In Winnetka , there were 10 closed home sales in November 2017. The current real estate market in Winnetka:  Homes for sale:  108 Priced:  $339,000 to $13,750,000 Homes under contract/pending: 37Absorption Rate:  5 months Condos for sale: 4 Priced:  $419,000 to $549,000  Median Sales Price - past 12 months    See all homes for sale in Winnetka   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 Goss. 12/05/2017

 As life gets more frenetic with the upcoming holidays, the real estate market tends to simmer on the back burner. We've still had new listings (it's not a bad time to list your home for sale!) and sales, but as expected, not at the robust pace like springtime. Here's a rundown of real estate happenings in Hubbard Woods in November. NEW LISTINGS  820 Heather Lane - $1,300,000 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths on .44/acre          1163 Tower Road - $2,495,000 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths on .68/acre        CLOSED SALES    1305 Asbury (foreclosure) List price:  $975,000 Sold price:  $705,000 Days on market:  470         993 Westmoor List price:  $1,399,000 Sold price:  $1,200,000 Days on market:  179       900 Burr (new construction) List price:  $1,299,999 Sold price:  $1,289,999 Days on market:  111  ... 12/05/2017

The annual Winnetka "Red Invitation" Holiday Sale will be held this weekend on Sunday, December 3, 2017. This is the village's 38th year holding this special sale event. Participating local merchats will have discounts, specials, and refreshments throughout the day. The sales will be conducted throughout Winnetka and Northfield's main shopping areas includuing Hubbard Woods, East Elm, and West Elm. In Northfield, the stores along Happ Road will be participating, as well as Teddie Kossof on Waukegan Road. Please note that stores have set their own hours and they vary. Most will be open all afternoon but some are doing things differently. For instance, Skandal, in Hubbard Woods is offering 30% off at 7am, then 25% at 8am, then 20% off for the rest of the day. Vivid Art Gallery will have a... 12/01/2017

UPDATED 2019 What is "brown" furniture? One of the best lines I've read this year is from an article by Richard Eisenberg for Next Avenue: "Dining room tables and chairs, end tables and armoires, (brown pieces) have become furniture non grata. Antiques are antiquated." I know my two millennial aged children have no interest in a beautiful armoire or the buffet in the dining room. They are classic antiques that are sturdy, incredibly well made, and stunning to look at. But younger generations are keen to Target, Home Goods, and Ikea - stuff that won't make it past their own generation. Kids are mobile nowadays, they like to live minimally, and don't want to be bogged down by a lot of "stuff."  They want modern clean lines in their homes and are simply not interested in antiques, china, l... 11/20/2017

When is the Best Time to Sell a Home in Winnetka and the North Shore? UPDATED 2022It's a question I get all the time. I'd like to say the best time to sell is when you are ready. But if one is interested in the statistics regarding the timing of selling a home, then there are some things to consider.In Chicago's North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield, and Glenview, there is a strong inclination to list homes in the spring. However, our "Spring" market actually can start as early as January, weather permitting. The number of homes listed in December 2021 was 33, compared to 144 in May 2022. Local weather affects these numbers as when winter is mild and homes come on earlier than usual.Take a look at this chart that shows the number of homes being l... 11/15/2017

What is the median price of a Winnetka and North Shore home today? Homes in the communities that hug Lake Michigan are generally priced higher than those farther out - true, I think, of anyplace where there is a body of water. The North Shore communites that I primarily represent include Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield, and Glenview. Home prices in the first four towns are higher because those are on the lake. Even within each village, prices creep up as one goes east toward Lake Michigan. With that in mind, here are the median prices as well as the high and low price:  See Winnetka homes for sale    See Wilmette homes for sale  See Kenilworth homes for sale   See Glencoe homes for sale   See Northfield homes for sale  See Glenview homes for sale  To CONTACT Margaret... 11/10/2017

It hasn't even passed yet, but many are weighing in on whether it would help or hinder the real estate market. The key takeaways of the bill as they relate to real estate are: a $10,000 cap on the deduction of property taxes lowering of the the mortgage interest deduction cap from $1 million to $500,000 You will have to stay in your home longer to receive the capital gains exemption (must live there 5 of the past 8 years.) eliminates the deduction for moving expenses. The bill preserves certain advantages for owning investment property The $10,000 Cap High tax property areas (such as Winnetka and the North Shore) will be hit especially hard by this. Some might think it's not a big change - but they may be payng much less than $10,000 per year in property taxes. Everyone reading this tha... 11/08/2017

  New Hubbard Woods Listings 956 Greenwood $649,000 4 bedrooms + 3.1 baths (under contract in 9 days)     15 Old Green Bay $2,895,000 7 bedrooms + 6 .1 baths (7th bedroom and 6th bath in coach house)    Closed Home Sales in Hubbard Woods 1360 Trapp Lane List price:  $699,000 Sold price:  $640,000 Days on market:  70    1377 Asbury List price:  $835,000 Sold price:  $802,500 Days on market:  94        109 Old Green BayList price - $1,050,000Sold price - $1,000,000Days on market - 128      1045 Pine List price:  $1,545,000 Sold price:  $1,475,000 Days on market:  63      SEE ALL HUBBARD WOODS HOMES FOR SALE  In other news . . .Walgreen's will be moving from their current location at the corner of Scott into the old Mrs. Green's space on Green Bay Road in April of 2018.Mino's Italian Resta... 11/07/2017

  In October 2017, there were 19 closed home sales in Winnetka:  The current real estate market in Winnetka:  Homes for sale:  132Priced:  $339,000 to $13,750,000Homes under contract/pending: 32Absorption rate:  6 monthsCondos for sale: 7Priced: $419,000 to $649,000View all Winnetka homes for sale  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 Goss.  11/03/2017

The North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield don't have new home subdivisions being built. That has not happened in a long time because the North Shore is wedged between Lake Michigan and the Cook County forest preserves - meaning all the land has already been developed. That does not mean, however, that you can't buy a new construction home here.  In fact, the subject of new construction can be a heated one since we've lost many "historical" homes to builders of new construction. Many in the community feel that these older homes should be saved - but there has never been anything legal done to create such safeguards. Other people feel strongly that property owners have the right to sell to whomever they want - usually for the best price. So ye... 10/26/2017

We're heading into the fall and that usually means a small uptick in real estate sales - as long as it's before Thanksgiving. In September, there were 5 new homes listed in Hubbard Woods:  1138 Hamptondale - $789,000 Adjacent to the playground at Hubbard Woods School      1124 Merrill - $1,225,000 Sold in 2014 for $1,195,000 Has $60,000 in updates      915 Euclid - $1,249,000 5 bedroms, 4 full and 2 half baths 85 x 210 lot      1503 Edgewood - $1,765,000 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths Sold in 2015 for $600,000 and was gutted and rebuilt. Built in 1927 but feels like new construction     649 Locust - $2,195,000 (and under contract) A beautiful rambling 6-bedroom and  4.1 bath home on almost 1/2 acre      1341 Edgewood - $2,385,000 A new construction home tucked in at the east end of... 10/10/2017

GLENCOE    The current real estate market in Glencoe: Homes for sale:  101 Price range: $462,000 to  $6,400,000 Under contract: 22 Condos for sale:  4 Price range:  $169,000 to $599,000 SEE GLENCOE HOMES FOR SALE    To CONTACT Margaret Goss, please call 847-977-6024 or email:  margaret.goss@bairdwarner.com Margaret 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 Goss.   10/09/2017

By Art Wilson, RealtorWinnetka’s September Property sales were 12, down -57.1% from 28 in September of 2016 and -65.7% lower than the 35 sales last month. September 2017 sales were at their lowest level compared to September of 2016 and 2015. September YTD sales of 237 are running 5.8% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 224.The Median Sales Price in September was $1,255,500, up 5.3% from $1,192,500 in September of 2016 and up 9.2% from $1,150,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in September was $1,816,500, up 39.9% from $1,298,464 in September of 2016 and up 32.2% from $1,373,626 last month. September 2017 ASP was at highest level compared to September of 2016 and 2015.The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of September was 158, down -2.5% from 162 last mont... 10/06/2017

  WINNETKA   There were 12 closed home sales in Winnetka in September.   The current real estate market in Winnetka: Homes for sale:  151 Priced: $339,000 to $13,750,000 Homes under contract/pending: 38 Condos for sale: 8 Priced:  $300,000 to $649,000  View all Winnetka homes for sale  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 Goss.  10/06/2017

 The most interesting fact about comparing the 3rd quarter home sales between 2016 and 2017 is how remarkably similar they are. The numbers hardly changed with both the number of sales and average sales price. Here are the actual numbers: There are a few numbers that jump out. For all villages except Glencoe the length of time it took a house to sell went up. Northfield is the only village to show an acrease in total sales - but it took almost twice as long to sell the homes. Otherwise, the market at this time of year has been static between 2016 and 2017. There is always lower inventory at this time of year however since our main selling season here is the spring market which is from February through May. Here are the absorption rates for each town: Winnetka: 7.1 months Wilmette:  4.5 ... 10/03/2017

UPDATED 2019 What would you like to do with the rest of your life? How can you learn to manage and understand your finances? Where can you go to discuss literature, poetry, or short stories? If only someone could help you discover your lost spirituality.  Where can you meet other like-minded, educated women to discuss things that are important or of interest to you? The Women's Exchange was started in 1983 by Joanne Ausperger and grew out of the Winnetka Congregational Church. Joanne was challenged to do something with social capital - start something where participants will go out and do good in their community. The first classes were Life Planning, and Financial and Social engagement. In 1983 many women were coming to understand that wife and mother was perhaps not all that they could... 09/28/2017

By Art Wilson, RealtorWinnetka’s August Property sales were 35, down -10.3% from 39 in August of 2016 and 2.9% higher than the 34 sales last month. August 2017 sales were at a mid level compared to August of 2016 and 2015. August YTD sales of 225 are running 14.8% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 196.The Median Sales Price in August was $1,150,000, up 11.9% from $1,027,300 in August of 2016 and up 10.3% from $1,042,500 last month. The Average Sales Price in August was $1,373,626, up 10.6% from $1,241,992 in August of 2016 and up 22.3% from $1,122,971 last month. August 2017 ASP was at a mid range compared to August of 2016 and 2015.The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of August was 162, down -3.0% from 167 last month and down -19.4% from 201 in August of las... 09/21/2017

  Just one new listing this month in Hubbard Woods:   1170 Westmoor - $3,395,000Almost 1 1/3 acres, this home has 6 bedrooms, 6 1/2 baths and a pool         Sold Hubbard Woods Homes  889 PrivateList price: $1,700,000Sold price: $1,100,000Days on market:  437     1258 Forest GlenList price: $1,250,000Sold price:  $1,150,000Days on market: 55    985 PineList price: $1,199,000Sold price:  $1,207,685Days on market: 3     152 Old Green BayList price: $1,200,000Sold price:  $1,262,000Days on market: 5      640 BlackthornList price: $1,845,000Sold price: $1,590,000Days on market: 384        1161 Pine List price: $1,850,000Sold price:  $1,763,000Days on market: 8      910 Private LaneList price: $4,875,000Sold price:  $4,375,000Days on market: 149     And . . . one home under contract:  809 Loc... 09/11/2017

   Winnetka Closed SalesAugust 2017     See all Winnetka homes for sale  Current homes for sale:  152Price range:  $430,000 to $13,750Under contract: 34Absorption rate: 6.8 monthsCurrent condos for sale: 10Price range:  $300,000 to $649,000Under contract:  1Absorption rate: 3.75 months   To CONTACT Margaret Goss, please call 847-977-6024 or email:  margaret.goss@bairdwarner.com Margaret 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 Goss.     09/05/2017

 Winnetka public schools open on Tuesday, August 29 with the new kindergarten assignments in place. Because of overcrowding at Crow Island School and the decision to make kindergarten full-day, all Winnetka District 36 kindergarteners will be attending either Hubbard Woods or Greeley. This is a temporary solution and will be in effect for one to two years. The district's website has all the kindergarten information parents need and should be bookmarked: Winnetka District 36 Kindergarten Overview.  The website is packed with information including schedules, before and after day care, and busing options.  Parents have the option of choosing half-day or full-day kindergarten.  Full day kindergarten schedule:   Half day kindergarten schedule: The schools will also offer two options for afte... 08/25/2017