Candlewick Lake - Poplar Grove

[CWLPoplarGroveRes]

I just wanted to respond to MyMotorcycle. Great post! I just wanted to add that compared to the cities just a bit closer to the city... like Huntley, Marengo, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Palatine...

we are less expensive even with the water bill and car gas prices. The exception would be if you want to live in an apt. I guess.

Also... while WalMart is the "big" shopping place in Belvidere there is still alot of shopping in Belv. and there's a ton of shopping in Rockford. I can drive from my Candlewick home through our quiet streets and through the upscale homes we live near to the East side of Rockford and I will find all the shopping I can handle. So it's a nice combo .... I get to see cows in the field, live near expensive homes and shop til I drop if I feel like it.

Our mortgage is around $900 a mo. so the water bill and dues aren't that big of an issue when you consider what kind of mortgage I'd have to pay elsewhere. There are cheaper places to live in Rockford, but I prefer the ambiance here by the lake and in this safer neighborhood. The clubhouse, golf course, pool and other amenities are nice too. I really enjoy the Bible Study I go to in CWL.

We hunted and hunted before buying here. All we could afford East of here was horrid little places. I'm really happy with our home.

A piece of advice to potential buyers.... consider a "no outlet" dead-end street. Particularly if you have children, a no outlet street is great because your traffic is practically nil. There are gobs of no outlet streets here. The other streets are quiet too but I like my no outlet road.

Have a good one!

[ExCandlewickResident]

Okay, I will try to be as objective as possible here. First, there are a FEW positives...The crime rate is very low, the lake is beautiful (usually), there are a lot of great people living here that I will miss (sort of). Now those things having been said, the crime rate in Poplar Grove, and Boone County for that matter is low, and as people have said, Rock Cut is only a few minutes away, so is Pearl Lake Beach. I moved to Candlewick in 2004. I will list the negatives as calmly as possible. First, as for the lake; it is okay if you have a boat, that fits the restrictions, that you want to trailer to your house every time, or go into a lottery for an overpriced rental slip in the "marina", but other than that, the beach is nasty, and the fishing has gone downhill every year, partly because the fishing docks behind the rec center are a whole section shorter than they used to be. The lake is constantly being "treated", yet there is too much vegetation all the time. Moving on, there are no sidewalks, and your kids won't be able to ride any sort of electric car or bike or scooter in the street. You know, a 5 year old in a barbie jeep is a safety hazard, but the 3 teenagers on skateboards are okay.?>?>? The gate guards are hilarious, they let in contractors who may or may not be legit, but hassle any homeowner that has to go through the manned entrances (I frequently have rental cars for my job). They have no "real" power, but they like to act like it. In the end if you drove around the gate, would they call the cops to get you for trespassing??? to your own house??? LOL Anyway, I am sure I am leaving out a few things, but I am all too happy that I am currently moving OUT of Candlewick into a very nice house in another area of Poplar Grove. My recommendation is this; if you LOVE a house in Candlewick, and you can get it for $45 sq/ft, and you have a boat with under 40hp, and you like to fish but not catch anything, and you never have a rental vehicle, and you don't mind a very political HOA, then by all means, go for it. Otherwise, leave Candlewick to the rental home market. If you want more of my four years of Candlewick headaches, feel free to email me: cwhelpinghands@yahoo.com

[CWLPoplarGroveRes]

I hear you. But there is still so much good about Candlewick. We don't boat or fish so that doesn't bother us. For some it's an important issue. The sidewalks would be nice.... but I wouldn't want to trade the quiet streets and safety factor for sidewalks. Even though crime is overall low in this county compared to some.... CWL is just unlike living somewhere else in Poplar Grove or any other ungated place.... I don't have "the whole world" driving by. Not only because we live on one of Candlewick's many NO OUTLET streets but because alot of people just can't get in. And the gate people do keep track of who's driving in and out. You will not be having that level of safety where you are moving to.

Best wishes to you. I think there are pros and cons any where you live. But I still see many pros in CWL. It's a great community for families and individuals. goodplans4you@yahoo.com

[dmac50]

Anybody know anything about Lake Summerset, over in Winnebago county. I'm looking at homes there and they seem kind of expensive.