50 miles from Springfield ? (Chicago, Peoria, Quincy: real estate, 2009, rentals)

[eracurt]

Hello all.
This is my first post. I recently found this site and was impressed with the content and feedback from folks. Seems like honest, truthful answers to me. I need some help with information. First let me give you some background so you'll know where we're coming from. My wife and I are in our mid to late forties. Our child is grown and out in the world on his own. We have a yellow lab named Tucker who shares our house. WE ARE OUTDOOR ORIENTED PEOPLE. Our goal is to "simplify our life". We are extremely sick and tired of what we call the "East Coast Cluster". We live about an hour west of Baltimore Md and an hour south of Harrisburg Pa. People everywhere, all the time. Nuff said. I have visited your state 4 or 5 times to hunt whitetail deer, my passion. I've always been to the west of Springfield. Myself and all the guys that have come with me find the folks out your way downright friendly, dont have much of that back my way. The small towns seem clean, the people talk to you, theres lakes everywhere and the deer are huge. This fits our recipe. My wife and I came out 2 summers ago and spent our vacation in Springfield. I wanted to show her around to prove what I was telling her each time I came home was true, not that she didnt believe me. We found just that. We visited everytown within 30 miles of Springfield in all compass directions.We thought Taylorville was nice, Jacksonville too. We attended the state fair and saw an awsome Montgomery Gentry concert. We visited Panther Creek Rec area, a place Ive hunted. The lake looked beautiful that time of year. We have decided to move there. We constantly scan for homes and rentals in mid western Illinois, we like what we see. In the spring of 2009 I will be selling our home and coming your way. Thats where we need your help. Our plan is to locate a rental property anywhere safe that will allow our dog to reside with us. Search out and find jobs and then purchase a home near those locations. My wife has degrees in both Drafting/Autocad & Medical Billing/Coding. I have been a Realtor for the last 14 years and have been a home builder almost all my life. Her ideal job would be in the Medical field. My ideal job would be working with a large whitetail outfitter, guiding, videoing, booking hunts at shows and generally helping to make that place the best place to hunt in the world. We dont need nightlife and excitement, been there done that kind of thing. We enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking with our dog, putzing around the yard and renting a good movie and staying home. We're not dead set on Springfield. We just thought jobs might be easier to find around a larger populated area. We may end up finding work in Peoria, Quincy or Decataur. We definately want to be in the west central portion of the state. A smaller town within a half hour or so drive to some civilazation would be the best. We wont mind living where the dirt road ends. If you folks have any input or contacts that could help me locate a rental property, give some suggestions on towns and areas, which are better/worst than others or know an outfitter that needs a guy just eat up with whitetails please reply to this post. Thanks for taking the time to read this long winded ramble.

Your soon to be neighbor
Curt & Michelle

[chet everett]

I'd find jobs first. No offense, but what sort of household income do you currently have? If you had jobs that were more regulated, along the lines of licensed nursing or licensed heavy equipment operator, it might be easier to judge what sort of income you could expect downstate. The various hospitals pay pretty well and road construction is a solid business in Illinois.

[Ciaerin]

howdy. decatur definately isnt the best place for a job. although the outlying towns are what you are looking for. you way want to look into warrensburg, lincoln, chestnut, mt. pulaski. lincoln is inbetween springfield and peoria. warrensburg, chestnut, mt. pulaski are all little towns between decatur and springfield. may want to check into those. and good luck i hope you like it here. i am heading sw to missouri myself on table rock lake

[eracurt]

Chet
Thanks for the reply. We will be coming with enough funds to rent and support ourselves for 1 year prior to needing a job for either of us. We will then be putting a substantial amount down on a home. My calculations tell me I may need a combined yearly income of around 40k to live quite well. Remember our goal is to simplify.

[ILRef]

Welcome Curt!

A few areas to look at...one, you already know, is Jacksonville. This is a small, friendly town ~ 30 minutes west of Springfield. You can also find towns closer to Springfield such as New Berlin and Pleasant Plains. You would still get the country experience, but you'd only be 10-15 minutes from Springfield. Any of these options would provide for access to the Springfield job market...and there are plenty of options available in the medical field. Good luck to you!

[chet everett]

The key is to make it easy on yourselves to get decent jobs. Central Illinois is doing OK on the agricultural front in terms of corn, and soy prices, but costs for diesel and fertilizer are crazy high so the the net is tight belts with wallets that empty just as fast at they fill.
Anything you can do to make it easier for a potential employer to put you on the payroll is a plus. Licensees and certification would be the smart thing to have in place.

[jessiegirl_98]

I'm from Quincy originally and would happy to answer any questions.

[AnimalLover]

I live in the country, just south of Springfield. We also have a cabin on the Mississippi River outside of New Canton (at least we hope it's still there after the flooding!) in Pike County. Pike County has more deer than people, you might just love it there. Unfortunately there aren't tons of jobs in that area. However, lots of farm ground in Pike County has been sold in the last few years for hunting and I think someone is trying to get a hunting-lodge type thing started.

Moderator cut: no PM me messages or ad

[linicx]

I live in a little town about 50 miles from Springfield. There is a lot ot say, so I hope I do not bore you. First we (the area) are in the process of reclaiming 14,000 acres of farmland for fishing, hunting, etc. The town is the county seat. It's small, but, we have a hospital/ life flight, doctors, , vet, pharmacies, grocers, hardware, lumber, restaurants, fire and police,
motels, bowling, swimming, golf, marina, parks, churches, library, Internet, real estate agencies, flora and fauna, history, retirement homes for rent or sale, theater, parks, variety stores, gas stations, pizza, fast food and the river - 278 miles of it - which has many backwater sloughs for fishing and hunting. We are also in the Canada to Mexica flyway.

Twenty miles in any direction is state forest, state parke, state hunting and fishing, plus winery, pottery, bakery, and comedy club. If you miss the old life, Peoria has some very upscale dining, shopping, live theater, symphony, etc. .If you are adventurous you can also sleep with the wolves.

What we don't have is a guide. We need one. We also can use a carpenter to help us old folks. The retirees around here that are covered in work charge $15-20/ hr. It isn't money like Chicago, but on the ohter hand you are as busy as you want, and you're not more than 15 minutes from home, and the expenses aren't nearly as high as Chicago either. .

The state bird is a mosquito. our town sprays evry week. Your dog can get parvo and heartworm along with ticks, burrs and stickers. .

One other thing. You can still buy a decent house for well under 100k.
Not much crime.

Before you decide on an area come experience the magic of the valley. I think you will be pleasantly surprised from the rolling hills to the tree covered bluffs. Food is good too. We look forward to meeting you.

[eracurt]

Linicx

Thanks for the responce. Your description sounds like the kind of place my wife and I are looking for. I am going to keep your letter and will be in touch with you again. I'm off to work now so I'll write more to you at a later time.