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How to Write the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Essays 2020-2021

Located in the vast cornfields of east-central Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is widely renowned as one of the country’s most influential public research universities. In fact, it has ranked first in National Science Foundation award funding for six consecutive years.

Many sources consider UIUC one of the top 50 universities in the world, and some have even ranked its engineering school in the top five worldwide.

Boasting over 24 million items in its library collection, it’s no secret that UIUC is an intellectual powerhouse. On top of that, it’s also a haven for sports lovers. UIUC was one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference, a tradition that has remained strong, as evidenced by its 21 NCAA teams.

When it comes to the student body, UIUC’s average ACT scores range from 27-33, while average SAT scores range from 1280-1490. With an acceptance rate of about 60% , UIUC is a fairly selective school.

One final thing to keep in mind is that UIUC is not a Common Application school. That means you’ll have to submit a separate application either on the school’s website or by mail.

This also means UIUC won’t be reading your Common App essay, meaning that the school-specific essays count for even more. Luckily, we at CollegeVine are here to give you numerous tips on how to tackle your UIUC essays! Want to know your chances at UIUC? Calculate your chances for free right now.

UIUC Application Essay Prompts

Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. you may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. if you’re applying to the division of general studies, explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. you may include any majors or areas of study you’re currently considering. (300-400 words).

Since this is the most extensive essay UIUC will be receiving from you, it is also the most important! This prompt asks you to write a “Why This Major” essay. Your main objectives here should be conveying your passion for a certain subject and explaining how that relates to your future goals. Also, focus on expressing your love for the school by touching on specific aspects of the school that you think will suit you well.

While you might be tempted to simply reference your extracurricular activities in this section, this is not enough . Admission officers can already see your activities, so mentioning them again without further elaboration would be redundant. Instead, you should hone in on something more personal, and then proceed to explain it in greater depth.

Although your essay should not just restate extracurriculars or relevant classes, it is okay to briefly mention them as long as they provide a transition into new, more meaningful information. This “something meaningful” can be anything from an entertaining moment during one of your activities/classes to a more serious discussion of how you arrived at that passion. Just make sure your response illuminates something unique about you.

Because this essay is the most complex for this school, we recommend tackling it in smaller chunks. You’ll find that focusing on the structure of these shorter essays often does wonders for the overall cohesion of the finished product.

Introduction (100 words or less)

In this section of the response, your primary goal is to indicate your prospective major, but in a manner that the school would find compelling. Some of the most effective ways to hook the reader are by using figurative language or an anecdote, but there are a plethora of other ways as well — just be creative! Also, make sure your introduction allows for enough elaboration in the body section.

Because the introduction is so crucial to the development of this essay, below are some examples of good and bad introductions with explanations.

Good examples :

• “Time to get to work. My classmates opened the textbook and saw gibberish, but I saw a colony of enchanting symbols beckoning me to dance with them. Smug and graceful, they taunted me with their movements, tantalizing me into an exotic tango. These symbols held the secrets of the universe. It was during this fateful study group that I pinpointed my undying love for math…” Why it’s good: While a little cheesy, this author has introduced their love of math with flair. They use the imagery of “enchanting symbols” within the context of a specific instance during their study group, likely intriguing the reader as to why this led to such passion. A capable writer would go on to explain this whimsical statement in the body of the essay.
• “The summer of skeletons was drawing to a close. On my last day at the clinic, they crept up on me, begging me to stay. I knew I had to return one day. They liked being analyzed by me — the touch, the care. These cadavers were always desperate for my attention, but it took me a full six weeks to realize that I was also desperate for theirs…” Why it’s good: While it could be a little creepy and somewhat obsessive, it certainly conveys the author’s passion for bone structures. This author still needs to specify their major (biology, anthropology, bioengineering, etc.), but otherwise, they have the foundation for a great essay. Moving forward, they have two options: focus on this sudden realization at the end of what is presumably a summer internship or talk a little more about the ongoing process. Either one is suitable.

Bad examples :

• “Ever since a young age, I was interested in math. It’s always been my favorite subject. That’s why I want to major in it when I get to college. UIUC has an amazing math program that I want to participate in with amazing faculty. I’ve always pursued difficult math classes, and I’ve even engaged in some extracurricular activities related to math. These activities had possibly the biggest impact on me out of any of my activities…” Why it’s bad: It’s easy to imagine an adcom reading this introduction and wanting to go back to sleep. The author hasn’t shown any personality, and they certainly haven’t set themselves up for anything more than a simple retelling of their most impactful extracurricular activities.
• “Growing up, I’ve always admired the true heroes of our society: doctors. That’s why I want to major in bioengineering. I want to be a hero just like them. At UIUC, the main track for pre-med students is bioengineering, which is also a topic that really interests me. I’ve done a lot of extracurriculars pertaining to the medical field, and I’ve even had some hands-on experience through clinical internships. Bioengineering at UIUC is definitely right for me…” Why it’s bad: This “bad example” is certainly better than the first one, but it still has a lot of room for improvement. Using the theme of doctors as heroes isn’t necessarily bad, but it isn’t implemented well here. Instead, the author should’ve discussed a specific time (perhaps during their clinical internship) that they saw a doctor do something brave, and how that inspired them to become a doctor. This introduction really goes downhill when they abruptly move on to general statements about their interests and past experiences. Also, statements like “Bioengineering at UIUC is definitely right for me” should be avoided at all cost. Remember to show, rather than tell.

Body (250 Words or Less)

Your goal with the body of this essay is to further elaborate on your involvement with your respective major. It is okay to mention extracurriculars and classes in this section, but only if you couple them with explanations of how they impacted you. Consider implementing some additional discussion of your future career plans if you haven’t already done so in the introduction.

The body of your essay doesn’t have to be quite as flashy as the introduction, but it needs to be more purposeful. You might spend less time here on an extended metaphor, and instead opt to explain why your experience in a particular subject area inspired you to pursue it further.

No length is specified in the conclusion, because it varies depending on how many words you have already used, and to what extent your intro/body necessitates closure.

If you have a lot of space left, you might mention specific programs or clubs that fit with your major. You could also go into greater depth here regarding your long-term career goals. If you find a program at UIUC that incorporates your career aspirations — take, for example, a school-funded internship program — this is a great place to discuss it.

Otherwise, the conclusion should simply wrap up the main idea of your essay with a general discussion of your interests that you already set forth. Avoid being too repetitive; it’s better to keep your summary brief and to the point. If you began the essay with thematic material, it should resurface in the conclusion. The last sentence of the essay should be powerful enough to leave a lasting impression on the reader. This will ensure that adcoms remember your essay.

If you select a second-choice major other than the Division of General Studies on your application, write a second essay explaining your interest in this major, too. (300-400 words)

This prompt is similar to the previous one, so you should approach it in largely the same manner. It might be tempting to focus less on this essay, but you shouldn’t neglect it just because it’s your second-choice major. Admission officers will be able to tell if you’ve gotten lazy.

Other than that, make sure you keep our suggestions from the previous section in mind. Remember to provide adequate insight into any examples you provide, and focus on being succinct, so you can add in as much content as possible.

Some Final Words

It’s already been mentioned, but it’s important enough to mention again: These are the only essays UIUC will see. That means you have a huge responsibility to be personable and unique while also demonstrating competent writing style and academic focus.

While we at CollegeVine sometimes encourage riskier supplemental essays, you should avoid that for UIUC. This is because you aren’t coupling these with your Common App essay, which tends to be more grounded and central to your identity.

Most importantly, make sure your essays are truly a reflection of you . Don’t try to use overly elevated language if that isn’t how you normally write. If you’re unsure whether your voice is coming across, ask a family member or friend to read over your essays; they often have invaluable advice.

Want help on your college essays to get into your dream schools? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses, as well as our Essay Peer Review.

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These 3 Illinois housing markets are ranked among the 30 hottest in the US

PEORIA – Peoria is among the 30 hottest housing markets in the U.S., according to 24/7 Wall St . 

Rising interest rates and low inventory have slowed home sales through much of the U.S., but relatively affordable home prices have helped keep the housing market in Peoria and a number of other Midwestern communities relatively hot. 

In 15 th place, Peoria beat Springfield in the 25 th slot, but lost to Rockford, which took fourth place in the ranking.  

More: Will 2024 be a good time to buy or sell a home in Peoria? Here's what the experts say

Communities were ranked according to how long homes are on the market and several other measures of supply and demand using data from December 2023.  

The cost of homes was a major factor. For all but six metro areas on the list, homes were below the national median of $410,000. In Springfield, the median home price was $168,950; in Peoria it was $149,900; and in Rockford it was $199,900. 

Also noted was how long homes spend on the market. In Peoria, the average time homes were on the market was 48 days. In Springfield, the average time was 49 days, while Rockford homes were on the market for 40 days. 

More: Luxury residences and a rooftop pool planned for Peoria's riverfront. Here's what we know

Regional Housing Recovery Plan is on the table. Now what?

The McLean County Regional Planning Commission has finished its Regional Housing Recovery Plan to address shortages in housing, workforce housing, mixed-use housing, affordable housing, and housing for the housing challenged.

It has been presented to the Bloomington and Normal councils, and the McLean County Board will get its briefing Thursday evening. Now what?

“It’s time for us to start kind of looking at the details and seeing what some of their recommendations look like when they're more fleshed out and we start putting some meat on the skeletons that they presented,” said Town of Normal interim Deputy City Manager Brian Day.

The town already is doing some of the recommendations in the plan. A comprehensive review of zoning regulations and how they affect siting and the type of housing prevalent in the community, for instance, began about a year ago as part of the town's strategic plan.

“We're in the middle of that process now, seeing where there are areas we can least review regulations to see if there are ways to facilitate more housing,” said Day.

Mayor Chris Koos recently mentioned a potential incentive to prompt developers to move ahead with residential projects even in the face of high interest rates, a l oan buydown program .

Day said the town is looking at that and various other ways to spur construction.

“I think we're just in the beginning stages of looking to see what other communities are doing. Right now, we're seeing a lot of communities both in Illinois and around the country having to look at incentives or financial options that traditionally haven't been available,” said Day.

“It's kind of a new area for everybody. Part of that might be looking at more land use laws and how they phase in subdivisions.”

The Regional Housing Recovery Plan suggests creating an implementation committee composed of various stakeholders. Day said it’s too early for the town to have a position on who should be at the table and the process to use.

“I think that's just going to be more discussions between the stakeholders, before we start formalizing any of that,” he said.

Though the housing shortage has been apparent in McLean County for more than two years, Day said for most of the last decade the problem was a glut not a shortage.

“It was employers moving employees to other cities and we had houses that nobody could sell. That changed, probably with Rivian. And the pandemic was a huge factor, market forces fundamentally outside of the town's control, disruption of supply chains, interest rates, and inflation,” said Day.

The housing recovery plan calls for extending the housing navigator position housed at Mid-Central Community Action, and creating a paid position of a regional housing coordinator. Day did not commit to any particular version of cost sharing or position on those potential jobs.

“Again, we're 'gonna have to look at the details and the specifics when we see more of those,” said Day. “Certainly, we've got interest in being a regional partner.”

The plan also recommends creating overlay areas targeted for multifamily and mixed-use housing and affordable housing development that could include targeted incentives. Day said right now they are focusing on projects that have been approved, but not begun because of financing costs.

He said overlay areas would be taken up by the town down the road.

“We want to make sure we're triaging the right types of housing, the right form of housing, whether it's single-family, multi-family, affordable, or workforce housing. We just want to make sure we're getting those mixes right and kind of digging through the report to make sure we're devoting the right resources to the right areas,” said Day.

All things commencement May 2024: Ceremonies, graduates, honorees and more

Thursday, may 16, 2024.

For details on all the facts and faces of spring commencement at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, see the links to stories below for all you need to know about the final ceremony to be held in Zorn Arena and the people making the occasion even more special. 

For details on livestreaming of ceremonies, visit the Spring 2024 Commencement website . 

Final commencement in Zorn Arena is May 18 

The 100,000th graduate to receive a diploma at Zorn Arena will be among the 1,485 UW-Eau Claire students at commencement exercises, the last in the facility. Next fall’s commencement will be the first in the new Sonnentag Event Center. 

Read the full story

Meet graduating Blugolds: 

College of Business grad is confident, comfortable entering the realm of business

As accounting major Emily Fox from Osceola ends this final semester before graduation, she does so with the added pride of reaching her goal of a four-year degree. She kept her eye on the prize and did the hard work to cross the finish line as planned. 

Read Emily's story .

UW-Eau Claire student, firefighter Albert Lin serves the greater good

A college student by day and firefighter by night, Lin has responded to several emergency calls, all of which have taught him how to respond according to the situation while helping people in the community.

View Albert's video story .

UW-Eau Claire – Barron County helps grad focus on the future

Paige Williams bounced around different schools growing up, but she found a home at the UW-Eau Claire – Barron County over the past two years.

Read Paige's story .

Graduate is an outstanding nursing student, All-American athlete

Teagan Jones had never heard of Eau Claire before visiting UW-Eau Claire as a high school student in Illinois. Now, as she prepares to graduate, she couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Read Teagan's story .

Next step grad school, again as a Blugold, for CSD major Kyra Saylor

Kyra Saylor is looking forward to graduation, heading home for the summer, coaching softball and taking a break from school. But not for too long. She will resume her Blugold studies in the master's degree program for speech-language pathology this fall.

Read Kyra's story .

First cohort of Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars set to graduate

The spring 2024 commencement also marks the graduation of the first Blugold Biomedical Innovator Scholars cohort. Nine students who began medical science research in 2020 are off next to work in industry, attend medical school or seek Ph.D.s. 

Read about the biomedical researchers .

Learn about honorees:

Two mayo clinic health system physicians will receive honorary doctorates at uw-eau claire.

Dr. Richard Helmers, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System in Wisconsin, and Dr. Tim Nelson, director of innovation for Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwest Wisconsin, will receive honorary doctorates of science. 

Read the full story .

Four to be honored with Alumni Association awards

The alumni and friends of UW-Eau Claire will receive Alumni Association awards on Friday, May 17. Recipients are John Rosenow, Nancy Langer, Gary Jacobus and Jerry M. Bauer.

Read the alumni story .

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Photo essay: Spring on campus

Enjoy this collection of photos that capture the essence of spring on the campus of UW-Eau Claire.

Gregory Heinselman named dean of students at UW-Eau Claire

Wednesday, may 15, 2024.

Heinselman, who has more than 30 years of higher education experience in student affairs, has served as interim dean since August 2022.

Two Blugolds selected for 2024-25 Fulbright awards

Monday, may 13, 2024.

Zachary May, who graduated in December 2023, will participate in an English teaching assistantship in Argentina, while May 2023 graduate Anna Wendorff will be an English teaching assistant in South Korea.

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Center for Urban Economic Development

College of urban planning and public affairs, new report | handling hardship: data on economic insecurity among amazon warehouse workers.

For Immediate Release

Press Contact: [email protected]

(Chicago, IL ) – Today, the Center for Urban Economic Development (CUED) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) released a new report detailing the results of a survey of 1,484 Amazon workers across 451 facilities in 42 states—the largest nationwide study of Amazon workers to date. The report shows that roughly half of Amazon’s frontline warehouse workers are struggling with food and housing insecurity and being able to pay their bills, with one-third relying on different kinds of public assistance programs.

“This research indicates just how far the goalposts have shifted. It used to be the case that big, leading firms in the economy provided a path to the middle class and relative economic security,” said Dr. Sanjay Pinto, senior fellow at CUED and co-author of the report. “Our data indicate that roughly half of Amazon’s frontline warehouse workers are struggling with food and housing insecurity and being able to pay their bills. That’s not what economic security looks like.”

“The findings we report are the first we know of to show an association between the company’s health and safety issues and experiences of economic insecurity among its workforce,” said Dr. Beth Gutelius, research director at CUED and co-author of the report. “Workers having to take unpaid time off due to pain or exhaustion are far more likely to experience food and housing insecurity, and difficulty paying their bills.”

Key findings include:

• 53% of workers experienced one or more forms of food insecurity in the previous three months.
• 48% of workers experienced one or more forms of housing insecurity in the previous three months.
• More than half (56%) have not been able to pay all their bills without a remaining balance in the previous three months.
• One-third of workers (33%) have used one or more publicly funded assistance programs , including 23% who have used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• Taking time off due to the health impacts of working at Amazon is linked with greater economic insecurity. For example, 60% of those taking unpaid time off due to pain or exhaustion from working at Amazon report one or more forms of food insecurity, versus 36% of those who have not taken time off.

Today’s report reflects findings of the second part of this worker survey; the first part of the survey and its findings were released in a report last fall, which found:

• 41% of workers report being injured while working at an Amazon warehouse; 51% at the company for more than three years have been injured.
• 69% have had to take unpaid time off due to pain or exhaustion from working at the company in the past month; 34% have had to do so three or more times.
• 41% always/most of the time feel a sense of pressure to work faster , and another 30% sometimes do.

“The hourly pay at Amazon is not enough for the backbreaking work ... For the hard work we do and the money Amazon makes, every associate should make a livable wage,” said Linda Howard , who has worked at Amazon for 6 years in the ATL6 facility outside of Atlanta.

“Many Amazon associates cannot pay their bills, they can’t afford proper housing — some of my coworkers have been forced out of their homes. We are stuck in a nightmare: Living in an economy that puts no cap on worker exploitation, while our wages can’t keep up with the increase in our cost of living. This cycle has to stop.”

While the researchers’ previous report highlighted the relationship between invasive surveillance and high injury rates at Amazon warehouse, this report connects Amazon’s worker injury crisis to the economic precarity they face. The report concludes: “The higher levels of economic insecurity reported by workers having to take unpaid time off from work due to pain or exhaustion also point to a worrying relationship between financial strain and the injury toll documented in our previous report.”

“The economic impact of taking unpaid time off is a hidden cost of working for Amazon that, until now, has not been accounted for fully in discussions about compensation at the company. As the previous report suggested, the magnitude of the health toll reported by Amazon warehouse workers should raise concerns both about take-home pay in the immediate term and potential long-term effects on well-being, medical costs, and future employment.”

Download the full report.

What lies beneath Gaza’s rubble and ruin

The hysteria over campus protests in the United States has shifted American attention away from the depth of the ongoing calamity in Gaza.

You’re reading an excerpt from the Today’s WorldView newsletter. Sign up to get the rest free , including news from around the globe and interesting ideas and opinions to know, sent to your inbox every weekday.

In a fit of ideological pique last week, far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) scoffed at protesters agitating against pro-Israel policies on campuses across the United States . “I get a strange inkling that all these Columbia and UCLA students running around yelling ‘Free Palestine’ would not be jumping at the opportunity to do a semester abroad in Gaza,” she wrote on social media , before later journeying to a protest encampment at George Washington University and almost sparring with students when trying to pull down a Palestinian flag.

Boebert’s scorn is shared even by some of her opponents in the Washington establishment, many of whom have cast the student demonstrations as, at best, unproductive far-left agitprop or, more darkly, dangerous antisemitic behavior that must be expunged from the academy. Hundreds of campus protesters have been arrested in recent days in police crackdowns from California to New York.

Boebert’s comment, though, drew derision on two counts: First, that protesters angry about alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza would need to go to the besieged territory itself to justify their anger. And, second, that students could even do “a semester abroad” in Gaza, where Israel has spent the past half year systematically destroying most of its educational institutions, including all of its universities .

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For months, Palestinian civil society activists have drawn attention to the steady eradication of Gaza’s cultural patrimony. Israel’s punishing campaign against militant group Hamas has seen much of the territory reduced to ruin. In the process, many libraries, museums and colleges have been ransacked and razed — in some instances, by deliberate Israeli demolition. Thousands of artifacts in various collections, including Roman coins and other materials from Gaza’s pre-Islamic past, have been potentially lost during the war .

The hysteria over campus protests in the United States has shifted American attention away from the depth of the ongoing calamity in Gaza. U.N. officials and aid agencies are still grappling with the scale of the destruction in the territory, where dozens are still dying every day. Since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 terrorist strike on southern Israel, more than 34,500 Palestinians in the territory — many of them women and children — have been killed. Some 5 percent of Gaza’s overall population has been killed or injured, according to a U.N. report that cites local data.

That figure doesn’t include the more than at least 10,000 people that the U.N. estimates are still missing beneath the rubble, citing the Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD). The challenge of finding the missing is growing more dire, given the widespread destruction of heavy machinery and equipment needed to dig through the debris.

“Rising temperatures can accelerate the decomposition of bodies and the spread of disease,” the U.N. humanitarian affairs office said in a statement , adding that the PCD was appealing to “all relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene to allow the entry of needed equipment, including bulldozers and excavators, to avert a public health catastrophe, facilitate dignified burials, and save the lives of injured people.”

Sifting through Gaza’s wreckage will be no simple task. Israel has dumped a huge amount of ordnance on the territory. Mungo Birch, head of the U.N. Mine Action Program in Palestinian territory, said last week that the amount of unexploded missiles and bombs lying in the rubble is “unprecedented” since World War II. He said tiny Gaza is a site of some 37 million tons of rubble — more than what’s been generated across all of Ukraine during Russia’s war — and 800,000 tons of asbestos and other contaminants. He said his agency has only a fraction of the funding it needs to begin clearing operations whenever the war ends.

Over the weekend, U.S. and Egyptian officials attempted to facilitate a last-ditch effort to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas . A delegation from the Palestinian militant group was in Cairo and expressed optimism that a breakthrough could be found. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faced mass protests at home against his continued tenure in office, seemed more wary of the arrangement and remains bent on carrying out a full offensive against the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians already displaced in the territory have taken shelter.

Top U.N. officials say famine has already gripped parts of Gaza. Beyond the desperately insufficient trickle of humanitarian aid into the territory, the war has also “severely hampered” Gaza’s “ability to produce food and clean water,” according to my colleagues . “Israeli airstrikes and bulldozers have razed farms and orchards. Crops abandoned by farmers seeking safety in southern Gaza have withered, and cattle have been left to die.”

The fear surrounding Rafah and the uncertainty over a potential cease-fire sit against the looming reality of how difficult it will be for Gaza to recover. More than 70 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed. A report by the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) found that the war has reversed 40 years of development and improvement in social indicators such as life expectancy, health and educational attainment in Gaza.

The agency estimated that reconstruction, at this point, would cost some $40 billion to $50 billion. And if it follows the pace observed after previous conflicts, UNDP estimates that it will take “approximately 80 years to restore all the fully destroyed housing units” in Gaza.

“My very big concern — in addition to the numbers — is the breaking down of communities and families in Gaza,” UNDP regional director Abdallah al-Dardari told The Washington Post . “If you know 60 people in your family have been killed — like our colleague Issam al-Mughrabi who was killed with 60 people in his family during one raid — you will go numb,” Dardari said. “The consequences of this war will stay with us far beyond the end of the war.”

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$900,000 Homes in Illinois, North Carolina and Arizona

A Frank Lloyd Wright house in Wilmette, an 1897 Italianate home in Wilmington and a renovated midcentury house in Scottsdale.

By Angela Serratore

• VHT for Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty

Wilmette, Ill. | $899,000

A 1916 frank lloyd wright house with three bedrooms, two full and one partial bathroom, on a 0.1-acre lot.

This house is one of Wright’s American System-Built Homes, his effort at affordable housing using precut pieces assembled inexpensively on site. It is a few blocks from a section of Leahy Park with a playground and a municipal golf course. The center of Wilmette and Gillson Beach, on Lake Michigan, are about a mile away.

Chicago is about half an hour away, by car or public transit.

Size: 1,458 square feet

Price per square foot: $617

Indoors: Paved steps lead from the street up to a covered porch. The front door opens into a sunny foyer wrapped in windows with their original unpainted woodwork, a feature that can be seen throughout the house.

To the right is a living room with a wood-burning fireplace flanked by windows. The dining room is also off the foyer. Both rooms have direct access to an updated kitchen with a center island, stainless steel appliances, more original woodwork and a skylight.

An L-shaped hallway extending from the kitchen links all three bedrooms. The primary suite has a bedroom big enough to hold a king-size bed and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and floating vanity. The other two bedrooms have the use of a full bathroom with a combined tub and shower.

Another bathroom with a stall shower and a sink is in the finished basement, along with a recreation room, a space used by the sellers as a home office and a laundry room with a side-by-side washer and dryer. An extra stainless steel refrigerator is also in the basement.

Outdoor space: The property includes a patio that currently holds a large dining table, a grill and a heat lamp. The yard is landscaped with mature trees and enclosed by a wood fence. The detached garage holds one car.

Taxes: $14,605 (estimated)

Contact: Julie Fleetwood and Julia Seitchik, Sotheby's International Realty, 847-902-2539; sothebysrealty.com

• Jeff Lesley

Wilmington, N.C. | $899,900

An 1879 house with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot.

This Italianate house, known as the Glameyer Home, retains many of its original details, including fireplaces and doors, and has been updated with a new water heater and HVAC system. It is in the city’s historic district, about half a mile from Wilmington Riverwalk, and a five-minute walk from Thalian Hall, a performing arts center, several breweries and coffee shops, and a retro videogame arcade.

Driving to beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, including Wrightsville Beach and Shell Island at its northern end, takes about half an hour. Myrtle Beach, S.C., is 90 minutes away. Raleigh is a two-hour drive. Charleston is about three and a half hours away.

Size: 3,124 square feet

Price per square foot: $288

Indoors: A wrought-iron gate separates the front yard from the street, and a brick path steps up to the front porch, where the double front doors are topped by a stained-glass transom window.

They open into a foyer with hardwood floors and a staircase to the second floor. The hardwood floors continue to the right, through folding doors, into a living room with high ceilings and a fireplace with an ornate mantel.

This space connects to a den with another fireplace, this one with a wood mantel and green-tile surround. From the den, folding doors open to a dining room with yet another fireplace and a chandelier hanging from a plaster ceiling medallion.

The kitchen, at the back of this level, has white cabinetry, a gray-tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and room for a breakfast table. A powder room, a mudroom and a two-person elevator to the second floor are off the kitchen.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor, off a central hallway lighted by a chandelier. The primary suite, at the back of the house, has a separate sitting room, a bathroom with a walk-in shower and a balcony overlooking the backyard. The bedroom across the hall also has an en suite bathroom. The third bedroom, at the front of the house, has the use of a bathroom off the hall with a claw-foot tub and a separate shower.

Outdoor space: Behind the house is a covered deck with enough space for a cafe table and chairs. The backyard is landscaped with grass and colorful flowers, including roses. At one end is a stone patio with a fire table shaded by a mature tree. There is room to park four cars in the driveway.

Taxes: $4,140 (estimated)

Contact: Jeff Lesley, Century 21 Vanguard, 910-769-1465; century21.com

• Picture My Listing

Scottsdale, Ariz. | $899,000

A renovated 1961 ranch house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot.

This house is a few blocks from East McDowell Road, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, and about five minutes from a Fry’s grocery store, a Walgreens and Eldorado Park, which has an aquatic center, a gym and sports fields. Hohokam Elementary School is about half a mile away; public middle and high schools are within a 10-minute drive.

Driving to Old Town Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the main campus of Arizona State University or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport also takes about 10 minutes. Downtown Phoenix is about 20 minutes away.

Size: 2,020 square feet

Price per square foot: $445

Indoors: This house sits behind a lawn and a garden planted with succulents, and a path leads from the driveway to the front porch.

The front door opens directly into a living room with wide-plank floors, a ceiling fan and a large, street-facing window. Through a wide doorway is an open kitchen and dining area. The kitchen has muted green cabinetry, a waterfall-style center island and stainless steel appliances. A laundry room with a stacked washer and dryer and ample storage space is off the kitchen.

At the back of the house is a den used as a game room, with a door to the pool area. One bedroom is off this space, behind a barn-style sliding door, as is a full bathroom.

Three more bedrooms are off a hallway extending from the kitchen. The primary suite, at the far end, has a bathroom with an oversized walk-in shower that has a glass door and a built-in bench seat. A guest bedroom next door and another across from it share a full bathroom off the hall.

Outdoor space: The in-ground swimming pool behind the house is framed by a concrete deck with room for lounge chairs. On the other side of the pool is a lawn with a canopy-covered patio in one corner. The attached garage holds one car; there is room to park another in the driveway.

Taxes: $3,684 (estimated)

Contact: Lynsie Olsen and Tanner Riordan, The Agency, 303-522-2804 or 623-313-4987; theagencyre.com

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