A HIDDEN GEM - MURPHY LAKE, PARK RIDGE

THE FIVE BEST THINGS ABOUT LIVING ON MURPHY LAKE IN PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS.

Number 1 - Swans

There are two swans on the lake who scare off those pesky geese and lay eggs each spring. You get to see baby swans and they are SO adorable but be careful! The last thing you want to do is get too close to the baby swans or the mama swan will try her best to bite your nose. They like little bits of bread, sometimes they'll eat it out of your hand.

Number 2 - Booze Cruise on the Paddle Boats

So, there's no motors allowed on Murphy Lake to avoid freaking everyone out, but paddle boats and canoes are all the rage. If you don't drink then grab a water and enjoy the views. If you DO drink, fill that built-in cooler with Stella Artois or Cabernet and let the good times roll! *Word to the wise: sound carries over water so don't start yelling about that one time, at band camp... if you don't want your neighbors to hear it.*

Number 3 - 4th of July

Who needs Navy Pier when you have neighbors who light up the sky like nobody's business. Combine Number 2 with Number 3 and you'll have the best July 4th of your life. Guaranteed. 

Number 4 - Winter

Everyone seems to agree that winter can kick rocks once December ends. But I don't think you'd feel like that if you had an ice rink in your backyard. It freezes really, really deep so you can plow out your own hockey rink if you so choose. It's been done before and will be done again come January!

Number 5 - Wildlife

So when it snows over the ice rink you built (see #4) you'll start to notice all sorts of tracks imprinted in the snow. It won't take long for you to figure out that you're noticing deer, coyote, fox and whatever else tracks. I once saw a dog chase a deer all the way across the ice on the lake until the deer jumped over someone's 6-foot fence and got away. I would not lie about this.

In the summer there's an even bigger variety: swans, geese, cardinals, hawks, orioles, blue heron, chipmunks, bunnies, raccoons and more deer.

 I KNOW what you MUST be thinking! 

'Man, I wish I didn't have to move so far away from the city to live in such a crazy cool suburb as Park Ridge. Welllllllllllll, you don't.

Park Ridge is only 15 MILES from the heart of downtown Chicago. 15 MILES! AND the schools are insanely amazing.

I've driven from the 'City of Trees' (seriously, that's it's nickname) into the real city on innumerable occasions and without traffic it only takes me 18 minutes from the time I sit down on my painfully sun-warmed leather seats (that summer sun is relentless!) to the time I get to the loop. Maybe even less. I once made it all the way to Comiskey - ahem, U.S. Cellular - in 22 minutes. I know this because I was running late, as usual, and so I timed it.

See commuters? The suburbs really aren't so bad, are they?

The Great Jordan Property Sell-Off Continues

On Tuesday, Juanita Jordan, the former wife of Bulls star Michael Jordan, placed her Lake Shore Drive penthouse on the market for $5 million.

The move comes less than three weeks after Michael Jordan placed his 56,000-square-foot Highland Park compound up for sale for $29 million. The Jordans, who divorced in 2006, bought both properties during their marriage. In their divorce settlement, Michael wound up with the Highland Park mansion and Juanita kept the 8,000-square-foot penthouse, which takes up the building's 39th and 40th floors, plus its roof space.

Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/luxury/ct-mre-0325-elite-street-20120323,0,4533339.story?track=rss

Michael Jordan Asking $29 Million for Highland Park Estate

The one and only Michael Jordan has listed his humble Highland Park abode for an incredible $29 million - making it the most expensive listing in the Chicago-area market.

The secluded compound encompasses over 56,000 square feet, 9 bedrooms, 15 full baths, 4 half baths, 5 fireplaces, a 15-car climate-controlled garage and, of course, an indoor basketball court.

When it Comes to Dating, Is Homeownership the Ultimate Aphrodisiac?

 In a recent article by CNNMoney, a survey of 1,000 people found that over one third of women and 18% of men would rather date a homeowner than a renter. 

In fact, only 2% of women said they'd prefer to date a man who rents and only 3% of men said they would choose a woman who rents over one that owns her home. Provided, of course, that all other factors are equal.

Ahem - a whopping 62% of those surveyed preferred to date singles who live alone. So if that friend who said he'd be off your couch in two weeks is still there two years later, survey says he's killing your game. Get him out and move on.

Sorry college grads living back home, but this is a direct quote from CNNMoney:

And there was bad news for the growing number of boomerang kids -- the young adults who went off to college, graduated and then wound up back in their old bedrooms. It's going to be hard to find love, except (perhaps) from your parents. Less than 5% of all singles surveyed said they would date someone living in their childhood homes.

"That's a real deal-breaker," said Michael Corbett, a spokesman for Trulia. "If you're still living with your folks, you're dead-on-arrival for dating."

Don't worry though! Everyone knows the economy is tough right now! So what if living at mom and dad's house is totally ruining your love life? Use your time at home to save up so when you finally do move out you can buy instead of rent! 

Oh, and when that time comes, you know I'll definitely be there to help you out!

How Belgravia's Buzz Ruttenburg Sees Chicago's Real Estate Market

Video Courtesy of YoChicago