Where do tree hugging, vegetarian liberals belong in north Chicago? (Skokie: buying, construction)

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Nysee53

people think that HP is wealthier than Wilmette, ...

Estimated median household income in 2005: $113,800 (it was $106,773 in 2000)

Wilmette $113,800Illinois: $50,260

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $677,100 (it was $441,600 in 2000)

Wilmette $677,100Illinois: $183,900

Estimated median household income in 2005: $103,600 (it was $100,967 in 2000)

Highland Park $103,600Illinois: $50,260

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $520,900 (it was $380,000 in 2000)

Highland Park $520,900Illinois: $183,900

[Lookout Kid]

Wow. How the heck can someone making the median household income in Wilmette ($113,800) afford the median home ($677,100)?!? Me thinks these home prices ain't sustainable, buddy! There aren't enough high-income buyers out there to keep those prices afloat, considering the fact that North Shore prices and prestige are now found in many other parts of the metro area. They will just be able to sell the homes to each other, since they've all pocketed $230K in paper equity since 2000.

[cohdane]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

There aren't enough high-income buyers out there to keep those prices afloat

Agreed. Seller wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten.

[chet everett]

Classic "property ladder" is what supports the prices, things are different due to the age /income distribution and the relatively small number of first time home owners. There are not the great swathes of tract builders taking on comers. I like the demographics of these towns A LOT and have no reason to believe that prices and household incomes have not GONE UP from those 2005 levels. In fact I had to do some work related stuff that had to do with the AVERGAGE mortgage size and you would be amazed at how few Jumbo's there are in places like Winnetka...

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Classic "property ladder" is what supports the prices, things are different due to the age /income distribution and the relatively small number of first time home owners. There are not the great swathes of tract builders taking on comers. I like the demographics of these towns A LOT and have no reason to believe that prices and household incomes have not GONE UP from those 2005 levels. In fact I had to do some work related stuff that had to do with the AVERGAGE mortgage size and you would be amazed at how few Jumbo's there are in places like Winnetka...

Like I said, they aren't going to have anyone to sell those houses to but each other. What happens in 20 years when many of the Baby Boomers have died off? Are the cash-strapped boomer kids going to step in to buy these high-priced homes in spite of their record-high student loan debt? My household income is higher than the median in Winnetka, yet I couldn't even dream of buying one of those places at $677,000. I suspect that North Shore home prices are going to rise at a lower rate than income levels for a number of years (and sadly, incomes aren't rising much right now).

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Jay,

i was thinking that your girls were older. Yikes! Doing this alone would be hard, but with two babies!!!! You're really a trooper!

I'm only alone during the day when DH is at work. But thank you, it isn't easy. I was trying to drive around Sunset Park today and my 3 year old was begging to go to the park there (it is so beautiful). I had to take her, she has spent so much time in the car/hotel lately. So 3 hours later, I was back in the car ready to cruise Sunset Park when the thunderstorm rolled in with the hail. How I missed summer thunderstorms in the Midwest! I was so happy just sitting there in the car stuck in traffic watching the storm. It really is one of the things I missed most...

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Like I said, they aren't going to have anyone to sell those houses to but each other. What happens in 20 years when many of the Baby Boomers have died off? Are the cash-strapped boomer kids going to step in to buy these high-priced homes in spite of their record-high student loan debt? My household income is higher than the median in Winnetka, yet I couldn't even dream of buying one of those places at $677,000. I suspect that North Shore home prices are going to rise at a lower rate than income levels for a number of years (and sadly, incomes aren't rising much right now).

In 1972 my uncle refused to buy a house on the village green in Winnetka for $100,000, because "Prices have nowhere left to go up. Who can afford to pay more than $100,000 for a house." Sadly his house in Deerfield did not appreciate at the same rate as the house in Winnetka. To this day, my aunt is mad that he wouldn't listen to her.

The household income is skewed becasue of the high number of retirees in the NS.

[Calidreemer]

Hey Jay did you see any good houses today or was today a day off from house hunting? You know we need to have the next installment of "Days of Your Lives"

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I did not realize the OP's two kids were so young. Thinking back to when my kids were that age I don't think renting would have worked for me either. I guess that sort of help explains why having some neighbors to count on is therefore such a big deal -- and, given her price range an even trickier deal. In my experience the "transfer crowd" is not as dialed into having a "doula attended birth experience/vegan only diet/crystals to align your yonni" as the OP seems to be. Corporate warriors even if this more enlightened era tend to be 'big red meat eaters' that take the 'little woman' to the sales meeting in Antigua and leave the nanny in charge of shoving Similac into the babies... The OP and her family are going to be an outlier. Take one example -- despite the that fact that the LaLeche League started in Franklin Park IL the suburban Chicago region has pretty crappy percentages of families that give their kids nature's perfect food for infants. It is going to take some effort to find like minded families.

Thank you!!! Yes, we are going to be different that your average north shore resident I suppose. I had a home birth with my 2nd daughter, I breastfed my firstborn until she was 3 and plan to do the same with my 2nd daughter. I nursed my 15 month old in the park today and got some strange looks which was disappointing. We attachment parent (baby wearing, extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping are some of the principals)and in 3 1/2 years have only left our firstborn with a close friend for an emergency doctor visit and when her sister was born since she was uncomfortable with the pain I was in. We do things a little differently. That is exactly why it is so important for us to have some supportive people around us. People don't usually peg us as being the hippie tree huggers we are since we don't look like you typical hippies! Calidreemer can attest to that, she has seen a picture of us.

[Calidreemer]

I'll testify - they look more like the Lincoln Park crowd.