Missy Jerfita of Koenig & Strey shows us this luxurious 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath townhome with spectacular views and a great location. The one-of-a-kind townhome unit offers oversized rooms, high ceilings, extra storage, designer finishes throughout and a 2.5 car garage.

The Glen in Glenview offers wonderful city living options such as closeness to shops, restaurants and supermarkets and easy transportation with a Metra station, and expressway to downtown Chicago.

According to the Senior VP and Branch Manager at Koenig & Strey’s Glenview and Northbrook offices, Michael Mazzei, demand for housing in these two north suburban suburbs is hot. The inventory of available homes is down 35% from a year ago at this time, which translates to a tighter supply, increased demand, and homes moving at closer to list price. While perhaps not quite yet a ‘seller’s market,’ there is still a greatly improved home marketing opportunity in a low-inventory environment.

With home prices down across the metropolitan area, we’re seeing sellers who have adjusted to the ‘new normal,’ pricing their homes for the market, and ultimately seeing better activity, as well as a better end result. Any of our real estate professionals will tell you that a good home, staged well and priced for the market will bring a seller faster results and more often than not a better price – and we’re seeing more of it here in Northbrook and Glenview.

We also get many requests for rentals, though the inventory is as low as it’s ever been. Although purchasing a home is the better economic option at this point, many are still not ready to make the move, and we’re happy to help them find the right rental.

For any questions regarding north suburban real estate, please contact Michael Mazzei.

Melissa Govedarica of Sergio & Banks takes us on a tour of 1928 W Wolfram, a newly listed luxury home in  West Lakeview offered by Noah Properties.

The 5-bedroom, 3 ½ bath single-family boasts an extensive outdoor space, coffered ceilings, an over-the-top kitchen, a large, lavish master bath, floor-to-ceiling windows,  two laundry rooms, two wet bars, ample storage space and a bright, high-ceilinged lower level. Elaborate cabinetry, crown moldings and wainscoting cab also be found throughout the home.

Part of the North Center community, West Lakeview is a family oriented neighborhood with close proximity to many parks.

The heart of downtown Winnetka is one of the most desired places to spend time in Chicagoland. Living nearby makes it all the more. J. Lawrence Homes recent renovated the Library Place townhomes. Shops, restaurants, schools, parks, a Metra station are all close. Some of the best North Shore beaches are nearby.

Take the above video tour of these rental units, ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 per month. The floor plans, from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet, feature 3 bedrooms, 2 or 2 1/2 baths and new high-end finishes. All have a full-sized laundry, garage space and a private yard.

Tina Culver of Sergio & Banks Realty takes us on a tour of unit 2505 at 50 E Bellevue Place.

This  3 bedroom, 3 full baths 25th floor home just recently became available and it offers 2,350 square feet of extensively renovated and upgraded living space, great views and light from floor-to-ceiling windows, generously sized rooms, hardwood flooring and  custom built-ins.

Located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood and within walking distance to Lake Michigan,  Oak Street beach, the  boutiques of the Magnificent Mile and Oak Street and many dining options such as Tavern on Rush.

Koenig & Strey associate, Muffy Hostetler from the Schaumburg office walks through this 5 bedroom and 4.2 baths, home that offers 2 separate staircases to the 2nd story and includes a private sanctuary.

The Glen of South Barrington offers great walking trails in a nature setting and as you will see in the video, access to a private beach on Lake Adalyn, ideal for swimming and fishing. This gated community is guarded 24-hours a day and is located in close proximity to fine dining and shopping, with easy access to the Metra station and expressways.

Located at 2550 W Huron St and facing south on Smith Park, this new 4,000 square foot, 4-5 bedroom, 3 ½ bath, contemporary single-family home boasts a sprawling first floor that is open from front to back, punctuated by an open, floating stainless steel staircase. The second floor features a master suite unlike anything you’ve seen, as the large master bedroom has natural woods and a half-wall of translucent designer glass looking into a huge master bath.

One of Chicago’s little-known neighborhoods, Smith Park is anchored by a park of the same name that features a pool, field house with an indoor basketball court and multi-purpose rooms, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and newer playground.

Izabela Sloma of Sergio & Banks is our tour guide in this sponsored video.

J. Lawrence Homes, one of the area’s largest  builders is currently offering $0 closing costs on their Ambry Estates community of new homes in Lynwood.  According to John Wozniak, president of J Lawrence Homes, buyers can to save up to $15,000 more in closing costs on homes which are already priced to move with their special financing bonus that runs through the end of May 2012.

Ambry Estates is located in Lynwood, IL, a small suburb of less than 8,000 residents just 30 miles south from Chicago’s Loop. There are currently two move-in-ready homes including one 4 bedroom, 3 bath 3,354 square foot home for only $334,550. Or choose from several different new home designs starting in the $230s.

Chicago’s Loop is a feast of landmarks. Some standing as they always have, others reincarnated. The Randolph Tower City Apartments is probably better known as the former Steuben Club Building. Its near-riotous terra cotta ornamentation stands out. But from the inside the building’s lobby is another wow.

Take the video tour of some one and two bedroom units with Kim Ashley of Brook Furniture Rental and Liz Pietka of Randolph Tower. Brook offers a Ready to Rent program at Randolph Tower, providing renters furnished units with different selections.

Check out the lobby’s bold colors, retro private club details and arresting shapes in the tour’s intro.

For buyers looking to hedge their bets on condo ownership and assure themselves that they’ve chosen the right building and location, the recently-launched rent-to-own program at 235 Van Buren has proved popular.

Renters can become buyers at any point during their 12-month lease and receive 30% of the rent they’ve paid as a credit toward closing costs, up to 3% of the purchase price of their unit. You can meet some of the buyers, and hear them discuss their decision to purchase, at the video page for 235 Van Buren.

In this sponsored video, January Sambell  of CMK Realty discusses the program and the wide array of dining options in the area.

Recent months have seen solid sales activity at Superior 110. The high-rise at 110 W Superior has only 3 units still available - a high-floor full floor and two half-floor units.

“These are desirable units,” said Greg Eldridge, who is in charge of sales at Superior 110. “They’re available only because of contract fall-throughs, a situation that’s been the story in many new developments in recent years.”

The striking Hartshorne Plunkard-designed River North high-rise is also known informally as “the blue building”.

Tom Makinney of Koenig & Strey’s Gracik Makinney Group takes us on a video tour of 964 Kent Ave, a solidly built 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath center-entry Colonial in Elmhurst’s Elm Estates.

Developed in the early 1960s, the home offers a classic layout that stood the test of time and a desirable floor plan for today’s needs with a large living room, family room and an eat-in kitchen that opens to the formal dining room. Also included is a 2-car attached garage and a large fenced backyard.

With the building under new ownership, and having been renamed the Park Michigan to reflect its new look, the sleek, international-style apartment tower at 1212 South Michigan Ave in the South Loop is nearing the completion of a makeover.

Park Michigan residents will have walkable access to Chicago’s cultural institutions, Soldier Field and a wide variety of dining and nightlife options, as well as Grant Park at their front door and a Jewel-Osco, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Target and an El stop to the rear.

Join us for a look at one of the spacious, light-filled model apartments and the unbroken views of Lake Michigan to the east and Chicago’s great cityscape to the west in this sponsored video.

Sergio & Banks’ Melissa Govedarica and Tina Culver takes us on a video tour of 2145 W Barry, a newly-built 5 bedroom home located south of Roscoe Village and just a half block from Hamlin Park.

This 5-bedroom, 3 ½ bath home offers large and beautifully detailed rooms with high ceilings and a warm, contemporary feel.  Soaring vaulted ceilings can also be found at the bedroom level, including those in the sprawling master bath.

The home is on a quite tree-lined street, close to Roscoe Village’s many offerings. The neighborhood holds many festivals during the summer for the enjoyment of the entire family.

Location, views, in-unit and common area amenities and services are all part of the compelling package at the residences at Echelon at K Station. Apartments at Echelon contain thoughtful layouts with excellent separation of living spaces, balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, in-unit washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and more.

Echelon also features a large pool and sun deck, fully-equipped fitness room, guest suites, stylish lounge areas, business center and party rooms, as well as easy access to the Kennedy Expressway, the CTA Blue Line, the Grand Avenue CTA bus and Metra’s Ogilvie Transportation Center.

From the Jefferson Tap, a popular neighborhood hangout, to the glitzy Carnivale, Echelon’s Fulton River District location has a wide range of dining options nearby. A Jewel-Osco that rivals the selection of a Whole Foods is also across thre street, as well as an adjacent park with dog run.

Did we mention the views? The views alone are worth a visit to Echelon.

Please join us for a brief overview of Echelon at K Station in the above video.

For renters looking to a transit-friendly location close to the action, Belmont Lofts is an attractive option. This building at 4131 W Belmont Ave is at the nexus of three Chicago neighborhoods: Avondale, Irving Park and Belmont Gardens. For getting around, the 77 Belmont Avenue bus at the building’s front door. The CTA Blue Line and Kennedy Expressway are close by.

Take a video tour of a bright, stylish 1-bedroom loft in the building with Jeff Kerr of @properties. The unit showcases hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, a sleek bath and kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops and an in-unit washer/dryer. 

The $1,175 monthly rent includes parking. An additional space is available for $50 a month if desired.

Here is a look at Astoria Tower, a full-amenity building located at the northern end of the South Loop.

The 2-bedroom, 2-bath split-bedroom apartment unit offers dazzling skyline views and many high-end features often not found in other South Loop developments. The building is within walking distance to Grant Park and many of the area’s stores, restaurants and colleges.

Driving Chicagoland’s interstate crossroads of I-90 and 290 and you see Schaumburg. Or so you may think. Of course there are shopping centers, hotels and restaurants. But, as Joe Stacy, a 20-year resident of Schaumburg and the broker manager of Koenig & Strey’s Schaumburg office lays out in the above video, there is more than tall glass and Woodfield Mall.

The retail and corporate parks drivers and shoppers see account for a very low tax base for approximately twenty square miles of residential housing, a top-notch park district and school system. As Joe says, residents also enjoy parks, golf, sports complexes, forest preserves and an assortment of entertainment venues.

The real estate axiom says location is everything. But when making the sale, presentation is all. Model homes, model condos or apartment guest suites need staging – furniture and décor to illustrate the possibilities. Subject of the above video in Chicago’s South Loop, the new Lofts at Roosevelt Collection is an example of targeted, budgeted and quick home staging.

Take the tour with home staging experts Kim Ashley of Brook Furniture Rental and The Home Stage Chicago‘s Steffanie Danby as they explain their craft.

The urban experience in a suburb is just one of Elmhurst’s many attractions, but it’s of particular importance to the dramatic townhome located in downtown Elmhurst that’s available to be toured in the above video, which was sponsored by Koenig & Strey’s Gracik Makinney Group.

While many suburban downtowns have been looking for ways to reinvent themselves, downtown Elmhurst has been thriving. The City Centre website for downtown Elmhurst even provides a parking map for visitors who may find themselves surprised by the number of visitors, as well as the many shopping, dining and entertainment options available in the compact area near the Metra station.

With a broad lawn and serendipitous path, this 4-bedroom, 3 ½ bath 2,435 square foot townhome sits on a 25 x 125 parcel at 234 N Addison Ave and is listed for sale at $615,000.