Moving from Naperville! (Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Buffalo Grove: buying a house, neighborhood, buying)

[caitlin08]

I am 23 moving in with my fiance. He works in lincolnshire and we need to find a place with a good commute. He doesn't want to drive more than about 30 minutes each way. We don't have a specific area in mind though. We are looking for a safe town with a good downtown (example wheaton and naperville) We love being able to walk around with restaurants, shops, bars, ext. We're thinking about buying a house, our budget is under $300,000. We don't want a town filled with ranch houses, we're looking for colonial and traditional houses. Can anyone suggest any ideas?? Thank you

[3Series]

"Can anyone suggest any ideas??"

Deerfield has a decent downtown. I'm not sure what $300k will get you around there, but I wouldn't aim high. I bet it's more expensive than Naperville and I'm not even sure $300k will get a decent place around downtown Naperville.

[caitlin08]

I don't expect to get anything actually in a downtown area. I live about 5-10 minute out of downtown in naperville right now and that is perfectly fine, and there are a good amount of homes you can get in naperville for around $300,000 or under outside of the downtown..

[3Series]

If you want a 4br 2.5ba colonial or something like that try Buffalo Grove or Vernon Hills. I don't think you'll find anything in Lincolnshire, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Deerfield etc.

You'll be driving distance to plent of quaint central business districts around train lines. Nothing like Naperville exists in the northern suburbs.

[cubssoxfan]

Caitlin, Where will you need to commute to for work?

[wjj]

Originally Posted by 3Series

If you want a 4br 2.5ba colonial or something like that try Buffalo Grove or Vernon Hills. I don't think you'll find anything in Lincolnshire, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Deerfield etc.

You'll be driving distance to plent of quaint central business districts around train lines. Nothing like Naperville exists in the northern suburbs.

Not sure about VH but you will not get a 4 BR colonial for anywhere near $300K in Buffalo Grove unless it is really beat up. But you can find a nice 3 BR ranch or possibly two story in a nice mature neighborhood for around $300K. Cook county side of BG is generally less expensive than the Lake county side.

No downtown though.

Not too many traditional downtown areas around Lincolnshire. Closest would probably be Libertyville (which is a really nice downtown area) but $300K won't get you much in Libertyville. Straight up Milwaukee Ave. from Lincolnshire though, so good location for what you are looking for not withstanding budget.

[caitlin08]

To cubssoxfan, I'll be in the Winfield area working or possibly getting a new job if we move too far north.
My fiance lives on the border of wheeling and buffalo grove right now and we don't really care for the area. I'm starting to realize a downtown area is out of reach. Are there any towns that are safe and not older/rundown? 1990 and earlier is ideal. Also, when friends come to visit we'd like the option of going out for drinks and not have to drive far.
I think I'm just too used to the Naperville area and would prefer to just stay there but that's not an option. Thank you everyone for all of the information. If anyone can help any further that would be great!

[almost3am]

Arlington Heights? That has a decent downtown area. I bet that is a 25 minute drive to Lincolnshire, but would be probably ~45 minutes to Winfield.

[chisub]

Originally Posted by almost3am

Arlington Heights? That has a decent downtown area. I bet that is a 25 minute drive to Lincolnshire, but would be probably ~45 minutes to Winfield.

But then you don't get a "newer" town. It sounds like OP is looking for something more cookie cutter? I'm not as familiar with the North, but something like Oswego? You're going to have a hard time finding a new area (most "desirable" areas are actually older, imo) with a great downtown and new colonial homes under 300k. I'm guessing there are some towns that have less than stellar schools, but newer homes that might be a 15-20 min. drive to another town's downtown area?

[chisub]

Well this won't really help with the commutes, but Hoffman Estates? I'm not a fan, but they have newer subdivisions where you could buy a home under 300k and close to restaurants and shopping.