The North Shore Weekend EAST, Issue 83

Page 10

10 | news

Of a certain age New homes, historic houses both have their charms

180 Ravine Drive, Highland Park.

■ by bill mclean Don’t judge a house by its exterior. “I know of a house on the North Shore that looks vintage from the outside, with all of its charm and character and distinct architecture,” says Connie Dornan, a broker associate at @properties in Glenview. “But as soon as you enter the house through the front door, you immediately think, ‘This is new construction.’ “It was,” she adds, “completely gutted and rehabbed inside.”

“It’s all about tastes and preferences, isn’t it? All people don’t like the same things.” | Jean Wright It’s an ideal old-new mix — for some. Others prefer the sturdy houses built before World War II, the residences that will likely never graduate to smart-home status. “Some of those houses were built like bomb shelters,” says Ian Robinson, branch manager at Coldwell Banker in Northbrook. “They’ve been around for close to 100 years and they’ll be around for another 100 years. The masonry

942 Pine Tree, Winnetka.

… so solid, very high quality. “That old-home feel, inside and outside, still appeals to people,” he adds. But new construction homes attract other buyers, despite the higher property tax rates that typically accompany them because of greater square footage, on average. Pros and cons exist for both historical and new construction abodes. An advantage of a new home is its builder’s warranty; a disadvantage of a historical home is its age — stone foundations aren’t sound forever, and floors don’t stay level forever. Majestic trees are clear plusses on the grounds of historical properties; a minus occasionally associated with new construction is adolescent foliage. “I like old, historic homes, but I also totally understand why people prefer new construction,” says Margie Brooks,

a broker at Baird & Warner in Highland Park. “There’s a lot less to worry about with a new home. You normally don’t have to pour money into it, year after year, like you do with some older homes.” One of Brooks’ featured listings is located at 247 Prospect Avenue, in Highland Park. Built in 1871, it has been renovated to accommodate luxurious modern living. “Everything inside is new and magnificent,” she says. “The basement was dug out, and now it’s fabulous. The whole place is exquisite and a pleasure to show.” But some buyers purchase a vintage/landmark house with the understanding that they’ll be limited — by their budget considerations in some cases, by strict village landmark real estate >> page 12


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