Help finding a town/area to move to in Chicagoland

jimmyjames77 · #1 07-11-2010, 09:41 PM

Hey guys. I'm trying to find a nice area to buy a house in the Chicagoland area, not too far from the city. I'd like a nice town, maybe up and coming, that I can get a good amount of house without spending a lot just because I'm in an "expensive town". I'd like a "neighborhoody" feel to the area with nice people.
Any areas anyone can think of are welcome.

CamMcIntyre · #2 07-11-2010, 09:45 PM

Check the North West Side. I'm thinking of Park Ridge, or even the western edges of Rogers Park.

I live in an apartment in Rogers Park. Up & coming is a nice way to look at it.

jimmyjames77 · #3 07-11-2010, 09:51 PM

sounds like a great area. I'd prefer closer to the SW side of Chicago but I am open to all suggestions! Thanks.

jive1 · #4 07-11-2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

sounds like a great area. I'd prefer closer to the SW side of Chicago but I am open to all suggestions! Thanks.

I recommend my old neighborhood, Garfield Ridge (between Central and Harlem, 63rd and 51st). It's not trendy, but a relatively safe neighborhood nowadays. Houses are affordable, and public transportation is readily accessible. There's an express bus that takes you downtown if you work there.

I'm very fond of the neighborhood.

Barkless Dog · #5 07-12-2010, 05:41 AM

Cook county - higher taxes
Dupage county - lower taxes

Park Ridge is very expense-

If you have kids then check out school districts. If you live in Chicago its a school nightmare to get into "good" public schools, paying as much as collage tuitions, having your preschooler to go on interviews to get in etc. Good schools are very selective & $$$$$

For Southwest Suburbs Orland Park is growing but is typical suburbia.

jimmyjames77 · #6 07-12-2010, 08:30 AM

Good info!

jive1 · #7 07-12-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

If you have kids then check out school districts. If you live in Chicago its a school nightmare to get into "good" public schools, paying as much as collage tuitions, having your preschooler to go on interviews to get in etc. Good schools are very selective & $$$$$

For Southwest Suburbs Orland Park is growing but is typical suburbia.

True, most Chicago Public Schools aren't places I'd want my kids to enroll in, and I'm a product of it.

I remember when Orland Park was the outer edge of the metro area, and Tinley Park was out in the boonies. But, yes, they are typical suburbia. Too far away from the city for me.

If I had the money, I would want to live in LaGrange Or Oak Park.

jimmyjames77 · #8 07-12-2010, 02:21 PM

So lagrange and oak park are pretty pricey? Taxes are bad?

Yerf Dog · #9 07-12-2010, 02:29 PM

What price range are you thinking of?

jive1 · #10 07-12-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

So lagrange and oak park are pretty pricey? Taxes are bad?

They aren't pricey compared to the cost of real estate near Wash DC, but compared to Chicago it is.

The thing I like about those areas are they are near enough to Chicago, while having public transportation available. You can take an train downtown, and get there pretty quickly.

I like Oak Park, it's pretty hip and diverse, although it has some rough spots. LaGrange is cool because the old town area has nice houses and the amenities are in walking distance.

jimmyjames77 · #11 07-12-2010, 05:04 PM

350000ish + -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

What price range are you thinking of?

CamMcIntyre · #12 07-15-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

They aren't pricey compared to the cost of real estate near Wash DC, but compared to Chicago it is.

The thing I like about those areas are they are near enough to Chicago, while having public transportation available. You can take an train downtown, and get there pretty quickly.

I like Oak Park, it's pretty hip and diverse, although it has some rough spots. LaGrange is cool because the old town area has nice houses and the amenities are in walking distance.

I like Oak Park as well. I work at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio.

jimmyjames77 · #13 02-01-2011, 03:47 PM

Bump.
How is the Maywood area? I have no idea if it's good, bad, or rough. I found some flipped homes in that area that seem nice. And my price range has gone down to $175000 and less.

LuvMusic · #14 02-01-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

Bump.
How is the Maywood area? I have no idea if it's good, bad, or rough. I found some flipped homes in that area that seem nice. And my price range has gone down to $175000 and less.

Maywood = High Crime, bad schools all things not desirable.

jimmyjames77 · #15 02-01-2011, 04:30 PM

That's what I was figuring... So where should I be focusing for good schools and safe that aren't TOO pricey?

LuvMusic · #16 02-01-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames77

That's what I was figuring... So where should I be focusing for good schools and safe that aren't TOO pricey?

You might want to try North Riverside, Forest Park, Riverside and Lyons. These areas seem to be fairly stable. Not sure what school districts they are in. If they are in the Proviso School District, I'd stay away.

Generally speaking, at $175,000 you aren't going to get a single-family home within 40 miles of the city that's located in a good 'hood (unless that is your down payment). You might be able to find a condo or townhouse (maybe two bedrooms) in that price range and in a decent neighborhood.

I wouldn't know how to find them, but, maybe find some sort of repo listing? You might find something that a bank wants to dump?

LuvMusic · #17 02-01-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

I like Oak Park as well. I work at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio.

HEH!! I live across the street from FLW's home and studio. In fact the wife is a docent!

ms1369 · #18 02-01-2011, 06:27 PM

The $175,000 might be tough in most suburbs, but foreclosures are all over the place. Crestwood used to have low low taxes thanks to the OTB. If you go about 45 min. to an hour south of the city you could easily find more in that price range.

jimmyjames77 · #19 07-04-2011, 10:49 PM

Alright I need to bump this again. I just got married july 2nd so we are, in the next couple months, going to start looking for a home and I stumbled, again, across Bolingbrook IL. and it seems to be able to give you a LOT of house for the money. My question, is there some sort of bad section of Bolingbrook that keeps the prices down? ANY down side to it?
ANY info is welcome.
JimmyJ.

**HeavyDuty** · #20 07-05-2011, 06:48 AM

Parts of Bolingbrook are a little rough around the edges - not Newark, NJ or anything, but the Friday nights will be a little lively. Other parts are gorgeous. It's very much like my town - Aurora - which has really rough parts and really nice parts.

What's your current budget?