To prove a point to you, I was going to stand on the deck of this house and throw a ball, or a rock, or something small and round-ish towards the water. I thought that if I did this and was successful in hurling that object from that deck into that blue water, that you’d understand the issue of proximity and how it is, in fact, no issue at all to this home. Then I thought about whipping that rock or ball, and I thought about what would happen if I missed my target. What if I missed the lake and hit a neighbors house? Worse, what if I threw that rock with all my might and it struck someone in the head or the back or the stomach? What would everyone think of my experiment then? I decided against throwing the rock and instead chose to just take some pictures. People and homes and small woodland creatures in the vicinity, you’re welcome.
Besides the daily chastisement I offer to those who do not vacation here with regularity, I hope another reason you read this blog is to learn about the market here. With specificity, to learn about what’s new and what’s breaking and what’s possibly the best thing to ever to happen to anyone, anywhere. This cottage today is such a thing. While the pictures in this post will speak much louder than these words, there is some prose that must be written because there are features and nuanced aspects of this home that must be pointed out. But before those, before the cedar shingles and the period correct siding, we must discuss this ridiculous proximity. If proximity is king, this home is impatiently waiting for its bejeweled crown.
While I didn’t throw something towards the lake this morning, the fact that I thought about it for as long as I did should tell you something. This cottage- this quintessential, fabulous cottage- is located in Cedar Point Park, just one home off the lake. To be certain, not every “one home off the lake” home is created equal. The issue with some such homes isn’t proximity as the crow flies, but proximity as a chubby person walks. We are not crows. And as such, we must walk to the lake and so it is important to note where our access points are. A home that is one home from the water is nice, but if the access is seven homes down and around that big Elm tree, that straight line proximity is wasted on a forced meander. This home isn’t just close to the lake, it downright smothers it.
There are two access points here, both just several lazy steps from the cedar lakeside deck of this thoroughly rebuilt cottage. The Cedar Point access provides this owner the choice of two piers to lounge on, to fish near, to jump from. If you develop a speaking relationship with some neighbor from up the lane and you wish to no longer continue that new relationship, this isn’t a big deal. Just move to the other pier for a while. Proximity so amazing that it lets you pick and choose who you will and who you will not communicate with? Practically priceless.
The home has views, tons of them. Lake views, wooded views, quiet views. When in any room of this house it would be impossible to accept the thought that you are anywhere but at the lake. The views follow you. If you see water from the kitchen and wish to no longer see it, you cannot hide from it. It will be there in the living room waiting for you. Should you wish to escape it further, you can walk into the side den/third bedroom, with it’s wainscoted walls and gabled ceiling, but it will find you there too and demand that you pay it some attention. If you hate views of the lake, this is not your home.
But if you love the lake and you love looking at it, and you love hearing it and smelling it (it smells curiously like perfection), then this is the most perfect lake home you could ever dream of. The finishes are high end and entirely brand new. The main bathroom is ensconced in marble, with marble floors and marble counters and marble surrounding the jetted tub. The kitchen features marble and Viking, and polished nickel this and white painted that. It’s large enough to make you feel more handsome or more beautiful, thinner, taller. The living room and kitchen both open onto the rambling lakeside deck, with three distinct seating or entertaining areas. For a concise home, this place punches far above its weight limit.
This home is as a brand new home, entirely and thoroughly finished right down to the impatiens in the flower beds, and it is ready to sell. For a buyer seeking redemption in the form of a summer spent lakeside, I can likely close this home in as little as 15 days. If you like the thought of spending most of June and then all of July and August and hopefully September near the water enveloped in stylish luxury, this home will gladly fulfill your summery aim.
At $629k, there is reason to believe this home will sell soon. If you do not yet understand those reasons, I beg you to put your glasses on and look some more at these photos. Thankfully, if you prefer to look at this lakeside masterpiece in person, I will be there tomorrow, Saturday (June 2nd), holding this home open for the world to see from 10:30 am until 2 pm. This is a long open house, but I assure you that resting comfortably on a lounge chair with the water dancing between the trees is not as difficult as it sounds. 521 Wilmette will not be listed on the broad market until next Tuesday, so this weekend represents your exclusive first look opportunity. See you tomorrow.