working in Oak Park Ill. not a city person need help! (Chicago: real estate, to rent)

[sherlund3]

I got a job offer in Oak Park, but I'm not much of a city person. My husband and I prefer more of a rural area. We have a 15 year old so good schools are important. I would like a commute 30 min or less. I know nothing about Ill. We are from Florida. (yikes, snow and lots of it). We'd like something where our nieghbor is a good distance from us, hills would be nice coming from flat florida. Our budget is 350K 3/2 with a2 car garage would be nice. Any ideas??? Please help..

[chet everett]

The budget and time constraints are going to be big challenges, if you want real hills and big separation between homes the options are even more limited. Good schools makes this just about impossible...

I personally would compromise first on the hills, then on the commute, then on price and finally on the schools...

If you want hills and good separtion between houses that would require you to look way out in places to the SW like Lemont or Lockport as well as maybe parts of Willow Springs, Palos or Orland, the Fox River Valley to the west and maybe McHenry Co to the NW. Pretty much all of those are going to be FAR LONGER than 30 minutes... The most direct route might be along I-88 to Batavia / North Aurora. You might find a well priced home with some space around it out there for close to your budget, schools are not top tier but honestly that is not realistic with your budget and the rest of your wish list.

[oakparkdude]

You're going to have to extend your commute to 90 minutes+ if you want real rural living. I'd consider Geneva, IL, in your price range. Its not truly rural, but the western parts are semi-rural, and you can take the train on the 60 minute commute to Oak Park.

[Tex?Il?]

Check out Willow Springs.

Its about as hilly and rural as you're going to get within a half hour of Oak Park.
Bluffs, small community surrounded by forest preserve, on the river, etc.


https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=O...=h&mra=ls&z=12

[NARFALICIOUS]

What kind of distance between your neighbors would you like? like an acre or 2 or 1/2 mile? 1 mile? Most of what's within a 30 minute commute is City or Suburb, and Chicago's suburbs within that distance are pretty dense.

[sherlund3]

Thanks for the replies ok so hills eh take it or leave it..1/2 acre aprt from nieghbors is fine, can't give up on the commute of 30 minutes or the good schools; budget can go up to 400K. I'll check out Willow Springs, any other suggestions??

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Check out Willow Springs.

Its about as hilly and rural as you're going to get within a half hour of Oak Park.
Bluffs, small community surrounded by forest preserve, on the river, etc.


https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=O...=h&mra=ls&z=12

Willow Springs is oddly carved into at least three different school districts. The most desirable high school that serves parts of Willow Springs is Lyons Township but it is an exceedingly circuitous route to school, most homes that are covered by the district are either kind of pricey (and often in little subdivisions with not much room between houses) or kind of ancient. The worst district is probably Argo, named for the industrial corn processor that lends a distinctive industrial order to the town. In between would be the Orland schools, which once were quite desirable but have suffered as towns further out pulled the younger more affluent families...

It is worth looking for the OP, as commute would potentially be least bad, but I would not expect anything too perfect.


If you want the best value close to Oak Park it would be hard to beat Brookfield. You will not get hardly any variation is elevation (geologically that part of the region was once the shallow shore of a much larger prehistoric inland sea that today makes up the Great Lakes...) and lot sizes are generally very compact, but you will be under 30 minutes from work, $350k will buy a nice enough family sized home and schools are as good as could for hope for in that price range...

[linicx]

Oak Park is an inner ring suburb 9 miles from downtown Chicago which is about 20-30 minutes by car or train. Cook County is flat. Statistically speaking the vast majority of high schools are on the Illinois State Watch List for failure to meet state and federal standards in math and science. Oak Park and River Forest kids share the same high school. Your other option is private school. In reality your price point will not buy much in Cook County, but you should be able to find a decent fixer-upper that does not require a total rehab. Real Estate taxes are high as they stay local to support schools, hospital, parks, county services, etc.. If you really want rural your husband will drive an hour or more to work in good weather. It is not fun on ice and snow. Cook County is the second largest county in America with the third largest city that incidentally is home to 2/3 of the state population. You will have a difficult time avoiding dense population and also be near your husband's work.

Truthfully you are better off to rent for one year. You will then have a better idea of where you want to buy, distance and time, and transportation. OP is not a bad place to live. The downtown is walkable, good food, several parks, and there are many nice services for residents and kids. The move will be a culture shock especially the first winter. You really need boots on the ground before you invest in permanent housing only to learn you hate it. Take your time; you will find your niche.

The hills in Illinois (100 miles m/l are basically in the middle of the state or about three hours. There are smaller areas around Geneva, Fox River, etc.. Illinois is an interesting state steeped in history. Most folks that live in Cook County escape to Wisconsin in the summer. The members who live in Cook County and Chicago will tell you more.

[North Side Brandon]

Consider South Elmwood Park right next to River Forest. You can a very nice home and have money for Catholic Schools left over. You would be very close to work too.

[chet everett]

Respectfully the OP is giving up a whole lot in any of the towns mentioned. While parts of Elmwood Park do have slightly larger lots than parts of Brookfield or Oak Park the savings may not be enough to offset even sending one child through four years of Catholic high school which could easily top $60k, to say nothing of the shock of moving and being in a totally differnet environment than they may be accustomed to ...