Relocating - considering Frankfort IL or Crown Point IN (Chicago: sales, skatepark)

[urza216]

Originally Posted by tjake

As I said I can name atleast a half dozen preferred locations off of the top of my head within 30 minutes of crown point that will give you much better access to the amenities of the chicagoland region.

So can I. It seems as if the OP isn't considering much of anything that lies in between the Indiana state line and 1-57.

But oh well. I'm still throwing the idea of Highland out there.

[wendellw]

We welcome recommendations of communities that have great schools, low crime and an hour or less commute to both downtown Chicago and Merrillville. Haven't looked into Highland but will. Thanks for the posts!

[knighthood82]

I would recommend Dyer or St. John around the vicinity of 81st (Steger Rd in Illinois) to 101st (exchange Ave in Illinois) along Hart St/Sheffield Ave. There are many nice new homes going up in the 400K range. In that area you can get to 394 via Steger Rd within 5 minutes and be in Chicago in under 45 minutes. Also from this point there are back roads you can take to Merrillville and avoid a lot of the congestion of the busier highways.

[Plzeň]

Originally Posted by wendellw

We welcome recommendations of communities that have great schools, low crime and an hour or less commute to both downtown Chicago and Merrillville. Haven't looked into Highland but will. Thanks for the posts!

For schools, you may want to look into Munster and Valparaiso. Both are within 20-30 minutes of Merrillville. Munster is 30-40 minutes from downtown and Valparaiso is an hour.

[tjake]

Originally Posted by knighthood82

I would recommend Dyer or St. John around the vicinity of 81st (Steger Rd in Illinois) to 101st (exchange Ave in Illinois) along Hart St/Sheffield Ave. There are many nice new homes going up in the 400K range. In that area you can get to 394 via Steger Rd within 5 minutes and be in Chicago in under 45 minutes. Also from this point there are back roads you can take to Merrillville and avoid a lot of the congestion of the busier highways.

With so much industrial located in dyer and nearby it's hardly an area I would recommend to someone new to the area looking to spend $400k on a home. Sure dyer has some new housing. But most of the neighborhoods with older homes in dyer are very run down looking and have seen better days. Many of the streets are in need of some serious repaving also. Again if you have respiratory issues or sensitive skin the pollution let off from all of the industrial may be something to consider also. My question is what does dyer really have to offer? Is Dyer really the kind of area where someone looking to move to the chicagoland region would want to move to and spend $400,000. My personal recommendation if you are looking to live in indiana and be close to Merrillville would be Dune Acres. Buying a home in dune acres would be a better long term investment than buying a new construction home in dyer which has very little residential infrastructure. Dyer is an area that is completely void of residential character and seriously lack aesthetic charm. Dune Acres has exclusive access to lake michigan, very private, and there is more much more outdoor family stuff to do. Not your typical northwest indiana heavy industrial community.

[supportyourschools]

Originally Posted by tjake

With so much industrial located in dyer and nearby it's hardly an area I would recommend to someone new to the area looking to spend $400k on a home. Sure dyer has some new housing. But most of the neighborhoods with older homes in dyer are very run down looking and have seen better days. Many of the streets are in need of some serious repaving also. Again if you have respiratory issues or sensitive skin the pollution let off from all of the industrial may be something to consider also. My question is what does dyer really have to offer? Is Dyer really the kind of area where someone looking to move to the chicagoland region would want to move to and spend $400,000. My personal recommendation if you are looking to live in indiana and be close to Merrillville would be Dune Acres. Buying a home in dune acres would be a better long term investment than buying a new construction home in dyer which has very little residential infrastructure. Dyer is an area that is completely void of residential character and seriously lack aesthetic charm. Dune Acres has exclusive access to lake michigan, very private, and there is more much more outdoor family stuff to do. Not your typical northwest indiana heavy industrial community.

I'm not sure what "industrial" you are referring to in Dyer. There are no steel mills or factories belching out blue smoke in Dyer. The people I know that live in Dyer (as well as other areas of NWI such as Crown Point, Munster, Schererville, and St. John) all relocated there from Chicago/Chicago suburbs. They moved to NWI because of good housing stock, good schools, lower taxes, and ease of commute. There are a number of upscale subdivisions in Dyer and the surrounding area. It's not Gary or Hammond, and it's just as nice as Mokena or New Lenox, if not nicer.

[supportyourschools]

Originally Posted by urza216

So can I. It seems as if the OP isn't considering much of anything that lies in between the Indiana state line and 1-57.

But oh well. I'm still throwing the idea of Highland out there.

Highland is decent, but the towns in the Lake Central School Corporation have better schools.

[GolfLover2]

wendellw: As much as I love the Frankfort (and surrounding) area, a drive to Merrillville isn't going to be an easy or quick one for your wife each day. Getting to Chicago is another story, with the Metra stations close by. Lincoln-Way HS - East is a great school and offers a wide range of academic and extra-curricular activities for your kids. Both my boys went to the school and did very well moving forward into colleges. The Lincoln-Way region as a whole has grown and changed much since I was a kid living there. Many more/range of options for shopping, entertainment, housing, etc. that years ago. Of course that means additional taxes and congestion on the highways. Part of the price paid for expansion and growth. Will County (and ALL LWHS-area schools are in Will County) are not inexpensive, but Mokena typically has the best tax rate of these towns ... if that is something you are concerned greatly over. Having been an appraiser and mortgage professional in the area for over 3 decades, I can assure you that what you are seeing in foreclosures is a "blip" in what normally occurs in the area. Real estate, IMO, will come back strong ... the school systems contributing to much of that strength. If you have questions ... feel free to write. I'll help where I can ... or refer you for more info ...
No matter your final decision, best of luck ...

[svillechris]

Originally Posted by tjake

With so much industrial located in dyer and nearby it's hardly an area I would recommend to someone new to the area looking to spend $400k on a home. Sure dyer has some new housing. But most of the neighborhoods with older homes in dyer are very run down looking and have seen better days. Many of the streets are in need of some serious repaving also. Again if you have respiratory issues or sensitive skin the pollution let off from all of the industrial may be something to consider also. My question is what does dyer really have to offer? Is Dyer really the kind of area where someone looking to move to the chicagoland region would want to move to and spend $400,000. My personal recommendation if you are looking to live in indiana and be close to Merrillville would be Dune Acres. Buying a home in dune acres would be a better long term investment than buying a new construction home in dyer which has very little residential infrastructure. Dyer is an area that is completely void of residential character and seriously lack aesthetic charm. Dune Acres has exclusive access to lake michigan, very private, and there is more much more outdoor family stuff to do. Not your typical northwest indiana heavy industrial community.

I understand that you have a negative opinion on anything related to Indiana, especially when someone is considering an Indiana town against an Illinois town. But, you can't just make up lies and spread them on message boards when people are genuinely looking for help. There are no industries, refineries, or mills in Dyer at all. There are mills closer to Dune Acres than there is to Dyer. I don't live in Dyer, but here's why many people like the town:
-Small town feel
-Strong public schools
- Quick access to Chicago and its suburbs via 394
- Very low real estate taxes
- Safety

[urza216]

There's pleaty of industrial near Flossmoor in Chicago Heights. That's not just an Indiana thing. It's a Southland thing.