Noble Woods is a small in-fill subdivision on the east side of Route 53, just north of Hobson Road.Orleans Builders are starting the sub-division and in today's paper there is an ad announcing 'pre-construction savings.'  They will save you $3000 in closing costs IF you use their lender.The homes are listed in the $700,000's. And, these are big homes. I suspect that they will all have 3 car garages.But, I'm curious. Orleans has a new sub-division in Bolingbrook which go to Plainfield #308 school district, and I've shown in that development. And, here's my question: Are they building the same models? If so, then by going further out you can save at least $100,000 on a house...maybe more.I'll have to check it out. 02/09/2007

Woodridge Center was a Californian's dream. Ross Cortesi wanted to duplicate the style of homes he was building in the midwest. So, his company, Rossmoor, started a Planned Unit Development about 1973. His company built a clubhouse with a swiming pool and tennis courts in 1974. And, then they built California style homes. These homes had basements, marble window ledges, GE kitchens, popcorn ceilings, 2 car garages and virtually no lots.The housing market was slow...very slow in 1974 and 1975. And here were 70 odd completed homes just sitting awaiting buyers. But, the midwest was and is a traditional market and these homes looked nothing like traditional homes.Why? Because they were sided in pressed wood which was incorrectly prepped and painted. Today, almost everyone of these homes has... 02/07/2007

The Highlands is a small sub-division that abutts 75th street on the south and Jefferson Junior High on the north.It consists of homes that were built in late 1960's. Most of the homes are raised ranches with attached garages. There are a few split levels and a few ranch homes.The location is great for shopping as the Jewel is just blocks away. And, the entrance ramp to I-355 is several blocks further east.Homes prices in this sub-division have been under $300,000. So, that's also great for first time buyers. Some of these properties have been updated...some have not.If you'd like to search for these properties, sign up at: www.MoveUPtoNaperville.com  02/05/2007

Winston Hills is a large subdivision of over 1000 homes that was started in the 1960's. They originally called their models by a letter. Example:A         Adams Model (3 or 4 bedroom Raised Ranch with 2 car attached garage)B         Bennington Model (3 bedroom Split Level with a 1 car attached garage)C         Concord Model (3 or 4 bedroom Raised Ranch with 3 full bathrooms and attached garage)D         Dearborn/Devenshire Model (3 bedroom Ranch with attached 1 car garage)E         Essex Model (3 bedroom Ranch with spacious foyer and living room and attached garage)F         Fairmont Model (4 bedroom 2-story with attached 2 car garage) That's it. Just pick a letter and for only $25,000 you, too, can own your own home. OK...that was the original pricing back in the 1960's.Today, these ho... 02/04/2007

Seven Bridges Estates is a sub-division that was built upon an 18 hole golf course. The golf course portion, now called Seven Bridges Golf Course, has been reconfigured with lots of water traps and is open to the public. The costs to use the course are expensive and you must use a golf cart. There's a nice restaurant in the clubhouse with views of the golf course.In 1988, the project manager, who was a tenant of mine, asked me to write up a contract for 13 acres of then vacant farm land that was adjacent to the old golf course. Those 13 acres became the entrance to the first section of Seven Bridges. The land sold for $600,000 in 1988. Today, most of the homes are worth that figure!The second section of Seven Bridges Estates has homes that border the golf course and a few that border th... 02/02/2007

Woodridge is the bridge between Downers Grove on the east and Naperville on the west with a population of 33,000.Interstate 355 runs vertically through the village with major access ramps at 75th street and 63rd street. The town has one Junior High School, Thomas Jefferson, which is located just east of the village center complex. And the students go to Downers Grove High Schools.In the village complex you'll find the post office, library, village offices and the police department. Across the street on the south side of the pond is the Park District's office and classrooms.The housing stock has mostly been geared to first-time home buyers. The price range of homes north of 75th street starts around $225,000 and goes up into the $400,000. There are several sub-divisions in this area: Win... 01/29/2007

Woodridge Stats as of October 26, 2006                     Condo & Town homes  Currently there are 109    2(or less) bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $241,562 and a market time of 93 days.                         Currently there are 22   3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $317,357 and a market time of 126 days.                                    Currently there are 2   4 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $231,950 and a market time of 106 days. Highest Priced Listing: $499,900 Lowest Priced Listing: $86,000 Statistics compiled from MLSNI   10/26/2006