Several years ago, the North Shore village of Kenilworth was named Illinois' most affluent town and 7th nationwide.  Now another village has received its own accolade:  Winnetka for the Most Educated Town in Illinois.  (The entire article can be read at:  Most Educated TownsThe data was based on towns that had a least a population of 1000 with the most number of adults over 25 years old that had at least a bachelor's degree.  According to Point2Homes, 46% of Winnetka's residents have a bachelor's degree, and 35.5% have a graduate degree.Winnetka has always been attractive because of its good schools - all of which feed into nationally recognized New Trier High School.  The school district in Winnetka is made up of three elementary schools (K-4th grades): Hubbard Woods Greeley Crow Islan... 05/04/2017

What area might they be referring to?  As far as the North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield, the statistics are mixed.Here are some recent headlines -from the Chicago Tribune:  ". . . The Illinois Realtors reported Friday a 13.1% jump in sales and a 10% climb in the median price over last year . . . With scant supply of homes available, sellers have been able to push prices higher."From Keeping Current Matters, some perspective on the rate of sales nationwide:  But there is good news -there are overall more homes selling this year (January - April) over 2016. .  In the end, we still have a lot of inventory to get through and it varies from village to village whether they are experiencing a buyer's or seller's market.Here are the total number o... 05/02/2017

NEW LISTINGS IN HUBBARD WOODS 1377 Asbury - $835,0004-bedrooms and 2.1 baths + office       1243 Forest Glen - $1,249,00Nicely updated 4-bedroom, 2.2 bath home      993 Westmoor - $1,399,000Built in 1996, this home has 5 bedrooms and 4.1 baths      645 Hibbard - $2,599,000Why so much for a ranch home on Hibbard?  For starters, it's just short of 2 acres.  The home itself, while updated in some areas, still feels dated, has 5 bedrooms and 7 full baths.        HUBBARD WOODS APRIL CLOSED SALES  938 Old Green BayList price:  $910,000Sold price:  $700,000 (foreclosure)Days on market:  87     1195 AsburyList price:  $719,000Sold price:  $705,000Days on market:  18     910 Gordon TerraceList price:  $929,000Sold price:  $900,000Days on market:  5     1405 ScottList price:  $1,199,000Sold price... 05/01/2017

 Au Pair in Winnetka and Kenilworth ILUPDATED 2022 Many people on the North Shore use the term "au pair" to refer to any babysitter that lives with their family over the summer months.  In truth, an au pair is a foreign person that comes to live with you for a full year and exchanges babysitting and other childcare chores for free room and board.But it's really much, much more than that.  I learned a lot about the subject from Winnetka resident and neighbor, Laurie Murlick, who is an au pair childcare consultant for Cultural Care Au Pair in Winnetka Northfield, and Kenilworth.  She's also a mother of three boys who understands the challenges and demands of motherhood and hosted an au pair when her children were young.Laurie started her career in au pair childcare consultation in 2008 wi... 04/18/2017

By Art Wilson, RealtorWinnetka's March Property sales were 23, up 53.3% from 15 in March of 2016 and 76.9% higher than the 13 sales last month. March 2017 sales were at their highest level compared to March of 2016 and 2015. March YTD sales of 56 are running 27.3% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 44. The Median Sales Price in March was $1,075,000, up 12.1% from $959,000 in March of 2016 and up 19.4% from $900,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in March was $1,355,315, up 19.0% from $1,138,667 in March of 2016 and up 49.7% from $905,192 last month. March 2017 ASP was at highest level compared to March of 2016 and 2015. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of March was 170, up 6.3% from 160 last month and down -10.5% from 190 in March of last year. March ... 04/10/2017

The yearly ritual of Winnetka residents hauling junk out to the curb is about to begin again.  Old furniture, boxes, toys, and just about anything that two men can reasonably lift into a truck will be accepted.There are a few exceptions:NO:  electronics, tires, yard waste, construction debris, logs, and paint! 2017 Winnetka Trash Pick Up Schedule:Monday April 24 - north of Tower RoadTuesday, April 25 - Tower Road to Pine StreetWednesday, April 26 - Pine Street to Willow RoadThursday, April 27 - south of Willow RoadItems should be placed on the parkways by 7am of the scheduled morning (preferably the night before.) Please note that there will be no call-backs on this free service.  This is a great opportunity to clean out your attic, basement, and garage of dangerous or combustible mater... 04/07/2017

It's been a busy busy March in Hubbard Woods - 14 new listings that have not been on the market previously.  And of these 14, four are already under contract.  Plus, 12 homes went under contract and 11 closed. NEW HUBBARD WOODS HOMES FOR SALE IN MARCH    281 Scott - $749,000Very cute house, under-contract in 4 days, but located right on the Metra line     140 Glenwood - $785,000Nice Cape Cod needing some renovation     1360 Trapp - $845,000Almost 2/3 acre, this lot is being sold as a rehab or land.  A small corner of the lot is in the flood plain    910 Gordon Terrace - $929,0005 bedroom, 4 bath home that underwent a large renovation several years ago.  Went under contract in 5 days      711 Hibbard - $995,000I've always liked the curb appeal of this home - but it needs lots of updating... 04/04/2017

Winnetka IL is a charming and attractive village that draws buyers from all over the country.  Excellent schools, easy transportation options, and lots of cultural events make Winnetka a popular place to live.Whether you live here currently or are considering a move, here are the current conditions of the real estate market in Winnetka. Prices for single family homes are stable now after some deep dips in 2016:   Winnetka condo prices are rising due to a lack of inventory:  Market time for homes has steadily risen since 2014 but is just starting to decrease:  The average number of months it takes to sell a house (absorption rate) was 8.9 months at the end of February.  That means that Winnetka is a buyer's market, which it has been for some time:  Current real estate date for Winnetka I... 03/31/2017

   Yogi Barre has closed   Yogi Barre opened in Winnetka in 2015 and offered something called "fly" classes that definitely piqued my interest. Students use suspended hammocks in a yoga workout that integrates body and mind in a holistic way.  And it's fun.Jessica Gonzales and Joann Pollina met in college through mutual friends in 2001.  Jessica later worked in IT and Joann in marketing but they continued to meet weekly for a yoga class and dinner.  In 2013, it was their mutual love of yoga and dance that led them to opening their own studio.  They had taken some aerial fitness classes and decided that would be a cornerstone of their new business.  They settled on the North Shore, Winnetka specifically, because of its location away from the city yet having a population that is intereste... 03/15/2017

Green Bay Cycles - Winnetka   Updated 2022Since Alberto's Bicycles left Winnetka in the mid-90s, Winnetka had been without a dedicated bicycle shop. In 2011, an employee of Alberto's opened Green Bay Cycles at the coveted spot where the dress boutique, Young in Heart, used to be.Co-owners Larry Faulkner and Sam Mack opened the store in December and have been keeping busy with bicycle repairs and maintenance, and are looking forward to warmer months when people will begin purchasing bikes.  They Carry Giant bikes whose frames are used by most of the competition,) Cannondale, Moot, and Bianchi bikes.  They also have a full line of children's and toddler's bikes and tricycles.Larry retired from the Navy after 20 years as an aircraft mechanic, then he worked at Alberto's Bikes followed by ... 03/10/2017

By Art Wilson, RealtorWinnetka's February Property sales were 12, equal to 12 in February of 2016 and -40.0% lower than the 20 sales last month. February 2017 sales were at a mid level compared to February of 2016 and 2015. February YTD sales of 32 are running 10.3% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 29. The Median Sales Price in February was $867,500, down -13.9% from $1,007,000 in February of 2016 and down -25.6% from $1,166,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in February was $836,875, down -12.8% from $960,154 in February of 2016 and down -47.1% from $1,582,950 last month. February 2017 ASP was at the lowest level compared to February of 2016 and 2015. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of February was 155, up 12.3% from 138 last month and down -7.2% ... 03/08/2017

UPDATED 2019 In Winnetka and the surrounding North Shore villages, the housing industry generaly kicks into gear after the Super Bowl - there's no good reason for this except nobody wants to go outside in January. Real estate agents often say that biggest selling time is spring, which is actually the beginning of February through April/May.So if you will be putting your house up for sale in the spring, consider not making these costly mistakes: Pricing Your House Too High - This is the single most important reason why your home won't sell - in any market!  This is where a knowledgeable and experienced realtor can help you with comparable homes for sale and sold properties.  We have had a housing oversupply for many months and the competition is stiff. Not Staging and Making Repairs - un... 03/07/2017

An Excellent Education at Hubbard Wood School UPDATED 2022Getting a great education in Hubbard Woods, Winnetka IL is the goal of all parents with school-age children. My observation with buyers, particularly out-of-town buyers, is that any house they purchase must be located in an excellent school district. In the North Shore communities of  Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, and Glencoe all elementary, middle and junior high schools feed into New Trier High School, one of the top high schools in Illinois.  All the feeder schools are rigorous in maintaining standards that are conducive to success at New Trier High School.SEE ALL HUBBARD WOODS SCHOOL DISTRICT HOMES FOR SALE Hubbard Woods has two schools that serve elementary grades - the public school Hubbard Woods School, (which is a kinde... 03/02/2017

 The luxury market (in this case over $4,000,000) took a hit in 2015 in the combined North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield.There were only 4 homes that sold in that price range in all of 2016.  There were 10 sales in 2015 (see chart below for sales going back to 2007) with 2007 being the bumber-crop year just before the recession with 16 luxury sales.There is ample inventory of 22 homes priced from $4,000,000 up to $13,750,000.  Property taxes for these homes range from $42,000 to $208,000 per year - which is becoming more of a factor in decision making both in buying and selling.The absorption rate for these luxury homes is 66 months - or 5.5 years.  The absorption rate is the rate at which these homes sell if no new homes come on the market.  ... 02/28/2017

Homes that close in January generally sold back in November and December of the previous year.  So it's a good month to see how the end-of-year activity looked.  Here are the median home sales in January for Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northfield, Glencoe, and Glenview.The bars show January sales for 2015, 2016, and 2017. WILMETTE WINNETKA KENILWORTHThe MLS is not displaying the median price for January sales in 2015 because there were no closed sales that month. NORTHFIELD  GLENCOE GLENVIEW  To CONTACT Margaret Goss, please call 847-977-6024 or email:  margaret.goss@bairdwarner.comMargaret Goss is a full-time real estate agent since 1998 servicing the North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston.  See full BIO for Margaret G... 02/24/2017

The Winnetka School District Board 36 decided recently that all incoming kindergarten students that live within Crow Island' schools's district have been assigned either Hubbard Woods or Greeley.  This decision was made after much discussion regarding the overcrowding at Crow Island school.In the map below, if you currently reside in the blue area, your children will attend kindergarten at Hubbard Woods school.  If you reside in the yellow area, your children will attend Greeley.        For a link to a complete overview of the Winnetka's kindergarten plan, please see:2017-2018 Kindergarten Overview, Winnetka ILTo read the background of this decision, please see:  Solutions Sought for Winnetka Schools' Enrollment Imbalance.    02/23/2017

By Art Wilson, RealtorWinnetka's January Property sales were 20, up 17.6% from 17 in January of 2016 and 17.6% higher than the 17 sales last month. January 2017 sales were at their highest level compared to January of 2016 and 2015. January YTD sales of 20 are running 17.6% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 17. The Median Sales Price in January was $1,166,000, up 28.1% from $910,000 in January of 2016 and down -13.9% from $1,353,750 last month. The Average Sales Price in January was $1,582,950, up 20.9% from $1,309,663 in January of 2016 and up 2.6% from $1,542,897 last month. January 2017 ASP was at highest level compared to January of 2016 and 2015.The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of January was 137, up 16.1% from 118 last month and down -1.4% from 139 ... 02/08/2017

Consistently ranking high in numbers polls, my company's website, bairdwarner.com has received its eighth consistent international recognition.  With its easy-to-use interface and graphics, it's a standout in the busy realm of real estate brokerages. Our official announcement: We are proud to announce that Baird & Warner has again received the Website Quality Certification (WQC) award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE). This is the eighth consecutive year BairdWarner.com has been recognized for excellence in design and functionality. BairdWarner.com and other WQC award recipients were assessed based on their ability to demonstrate quality, innovation and creativity in their website design. Our user-friendly functionality for such key elements as property search... 02/03/2017

Hubbard Woods is a charming section of Winnetka that is located on the north side of of the village. It was named after Gilbert Hubbard who lived and developed the area in the 1870s in the years after the great Chicago fire.Hubbard Woods has one of the three main shopping areas located in Winnetka along with East Elm and West Elm. The stores here straddle both sides of Green Bay Road as it traverses through town. There are design and antique stores as well as ladies clothing, nail salons, hair blowout, barbers, tailors, several eateries,a pizzeria, and a thrift store. Plus - the North Shore's only McDonald's.Homes for sale in Hubbard Woods range from the 600,000s up to many millions. There is wide diversity in the housing inventory as well as many new construction homes to choose from. ... 02/03/2017

A new year and lots of new listings in Hubbard Woods.  There were a total of 22 "new" listings here but only 10 of those were really new to the market as opposed to having been taken off during the holidays and relisted. New Hubbard Woods Homes for Sale 1195 Asbury  $719,000Corner lot with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths      770 Rosewood  $825,0004 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths plus finished 3rd floor      960 Old Green Bay $849,0004 bedroom and 3 bath ranch home tucked behind another home on Old Green Bay.  Good space but needs updating.      1423 Edgewood $1,099,000Very cute and newly renovated 4 bedroom plus 4 1/2 bath home - under contract after 9 days.     900 Burr  $1,299,999As yet unbuilt new construction proposed for this site across from Sacred Heart church.  Good price for new construction... 01/31/2017