Homebuyers seek family-friendly communities

Naperville, Plainfield and Aurora, a region west of Chicago settled in the early 1830s, each have developed into ethnically diverse, family-oriented communities that continue to attract new residents.

Naperville and Plainfield were predominantly rural communities for most of their existence, while Aurora was once a manufacturing powerhouse.

Each of these towns has a designated historical district where early homes reflect the towns' beginnings. New homes and businesses also are welcomed each year.

Today, the towns are part of suburbia with nice homes, good schools and a lot of opportunities for recreation.

Housing

Naperville

Harold Moser led the residential building boom in Naperville with his first subdivision in 1956. By 1995, he had subdivided 8,000 building lots and had built 3,500 homes in the city. A population explosion began in the 1960s and continued into the 2000s after construction of the tollways.

Today the entire real estate market is hot in Naperville, and people are buying in every price range, said Bernie Cobb, real estate broker with RE/MAX of Naperville.

"I've been in business for 28 years, and I've never seen a stronger market," he said.

"Downtown is on fire. City planners have done such a great job of keeping it nice, and people want to be there."

Today more than ever, the condition of a house matters, Cobb said. The younger generation wants a home in move-in condition because they grew up that way.

There are others who are willing to move in and take on DIY projects. When you look past the cosmetics, there's a lot of value in many resale homes, Cobb said.

"Home prices will go up and level off; they're not going to keep skyrocketing."

Plainfield

The oldest community in Will County, Plainfield has experienced substantial growth since World War II, particularly in the 1990s. The town is a destination in its own right, offering the amenities of suburban life along with the tranquillity of country living.

Plainfield is a popular area that continues to grow, and all of Plainfield is selling right now, said Ellen Williams, real estate broker with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group in Plainfield.

"Although there's a shortage of inventory, homes are moving quickly when they are priced well and in good condition," Williams said. "Quite a few first-time buyers are coming into the market, and a lot of people that have lived in Plainfield for a while are selling and moving up and staying in Plainfield."

People are getting their homes ready to sell this spring. "It's very important to spend time making repairs, decluttering and staging because a lot of our marketing is based on photos," Williams said. "A significant change for sellers in the past few years is that people are looking for well-maintained homes in good condition that show well."

Aurora

Aurora has grown tremendously since the 1960s. In the late 1990s, more development began in the rural areas and towns outside of Aurora. And as subdivisions sprouted up around the city, its population soared.

Housing in Aurora has been described as a "tapestry of different architectural styles and time periods." The city is home to structures by Frank Lloyd Wright and a large collection of Sears catalog homes from the 1920s and 1930s.

Today, historic areas downtown are being redeveloped and sales of homes are good and up over last year, said Nadine Johnson, real estate broker with Kettley and Company Realtors in Aurora.

"There's an inventory shortage in the market, and we're seeing multiple offers again, which we haven't seen since 2004. And that's been nice," Johnson said.

With multiple offers, it's definitely a sellers' market. Buyers have to be quick but patient because they might have to put in several bids before they end up with a house, Johnson said. "Homes priced in the $100,000 to $300,000 range are selling well."

Keeping it current

For those who want to stay in their homes in these towns, Design First is doing a lot of remodeling and updating, including removing walls to give homes an updated look with the popular open concept.

"We do a lot of white kitchens in Naperville with islands a color that contrasts with the cabinetry," said Tara Soderstrom, marketing manager. The company does remodeling and renovations throughout the Chicago area.

New homes

The construction of new homes can often be an indication that the local economy is robust, and that jobs or other amenities are attracting an influx of new residents. Several builders are active in these West suburban towns. Here's a look at a few of the new-home communities attracting homebuyers.

Naperville

K. Hovnanian Homes offers Tramore, maintenance-free duplex homes with up to four bedrooms, 2½ baths and a two-car garage. The builder also offers Villas at Trafford Place, maintenance-free homes with exquisite interior finishes.

M/I Homes has several active townhouse communities in Naperville including Bauer Place, Sedgwick and Emerson Park.

Plainfield

A grand entrance bridge welcomes you to King's Bridge, a new community of single-family homes by M/I Homes tucked away in a tranquil part of town. Homes offer 2,230 to 3,856 square feet.

Springbrook of Plainfield by D.R. Horton offers single-family homes with 2,045 to 3,108 square feet, three to four bedrooms, two to 2½ baths and a two-car garage. Families love the community aquatic center.

Aurora

Ingham Park by CalAtlantic has been a successful single-family new home community, and there's only one quick move-in home available. The community sits close to Pioneer Park, Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, Blackberry Farm and Splash Country Water Park. A walking and biking path connects to the VI Gilman Trail.

Marywood Meadows by Hartz Homes offers single-family homes priced from $221,900 to $281,900 in a quiet, scenic country setting with two ponds and rolling hills.

New businesses

There's a lot of excitement in the air as many new businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues move into these vibrant communities. This activity creates a lot of interest and adds to the appeal of these towns as a great place to live.

Naperville

Che Figata in CityGate Centre will offer a whole Italian dining experience with views into an open kitchen, said Christine Jeffries, president of the Naperville Development Partnership. "It's going to be very, very cool."

Sharko's opened a second location in Freedom Commons. Santo Cielo, a rooftop restaurant and lounge on top of Hotel Indigo downtown, just opened. Buttermilk in Freedom Commons is a breakfast and lunch place. And Sparrow Coffee downtown is delicious.

Patel Brothers recently opened a new ethnic grocery store; a new Aldi's is going in at Naperville Crossings, and Laquain Patidian is a great new bakery.

Kilwin's presents delicious chocolates, fudge and ice cream on Jefferson Street, and Syrah Home on Main Street offers furniture, lighting and decor accessories.

A big indoor ice arena with two regulation-size ice rinks and an event center is planned on Ferry Road. The Old Nichols Library has a plan for reinvention that's spectacular, which is a big deal downtown, Jeffries said. And recently Franklin Partners purchased the former Office Max headquarters building, which they're going to revamp and lease into smaller sections to cater to the modern office worker.

Plainfield

"We've seen a lot of interest in our restaurant scene," said Jake Melrose, economic development manager for the village of Plainfield.

Things are getting underway with the old fire station with opening of Station One Smokehouse, a barbecue place with a rustic, industrial vibe. Garage Band Brewing Co. will occupy the neighboring space.

At the end of last year, Krema Coffee House opened downtown. And two new wood-fire pizza places opened, Big Pauly's Wood Fired Pizza and Freedom Brothers Pizzeria & Ale House. They're both receiving rave reviews. "I personally love both of their pizzas," Melrose said. "And they're great people."

Werk Force Brewing expanded with new equipment and new tanks. They're growing by leaps and bounds.

Ten Drops Coffee Lab just expanded inside the warehouse district. Also, Tailwinds Distilling expanded its production facility, and it will have a presence at Soldier Field. It is exciting to see a Plainfield business there, Melrose said.

"We have a lot of retail and development interest and a lot of stuff on the verge of happening," Melrose said. "It's very promising with what's about to come."

Aurora

In Aurora, there's new development all over the city, said David Dibo, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development. "Wherever you turn, there's something interesting going on."

One project is the redevelopment of Yorkshire Plaza into an Asian-centric marketplace on Aurora's far east side, which may be the largest of its kind in the country.

Downtown, the old Waubonsie College adjacent to the Paramount Theater is being converted into the Aurora Arts Center, a huge project comprised of 38 artist lofts, a restaurant and a performance arts academy - all connected to the Paramount.

The Transportation Center enhancement project will include a pedestrian bridge that will connect bike trails on the west and east banks of the Fox River going over Blues Island. The area will be aesthetically beautiful.

Endiro Coffee opened last year and has been very successful, Dibo said. Specialty coffees and global food is on the menu. The owners buy Uganda coffee, which supports children's education and welfare in Uganda.

Tredwell Coffee features coffee and light food while Beans Greens Proteins focuses on healthful options.

Company 251 is a luxury venue space for private events created by Moveable Feast & Co. that has been very successful.