Vacation-home style innovative for despite market woes

September 10, 2008 · Filed Under Home Styles · Comment 

Visitors driving into the resort community of Seabrook are likely to pass chatting neighbors, bike-riding grandparents, pail-toting kids and a lot of parked cars.

“I love being able to walk around and know your neighbors,” said Janie Smith, an Illinois lawyer, chatting over the low fence of her Seabrook cottage while holding Lizzie, a 2-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Seabrook developers’ New Urbanism concept — a back-to-the-future development style that aims to make anyone getting into a car feel silly — has people buying homes, many with little or no ocean view, on the less-than-glamorous Washington coast while the second-home market is even worse than the rest of the housing market.
Read more

Luxury homes throughout the Fox Valley for two decades

August 26, 2008 · Filed Under Design Gallery · Comment 

There are still lots of people buying homes in today’s struggling housing market, and many of them are looking for luxury home.

Right up there with those buyers are the rare builders, like Muellner Construction of Yorkville, who are having no trouble building — and selling off — $1 million to $4 million homes.

“We haven’t slowed down one iota. This might be my busiest year ever,” said Jeff Muellner, who has built luxury homes throughout the Fox Valley for two decades.

As further proof that home buying is hot, at least for high-end buyers, Midwest Home Magazine will present its 5th Annual Chicago Luxury Home Tour.
Read more