Highwood has seen an increase in condo sales over the past few years as new developments are built in the neighborhood. However, the neighborhood remains one of the smallest markets for new condos on the north shore.

According to the most recent report from the Chicago Association of Realtors, only four condominiums were sold during the third quarter, three more than the same period last year.

Perhaps more telling for the Highwood market is the recent jump in the average turnover rate for condos on the market. According to the C.A.R. report, condo owners and developers are facing one of the longest turnover rates in years. It now takes an average of 141 days to sell a condo in Highwood, the longest turnover rate since 1993. It is also a 57 percent jump from last year.

The increase in the unsold inventory of condos on the market in Highwood may have led to a decrease in sales prices around the city during the third quarter. The average sales price dropped 6 percent, and now stands at $527,650.

Buyers should be able to find some excellent deals on some of the best Chicago Real Estate in Highwood if condos continue to sit on the market.

Technorati Tags: Chicago Real Estate, Highwood Real Estate Report, Chicago Condos, North Shore Condos

I was watching The Today Show a few minutes ago as I was cleaning up breakfast, and caught myself in one of those “You’re talking out loud to yourself” moments - the kind where you actually say out loud, to no one, “You’ve got to be @#$!%* kidding me!” Topic? How to get kids to exercise in front of the TV.

It’s this kind of marketing that makes me want to tear my hair out. OK - so if you have to choose between the XBox and Wii, and your kid is a bit on the portly side, I can see where having this kind of information – that Wii gets your kids up and moving – may be beneficial. But when they highlighted Fisher-Price’s little tot bike that plugs into your TV so that they can exercise while learning their ABCs, well, that’s when my jaw hit the floor.

Seriously? Here on the North Shore, we are surrounded by recreational opportunities that are so much healthier for you. Hey, parents, how about singing the ABC song while tooling down the North Branch trail. This biking/walking trail was recently renovated and quite simply is gorgeous, especially at this time of year. There are several really convenient spots to jump on the trail, with a really prime spot just off of East Lake Avenue near the border of Wilmette and Glenview. Also, this trail runs straight through Chicago Botanical Garden. Fabulous.

Or how about packing up a fall picnic, a football and a frisbee and hanging out at the Skokie Lagoons? Just off the Edens Expressway on the Winnetka border, between Dundee and Willow Rds, the Lagoons are a great place to enjoy the fall foliage, teach the kids about nature, and even try to catch a fish or two.

And then there’s the lake - the walking path on Northwestern’s campus is beautiful this time of year, and on a clear day you can catch a wonderful view of downtown and the skyline. The Open Lands in Lake Forest also offer breathtaking scenery.

The point is, you don’t need to figure out ways to incorporate exercise into your child’s TV habit - you need to figure out ways to take the TV out of the equation altogether. And living around here, there’s no excuse not to - get outside whle the weather’s still beckoning!

Technorati Tags: Cook County IL Forest Preserve, North Branch bike trail, Skokie Lagoons, Lake Forest, Winnetka, Northwestern University, Evanston, Chicago Botanical Garden, North Shore bike trails

An Open Letter to Jessica Seinfeld and Oprah Winfrey:

Dear Ladies,

I was lucky enough to catch you together on O’s show, talking about your new book, Deceptively Delicious, Jessica. And I have to say, I love it! What a fantastic idea! The recipes are to die for! I’m totally digging the avacado in my pudding, and the kids and hubby don’t even know what I did and why I am smirking at them.

I’m blogging about it here to help you, Jessica, in any way I can, because I believe in books and love to cook. And, because I saw the subsequent show with your husband, Jerry, and heard about how you thanked your friend, O, with the purchase of $21,000 worth of shoes. As you can see, I could use a thank you, too:

That’s it, Jessica and Oprah - my entire shoe collection. I do lots of nice things for people, but I never get thanked with shoes. Maybe it’s because they don’t know my black patent leather pumps are 18 years old. Or that the average age of a set of shoes in my vast collection is about 7.5. As in years - not months. Or that all of my dress shoes are too small after three babies. In fact, this is the rotation I usually go with:

I wear these four pair religiously - not pictured are the Tevas I wear to the pool during the summer. Other than that, and my boots, this is it.

I will do whatever I can to help you, Jessica - I’ll even tell people where they can buy your book — like at The Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka, Borders in Deerfield and Wilmette, and Barnes and Noble in Skokie.

And if you’re so moved as to thank me, you don’t have too go all crazy like that and spend thousands - Lori’s in Highland Park often has great sales!

Oh, and before I forget - if Jerry needs any help in the movie promotion department, I’d be happy to blog for him. I think we’re one of the few remaining families on the North Shore without a single plasma set yet. You know - in case he wants to thank me:)

And Oprah - if you’re ever looking to donate a few pair of shoes, well, you can always e-mail me here! And i won’t pull an Ellen and pass them along to someone else - I’ll give them back if they don’t fit.

Thanks,
Kelly

Technorati Tags: Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Seinfeld, Deceptively Delicious, Oprah Winfrey Show, North Shore Chicago shoe shopping, North shore book stores, thank you notes