Evelyn Santiago has made a lasting name for herself throughout Fox River Valley and the Chicago West suburbs. Her success can be attributed to her relaxed yet attentive approach to her client’s needs and she prides herself on ensuring the best results. Her positive attitude has not only led to great client rapport for over 20 years but has also made her an award winning realtor.

Whether buying or selling Evelyn educates her clients to make sure their making informed choices. Evelyn also shares her insights on as the New Homes Directory Aurora, IL Market Expert and prepares homebuyer looking in the Chicago area to find their dream home. Her informative updates can also be found on her Heart Realty Group blog where she talks about everything from local happenings to luxury homes.

You’ve probably heard that the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit was extended to those who close escrow by June 30, 2010; however, you may not be aware that many homebuilders have even more perks in store for their buyers this new year.

One community of Woodstock, IL homes for sale has caught on to this craze, and aims to make your homebuying experience even sweeter. Villas at the Sonatas, from builder Epcon Communities, is thanking its January buyers for the creation of jobs and tax revenue that are the direct result of their new home purchase.

How? By offering up to $10,000 towards the design customization of their January Showcase Home, a new ranch villa built with the Canterbury floorplan located at 647 Schumann. The exceptional, award winning home is being offered for *$224,990; and with this fantastic offer, the home can be personalized to further reflect its owner’s tastes.

Obviously, this offer will go quickly; and with the end of the month approaching, it doesn’t pay to wait! If any of these Woodstock, IL homes for sale are of interest to you, contact new home consultant Jon Gertsmeier for additional information. You’ll need to inquire about certain restrictions that may apply as well. Ask about it today!

Grant's Grove Offers Natural Settings Near Urban Vibrance! Grant's Grove is a spectacular new home development from Pulte Homes, featuring the idyllic and serene natural setting of of Lindenhurst, and a convenient closeness to one of the greatest cities in the world, Chicago. Featuring some of the most popular single-family homes, Grant's Grove is located conveniently close to some of the area's best shopping, dining, and transportation, as well as some exceptional schools. Offering over 33 acres of lush open space and wetlands, luxurious home appointments and amenities, and a new home that was built with Pulte's incomparable 7-step process, Grant's Grove Chicago new homes for sale are the exception to the rule when it comes to luxurious modern living.

On top of all of the wonderful in-community features and amenities of Grant's Grove, lucky residents also get to enjoy being right next door to The Lindenhurst Park District, as well as the new 25,000 square foot community center, which features a gymnasium, a 3 lane walking/joggin track, a dance studio, and much more. The Lindenhurst Park District itself features over 110 acres of park amenities spread all throughout the community. There is also a state-of-the-art health facility in nearby Gurnee, which includes everything from a whirlpool and sauna, medically supervised health programs, and personal trainers. Residents of Grant's Grove will also have close access to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, Hurricane Harbor Outdoor Water Park, and Key Lime Cove Indoor Water Park; not to mention the supreme natural wonder of the chain-of-lakes, where boating, water skiing, fishing, festivities, and the sand bar are all just par for the course.

Of course, anything that can't satiate one's appetite for fun and excitement that can't be found in the Lindenhurst area can almost surely be found in the urban crown jewel of the midwest- Chicago. Featuring world-class sites like the Chicago Museum of Art, The Navy Pier, and the unbeilable shopping on Michigan Avenue, Chicago has all of the urban energy and cultural opportunity of a major world city, coupled with midwestern friendliness and amiability.

The Grant's Grove Chicago new homes for sale are now available, and feature several floorplans that range in size anywhere from 2,470 to 3,422 square feet, and offer 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths per new home unit. New home prices are starting from around $310,990. For more information about one of the fantastic Chicago new homes for sale at Grant's Grove, please call 888-456-7218 and set up an appointment today!

Meadows Edge At Highland Woods is a new home M/I community in Elgin, Illinois- a cozy town that hugs the beautiful Fox river, and is just 40 miles northwest of Chicago, the financial and cultural hub of the Midwest.

Continuing their commitment to not just creating new homes, but new communities, M/I has created Meadows Edge at Highland Woods.These new homes for sale offer residents a natural conservation area, a 2.5 acre park, and a nature trail. Home-owners will also have complete access to Highland Woods Owners Club, which offers a community clubhouse, a stat-of-the-art fitness room, a water park, and sports complex. Families with children will also be able to enjoy the wonderful luxury of having the new Country Trails Elementary school within walking distance from Meadows Edge.

Elgin, Illinois is known around the region for having historic architecture and landmarks from the Victorian area, not to mention the high quality of its tap water. Elgin also recently just experienced something of a renaissance in the 1990's, and now residents of this friendly town get to enjoy things like the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, one of the largest in Illinois, as well as multiple renowned theaters and performance art centers, and since it's only a short drive away from Chicago, anything that you want that can't be found in Elgin can almost surely be at your fingertips in a city of Chicago's stature.

These new M/I homes for sale range in price from $249,990-$341,990, and have floorplans that range from 1,871 to 3,144 square feet. Meadows Edge At Highland Woods are single-family style homes, and all are built under the pretense of M/I Homes 8 core principles of customer-care, such as quality, value, and service.

With 154 acres of clean, beautifully landscaped green space, peaceful lakes, and the quality craftsmanship that M/I Homes guarantees, these new homes are the perfect place to start a new phase of your life.  Please call  847.888.2088 for more information.

Stone Bridge Villas, by Epcon Communities, is owned and operated by Joni West and John Holthaus. Both Joni and John have been involved in real estate for the past 15 to 20 years. As a licensed real estate broker they have been vigorously involved in buying and selling real estate. And it is with this love for real estate that led them to pursue their newest project, Stone Bridge Villas.

For decades the founders of Epcon Communities have been improving their ranch style condominiums. All of this effort has resulted in the unique single story condos that can be found at Stone Bridge Villas. These new O’Fallon Illinois condos for sale, offer homebuyers a maintenance free lifestyle that is enhanced by open floor plans. These new condos for sale range from 2-3 bedrooms and 2-2.5 bathrooms.

By becoming a franchisee of Epcon Communities, Joni and John’s company is able to bring experience to the Stone Bridge Villas Community. With Epcon Community franchisees developing over 200 new condominium communities in 26 states, they are pleased to announce that Stone Bridge Villas will be the very first Epcon Community in the bi-state area!

Highly devoted to quality, customer satisfaction, and a passion for landscaping, this new condo homes for sale are enhanced with lakes, flowering gardens, trees, fountains and other landscape features. With such surrounding beauty, your life at Stone Bridge Villas will be a remarkable experience. With the added passion for constructing homes in the highest quality and workmanship, Stone Bridge Villas will create a one of a kind community that you will agree makes a great place to call home.   

Are you looking to purchase your next home in what is arguably the most famous Midwestern metropolis - Chicago? If so, you're in luck! 

In a report on the market conditions in Chicago for July 2009, we noted that the levels of inventory for Chicago real estate had fallen enough to indicate that people are buying in the Windy City. Well, it’s a new month, and while inventory is strong…so are sales!

In fact, as you’ll see below, there were no substantial changes recorded month-over-month. In other words, the market is strong! Here are the stats for Chicago real estate market conditions August 2009:

Inventory
Homes for Sale: 17,410
New Homes: 5
Foreclosures: 20,826 

Median Price
Homes for Sale: $295,000
New Homes: $950,000
Foreclosures: $214,400

Month-Over-Month Change
No changes recorded from the previous month.

If the large gap in the medians of the overall homes and brand new homes is alarming, keep in mind: Much of Chicago’s new home inventory is made up of condos and high-rise units – even penthouses. If you have your heart set on a new home for sale in Chicago, there are plenty of single family home options in the city’s outlying suburbs. Of course, if the attached product homes are within your budget – well, go for it! There are a number of attractive, exciting options for Chicago luxury home buyers. No matter which type of Chicago home is your preference, now’s a good time to buy in the Windy City. 

Outstanding location, prestigious living, and unbeatable value, all describe the new condos at Meadow Wood. These impressive new townhomes for sale are conveniently located to a wide range of shopping, dining and cultural experiences. Small boutiques to pubs and restaurants to local museums are all just a short drive away. With easy access to Route 12, that provides access to the chic Deer Park Shopping Center and to Fox Lake. Plus easy access to I-90 makes reaching downtown Chicago a breeze.

Pulte Homes new condos for sale at Meadow Wood offer a peaceful surrounding that includes an eight-acre nature park with walking path and a gazebo. The same attention to detail that goes into your condo, goes into your new neighborhood as well. Meadow Wood has made sure you look forward to coming home with well cared for lawns, open spaces, and beautifully lit streets surrounding the community.

If you are looking for a luxury condo with a privacy location, look no further. The Pulte Homes new community features a winding nature path through rolling wooded fields. These paths surround the new condos that range from 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,716 - 2,146 sq. ft., and start from $249,990's. With both wilderness and city life conveniently located to you,  plus not to mention the 8,000 first time home buyer benefit incentive, these new condos for sale have everything that’s on your new condo buying check list.

Looking for townhomes just outside Chicago? Something that allows for a convenient commute after a long day’s work in the city, and a comfortable retreat to come home to? Check out Shelburne Crossing!

Located in beautiful suburban Winfield, IL, this townhome community is a commuter’s dream. Within walking distance of the Metra commuter rails, Shelburne Crossing from MI Homes is an ideal location to plant your roots outside the big city limits – without going too far to enjoy your travel time. And Shelburne Crossing is

an idyllic place to call home, with surroundings that include a forest, creek and prairie paths with canoeing, fishing, and a dozen golf courses just minutes away. Of course, charming shops and great restaurants are also close by.

Are they attractive? You bet! There’s a lovely brick façade on the building exterior, and many of the homes boast exciting features: great rooms, game rooms, decks, foyers, covered porches. Singles, small families, empty nesters – who doesn’t like these fun extras?    

In the competitive market of Chicago townhomes for sale, Shelburne Crossing is priced affordably, from $234,990 - $324,770; square foot ranges are 1,995 - 2,132. For more information, visit the sales office at 27W753 South Meadowview, Winfield, IL 60190. Or, call (630) 293-1050. Hours are Sat-Wed 12pm-6pm; Thurs-Fri by appointment. 

High rise condo living is appealing to any big city resident; but not too many buyers can afford to live in the penthouse. Are there condos for sale in Chicago, in a high rise with a wide range of pricing – something that appeals to buyers at a variety of income levels?

Yes! It’s called Library Tower. Built by Lennar, Library Tower is aptly named: It was erected in an amazing location, right across the street from the Harold Washington Library in the heart of downtown Chicago. From this new condo home, residents can find themselves a short walk from Printer's Row, the Loop, Michigan Avenue, the Theatre District and the stunning new Millennium Park. If it’s a renowned Chicago area, chances are it’s easily accessed from Library Tower.

What’s it like to live in the building? To start, with a 24-hour doorman on staff, it’s a safe environment. Next, it’s convenient: Library Tower features a fitness center and business center, along with common area maintenance/insurance, plus trash removal. Finally: It’s fun! The complex features a residential movie theater room, hospitality room, roof-top deck, and landscaped park.

But is it really affordable for beginning buyers? We certainly think so. Take a look at the first few price ranges for Library Tower:

Tiers 12 and 15: 1 bed/1 bath from 865 square feet, priced from $241,12
Tier 14: 1 bed/1 bath from 895 square feet, priced from $269,000
Tiers: 4 and 6: 1 bed/1 bath from 1,080 square feet, priced from $299,900    

Need something a little more spacious? No problem; Library Tower has plenty of tiers with increasing square footage and pricing. To make things even more reasonable, Lennar is offering exclusive new home online savings. Just visit the Library Towers website to request details. To see Library Tower in person, stop by to the Welcome Home Center at 520 S. State St. Ste 709, Chicago, IL 60605. Appointments can be made by calling (877) 201-3755 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., and 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

Epcon Communities, Villas at Vale Park, is a proud builder of ENERGY STAR qualified homes.  Each one of Villas at Vale Park new homes set within a beautiful community that’s designed and built to ENERGY STAR compliance guidelines.

A new style of living has arrived at Villas at Vale Park, offers maintenance-free luxury homes for sale in a beautiful natural setting. Unwind at the outdoor picnic pavilion or enjoy an evening stroll on the walking trails. In the center of the community is the private clubhouse where you can take a dip in the outdoor heated swimming pool or workout in the state-of-the-art fitness facility. It's a great place to gather with friends, family, and your new neighbors!  Villas at Vale Park offers 72 luxury new homes for sale with ranch-style condominiums. Rich "European Country" exteriors decorated by stone with brick accents and plank shutters. The ranch homes will feature 2 or 3 bedrooms, spacious living areas, attached 2-car garages, with the possibility of private patios and four season verandas for only priced from $189,990*.

Epcon Communities luxury new homes for sale at Villas at Vale Park, can be found at 2445 Allison Circle, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Or can at 219-464-7387.