Real estate professionals are expecting another busy spring in both River Forest and Oak Park, and two properties currently for sale – one in each village– reflect current offerings in the market at homes over the $1,250,000 price point.
In 2021, Oak Park and River Forest saw marked increases in sales of high-end homes. River Forest clocked a 62-percent increase in the number of sales of homes priced at over $1 million in 2021 versus 2020, and Oak Park saw a 76 percent bump up in sales in that category.
Elizabeth August with @properties says that she is listing two homes that represent that upper-end market. The homes have some similarities she says, pointing out that both are similar in price, sit on big lots and have four-plus bedrooms.
The homes are very different in styles, however, with the Oak Park home representing more of a Prairie style while the River Forest home is a classical center-entrance colonial.
The residence at 539 Linden Ave. in Oak Park is listed for $1,595,000. The six- bedroom home has three full baths and two half baths and more than 5,000 square feet of living space. The home was built in 1909 for Anton Johnson, a furniture designer.
Homeowner Kathy Mahoney says the home’s art glass is rumored to have been designed by Marion Mahoney (no relation) who worked in Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio. The seven south-facing art glass windows in the dining room are said to have been included in the design to represent the seven children of the Johnson family.
Throughout the home, other original architectural features remain, including a butler’s pantry with the original sink above a drying rack radiator, art glass sconces, built-in cabinetry and seating and multiple fireplaces. Mahoney says these details along with the unique bay windows designed by architect William Gibbs were big draws when the house was featured on Wright Plus and Oak Park River Forest Historical Society housewalks.
In addition to the old, the house has plenty of new. Mahoney is a kitchen and bath designer and remodeled the kitchen in 2016. She also redesigned the bathrooms over her family’s 12 years in the house.
August points out that this price points comes with a lot of extras. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom coach house above a three-car garage offers potential as an in-law suite or Airbnb.
The house sits on a 100-by-175 foot lot, August said, “So you get this beautiful, stately feel,” August said.
Further west, 7980 Chicago Ave. in River Forest is another high-end listing that August says has a “beautiful street presence” from its corner lot. The home recently listed for $1,400,000.
The River Forest house was built in 1925 and has four bedrooms, with room for a fifth in the basement, as well has four full and one half bathroom. It sports a brick exterior, slate roof, brick driveway and wrought-iron fence.
In the last 10 years, August says the owners built a kitchen/family room addition, with the basement and all bathrooms also receiving renovations.
“It is a blend of today’s needs with that open kitchen and family room, but still has that classical estate feel with the arched doorways and moldings,” August said.
The newer kitchen boasts professional appliances and a large center island. The adjacent family room has a wood-burning fireplace with a limestone mantle. A mudroom provides storage opportunities upon entry from the three-car garage.
August thinks that both of the River Forest and Oak Park homes represent a lot of what high-end buyers want right now, noting that the pandemic has caused a desire for more room inside and outside of their homes.
With more people working from home, she says buyers want a flexible floor plan, which both houses have. The River Forest house has a basement perfect for a home office and gym while the Oak Park house has that separate coach house.
Another reason these estate homes might be moving faster than in previous markets? The construction environment. August says that during the pandemic a lot of people looked at their houses and decided to finally tackle home improvement projects, which created a busy season for contractors.
Lately, she says she’s seeing more and more buyers who realize it might be easier to buy a larger home rather than add onto their existing home. With supply-chain issues for everything from kitchen appliances to bathroom vanities, and construction companies booked with existing jobs, she says renovation is taking longer and getting more expensive.
Sometimes, it makes more sense to move up.