Moving to Terrace Rd. in Homewood??? (Flossmoor, Highland: townhome, neighborhood, purchasing)

[tabysu1]

We are currently looking into purchasing a home in Homewood, IL on Terrace Rd, between Highland and Ashland Ave. We would greatly appreciate in and all HONEST opinoins on the neighborhood. For example, waht type of neighborhood is it: in terms of diversity, ago of school children, safely, friendliness of neighbors? We have two children that are toddlers and this would be our home for them to live in and play with other kids, attend school (starting at Willow and then on thru the grade center system). We are not 'set' on this area mostly because we feel like we don't know a lot about it yet. Any information that anyone can provide about the quality of this area in regards to all the topics I mentioned before would be greatly appreciated. We currently live in Flossmoor in a townhome in a predominantly african american neighborhood where we are the minority...we we definitley want more diversity (more 50/50) for our kids to grow up in.

Thanks again for any advice and insights you might have! (our home price range is up to $400k so any other locations in H-F area you would mention that are new'er' construction (aka...low maintenance) would be greatly appreciated)... Thanks!

[Mamama Mia]

My favorite areas in Homewood are old Ravisloe (walking distance to the train), west of Ravisloe Country Club and north of 183rd Street and west of Izaak Walton and north of Ridge Road. I love the older homes with character and lots of mature trees.
I have friends teaching at Churchill (grades 3 and 4), the demographic is 44% African-American and 48% Caucasian, currently, so that would suit your needs. Willow is about the same. Children attend 4 elementary schools in District 153. (Willow, Churchill, Millenium and Hart)
We have friend on Hillview and their home there has appreciated about $35,000.00 in 24 years. You should be able to find a very nice home well below the top end of your budget. Best of luck with your decision.

[scotty40]

Terrace rd. between Riegel and Dixie? You might want to check the school district- you will probably be in the Flossmoor school district- Western Ave. Grade school (scores very well). We have family that owns a house on Idlewild (next block south across from the country club). Extremely quiet with the occasional jogger. Very nice area.

[tabysu1]

I just checked and it seems the north side of Terrace is Homewood and the south side of Terrace is Flossmoor...quite confusing!

[At1WithNature]

I think it will be a better than average, for southern cook county, location for a start up family. However, just keep an eye on the neighborhood and the characters around you. Things in Homewood have been changing over the past 20 years. For example, H-F's test scores have dropped as the demographics have changed. I wouldn't raise a family there, especially teenagers. But it all depends on how you raise them and how well they listen to you as well as think for themselves.

You could do much, much worse as Homewood still has good schools (just not as good as they were in the not so distant past). The best thing about Homewood is their supremely excellent police force. They do a good job of keeping the riff raff out. They are well trained, have the latest technology, and have excellent response times. I think Homewood has the best police force in all of Southern Cook County, possibly all of Cook County. The Homewood police force is top notch. They actually patrol the streets looking for trouble makers unlike many departments who just cruise around until they get called to the scene of a crime.