Lakes at Riverbend sits on the west side of Mahomet, right up against River Bend Forest Preserve. If you like the idea of walking out your front door and being on a trail by the water a few minutes later, this is one of the neighborhoods I'd show you first.
Where it is
The neighborhood is built along Riverbend Boulevard, with side streets like Beaver Lake Drive, River Bluff Drive and Morel Court. The forest preserve borders it to the west, and you're a short drive from I-74 for the trip into Champaign.
The homes
The houses here date from around the turn of the 2000s. The listings I checked were built between 1999 and 2003. You'll mostly find traditional two-story homes, many with full finished basements, and some with walkout lower levels. Lot sizes vary quite a bit, from typical neighborhood lots to larger pieces on the cul-de-sacs.
Because the homes are around 25 years old, this is a neighborhood where updates matter. Roofs, mechanicals, windows and kitchens are what buyers will look at closely, and what's been done (or not done) is a big part of how a house here sells.
The lake, the paths and the preserve
The neighborhood has its own lake, and wide, lighted walking paths run through it. The bigger draw is next door. River Bend Forest Preserve, run by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, covers 391 acres, about 130 of them water across two lakes, one of which is the largest in the county. It has a one-mile nature trail, a 1.2-mile multi-use trail and about two and a half miles of forest along the Sangamon River.
A few things worth knowing about the preserve:
- It used to be a sand and gravel mine. The district restored it with native trees and shrubs, wetland areas to catch stormwater and trails built with recycled paving material.
- Possibility Pier is a fully accessible fishing dock with a covered section.
- The 9-11 Memorial Woodland was planted in memory of the victims of September 11, 2001.
- It opens at 7 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after sunset, weather permitting.
Schools
Lakes at Riverbend is in Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District 3, which is its own district, separate from Champaign and Urbana. School assignments can change, so confirm the schools for any specific address with the district before you count on them.
If you're selling here
Buyers looking at Lakes at Riverbend usually already know about the preserve. What they want to see is how your house has been kept up and what it will need. A clear list of what you've updated, with rough dates, does more for you than a fresh coat of paint on everything.
If you've been in your home here for a long time, or you're handling a house for a family member's estate, I'm glad to sit down at your kitchen table and work through it one piece at a time: what to fix, what to leave alone and what the sale could actually net you. I don't put a number on a house I haven't walked through.
Call or text me at (217) 369-0376, or pick a time that works for you here.
— Max Mitchell, REMAX Realty Associates, Dave Ramsey Trusted Agent and three-time Champaign County Top 5 REALTOR®
