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09/01/2010

Walking up Washington Boulevard toward Euclid Avenue, the sound of flowing water off in the distance can be heard. And the closer you get, the louder the water seems to flow.

08/25/2010

After taking a dip last year, foreclosures have skyrocketed in both Oak Park and River Forest in 2010. And it appears that wave of mortgages-gone-sour may be dragging down the value of condos in both villages. Single-family homes, however, are another story.

08/18/2010

Web extra slideshow.
If you drive the streets of Oak Park enough, you’ll see them dotting the landscape — those once-magnificent homes that have fallen into disrepair, been overrun by weeds or appear to be sinking on their foundations.

08/11/2010

Eight inches of water.
That’s a lot of liquid to take on anywhere, much less in 24 hours. But that’s what Oak Park and River Forest both received in a massive storm at the end of July.

08/11/2010

With condo sales still relatively mired in a slump, pet restrictions many associations have in place are being regarded as unneeded obstacles in jumpstarting the market.

08/11/2010

On the homefront
We live in an idyllic historic community that is defined by its gridded tree-lined streets and a variety of traditional architecture. Twenty years ago we pictured our children growing up under this canopy of protective shade trees.

08/04/2010

Brian Crawford is a history buff, so when he and his wife, Vicky Piper, moved into their home at 215 S. Scoville a dozen years ago, he couldn't help wondering about it. The house, which Crawford describes as a "modest Queen Anne," probably will never be featured on the Wright Plus housewalk, but to some extent every house in Oak Park is "historic," especially those built in the 1800s, which this one was.

07/28/2010

For well over a century from its prominent corner, the blue Victorian at 131 S. Ridgeland has drawn admiration from countless passersby. With a charming turret and white picket fence, it looks like the quintessential historic Oak Park home. And while it does include many historic features that old home aficionados swoon over, the unique renovations make it a one of a kind.

07/21/2010

What kind of a person would open up their home to people they’ve never met before who are traveling from other countries?

07/14/2010

Outdoor grilling is a staple during summer days in Oak Park — slapping that perfect steak over hot coals while enjoying the July sun. But firing up a pizza next to your garage or tossing chicken skewers on a backyard rotisserie? It happens more often than one might think.

07/14/2010

From the Board president
As we are quickly approaching the midpoint of the summer of 2010, there is evidence that the various government stimulus packages really have helped create sales momentum.

07/07/2010

To the uninitiated, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture is synonymous with the Prairie Style. Often credited with pioneering the genre and known throughout the area for populating Oak Park and River Forest with such homes, Wright actually worked with many types of designs and styles. As a young architect, he often worked on homes with a decidedly different flavor.

06/30/2010

Lead paint’s danger is not a secret. For years, people have known the damage paint’s toxic ingredient can do to the human brain — especially to children.

06/23/2010

For some, the words "Oak Park home" conjure up an image of a cookie-cutter historic home on a square-plot of carefully-manicured green lawn. While neighborhoods full of single-family homes with sprinklings of apartments, condominiums and townhouses may be the norm, it’s not so easy to generalize about the housing-stock here. Oak Park is full of surprises, and you never know what kind of gem is hidden on the next block.

06/16/2010

What exactly does $2.95 million get you in the Oak Park-River Forest real estate market?

06/09/2010

Even before summer is officially here, we’re in the rush of open house season. And this Sunday, there’s a news spin for a tour of local homes: Strap on your helmet, grab your bike, and get ready for Cycle Oak Park.

06/09/2010

The tour starts at noon Sunday, June 13, from the patio of The Pasta Shoppe, at 116 North Oak Park Ave.

06/02/2010

Gretchen Brown came to Oak Park and River Forest so often to find houses for films and commercials, she finally bought one and moved here. That was 18 years ago.

05/26/2010

Two little baby chicks were nestled quietly in the palms of Bruce Caughran and eighth-grader Madeleine Woodworth.

05/19/2010

Karen Murphy only owns one car, and she’s thinking about getting rid of it. But the Village of Oak Park says she needs two parking spots for her family if she wants to add a third bedroom to her condo.

05/12/2010

The Wright Plus housewalk offers an unparalleled opportunity to view the incredible interiors of architecturally significant homes in Oak Park and River Forest designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries. This year’s event, the 36th being hosted by the Wright Preservation Trust, is certain to entertain and educate all those in attendance.

05/12/2010

From the Board president
This weekend the village will welcome legions of Frank Lloyd Wright admirers, who will tour a selection of the architect’s designs as well as the work of his contemporaries in Oak Park and River Forest. The Wright Plus housewalk has been wildly successful over the years and it not only honors one of Oak Park’s favorite sons, it also showcases our beautiful village.

05/12/2010

The River Forest Women’s Club was founded in 1894 with not such a simple mission: "The intellectual advancement of its members and the promotion of high social education and moral conditions." But club members did make good on their objectives, and the rich history of their headquarters at 526 Ashland Ave. pays homage to their efforts.

05/12/2010

Web Extra! Slideshow
E. Arthur Davenport House
The 109-year-old E. Arthur Davenport House has literally been "born again" … but with a difference!

05/12/2010

Web Extra! Slideshow
Solomon Thatcher Jr. House
In 1882 Solomon Thatcher Jr. and his wife Clara built their home on Keystone Avenue in River Forest. Originally from the Finger Lake region of New York, Solomon settled into the area in the late 1860s along with his father and four siblings. Solomon Jr. and his brother-in-law, also with the last name Thatcher, George L., were among the three principal developers of River Forest.

05/05/2010

Web Extra! Slideshow
Art can be defined as deliberately arranging elements in a way to affect the senses or emotions. On the far southeastern edge of Oak Park there sits a house that surely can be considered a work of art.

04/28/2010

It’s not exactly uncommon for a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oak Park or River Forest to go on the market, but what is a little surprising to see is three Wright homes for sale relatively at the same time, which was the case as recent as a few weeks ago.

04/21/2010

If a stranger showed up in your kitchen with questions about combining black grout with subway tile, you would probably call the police. Tracy Wysockey of Oak Park would call her interior designer to the scene.

04/14/2010

From the Board president
Given where we are in the calendar year, for Realtors there is no escaping the inevitable question, "How is the spring market?"

04/14/2010

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is showcasing homes in the Ridgeland Historic District for its seventh annual housewalk. The walk takes place on Saturday and will spotlight examples of beautiful mid-19th and early 20th century architecture, including Victorian, English Tudor, Arts & Crafts Style homes and two Prairie Style designs by E.E. Roberts and Henry Fiddelke.

04/07/2010

It sits, fortress-like, on a double lot on the northwest corner of Woodbine and Berkshire, a bulwark of dark brick, surrounded by evergreens — a seeming throwback to a more elegant era.

03/31/2010

Consider it Weight Watchers for anyone using electricity. Newfangled devices that let people see, up to the minute, how much power they’re using and how much it’s costing them.

03/24/2010

The housing market may still be mush for current and would-be homeowners, but for those interested in buying, rehabbing and then reselling a property, now might be a good time to get back into the game, says a local rehabber.

03/17/2010

Even with its enticing character and deals, Oak Park hasn’t been spared from the staggering vacancy rates infiltrating the real estate market. The national vacancy rate, or apartments available for rent, hit a 30-year record high of eight percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to Reis Inc. On the local level, vacancies in Oak Park rose to 8.4 percent from 4.5 percent in the year earlier.

03/17/2010

Everyone loves a great mystery. In the construction business a mystery comes in the form of bricks and beams. Take a look at the photo accompanying this column. It’s a remnant of the building that is being demolished at 828 S. Oak Park Ave. It shows a filled-in doorway that exited below grade to the north of the property.

03/10/2010

When Karen Mullarkey Kerrins and her husband Marty Kerrins bought their stucco four-square on Wesley Avenue, they knew they had a major renovation project on their hands.

03/10/2010

The homefront
It’s time to prepare for the rites of spring, and hopefully the rebirth of the Chicago housing market in 2010.

03/03/2010

Worn down by the rat race, many professionals dream of ditching their high mortgages and stressful work obligations to build a life centered on more personal fulfillment. In this economy, leaving debt behind to pursue a more rewarding life can seem like an impossible dream.

02/24/2010

The house on 42 North Central was Anne Teague’s dream home. Her husband, Hurley, purchased it for her. Little did they know that it had any historical significance.

02/24/2010

The Village of Oak Park may move some building permits online as a way to speed things up and improve customer service at village hall.

02/17/2010

Where are the high-end condos in Oak Park? Judging by sales prices in 2008 and 2009, most are clustered in the village’s central corridor, between Washington Boulevard on the south and Erie Street on the north.

02/10/2010

Four panelists from the Chicago Association of Realtors rubbed their crystal high-rise ball at the industry’s annual economic forecast late last month and delivered their projections to a room full of sighing brokers bracing for the worst.

02/10/2010

Although we continue to be faced with a challenging real estate environment, Illinois housing markets show signs of stabilizing as low interest rates and the tax-credit stimulus have helped reduce inventories through the end of 2009. Remarkably, first-time homebuyers represented 51 percent of the total transactions in Illinois in the past year.

02/10/2010

Web Extra! See a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development explaining the changes and
The presentation given at the Jan. 27 meeting

A recent change made by the federal government could make selling condominiums a little less difficult in 2010.

02/03/2010

Call this "a tale of two porches," with apologies to Charles Dickens. Unlike the opening sentence of the classic novel, however, this article tells a tale, hopefully, of only the best of times. This article tells of quiet solitary moments, of socializing with friends, of enjoying the charms of nature without enduring her thorns, and even the occasional mid summer night’s dream.

01/27/2010

Everyday three Oak Park home accessory shop owners showcase their wares for the public, but what many people may not realize is that the personal styles of their unique stores derive directly from their own homes.

01/20/2010

When Oak Parker Bryan Stubbs decided to pack up and move to beautiful Berkeley, Calif., there was just one little problem. He owns a condo, and nobody seems to be buying condos nowadays.

01/13/2010

At the beginning of the 21st century, most homebuyers had never viewed a property online — the three top home sale marketing methods at that time were for-sale signs, newspaper print ads and open houses — and nearly nine out of 10 buyers financed their purchase with a fixed rate, 30-year mortgage. What a difference a decade makes.

01/13/2010

When Mary Jane Runyan looks at her newly-designed kitchen inside her family’s Woodbine Avenue Oak Park home, she not only sees the new cabinets and appliances and much more space — she sees part of her recovery from a serious health illness.

01/06/2010

Four Oak Parkers made their village proud by nabbing a couple of coveted awards at the American Institute of Architects' Chicago chapter ceremony held at the Wit Hotel last month. While the honorees stood out for their architectural innovativeness, they admit that their eye for design isn't what led them to live in Frank Lloyd Wright’s old stomping grounds.

12/30/2009

With the economy being what it was in 2009, it was a year of challenges in the real estate market. Luckily, Oak Park and River Forest has managed to remain somewhat stable despite the struggling times. New developments remained on course, while residential renovations even picked up a bit.

12/23/2009

Stabilizing prices continue to attract homebuyers to Oak Park. But deals may soon disappear. With the onset of the winter chill, usually comes the MSK Realty winding down season. But as home prices continue to stabilize in Oak Park and River Forest, Kara Keller and her three brokers are engaged in an uncharacteristic number of closings.

12/16/2009

Jim and Sally Prescott’s house never stood out, hidden as it was in the center of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District and sandwiched between Wright’s Beachy House to the south and an ornate Victorian to the north.

12/09/2009

Mark Filoramo is something of an architectural Janus. Like the two-faced Roman god who looked to both the past and the future, Filoramo draws his inspiration from both past architectural glories and modern design sensibilities.

12/09/2009

In the spirit of the holidays, the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors and its member offices raise funds and provide food and clothing for those in need. The association itself invites the Realtor of the Year to choose a favorite charity for which the contributions are collected at our annual holiday party.

12/02/2009

It all started with a flash of lightning. During a storm on Dec. 14 of last year, a bolt of electricity struck the attic of Melanie Thompson’s two-flat on the 1000 block of Wesley in Oak Park. The 100-year-old greystone was set ablaze, and the Oak Park Fire Department spent four hours putting it out.

11/25/2009

Trying to raise money for charity during an economical rough patch isn’t always easy. To be a success, fundraisers usually must consist of enough entertainment, food, drink and pageantry to draw the masses. The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is aware of the difficulties in getting folks to open their wallets for a good cause.

11/18/2009

Bringing work home usually isn't a good thing for a young couple running a business and raising three boys. But the custom job that Kim and Tim Rasmussen of It's a Sign finished last week, and installed in their own home, marked the start of their holiday decorating.

11/11/2009

From the time he was a little kid Scott Fisher knew he wanted to be a carpenter. His dad was tool-and-die maker, but Fisher says he didn’t necessarily get his desire to build things from his father. Fisher grew up in Harwood Heights, and remembers playing with stuff his father would bring home from work — hydraulic valves and bolts, among other things.

11/11/2009

This isn't your parent's real estate market anymore, and for more than a few reasons. There have been varied and important changes in the residential real estate transaction over the past few years, from lending to the way and speed with which information is disseminated.

11/04/2009

Thirty years ago, Dave Brady was living in an apartment in Oak Park when three successive snowstorms buried the Chicago area. Roofs caved in from the weight of the snow. In Oak Park alone, some 300 garages collapsed.

10/27/2009

River Forest has always been viewed as a special place, both by those who live there and those who admire its distinctiveness while passing through.

10/27/2009

• 45 Keystone
• 542 Edgewood
• 223 Gale
• 1516 Franklin
• 8011 Oak

10/27/2009

45 Keystone
542 Edgewood
223 Gale
1516 Franklin
8011 Oak

10/20/2009

‘It is amazing that Chicago is one of the only major cities without a book on its art deco buildings. There are books on the period for almost every metropolis in the world – from Adelaide to Shanghai – even Tulsa," said Keith Bringe, director of the Chicago Art Deco Survey.

10/13/2009

Sometimes the planets, or planters, align — or in this case, the owner, the contractor, the architect and the researcher — to create a dream project: Recreating a Frank Lloyd Wright structure that even Taliesin didn’t know existed.

10/13/2009

Although the honor and privilege of again serving as the president of the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors is reward enough, an additional perk includes some business-related travel.

10/06/2009

When most people buy a new house, they can be drawn in by the home’s curbside appeal, the size of the bedrooms, a great layout or a fabulous yard.

09/29/2009

When it comes to home tours in Oak Park, much of the attention usually goes to those glamorous mansions that feature the square footage of an airplane hangar.

09/22/2009

If you can’t find it, build it.
That’s the attitude Carlos Lamas took when looking for a home in Oak Park and River Forest. The Riverside resident wanted a house with ground-floor access to be able to accommodate his parents, who are both in their 80s.

09/15/2009

Dominican University’s dormitories serve as a home away from home for many students, so the temporary residents do their best to make life as comfortable as possible.

09/08/2009

Just walking up to Phil Kier’s house on the 300 block of Home Avenue, one might have to do a double take.

09/08/2009

A swell of real estate information has popped up in the last few weeks that could be of interest to those in the property selling business and to consumers.

09/01/2009

Most homeowners in Oak Park take pride in their houses, spending considerable time and money on maintenance, landscaping and beautification.

08/25/2009

While driving the streets of Oak Park one might think that most of the homes had been built with accompanying two or three-car garages. Although George W. Hayden built what is purported to be the first residential garage in Oak Park in 1898 to house his Locomobile Steamer, the first horseless carriage in the village, garages were something of a novelty well into the 20th century.

08/18/2009

Drive through downtown Oak Park, down Lake Street or Harlem Avenue, and you see something unexpected on the side of the road — 100 elaborately painted kegs meant to collect rain instead of trash.

08/18/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The contemporary looking Georgian at 522 N. Euclid in Oak Park has been well maintained and upgraded over the past 56 years. The home with four bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one powder room, has a new first-floor family room addition with vaulted ceiling and partially finished basement with fireplace.

08/11/2009

As summer temperatures begin to rise, the hum of air conditioners can be heard on residential streets in Oak Park and River Forest. While some homes have the cooling advantage of central air systems, many of the area’s older homes are usually inundated with heavy and cumbersome window units.

08/11/2009

As the owners of Oak Park’s first LEED-certified home gear-up to move into their new high-efficiency house, they contend that it’s been a learning experience for everyone involved.

08/11/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Thanks to the popularity of the PBS program, "Antiques Roadshow," many of us know that it’s not enough for something to be beautiful, in mint condition, and, yes, old; to be truly exceptional, something must have provenance.

08/04/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
It is almost deceiving to call 217A N. Grove in Oak Park a townhouse. From the curb, it looks exactly like a charming, restored Victorian farmhouse, complete with white picket fence and well tended garden.

08/04/2009

Real estate continues to slump locally, with average home prices down 20 percent from last year in Oak Park and River Forest. But local experts are optimistic, as activity has reportedly picked up.

07/28/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Ninety-nine percent newly constructed is how the sophisticated home at 606 Woodbine in Oak Park is best described.

07/28/2009

Most new homeowners quickly discover that moving day can be a bit hectic and pricey, whether they go with a local mover, a large van line or attempt to scale back costs by renting a truck and doing everything themselves.

07/14/2009

Even in today’s rough and tumble real estate market there are steps a seller can take to make a home more attractive to potential buyers. Experts say improving a home’s selling potential might consist of something as simple as taking a photo of the house at the right time of day, to something as complex as hiring a professional stager.

07/14/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
You don’t have to be Juliet — or Romeo — for that matter to be captivated by the charm of 752 Park Ave. in River Forest. But the sweet walk-out balcony – called a Juliet balcony – in the front of the brick French Normandy-style home makes opportunities for romance much easier.

07/07/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
To many, 810 N. Bonnie Brae represents the quintessential River Forest home. Built in 1924 of light-colored brick, the exaggerated hipped roof, center eave and the beautiful tiled roof with copper gutters offer the best of Colonial architectural style with a distinctive Mediterranean flair.

07/07/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Want an "up to-the-minute" newly reconstructed estate with all the bells and whistles in a grand, established neighborhood? Look no further than 1430 Park Ave. in River Forest.

07/07/2009

Web extra slideshow!
The basement, for many people growing up, was often a scary place. The pot-bellied, iron cast boiler seemed to feed off helpless children. Amid all the storage space, dad never seemed to be able to find what he was looking for. And the place was always very dank, dark and unwelcoming.

06/24/2009

Oak Parkers should go ahead and accept the fact that the beautiful and historic Pleasant Home, located at 217 Home St., will outlive dirt. With an extensive exterior renovation underway, the Prairie Style home is expected to last another 100 years.

06/24/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The owner of the two-story brick home at 712 S. Euclid in Oak Park has made many improvements during his several decades of ownership. A sparkling granite-floored foyer, cheery cabinet kitchen, bathrooms and much more will make the new owner’s life here very comfortable.

06/16/2009

Web extra slideshow.
While some area housewalks have a single-minded focus, showcasing big-name architects or large-scale home renovations, the South Oak Park Housewalk, aims to do more than that. Now in its second year, the walk highlights the style of modest homes and also shines a light on the families who own the homes, making it a unique community event.

06/16/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Do not be fooled by the tranquil, suburban exterior of the French Normandy home at 1323 Park in River Forest.

06/10/2009

With mossy green-colored siding and two big, white columns flanking a traditional-style front porch, at first glance, the house looks like most others on shady Highland Avenue in Oak Park.

06/10/2009

Home prices are slowly rebounding in the Chicago area and other markets across the nation and a residential revival may not be far away, real estate experts say.

06/10/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Do not be fooled by the tranquil, suburban exterior of the French Normandy home at 1323 Park in River Forest.

06/03/2009

When new property owners move into a historic home in Oak Park, they are usually know what comes next. Many times at a closing, or soon thereafter, they’re handed a folder of documents detailing a few backstories of the previous owners, as well as their new homestead’s architectural history, including who designed and built it, and what standout features exist outside and within.

06/03/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The center-front Colonial with Prairie touches at 800 N. Elmwood in Oak Park has undergone a careful renovation over the past few years. A partial list of the new details includes a cedar shake roof; complete electrical with conduit; whole house insulation; all walls; boiler; first-floor powder room and central air conditioning.

06/03/2009

Houses in Oak Park and River Forest are selling.

05/26/2009

Over 50 dealers and artisans from all over the country will display and sell their antique wares at Concordia University in the Geiseman Auditorium as part of the Fourth Annual Arts and Craft Chicago Show this weekend.

05/26/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The owners-to-be of 1030 Woodbine in Oak Park will actually possess not one but two "houses."

05/20/2009

Construction is underway on the highly visible corner lot in the heart of Oak Park’s retail district. The Soho development, named for the intersecting streets of South Boulevard and Home Avenue, has been planned for years and is coming to fruition in a challenging economic landscape, but the developers of the community believe they are uniquely positioned to succeed.

05/20/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The immaculate Victorian at 226 S. Grove has been carefully renovated and offers many special accoutrements, such as organizational storage space, huge windows and artful design.

05/13/2009

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust presents the 35th Annual Wright Plus Housewalk on Saturday (May 16). This internationally recognized housewalk offers rare tours of the interiors of private homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries.

05/13/2009

Consumer confidence has hit its highest level of the year, mortgage rates are at the lowest in decades and home sales have jumped by amazing percentages in key markets in the United States … all in one week.

05/13/2009

As Wright Plus 2009 steps off this Saturday, May 16, remember this: each historic house tour isn’t over until the research captain sings.

05/13/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
If you are one of the many who have joined the annual summer Saturday parade to the Farmers’ Market, you have no doubt passed by and admired the grand Victorian at 159 N. Elmwood Ave in Oak Park.

05/06/2009

Last week, local real estate agent Gary Mancuso found 30 condo units to show a client in Oak Park. But then Mancuso had to check if each property met condo-specific guidelines from mortgage insurers and lenders. Of the 30, only five did.

05/06/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Looking to downsize to a home that is conveniently located on one level? Interested in a low maintenance residence that is close to excellent schools, transportation and shopping?

04/29/2009

Amid April’s Earth Day celebrations and nationwide efforts for environmentally friendly living, more people in Oak Park and River Forest are paying attention to how they relate to nature, starting in their own yards.

04/29/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Designed in 1928 by nationally recognized architect, Charles White, 815 Ashland in River Forest features a beautiful stone construction with a pronounced slate-tile roof,

04/21/2009

In 1987, 11 years after Mills Park Tower opened at 1025 Pleasant Pl. in Oak Park, the late and great Dominic Meo, the property management director of the Oak Park Housing Authority said, "The real story behind the success of public housing in Oak Park is that if it is run right, it’s as good as, or in some cases better than, anything else."

04/21/2009

After being hit hard by a down-turning economy and unexpected health issues, Roger Beltrami, 67, applied for a low-rent apartment at Mills Park Tower. Now, the former college English teacher shares his one-bedroom apartment with his beloved books and a friend: his cat, Remy.

04/21/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Attention lovers of richly appointed to-the-period restored homes that also offer meticulously well though tout details.

04/15/2009

On April 25th, Parenthesis Parent Child Center in Oak Park will host its 24th Annual Kitchen Walk. This year, the walk features 10 newly remodeled kitchens in Oak Park and River Forest, and an optional 11th home where participants can watch a personal chef cooking in a state-of-the-art kitchen.

04/15/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The impressive brick Colonial at 1030 Jackson in River Forest is located on an unusually large lot (100x185) on a block of estate style homes.

04/08/2009

When Ranjit and Aimee Soodan purchased their Queen Anne style bungalow on South Euclid Avenue in 2003, they knew that the home would eventually need a major renovation. As the owner of Square and Level Construction, Ranjit was prepared to overhaul the home’s design, but he and his wife wanted to live in the home for a while to get a feel for the changes they would make.

04/08/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The McDowall House at 622 North Elmwood in Oak Park is a stunning example of the best of Prairie architecture. Built in 1908 by E. E. Roberts, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, the home has been fully restored and updated.

04/01/2009

That crank window in the basement isn’t going to fix itself. Turning off the kitchen faucet won’t actually stop the leak. Turn it back on, see what happens. The cracked plaster in the foyer is as cracked as it was yesterday. The new ceiling fan looks nice in its box, but it sure would look sharp hanging from the ceiling.

04/01/2009

The home front
With home-loan interest rates already in the 4-percent range and residential resale prices down 20 percent or more in some neighborhoods, spring house hunters in the Chicago area have not had it this good since 1965 when President Lyndon Johnson was in the White House.

04/01/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The 14-room mansion at 747 Franklin in River Forest offers a spectacular home as well suited to gracious family life as it is to impressive entertaining. The classic French Provincial architectural style is commanding. The home is custom designed of brick and stone with rounded windows and an arched roofline.

03/25/2009

The Oak Park River Forest Historical Society celebrates the rich architectural history of the two villages, which have long been proud of their connection to Frank Lloyd Wright. While Wright’s home and studio garner national attention, many other outstanding architects also built personal residences in the area.

03/25/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The Cape Cod-style home at 526 Keystone in River Forest has the same sophistication and panache as those featured in Architectural Digest or Metropolitan Home Magazine. The home is sleek from the immaculate exterior to the understated interior.

03/18/2009

Sellers are growing more desperate to move thousands of unsold units in condominium buildings. In Chicago, that means turning to auctions as an alternative to sell empty units concentrated in large-scale high-rises, but in Oak Park — where unsold condos are dispersed among smaller buildings — auctions are less popular.

03/18/2009

Oak Park homeowners who bought their homes in 2008 will be receiving application forms from the Cook County Assessor’s Office for the Homeowner, Senior Citizen and Senior Freeze Tax Exemptions.

03/18/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
The view from the tiled foyer of the Colonial-style home at 1126 Monroe in River Forest is that of a grand, curved staircase, the kind frequently seen in old movies and photographs where the bride majestically descends. With white spindles and natural wood banister, it is a striking and impressive focal point of the home.

03/11/2009

The unsettling housing market has an upside: From Chicago to Oak Park, rental properties seem to be on the rise.

03/11/2009

The Home Front
New and resale condominium inventories are swelling and the market remains in a tailspin, so downtown condo owners and developers will have to bite the bullet for another 12 to 18 months before a recovery starts.

03/11/2009

From the Board president
It’s clear that the intent of the framers of the recently passed stimulus package was to create interest and action on the part of first-time homebuyers.

03/11/2009

Produced by the Advertising Department
Commanding the northeastern corner of Elmwood and Augusta in Oak Park is a Prairie-influenced American foursquare built in 1912. The distinctly renovated home at 702 N. Elmwood is on an oversized lot with a professionally landscaped yard.

03/04/2009

Oak Parkers may think they’ve heard enough in recent years about the Whiteco building on the corner of Harlem and Ontario, but they have yet to hear all that the new building has to offer.

03/04/2009

Oak, maple and elm trees surround the home at 609 William in River Forest, offering a blaze of color in the fall and protection from the sun or wind during the summer and winter months. The classic family-oriented home is 2,040-square feet on a lot that stretches 7,400-square feet.

02/25/2009

What is expected to be Oak Park’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified home has been significantly delayed by what the home’s general contractors are calling uncooperative behavior by the Oak Park Building and Property Standards Department, the office that regulates the village’s real estate development and zoning procedures.

02/25/2009

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The home at 527 S. Gunderson has beamed ceilings, built-in bookcases and hutches, original art-glass windows and oak and maple hardwood floors. These and many additional features are typical of the 1914-era defined by the Arts and Crafts Movement.

02/18/2009

A tax credit for first-time homebuyers, part of the compromised economic stimulus bill Congress passed last week, may give the housing market a slight boost in short-term, but fail to solve the industry’s deeper issues, local experts say.

02/18/2009

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The Victorian home at 114 Lathrop in Forest Park is cottage-like on the outside and cosmopolitan on the inside. The renovated home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a finished basement and two exterior entertaining areas.

02/11/2009

Never mind the tedium and difficulty of hammering out a new building code, members of the Village of Oak Park’s Code Commission have upped the ante in the process by making some additions to an otherwise prosaic document. Sorting through the new code piece by piece, the commission hopes to achieve a lofty goal: to increase the energy efficiency of new construction homes and additions by 30 percent.

02/11/2009

Besides providing low-interest mortgages, many banks are looking to help stimulate the slumping housing market with additional cost-cutting programs. Whether it be an alternative loan focused on assisting borrowers on special rehab properties or simply providing homeowners resources to curb inflating expenses, banks are finding creative ways to assist people during the country’s economic downturn.

02/11/2009

Because of the lack of liquidity, the current housing market is experiencing enormous barriers that are preventing homeowners the ability to avoid foreclosure. Homebuyers are also impacted as they too, are being prevented from taking advantage of low mortgage rates and a pent-up inventory that offers affordable housing.

02/11/2009

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The stately home at 1507 Forest in River Forest has five bedrooms, two full bathrooms with two powder rooms, two fireplaces, a large breakfast room and finished basement. Some of the more interesting features in the home include several built-in bookcases and shelves, French doors and a Jack and Jill powder room between two bedrooms.

02/04/2009

When Alice Tomczyk’s furnace went out a few weeks before Christmas, it was just adding fuel to the fire.

02/04/2009

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Karl Lagerfeld kept the name of Coco Chanel current through modern takes on classic design staples. Tom Ford did the same for Gucci.

01/28/2009

When Super Bowl XLIII rolls into Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 1, not everyone will have been lucky enough to score a ticket. Thanks to advances in home theater concepts, you no longer have to be at the game to fully enjoy the action on the field.

01/28/2009

Love rich, austere interiors? Then you must see 136 Wesley Ave. in Oak Park.

01/21/2009

Who would have thought that finding a new home would simply be at a potential homebuyer’s fingertips?

01/21/2009

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Victorian-style homes come in all shapes and sizes. Some are flamboyant with many rich and bold colors. Some Victorians have fancy gingerbread trim work, and still others are small and cottage-like.

01/13/2009

The green concept, when applied to residential and commercial building, is becoming more and more commonplace, but architects like Oak Parker Tom Bassett-Dilley are now also shifting focus to smaller structures that aren’t usually seen by the public. These so-called buildings reside in the backyard and are designed to get the most out of small spaces.

01/13/2009

We begin 2009 with high hopes for success and prosperity in what is sure to be a landmark transitional year in the real estate market. Housing has always helped the economy rebound and lower interest rates, coupled with foreclosure relief for struggling families, is key to getting the housing market and the economy on track.

01/13/2009

With housing prices and mortgage rates at record lows and the feds floating a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, real estate agents and financial advisers in Chicago and the Near West suburbs are hopeful that consumers will gain confidence and take advantage of the opportunities in the new year.

01/06/2009

Dan Burke, a longtime Oak Park resident and an affordable housing developer, has accepted a new post with Preservation of Affordable Housing, a national not-for-profit organization that has, as its mission, to preserve housing for low-income families.

12/29/2008

With the housing market still reeling from a year when the global economy melted down and risky, subprime loans-plus piles of pink slips-pushed homeowners toward foreclosure, on New Year's Eve many real estate agents in Oak Park and River Forest, as well as Chicago, will enthusiastically bid adieu to 2008 and look to the new year for better days. 

12/24/2008

A solid home starts with a solid foundation and, by extension, the same goes for mixed-use condo developments, which can often thrive or falter by the ground floor commercial space that anchors them.

12/18/2008

When Melisande Van Liedekerke drove up to 918 Jackson Ave. in River Forest, she was coming to attend the usual Tuesday broker event where Realtors preview the new listings on the market.