Condos offer a higher standard of living

It's time to think spring - new life, new beginnings, even a new lifestyle.

How about a fresh, simple, stress-free way of life? If you're saying yes, you might want to consider the convenience of condominium living.

Come on, get rid of the lawn mower and snow shovel and spend more time on what really matters-a hobby, exercising or spending time with family and friends. Let someone else take care of plumbing problems or roof repairs. And enjoy one-level living with no stairs.

"Today when we're all stressed out, a condo provides maintenance-free living. The fun thing is you can ask someone, 'What do we want to do this weekend?,' not 'What do we have to do?'," said Katie Lange, sales manager at Fountain Square on the River, a condominium development in downtown Elgin.

"That's what I like about it - no maintenance. It's a carefree, simple lifestyle that I think people are looking for these days."

However, convenience is much more than just maintenance-free living.

At Fountain Square, it's also being surrounded by urban amenities. You're within walking distance of the Elgin Public House, Villa Verone (where you can try grandma's recipes, and the service is impeccable), the Red Bar and a new road house that just opened, Lange said.

"You can do your own little pub-crawl and end it with Al's ice cream. Add to that the symphony, rec center and library, where there's a beautiful room on the second floor for reading. There's a fireplace in the center and chairs in a half circle, and you can read overlooking the water."

The L-shaped building features elevators in the center, parking on the lower level and commercial space on the first floor with residential units on the second to eighth floors.

Fountain Square also offers the convenience of renting a condo or renting to own. Prices range from $1,000 to $2,220 per month rent for 690 to 2,242 square feet of living space. Purchase prices run from $149,900 to $426,900.

Emerson Lofts also has an urban feel, set in the picturesque heart of Woodstock. Emerson Lofts is more than a place to live; it's a lifestyle, said Scott Ballard, vice president sales and marketing for Plote Homes.

The new loft condos occupy the former Emerson Typewriter Factory - a unique industrial building that made half the world's typewriters, which has been transformed to one-of-a-kind condos. "People need to see it to understand it," Ballard said.

Loft residents are immersed in historic downtown Woodstock with its town square boutiques, antique stores, coffee houses and an eclectic mix of restaurants, including the restored Waverly House and an English tearoom.

Residents can walk to all kinds of happenings - fairs and festivals and special attractions with live entertainment. Woodstock is known for its festivals and events in the spring and summer, Ballard said.

A one- or two-car garage is available and prices range from $169,900 to $359,900. For information about Emerson Lofts, call (815) 337-7900 or visit emersonlofts.com.

Located in the heart of the newly revitalized downtown Palatine, The Heritage of Palatine is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, night life and the Metra station.

Several upscale restaurants represent a variety of ethnicities. There are unique boutiques, hair and nail salons, dry cleaners and coffee shops.

"We focus on transit-oriented developments near Metra and always in downtown suburbs because we know they're such a desirable location," said Katie Campbell, sales manager for R. Franczak & Associates. "It goes back to - location is everything. People like to run out for dinner. They don't even need to grab their car. They just walk a block or two and have some nice options in Palatine.

"We have underground heated parking, and all our buildings are elevator buildings, and that's another convenience," Campbell said.

New condos, priced from $226,900 to $359,900, offer the latest in interior design and technology and often include spectacular views. Models show current color trends, desirable kitchen designs and floor plans that reflect today's lifestyles. For information, call (847) 705-6238 or visit rfranczak.com.

Overlooking the Fox River, Fountain Square on the River features views to die for. "In one of our models," Lange said, "the oohs and aahs are the windows in the living room looking out on the river.

"On the city side, street views from DuPage Court include all the beautiful architecture. You can see church steeples and the academy dome. To the south at night, you see twinkling lights in the trees for the bike paths. You have beautiful views from all different angles day and night."

The condo building has a contemporary flair, yet is suited for any style furnishings. The model shows cherry flooring, and the kitchen features tan and brown granite countertops with stainless steel appliances. Every unit has granite, hardwood floors and most master suites have six-foot soaking tubs.

For information, call (847) 931-9960 or visit fountainsq.com.

At Emerson Lofts, you won't see the typical 8- or 9-foot ceilings. There's volume throughout, and you'll see 30-foot ceilings in some places, Ballard said. "We have exposed brick and timber, just cool stuff. Younger people go 'wow.'"

Every unit is different, said Christa Kalemba, sales manager. "They have a lot of drama. One model has a pitched ceiling with saw tooth skylights, so the ceiling height is really high with windows on top. There's an open loft area where you step down into the master suite. Everyone likes that.

"The other two-story has a fabulous kitchen with a lot of upgrades, lots of windows and light. It has a neutral décor with dark wood floors and everyone likes the claw foot tub and slate flooring in the master bath. The loft master is in the back and separate loft above that."

The lofts have a contemporary feel with the blend of old and new. People get so excited about these that they come back a second or third time and show someone else, Kalemba said. "They'll say, 'My friend's mom or a work associate told me I had to check these out,' and they're always pleasantly surprised."

In recent years, R. Franczak & Associates has brought an urban flair to suburban living with its sleek interiors and open floor plans, as seen at The Heritage of Palatine and other downtown developments.

"All our buyers really like open floor plans, and we've moved to that kind of living," Campbell said. "We have lots of islands and breakfast bars open to the great room. We don't have many enclosed kitchens."

The eco-chic Colfax model has been a hit with homebuyers. Furnished with eco-friendly products by MLB Interiors, the model features a neutral color scheme of crèmes and mushrooms. Green products include bamboo wood flooring, sustainable rattan chairs, vase centerpiece made of recycled newspaper. An undyed hand-woven silk duvet and 100 percent organic cotton draperies in the master suite.

A second model features a corner turreted unit with a transitional interior of berry and vanilla color scheme with exotic black cherry wood flooring.

Both plans are conducive to entertaining with guests circulating in the open floor plan.