Briarwood Lakes

Independent Assessment

A search of 55places.com's community profile for Briarwood Lakes states the community was completed in 1985 with 199 attached homes, and a separately located real-estate listing for a specific unit at '199 Briarwood Loop' in Oak Brook lends some independent corroboration that the community's street numbering runs at least into the range consistent with a roughly 199-unit development. However, no primary HOA source (an official community website or recorded plat) independently stating the exact current total unit count was found, so this figure should be treated as likely rather than fully confirmed pending direct HOA confirmation. On the age-restriction question, the community is consistently categorized as 'active adult 55+' across every directory reviewed, and its gated, 24-hour-security structure is corroborated across multiple independent sources.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers wanting a genuinely secluded, lake-adjacent, gated 55+ community with an all-inclusive-leaning HOA fee (covering common-area insurance, security, and cable/internet in addition to standard maintenance) will find Briarwood Lakes appealing, particularly those who value 24-hour guard security and a low-density, landscaped 92-acre setting over a large clubhouse-centered amenity campus.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Briarwood Lakes was built out over 1969 to 1985 on 92 acres, delivering homes in two styles: single-story ranch villas and traditional two-story townhomes, generally ranging from roughly 2,100 to 3,000 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. The community's original developer or builder could not be identified; no primary source naming a developer was found.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

Current closed-sale pricing at Briarwood Lakes was not independently confirmed. One secondary source cited a current listing near $1,095,000, though this reflects a single point-in-time listing rather than a representative range. Buyers should request current comparable sales from a local agent, since community-wide current resale pricing could not be confirmed from primary sources.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

Briarwood Lakes is fully built out and resale-only, with the earliest homes now more than five decades old. Buyers should budget for an inspection appropriate to a multi-decade-old building stock and should request the HOA's current financials, reserve study, and governing documents (including age-restriction language) before purchasing, given the range of construction vintages spanning 1969-1985.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes at Briarwood Lakes are subject to Oak Brook and DuPage County property tax administration; DuPage County is reported (per an unverified aggregator-sourced figure cited on this site's DuPage County area page) to carry some of the lowest effective property tax rates in the Chicago metro. A secondary source cites an average annual property tax figure of roughly $7,737 for the community, though a current effective rate for specific parcels was not independently confirmed. Buyers should confirm exact current figures with the DuPage County Assessor.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Briarwood Lakes' defining feature is its setting -- 92 acres of landscaped grounds built around scenic lakes, offering a quietly secluded, maintenance-free lifestyle within a 24-hour guard-gated perimeter. No evidence of a dedicated clubhouse, pool, or fitness facility comparable to newer Chicago-metro 55+ communities was found; the community's lifestyle appears centered on its private, low-density, lakeside setting rather than organized indoor programming.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Briarwood Lakes sits in Oak Brook, DuPage County, just west of Kingery Highway (IL Route 83) and north of 31st Street, reported to be roughly 20 miles west of downtown Chicago.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Briarwood Lakes is consistently categorized as an 'active adult 55+' community by every independent secondary directory reviewed. The exact current restriction language and age-verification procedure were not confirmed against DuPage County's recorded declaration of covenants for the community, which was not independently reviewed. Buyers should confirm current requirements directly with the HOA before purchasing.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Briarwood Lakes' reported HOA fees run roughly $625-$700+/month, and the community's precise, current total home count could not be confirmed beyond a likely-but-unconfirmed figure of 199. As a community built out between 1969 and 1985, buyers should also expect meaningful variation in home condition and mechanical-system age depending on original construction date and subsequent owner upkeep, and no evidence of an on-site clubhouse, pool, or dedicated fitness facility was found -- buyers seeking those amenities should verify current offerings directly with the HOA.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Within Oak Brook, Briarwood Lakes offers a more secluded, lake-adjacent, and higher-HOA-fee alternative to Forest Gate, Oak Brook's other 55+ community, which instead centers on newer, custom-built single-family homes. Buyers who prioritize a gated, all-inclusive-fee, resale townhouse setting will likely prefer Briarwood Lakes; buyers seeking new-era custom single-family construction may prefer Forest Gate.

Current Listings

A connected local agent can provide current resale listings and pricing at Briarwood Lakes.

How many homes are in Briarwood Lakes?

Reported as 199 attached homes by one directory, with partial corroboration from a separately located unit address. This figure could not be confirmed against a primary HOA source, so it should be treated as likely rather than fully confirmed.

Is Briarwood Lakes gated?

Yes, the community is described as offering 24-hour guard security.

What does the Briarwood Lakes HOA fee cover?

Reported to include common-area insurance, security, and cable/high-speed internet in addition to standard exterior maintenance, at a reported cost of roughly $625-$700+ per month depending on source. Buyers should confirm the current exact fee and coverage with the HOA.

Who built Briarwood Lakes?

Not publicly confirmed.