Opinions on Lyons, Il area. (Chicago, Berwyn: real estate market, 2011, foreclosure)

[stiebs81]

Hi I'm looking to relocate to the Chicago area. My job would be in the Countyside / La Grange area, but I'm really looking at getting a house in Lyons. Looking to spend $150k - $200k. The lot has to be at least 40' wide with a 2 car garage. I'm a single male in my late 20's and I like the bar atmosphere and bicycling. Opinions on this city and other suburbs nearby would be greatly appreciated.

[prairiestate]

It's a good choice. Lyons is about the only decent town around there where you can get a house at that price, though even then it will be a stretch. You should plan on spending at least a little over 200K. There's plenty of bars to the east in Berwyn, and forest preserves surround Lyons, so biking opportunities will be good. It's a stable and pretty safe community. Schools aren't so good, but you probably don't need to worry about that. You'll have a quick commute, which is quite a blessing in Chicagoland. Village government has been pretty poor in the past, with a lot of infighting, and they've been very cheap when it comes to paving roads and making other improvements, though things seem to be getting better now.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Schools aren't so good, but you probably don't need to worry about that.

I don't know anything about K-8 in Lyons, but Lyons Township High School is pretty good school. Some might say very good.

[prairiestate]

Indeed, Lyons Twp. HS is excellent. The only catch is the Village of Lyons feeds into Morton West in Berwyn.

[pesco]

LT is a good school, but I believe kids from Lyons attend Riverside-Brookfield or Morton West.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Indeed, Lyons Twp. HS is excellent. The only catch is the Village of Lyons feeds into Morton West in Berwyn.

Oops, yeah. That would be a problem! That's counterintuitive. If there was a sheepish emoticon choice on the right I would put it here.

[chet everett]

In a "big picture" sense a excellent arguement could be made that with the depressed real estate market this is THE time to buy into the BEST area at prices FAR below peak. Lyons is unlikely to move in positive direction, while a single guy could easily buy a place that is "rough" (maybe from a foreclosure gone bad) in a town like LaGrange and see a HUGE return down the road...

I would really avoid buying stuff close to the median price in a relatively undesirable town. The potential for appreciation is INFINETELY SUPERIOR to buy a place below median in a desirable town -- this may literally the opportunity of a generation to get into a great area at a discount...

LaGrange and Brookfield have a pretty large number of bars, and the clientele is more welcoming of new comers than the "hard core" feel of a town like Lyons.

[Lookout Kid]

What about towns like La Grange Highlands, Indian Head Park, Countryside, etc.? All of these are in the "Lyons Area" and seem to be more desirable than Lyons, but not as expensive as La Grange? Am I correct in assuming this? These smaller suburbs are not so well known, and it's hard to find information on them. I don't think I've ever met anyone from any of these three towns.

Brookfield is underrated--largely because large swaths of it are visually unappealing. But there are some really nice blocks and the schools are often good. An uncle of mine lived there for decades as a school teacher and he really liked living there.

These near western suburbs offer a lot, and are much more affordable than the northern suburbs. My only worry about them is that the West Side poverty and crime may eventually spread into the more affordable, less desirable towns (like it did to Maywood, Melrose Park, etc.). And when you have High Schools shared by many towns, you really have to keep an eye on the entire area within your school's attendance boundaries. No one wants to send their kids to the next Proviso West.

[johnm68]

Indian Head Park is an attractive community. However, homes there are almost all in the $650K and up ranges. It's somewhat isolated, whcih is nice, but not really walkable to anywhere, not due to the vast distances, but to the lack of sidewalks and the major streets that surround it.

Countryside, to my mind, is quite similar to Brookfield. It does have a solid commercial base, whcih results in reasonable property taxes.

I grew up in the area, and returned after living in Chcago for 18 years. It wasn't until I moved back that I first heard of LaGrange Highlands. I know next to nothing about it, beyond where it is.

[chet everett]

LaGrange Highlands is pretty family oriented. Not much "there". Single guy would be pretty out of place with no real hang outs. Homes tend to be on larger lots, has a bit of "countrified" feel in parts, some folks have in-ground pools and such. Elementary school district serves southern portion of Western Springs. Very few rentals and lack of access to public transit gives it some of the demographics of some high end suburbs..