House under 300K with a good school district (Chicago, Palatine: 2014, rent)

[sha3205]

Looking for opinions of the best suburb to buy a newer house under 300K with a great school district.
Any opinions??

Thanks

[ToriaT]

You might try Wheaton. There are some homes available at that price point. You won't get a newer home, meaning newly built unless you try to go further out and get a town house.

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/19.../home/18119029

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/65.../home/18125039

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/11.../home/18125248

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Wheaton/20.../home/16895293

[chet everett]

To expound on ToriaT's point I would caution the OP that if they have a hard ceiling of $300k they likely won't get any more living space even in much newer home than the Wheaton home on Briarcliffe linked to above. In fact, if they do focus on towns where there are many more new homes, such as Plainfield or West Dundee not only are the schools unlikely to be as desirable but one will also likely have significantly higher property taxes. Further, without knowing where the OP's work location is even a rather centrally located suburb like Wheaton might not be a good choice -- work locations in northern Lake Co IL would be a terrible commute from central DuPage...

In all seriousness, not just the OP but anyone considering relocation to the area should give top consideration to LOCATION and then focus on what sorts of homes they might afford in a area that has good schools and a reasonable commute to work. Such a strategy can work at nearly any price point, especially if one is willing to consider townhomes or homes that need a little updating. Focusing on "new construction" in the Chicago region is HUGE MISTAKE, especially with terrible financial problems that increasingly are falling on the less well funded "boom town" areas that still have not recovered from the housing meltdown of 2008...

[ToriaT]

Yes Chet is right. Most new construction in the Chicago area is frightfully expensive or ticky tacky town homes or the like in poorly located areas out in the boonies. Its better to get an older solid home in a mature, good suburb that has some updates to it rather than focus on new construction.

[holl1ngsworth]

I've seen a lot of <$300k listings as well in the southeast corner of Wheaton, including along Briarcliffe. The homes and townhomes are assigned to Glen Ellyn school district 89 and Glenbard South High School. Great school district, just as not desirable as Wheaton 200, so prices tend to be quite a bit lower than in other parts of Wheaton.

But chet is right. Pointless recommendation until more is know.

[robinegms]

Maybe Tinley Park in the D230 district area if you are open to the Southland. We had great options in the under 300K range and we have been very pleased with the middle and high school. A wonderful choice for us!

[4122]

It depends on how big of house you're looking for. However, St Charles, Geneva, Batavia, have highly regarded schools, but you can get a nice house for <300k. Tinley Park would also be a good option too. You will find some bang for your buck in the SW burbs w/o sacrificing school quality

[Daze55]

You haven't mentioned where you work so I assume you are open to all suburbs. With this assumption, NW Indiana would be your best bet, either Crown Point or St. John. Crown Point you could even get a brand new house for $300,000, or a house built in the early 2000s that would be a little nicer. Crown Point schools are just as good, if not better, than any other suburb for $300,000 throughout Chicagoland. In St. John, you could get a 10-20 year old home that's still really nice in your budget, and the schools again are very good. However, if you are working in either the north or west suburbs, then the commute would probably be too much to bare. But, if you work in the south suburbs or Chicago itself, NW Indiana would get you the best house with the best schools.

[BOBNCHI]

Where are you working? What kind of travel time for work can you handle? It will make a huge difference.

[LakeCountyBang]

Since you didn't give us much info,

In North Suburbs: Gurnee(watch the district though, and stay West of 94), Wadsworth, any towns in Milburn 24(East Antioch/Old Mill Creek, some of Lake Villa), maybe Vernon Hills if you get a good deal, however, for 300k, you generally would get a new house in the places I listed.

West Suburbs: Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles(if lucky), Plainfield.

NW Suburbs: Palatine(FREMD ONLY! I REPEAT, FREMD DISTRICT ONLY), Barrington(if lucky).

I'm not too familiar with the South Side, as I sell homes and rent out in the Lake County area.