[quote author="woodbury_owner" date=1232728035]my coworker bought a 1bdrm condo in oak creek for $160k so $200k definitely wasn't the cheapest condo...
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Your coworker probably put a deposit on a Plan 1 in Oak Park around early Summer of 2000, which was near later phase (closer to the crossing bridge, away from the gym). At phase 1 these went for about 110k-120k. When your coworker bought his/hers, the 2 bed models were selling for $200k and 3 bed (or 2 + loft) for $250k'ish.
Buyers of the last phase paid >$180k for these, but a lucky few by corner of Crescent Oak and Orangewood got full sized drive ways.
IMO late phase buyers didn't do that bad. They got a 2nd pool, plus the bigger one across Hawkcreek at Pine Brook park. Late night parking is also much easier because you're next to the SFR's by the bridge, fewer people park on the street so street parking is always avail.
Early phase buyers are closer to the main pool + gym and the shopping plaza, but late night street parking is more difficult. One good thing is that all units in Oak Park have 2 car garages, so worse case, you can always clear the clutter to make room to park inside.
I have a few friends who live further down on Hawk Creek, past the bridge. They bought the bigger SFR's but have to walk all the way to Pine Brook to use the pool. When they came to visit, they saw the little gym and commented "...wait, you get a gym and live next to a pool? We paid 5x as much for our home. Where's our gym?"
