Lake Villa vs Grayslake vs Gurnee (Villa Park, Lake Forest: how much, new home, established neighborhood)

[FloridaFam]

We are moving here from Florida and are focusing on these three areas. We like the schools and the city of Grayslake from a community perspective. Very family orientated. We have a 3rd grader and a 5th grader so schools and community are important. But, the houses that are comprable to what we had in Florida are in the $450 range. Houses in Gurnee are a little less but I think the school system is a little too large and there isn't that "community feel". I LOVE the houses in Lake Villa but they are a little far out and don't seem to have the community that
Grayslake has. Prices in Lake Villa are much cheaper as are taxes. Bigger lots and a new High School that is not proven.

Resale down the line is important but so is how much we like the house as we plan on staying here at least 10 years... until kids graduate high school.

Anyone have any advice??? Husband works in Deerfield so commute is important - Grayslake and Gurnee are closer. There are not very many houses in Grayslake that fit our criteria....

help!!!

[LVMommy]

I understand your dilemma. The community of Round Lake Heights offers single family homes for around 300,000 with Lake Villa Schools. Good Luck

[bo1990]

Do not move to Grayslake unless you are and you like to flaunt your wealth. It is a town that is trying to act like Lake Forest but can't afford to.

[kmwheel]

It's actually a little bit easier to get on the Tri-State traffic-wise from Antioch, which is a very quaint town just north of Lake Villa. There is a thriving downtown shopping area with live community theater as well as an old-fashioned movie theater. The schools are good and the people are very friendly. There are many community events, and the park district has many child-oriented and family activities. The commute to Deerfield would be 45-1 hr.

I don't know your price range, just that you said 450k was too high. The one subdivision I could recommend in Antioch proper would be Tiffany Farms. I think that the houses in there are nicely built. There are some Neumann subdivisions east of town that would be closer to the tollway, but just to let you know, Neumann claimed bankruptcy, so I don't know the status of their developments. A little bit south of town, you'll find homes around the Heron Harbor subdivision and also around the golf course. Again, not knowing your price range, the single family homes around here range from 220-350k-ish for nicer older and newer homes. I live in a subdivision of really nice duplexes, established neighborhood, and a 3 bed 2.5 bath in here with finished basment and big yard runs in the 180's. It's an affordable area for a lot of people, but still has the access the people need (we are right between O'Hare airport and Mitchell airport in Milwaukee).

[DADHUMOR]

Florida family, as a resident of Lake county for over 40 years,I will give you my opinion of these possible candidates for your new home area.
GURNEE I lived there and raised 3 boys, in their school system. I found the schools about the same as Grayslake, a upper average system. not as much of a bedroom community as Lake Villa or Grayslake. Very commercial. most families are in your age range.
GRAYSLAKE. - This is where I currently live. The town is newly developed. Population has gone form 5,000 about 1990 to over 18,000 now.It has a money crunch in a upper average school system. Many new schools. Very friendly area new Aquatic center and skate board park. Prices about the same as Gurnee. Most families in your age range.
VILLA PARK - In my opinion not as nice as western Gurnee or Grayslake. Houses are less expensive. drive to Deerfield is longer. Lake Villa has always had trouble with school funding.
You might want to look at Antioch, It is up and coming, houses are cheaper the people are nice and it's more of a small twon atmosphere.
The driving time to Deerfield is going to be 1-1 1/2 hours from any of these locations at rush hour.
Good luck