If there’s something Midwesterners know about it, it’s how to survive and thrive in the freezing cold of wintertime. With average temperatures in this region well below freezing, preparation is key. Here are some ways to start getting your home ready for the upcoming winter season. Clear the yard The first item of business is to clear away all the patio furniture and cushions. The only thing that can cause more damage to outdoor furniture than the unrelenting sun is the constant exposure to moisture that accumulating snow brings. Remove the cushions and give them a good pressure washing (or just use a regular water hose). Wipe down the hard surfaces of your furniture with a mild soap detergent and water. Once everything is nice and dry, store in the basement. Next, move onto the yard itself. Clean up and bag any remaining leaves that may be left from fall to avoid killing your grass. Look for any sticks that need to be picked up and trim any overgrown bushes. Your lawn will thank you in the spring by looking nice and healthy now. Anticipate ways to lower utility bills When the temperatures plummet, your heat begins to work in overdrive. Any little thing you do to help your home conserve energy can take some of the burden off your heating system and therefore help lower your heating bill. Insulate Windows Windows are a common place for air to leak into your home especially if you notice any small gaps or cracks. A thrifty solution is to apply plastic to your windows to help better insulate against the cold. This website has a great tutorial to help you get started! Adjust Vents Another challenge of heating your home in the winter is figuring out the most economical way to keep your lower levels comfortable. Due to the fact that heat rises, your upper levels will usually be the warmest part of your home, though that is the place you spend the least amount of time. Try closing off the vents in any upstairs areas and open the vents in the basement. This will help keep your main living areas nice and toasty. Optimize Your Thermostat It's a misnomer that dropping your thermostat while you are away at work during the day will eventually save you money on your heat bill. It will not. The additional energy required to bring the entire house back up to a toasty temp once you get home requires far more energy than simply leaving the thermostat at a steady temperature always. So, set the thermostat at a steady lower temp (say 70-72­°) and always wear a sweater or sweatshirt to keep your heat bill reasonable. Cover your Basement Window Wells Forgotten window wells are a prime spot for moisture to seep into your home due to clogged drains. Start off by cleaning out any leaves and debris from your window wells. Next, consider adding a protective dome over your window wells to keep snow and ice from accumulating in these areas which may cause leaking into your basement. Now is also a good time to check the caulking around your windows and doors and touch up any areas that may need it. Midwest winters are no joke but once you get these items checked off your to-do list, you can rest assured that your home is ready for what lies ahead. Kick back and cozy up with a blanket and hot chocolate while enjoying the warmth of your home this winter. When you're ready to try cooperative living for yourself, give us a call to discuss this unique, affordable form of home ownership.

If you’ve ever dreamed of the day of owning your own home, if you’ve ever stared at your bland apartment walls and resented handing your money to someone else, or if you’ve ever wished you could afford a bigger, nicer, better home… then maybe a housing cooperative is your answer. Cedarwood Housing Cooperative, in Park Forest, Illinois is the perfect combination of home ownership with the freedom of an almost maintenance-free lifestyle. Plus, it's ideally situated in the Chicago south suburbs near public transportation, forest preserves and plenty of shopping. Check out the other benefits of housing coop ownership below and give us a call when you're ready to make Cedarwood your next home. Get more bang for your buck A housing cooperative is made up of members who pay an upfront membership fee to own their townhouse along with a small monthly fee to cover maintenance, property taxes and capital improvements. This upfront cost enables these members to own a share in the company as well which allows them to vote on community decisions that affect their individual unit. After the initial membership fee, you then pay a monthly fee - which is typically much lower than a mortgage payment- that goes towards various things like upkeep of all units. In short, the cost of owning a home is spread out among all the housing co-op members. While this arrangement seems out of the “box”, it definitely allows you an opportunity to not only own your own home but it provides a way for you to have more square footage than you might typically afford on your own. This reason alone has converted flocks of more traditional thinking homeowners to convert to this innovative way of living. Your property taxes instantly become more affordable When you live in a housing cooperative, you no longer have to worry about saving up for your yearly property taxes or watch the prorated amount be added onto an already hefty monthly mortgage payment. It simply is included in your low monthly membership fee. All members of the housing cooperative contribute to the overall property tax bill so it instantly becomes much more affordable for everyone. Become an instant member of a community Once you buy a unit in a housing co-op, you instantly become a member in the company that owns it. But it’s really so much more than that. These company members are also your neighbors. You look out for each other when someone goes on vacation. You work together to solve any home problems that arise. If you’re lucky, these neighbors can become lifelong friends as well. One thing for sure is the stress of home ownership rests on more than just your shoulders now. Community owned emergency fund While you certainly would want to have your own savings account, an added perk to living in a housing cooperative is there is usually a large emergency savings fund to take care of any repairs or damages that may arise. When you live on your own, these costs are your own responsibility. However, when you live in a community like this, the burden of these costs are shared among all the members. If a tree falls on the roof, you don't have to worry about trying to get the money to repair it, the housing co-op's emergency back-up fund will cover it. Don’t have to worry about untidy neighbors The members of a housing cooperative vote on and decide many things that help the community run smoothly. That also means there are joint decisions for how the outside of the home will look. Basically, you're less likely to be subjected to unsightly neighbors cluttering up the yard and neglecting a broken shutter. Nor will there be a creative homeowner trying out a harrowing lime green siding right next to your neutral-toned home. You can feel confident that the outside of your housing cooperative will remain in pristine condition without any worry of an eyesore that could develop in the future. A housing cooperative is a unique living arrangement that benefits everyone. You get to own a home while sharing the burden of typical home ownership costs. So what are you waiting for? Give Cedarwood Housing Cooperative a call today to find the place you will soon call home!

Living in a housing cooperative offers tons of benefits from decreased "rent" and worry-free maintenance, to housing stability and the freedom to express yourself through design. As word gets out about this incredible concept, more and more people are flocking to the area in search of housing. To better serve prospective members and to capture the thoughts of current members, we asked a handful of residents to express their thoughts about cooperative living. Sandra P. "Love the Idea. More Cities Should Have It. The idea of cooperative housing is a fantastic one. More cities should take advantage of the structure of this type of living arrangement to offer their residents more ways to make a home. My unit is very spacious and well-kept. My neighbors are delightful. Any problem I have ever had was resolved fairly quickly by maintenance." Barbara T. "Cooperative living is an excellent idea for anyone looking to buy or rent because it's community-centered and affordable. After you become a member, you can attend yearly community events and board meetings. So it you have an issue about anything, you can go speak your mind because you are one of the owners. Living in a cooperative helps you feel like you belong and you have a say so in your community. That's why I like living at one." Jim J. "As an accountant, purchasing a membership into the housing cooperative is a very smart move. It lacks the financial burden of owning a single family residence. It creates an investment into your future (when you move, you sell your share, providing you with capital). It ensures a low cost of living for the duration of your residency. And more." Daryl S. "Living in a housing cooperative is great. I don't have to worry about the water heater going out on me and having to swap it out myself. I don't have to worry about replacing the roof or cleaning out the sewer lines. Just about all I have to worry about is mowing the lawn once a week during the summer. That's my kind of worry!" Brittany H. "When I heard about cooperative living I thought it was too good to be true actually. My husband and I were in the office talking to a staff member and everything she said seemed incredible. After the whole run through, I asked, "so what's the catch?" and she sheepishly responded, "there is no catch". Up to that point I had only ever know our options to be either rent an apartment or buy a home. This housing concept basically combines the good of both options into one and eliminates tons of the negatives of both. Cheap monthly fees, little to no maintenance, we can paint however we want, don't have to take care of a large lawn, and so much more. I highly recommend it!" When you're ready to enjoy the vast benefits of cooperative living, call Cedarwood Housing Cooperative to explore your options!

3 Bedroom Available Units Memberships (homes) are negotiated between purchaser and seller. Monthly carrying charges (click here to view what's included in these fees ): 3 Bedroom End: $565.00 3 Bedroom Twin Court: $571.00 3 Bedroom End Drive: $579.00 271 Dogwood- Exterior 271 Dogwood- Exterior 1/1 Sold SOLD 3 bedroom end unit. New Pella windows installed in 2019. Additional monthly window payment of $37.41. Partially finished basement. For more details on our listings, please call Cedarwood Cooperative at 708-747-3833.

Units for Sale Click the Links below to view our current available co-ops. Check back often as we update our availability often. When you find a home you are interested in, contact the seller or contact the office for more details. We would be happy to assist you in arranging a showing of any of our Park Forest coops for sale. 1 Bedroom Units 2 Bedroom Units 3 Bedroom Units Floorplans 1 Bedroom Units 2 Bedroom Units 3 Bedroom Units Floorplans

1 Bedroom Available Units Memberships (homes) are negotiated between purchaser and seller. Monthly carrying charges (click here to view what's included in these fees ): 1 Bedroom First Floor: $467.00 1 Bedroom Second Floor: $473.00 Unit Images Coming Soon Unit Images Coming Soon 1/1 SOLD SOLD Very clean ground level 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom end unit. Spacious living room and cozy kitchen. Approved buyers only. For application process click here. ​