Rockford / Poplar Grove area? (Sycamore, Marengo: houses, elementary schools, live)

[runnings]

My husband and I are looking at the Poplar Grove area to relocate. Does anyone currently live near Candlewick Lake or know about this area? What are peoples opinions of the elementary schools in the area? I have heard Rockford has some good and bad areas, but that this being on the outskirts of the East side is the better place to be located.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

[Marita1848]

I don't know about Rockford but we were looking into Candlewick Lake the houses are very inexpensive and now we know why. Our realtor sent us the rules and by laws for the association. She said houses are typically on the market for 2 to 3 years. The rules are crazy. You can't do anything like change a tire in your own driveway or have a party in your own house if people will be driving to it. Everything is extra even though you pay an association fee. If you google Candlewick Lake you can find their website and if you click on the area for realtors you can view the bylaws for yourself. We also looked at Marengo which isn't that far away but the prices were much more and you got much less. We settled on Sycamore which is south next to Dakalb. It is a much more active town with a really cute downtown area. And the schools are great. Good Luck and beware of the bad areas of Rockford. Marita

[srae0214]

I lived about five minutes from Candlewick Lake growing up. I would never move there...ever. The kids who lived there that I went to school with were all the big druggie and party kids. Plus all the regulations for the area are ridiculous. As for Rockford, the schools there are horrible. I live here and when I have children, I plan on moving away. Of course, they say things are bound to get better because once you hit bottom, there is nowhere else to go but up, right??? I agree with the previous poster, I say go west or south.