Looking for a nice affordable place to raise a family! (Chicago: condo, credit)

[homewifeev]

Hello Suburbanites,

My wife and I are in our early thirities and we would like to start a family and that requires us to move to the suburbs. We currently own a 2 bedroom West Loop condo. We have become used to being able to walk a few blocks and have everything you need. I love being able to walk to work and stuff like that. We had thought about moving to Lincoln Park and looking at private school but since my wife and I attended public schools in Winnetka and La Grange we thought that we should offer our children the same.
We are looking for a nice quiet town that we could preferably take the train to work and be there within 40 minutes. We both work at the Citi Center right at the Metra Station. We would like a town in either the northern or western suburbs that is walkable, has plenty of transportation, nice shopping, and great parks or beaches. One of my colleagues recommended Clarendon Hills becuase of its affordablity and Hinsdale Schools. My wifes parents live in Western Springs now and my parents live in Kenilworth. So possibly being close to one set might be nice. I have been to Naperville it seems very pretentious. Our budget for our starter home is up to about $800,000. We desire a community that we can grow in. We might want to by a larger home in the future and would like the security that we do not have to change districts because there is nothing larger in the neighborhood. I am experienced in dealing with competition having attended, The New Trier High School!

[danny4kj]

Im looking for something exactly similar, apart from im hoping to work as an accountant

[HOWELL_STREET]

What you are looking for is too expensive in the closer collar counties close to the City of Chicago. However, two very good choices would be either Elburn, IL or Cortland, IL. Elburn has become more expensive since the Union Pacific West Line METRA now runs between Elburn and downtown Chicago. It terminates at Chicago's Olgevie RR station.

So here is what you do. Drive from Cortland, IL to Elburn, IL (a distance of about 17 miles). Then park your car at the railroad station and commute from Elburn all the way into downtown Chicago.
I always promote a railroad town as your residency. And the reason 'why' is that it looks like it will be super expensive to buy gasoline in the future. So then you will be future - 'insured' against that with the convenience of the U.P railroad system.

Best Regards,

Carter Glass,
Wheaton, IL &
Cortland, IL

[cdc3217]

Have you looked into Elmhurst?

I've been researching "good school" suburbs for the future and a lot of people seem to like Elmhurst. Schools are well regarded, wide range of home prices (400K - over 1M) depending on your budget and a lot going on in town. Its got a relatively quick ride via Metra into the city, a downtown, and is supposed to be very walkable. Try a thread search for more specifics.

[ahava]

La Grange, Western Springs, Hinsdale, and Clarendon Hills all meet your criteria. Great schools, many parks, quiet neighborhoods, and walkable with downtown areas. $800k will put you in the middle of the housing market in these towns, so you'll have room to grow.

[sbd78]

Originally Posted by HOWELL_STREET

What you are looking for is too expensive in the closer collar counties close to the City of Chicago. However, two very good choices would be either Elburn, IL or Cortland, IL. Elburn has become more expensive since the Union Pacific West Line METRA now runs between Elburn and downtown Chicago. It terminates at Chicago's Olgevie RR station.

So here is what you do. Drive from Cortland, IL to Elburn, IL (a distance of about 17 miles). Then park your car at the railroad station and commute from Elburn all the way into downtown Chicago.
I always promote a railroad town as your residency. And the reason 'why' is that it looks like it will be super expensive to buy gasoline in the future. So then you will be future - 'insured' against that with the convenience of the U.P railroad system.


Best Regards,

Carter Glass,
Wheaton, IL &
Cortland, IL

I wouldn't recommend Cortland or Elburn since the O.P. said they would like a 40 minute or less commute to their downtown jobs. Corland and Elburn would be much farther than this. And since they O.P. said they have a budget of $800K, they pretty much have their pick of suburbs.

[homewifeev]

I looked at Cortland and Elburn. They both are way out of the city. I said I wanted a commute that was less than 40 minutes. It looked like a farm community. I am currently researching Clarendon Hills. Where exactly is the Clarendon Hills Metra?

[jak88]

How the hell do you people afford these homes? I just don't understand it, I no most people aren't rich by any means living in Chicago, yet they go way over the 3x recommended budget when buying a house. Do you just throw it onto your credit and not worry about it?

If you're making 200k a year, I could see being able to afford some of these homes. But when the average price of a home is 400k in some communities, I have to sit and puzzle myself to death on why it cost so much to live here. Ridiculous.

[ahava]

Originally Posted by citytosuburbia07

I am currently researching Clarendon Hills. Where exactly is the Clarendon Hills Metra?

It's on Prospect Ave in downtown Clarendon Hills. Here is a map: clarendon hills metra - Google Maps

[returningtoDE]

I would recommend Arlington Heights...you could walk to downtown (shops, restaurants, Metra) and still get a large home for $800k, and the 8am express train rolls into Citi center in 30 minutes flat. And great schools! Good luck!