Suburbs - city-oriented (Chicago, Naperville, Arlington Heights: to rent, condo, house)

[moving_time]

I may be moving to Chicago with my husband and 1 year old. Husband is interviewing, and even if he doesn't get the job, his current job may OK a transfer. We've been looking at this for a long time, so know a fair bit about the area, but still have questions. We would want to rent in a Chicago neighborhood like Lincoln Square first, but when it comes time to buy, we need a suburb for school reasons.

I love the city and would plan to go in frequently, and would want to be around other people who also enjoy it. I'd like to make friends in my area who would, say, go to concerts or restaurants or museums etc with me. In other cities, a lot of suburbanites are afraid of "the city" or just don't care to go all that often. I am not at all like that, and get bored with suburban life sometimes. If I only had the $$ for private schools...

Anyway, I know people will recommend Oak Park and Evanston, and I'm totally open to that but they may be too expensive. Are LaGrange and/or Arlington Heights what I'm thinking of? I'd like a nice 3 bed 1+ bath condo or preferably house (smallish or older is good. Don't really like tract homes) in a reasonably safe, middle class neighboorhood, good schools, where we can walk to parks, stores, library, train, some combination of those. We have cars, but like to walk to things when possible. The jobs he's looking at are in the loop, so any side of town is OK. Just not too far out. I stay home with our son, so no other workplaces to consider. Budget 350k or less. Is this possible?

[ccjarider]

Lots's pf people in Arlington Heights work in, and utilize the benefits of the city. City is 40 min train ride and we go quite often.

AH is a nice place although I think many of the folks here are not quite as urban oriented as you. The downtown area is really "ubanesque" with nice restatuants and entertainement spots.

You can get a nice older but well kept home on the smallish side in AH for that money. We have 3 bd, 2 ba home with large 2 1/2 car garage on a nice tree filled lot in AH. Purchased earlier this year for around 300. We are great location, less than a mile from train station in downtown AH. Good schools too.

We like it here. Good luck

[cdc3217]

We have researched a move LaGrange specifically because of the schools and proximity to the city, as well as its relative affordability. Right now prices are falling in that zip code 60525. There are homes for 350 or less - and also a lot over that level, but if your needs are modest you should be able to find something. You might also consider Brookfield, but they do not have their own Park District so that was a mild turn-off for us, however it is even more affordable and also very good schools.

[ccjarider]

cdc3217 - How do research home price movement by zip code??

[irish setter girl]

You may also want to check out Downers Grove. Great schools, nice park district, easy train commute to the city and close to all kinds of retail. Hop, skip and jump to Brookfield Zoo, Children's museum in Naperville is not too far, TY Warner spash park - great for little ones!

[cdc3217]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

cdc3217 - How do research home price movement by zip code??

There was a map in a recent article at chicagobusiness.com
I also look at realtor.com frequently.
Don't know a site where you can just plug in a zip code, though. Sorry.

[johnm68]

LaGrange Park is always overlooked, but I think it's quite nice. Good schools, close to downtown and reasonably priced. It also seems to me that the residents in this area (near west suburbs--say from Berwyn to Hinsdale) definitely look to the city for culture, restaurants, etc. You need to get considerably further out to get to areas where the city is viewed as frightening or irrelevant.

[Lookout Kid]

I think Chicago is a draw for residents as far away as Madison and Milwaukee.

[ahava]

Ditto on LaGrange Park and Brookfield. It's going to be hard to find something in your price range in La Grange - in the 60525 zip code for that price you're going to be looking at Countryside/Hodgkins/LaGrange Highlands, which are not the same as La Grange proper. Also, Brookfield does have its own Park District/Recreation Dept.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by johnm68

LaGrange Park is always overlooked, but I think it's quite nice. Good schools, close to downtown and reasonably priced. It also seems to me that the residents in this area (near west suburbs--say from Berwyn to Hinsdale) definitely look to the city for culture, restaurants, etc. You need to get considerably further out to get to areas where the city is viewed as frightening or irrelevant.

Naturally, I'll chime in and officially add Berwyn to this list It also gets overlooked but the housing stock is outstanding, and there are a lot of great deals right now. $350k in this market would get something really nice. Due to the train lines and the proximity to the Loop, the long term appreciation potential should be good.

The schools are often dismissed without a second thought but Emerson and Irving Elementary on the south side are actually pretty solid. They outscored some Oak Park elementary schools on the most recent ISAT. Heritage Middle school also isn't bad.

You're right about people from this area heading to the City for culture and restaurants. On a Friday or Saturday night, we're about 15 minutes door to door from the South Loop and the Gold Coast (Lower Wacker is a wonderful thing). And if you don't feel like doing that, you're about equal distance from Oak Brook, not to mention right next to Oak Park and Forest Park.