Large homes, good schools draw buyers to Inverness Hills

Two years ago, Wanda and Frank Tardio moved from Palatine to a larger home in Inverness Hills.

“I was familiar with the area and liked it, then I fell in love with the house, and next I met such nice neighbors — that I knew it was where I wanted to be,” Wanda Tardio said.

“After we moved in, they had a little block party so we could meet the neighbors, which was very nice. There were six or seven neighbors there to welcome us to the neighborhood. I can't say enough about how friendly everyone has been.”

Wanda always wanted that nice dream house where they could entertain and get the whole family together.

What does Wanda love about the house? “It's big,” she said. “We came from a house one-third the size. We live on a cul-de-sac, so when we look out the front, it's a really pretty view. We just had that pretty snow, and it looked like a winter wonderland with all the mature trees, and we have an in-ground swimming pool to enjoy in the summer.”

The upscale Inverness Hills neighborhood features 78 two-story and ranch houses on one-acre homesites along winding roads that meander through the countryside.

These distinctive homes feature unique architectural designs because of the diversity of builders having worked in the subdivision, including Dior, Liberty Craft, The Nicholas Group and others, said real estate broker Tony Sarantakis of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Arlington Heights.

Nestled on the border of Barrington just west of Ela Road, the neighborhood was developed by Art Gingold beginning in 1979 during a residential explosion of larger homes with varied designs taking place in Inverness in the 1970s and '80s.

Many of the homes back up to a 16-acre conservation area donated to the Inverness Park District. There residents enjoy the beautiful, serene property that provides a habitat for wildlife such as deer, fox and coyote, Sarantakis said.

Sarantakis and his wife, Tina, purchased one of only ten lots remaining in the subdivision 25 years ago. He loves singing the praises of the subdivision where they and their two children, Tori and Nick, and the family pet lab-retriever Rocco have lived for 24 years.

“We like the acreage, and the schools were a big consideration at the time we moved here. It's more of a neighborhood feel rather than being so spread out like some other subdivisions,” said Tina Sarantakis, who is also a real estate broker.

“Being in the real estate business, we keep spending money to keep our house updated. We did a paver patio with a fireplace. It's really nice in the evening to go out there and sit and watch the fire,” Tony Sarantakis said.

A benefit of living in Inverness Hills is its active homeowners' association, which has the largest participation of any in the area, said Sarantakis, president of the association.

“This group has evolved into a network of close friendships.”

For other activities and recreation, the Inverness Park District manages three beautiful parks — Maggie Rogers Park, North Park and South Park. The park district also offers sports leagues and classes for children and adults and hosts summer concerts and annual holiday events.

Also, just as the Inverness Golf Club was the center for recreation in 1939, it's a center of social life today. The club offers golfing, gourmet dining, tennis courts and swimming — something for everyone in the family.

Buyers also seek out Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 schools, specifically Fremd High School, which is a big draw for people to purchase a home in Inverness Hills, they said.

Listing sheet

<b>Price range:</b>$500,000 to more than $1 million

<b>Age of homes:</b> 34 years old and newer

<b>Schools:</b> Marion Jordan Elementary and Walter Sundling Junior High schools in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Fremd High School in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211

<b>Parks: </b>Inverness Park District