See every new construction home

Last month Diane Mikos of Shodeen Residential took Joe Zekas through a Payton-style home (PDF) at the Mill Creek - Tanna neighborhood in Geneva. Payton models have 2,666 square feet, five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a full basement. They also features some of Mill Creek's largest dining rooms, bedroom-sized dens, and rambling master bedroom suite.

Shodeen designed Mill Creek to feature shopping areas, churches, schools, ball fields, parks and restaurants. Almost half of the community is open or recreational space, including 15 miles of biking and hiking trails, 72 acres of parks, and 127 acres of wetland preserves.

At Riverbend, a new community located just 20 minutes past Elgin, William Ryan Homes is offering exceptional pricing on six unique floor plans, including two single-story home styles starting at just $150,000 and available with no money down.

The new homes range from 1,776 to 2,878 square feet and include a 10-year Guarantee Dry Basement, ergonomic kitchens, sodded front yard, partial basements, and two and three-car garages.

Options include William Ryan's signature morning room, designer master baths, wood-burning fireplaces, volume ceilings, first-floor suites, game rooms, gourmet kitchens, and much more.

Aptly named for the Kishwaukee River bordering the community, Riverbend is a master-planned community that will include 270 single-family homes when complete and boasts a heavily wooded natural setting and acres of park land.

The small-town atmosphere of Genoa is balanced with conveniences and easy access to Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Children attend schools in District 424.

The William Ryan Homes 1-2-10 transferable / limited warranty, along with its exclusive My Home 24/7 customer interactive website and Hard Hat Buyer Inspection program, is included with every home it builds. The company complies with Green-Built and Energy Star standards for energy efficiency, ensuring consistent room temperatures and uniform comfort throughout the home. This can save homeowners up to 50 percent in energy use and expenses.

To visit one of William Ryan's model homes, take Lake Street / Route 20 west of Randall Road; the entrance to the community will be on the right hand side of Route 20 approximately one mile past Randall and one-quarter mile past Nestler Road. Turn into the community by going right on Shannon Parkway. Make the first left onto West Amberside Drive; the model is on the right side of the street at 434 Amberside Dr.

Sales hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 847-214-1367 or visit WilliamRyanHomes.com for more information.

Posted 3/10/2010 by Joseph Askins

Representing the high end of in Margate Park during Sunday's open house event was the three-bedroom / 3.5-bath single-family home at 920 W Castlewood Terrace. For just under $1.6 million, a buyer can get this home and an accompanying coach house that has served as an architect's studio.

Posted 3/10/2010 by Joseph Askins

Not only is Helen Weiss a principal with one of the state's oldest condo development companies, but she's one of the few successful women in the world of Chicagoland residential construction. After touring Lincolnshire Place last month, Joe Zekas sat down with Helen to learn more about her experiences and challenges over the past 30 years.

Posted 3/10/2010 by Joseph Askins

Well, Crain's saved me a trip to the clerk's office this morning.

According to this article by Alby Gallun (who obviously has my phone tapped), Silver Tower, 303 W Ohio St, is facing a $39.9 million foreclosure suit filed by Bank of America. The Cook County Circuit Court has already appointed Rally Capital Services receiver of the project.

Just 76 of Silver Tower's 225 units have closed since last summer.

Are pre-wired vehicle charging stations the next must-have features for new homes? KB Homes will install plugs for electric and hybrid cars to its new-construction single-family homes for an extra $250, the Wall Street Journal reports. The builder is the first in the nation to offer charging stations as upgrades for all homes.

I regretfully inform our trade partners, and our family, and John Hall Homes' owners that John Riggs of Colonial Kitchens passed away, Sunday, March 7th.

You can learn a lot about a neighborhood by visiting its restaurants. Francesca Rose, a Streeterville expert and a real estate agent at Prudential Rubloff, talked to Joe Zekas last fall about some of her favorite places to eat in Streeterville, including the best places to fill up before a morning open house .

Posted 3/9/2010 by Joseph Askins

The second half of my pre-open house drive through Margate Park in Uptown took me around Ainslie Street and Margate Terrace, down Castlewood Terrace and past Studs Terkel's old home, up to the site of a Dominick's under construction at Sheridan Road and Foster Avenue, and finally past the fields and beaches of Lincoln Park.

Mayfair Crossing is CA Development's latest successful community of single-family homes in the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Safe, convenient, and picturesque, Mayfair Crossing provides an urban haven within easy reach of everything you need. It's difficult to imagine a more convenient location in Chicago, and with new energy-efficient three- and four-bedroom single-family homes starting at only $449,000, it is as economical as it is convenient.

At Mayfair Crossing, you can walk for groceries without crossing a busy street. Located at the corner of Berteau and Kilpatrick avenues, the development is within walking distance of the Six Corners Shopping District.

Two Metra lines or the CTA Blue Line are all within walking distance. Although a vehicle isn't necessary in a neighborhood rich with public transportation, car owners will appreciate the convenience of the Kennedy and Edens expressways, both located just blocks away, and the two-car garages that come standard with every home.

Four unique floor plans with three to four bedrooms and 2.5 to 3.5 baths are offered at Mayfair Crossing, including the charming 2,483 square-foot, three-bedroom Hickory, the thoughtful 2,736 square-foot, four-bedroom Avondale, and the luxurious 3,080 square-foot, four-bedroom Mayfair and Berteau, each with an endless choice of finishes and selections.

Buyers may choose from three levels of finish to reflect their budget and taste, but all homes feature granite countertops, marble finishes, stainless-steel appliances, wood floors, and fireplaces.

A fully decorated three-bedroom Hickory model from the new Smart Choice series is available for viewing. This Victorian-style home with stone and cedar trim has soaring 13-foot-high ceilings in the living room, an elevated dining room, and a great room with a fireplace. The granite and cherry kitchen opens to a 20-foot deck for outdoor entertaining. The large master suite features vaulted ceilings, a private balcony, and a master bath with soaking tub, separate shower and dual marble vanities.

The Hickory at Mayfair Crossing is located at 4225 N Kilpatrick Ave and is open from 1 to 3 p.m. on weekends or by appointment. For more information, call Barbara O'Connor of Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate at 773-491-5631 or visit www.CADevelopment.com.