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Neighborhood guide · Mahomet
Lakes at Riverbend in Mahomet: Trails to the Forest Preserve and Home Prices
Walk out your front door, and a few minutes later you're on a trail by the biggest lake in the county.
Molly A. Jones, REALTOR®Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker · Updated October 2026The short answer
Lakes at Riverbend is an established Mahomet neighborhood, built from about 1999 to 2007, with walking paths that lead right to River Bend Forest Preserve, with its lakes, trails and Sangamon River woods. There's no new construction here. Over the last two years, eight homes sold from $408,000 to $563,000, with a median of about $498,000, and well-priced homes often went under contract within days.
My absolute favorite thing about Lakes at Riverbend is the walking paths. You can leave your house, walk the neighborhood paths, and end up at River Bend Forest Preserve without getting in the car. Morning walk, dog walk, sunset by the water: it's built into everyday life here, and that's hard to find anywhere else in town.
River Bend Forest Preserve, next door
River Bend is run by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, and it's a big part of why people choose this neighborhood:
- About 391 acres, with roughly 130 acres of water in two lakes, including the largest lake in Champaign County.
- About 2.5 miles of forest along the Sangamon River. Part of that river corridor is registered as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve for its floodplain forest and wetlands.
- Trails: a nature trail and a multi-use trail.
- Fishing: including Possibility Pier, a fishing dock designed for universal accessibility. Boats are limited to paddles, oars and electric trolling motors, so the lakes stay quiet.
- The 9-11 Memorial Woodland.
- It's growing. In 2024 the state awarded the district a grant of up to $1.125 million to expand River Bend, with more trails and a kayak launch planned.
Fun fact: the preserve used to be a sand and gravel mine. Those lakes are what's left, restored into one of the prettiest spots in the county.
Living in Lakes at Riverbend
- Walking paths through the neighborhood and out to the forest preserve.
- Established homes, mostly two-stories built from 1999 to 2007, many with finished lower levels.
- No new construction. The neighborhood is built out, so what you see is what it will stay.
- Lots mostly between a quarter and a half acre, with several on quiet cul-de-sacs. Some back right up to the preserve.
- Schools: Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3.
What homes sold for in the last two years
Eight homes closed in Lakes at Riverbend from April 2024 through April 2026:
- Price range: $408,000 to $563,000
- Median sale price: about $498,000
- Time on market: half went under contract in less than two weeks
- Sale vs. list price: the median home sold for close to its original list price, and four sold above it
The two homes that sat longest both started high and had to come down in price. Priced right from day one, homes here move fast.
Quality vs. quantity in Lakes at Riverbend
Two homes on the same street sold three months apart. One had about 750 more finished square feet, and it sold for only $15,000 more. Condition, updates, the lot and what's behind the house all count for more than the square footage. That's why I price every home here off the closest true comparisons, not an online estimate. (More in What Is My Mahomet Home Worth?)
Sales figures are based on eight single-family sales in Lakes at Riverbend that closed from April 2024 through April 2026, from the MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Forest preserve details are from the Champaign County Forest Preserve District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Common questions
How much do homes cost in Lakes at Riverbend?
Over the last two years, eight homes closed in Lakes at Riverbend, from $408,000 to $563,000, with a median of about $498,000.
Is Lakes at Riverbend next to the forest preserve?
Yes. Walking paths lead from the neighborhood to River Bend Forest Preserve, and some homes back right up to it.
What is at River Bend Forest Preserve?
River Bend is a Champaign County Forest Preserve District site of about 391 acres, with roughly 130 acres of water in two lakes, including the largest lake in the county, plus about 2.5 miles of forest along the Sangamon River. It has a nature trail, a multi-use trail, accessible fishing at Possibility Pier, and the 9-11 Memorial Woodland.
Is there new construction in Lakes at Riverbend?
No. The neighborhood is built out. Homes in recent sales were built from 1999 to 2007.
How fast do homes sell in Lakes at Riverbend?
Quickly when they're priced right. Half of recent sales went under contract in under two weeks, and the median home sold for close to its original list price.
Does Lakes at Riverbend have an HOA?
Yes. Recent listings reported annual dues of about $150 to $165. Confirm the current amount before you buy.
What school district is Lakes at Riverbend in?
Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District 3.
Thinking about Lakes at Riverbend?
Whether you want to live a short walk from the forest preserve or you're wondering what your Riverbend home would sell for, I'll show you the sales that actually compare.
Or call or text 217-493-6200.
