Nice areas along BNSF? (Naperville, Downers Grove: real estate, renting, homes)

[divakat]

We currently are renting in Naperville, about a mile from the downtown area. While we love Naperville, it is very very expensive to live in the downtown area and still have an updated, 4br house. Another problem is that my husband commutes to the city, and Naperville has a 10 year wait list for parking near the train. We have two children (boy and girl) and I work from home a lot, so we'd need another room for an office. Our budget is up to 600k and we'd like something where we can walk to the train and downtown, with good schools. I recently was in LaGrange and thought it was nice, but wonder what others think. Hinsdale is lovely, but I don't think 600k will get us far there...

[chet everett]

There definately is strong demand at your price point in all the desirable towns along the BNSF. It is not so much that "your money won't go far" as the shear demand for something with 4BR, updated, not too close to the noise of the train but maybe close enough to walk most days and under $750k or so remains VERY strong from LaGrange through Naperville. When homes in that price range in the half a dozen or so towns with desirable schools come on the market they usually get A LOT of showings very quickly and if there are no glaring defects go under contract quickly...

Downers Grove, with three separate Metra stops, does have a bit more to choose from than other towns along the BNSF so might concentrate your search there, but honestly if you work with any good real estate agent that can set you up with email alerts for homes in your price range with the features you want you would be wise to check out homes as they come on the market. For folks in your situation, especially if they can't just drop everything becuase the kids need care when they are not in school, I strongly recommend touring a range of exisiting listings, even if they are outside of your target, so that your agent can develop a short list of "must haves" and "deal killers" and they can "pre shop" listing for you. Additionally I think it is smart to consider alternatives to a ready-to-move-in home / ones with reduced room count, as some may have the layout that would allow for easy updating / addition and the total MIGHT still be in your reachable budget...