lake county (Chicago, Northbrook, Highland Park: sales, apartment, insurance)

[BlackHawksfan102]

i just had a quick question, generally do you guys think that the lifestyle of lake county is better than that of cook county excluding chicago. I was looking at a map and all of southern lake county (highland park, lake forest, lincolnshire, long grove, vernon hills, etc..) they are all 90% wealthy areas, more golf courses and forest preserves, and not as expensive housing prices..and then northren lake county is an up and coming area too with lindenhurst, grayslake, etc.. what do you guys think...

[chet everett]

I work near the Lake / Cook border now, and things are not particularly blissful / misreable on either side. Norther Cook has plenty of Forest Preserves too. Unless you live on a golf course you're in a car driving to play, so doesn't really matter which side of boundary you're on (and as I recall the courses owned both Forest Preseves are no real bargains...).
Lower housing prices? If you factor in the total costs of utilities (and the texes on them) and trade-offs that come in some towns without fire department and the insurance surcharges and such I doubt that you'd really see a big trend in savings on either side.

Different strokes for different folks. The developed towns that have metra stations and real vibrant downtowns are pretty rare, each is sorta unique...

[lakecountylifer]

Gurnee, Lindenhurst and Grayslake---well you can get a 3000 square foot beautiful home, built in the 90's with a spacious yard for the low 300's.

In Deerfield, Highalnd Park or Northbrook, you can get a tear down for the same price.

[BlackHawksfan102]

thats exactly what im sayin. It used to be like 10-15 years ago you would be able to get the same 3000 sf nice home in deerfield, highland park, or northbrook in the low 300's. What im wondering is, is the lindenhurst, grayslake, gurnee area next/do u think that they're gonna be the next wealthy cities like hp and northbrook/ lincolnshire are now?

[chet everett]

ha

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by BlackHawksfan102

thats exactly what im sayin. It used to be like 10-15 years ago you would be able to get the same 3000 sf nice home in deerfield, highland park, or northbrook in the low 300's. What im wondering is, is the lindenhurst, grayslake, gurnee area next/do u think that they're gonna be the next wealthy cities like hp and northbrook/ lincolnshire are now?

In 1994 I bought a 2 bed/1 bath, almost 1,000 square foot home for $200,000 in Highland Park. I don't recall there being 3,000 square feet homes in the low $300,000's at that time. Maybe you could do that in Deerfield or Northbrook, but not in Highland Park.

But to answer your question, no, I don't think Gurnee and Grayslake are going to be the next wealthy cities. They'll continue to be solid, middle class towns.

[Lookout Kid]

If you think about all of the "wealthy" suburbs in Chicago, I think it's reasonable to assume that there will be fewer of them in the future, not more. Chicagoland income levels just can't support all of the towns with inflated home prices out there. My guess is that the truly wealthy enclaves will remain wealthy (Lake Forest, Winnetka, Hinsdale, etc.), and the $600,000 ranch houses in places like Deerfield and Western Springs will be a thing of the past. Just compare median household income levels to home prices in various suburbs, and you will see that the prices are insane in many suburbs.

[chitown85]

If you like apartment living, then the cost of living is comparatively the same. In terms of property taxes for owning a home, it is higher on the Lake County side. There are less businesses to support the schools, fire protection districts, etc.

The one benefit to Lake is that the sales tax is lower. Obviously the county has 1/9 of the population of Cook as well. For wealthy residents, county services tend not be an issue except for schools police protection and fire protection

[miasmommy]

Originally Posted by lakecountylifer

Gurnee, Lindenhurst and Grayslake---well you can get a 3000 square foot beautiful home, built in the 90's with a spacious yard for the low 300's.

In Deerfield, Highalnd Park or Northbrook, you can get a tear down for the same price.

We are looking right now in Lindenhurst. My mother's side has lived there for years ( I went to highschool in Lake County). You can get the same home with more yard for the half the price as one in Cook County.

It's becoming more busy and crowded however with the new water park added to Great America and the indoor/hotel park across the street. The summers are packed with people because of the Chain of Lakes.

I love it. Fishing, boating, swimming, more trees, less polution and the best thing of all THE PEOPLE: More down to earth and not as obsessed with material things.

[miasmommy]

Originally Posted by Paige65

In 1994 I bought a 2 bed/1 bath, almost 1,000 square foot home for $200,000 in Highland Park. I don't recall there being 3,000 square feet homes in the low $300,000's at that time. Maybe you could do that in Deerfield or Northbrook, but not in Highland Park.

But to answer your question, no, I don't think Gurnee and Grayslake are going to be the next wealthy cities. They'll continue to be solid, middle class towns.

And that is why we want to go there!