Lake in the Hills · McHenry County · IL
Homes for sale in
Big Sky.
- Active listings
- 0
- Median list
- $485K
- Avg time on market
- 3 days
- Sold · last year
- 11
Active listings
0 homes on the market
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About the community
A proven 1990s family neighborhood south of Miller Road.
Big Sky is an established single-family neighborhood on the south side of Lake in the Hills, in McHenry County. Homes were built roughly from 1992 to 2001, with the core section by Town and Country Homes and a later, generally larger-home section, Star Summit at Big Sky, by Otis Associates. In practice the two names describe one contiguous 1990s subdivision of curving streets, sidewalks, attached two- and three-car garages, and landscaping that has matured over three decades. It sits just west of the Randall Road corridor that defines the Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, and Crystal Lake triangle.
At a glance
1990s single-family homes
Two- and three-story detached homes, most with 3 to 5 bedrooms, built from about 1992 to 2001.
Room to grow
Floor plans run from roughly 1,450 square feet in the core section up past 4,000 square feet in the larger Star Summit homes.
Two builders, one fabric
Town and Country Homes built the core Big Sky phase; Otis Associates built the Star Summit at Big Sky section with generally larger plans.
Randall Road minutes away
The Randall Road retail spine, with grocery, dining, and big-box shopping, is a short drive east.
Village lakes and beaches
Lake in the Hills operates Woods Creek Lake with two seasonal swimming beaches, plus parks, trails, and the Fen Conservation Area.
District 300, with a boundary caveat
Primarily Community Unit School District 300, with part of the area possibly in Crystal Lake District 47 and District 155. Confirm by address.
Hospital close by
Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital is a short drive west.
I-90 access
Randall Road connects south to I-90 at Elgin for Chicago-bound commuters.
What’s close
Big Sky sits just west of Randall Road on the south side of Lake in the Hills, close to everyday retail and to the highway and rail options that serve this corner of McHenry County.
- Amenities nearby
- Village parks and trails, Woods Creek Lake with seasonal beaches, and the Lake in the Hills Fen Conservation Area.
- Shopping
- The Randall Road corridor for grocery, dining, and big-box retail, a short drive east.
- Hospital
- Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital to the west, with Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin as another regional option.
- Highway
- Randall Road south to I-90 at Elgin, with Routes 31, 62, and 47 as the other main arterials.
- Schools
- Primarily Community Unit School District 300 (Algonquin), with a portion of the area possibly in Crystal Lake District 47 and District 155. Confirm by address.
- Train
- The nearest Metra is the Union Pacific Northwest line in Crystal Lake, at the Pingree Road or downtown Crystal Lake stations.
What it’s actually like to live here
Big Sky is the kind of neighborhood people move to for space, schools, and a settled suburban rhythm. The homes are 1990s-built and generously sized, and three decades of growth mean mature trees and a lived-in feel rather than a raw new-construction look. The Star Summit at Big Sky section, on the larger-home end, appeals to move-up buyers who want more square footage and a three-car garage while staying in the same sidewalk-lined fabric. Day to day, the draw is convenience: minutes from the Randall Road corridor and close to the village's lakes, beaches, and the Fen Conservation Area for weekends outdoors.
The honest tradeoffs are common to this market. Property taxes in McHenry County run high, and that is the single biggest ongoing cost to budget for, with the offset being the schools and public amenities those taxes fund. There is no train station in Lake in the Hills itself, so Chicago commuters drive to a Crystal Lake Metra stop or to I-90 at Elgin, which adds a leg to the trip. And because the area sits near a school-district boundary, families should confirm the exact assignment by address, since two homes a few streets apart can feed different schools.
For buyers who want a proven, family-oriented suburb with real square footage, strong parks and lakes, and quick access to everyday retail, Big Sky delivers a lot of house and location for the money. For buyers who prioritize a walk-to-train lifestyle or brand-new construction, other communities may fit better. For where prices sit right now, see the live Market snapshot on this page.
Market trends
Why this market moves the way it does
Big Sky trades as a mid-market Lake in the Hills family neighborhood with a wide size range, so square footage, section (core Big Sky versus the larger Star Summit homes), updates, and condition drive price more than any single headline figure.
What holds value
The fundamentals matter more than the cosmetics here. Buyers want floor plan, lot, and basement, in that order. Cosmetics are the tiebreaker.
- Home size and section
- The larger Star Summit homes generally sit above the core Big Sky homes, so square footage and section are the first thing the market prices.
- Updates and condition
- These are 1990s homes, so kitchens, baths, mechanicals, and roofs that have been updated hold value, while dated homes lag.
- The Randall Road location
- Quick access to the retail corridor and to I-90 at Elgin is a steady, repeatable draw for buyers.
- Schools by address
- Because the area sits near a district boundary, the specific school assignment can matter to buyer demand.
- Lot and garage
- Three-car garages and better lots carry a premium in this move-up segment.
Real talk
Who shouldn’t buy here
Here is the honest version before you tour.
McHenry County effective property-tax rates are high by national standards, so the tax bill is the biggest ongoing cost a buyer should plan for. Pull the actual tax history for the specific parcel, since the figure depends on assessed value, the taxing districts, and any exemptions.
The subdivision appears to straddle a school-district boundary, with much of the area in District 300 and part possibly in Crystal Lake District 47 and District 155. Do not assume a single school triad. Confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for the specific address with the districts before you buy.
There is no Metra station in Lake in the Hills, so a Chicago rail commute means driving first to a Crystal Lake station or to I-90. If a short walk to the train is a priority, factor that drive into your decision.
One piece of advice
“Big Sky is a lot of house for the money in a settled, amenity-rich part of Lake in the Hills, and the larger Star Summit homes give move-up buyers real room. Just budget honestly for McHenry County taxes, confirm the school assignment by address because the area sits near a district line, and plan for a drive to the train. Do that and it is a solid family buy.”
The questions buyers actually ask
Big Sky FAQ
The questions I get most from buyers shopping Big Sky. If yours isn't here, text 224-385-8779, same-day reply.
- What are property taxes like?
- Roughly $7,000 – $14,000 per year, depending on home size and value. McHenry County assessor records are the source of truth. Happy to pull a specific bill on any home you're considering.
- When was Big Sky built?
- Town and Country Homes, Otis Associates (Star Summit section) built the community between 1992 and 2001.
- What's the typical closing timeline?
- 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to keys. Cash deals can close in two weeks. Conventional financing is usually closer to 45.
- What is the difference between Big Sky and Star Summit at Big Sky?
- They are one contiguous 1990s subdivision on the south side of Lake in the Hills. Big Sky refers to the core neighborhood built largely by Town and Country Homes, and Star Summit at Big Sky is a sub-area built by Otis Associates that generally features the larger floor plans. Same streets-and-sidewalks character, with Star Summit skewing to bigger homes.
- When were the homes built and who built them?
- Roughly 1992 to 2001. The core Big Sky phase was built by Town and Country Homes, and the Star Summit at Big Sky section was built by Otis Associates in the mid-1990s.
- What schools serve Big Sky?
- Lake in the Hills is primarily served by Community Unit School District 300 (Algonquin), and much of Big Sky feeds District 300 schools. Part of the area may fall into Crystal Lake District 47 and District 155 instead. Because the subdivision sits near a district boundary, confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school for your specific address with the districts before you buy.
- Is there an HOA?
- A mandatory homeowners association and dues amount could not be confirmed from a primary source for Big Sky or Star Summit. Some 1990s Lake in the Hills subdivisions have no active HOA, while others carry a modest one. Ask the listing agent for the current HOA status, dues, and coverage, and verify in the seller disclosure and title work.
- How is the commute to Chicago?
- Most commuters drive to a Crystal Lake Metra station on the Union Pacific Northwest line (Pingree Road or downtown Crystal Lake) for the train to Ogilvie, or take Randall Road south to I-90 at Elgin. There is no Metra station inside Lake in the Hills, so plan for a short drive to the train or highway.
- What do homes cost and how is the market right now?
- Prices vary by size and section, with the larger Star Summit homes sitting above the core Big Sky homes. For current, accurate numbers, see the live Market snapshot on this page, which updates with active listings and recent sales.
- Who is the real estate agent for Big Sky?
- Joe Keegan is the local licensed Illinois real estate broker who covers Big Sky in Lake in the Hills, IL through Subdiview, a neighborhood-first home search for the Chicago suburbs and collar counties. Joe prices and negotiates from the live MRED sold comps for Big Sky specifically, not national averages, and can help you buy or sell here. Reach Joe at 224-385-8779 or joe@joekeeganhomes.com.
Your local agent
Joe knows Big Sky
Most agents will list anything. I focus on the places I actually know, and the things that move value here don't show up in the MLS write-up: which streets and buildings hold demand, what the HOA or assessments really cover, how the comps read once you account for condition and location, and where buyers consistently want to be.
When you're ready to tour or list, you want someone who has read the last 50 closed comps in this specific market, not a national average, and can tell you what they actually mean for your price. That's how I work. Text or call any time, and I'll give you a real take, not a brochure.
- Licensed Illinois broker
- Comp-driven pricing
- Lake in the Hills specialist
- Honest local market take
- Brokerocity
Market snapshot
Big Sky, by the numbers
Live MRED data, refreshed daily. The numbers below tell you what this market is doing today, not what Zillow's algorithm thinks it might be doing six weeks from now.
Typical list price
$485,000
Typical sale price · last 90 days
$402,500
Avg time on market
3 days
Sold in the last year
11
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC for the period August 2, 2025 through August 2, 2026. Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC does not guarantee nor is it in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
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