The good life! Retired clients buying second home in Glenview, Northbrook area

The Meadow Ridge sub division in Northbrook features a gated entry with guard, pretty landscaping and floor plan with first floor master bedroom. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

We are working with a recently retired couple that need a second home in the Chicago area. The snowbirds will split time with Florida.  They want to be close to the city, maintenance free life and a first floor master suite. There is no better area to consider for the many "lifestyle" communities than Glenview and Northbrook down the North Shore. These are gated condo associations with attached homes.

Several gated sub-divisions in Glenview and Northbrook rest along (or very near) several golf courses. Westgate at the Glen is shown below.

We've found that three bedrooms homes with main floor master bedrooms in the several gated condo associations around Glenview and Northbrook run from low $500s for re-sales to the high $800s for re-sale and new construction. Features vary. A smaller percentage of available re-sale homes have basements while most newer construction units (from the last few years) do not. The newest construction homes we've viewed do not have a basement options.

We walked some of the last homes to be built at Meadow Ridge early this week.  The "F" floor plan is the largest and features a few changes from the original floor plans.

Our clients are interested in a new construction home.  They'll consider a unit that has just been built or one that can be built on a remaining plot in the sub division. Another important aspect is the feel of the neighborhood and surrounding amenities.  A few of the sub-divisions are walk-able to shops, restaurants and grocery stores while most would probably require driving to stores.

Certain units in Meadow Ridge have a terrific view of the Techny Towers