Need to choose between N-Aurora (204) or HomeTown Aurora (111) (Chicago, Naperville: loft, condo)

[mimimzalendo]

Dear Friends,

My sister-in-law from UK have the following question. Her husband and her, have finalized their search for a place.

They are a couple (no kids) and her husband works downtown Chicago. They found two great places with about same price but a little difference (N-Aurora is 5-10,000 dollars cheaper than HomeTown-Aurora). Its a BIGELOW (www.bigelowhomes.com) development with already 1500 homes and 500 more to come before end of 2007.

(a) N-Aurora - in Dupage County and considered part of Naperville Town with 204 schools. Its a 1997, 2B 2.5BH, I Garage, Condo-Townhouse. This is in Heather Glen / Oakhurst sub-division and has about 80 units in the development.

(b) HomeTown Aurora - in Kane County and a few miles from Aurora Downtown. Its newer-2003, attached single-family, 2B, 2.5BH, Loft, 2 Garage with 111 schools.

Both have no basements and have 2 levels and open plan downstairs. Both have almost equal taxes and assoc. fees. Both are closer to Trains (Rt-59 or Aurora) and closer to highways (Rt. 88, Rt 34, Rt. 31, etc). Also both are close to most shops around. Also both have no major club amenties (e.g. fitness centers, swimming pool, etc).

<b> Question - Which place would be good for some comfortobale living style, location, commute methods and re-sale value (want to stay there for 2-3 years max)? The re-sale value for them and location are big factors for their decision.

MM

[Steve-o]

Well, the HomeTown location will be closer to Rt. 88 which offers direct access to downtown Chicago if he plans on driving. If hes taking the train, Id recommend the North Aurora location. Its quieter and close to Geneva which has the Metra station. The North Aurora area will give you more return if and when you decide to sell and is closer to better schools.

[mimimzalendo]

Steve-o,

Thanks ... actually the N. Aurora property is off McCoy Dr. and either in Oakhurst or Heatherglen sub-division. When we drove them there this weekend, the nearest Metra was Rt. 59 (3-4miles). I think the Geneva stop is very far and for the more Northern place. He doesnt plan on driving to downtown daily but actually wants to use the trains.

M

[jenrik2714]

Oakhurst and Heather Glen are the same. Heather Glen is part of the big Oakhurst subdivision. I live in that area. It is nice and quiet and you will be in school district 204. You will have plenty of access to the Aurora Public Library (Eola Rd Branch), the park district has a facility in the same building as the Library. It is a very family friendly area.
I am selling my townhome in Oakhurst for a bigger home. Please let me know if you would want to see it. It is in Oakhurst in the Townes Subdivision.
You will be close to Wal-mart, and other stores on Rt. 59, plus there is a bus (fox valley village bus) that would take you from the subdivision to the train station.

You might want to steer clear of Hometown Aurora which is further west on McCoy, they feed into the East Aurora school district which is having some bad financial times now.

[mimimzalendo]

Jenrik,

I will let them know that ... So its actually Oakhurst ... Yes, it seemed quite nice when we drove them there this weekend.

Your town-home, on which or off-which road is it on? Price range? ... Age? Levels? Bedrooms? Bathrooms? Fees/Taxes? ... etc ...

From first glance, they were taken greatly by the Hometown Aurora area but after we drove past some streets (e.g. Simms) and then detoured to the downtown Aurora, we could see that some of those places seemed different.

Yes, we heard that in terms of schools, 204-schools are better than the 111-schools.

I will print and forward most of these comments to them today.

M

Originally Posted by jenrik2714

Oakhurst and Heather Glen are the same. Heather Glen is part of the big Oakhurst subdivision. I live in that area. It is nice and quiet and you will be in school district 204. You will have plenty of access to the Aurora Public Library (Eola Rd Branch), the park district has a facility in the same building as the Library. It is a very family friendly area.
I am selling my townhome in Oakhurst for a bigger home. Please let me know if you would want to see it. It is in Oakhurst in the Townes Subdivision.
You will be close to Wal-mart, and other stores on Rt. 59, plus there is a bus (fox valley village bus) that would take you from the subdivision to the train station.

You might want to steer clear of Hometown Aurora which is further west on McCoy, they feed into the East Aurora school district which is having some bad financial times now.

[jenrik2714]

I am near Eola and McCoy Dr. I am asking $198,900 2 bdrms+ 1 , 2.5 bath loft the MBR is huge. Big LR. This was a great starter home in a great area, but we need a bigger house. My husband is Mexican, so we enjoy going into Downtown to the Mexican grocery stores and the little shops. I am from the southside of Chicago and I have been to worse places than Downtown Aurora so it doesn't bother me at all.

[OakBrookMom]

Put your money into the better school district, it will make a difference when you go to sell your home. WV & district 204 is much better, I don't envision East Aurora catching up. I have a cousin who lives just off of McCoy in a newer (1990's) townhome. She has a child in junior high and commutes to downtown Chicago everyday for work. She is very pleased with the schools and has no complaints about the commute. Oakhurst is a nice area, very convenient.