Inventories are at the lowest levels we’ve seen in over a deca de.     This is true in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth and everywhere else on the North Shore.  It’s also true in many parts of Chicago as well as much of America.     At the same time, the level of demand for homes has increased by leaps and bounds.                      (Feeding Frenzy courtesy of rwcox123’s photostream at Flickr.com)     These are the questions that keep real estate professionals awake at night.     It was not long ago when new, well priced (or at least it seemed they were “well priced”) listings in move-in condition sat on the  market for months a nd sometimes years.     Now, listings that are well priced and in move-in condition often sell within days or even hours of hitting the market.     What can you... 04/12/2013

Driving In Winnetka?  You Will be Ticketed for Using Your Cell Phone! Not all of our local villages have laws that restrict hand-held cell phone use while driving.  One can conceivably start a legal conversation in Wilmette and cross into Winnetka and get a ticket. The towns that ban cell phone use while driving are Winnetka, Evanston, Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and of course, Chicago.  When the law was first passed it had no impact - virtually every other car was being driven by someone with a mobile device plastered to their ear. Things have changed since then and recently an amazing 315 citations and 220 warnings were written in the villages listed above (except Chicago.)   The time period for these tickets was just five days, April 1-5.  State law prohibits cell phone u... 04/12/2013

Winnetka & North Shore Summer Camps - 2013   While the weather outside is frightful (can you sing along?) it is actually time to starting thinking about summer camps for your children. The North Shore area, including Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glenview, Northfield, Glencoe, Evanston and Highland Park have many good programs.   The park districts offer the most for your dollar but there are lots of other choices as well.  Your kids can indulge in just good old sports, or try gymnastics, acting, chess, cooking, and even opera! Kenilworth Little Springs Sports Camp                                                       Winnetka Adventures in Learning Cornflakes North Shore Country Day Oasis Summer Day Camp Kid Motion Music Institute of Chicago Winnetka Park District Programs Wilmette ... 04/11/2013

By Art Wilson, Realtor   Winnetka's March Property sales were 13, equal to 13 in March of 2012 and 85.7% higher than the 7 sales last month. March 2013 sales were at their lowest level compared to March of 2012 and 2011. March YTD sales of 26 are running -3.7% behind last year's year-to-date sales of 27.   The Median Sales Price in March was $835,000, down -39.1% from $1,370,000 in March of 2012 and up 1.2% from $825,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in March was $855,654, down -31.0% from $1,239,231 in March of 2012 and up 9.2% from $783,214 last month. March 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to March of 2012 and 2011.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of March was 111, down -6.7% from 119 last month and down -33.9% from 168 in March of last year. ... 04/08/2013

How to Protest Your New Trier Township Property Taxes Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe YEA for those of us living in North Cook County - 2013 is the tri-annual property tax reassessment for our area.  For property taxing purposes, Cook County is divided into three segments:  North, South, and Chicago.  We are in the North segment (which is Cook County north of North Avenue in Chicago.) New Trier Township is within the North segment and consists of 56,000 residents living in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and parts of east Glenview and east Northfield.   You do not need to hire an attorney to protest your property taxes.  Let me repeat that:  you do not need to hire an attorney to do this for you.  In fact, the assessor's office will tell you that results are about the ... 04/04/2013

Updated 2022 Private High Schools Winnetka and Wilmette, IL There are many reasons families turn to private education in Winnetka and the North Shore suburbs. For some, New Trier, an excellent and highly-rated public school, is not a good fit. For some, the chance to play sports or work at the school's radio station is more important. Whatever the reason, there are four options for students who live on the North Shore (or beyond.)North Shore Country Day School is located at the corner of Green Bay and Willow Roads in Winnetka (310 Green Bay Road) and serves students in grades preschool through 12th grade. The student body population is around 500 students which makes it extremely attractive to those put off by New Trier's large enrollment.  Student tuition (2012-13) is $24,800 per year... 04/03/2013

Winnetka & Glencoe Real Estate Market Report March 2013 As I thought, home sales increased in March over February.  There have been so many homes going under contract so quickly that March and April had to have some good figures. Here's how March home sales in Winnetka and Glencoe ended up: WINNETKA Sold Homes:    10 Average Sold Price:     $1,014,450 Average List to Sell Price Ratio:    92% Average Number of Days on Market:  99 Current Winnetka Homes for Sale:    103 Low Price:    $509,000 High Price:    $21,900,000 (next lowest is $9,750,000.) Homes Under Contract:    75 GLENCOE Sold Homes    11 Average Sold Price:  $830,464 Average List to Sell Price Ratio: 90% Average Number of Days on Market    116 Current Glencoe Homes for Sale:    59 Low Price:    $390,000 High Price:  $6,950,00... 04/01/2013

I like starting my inspections on the outside.  By doing the exterior first, I have a better idea of what I might encounter when I get to the interior.   For example, if the gutters are clogged and leaky, the walkway slopes toward the house, and the foundation is low, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be looking at a damp basement with possible structural issues.  If the roof flashing is loose or improperly installed, I'm going to be on red alert for a leaking roof. At the exterior, I start to get an immediate sense of the kind of care (or neglect) the house has experienced.  If you have roof issues or problems with the walkways, it's time to call in the pros.  But there are plenty of things the homeowner and weekend warrior can do to maintain the appearance, comfort, and value of their... 03/21/2013

I Would Never Have Sold Them That House! Thoughts on buying a North Shore home If you are considering moving to the North Shore and want to live in say, Winnetka or Wilmette, you expect your agent to guide you through all the pitfalls.  If you are not familiar with the area, you need an agent to explain the ramifications of living in a particular part of town, or even on a given street. What ramifications?  A client told me that when she and her husband first moved to Winnetka from the city, they wereonly vaguely familiar with the area.  They found a very cute corner house that they loved and purchased - on a weekend.  After they moved in - voila! their little corner house was at the epicenter of a huge traffic jam flowing out of the local high school which was not in sight of the house... 03/21/2013

Most Expensive Home Sold in Winnetka The most recent real estate related news in Winnetka was the sale of a $12,250,000 lakefront estate.  While this may solidify some people's opinion that Winnetka and other North Shore suburbs are stratospherically priced, in truth, there were 19 homes that sold in 2012 under $500,000.  For Winnetka, that is fairly affordable.   The previous high-water mark was a 21-acre estate in Lake Bluff that sold in 2007 for $16 million. The only other sale over $10 million was $11 million for 1250 N. Lake Shore Drive, a 15,400 square foot mansion.   The Winnetka home is located on Sheridan Road, and while it has expansive and breathtaking water views, it does not have a beach due to its bluff.  The home was purchased in 2005 for around $4.5 million and restored... 03/15/2013

The Window is OpenThis is a rare moment in the North Shore real estate market. There is a window of opportunity that exists for both buyers and sellers.It is wide open.How can that be?Let me explain:Prices have dropped considerably from their peak in 2006.  Mortgage rates are at lifetime lows.  The economy is improving.This combination of factors has created an opportunity for buyers that is unprecedented.  Buyers are out in droves.  The supply of available properties has not been able to keep up with the demand.  As a result, the bottom of the market is firmly in place and prices appear to be moving up slightly.   Sellers who have been unable to sell their properties are once again able to do so.  Many sellers have now decided to hold off from placing their homes on the market because ... 03/11/2013

Got Old Electronics? Winnetka Recycling Event Baird & Warner Real Estate in Winnekta is hosting an Electronics Recycling Event this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 8-10.  Whatever you have, we will take it in and it's FREE to you. Garvey's, our office supplier, will be picking up the items and Acme Recycling will take them in.  All computers will  have their hard drives wiped clean. 03/07/2013

By Art Wilson, Realtor Winnetka's February Property sales were 6, down -25.0% from 8 in February of 2012 and equal to 0.0% 6 sales last month. February 2013 sales were at their lowest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011. February YTD sales of 12 are running -14.3% behind last year's year-to-date sales of 14. The Median Sales Price in February was $882,500, down -39.1% from $1,450,000 in February of 2012 and down -14.3% from $1,030,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in February was $884,583, down -44.0% from $1,578,688 in February of 2012 and down -30.2% from $1,267,500 last month. February 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of February was 116 up 8.4% from 107 last month and down -2... 03/07/2013

Winnetka & Glencoe IL Real Estate Market Report February 2013   With all the sales activity that I have seen, I was surprised to see very few sales in February - I'm sure they will hold over and close in March and April.  The local trend has been quick sales for well-priced homes, buyers walking away from homes that they don't see as a value, and home prices remaining steady but with a slight rise. Winnetka - February 2013 Sold homes:  4 Average Sold Price:  $1,143,750 Average List Price to Sell Price Ratio:  95% Average Days on Market:  231 Current Homes for Sale:  110 Low Price:  $$274,000 High Price:  $21,900,000 Current homes under contract:  48 Glencoe - February 2013 Sold homes:  4 Average Sold Price:  $1,550,000 Average List Price to Sell Price Ratio:  94% Days on Market:  348 C... 03/05/2013

Winnetka - Wilmette - Kenilworth  Houses for Sale Seller's Market?   Is real estate in the North Shore suburbs starting to come out of bondage to the recession?  Boy, I hope so.  But it will take more than hope for this to be true and I think I have some numbers to prove it. Homes in Winnetka, Wilmette and Kenilworth and selling, and selling quickly.  Even a few that I deemed to be priced on the high side.  Originally, I thought it was just homes under $1 million that were selling, but no, even some more expensive homes are flying off the shelves.  An agent in my office asked me to help her this weekend hold an open house in Wilmette - it won't be happening since the house sold several hours after it hit the MLS.   More examples:   A new listing in Kenilworth priced a hair under $1 mil... 02/22/2013

UPDATED 2019Winnetka Condos for Sale711 Oak StreetMaintenance Free Living Doesn't that sound enticing?  Maintenance free - no landscaping, snow blowing, driveway sealing, window replacement, etc. etc. Right in downtown Winnetka!  711 Oak Street - located at the northeast corner of Lincoln and Oak, is a 38-unit building built in 1980.  Units have either 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 to 2 1/2 baths, and underground garage parking. Rentals and pets are not allowed.  The building has four floors and elevators.  Other amenities include:A meeting room and exercise room.  One of the best features is the location - walk to town, the train, library, parks, restaurants, and the lake.  Underground heated parking In-unit laundry Balconies Large guest parking lot   Search all 711 Oak St., Condos for Sale      ... 02/21/2013

Winnetka may be a small village but sometimes we get treated to some big talent. That’s the case this coming Sunday, February 24th when The Howard Levy Quartet will perform at Winnetka Congregational Church’s third annual Jazz Vespers. You may not have heard of Howard Levy, but he is probably the world’s foremost harmonica jazz virtuoso and has won two Grammy Awards for his artistry. Said Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune, “Certainly no one playing jazz harmonica these days approaches the technical wizardry, stylistic breadth and improvisational creativity of Levy.” In short, Howard Levy will blow your mind. I’ve never had the opportunity to hear him live but I have heard his recordings and sometimes it’s almost impossible to tell that’s a harmonica you’re hearing. He can make it soun... 02/19/2013

A Primer for Buyers and Sellers...Spring 2013 North Shore EditionThis is a quick guide for residential real estate participants...both buyers and sellers...BuyersWhat?...If you are planning to purchase a home on the North Shore in the under $1.5  million price category, you better be prepared to act quickly.  Inventories of homes for sale in this price range are extremely limited.  The specific “sweet spots” in each village vary a bit, but the level of demand is strong everywhere. Those new listings that are in move-in condition and are priced at competitive market levels are getting a great deal of attention.  Expect lots of competition and the possibility of a multiple offer situation.  Also, if you want to win that multiple offer scenario, be prepared to possibly pay over the asking ... 02/11/2013

  Winnetka's January Property sales were 6, equal to 6 in January of 2012 and -75.0% lower than the 24 sales last month. January 2013 sales were at their lowest level compared to January of 2012 and 2011. January YTD sales of 6 are running equal to last year's year-to-date sales of 6.   The Median Sales Price in January was $1,030,000, down -41.9% from $1,771,813 in January of 2012 and up 38.2% from $745,500 last month.   The Average Sales Price in January was $1,267,500, down -32.0% from $1,863,271 in January of 2012 and up 35.8% from $933,042 last month. January 2013 ASP was at a mid range compared to January of 2012 and 2011.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of January was 102, up 12.1% from 91 last month and down -23.3% from 133 in January of last year. Janu... 02/09/2013

Winnetka, IL - January 2013   Real Estate Market Report   We like to say that the Winnetka real estate market doesn't get going until after the Super Bowl - which finally happened and was actually a great game to watch.  So the first month of 2013 was slow to start but nothing out of the ordinary. There were 5 single family homes and 1 condo that sold in Winnetka in January.   For the single family homes, the average list price was $1,768,400 and the average sold price was $1,467,000. That is 82% of the original list price, and 93% if you factor in list price decreases.  The average time on market was 174 days, or approximately 5.8 months which means a neutral market - neither buyer nor seller driven. Currently for Sale in Winnetka Single Family Homes:  101 homes listed from $274,000 t... 02/08/2013