want to move to IN from Il work downtown (Portage: insurance, hotel)

[winters816]

Hi, I currently live in Illinois I work downtown and have only been here for a year. I just cant survive the Il housing prices anymore. I am looking for a 3 bedroom townhome or nice single family in good area of nw Indiana with decent commute to around the Federal District of downtown. Looking to rent possible buy. Im clueless to Indiana looking for area similar to Naperville,il. Nice schools middle class neighborhoods. Just a nice safe place to live. Please respond I need to get outta chicagoland!!!

[artemis]

Would you be driving into the city every day, or taking the South Shore ?

I would recommend Chesterton, its far enough out you can get away from the traffic gridlock in the Highland, Munster & Schererville area, and take the SS to work every day.

If you live outside of Lake County, your insurance will be cheaper too.

[winters816]

Originally Posted by artemis

Would you be driving into the city every day, or taking the South Shore ?

I would recommend Chesterton, its far enough out you can get away from the traffic gridlock in the Highland, Munster & Schererville area, and take the SS to work every day.

If you live outside of Lake County, your insurance will be cheaper too.

WOW, what a diffrence in price. I went on realtor.com and found some really nice homes can you tell me what schools are best in Chesterton, or areas to avoid. What is your local newspaper? I want to check out the classifieds for rentals, thanks

[winters816]

okay, since no one has comments on chesterton, can you sugggest other cute-safe towns that are more affordable than chicago burbs.

[artemis]

Well, theres Hobart, in Lake County. And Portage in Porter County. Valparaiso is a very nice town, lots of Chicago people building there. Schools are very good in Valpo.

What kind of commute time are you willing to do?

[donbo50]

IMHO, anything is cheaper than Chicago!!!! That's a known fact to us. There are no higher taxes than in this part of Illinois. Can't wait to get out. The traffic is another misery.

[Midnight Momma]

If I had to choose, I'd pick porter county. I lived in Valpo as a kid, moved back to Merrillville, and now as an adult, I want to go back to Valpo. Mayor Costas is really taking care of that city and is growing nicely. The old downtown, with brick streets, is really nice and now smoke free. Wonderful shops and outdoor restaurants. The Popcorn Festival is wonderful every year. If you didn't know, Orville Reddenbocker (sp) is from this area. You can easily take the southshore up to Chicago. Valpo is close to the beach and the Deep River Waterpark. The golf coarse at Aberdeen is really nice. Schools are very good. Valpo is also college town with Valpo University. Good Luck in your search! Drive down to Valpo and look around. I think you'd really like it. Take care.

[domergurl]

A lot of Illinois folks are flocking to Crown Point, Dyer. St. John and Schererville. Schools are good (Crown Point and Lake Central schools). Look into Chesterton and Valpo too. A little further out, but Chicago people are moving out there too. Lake county taxes (CP and Lake Central) taxes are higher than Porter county (Valpo & Chesterton).

[winters816]

I want to thank everyone for posting so far. We drove to Chesterton over the weekend. It was pretty nice. I am in shock at the diffrence its like a whole nother world. We checked out the beach and ate on country road at El Satio (sp) really good have the half rolled fajita taco salad. I didt find any major shopping though such as; homedepot, sams club, walmart. Where is all that? Im from a small town and can get used to chesterton but I have so much more to learn. Is the water there contaminated because of the plants? There has got to be a catch to living so much cheaper and being so close to Chicago. I am going to find a hotel down there and look around more another weekend. If you have any details about Chesterton please post them.
Thanks!!!!

[domergurl]

There is no catch really. We moved back to Indiana after living in Chicago and we were chuckling during closing when they told us how much the taxes would be BEFORE you filed for your EXEMPTIONS!!! Those lower your taxes even further. It is more expensive to tag your car though. But sales tax is cheaper, housing is cheaper ... as for shopping, most is done in Merrillville/Hobart or in Valpo.