Blurbs from the Burbs by Chicago Northwest Realtor, Judy Greenberg: November 2007

Business Week just published another list!    There is a list for almost everything.... A list for the city with the least amount of crime, a list for the best high schools....  Santa Claus' naughty and nice list, and even a list for the city with the most Starbucks per square feet. 

This time Business Week just published the 50 best cities to raise your kids.   I don't live in any of the mentioned cities but I live within 6 miles of 3 of the cities included in the top 50.  These cities include Deerfield, Buffalo Grove and Barrington, all Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.  All located  in Illinois' Lake County

The magazine ranked communities on five criteria: cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number of schools, school test scores and risk of crime.  These criteria all make sense and I am very proud that 3 of the 50 are cities where I sell Real Estate. and the high ranking of these towns is a major factor as to why  the Real Estate Market is still relatively strong in these communities. (However, if you look closely at the inventory there are some great deals to be had.)

Deerfield was ranked 3^rd , Barrington was ranked 25th and Buffalo Grove came in 30th.  Buffalo Grove actually took first in  the recreational and cultural activities criteria. 

This didn't come as a surprise to the residents of the great town of Buffalo Grove. The city provides both the amenities of a country atmosphere and the convenient access to the cultural, entertainment, and business centers of Chicago. The town offers an excellent Park District, fine arts commission and its own symphony orchestra. 

Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein was quoted saying that it's great having a third-party reaffirmation of the village's worth." It's something we as a community can be very proud of," he said

Overall, seven Illinois communities -- the second-most of any state -- made Business Week's top 50. The rest of the communities in Illinois include Western Springs, Batavia, Wilmette and Clarendon Hills.

 Listed below is how Buffalo Grove Rated in each of the Categories!  

No. 30

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Nearest city: Chicago (32 miles)
Population: 42,909
Median household income: $80,525

OnBoard Scoring

Total: 289.35
Test scores: 92.22 (44th)
Cost of living: 73.85 (44th)
Recreational/cultural activities: 70.56 (1st)

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, or any of the other Northwest Suburbs,please do not hesitate to check out my website at www.buffalogrovehomes.com or give me a call. 

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Village President Maria Rodriguez said the town has been trying to bring in Sunset Foods for more than a year now. "There was a definite cry from residents for practical stores," she said. "It's a family-owned business; it's a high-end grocery store. We think it's going to be an absolutely perfect fit." 
 
Presently Sunset Foods has locations in Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertville and Northbrook and many Buffalo Grove and Long Grove residents make a 20 minute  trip to these other towns in order to do their weekly grocery shopping trip. 

Sunset's customers  stay loyal to this 70- year family-owned company because of the store's  excellent customer service and reputation.   The company's employees load the customers' groceries, provide complimentary cooking and nutrition classes and offer to special order products that are not on the shelf.  Sunset  is also a  popular stop for busy moms and professionals like myself since they always have delicious pre- cooked meals, exotic salads and other tasty dishes. 

If you would like more information on the proposed grocery store in the town of Long Grove, you can attend the hearing on December 4th at 8:00 p.m. at Kildeer Elementary School in Long Grove.

Will Long Grove Residents ever get the Sunset they deserve?

Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools is very important. Well- regarded schools increase property values and add to the desirability of a community.

In the recent October edition of Chicago Magazine, Adlai  E. Stevenson High school located in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs fared extremely well. According to the article  Stevenson Highschool, pays its teachers better than most Chicago- area schools and also spends more per student than most schools. More importantly, the magazine article also places spending in context, comparing school spending with ACT results.  In that regard, Stevenson Highschool also does well, testing better than many other schools that also spend on the higher range per student. 

It appears from the article  that Stevenson Highschool is using its dollars wisely.  Their average ACT score for 2007 was 25.6,  compared to the state average of  20.3.   The Chicago Sun- Times' analysis  of 2007 ISBE School report card data also  exemplified these findings and recently reported that Stevenson High school was rated 6th in the state using test scores as one of their measures. 

Another important statistic about the school it that its Advanced Placement program is among the nation's best. More than 20 AP classes are available and SHS regularly leads the Midwest region in AP participation and has ranked in the top five worldwide.

Students who live in certain areas of Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove attend Stevenson Highschool if they are included in the school's district boundaries.  A small percentage of Vernon Hills, Riverwoods, Lake Zurich and Hawthorn Woods residents also attend Stevenson.  The Junior High feeder schools include Woodlawn Junior High(District 96), Aptakistic Junior High(District 102), Daniel Wright Junior High (District 103) and portions of West Oak Junior High and Fremont  Junior High Schools( District 76). 

Schools are often the backbone of the community.  Stevenson is included annually in the School Watch and School Match listings of schools that offer features most sought by parents As both a realtor and  mother of 3 boys teenage boys,  I understand the value of a good education and the challenges of finding the right educational match. Please check out my website www.buffalogrovehomes.com  to  find additional links to school web pages, school activities and just about anything you need to do your due diligence on your quest to determine the best local area schools. 

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If you are considering a move to Chicago Northwest Suburbs, you owe it to yourself to talk with Judy Greenberg at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in  Buffalo Grove, Illinois

www.buffalogrovehomes.com

www.movetolonggrove.com