Downers Grove/Westmont Area For 1st time Buyers? (sales, homes)

[mazman23]

Hi - -


Any thoughts on the Westmont/Downers Grove area for first time homebuyers?

My Wife and I like the fact that we are close to Oakbrook/York Town. Seems like there are some good deals on all types of property in Westmont.

Any downsides?

Thanks for the help!

[chet everett]

Downers Grove is significantly larger and has a wider range of homes, especially on the higher end. The impetus for this is probably driven by the schools more than anything else, as historically DG has made more of effort to support their schools with referendums and even communication to the taxpayers. There are two high schools (D99) and basically one large elementary district (D58), they have worked together very closely, and even had the same superintendent head up both for a time.

Westmont has a smaller Unit district(U201) that includes the High School, Middle School and a two elementary buildings, though parts of Westmont are in other school districts.

Even if you do not have kids these differences show up in tax bill and ulitmately in current and future selling prices.

There are other trade-offs too. Though both are served by BNSF, Downers has more express trains, which is a plus, but tougher parking, so an offset. The Downers Main Street is larger and more completely developed, with far more residential units. Westmont has a smaller downtown along Cass that has some very nice resturants but also some very unhip taverns...

No major "town wide" downsides, but you really have to look closely at tax bills. Westmont has traditionally gotten A HUGE amount of sales tax revenues from luxury car dealers, that seems pretty stable and tends to moderate the need for high munipal property tax. DG has community services that are on the more expensive end, and some area seem to have high tax bills, but generally in-line with other DuPage Co. towns.

If you find a property on a desirable block in either town it ought to make a fine place to live and over the long haul (5+ years) appreciation should be similar IF you wisely maintain and improve your home.