There's still time to get a new house before the end of year

"There's no place like home for the holidays" goes the popular seasonal song, and buyers who move quickly can settle into the Optima Old Orchard Woods condominiums in Skokie before the end of the year.

Being developed by Optima, Inc. and designed by architect David Hovey and his Optima Old Orchard Woods overlooks Harms Woods forest preserve. A selection of one- two- and three-bedroom plans are available, and more details can be obtained at the sales office.

Optima Old Orchard Woods includes 665 condominiums in three 20-story towers. Floor plans range from one to four bedrooms plus combination units of as much as 5,000-square feet.

Each of the three towers has a separate entry and its own fitness center on the penthouse floors. The interconnected towers share access to an indoor pool and two spas with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the woods, an adjoining sun deck, party room and two retail areas with conveniences such as a gourmet grocery and dry cleaner.

An entrance features a 500-foot portico, brick paver drive encircling a formal garden with large reflection pond and 20 fountains.

Homes for the holidays are priced in the mid-to upper $200,000s for one-bedroom plans; from the low $300,000s for two-bedroom designs; and from the upper $400,000s for three-bedroom condominiums. Five models as well as the holiday homes are open for viewing.

Residents will enjoy The Grove, a private park on the east side of the building that includes three ponds, a bridge leading to a regional bike path, tennis court, grills and picnic benches plus abundant landscaping. Harms Woods offers hiking and bicycling trails, horseback riding and a public golf course.

Sales are taking place at the Optima, Inc. Skokie sales center at 9645 Woods Drive. To visit, take the Edens Expressway and exit at Old Orchard Road, west to Harms Road, south to Golf Road (Route 58), east to Woods Drive, north one block to sales center.

Hours are seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (847) 583-4700 or visit optimaweb.com.