Kane County-Sun City Huntley Single Family Homes

Rainbow over Sun City Huntley

I am a homeowner in Sun City Huntley. In a previous post I wrote about the ranch style townhouses at Sun City, a development for people aged 55 and older. It is located in Chicago's northwest suburb of Huntley, close to Interstate 90 and Illinois Route 47. Part of Sun City is in Kane County and Part in McHenry County. Most of the homes in Sun City are detached single family. The development is about 10 years old now, having been started by Del Webb. In 2001, Pulte purchased the Del Webb Company and homes built since then have been built by Pulte. The thirteen Del Webb models are available as resale homes.

The detached homes are available in a number of different ranch style models, all with attached two or three car garages, either on a slab or with full or walk out basements. The club home models, range in size from the 1197 square foot York with two bedrooms and two baths to the 1551 square foot Potomac, with two bedrooms plus den, formal dining room and great room. The club homes are built on smaller lots than other detached homes and are priced lower. Future York, James and Potomac models will have somewhat larger lots and will be called manor homes. They will be the final neighborhood of homes built at Sun City Huntley. Other single family homes are divided into three series, classic, premier and reserves. Sizes range from just 1539 square feet for the Fox to over 2800 square feet for the Ashcroft.

Potomac Club Home

Fox Model Home

Activities at Sun City Huntley include two state of the art fitness centers, three swimming pools, a woodworking shop, tennis courts, a softball field, a fishing lake, Wildflower Park, walking and biking trails, a golf course and much more.

Sunset over Sun City, Huntley

In addition to the townhouses and detached homes, Sun City Huntley also has a three story condominium building with heated underground parking. It is adjacent to the Meadowview Lodge and swimming pool. With the variety of housing types and activities, Sun City Huntley has something to suite everyone's taste and budget.

Sun City Huntley, Detached Single Family Homes

Rainbow over Sun City Huntley

I am a homeowner in Sun City Huntley. In a previous post I wrote about the ranch style townhouses at Sun City, a development for people aged 55 and older. It is located in Chicago's northwest suburb of Huntley, close to Interstate 90 and Illinois Route 47. Part of Sun City is in Kane County and Part in McHenry County. Most of the homes in Sun City are detached single family. The development is about 10 years old now, having been started by Del Webb. In 2001, Pulte purchased the Del Webb Company and homes built since then have been built by Pulte. The thirteen Del Webb models are available as resale homes.

The detached homes are available in a number of different ranch style models, all with attached two or three car garages, either on a slab or with full or walk out basements. The club home models, range in size from the 1197 square foot York with two bedrooms and two baths to the 1551 square foot Potomac, with two bedrooms plus den, formal dining room and great room. The club homes are built on smaller lots than other detached homes and are priced lower. Future York, James and Potomac models will have somewhat larger lots and will be called manor homes. They will be the final neighborhood of homes built at Sun City Huntley. Other single family homes are divided into three series, classic, premier and reserves. Sizes range from just 1539 square feet for the Fox to over 2800 square feet for the Ashcroft.

Potomac Club Home

Fox Model Home

Activities at Sun City Huntley include two state of the art fitness centers, three swimming pools, a woodworking shop, tennis courts, a softball field, a fishing lake, Wildflower Park, walking and biking trails, a golf course and much more.

Sunset over Sun City, Huntley

In addition to the townhouses and detached homes, Sun City Huntley also has a three story condominium building with heated underground parking. It is adjacent to the Meadowview Lodge and swimming pool. With the variety of housing types and activities, Sun City Huntley has something to suite everyone's taste and budget.

Thanks for the invitations, Stewart

Stewart-Thanks for inviting me to join the LA connection and condo specialists groups. My first thought was that I don't live in LA, but, I guess there are only six degrees of separation between any of us. Maybe some day I will get out to Los Angeles or West Hollywood.  As for the condo specialist,  I actually used to be a condo and loft specialist, when I lived in the City of Chicago, but, out in the suburbs it is more single family homes. However, I've been doing a series of posts on townhouse developments in Chicago's northwest suburbs, so I still do condos/townhouses. You seem to be making an impact on Active Rain.

I'd like to reciprocate and ask you to join the group I started, ABR-Accredited Buyer Representatives. You don't have to have the ABR designation to join or post, just be interested in buyer's issues.

Townhouses in Sun City Huntley

Sun City Huntley is an active adult development for people aged 55 and older. It is situated northwest of Chicago, near interstate 90 and Illinois route 47. Sun City was originally develped by Del Webb and later homes were built by Pulte. At completion, the subdivision will have over 5500 homes. Sun City is so large that it strattles two counties, Kane County and McHenry County. Amenities at Sun City Huntley include the 94,000 square foot Prairie Lodge complete with indoor pool, ballroom, the Walleye Grill restaurant and a pub. There are meeting rooms and hobby and craft rooms for those interested in increasing skills in art, pottery, and computers, among other interests.

There is also a lake with a fishing pier, two outdoor swimming pools, walking trails around Wildflower Park the Whisper Creek Golf Club, a woodworking shop and softball and tennis facilities.

The first thing people think of at Sun City Huntley are the detached single family homes, but there are also some very attractive ranch style townhouses or villas available. All the homes are a single level, with an attached garage, allowing for easy access. The developer sold the last neighborhood of new construction townhomes last year, but there are a number of resale townhomes on the market at any given time. Currently available townhomes range in price from just under $140,000 to around $225,000.

Generally the prices of the townhouses are lower than those of the detached homes; however, monthly assessments are higher. The reason for this is that, unlike the detached homes, the maintenance fee for the townhouses includes exterior maintenance such as lawn care and snow removal.

Whether you are considering a purchase or sale of a single family detached home or a townhome, it is to your advantage to contact a Realtor who can help you. I live in Sun City Huntley and hold a number of real estate designations, including Accredited Buyer Representative and Seniors Real Estate Specialist. I am available to help you with Sun City or elsewhere in the Chicago area.

Townhouses in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs-Sun City Huntley

Sun City Huntley is an active adult development for people aged 55 and older. It is situated northwest of Chicago, near interstate 90 and Illinois route 47. Sun City was originally develped by Del Webb and later homes were built by Pulte. At completion, the subdivision will have over 5500 homes. Sun City is so large that it strattles two counties, Kane County and McHenry County. Amenities at Sun City Huntley include the 94,000 square foot Prairie Lodge complete with indoor pool, ballroom, the Walleye Grill restaurant and a pub. There are meeting rooms and hobby and craft rooms for those interested in increasing skills in art, pottery, and computers, among other interests.

There is also a lake with a fishing pier, two outdoor swimming pools, walking trails around Wildflower Park the Whisper Creek Golf Club, a woodworking shop and softball and tennis facilities.

The first thing people think of at Sun City Huntley are the detached single family homes, but there are also some very attractive ranch style townhouses or villas available. All the homes are a single level, with an attached garage, allowing for easy access. The developer sold the last neighborhood of new construction townhomes last year, but there are a number of resale townhomes on the market at any given time. Currently available townhomes range in price from just under $140,000 to around $225,000.

Generally the prices of the townhouses are lower than those of the detached homes; however, monthly assessments are higher. The reason for this is that, unlike the detached homes, the maintenance fee for the townhouses includes exterior maintenance such as lawn care and snow removal.

Whether you are considering a purchase or sale of a single family detached home or a townhome, it is to your advantage to contact a Realtor who can help you. I live in Sun City Huntley and hold a number of real estate designations, including Accredited Buyer Representative and Seniors Real Estate Specialist. I am available to help you with Sun City or elsewhere in the Chicago area.

To my dog, Awgy, on his 13th Birthday

Life as a real estate broker can be very demanding and stressful, so it is a wonderful thing to have a constant in your life on which you can rely. For me, my miniature poodle, Awgy, has been a constant source of comfort for nearly 13 years. We got Awgy on my 46^th birthday, exactly 40 years after getting my first dog ever, Beauty. My family got her after years of listening to me beg for a dog. But, back to Awgy. He came from a private home where he lived a pretty sheltered existence with his mother, siblings, one standard poodle and, of course, some humans.

At the time we got him my partner and I lived in a densely populated area of Chicago, where, I swear, the population of dogs seemed almost equal to that of people. I had taken a week off work to help in housebreaking him. That week was actually spent nursing him back to health and constantly fearing he would die. He must have contracted a virus from some dog or dogs in the neighborhood which caused him to vomit and have diarrhea whenever he woke up. Eventually he recovered, but I think the virus left him with a lingering bladder infection which caused him to leak. He took nine months to totally housebreak. In addition we had a Portuguese Water Dog, Emmie, who was dog aggressive. We had to keep them separate until she warmed up to him at which time she decided she was his mom.

After the initial bad start, Awgy has had a pretty good life. When we were both working, he we had a dog walker who took him and Emmie out during the day. In the evening, they would get another long walk. Emmie is gone now, but Awgy is still enjoying life. He goes everywhere with us, from visiting relatives, to trips around the Midwest and even to Florida.

In return, Awgy provides the unconditional love that only a dog can. If you have ever been around poodles, you know that they have an incredible sense of playfulness. They are among the most social able of all breeds. It is great to have him around and learn from him as he enjoys the simple things in life, like a walk in the park, running or playing with a ball. Lastly, although he doesn't like to be left alone, he doesn't get angry. He always greets me with a wagging tail when I come home at the end of the day. Those of us who have dogs realize how much they add to our lives, so this is in appreciation of Awgy and all the pets that enrich our hectic lives.

On a related note, my mom got a small dog, Fifi, a Papillon, after her being without a dog for a few months following the death of her 12 year old sheltie. You can read that story on a past blog post. I want to thank Fifi for making my Mom's life much happier. Sometimes a pet, even at 5 pounds, can be a lifesaver.

Townhouses in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs-Gilberts Town Center, Gilberts IL

The Village of Gilberts, located northwest of the City of Chicago, was incorporated in 1890. Gilberts is situated northwest of Elgin, southeast of Huntley, between Carpentersville and Hampshire. It is in Rutland Township, Kane County. Originally, the community served as a loading point for agricultural commodities. The village grew slowly until the proximity of Interstate 90 and the growth of nearby Elgin brought increased development. By 1930, Illinois Route 72 was completed and became the village's first paved road. Gilberts is now one of Chicago's rapidly growing northwest suburbs.

I recently visited Gilberts Town Center a development of single family and executive homes as well as the townhomes, by Ryland Homes. The townhomes have a traditional, appearance, somewhat similar to city rowhouses. Ryland is completing phase one of the townhouses and is currently selling the models, ranging from the1764 square foot Amherst with two bedrooms, loft and finished basement priced at $229,990 to the Easton, a 2185 square foot home with three bedrooms and a finished basement at $254,900. They are now breaking ground on phase two.

When looking for a home, whether resale or new construction, it is in a buyer's best interest to work with a trusted real estate agent. With access to all the homes on the market, we can advise you of all available options and negotiate terms with the sellers. Real estate brokers also have a network of other professionals such as lenders, inspectors and attorneys who can help you with the buying process. As with most builders, Ryland welcomes broker participation in the sale of their homes.

Townhouses in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs-Sierra Woods, Carpentersville

Sierra Woods is located in Carpentersville, Illinois, in Kane County, just north of Interstate 90 and east of Randall Road. Advantages to this location are that the complex has good transportation by car, or to a commuter train south of the interstate at Big Timber Road east of Randall. So if you are commuting in the northwest suburbs, the business centers of Schaumburg or Hoffman Estates, or to downtown Chicago, transportation is available.  

Built around 2000, the subdivision features a variety of townhouse styles, from ground level and second story ranch styles to two level townhouses with full basements. All have attached garages which accommodate either one or two cars, balconies or patios and private entrances. Recent prices range from $175,000 for a two bedroom, 1 ½ bath home to just under $225,000 for larger homes with two car garages. Although located near the busy Randall Road, Sierra Woods is set back away from the street and has a considerable amount of natural beauty, with views of ponds and mature trees.

The Randall Road area, going north through Algonquin and Lake in the Hills, and south toward Elgin, South Elgin, St Charles, Geneva and beyond, offers a wide variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment choices.

So if you are a first time buyer, you're looking to downsize, or you want the conveniences of a single family home without the chores of outside maintenance, Sierra Woods may be a good option for you.

Greed is NOT good. Arrests begin in Mortgage Fraud Crackdown

In the film Wall Street, one of the characters uses the phrase "greed is good". Having seen first hand the results of greed, from blocks full of for sale signs, to displaced families, to pets being left at shelters when their owners had nowhere else to bring them, I can say, greed is not good. That is why I'm happy to see that the government is finally starting to arrest people involved in mortgage fraud.

CNN reported that hundreds of people across the country have been arrested by law enforcement officials targeting crooked mortgage brokers, real estate agents, and other industry officials, the head of the FBI and a top Justice Department official said Thursday.

More than 400 people have been charged in the mortgage fraud probe, of which nearly 300 have been arrested, including 60 in a coordinated sweep Wednesday, the Justice Department said.

The losses in the mortgage fraud cases cost consumers more than $1 billion, Mr. Mueller of the Justice Department, said.

"Operation Malicious Mortgage," the investigation by the FBI and Justice Department, began March 1, government officials said. It resulted in 144 fraud cases in which 406 defendants were charged.

Locally, in Chicago, Crain's Chicago Business announced on June 19, 2008 that 67 have been arrested in charges related to mortgage fraud. The people involved include a range of proffessions from mortgage brokers to attorneys, federal officials announced Thursday.

"Mortgage fraud inflicts serious damage on financial institutions but more importantly makes life more difficult for ordinary citizens," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said in a statement issued by his office.

It is good to see that some action is finally being taken. It's unfortunate that nothing was done before the mortgage situation became "the mortgage crisis" that has caused such problems for consumers and honest real estate professionals. It is a popular thing to say that government should not interfere and that market forces will correct bad situations. When greed is the driving force behind powerful elements an industry, those market forces can do a considerable amount of damage. I heard someone on the radio say that people would be more receptive to the term "safeguards" than "regulations". It is just unfortunate that safeguards were not in place earlier.

The opinions expressed above are my own.

Turtles and referrals-Doing the right thing

One day last week, I was driving home from my office and saw a turtle trying to cross the road. My first thought was "damn, this poor little guy is going to be smashed by a car".  I drove to the next road and made a U-Turn. Sure enough the turtle was on its back on the road. I stopped, got out of the car and looked at him. He was upside down and had pulled into the shell, but I could see no cracks in the shell and no blood, so I picked him up and moved him to the other side of the road and set him in the grass (right side up). I waited for a while to see if he would crawl away, but he stayed in the shell, so I got back in the car and drove away. I was bothered by the whole situation and, when I thought about it, my thought was that I tried to do the right thing, but was it right? Did he really want to be on the other side of the road? Should I have stopped immediately when I saw him instead of going forward and turning around? Should I have brought him to a veterinary hospital? What was the right thing to do?

(I know this is a tortoise, but it was all I could find. My turtle was a painted turtle.)

OK, so how does this relate to real estate? It does, in that, in my business relationships, I always do the right thing, or at least I try to. I adhere to the highest possible ethical standards, but some things are out of my hands. Once I refer a client to another professional, have I given them the right person? The best way to do referrals is by personal experience. If I've worked with a certain attorney, mortgage broker, or inspector, I know what kind of work they do. However, I always want to give people alternatives, so, for inspectors, for example, I refer buyers to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) website. When I was new to this area, I got attorney and inspector referrals from other agents I trusted.  I now have more experience here and can refer people to professionals with whom I have worked. For out of state referrals, I would now use Active Rain and check for people with designations such as SRES, CRS, GRI or ABR. If no one fit those criteria, I would make a judgment based upon the level of professionalism I see in the blogs or by talking to the person. We have probably all had the experience where we have referred a client to someone who has done a good job in the past but turns out not to be the right fit for that client. That hurts. The people to whom we refer our clients are reflections of ourselves.  We hold ourselves to high ethical standards and must hold do the same with our business partners. It is the right thing for our clients.