In search of a non-suburban suburb. (Chicago, Naperville: houses, neighborhoods, buyers)

[Awesomenaut]

People of city-data, I am in a pickle. My long-time girlfriend and future wife is considering purchasing a house while its still a buyers market, but can’t quite afford to spend what it’d cost to get a place in Chicago. Being broke, I have little to input in decision, but I’d like to live someplace I can be happy.

Now I don’t drive and am still in my twenties, so to me the stereotypical suburb is where dreams go to die, but I’m open to change and having a yard would be nice. I know they’re not all like that, but like damn near everyone I meet in Chicago I’m from Michigan and have no idea what areas outside the city have to offer. My only experiences have been far southern suburbs and Schaumburg, both of which may as be on Mars as far as I’m concerned as well as brief periods of time in Evanston and Oak Park, which seem nice, but are practically, if not more expensive than Chicago. Are there any other suburbs that offer at least some semblace of the city life I’ve come to love the last three years?

Identical McMansions and chain restaurants have been haunting my dreams. Please help.

[SloopyJ]

Since you haven't provided much in terms of locational or price preferences, a decent place to start would be the suburbs that are usually considered to have the "best" downtowns. That topic has been covered before, but a list of those suburbs would definitely include Evanston and Oak Park but would also probably include La Grange, Park Ridge, Naperville, Hinsdale, Highland Park, St. Charles, Homewood/Flossmoor, and Tinley Park. My guess is Hinsdale and Highland Park are too pricey for you (given your comments about Evanston and Oak Park). La Grange and Park Ridge have a wide range and may be worth investigating; the others, while hosting decent downtowns, would be a stretch to call urban.

[oakparkdude]

If you liked Oak Park, look into Forest Park. There are inexpensive houses (less than 300k) within walking distance of the Blue line. The high school sucks, but you can move before that becomes an issue.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Awesomenaut

People of city-data, I am in a pickle. My long-time girlfriend and future wife is considering purchasing a house while its still a buyers market, but can’t quite afford to spend what it’d cost to get a place in Chicago. Being broke, I have little to input in decision, but I’d like to live someplace I can be happy.

Now I don’t drive and am still in my twenties, so to me the stereotypical suburb is where dreams go to die, but I’m open to change and having a yard would be nice. I know they’re not all like that, but like damn near everyone I meet in Chicago I’m from Michigan and have no idea what areas outside the city have to offer. My only experiences have been far southern suburbs and Schaumburg, both of which may as be on Mars as far as I’m concerned as well as brief periods of time in Evanston and Oak Park, which seem nice, but are practically, if not more expensive than Chicago. Are there any other suburbs that offer at least some semblace of the city life I’ve come to love the last three years?

Identical McMansions and chain restaurants have been haunting my dreams. Please help.

Inner-ring -- Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Riverside, Berwyn, Forest Park, Oak Park, Evanston, etc. If you really want to gain some edgy pioneer bragging points, try out Cicero. That'll pretty much place you polar opposite of McMansion/chain restaurant suburbia without putting you in unreasonable danger like Harvey or Maywood would. You will be the envy of the anti-establishment types and maintain a reasonable degree of safety.

[Awesomenaut]

Originally Posted by SloopyJ

Since you haven't provided much in terms of locational or price preferences, a decent place to start would be the suburbs that are usually considered to have the "best" downtowns. That topic has been covered before, but a list of those suburbs would definitely include Evanston and Oak Park but would also probably include La Grange, Park Ridge, Naperville, Hinsdale, Highland Park, St. Charles, Homewood/Flossmoor, and Tinley Park. My guess is Hinsdale and Highland Park are too pricey for you (given your comments about Evanston and Oak Park). La Grange and Park Ridge have a wide range and may be worth investigating; the others, while hosting decent downtowns, would be a stretch to call urban.

Thanks for the options, I'm off to the internet to look into these places.

As far as preferences go, she wants to spend less than $500k and the location doesn't matter much, as long as there's a Metra nearby and it's not in Indiana or Wisconsin.

We both work in the Loop/West Loop and are planning on relocating to a sunnier location once we move up the ladder in our respective fields so the school systems aren't of much interest for us.

[SloopyJ]

Look into La Grange Park also. It's located north of La Grange, is generally less expensive, and effectively shares the downtown area.

Have you considered outlying City neighborhoods? If the schools aren't a concern, you could do better in many parts of the City (e.g., northwest side neighborhoods) than in pricier suburbs.

[kindrakindra]

Anywhere you have blue line access will be great for the west loop commute. South Oak Park, Forest Park and North Berwyn are great options.

[Venom]

Maywood, Melrose park

[ihynes]

wait, isn't North Berwyn the part of Berwyn that's going downhill? I thought South Berwyn was where the gorgeous Victorians are

[johnm68]

For for between 400-500K, you should be able to find a place in any of the inner ring suburbs mentioned--most of these suburbs have much more in common with the city than they do with, say, Schaumburg or Westmont. SInce schools (particularly high schools) aren't an issue, I'd look closely at Forest Park and Berwyn. You'll come in well under budget, have great access to the city, and get a nice home. Forest Park has more nightlife, Berwyn better housing stock, but either one would be a good fit. LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Riverside, North Riverside, Park Ridge are also great, but all have a more suburban feel (but again, not like a suburb further out).