Need your recommendation - NW suburbs (Chicago, Elgin: estate, property taxes, budget)

[vipi]

Hi,

I am working in Waukegan and my wife works in Schaumburg. I do not want more than an hr commute and my wife does not want more than 30 minutes in drive. We are planning to buy a single family house in immediate future. Our ideal areas like Schaumburg, Palatine, Buffalo grove and Arlington Heights are too expensive for type of home we are looking or the houses are just too old. Any recommendation for Algonquin, Cary, Dundee or any other area? We also do not want to stay too far from any metra station just in case I work in downtown in future. Our budget is $350K and we have one yr old so will definitely need excellent elementary schools.

Thanks,

Vipi

[GoCUBS1]

I know the NW burbs well. Of your choices, I would recommend Cary. By far the best schools in the area in your price range. You may also want to look at Fox River Grove.

Also look into Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows. Portions of these towns feed into some of the better performing school districts (e.g. Barrington, Fremd, Hersey H.S.) and may still be in your price range. Just make sure you thoroughly research the schools before you make your decision.

[middle-aged mom]

This is a tough one.

I am hearing that you prefer new (er) SF construction for about $350K in a good school area with pre-determined maximum commute times and perferable a Metra station, near bye.

Algonquin, in the Jacobs schools district, has plenty of younger homes in your price range. Property taxes could easily add another $500 +/- to your monthly nut. Algonquin could easily and substantially exceed both of your maximum commute times, during the extended rush hours. There is no train in Algonquin so you would have to drive to either Elgin or Cary for the long ride to Chicago.

I don't know what asumptions you have made about property taxes in terms of what you can afford on a monthly basis. If you buy in Cook County, you will be able to afford more home because taxes are so much less than in the outlying counties. Having said this, you are also likey to find an older home stock in Cook County.

Given you think it could be possible that you will eventually work in Chicago, I would ignore the whole Waukegan commute deal and focus on the long term.
You want something within 30 minutes of Schaumburg and close to a Metra station.

Only you can decide your priorities, age /style of home vs. taxes vs. commute vs. schools. Like poster GOCUBS, I think Cary comes closest to what you are looking for.

[Pebbs78]

Have you tried to research Vernon Hills? It's a nice area that you can purchase a home for under $350k. Plus, it's somewhat in the middle of the two areas (about 19 miles apart each way). I think there is a metra station not too far, too.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Pebbs78

Have you tried to research Vernon Hills? It's a nice area that you can purchase a home for under $350k. Plus, it's somewhat in the middle of the two areas (about 19 miles apart each way). I think there is a metra station not too far, too.

This is a good option. I do think the commute to Schaumburg, during rush hour could push an hour. 53 often comes to a standstill.

There is a lot of new (er) housing stock in this town. Property taxes can be a killer here, like in so many areas.

[cdc3217]

What about Crystal LAke?