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Old 04-24-2013, 12:48 PM
 
Location: stepfordwife-ville
24 posts, read 26,210 times
Reputation: 51

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Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read this, I will try to keep it short, sweet and to the point...

My husband has been given a promotion and with that comes a move to the Chicago area. We are a thirty-something professional couple with an 8 month old. He is in sales, and I am a nurse. He is originally from the Midwest and has moved around a bit. I on the other hand was born and raised in NYC's 5 boroughs and have never lived anywhere other than the immediate area. We are searching out suburbs where we could find a nice home for 400-450k. Good school system is a priority. I do NOT need an area with a good walk score, but some culture and activity would be great (we enjoy good restaurants, and wouldn't mind a place with a fun town square/downtown or something of that nature)

That being said, I think we are ready for the suburbs and so I have been researching and researching areas where we think we may want to buy a home. Naperville, Wheaton, Glenview and Evanston are in the top running.

Thoughts and insight into what we may/may not like about those areas would be greatly appreciated. Subsequently, if there is a different area we should consider, please let me know.

Thanks again!
Bea
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Old 04-24-2013, 01:21 PM
 
28,460 posts, read 83,802,268 times
Reputation: 18702
The selections you may find in your price range are probably going to be thinnest in Evanston and Glenview. Frankly the inventory in Wheaton and Naperville is not exactly ripe with ANYTHNG under $500k...

Will job require trips to Loop via Metra or is driving to various spots in the region more likely?


You will probably need to add some towns like Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Downer Grove and maybe others to your list...
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Old 04-24-2013, 01:30 PM
 
Location: stepfordwife-ville
24 posts, read 26,210 times
Reputation: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
The selections you may find in your price range are probably going to be thinnest in Evanston and Glenview. Frankly the inventory in Wheaton and Naperville is not exactly ripe with ANYTHNG under $500k...

Will job require trips to Loop via Metra or is driving to various spots in the region more likely?


You will probably need to add some towns like Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Downer Grove and maybe others to your list...

commuting into Chicago is a non-issue. My husband has a 'territory' and we are unsure of what I'll be doing once we get there, but either way...I'll be driving.

as for the inventory in Naperville and Wheaton...our realtor has actually sent quite a few listings, so I'm curious to know what prompts you to say there isn't much available under 500k?
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Old 04-24-2013, 02:01 PM
 
63 posts, read 156,726 times
Reputation: 14
I presume newer homes in highly desirable parts of town will be difficult under 500k for those areas. I prefer Wheaton and glenview over the other areas.
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Old 04-24-2013, 02:09 PM
 
Location: Oak Park
214 posts, read 535,098 times
Reputation: 118
You'll hate it no matter where you live. Everyone from New York hates it here.

HA. I'm only joking..............sort of.

Where's the husband's "territory?" Will he be doing a lot of flying? If so, Evanston is kind of a pain. Elmhurst is centrally located.
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Old 04-24-2013, 02:38 PM
 
28,460 posts, read 83,802,268 times
Reputation: 18702
Default Just ran an MLS search...

When I query Naperville for 3+ bds , 2+ baths >$500k I get 410 results, when I ask to see only those not pending or under contract it drops 171... If I take out foreclosures and short sales I drop under 150...
Given that the population of Naperville is about 140k that is "thin/tight" on numbers alone. It I further refine the search to exclude homes that I would not recommend to a young family that is relocating it starts to look like a scramble might be necessary...


Quote:
Originally Posted by Beatam007 View Post
commuting into Chicago is a non-issue. My husband has a 'territory' and we are unsure of what I'll be doing once we get there, but either way...I'll be driving.

as for the inventory in Naperville and Wheaton...our realtor has actually sent quite a few listings, so I'm curious to know what prompts you to say there isn't much available under 500k?
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Old 04-24-2013, 03:58 PM
 
Location: stepfordwife-ville
24 posts, read 26,210 times
Reputation: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatchetman View Post
You'll hate it no matter where you live. Everyone from New York hates it here.

HA. I'm only joking..............sort of.

Where's the husband's "territory?" Will he be doing a lot of flying? If so, Evanston is kind of a pain. Elmhurst is centrally located.

territory will include Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. 25% travel monthly. He's yet to decide whether or not he'll be flying-as sometimes it seems easier to drive, especially given the current state of affairs with air traffic control.

He'll be making weekly trips to ABT (sp?) electronics, which I believe is in Glenview, but he claims he doesn't want that to weigh too heavily in the decision making.
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Old 04-24-2013, 04:05 PM
 
Location: stepfordwife-ville
24 posts, read 26,210 times
Reputation: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
When I query Naperville for 3+ bds , 2+ baths >$500k I get 410 results, when I ask to see only those not pending or under contract it drops 171... If I take out foreclosures and short sales I drop under 150...
Given that the population of Naperville is about 140k that is "thin/tight" on numbers alone. It I further refine the search to exclude homes that I would not recommend to a young family that is relocating it starts to look like a scramble might be necessary...

Point taken.

Although, I think that just makes the search that much easier as we are not looking for a forever home, and more like a starter.
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Old 04-24-2013, 04:16 PM
 
28,460 posts, read 83,802,268 times
Reputation: 18702
Naperville is not super convenient to the north-ish suburbs...
You might want to consider how "centrally located" you want to be. Arlington Heights or Downers Grove might be a worth considering both on price and ease of access to multiple expressways...
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Old 04-24-2013, 04:35 PM
 
Location: stepfordwife-ville
24 posts, read 26,210 times
Reputation: 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
Naperville is not super convenient to the north-ish suburbs...
You might want to consider how "centrally located" you want to be. Arlington Heights or Downers Grove might be a worth considering both on price and ease of access to multiple expressways...

Got it.

Arlington Heights has been mentioned a few times by different people. Anything in particular that would make it appealing?
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