JOLIET IS BLOSSOMING INTO THE PLACE TO BE

Please enjoy this great article from the Saturday Chicago Tribune...we could not have said it any better!

Chicagoland Speedway isn't the only reason people are flocking to this Will County city, which just passed Naperville as the state's 4th largest

By Emma Graves Fitzsimmons | Chicago Tribune reporter
July 12, 2008

Leslie Bolin, who works in a Joliet museum but grew up in Chicago, says people don't believe her when she tries to tell them how cool the Will County town has become over the past decade.

When she returned to school recently and took a speech class, she even decided to give her persuasive talk on why people should visit Joliet.

"I was pleasantly surprised when I came here," the 46-year-old said. "It truly is a beautiful city."

One of the best kept secrets of the Chicago area is finally getting out. The town officially passed Naperville this week as the state's fourth largest city, while new statistics reveal that Will County saw one of the region's biggest jumps in tourism dollars last year.

And the city occupies a national stage this weekend as a huge NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway is a prime example of the major attractions bringing people and their money to Joliet, along with two casinos, a historic theater, a baseball team and revitalized downtown.

Local leaders say it was only a matter of time before people came to view the tough old industrial town as a vibrant city—and get this—major cultural center.

"Maybe we are finally getting the credit that Joliet has deserved for a long time; it's there in black and white numbers," said Ben Benson, director of the Joliet Visitors Bureau. "This wasn't built overnight. We worked hard to get here."

A night on the town in Joliet may not carry the glitz of a trip to downtown Chicago, but the community prides itself as a destination where regular folks have fun without paying a fortune. For visitors, it might be a night at the Comfort Inn instead of the Hilton, and a $5 ticket to a Joliet JackHammer game instead of a $60 Cubs ticket.

Residents say the city got a bad rap as gritty and dangerous, and they still have to dispel that old image of Joliet. Recent visits from celebrities such as Johnny Depp to the set of "Public Enemies" and the filming of the popular FOX television show "Prison Break" may help.

"Most people associated us with the prison and factories; it was seen as a rundown, dirty, unsafe town," said Annette Parker, 38, who works at the Rialto Theater and grew up in Joliet. "It feels much safer and cleaner now."

Joliet grew to 144,316 people last year, edging out the affluent western suburb of Naperville, which has 142,479 people, according to census figures released this week. Aurora (170,855) and Rockford (156,596) still come in second and third to Chicago.

Joliet and Elgin were the only two Midwest towns on the list of 25 fastest growing cities in 2007, according to the census. The others are in Sunbelt states such as California, Texas and Florida.

Michael Kazecki and his wife moved to Joliet four years ago after finding an affordable, 100-year-old "fixer-upper." Growing up in nearby communities, the couple heard bad things about Joliet and were apprehensive at first.

"The perception at the time was that it was full of smog and dirt," Kazecki said at a yard sale on his lawn Friday. "Now it's been rejuvenated. It's a nice miniature version of downtown Chicago."

Some residents took delight in blue-collar Joliet trumping white-collar Naperville in the rankings. Kazecki was excited that more people are choosing to live in the humble community he has come to love.

"Sometimes you go to Naperville on the Riverwalk—everybody has a certain air about them—but it's laid back here," he said.

Jeremy Robinson, 37, of Wheatfield, Ind., only comes to Joliet for the racetrack. He has been aware of the city's image problem for a while, and remembers radio DJs rhyming Joliet with toilet to describe the city.

"I go straight to the races, and when it's over we go straight home," he said. "We're fans of NASCAR. When they brought in these races, that brought us."

The state figures released this week showed tourism dollars in Will County grew by 9.4 percent last year to $585 million. Only Kendall County tourism, to the west, grew at a faster rate, by 11.2 percent to $34 million.

Local leaders boast that Joliet's major attractions lure residents from nearby communities and even international tourists. This weekend, the city is pulsing with about 200,000 visitors for NASCAR races. Benson said the race filled every hotel in town, and room bookings have increased across the board the past three years.

An increasingly popular destination is the Route 66 welcome center that opened at the Joliet Area Historical Museum last year. Visitors come from as far away as Japan and Denmark to travel the road and learn about American history. An imitation drive-in movie theater plays a video about the route's history in the lobby, and the visitor book includes signatures from 35 states and 40 countries.

"The legend of Route 66 carries a mystique, and it captures something nostalgic," said museum Interim Director Tony Contos. "You get to see America, starting in a big city and winding through towns. You see mountains and deserts—it's a great picture of America."

Along the way, some people discover Joliet and decide to stay. The city continues to draw thousands of new residents a year while many Midwest communities lose people. Joliet grew by 4,349 people last year.

Many factors contribute to the boom, from affordable housing to a vibrant immigrant community, along with good schools and a declining crime rate, officials say.

Amy Collofello, 36, left Joliet after growing up there, but returned to raise her six children. She hates to hear anyone bad mouth her town these days because she has witnessed its makeover.

"As a kid growing up, it didn't seem like it was so great because there wasn't so much to do," she said. "But now, for my kids, there's tons of things."

Tribune reporter Mary Owen contributed to this report.

efitzsimmons@tribune.com

FIRST TIME BUYERS FIND MORE THAN A HOME

Popular Lakewood Homes’ Clubhouse Community Makes Dream Of Homeownership A Reality For Many First Time Buyers

Joliet, IL - (July 1, 2008) - First time buyers have found more than just a brand new home at Lakewood Prairie, Lakewood Homes’ exciting clubhouse community located on Joliet’s new north side, thanks to this community’s fabulous on-site amenities and the outstanding customer service experience that Lakewood provides. Whether it’s a buyer that is currently renting or a young adult moving away from home, homeownership dreams do come true at Lakewood Prairie. The community has been planned for 214 attached style Country Homes that first time buyers have flocked to, priced from $179,990. More than half the Country Homes are already sold. There are also 551 single-family homes in a wide range of styles and sizes. The single-family homes are nearly one-third sold and start at $219,990. Decorated and furnished models of the various series are open daily for tours.

“Lakewood is famous for making homeownership dreams come true for many buyers and at Lakewood Prairie, we have lots of customers who are either renting or living at home and are ready to make their first home purchase. Many of these would-be buyers are happy to discover that often times they can purchase a new home at this community for a monthly payment equal to or even less than they might be spending on rent,” said Robin Johnson, vice president of sales for Lakewood Homes. “We try to make the entire home buying experience as easy as possible, from financing with our in-house mortgage company, LHI Mortgage, to our multi-step communication process during the construction of each home, to a prompt and thorough closing and delivery. We have extremely high customer satisfaction ratings and many first time buyers can’t believe things go so smoothly.”

First time buyers who are on a tighter budget have embraced the exciting Country Home Series at Lakewood Prairie. Think of the Country Homes as a “hybrid” single family. It combines the best elements of single family living with the price of a townhome. They are very popular with “gen x” and “gen y” buyers who are looking for their first dream home…privacy, space, room to grow, just the right amount of everything. The way Lakewood value engineers these homes allow for great energy efficiency which will save money on utilities while leaving a smaller environmental footprint than a conventional single family home.

These homes are a great way for buyers to start out in a home of their own with the advantages of a single-family type design but with the efficiencies of a townhome. About half the Country Homes sold at Lakewood Prairie have been purchased by first time buyers.

The Country Home series are attached single-family homes sized from 1,250 to nearly 1,900 square feet, with prices starting in the $180s. These homes offer the benefits of single-family living with private yards, two-car attached garages and optional basements.

The Country Homes are available in both ranch and two-story designs and feature two to three bedrooms, one to 2-1/2 baths, spacious master bedroom suites with walk-in closet and private or shared access baths, two-car attached garages and much more.

Country Homes are built in pairs and are only attached at a small section of each garage, giving each layout terrific light and ventilation on all four sides along with the look and feel of a traditional single-family home. The unique design of the Country Homes even gives each two-car garage its own generous storage area.

Two of the Country Home designs, the Georgetown and Richmond, are featured in the model park area at Lakewood Prairie and are presented as fully furnished and decorated homes that are open everyday for tours.

For first time buyers who want a high quality traditional single-family home, Lakewood Prairie has a great selection of 15 single-family homes sized from over 1,600 up to nearly 4,000 square feet. There are four Premier Series plans priced from the $220s and four Classic Series homes priced from the low $230s. Any of these plans are ideal for first time buyers, young couples and newlyweds with growing families. These homes are two-story designs with three to four bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, luxury master suites, basements and attached two-car garages.

There are also seven large Executive Series homes starting in the $260s. These spacious homes are perfect move-up homes for people who may be renting in an upscale community who have decided they want to their own yard or for first time buyers that want a home they can grow into and stay in for years to come.

Executive Series plans are two-story homes with up to four bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths, luxury master bedroom suites, large family rooms, basements and two or three-car attached garages as included features. Some of the plans include second floor family rooms.

Decorated and designer furnished single-family models are displayed at the community and shoppers are invited to take tours of these beautiful homes at their leisure during business hours.

“Another reason first time buyers have found Lakewood Prairie so attractive is our one-stop shopping approach to financing, selecting options, scheduling closing and all the other details involved in purchasing a new home. For many first time buyers, it can all seem overwhelming, but we guide every customer through the process and educate them along the way on what to expect,” Johnson said.

First time buyers at Lakewood Prairie can get expert financial and mortgage advice from the professionals at LHI Mortgage, Lakewood’s award winning in-house mortgage lender, ranked highest in satisfaction in the Chicago market in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 New-Home Builder Mortgage Originator StudySM. LHI’s experts will provide free credit consultations, loan pre-qualifications and tips on how to improve credit scores.

Shoppers can also review the wide variety of attractive finance programs that are available, including special programs designed for first time buyers. Incentives include receiving up to $2,000 in closing costs when buyers finance through LHI Mortgage. Complete information on the finance programs LHI offers is available by stopping by the LHI office located inside the Lakewood Prairie sales center.

“Lakewood Prairie has also attracted so many first time buyers because of the outstanding on-site amenities of the neighborhood. A common misconception of a first time buyer is that they think they can only afford a home with no other amenities and that
is just not true. At Lakewood Prairie, first time buyers are pleasantly surprised to find out that they not only can purchase a brand new home, but also have use of a beautiful clubhouse and pool without any additional cost,” said Johnson.

The private resident clubhouse at Lakewood Prairie measures 3,000 square feet and features a resort-style outdoor pool with sundeck, toddler pool plus tennis and sand volleyball courts. Summertime fun is going strong with residents enjoying the pool on a daily basis.

Inside, the clubhouse highlights a furnished great room with big screen television, fireplace and kitchen, which can be reserved by residents for parties and family gatherings. Best of all, the clubhouse and recreational amenities are available to all residents who live at the community without daily fees or extra cost. There’s even an activities director who helps plan events and holiday parties for residents to enjoy.

Another aspect of homeownership that is of prime importance to first time buyers is a convenient location. Lakewood Prairie effortlessly combines an outstanding location on Joliet’s growing new north side with a neighborhood layout that has ponds, parks and open green space.

Commuting is easy, with I-55 close by, making for quick trips to downtown Chicago or other suburbs, as well as easy connections to Midway Airport. For rail commuters, Metra trains traveling to Chicago’s Loop are available in downtown Joliet, making the trip in about an hour. Heritage Corridor trains also depart from nearby Lockport and Lemont.

The growing Route 59 corridor is just minutes from the community and offers all sorts of conveniences, from shopping and services to entertainment and dining. Nearby towns include Bolingbrook and Plainfield.

“Lakewood Prairie is a must-see for first time buyers who want the most value for their new home purchase. This community represents a chance for first time buyers to truly get everything they could ask for in one neighborhood, while remaining within their budget. Our Country Homes have been extremely popular with first time buyers and we are the only community in the area that offers such a unique and innovative home design. Summer is a great time to stop by Lakewood Prairie, tour the models, visit the clubhouse and talk to our finance professionals to see how easy and affordable owning a new home at this community can be,” Johnson said.

Lakewood Prairie is located on Ridge Road, one mile south of Caton Farm Road in Joliet. To visit, take Route 59 to Caton Farm Road west four miles to Ridge Road, one mile south to the community on the left. The sales center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, call 1-815-439-5777 or visit lakewoodhomes.com.

Why Buying a Brand New Home still makes Sense

Here is a very good posting taken from www.newhomeguide.com that spells out the advantages of investing in a brand new home versus buying a used home.

Advantages of Buying New

While owning a resale home holds great appeal for some, more and more home buyers are choosing to build their new dream home. Here are just a few reasons why your next home may be brand new:

Ease of Maintenance

New homes don't require as much upkeep as an older home. Many home buyers are finding they want to spend more time on valuable weekends with family and friends than performing home repair. And some home buyers just find they don't have the necessary skills to perform do-it-yourself maintenance and would prefer to live in a home that doesn't require those skills.



Customization

Of great appeal to many a new home buyer is the thought of making their home truly reflect their tastes and lifestyle. From the moment they walk in the door, the home feels like their own as they chose every paint color, cabinet, countertop, carpet, plumbing and lighting fixture.

Community

A community of new homes allows for the planned devlopment of that community. Whether it be active adults, families with young children or golf and tennis enthusiasts, new home buyers know they'll immediately have something in common with their neighbors when they move in.

Floor Plan for Today's Living

Buying a resale home typically means you're stuck with that home's layout (as most don't have stacks of cash sitting around for major renovation projects) that has a design appropriate for 10, 20, even 50 years ago. Today's homes reflect the changing lifestyles of home owners with amenities like more open kitchens, cable jacks throughout the house, more plentiful outlets, etc.

Energy Efficiency

The materials used in today's home are far more effective at reducing energy costs than resale homes. The savings provided in utility bills can quickly offset the price of a new home. (editors note: One study estimates that today's new homes are as much as 30% more energy efficient than homes built just 30 years ago!)

Safety

In addition to less energy efficient materials, older homes can have hazardous materials like asbestos, lead-based paint or faulty wiring contained within them. A new home is subject to the current building codes that require more stringent safety requirements regarding materials or severe weather.

Technology

Retrofitting older homes with today's technology can be an exercise in frustration and futility. They just weren't designed with those items in mind (and to be fair, it's hard to design for something that didn't exist at the time). It's significantly easier to add wiring for surround sound speakers or wired or wireless internet access to a new home while it's being framed.

Warranties & Customer Service

New homes will often come with a complete warranty that covers everything on the house, inside and out. While warranties are available for resale homes, they're typically for only for one year from the purchase date and only cover specific items in the home. A new home can have a much longer warranty and provide more options when something goes wrong.