Nancy Milton REALTOR/GRI GoshenRealtyGroup.com

It can take weeks or even months to find out the closing price of a home in your neighborhood by scouring the traditional media for sporadically published real estate sales items.

We humans are naturally curious, especially when closed comps will have an effect on the price we can set for our own property. So, from time to time, I'll cut out the waiting process for you and let you know what a few homes have sold for in the Edwardsville, Illinois market.

In the meantime, if you have a question about a specific home sale, just send me an e-mail at Nancy@JustDuckyHomes.com and I'll get the details for you.

SELECTED SEPTEMBER 2009 CLOSINGS IN EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS

1923 Applegate, $169,000

1398 Britany Ct., $229,000

501 N. Buchanan, $182,500

74 Christmas Tree Pt., $230,000

1508 Coles Ct., $205,000

5330 Fox Circle Dr., $400,000

1604 Lincoln Knolls, $345,000

925 Troy Rd., $108,500

7007 Missionary Ridge Ct., $253,000

I toured two very nice bank-owned houses in Troy, Illinois today. Both are new construction and new to the market. All that is missing is your offer.

The first (pictured right) is listed for $239,000. It offers four bedrooms, three baths and 2,540 square feet of living space. The interior painted in neutral colors.

Its kitchen is loaded with an abundance of attractive cherry cabinets and a planning desk. A fireplace warms the great room and there is a formal dining room for entertaining.

Gleaming hardwood floors have been installed throughout much of the main level, along with soft carpets in the living room and bedrooms and tile in the master bath. That's where you'll find a corner soaking tub, separate shower and his & hers closets.

The full basement is ready to be finished. A three-car garage, zoned heating and cooling and a backyard patio complete the picture.

The second bank-owned property (pictured left) is located in the same Troy, IL subdivision. It's priced at $209,900.

The three-bedroom, three-bath home is a story-and-a-half style with 1,800 square feet of living space.

A see-through gas fireplace separates the family room from the breakfast area and huge two-story windows overlook the back yard.

Hardwood floors grace the dining room, breakfast area and entrance foyer and tile offsets the cherry cabinets in the kitchen. The family room and bedrooms are carpeted.

Buying an REO or bank-owned home can be an exercise in patience, but it often pays off in a good deal on a very nice place to call home.

If you're interested in learning more about these two homes, contact me at Nancy@JustDuckyHomes.com. We can talk about the process of buying a bank-owned home (it's a bit different than making an offer on a privately owned property) and we can set appointments to take an in-person look at both of these listings.

Sometimes it pays to park a big, yellow Hummer outside your place of business. That's what stopped us in our tracks tonight as we cruised along Illinois Route 140 in Bethalto, Illinois in search of dinner.

The behemoth billboard beckoned us into a place called Country Barbecue situated in a small strip of shops. Always willing to give a new barbecue joint a try, the Goshen Gourmet was smacked with a succulent smoke smell the minute the door to the diminuitive diner was opened.

When you visit, just grab a menu and order at the counter outside the kitchen in the back of the restaurant. Some of the top offerings are detailed on a white dry erase board on the wall. While we pondered what to try first, a steady stream of carryout orders was being pickup up. Country Barbecue has only been open since March, but it seems to have collected a loyal following from Bethalto and surrounding communities.

My dining companion settled on the Holy Grail of barbecue in the St. Louis area -- the Pork Steak. I wavered and, in a rare indecisive moment, ordered the Sampler Plate which allows the customer to pick three meats and two sides.

We waited a short time for the order to arrive at the table, spending time enjoying the vintage Mountain Dew signs (what else would one drink with Country Barbecue after all?) on the walls. A Razorbacks flag that we'll just have to forgive also adorned part of the wall space.

The owner brought a monster-sized Pork Steak to the table for my guest, side by side with Potato Salad, Baked Beans and Garlic Toast. My plate was piled high with Beef Brisket, Chicken and Burnt Ends. The Pork Steak came naked (no barbecue sauce). Sauce can be found in tall squeeze bottles on each table. The house sauce is a St. Louis-style sweet and smokey base dressed up with hints of black pepper and possibly a dash of cayenne. Because of its thickness, the Pork Steak takes on the quality of roast pork, extremely tender.

A special note about the potato salad. My companion pronounced it "delicious." It had a creamy dressing with perfectly cooked chunks of potato that never approached the mealy texture that sometimes ruins a great side dish. I sprinkled a little red pepper on mine to make it a little more exciting.

I have to confess that half of my Sampler Plate is in the refrigerator now. It will make a fine lunch tomorrow. I chose Beef Brisket, Chicken and Burnt Ends for my three meats. (Burnt Ends are the tasty pieces of meat cut from the end of a smoked brisket.) The chicken was hickory smoked, chunked and very moist. It was mild enough for the pickiest spice-avoiding diner if you're enjoying a meal with less adventurous friends. The brisket was finely chopped and would have been perfect on a sandwich. It can be ordered that way on the menu and I'd suggest that. The Burnt Ends also were finely chopped and glazed with a seductively sweet sauce. (I prefer Burnt Ends left in larger pieces, which is a common practice in Kansas City-style Q, but don't let that stop you from trying these.)

We didn't have room to sample the Barbecued Spaghetti or the Baby Back Ribs this visit, but we are looking forward to diving in next time we pass by. Spicy Cole Slaw and Mild Jalapeno Cornbread were also left untried.

The most expensive item on the menu is a full rack of ribs for $19.99. On the opposite end of the price spectrum, a Burnt-end Sandwich is just $2.65.

Drinks include bottled soda (Pepsi products), Lipton sweet or unsweet tea and Aquafina water. A fountain soda machine would be a great addition to the offerings.

As a bonus for the sweet tooth, the owners will sell you an Ice Cream Sandwich for just 25 cents with any order.

Country Barbecue's hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday. Call 618-717-0600 to place a carryout order.

If you visit, tell them the Goshen Gourmet sent you.

"I didn't realize there was a neighborhood back there!"

That's the most common comment that I get when showing homes to prospective buyers in the Ginger Creek neighborhood of Glen Carbon, Illinois. The entrance to the popular subdivision is filled with professional office buildings that house medical offices and associations. Behind those offices, the residential part of Ginger Creek is tucked away in its own, quiet world.

You'll know you've reached Ginger Creek when you see the charming red mill and water wheel pictured to the right.

Located off of IL-157, Ginger Creek is close to everything. Less than a mile from the Edwardsville High School, it's also a close drive to I-270, I-255 and the highways and byways of Madison County. If you commute to work in the county or to the west side of the Mississippi in St. Louis City or County, Ginger Creek is a convenient place to call home. Downtown St. Louis is a 25 minute drive with no traffic hassles.

The Ginger Creek subdivision has set aside many acres of common land for the use of the neighborhood's residents. Neighbors routinely see deer, foxes, hawks, egrets, turkeys and other assorted wildlife taking advantage of the undeveloped acreage and mature woods too. Ginger Creek's lake is filled with fish that bite for the neighborhood's younger residents.

A swimming pool, clubhouse and tennis courts -- available to residents and their accompanied guests --provide plenty of recreational opportunities.

Currently there are three Ginger Creek residences on the market. A 2,800-square-foot new construction villa with four bedrooms listed for $318,000; a 1,900-square-foot, three-bedroom uniplex for $165,000; and a four-bedroom, single-family home for $199,900. Click here to see the available Ginger Creek properties.

The neighborhood's homes include executive residences that sell for more than a half million dollars to adorable townhouses that list in the low $100,000 range. Some are updated and move-in ready resale homes. Others are quality new construction. Some homes are waiting for a smart buyer with a handy streak who can add newer touches to increase its appeal. (Note: listing availability changes regularly. If you're reading this post after September 2009, just text or call me at 6118-791-8007 for a new list of Ginger Creek homes for sale or send an e-mail to Nancy@JustDuckyHomes.com.)

See something you like? Get in touch and we'll set an appointment for a personal showing of properties that match your needs.