While the window views described here hold nothing in suspense to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” they do offer an idea of the wide variety of vistas available to home buyers in Chapel Hill.

Wildlife

“There is a greater variety of wildlife here at Camelot Village than anywhere else I’ve lived in Chapel Hill – and I’ve been here since 1966,” says Marshall Wade.

Wade has lived at Camelot Village twice: once 13 years ago and for the past year. He says he especially enjoys the great heron that sits on a rock out cropping at the edge of the pond. The bird, at four-and-a-half feet, has been dubbed the “king of the pond” by many residents, Wade said. The mature oaks, pines and Catawba trees at Camelot Village attract blue jays, cardinals, hummingbirds, hawks, and of course those pesky squirrels, deer and rabbits.

Although the one-bedroom Camelot Village condominiums are small — approximately 700 square feet — the rental prices are very reasonable — $525-$600 per month. When one of the 100 units becomes available for sale, that cost is also one of the lowest in the area for a place that is within walking distance of shopping, doctors, dentists, and adjacent to one of Chapel Hill’s Parks & Recreation facilities. The most recent unit sold closed at $62,000 this past week, according to Joel Duvall Properties, the property manager for Camelot Village. The 100 units have 80 different owners.

Cityscape

The 140 West Franklin condominiums are truly in the heart of Chapel Hill. The view featured in this article is approximately what will be seen from Unit 612, according to Kim Counts, the vice president of public relations for Burke Communications which handles the marketing of 140 West Franklin. Unit 612 will be a three bedroom/two-bath terrace home of 1,918 square feet and will list for $689,900, Count said. For more information, call 919-942-3381 or online at www.140westfranklin.com.

Long-time Chapel Hill real estate broker Mark Zimmerman is one of the first to purchase a condo at 140 West Franklin.   “140 West combines two very special — and unique — benefits to those who love Chapel Hill,” Zimmerman said. “Our front door is right on the center of Franklin Street, and the view out our window overlooks the whole town.”

Golf Course, Pool or Plaza

Gary Bowen and his wife, Donna, say they enjoy living at East 54 where their fourth-floor condominium has a wall of windows overlooking the 17thfairway of UNC’s Finley Golf Course and an adjacent cross-country running trail.

“When I first saw the view all I could say was, ‘Wow,’” Bowen said. “It’s the best front yard I’ve ever had. It’s always green, I never have to mow, and there’s always someone golfing or running on the trail. The condos are small, but there are other dividends to living here. It’s motivational to see all of this activity.”

The Bowens traded a large home in The Reserve in Chapel Hill for the no maintenance condo lifestyle at 54 East. Bowen says his golf course view gives a resort feel to the condo which is actually close to all of the shops along NC 54 East and less than five minutes from UNC’s Main campus. All the homes at East 54 have golf course, plaza, or pool views, according to East 54 Realty executive Gary Burns (919-969-1154 or www.east54.com). The East 54 photos in this article are of Unit 2612, which has two bedrooms, two baths, a laundry, kitchen and great room in its 1,199 heated square feet. It lists for $610,300.

Neighborhoods

Laura Nufire and her husband, Paul Meade, love everything Chapel Hill. Since their children have left the nest, the couple has moved from their 321 Wesley Drive home to a house off Whitfield road whose floorplan better suits their current avocations of artist and musician. “Aside from our neighbors, what I miss most about our Wesley Drive house is the great wall of windows in our great room,” Nufire said. “We loved watching the seasons change – the bright pink rhododendron in spring and snow falling in winter while a fire burned in the fireplace and deer parading through bamboo thickets beneath the oaks.”

Their 2,946-square-foot Wesley Drive house and adjacent cottage is now offered at $445,000 through Fonville Morisey’s Logan Carter (919-418-4694 or www.logancarter.com click on featured properties). Beatrice Shannon Preissler said that the tree-top view from her back deck is what attracted her to her home at 313 Forbush Mountain Drive near UNC’s North campus. The deck of this 1,332-square-foot home overlooks a stand of mimosa beneath towering tulip poplars. “I love sitting on my deck in the early morning or late evening or when there is a nip in the air and the sun warms me bones,” Preisslersaid in her Irish brogue. Now what all Chapel Hillians want to know during August’s heat: when will the “pure cold wind” of Austin Clarke’s Ireland grace our Piedmont vales?