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Old 10-17-2007, 11:55 AM
mdz
 
Location: Near West Burbs, IL
622 posts, read 2,619,096 times
Reputation: 199

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Quote:
I have to stick up for the other person about Oak Park here. I agree with you that Oak Park is filled with many very nice homes, however if I was to spend $800,000 on a home a "bad hood" better not be only a few streets away. Currently I live in Orland Park and for me to end up where there are thugs, drugs, and hookers I have to drive 30-45 minutes over to Harvey or out to Joliet. Now that is an area that I would consider good (Orland Park) Not where I can walk to the hood from my house (Oak Park) So, until Oak Park can pick up and move away from Maywood, Bellwood, Chicago, and Cicero, I won't be recommending "newbies" into an area that skirts and flirts with "da hood"
I guess that rules out buying a condo/house in lincoln park, lakeview, downtown chicago, hyde park as well, huh?

This is good healthy debate, but just realize there are reasons people live in areas that may be closer to urban blight. We want to be closer to the city, we want more arty type things (and perhaps even more arty type people), we want a diverse population, we want unique restaurants. I just don't want someone who's never seen Oak Park before read these posts and think you need to wear a flak jacket to get around. The actual suburb itself, and berwyn, and river forest, and forest park, and the Galewood area of chicago, and Elmwood Park, are all fine and overall very safe.

Bottom line, I agree it's not for everyone (just like Orland Park is not for everyone), and I'm glad you're happy where you live.
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Old 10-17-2007, 09:07 PM
 
19 posts, read 88,649 times
Reputation: 16
I stand corrected on the real estate market in Oak Park. Who knew that gorgeous expensive homes like that existed so close to the ghetto? I reviewed all the listings you posted and some were very nice indeed. Others reminded me of older homes that would sell here in Bloomington for about $150,000. Virtually everyone under 45 here has a house less than 20 years old. Look up the demographics and disposable income for zip code 61704. Older homes here are purchased by people who cannot afford new ones.
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Old 10-18-2007, 07:41 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,631,507 times
Reputation: 1811
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLOOMINGTONIAN View Post
I stand corrected on the real estate market in Oak Park. Who knew that gorgeous expensive homes like that existed so close to the ghetto? I reviewed all the listings you posted and some were very nice indeed. Others reminded me of older homes that would sell here in Bloomington for about $150,000. Virtually everyone under 45 here has a house less than 20 years old. Look up the demographics and disposable income for zip code 61704. Older homes here are purchased by people who cannot afford new ones.
Well, the opposite is true in this area. People like vintage homes, and many spend mucho dinero to restore them (10s, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars). It would be extremely rare to even see a teardown. Virtually everything you encounter will be between 80-100 +years old, and probably in remarkable condition. The city is essentially a living architecture museum. And yes, some homes are overpriced as you have mentioned, but you cant deny their character. Some other examples:


http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/...lls_DeCaro.JPG
http://bss.sfsu.edu/cherny/images/FL...rk,IL,1903.jpg
http://www.appraisercitywide.com/xsi...3%20Forest.JPG
http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/...ter_Beachy.JPG
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/z0302a170...eachy-1906.jpg
http://sutpaul.homestead.com/Cheney_SelectRS.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...oung_House.jpg
http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/_images/jf07/il-oak_park.jpg (broken link)
http://www.planetclaire.org/fllw/fll...a/wfextone.jpg
http://www.visitoakpark.com/Photos/HeurtleyWP9B0682.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ale_House4.jpg
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/...oHouse-001.jpg
http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/...yHouse-001.jpg

it goes on and on

Last edited by via chicago; 10-18-2007 at 08:13 AM..
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Old 11-03-2007, 11:06 AM
 
4 posts, read 8,479 times
Reputation: 10
Default Old Irving Park, Chicago neighborhood

We live in Old Irving Park in Chicago and love it- about 4 miles to downtown chicago with great transportation - blue line and metra. TONS of kids, great neighbors, starbucks, etc. We just love it.
Can get a 4 bedroom home for as low as $600K. Good luck.
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Old 11-03-2007, 10:01 PM
 
4,152 posts, read 7,934,805 times
Reputation: 2727
Try Wheaton, IL. You can get a really nice house there for what you say you will pay, very low crime and many amenities. The metra trains go through and its forty five minutes to the loop.
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Old 11-04-2007, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Chicago
110 posts, read 664,888 times
Reputation: 73
If you are liberal than you'll love Oak Park.I don't like the town one bit.IMO it is way overated.Its has the artsy,"intelectual",crowd.I prefer the south suburbs...large lots,open spaces,new shops,less crowded feel.

And Oak park charges you money if you ever want to move out???
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Old 11-04-2007, 01:05 PM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
5,525 posts, read 13,944,069 times
Reputation: 3908
Quote:
Originally Posted by chitowner View Post
And Oak park charges you money if you ever want to move out???
What's this about?
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Old 11-04-2007, 02:36 PM
 
Location: Chicago
110 posts, read 664,888 times
Reputation: 73
They charge a city tax if you move out .A person who bought one of our houses moved from Oak Park and had to pay $5000 to the city when they sold.
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Old 11-04-2007, 06:01 PM
 
Location: Oak Park, IL
5,525 posts, read 13,944,069 times
Reputation: 3908
Quote:
Originally Posted by chitowner View Post
They charge a city tax if you move out .A person who bought one of our houses moved from Oak Park and had to pay $5000 to the city when they sold.
Oh right, the real estate transfer tax. Its $8 tax for every $1000 of property value, paid by the seller. OP isn't the only town that charges a transfer tax, although it is one of the higher rates. Chicago charges $3.75 per $500 of property value, paid by the buyer.
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Old 11-06-2007, 08:37 AM
 
356 posts, read 542,035 times
Reputation: 27
try looking in Glen Ellyn
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