Best southwest or southern suburb for a young family (Lansing: 2013, crime)

[Northwest Indiana]

Originally Posted by ablum

My wife and I along with our newborn are currently house hunting for a home in the 170k-200k price range. We both work in the joliet area and were leaning towards buying in and around the joliet area. We have looked at several neighborhoods in the southwest suburbs including, joliet, minooka, shorewood, romeoville, and plainfield. We were suprised to find so many newer built larger homes in our price range, many of which were bank owned foreclosures in good shape. But they were all in cookie cutter subdivisions. We also took a look at homewood which is more south because my wife is from flossmoor and wants to live close to her family and good friends. She totally sold me on the area and we are both now leaning towards homewood. I kind of prefer a more established area anyway. The nice downtown in homewood with the bars, restaurants, and good shopping options are all a big plus for me. We are interested in hearing others opinions on how homewood stacks up for a young family to southwest suburbs like joliet, minooka, shorewood, romeoville, and plainfield.

As far as the suburbs you listed, I think Homewood may stack up pretty well...Then again, the suburbs you listed are not the most desirable (not the least desirable either)...But it should not matter because, well...I think you have answered your own question now have you? If Homewood works for you and your wife, then that is all that matters! I hope it works for your child (and future children if any) as well! Word of advice. Try not to buy the most expensive home on the block, and if there is a house that you REALLY REALLY love, make sure you get to know all the neighbors BEFORE moving in. You don't want to make a mistake of moving into a crappy neighborhood. Good luck!

[allen2323]

Homewood doesn't have any crappy areas. It's more about choosing the neighborhood where you feel comfortable and fit in since homewood is a very racially diverse community. Also home prices are higher and taxes are higher in certain areas of homewood than others which may be a facter for a younger family. You really can't go wrong with homewood. I would say the same for flossmoor, olympia fields, and matteson. Although, homewood might be the best fit for your family socially and financially you should also look into those nearby suburbs also. And from a financial standpoint as you have already pointed out this area is one of the very few truely middle class established chicago suburban areas where home prices are not completely inflated compared to median household incomes. It's a great time to buy in middle class non inflated areas and you are in a very lucky position. Make the best out of it.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by allen2323

You really can't go wrong with homewood. I would say the same for flossmoor, olympia fields, and matteson. .

You most definitely can.

If you're looking for good schools, that is.

[ajolotl]

If I had to live in the South/Southwest suburbs I would definitely choose Flossmoor. Orland Park is just typical middle/professional class sprawl. It probably has a lot of tangible upside (parks, schools, low crime, endless strip malls with good stores, etc.) but is no different from about ten thousand other places in the country. To those who don't care, it's probably a good choice. For me personally, I like the older communities that are more concentrated, have smaller roads, a town center around a train station, beautiful older houses, etc. Maybe the H-F high school has more underperforming students than it used to, but I still think it's good enough. Overall, it just feels a lot more like a community to me.

Just my preference, not saying Orland Park isn't a very good place by many relevant metrics.

[allen2323]

The public schools are pretty good and are considered more than acceptable for most parents who live in the area. Especially the grade schools. But, with all of the money that you save from being able to buy now in an area that is also more mature like homewood, flossmoor, or olympia fields at the current non inflated prices over still inflated mokena, frankfort, or orland, you will also have access to all of the relatively affordable private school options in the area for your child. Living in an established area you will also have the perk of having some of the best private schools in the chicagoland area nearby to choose from and some of the most competitive tuition rates (6-7 grand a year range). It's time to stop propping up these over inflated middle class areas where median home prices are way out of wack with median household incomes.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by allen2323

And from a financial standpoint as you have already pointed out this area is one of the very few truely middle class established chicago suburban areas where home prices are not completely inflated compared to median household incomes.

No one pointed anything out, allen. Who exactly are you referring to?

Originally Posted by allen2323

It's a great time to buy in middle class non inflated areas and you are in a very lucky position. Make the best out of it.

Typically, places are less expensive because they're less desirable.

[allen2323]

Originally Posted by Chuckity

No one pointed anything out, allen. Who exactly are you referring to?



Typically, places are less expensive because they're less desirable.

The original question alluded to this fact. Typically it would be just a simple question of what area do you prefer or see as being more desirable. But many of the areas mentioned are severely over inflated and are due for a huge price correction that has already begun to happen in those areas. Buying in mokena, frankfort, or orland at this point, you are essentially bailing out a homeowner who made a foolish decision to buy new construction in an unestablished area at such an over inflated price. That same homeowner is now trying to sell that over inflated home at well over current market value. This would leave the new homeowner in the same position as the last homeowner, with little chance of seeing a return in the foreseeable future.

[Chicagoland60426]

I see the usual folks chimed in. I just add my quarter and recommend Homewood. You kind of had that decided already and your budget is $200k, so Homewood is right around your alley. And for the guy that said Orland and Tinley having more retail than Homewood, of course it does. Both Tinley and Orland combined add up to nearly 120k people, solidly middle income(some upper middle ),and a combined area of 34 sq miles. For under 20k people, Homewood is holding up. The typical retail are located on Halsted. Target, Best Buy, Super Kmart, and Menards are all situated on the same street. There are a couple of starbucks in town, Caribou Coffee, a Chilli's and Applebee(both on halsted), and plus some more stuff downtown.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by allen2323

The original question alluded to this fact.

No, it didn't. Not even close.

Originally Posted by allen2323

Buying in mokena, frankfort, or orland at this point, you are essentially bailing out a homeowner who made a foolish decision to buy new construction in an unestablished area at such an over inflated price. That same homeowner is now trying to sell that over inflated home at well over current market value. This would leave the new homeowner in the same position as the last homeowner, with little chance of seeing a return in the foreseeable future.

By buying into HF, you are essentially buying into an area with declining schools and rising crime. That sounds like a great plan for a huge ROI.

[ajolotl]

I know lots of people who bought in the 80s in otherwise beautiful areas with rising crime and crumbling schools (kenwood and woodlawn). They ended up doing very well. Places with strong upside always have the chance to turn around. Buying when prices are down and the broader perception is more negative isn't always a bad idea.