$245,455Average Value$192Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Not part of the Chain O’ Lakes
With homes surrounding an 800-acre lake 65 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, the Highland Shores neighborhood in the village of Wonder Lake offers a serene lifestyle by the water. Though 15 minutes from the Chain O’ Lakes development, this community is not part of that. “Only residents who live in neighborhoods around Wonder Lake can use it, while Chain O’ Lakes allows everybody to access the water,” says Heidi Peterson, a Realtor at Re/Max Plaza. “I’ve sold homes in Chain O’ Lakes, and people who buy there would never consider the Wonder Lake area, and vice versa.” Those living in the Highland Shores neighborhood are assessed a yearly fee that gives access to the parks and boat launches around the lake.
Fenced-in parks by Wonder Lake
Because the lake is only accessible by those in the Highland Shores community and those in Wonder Lake, there are small parks by the water that are fenced off and require a key to get in. “That key is given out when the HOA fees are paid,” Peterson says. Highland Shores Recreational Park has a playground and a full basketball court on the other side of the fence. A small playground near the Highland Shores Community Center is not fenced in. The community center can be rented out for private parties.
Highland Shores Recreational Park features a boat launching area for residents.
HIghland Shores Community Center has a small playground.
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Lakefront houses in Highland Shores
With only a small stretch of lakefront in the neighborhood, only two properties have sold recently: A newly remodeled 1,500-square-foot split-level home that backs up to the lake and a larger 2,700-square-foot split-level across the street but with views of the waterfront. The former sold for $470,000, the latter for $310,000. Other split-level and ranch-style dwellings are scattered throughout the neighborhood. They generally sell at price points between price ranges for locations without a direct water view range from $200,000 to $350,000. The median house size here is just under 1,200 square feet, which means that even the waterfront homes are modestly sized.
The CAP crime score for the neighborhood matches the calm vibe of living near a lake. It’s rated a 2, below the national average of 4.The First Street website, which looks at environmental factors, says that lakefront homes are in the moderate flood zone after heavy rains
Highland Shores-Wonder Lake has stunning lakeside properties with private boat launches.
Highland Shores features unique residential homes like this A-frame property.
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Events on and around the lake
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day on most Fridays, the Wonder Lake Water Show Ski Team performs on the lake and has been doing so since 1959. The team performs jumps and skis in a pyramid-type formation. Shows occur at the Wonder Lake Main Beach at Center Park on the east side of the lake. On Sundays in the summer, sailboat races are sponsored by the Wonder Lake Yacht Club. The summer also brings the Wednesday Farmers & Makers Market, where vendors and artisans display their goods. Christmas by the Lake is a tradition in early December with a tree-lighting ceremony and live music.
Enjoy a day of local shopping in Highland Shores.
Creative floats and costumes bring holiday cheer to McHenry's Toys for Tots Parade.
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Dining options on the east side of Wonder Lake
Because of the remote nature of Wonder Lake, the closest dining-out options are on the east side of the lake. East End Pizza and Ice Cream has thin-crust pies cut into squares. Those who need the flavors of Chicago can order the Chicago-style hot dog or Italian beef sandwich. The dessert is already set, and an assortment of ice cream is available. Alibi Pub & Grub is a Chicago Bears bar with games showing during the NFL season, karaoke most Friday nights and occasional live music. Monday is burger night, and Tuesday is the day to take advantage of taco specials. Village Market is a locally-owned grocery store in the neighborhood. Other options for home essentials are Jewel-Osco and Aldi, both in McHenry, between 6 and 8 miles away.
Napoli Pizza’s near Highland Shores brightly painted façade and deck bring a coastal feel to the area.
Highland Shores residents can find all their breakfast favorites at Busy Bees restaurant.
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The west side of Wonder Lake is zoned for Woodstock schools
The lake divides the public school district where students attend. Those on the west side of the lake attend the public schools in the Woodstock School District 200. Greenwood Elementary is rated a B-plus on Niche, as is Northwood Middle School. Students at Woodstock Central North have the option of being in a blended learning format. It grew out of the height of the coronavirus pandemic and allows students to combine online and face-to-face interactions with instructors in a more personalized environment. Space for this instruction is limited. The high school receives an A-minus.
Woodstock North High School is ranked as a top 10 high school in McHenry County.
Greenwood Elementary is ranked in the top 20 elementary schools in McHenry County.
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A car is needed to get around Highland Shores
It’s about 7 miles to get to the McHenry Metra commuter rail station for a 1-hour, 20-minute ride to downtown Chicago. Public transportation options are limited. Route 120 on the PACE bus line connects to the surrounding communities of Woodstock and McHenry. The closest medical center is Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, 11 miles away.
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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Highland Shores-Wonder Lake Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Highland Shores-Wonder Lake, Wonder Lake sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Highland Shores-Wonder Lake, Wonder Lake over the last 12 months is $246,500, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome to this beautiful, well maintained home with 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths! This home has had many recent updates in 2024 which include kitchen remodel with New beautiful gray cabinets, new backsplash,stainless steel appliances,and new laminate countertop. The entire home also has new paint throughout, as well as new laminate flooring, and bathrooms have brand new vinyl flooring.Move-in ready,
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
