Brittany Woods in neighborhood profile
LeeAnn Fairleigh scoped out many areas when looking for a home in a walk-to-school location. She worked full time and needed the convenience so her son, who had an interest in running, could easily get to and from his practices. He became one of the best distance runners in the state.
Fairleigh scored when she found a nice home in Brittany Woods in Cary that was close to the middle school and high school. She loved the beautiful layout of the subdivision with winding roads and mature trees, which looks "just gorgeous" in the summer, she said.
What was the special appeal of the home? It had a sunroom and gazebo, Fairleigh said.
"When I saw the gazebo, I said this is the house for me; I always wanted a gazebo. Our backyard is beautiful and we have a huge deck."
Fairleigh moved 28 years ago from Dallas to the Chicago area, then later from Barrington to Brittany Woods. "Everyone takes good care of their property here," Fairleigh said. "The pride of ownership really shows in the neighborhood. And It's a great place to walk."
Situated on Silver Lake Road off Route 14, Brittany Woods features mostly two-story Colonial homes along with some ranches. Houses range from 1,700 to 3,200 square feet, with two to five bedrooms, two to 3½ baths and two- or three-car garages. A mix of designs by several different builders gives the neighborhood a custom feel.
Brittany Woods is a beautiful subdivision with wooded lots and winding streets that give it an unusual appearance, said Patsy Fritz, broker and owner of Realty Executives in Cary.
Homeowners work to make the front of their homes look good, and many have beautiful custom front doors for a welcoming entry. Many homes feature versatile floor plans, large kitchens and master suites. Homes were also built with architectural 9-foot ceilings on the first floor, which were just becoming popular at that time the area was developed, Fritz said.
"These are features that homebuyers want, which makes homes in the subdivision sell very well. Homes also offer a good value as it's not common to get a three-car garage in this price range."
For shopping, residents can shop locally or head to malls in Crystal Lake and other surrounding communities.
Residents of Brittany Woods are surrounded by opportunities for recreation. Lyons Park located on Silver Lake Road is the town's largest park. It's like one-stop shopping with so many activities in one place. Amenities include a large playground, baseball and soccer fields, bike path, sledding hill, skate park and summer concerts in the park.
For those who yearn for adventure, Cary offers rock climbing, quarry scuba diving, cliff diving and gravel pit tours. More conventional recreation includes the town's many parks, golf courses and museum.
Cary is home to more than 40 parks and playgrounds operated by the Cary Park District and McHenry County Conservation District. For golf enthusiasts, area golf courses include Chalet Hills Golf Course, a property with 200-year-old trees, rolling hills, lakes and creeks, stands of full forests and wetlands. Cary Country Club, established in the early 1920s, is a scenic landmark featuring rolling hills, plush surroundings and an occasional visit from friendly wildlife. And Foxford Hills Golf Club, owned by the park district, presents a southern style clubhouse.
Situated on the Fox River, Cary is a small, quaint, friendly community - and that's just what people like about it.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $200,000 to $350,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 19 to 26 years
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Deer Path Elementary, Cary Junior High schools in Cary Elementary District 26 and Cary-Grove Community High School in Crystal Lake High School District 155.
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Cary Park District