Woodlands a worthy investment

Elizabeth and David Goodchild and their three children live in a custom home on almost an acre of land with 13 mature oak trees in their back yard.

"I bought this house when I was 27 years old, and now I'm 45, married with three kids, and I still live here," Elizabeth Goodchild said.

Originally a tri-level home, Elizabeth Goodchild had it transformed it into a two-story colonial with a beautiful custom kitchen. Before that, she researched whether she should buy a new home or undertake the huge renovation project configuring new to old. "I found you can't get this landscaping anywhere, and you can't by these 250-year-old oak trees," Elizabeth Goodchild said.

"People are investing in their homes in this neighborhood, updating and renovating them because there's nothing like it.

"And it's still your old-fashioned neighborhood. When the kids were off school recently, the neighbor in back sent her kids over to my house, and they just walked through the yard. That old-fashioned going to the neighbors and walking through the back yard is alive and well here."

Situated east of Plum Grove Road just north of Algonquin Road, Plum Grove Woodlands in unincorporated Palatine features unique custom homes -- ranches, Tudors and two-story colonials mostly with two-car garages -- winding streets with no sidewalks, rolling hills and a pond. Residents have private wells and public sewers.

Elizabeth Goodchild and her husband David are both Realtors and owners of Weichert Realtors Goodchild Homes also in unincorporated Palatine.

It's unbelievable how secluded we are with the wooded area, yet so close to Route 53 and the Algongquin and Meacham roads intersection, Elizabeth Goodchild said.

There are a lot of dog lovers in the neighborhood. People walk their dogs all the time and kids ride their bikes, even though there are no sidewalks. The Goodchilds have a golden doodle named Coconut that they enjoy walking and talking to neighbors along the way. "It's a very friendly neighborhood," Elizabeth Goodchild said.

When Lynn and Russ Robinson moved to Plum Grove Woodlands seven years ago, the trees were a big attraction because it reminded them of where they previously lived in New Jersey.

"We can look out at the scenic surroundings from several rooms, and we have a creek in our back yard, which is nice," Lynn Robinson said.

"We like the size of our two-story home with the walkout basement and two-story foyer and family room. And in our kitchen, we have stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

"We wanted to be in the Fremd school district, and we're close to the airport and to Woodfield."

For recreation, the Palatine Park District maintains the 18-hole championship Palatine Hills Golf Course with pro shop, clubhouse, and driving range. Residents can enjoy the family Aquatic Center with two 180-foot slides and two tot water slides. And the 15-mile Palatine Trail winds through neighborhood parks, the Palatine Hills Golf Course, Deer Grove Forest Preserve, and Harper College.

For the whole community, Palatine hosts an annual Street Fest, an urban block party with a hometown feel, with activities for all ages, food and main stage entertainment.

Palatine sits about 28 miles northwest of the Loop. Route 53 borders Palatine on the east, connecting with I-90 and I-355. The Loop is an hour drive while O'Hare Airport is 20 minutes away. Commuters can board a train in Arlington Park or Palatine for the approximate 40-minute trip to the Loop, an hour on the locals.

Price range: $400,000 to $1 million plus

Age of homes: 50 years old and newer

Schools: Willow Bend Elementary and Sundling Junior High schools in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Fremd High School in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211

Parks: Palatine Park District