$367,787Average Value$169Average Price per Sq Ft6Homes For Sale
Manicured lawns meet undisturbed wetlands in Valley Lakes
The term “community association” usually doesn’t evoke fierce protection and preservation of natural areas—but that’s the exact mission of the Valley Lakes Community Association, the nonprofit governing body for this Lake County neighborhood. A well-trimmed community of detached homes and townhouses, Valley Lakes was established in 1996 with a specific vision: a planned community coexisting with over 300 acres of wetland habitats. Perennial flower beds, detention ponds and athletic fields occupy the same space as undisturbed nature, and with the award-winning Round Lake Area Park District serving the community, residents have many options for spending the day outdoors.
Valley Lakes is a Lake County community within the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Valley Lakes offers a variety of homes and town houses surrounded by beautiful green spaces.
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Getting outside in beautiful Round Lake
The stately white gazebo alerts neighbors to their arrival at Heron View Park, which is popular for its walking trails, playground and open spaces. In the southernmost portion of Valley Lakes is Meadowview Park, a 9-acre site with athletic fields and a basketball court. “The neighborhood flanks the parks, so you come in on this beautiful drive into the subdivisions that have dead ends into parks,” says Dick Barr, Realtor with Village Realty and Lake County expert. Ducks, geese, deer and elk make their home without worry in the unpolluted wetlands surrounding the community, protected by strict community association guidelines promising fees for any resident caught polluting the grounds or feeding the animals.
Residents are connected to nature by the mere fact that they’re in lake country. “One of the big reasons to move is proximity to the Chain O’Lakes, the largest recreational waterway in the state,” says Barr. “There are a ton of huge lake boaters and water fans around here.” But even without heading 5 to 12 miles north to hit one of these waterfronts, the Round Lake Area Park District has them covered. Nippersink Forest Preserve, less than two miles away, offers lake-side activities like fishing at the 300-acre site, which encompasses woodlands, wetlands, trails, and scenic overlooks.
Heading 2.5 miles east into Round Lake Beach leads to even more enjoyable parks.Rolek Community Center features a gym, a senior center, a dance studio and a children's museum. Right next door is the Round Lake Area Aquatic Center, home of Hector the giant blue heron, who dumps his bucket of water on eager splash pad visitors looking to beat the heat. Lakefront Park is the beachfront access point for kayaking and pontoon boating. "Connecting with our dog and our kids on the Lake County Forest Preserve Millenium Trail is one of my fondest memories,” adds Heather Bautista, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago who lived in Valley Lakes for over a decade. “We would 'go down to the creek' and see if we could spot any wildlife and toss pebbles into the water.”
Meadowview Park has winding trails perfect for a walk.
There are miles of walkable trails in Nippersink Forest Preserve.
Heron View Park Playground is maintained by the Round Lake Park District.
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Big Hollow schools close to home
Kids are zoned for Big Hollow Primary School, which serves prekindergarten through first grade and scores a B-minus from Niche. They then head down the hall to Big Hollow Elementary School, which is within the same building and earns a B, for second through fourth grades. Big Hollow Middle School sits across the street and receives a B-minus, while Grant Community High School in nearby Fox Lake earns a B-plus. Tennis, soccer and volleyball are just a few of the coed sports that Grant Bulldogs take part in. Other fun competitions include a dance-off hosted by the dance team and culinary challenges where classmates taking Food I and Food II compete over flavor and presentation for a Golden Spoon victory.
Big Hollow Middle School serves students in the Valley Lakes community.
Welcome to Big Hollow Primary School in Round Lake.
Grant Community High School is a public school located in Round Lake.
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Pontoon boat tours on Round Lake with the family
The Round Lake Area Park District was named one of the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ 2023 Best of the Best, thanks to its partnership with the Huebner Fishery Management Foundation. The district uses funds from the partnership for its Family Fishing Event, an annual affair where free pontoon boat rides give anglers of all ages the chance to reel in a catch. These boats also dot the blue during the summerlong El Mercadito Farmers Market RLB, which takes place on the shores of Lakefront Park.
Lakefront Park on the northwest side of Round Lake and is a perfect place to kayak.
Enjoy a day out in the water at the swimming area of Lakefront Park.
Nippersink Forest Preserve is a scenic park with beautiful lakes.
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Detached homes and townhouses back up to parks and preserves
The 16 detached home subdivisions in Valley Lakes were built from the 1990s through the mid-2000s, with two to five bedrooms, prominent two-car garages and New Traditional and Colonial influences. Homes on the outskirts of the neighborhood back right up to forested areas and wetlands, though trim and tidy yards, statement trees, landscaped parks and detention ponds surrounded by reeds are the most common throughout the community. Open floor plans and double-pitched roofs are common features. All homeowners belong to the Valley Lakes Community Association, while the townhouse subdivisions, Nature's Cove Townhome Association and Remington Trails Townhome Association, each have their own bylaws. Prices for single-family homes range from about $300,000 to $400,000; townhouses trend lower, from about $225,000 to $275,000. Bautista touts the success of the real estate market here. "Homes hold their value, and families are always ready to buy in this area," she says. “Sellers have no trouble getting their homes sold.”
Prices for standalone homes range from about $300,000 to $425,000 in Valley Lakes.
Town houses trend from about $200,000 to $250,000 in Valley Lakes.
A mix of colors and finishes is evident in the homes in Valley Lakes.
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Out and about in Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake
Valley Lakes lies “smack dab” between multiple dining and shopping options, according to Barr. “Most are gonna hit the Route 12 corridor, there’s some fine options there,” he says, referring to big-box stores like ALDI and Home Depot, along with chain restaurants like Wendy’s and Subway. “But for the most robust options they head a little east to Round Lake Beach for the Meijer, Walmart, Jewel, and more dining and theater choices.” Tacos El Norte may be easy to miss, as it’s tucked into the corner between these larger stores at the Rollins Crossing shopping center. This branch of the 27-location northern suburbs chain pairs hearty servings with affirmations scrawled onto whiteboards throughout the cozy establishment. Though Round Lake Beach's former Regal Cinema was set ablaze, developers are now in talks to turn the space into a full-fledged entertainment center, according to the Daily Herald. Despite the arson case, the area typically sees few crimes, with the CAP Index giving it a below-average Crime Score of 2 out of 10. For now, residents head 5.5 miles north to Fox Lake to see a movie at Classic Cinemas Fox Lake Theatre. On the way back they may make a pit stop at Miller's Dog n Suds, where the suds are served straight from the soda fountain, and the dogs are of the 100% beef-on-a-bun variety.
Classic Cinemas screens the newest movie releases near Valley Lakes.
There is a Home Depot near Valley Lakes for all of your home improvement needs.
Valley Lakes has several shopping plazas in convenient locations throughout the neighborhood.
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Getting around Lake County or to downtown Chicago
Two Metra stations sit less than 3 miles away from Valley Lakes: one in Long Lake, and one in Round Lake. Both include plenty of parking for commuters on the Milwaukee District North line to downtown Chicago. "That line runs seven days a week, so it’s also easy for families who are catching a show or hitting Navy Pier,” Barr says. U.S. Route 12 is the main drag to Fox Lake and the Chain O'Lakes for those looking to hit the water. Route 120 links up with Interstate 94, and drivers can continue south to Chicago, about 50 miles away, or north to Milwaukee for about 60 miles.
Valley Lakes sits right along Route 12 for convenient transportation.
The Long Lake Metra Station provides easy transport throughout the area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Valley Lakes, Round Lake sell after 16 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Valley Lakes, Round Lake over the last 12 months is $352,500, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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