Highland Woods in neighborhood profile
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the subdivision is in Hoffman Estates, though the homes have a Palatine mailing address.
After living in Rolling Meadows for 20 years, Tracy Wilhelm moved with her family to a more spacious house on a quarter-acre site in Hoffman Estates's Highland Woods subdivision.
"Our first home in Rolling Meadows was 900 square feet; it was a doll house - but 900 square feet? Our next home there was bigger, but it had a tiny galley kitchen," Wilhelm said. "So 10 years ago when we looked at the home in Highland Woods with more than 3,000 square feet, I felt like I could breathe.
"We fell in love with the subdivision and with the house with its nice spacious kitchen and large rooms with three bedrooms on one level and up a few stairs to the private master suite.
"My favorite room is the living room. It's a nice big room, and I can look outside and see kids playing. Right now I'm looking out the window, and the kids are playing basketball."
Wilhelm especially likes having a neighborhood Women's Club that organizes a lot of. children's activities, an annual garage sale and neighborhood block party.
"This is a very desirable subdivision; the neighbors are friendly and nice, and it's a kid- and dog-friendly neighborhood. There are a lot of dogs in the neighborhood, which is a good way to meet and interact with your neighbors when you're outside," she said.
Highland Woods, situated north of Algonquin Road and east of Ela Road, offers five different home designs with 2,436 to 3,200 square feet, four to five bedrooms, 2½ baths, a basement and two-car garage. Many basements are finished with large recreation and entertainment spaces that add to the living space in the homes.
With quality homes, award-winning schools and friendly neighbors, Highland Woods is a great place to raise a family, said Susan Klatt, broker with Keller Williams Success Realty in Barrington. She said the Women's Club offers a great value for residents.
"A standout feature of the subdivision is its sense of community. Neighbors are wonderful, and they're always out walking in the evening with their children and pets," Klatt said. "People really bond easily here."
Area amenities in downtown Palatine include shopping at boutiques, several restaurants, hair salons and coffee shop. The 1.6-acre Towne Square features a gazebo, benches and game tables and is often a gathering spot for community events. Woodfield Mall in nearby Schaumburg features excellent restaurants, movie theaters and other entertainment.
Harper College is also nearby, and residents have easy access to I-90 and O'Hare International Airport.
Recreation is within easy reach for residents. Within the subdivision, the park district's six-acre Finch Park offers a walking and biking path, a playground, basketball court, shelter, picnic table, bike rack and open green space.
Other park district recreation includes the community aquatic center, parks, lakes, golf courses, festivals and concerts. The park district offers a full slate of activities for residents of all ages.
The Highland Woods Golf Course and Paul Douglas Forest Preserve sit just south of the neighborhood.
In the village's southeast corner, the Twin Lakes Recreation Area features a walking path, nine-hole golf course and driving range, paddleboats and fishing. They also have a concession house with good food and picnic tables. This is a popular spot, and many people enjoy sitting outside looking out at the lakes.
Listing sheet
<span class="fact box text bold">Price range:</span> $355,000 to $485,000
<span class="fact box text bold">Age of homes:</span> 32 to 40 years
<span class="fact box text bold">Schools:</span> Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Sandburg Junior High schools in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Fremd High School in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211.
<span class="fact box text bold">Parks:</span> Palatine Park District