Homewood vs. Flossmoor (updated information) (Chicago, Aurora: sale, home, elementary schools)

[At1WithNature]

Obviously, private all the way. The only thing public school will do for your child is set her foot on the wrong path.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

I know I sure didn't want to spend $300k and get a house with a 1940's kitchen!

On the North Side I would kill for a $300K house with a 1940's kitchen. Anything at that price would be a teardown.

It's interesting to me that the declining south suburbs are just propping up real estate values in the western and northern suburbs. When you label an entire area "to be avoided", it raises price pressure elsewhere. Case in point: at the height of the boom, and bungalow sold for $900,000 in Ravenswood Manor, while similar houses can be found for less than a quarter of that elsewhere.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

Obviously, private all the way. The only thing public school will do for your child is set her foot on the wrong path.

Oh, come on. It so clearly depends on the individual school or district that this comment is really off base.

[ajolotl]

That's a good point. The same can be said for the south side of the city. Hyde Park is really pretty ridiculously expensive in my opinion. Same even for Bronzeville, Oakland, etc. and of course South Loop is predictably expensive. My Hyde Park realtor friend tells me that UofC faculty/staff who used to flee to Flossmoor in droves (for good schools and less grit, not to save money) now are either staying or tending toward Beverly. Those who want a more urban experience buy in the south Loop. Point is almost no one in this group is buying along the metra electric line south like they used to.

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

On the North Side I would kill for a $300K house with a 1940's kitchen. Anything at that price would be a teardown.

It's interesting to me that the declining south suburbs are just propping up real estate values in the western and northern suburbs. When you label an entire area "to be avoided", it raises price pressure elsewhere. Case in point: at the height of the boom, and bungalow sold for $900,000 in Ravenswood Manor, while similar houses can be found for less than a quarter of that elsewhere.

[scotty40]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

That's a good point. The same can be said for the south side of the city. Hyde Park is really pretty ridiculously expensive in my opinion. Same even for Bronzeville, Oakland, etc. and of course South Loop is predictably expensive. My Hyde Park realtor friend tells me that UofC faculty/staff who used to flee to Flossmoor in droves (for good schools and less grit, not to save money) now are either staying or tending toward Beverly. Those who want a more urban experience buy in the south Loop. Point is almost no one in this group is buying along the metra electric line south like they used to.

Which is funny because Flossmoor's demographics are very similar, the crime rate is lower, the average family income is over 31k higher, the public schools rate the same or higher, and the surrounding area crime rate is similar compared to Beverly (all info from the Chicago Tribune real estate section). Someone must be staying or moving there because the average family income is over 131K. The commute is probably similar too- I'm not sure on that one though.. HF high school still ranked in the top 25% schools in the Chicagoland area- I wouldn't write it off yet...

[ajolotl]

that's all true more or less, though a few details could be debated. beverly though has a relatively long history of stable integration, so people are less afraid that the area will change quickly. I know, it's circular, self-fulfilling logic, but that's unfortunatrly the way these things unfold.

beverly is also much closer to the action, for what it's worth, and the property taxes are much lower.

Originally Posted by scotty40

Which is funny because Flossmoor's demographics are very similar, the crime rate is lower, the average family income is over 31k higher, the public schools rate the same or higher, and the surrounding area crime rate is similar compared to Beverly (all info from the Chicago Tribune real estate section). Someone must be staying or moving there because the average family income is over 131K. The commute is probably similar too- I'm not sure on that one though.. HF high school still ranked in the top 25% schools in the Chicagoland area- I wouldn't write it off yet...

[cuba libre]

That whole area reminds me of the scene from 'Back to the Future 2' when Biff takes over the city and the neighborhood transforms into a run down, crime ridden industrial area filled with crime and gangs. Diversity brings a mixed basket of furtunes, that's for sure.

[Chicagoland60426]

Flossmoor is better. Diversity with nice large homes and upper middle class people. Flossmoor is similar to parts of Beverly in the city.

[oldhousegirl]

I don't know for certain what the next 5 years or so hold for Flossmoor, but the major concern is high taxes and fair plus to good minus schools. Gorgeous homes of course, great walkable downtown, park district/activities and the libraries. But when you have 8k to 10k (and up) taxes on a 325k house, and downward trending schools that equals a problem.

Someone mentioned Olympia Fields, they have been known for a while for bad schools at all levels, particularly the high school. Granted a few small segments attend HF schools.

OP, I can't say with absolute certainty what other areas flood, but do know that Flossmoor is known for water problems. Do a search, and some of the community newsletters come up that discuss it. That's another big problem that often times can't be easily or cheaply fixed.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by cuba libre

That whole area reminds me of the scene from 'Back to the Future 2' when Biff takes over the city and the neighborhood transforms into a run down, crime ridden industrial area filled with crime and gangs. Diversity brings a mixed basket of furtunes, that's for sure.

What whole area? Flossmoor? I don't think so. It still has the feel of a very genteel suburb.