635,000 and $699,000.  The seller is also offering a home warranty plan for the buyer. There’s room to add on for a larger master bedroom plus bath, and would be easy to accomplish given the home’s layout.

The downside? There’s no AC, but a space pack can be added for less than $10,000. And it could use some cosmetic updating here and there.

The listing agent is Maureen Spriggs with Coldwell Banker. You can see a virtual tour of the house here. If you’d like to see this home in person, please give me a call at 847-687-5957. I’d love to show it to you.

It’s priced at $599,000 and here’s why it’s such a great value:

• Lots of space in the house, the yard and the garage: It has good-sized rooms. Plus there’s a large screened in porch which expands the living area. There’s lots of living space and storage in the finished lower level. The yard is larger than comparably priced homes at 50′ x 187′ . And there’s a 4 car garage, part of which could be converted into an office or studio.

• It retains its vintage feel, but is updated where it counts (kitchen and bathrooms) and the updates are in keeping with the character of the house. The floors have been refinished, central air has been added and the windows were replaced within the last ten years.

• It is very conveniently located. You can walk to town and trains as well as to Crow Island School.

The downside?  If there is a downside to this house it is that it is on Willow Road, which does have a fair amount of traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours. But if you’re used to living in the city, this might not bother you.

See the virtual tour of this house here. If you’d like to see it in person, just let me know. I’d be happy to show it to you.

It just came on the market and is listed at $134,900. Here’s why it’s such a great buy:

• It is the least expensive condo in Wilmette, Winnetka or Glencoe, so if you need or want to live in this area and are on a tight budget, this could be a great option for you.

• It’s spacious and bright, with an easy living floor plan. Two bay windows in the living room flood the unit with light. The living room is very large and the kitchen is big enough to comfortably accommodate a table for four. There are several closets and plenty of storage.

• It’s centrally located between the Harper and McKenzie school districts and convenient to the PACE bus and shops along Ridge Road and Lake Avenue.

So, what’s the catch? The only drawbacks are: 1) the unit is dated (but not offensively so); 2) there’s no in-unit laundry (but the laundry room is easily accessible on the first floor of the building); and 3) there is no covered parking (but the unit does come with an assigned parking space).

If this looks like something that could work for you, just give me a call. I’d be happy to show it to you. 847-687-5957

The market has been in such turmoil and there is so much inventory to sort through that it can be downright overwhelming for buyers, unless they have a lot of help from their agent. Naturally in my line of work I see some great buys out there and I am going to share them here.  Sometimes they will be my listings or my partner’s, but mostly not. I am going to be as objective here as I possibly can.

Today’s pick:
811 Ouilmette Lane in Wilmette.

It is currently listed at $710,000 and
here’s why it’s such a great value:

• It is the only home for sale in Wilmette or Winnetka below $799,000 that has 5 bedrooms and 3.1 baths. At this price point you will find mainly 3 bedrooms or 4 at the most. To have both 5 bedrooms AND 3.1 baths (including a separate master bath) is a real find. Plus it is a solid brick home in a classic colonial style.

• The property, located west of Ridge Rd, east of Hunter and south of Lake, is on a quiet street in the desirable Harper school district. The downside of some of the other homes in this price range is location on a busy road.

• It is in pristine condition and needs no work. The kitchen is new, as is the family room. Some of the other homes you’ll find at this price in Wilmette and Winnetka are fixers or need considerable updating.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure I will tell you that this one is my partner’s listing. But that is not why I wrote about it. It really is a great bargain. Take the virtual tour and see for yourself. If you’d like to see it in person, just give me a call: 847-687-5957.

Prices have been significantly reduced on the remaining units at  Mallinckrodt at 1041 Ridge Road. These luxury condos feature high end finishes, in-unit laundry, heated indoor parking, convenient location and gorgeous park setting. Most of the units can be customized to the client. Three finished models are also available for sale.

Attention dog lovers: this is one of the only condo buildings in Wilmette that allows dogs as well as cats.

Several different floor plans are available in sizes ranging from 1,180 to 2,193 square feet.

Prices ranging from $235,000 to $499,000 are 30% below original list prices.

Mallinckrodt is an age-determined building, meaning that at least one of the deed-holders must be 62 years old. No one under 18 years old can be a permanent resident.

Mallinckrodt is a 5 story 180,000 square foot Italian Renaissance structure built in  1918 as a convent and a college. It was converted to 81 condos after a group of citizens petitioned to prevent the historic building from being torn down for development of single family houses. The adjacent 14 acre park is held in perpetuity by the Wilmette Park District as open space.

The models are open most weekends. Or, give me a call at 847-687-5957 if you’d like an appointment to see the available units.