Schools are a major draw for Klein Creek

Joann Coghill wishes school board members could be Realtors for a day to see how the highly rated schools in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 draw homebuyers to the area.

Coghill, a school board member and co-owner of Keller Williams Premiere Properties, often sees firsthand the impact of the schools on real estate and enjoys talking about it.

Twelve years ago, the excellent school district with award-winning Pleasant Hill School within walking distance attracted Mary and John Lamberts to the Klein Creek subdivision in Winfield.

The schools are wonderful, there are a lot of kids in the neighborhood and it's a great place to raise children, Mary Lamberts said.

Klein Creek Golf Course, carved from 230 acres of rolling prairie, is the centerpiece of the development and also a big selling point. The subdivision is situated just south of St. Charles Road both east and west of Pleasant Hill Road.

Klein Creek features semi-custom homes on quarter-acre sites built by to two homebuilders, R. Russell Builders and R.A. Faganel Builders. Houses sit along short streets and in cul-de-sacs that lend a private feel to the neighborhood, Coghill said.

“Both very good builders, Russell features traditional designs with extensive trim work while Faganel constructed more contemporary floor plans,” Coghill said.

Extensive exterior brickwork and a variety of architectural styles create interest and contribute to the curb appeal of the subdivision.

“Homes are new enough that they feel modern and were built at the time that builders began putting in 9-foot (tall) ceilings and 42-inch kitchen cabinetry,” Coghill said.

They have energy-efficient features, large kitchens with islands that a lot of people have upgraded with granite and stainless steel appliances, master suites with volume ceilings and nice luxury baths with whirlpools and walk-in closets, Coghill said.

Homes also show stained or white trim, and most have finished basements while homes on certain streets have walkout basements.

For the Lamberts, their three-car garage holds John's motorcycle and the kids' bikes. A first-floor den was also an important feature in their new home, although now 12 years later, everyone has a laptop and sits at the island or elsewhere, Lamberts said.

“We really like the larger floor plan with 9-foot ceilings, which are attractive and give the home a spacious feel.”

Klein Creek also features a section of upscale townhouses with two and three bedrooms.

Friendly neighbors make the neighborhood a pleasant place to live. “Our immediate neighbors are very sweet, and the two little girls across the street come with me to walk the dog,” Lamberts said. “When our kids were growing up, we did a lot of things with their friends' parents; we still see them, but not as much now.”

For fun and recreation, a tot lot right in the neighborhood is a popular spot for families with young children. Also, Winfield offers a bounty of parks and forest preserves along with several sports fields, picnic areas and the Winfield Riverwalk.

Klein Creek sits between the Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail and is near the Cosley Animal Park, which is great for kids, Coghill said.

Residents also like that Coghill hosts and advertises an annual garage sale in the subdivision that has been a big hit.

The subdivision has easy access to shopping in Winfield and neighboring downtowns and strip malls along with Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale.

Situated just south of North Avenue, residents have a short ride to Route 355 for traveling north or south. And commuters can board Metra on High Lake Road in Winfield.

Listing sheet

Price range: $425,000 to $700,000

Age of homes: 11 to 15 years

Schools: Pleasant Hill Elementary, Monroe Middle and Wheaton North High schools in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200

Parks: Carol Stream Park District