New Home Notebook

The Edge is a newer tower built atop an existing loft building. Residents enjoy a full amenity package, including state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour doorman and party room.

Located in the West Loop at 210 S Desplaines St. The Edge is just a short walk to the Loop, public transportation, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

This sponsored video is of Unit 710, a pristine, bright 1 bedroom + den corner unit listed at $260,000.

Coldwell Banker’s Nicholas Apostal is our tour guide to showcase the unit’s features, such as the floor-to-ceiling windows with views, a spacious living room with private balcony, hardwood floors, marble baths, a granite breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances, and a large master bedroom with new carpeting. There is plenty of storage and an in-unit washer and dryer. A deeded heated garage parking spot is also included.

In an attempt to attract buyers in today’s challenging marketplace, the owners of 2000 Parkview Dr in South Holland decided to hire the services of Margaret Gehr from Chicagoland Home Staging to make the home more appealing from the nearly bare rooms of their large 4 bedroom, 4 bath home.

Gehr formulated a plan to use the remaining furniture in the home, and work together with Brook Furniture Rental‘s Amanda Eirich in adding furniture and accessories.

Stacie McGlone, the listing agent from RE/MAX All Properties, is confident that having the home professionally staged gives buyers a better feel for its potential.  The home is listed for sale for $329,900.

Noah Properties, one of Chicago’s hottest-selling developers, is building fifteen new condos at 4036 – 4046 N Western Ave in the North Center neighborhood with occupancy slated for late January.

Currently under construction, there are 5 3-bedroom, 2 ½ bath duplex units and 10 2-bedroom, 2-bath single-floor units on the site. Duplex units are priced at $339,900 and single-floor units at $269,900 and $279,900, and all feature an all-inclusive offerings such as luxury baths, upgraded appliances and kitchens with lots of cabinets, granite or marble countertops and an upgraded appliance package and garage parking.

Within the neighborhood is  the popular Coonley School and it is a short walk to Horner and Revere parks.

Melissa Govedarica of Sergio & Banks, the lister of these homes, reports that 6 of the 15 units are already under contract.

Prospective homebuyers with a taste for varied and unique dining shouldn’t ignore Chicago’s South Loop.  Hop on the Red Line, get off on Roosevelt Road, and take a walk around — or just check out the above video for a brief look at the scene.

Within about two blocks of  the Park Michigan Apartments, at 1212 South Michigan, there are about 3 dozen restaurants, pubs and food establishments. That’s including the soon-to-open Artists Café, but not counting places like Trader Joe’s, Jewel, Target, Sky Market, and tailgating at Soldier Field — or the restaurants at the nearby Museum Campus.

Located in Winnetka at 14 Woodley Road, this superb 5 bedroom, 5+ bath single-family home features an outstanding floor plan and high ceilings, as well as a lower-level with large rec room, first-floor master with two walk-in closets, and a three-car garage.

Built in 1959, and designed by renowned architect Norman Yeretsky, quality is present everywhere in this home, which also includes a magnificent in-ground pool surrounded by a large pool deck. The entire property sits on a large lush professionally landscaped lot with plenty of privacy.

Koenig & Strey agent Chris Downey of the Winnetka office is our guide for the video tour of this custom home of fine proportions!

A new full-amenity condo high-rise in Chicago’s South Loop, Astoria Tower hosts a series of events for its residents throughout the year.

When asked what they like best about Astoria Tower, the most common resident response was the convenience of the location.

Meet some of the residents at a party and barbecue on Astoria Tower’s sprawling terraces, and hear what else they love about living in the building and South Loop neighborhood.

Events such as ‘Movie In The Park’ is an outstanding way to reach out and get acquainted with your local apartment community. This Movie At The Park event was held at the park at K Station in Chicago’s Fulton River District, a lively community packed with restaurants, nightlife and neighborhood activities.

One of the sponsors of this event is Echelon at K Station, a luxury rental high-rise that is located adjacent to the park.

Echelon at K Station offers studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes. Each apartment features elegant living with top quality finishes, in unit washer and dryer, floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies.

Visit KStationChicago.com for more information.

Home-buying golfers in Chicagoland looking to maximize their time on a variety of links cannot do better than the new Residences at Fountain Hills condo development in Orland Park.  White Mountain Golf Course or Willow Run are both just a few minutes from Fountain Hills. The Sanctuary and Silver Lake Country Club are within 5 miles. Check these out (and more) on this Fountain Hills golf map.

Take the above video tour to learn more about the new J. Lawrence Homes project. Fountain Hills is near the southwest side of Orland Park, a city with the tagline ‘World’s Golf Center’ emblazoned on its water tower. Units are 2 bedroom, 2 bath and start in the $180s.

From those in the know, Chicago’s River North neighborhood is where it’s at. While living in the Loop provides the best known assets  - the lakefront parks, theaters and museums, those living downtown are also apt to cross the river for their entertainment and more.

In the above video tour, residents of Oakwood 200 Squared, 210 N Wells St, discuss the vibrant bar, nightlife, gallery and restaurant venues in River North and the endless nearby shopping options.  Life in the building itself is full of incentive; great views and extensive amenities, including an indoor pool, fitness room, dog run and a sprawling sun deck with a fire pit and grills.

Astoria Tower located on 8 E 9th St in Chicago’s South Loop is a high-rise luxury rentals that offers extensive amenities such as indoor pool with whirlpool, sauna and steam room adjacent to the fully-equipped fitness room. The pool and fitness facilities are flanked by sprawling sun decks that afford spectacular views in all directions and offer a variety of flexible seating arrangements, a fireplace and gas-fired grills.

Astoria Tower’s best amenity however could be their location.  Within walking distance to Grant Park, public transport, restaurants, shops, nightlife, the Museum Campus, the Art Institute and more.

The 5-bedroom, 4 ½ bath Prairie-style home at 153 Caroline is bright and open, with hardwood floors throughout, a great layout, and a large kitchen that opens through a wall of windows to a beautifully landscaped back yard. This wonderful home also sits on an oversized lot in a great location near East End Park and its pool.

Maria Gracik of Koenig & Strey’s Gracik Makinney Group is our guide in this sponsored video tour.

With a location that affords easy access to all the best of Elmhurst, including good public schools, a vibrant downtown area, and convenience to Chicago’s expressway grid, the attractive 3-bedroom, 2 ½ bath Tudor home at 211 E St Charles Rd also boasts great curb appeal, a functional floor plan, vintage charm and many updates.

A lifelong resident of Elmhurst, Tom Makinney of Koenig & Strey’s Gracik Makinney Group is our guide in this sponsored video tour.

Located near I-80, I-355, Route 45 and the Metra station, the neighborhood of Fountain Hills is located in southwest Orland Park, where  The Residences at Fountain Hills is building out impressive five-story condominium buildings. One of Chicagoland’s most vibrant suburbs, Orland Park boasts golf courses, forest preserves, and a wide variety of recreational opportunities, not to mention great schools.

Priced from the low $180s, the homes feature 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, a dining alcove, eat-in kitchens and entry foyers, with storage and indoor parking included.

In this sponsored video, Jeff Brown of the project’s builder, J. Lawrence Homes, takes you on a tour of three model units.

Chicago home builder J. Lawrence Homes has reduced the price of eight models at Ambry Estates in Lynwood by $15,000 each.  Four of these 2-story homes are move-in-ready homes that offers 4 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths and 2-3 car garages. They  range in size from 2300 to 3300 square feet. Another option is to build from the ground up.

Lynwood, IL is just 30 miles south from Chicago’s Loop with less than 8,000 residents. Access to  375-acre Wampum Lake Woods Forest Preserve offers huge green space to accommodates for such relaxing activities as fishing, hiking, bird watching and cross country skiing.

To learn more about this attractive opportunity contact Ambry Estates or call 708-474-7070.

The change of ownership of  Echelon at K Station has meant a makeover and a slew of expanded and revamped amenities in the development. A sleeker lobby and lounge areas on the inside.  Expanded seating, cabanas and firepit augment the pool. New grills are slated for an outdoor patio. Take the above video tour to see more.

In the neighborhood, there are new restaurants and nightlife options. A deluxe Jewel-Osco is across the street and the CTA Blue line is only two short blocks away. Adjacent to Echelon, the park hosts Movies in the Parks in the summer.

Brook Furniture Rental introduces home staging,  a relatively new concept in the real estate market where furniture are placed strategically to elevate the space and accents of the home.

Cortney DeArmond of Brook Furniture Rental staged a formerly bare, loft-like 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo in Unit 513 at 909 W Washington  for listing broker Nicholas Apostal of Coldwell Banker’s Apostal Group.

The addition of furniture, artwork and accents enhanced this West Loop condo unit bringing dramatic impact and life to the condo.

Belgravia Group has completed a number of significant luxury home projects in the Lincoln Park area for the past 20-years and Montana Row, currently under construction, is the latest project that will feature their unique signature and offerings.

Montana Row, located in the 1500 block of West Montana St in Lincoln Park will consist of 14 3,200 square foot rowhomes, each with  4 bedrooms, 4 baths.  These 3-story rowhomes offers exceptional 25′ wide floor plans,  1,000 square foot back yards, 2 car garages and for all practical purposes, they are single-family homes on full 25 x 124 foot lots.

Close by is Wrightwood Park, one of the most popular and family-friendly neighborhood parks in the city that offers a swimming pool, playground areas, basketball courts, a running track, a baseball diamond, shaded areas and a field house.

235 Van Buren, an architecturally striking high-rise condominium designed by Ralph Johnson in Chicago’s Loop is always striving to find new ways to showcase modern design and recently invited Ligne Roset, a 150-year old furniture manufacturer specializing in cutting-edge design to furnish one of its model homes.

Maggie Haen and Cynthia Peterson of Ligne Roset show us some of their innovative and multi-functional pieces to complement the modern interior of the units at 235 Van Buren.

Noah Properties’ latest developments is a 3-flat and two 5-flats in a prime Bucktown location at 2215-23 W Wabansia St. The project are selling out before they are even finish. In January 2012, during the rough carpentry stage, 3 of the 6 units has already been reserved. Upon our return in June 2012 with Sergio & Banks’ Melissa Govedarica, all units are sold out with most of the units already occupied while workers were putting the finishing touches on the remaining ones.

There will be more new construction coming soon from Noah Properties in the Bucktown area, one of them is the nine 2-bedroom, 2-bath units priced from just under $400,000 in the 1800 Block of North Damen, just north of Churchill Park and its heavily-used dog park.

For more information on upcoming new construction projects in Bucktown, contact Melissa Govedarica directly at 630-973-7745.

Just one unit remains to be rented at Library Place. Unit 470 is a 3 bedroom, 3+1 bath townhome with new high-end finishes,a full-sized laundry, garage space and a private yard.

Located close to downtown Winnetka and it’s shops, restaurants, schools and parks.  There is also a Metra station serves the area and all are within walking  distance to the best North Shore beaches.

Originally named Library Plaza, Library Place was built in 1965 and includes eight townhomes. In 2007, a developer purchased and renovated all the units and offered them for sale with prices ranging from the mid-$500s to the mid $700s. Sales were slow, until Chicago home builder J. Lawrence Homes acquired the properties earlier this year and immediately began renovating the units for lease – capitalizing on the current rental trend and the fast-moving market of North Shore luxury rentals.

Kathryn and Kelly Mangel from @properties are the listing agents.