Prairie Town Center | First-Time Homebuyers Enjoy Great Deals, Location at Prairie Town Center

OAK LAWN, IL – Despite the negative news surrounding the current real estate climate, first-time homeowners continue to drive the housing market. Mickeal Tabron and Victor Kiman are typical of these buyers, who see that interest rates are affordable, and because they have no homes to sell, are not pressured about selling their home first.

They are free to shop around at their leisure and take advantage of new housing offerings. Both recently purchased their first homes at Prairie Town Center in Oak Lawn.

Morningside Group’s Oak Lawn developments – two phases of Prairie Town Center and Arbor Court – are located just off 95th Street in downtown Oak Lawn. Whether a first-time home buyer is looking to move in immediately, next year or in 2009, these developments offer plenty of options.

“We’re seeing a lot of heavy traffic from first-time homebuyers,” says Director of Sales Barbara Morris. “They’re taking their time to see what the market has to offer, and many of them are finding everything they need at our Oak Lawn developments, from price, great location, neighborhood amenities, ease of access downtown, and tremendous re-sale value.”

Tabron, 31, a driver for United Parcel Service (UPS), currently lives with his mother, about 15 minutes away from Oak Lawn. He was looking to buy a condo in the area and was immediately attracted to the Prairie Town Center location. He purchased a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath home and will be moving into his first home in April, 2008.

“I didn’t want to move downtown. It’s too expensive,” Tabron says. “Also, I wanted to be close to my mom in case she needed me for an emergency. So the location was ideal.  Having the Metra station was also a big selling point. I want to take the train downtown to work, and the station is practically next door.”

Tabron also appreciated the way he was treated by the sales staff, with his first-time home buying jitters immediately put at ease.  He said Morris and Sales Associate Cathy Murray treated him like he was their own son. “They were both very nice to me. I would recommend them to any friends looking to buy a condo,” Tabron says.

Kiman, 27, a firefighter/paramedic with the Chicago Ridge Fire Department, also stressed construction quality and location while searching for his first home wants – a two-bedroom, two-bath home close to work at a price within his budget. He found all that at Prairie Town Center.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted, and while looking in the area, came across Prairie Town Center,” Kiman says. “I found an ideal two-bedroom place there within my budget. I did customize a few features, like adding a breakfast bar.”

Kiman also stresses the hassle-free atmosphere he encountered at Prairie Town Center while buying his first home. “There were no high-pressure sales tactics. In fact, my meetings with the sales staff were more informational in nature than sales-oriented. I feel very comfortable with my decision and never felt pressured at all during the entire process.”

Since launching sales in late-2006, phase one of Prairie Town Center is more than 80 percent sold, with occupancy set for spring 2008. Due to its success, the second phase of Prairie Town Center recently held its grand opening weekend and is slated for occupancy in spring 2009.

Prairie Town Center offers up to 10 different floor plans to choose from. Homes range in size from 844 square feet to 1,461 square feet and are one bedroom and one-and-half-baths, two bedroom and two baths, or three bedrooms and two baths. Prices range from $185,900 to $325,900 (prices subject to change without notice). The price includes one heated, indoor parking space and an individual storage locker.  Exterior parking is also available.

For those requiring immediate move-in, eight homes remain at Arbor Court. These are all two-bedroom, two-bath homes (one with a study) and are priced from $265,900 to $315,900.

Standard features at Prairie Town Center and Arbor Court include kitchens with 42-inch upper cabinets.  Baths have cultured-marble tops in a variety of colors, and buyers can choose from a selection of vanity styles and finishes.  Residences have nine-foot ceilings in all living spaces, per plan; and walk-in closets or dressing rooms in master bedrooms, per plan.

Prairie Town Center will also boast two single-story retail buildings featuring 18,000 square feet of retail space just steps away from the condominiums with frontage along 95th Street.

Prairie Town Center is just a short walk away from the Metra train station, Freshline Grocery, Starbucks Coffee, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Citibank, Dunkin Donuts, the Vino Tinto wine bar, Cold Stone Creamery, Al’s Beef, Nancy’s Pizza and Hollywood Video.

The Prairie Town Center and Arbor Court Information Center is located at 5239 W. 95th Street in Oak Lawn.  Following the grand opening weekend, hours of operation are Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For more information, please call (708) 857-2900.

Click here to visit the Prairie Town Center website!