Want to move from city to suburbs... (Chicago, Arlington Heights: apartment, buying a house)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Bardot

Lastly, are there any suburbs near a metro stop that have bucolic areas? I'm talking farmhouses, woods, cornfields, etc.? If we can't find a suburb like the one I described above, we'd be more than happy to go live out in the middle of nowhere as long as it's within a drive to a metro stop. Thank you so much in advance, any advice is greatly appreciated

La Fox, Elburn, Harvard, Woodstock, Antioch.

Originally Posted by aga412

I'd say Batavia has what you're looking for! Definitely a hippie-ish vibe here...

Since when??

[pesco]

Mod cut: Orphaned (quoted post has been deleted).

[i]s there a legitimate hippie vibe [in Batavia]? In comparison to what one might find in Oak Park?

[aga412]

Did you note that I said "ish?" Look, I do love living in Batavia, but I know it's no Evanston or Oak Park. However, compared to the communities near to it, I would say it does have a hippie-*ish* vibe. Note the ish, again.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pesco

[Snip.]is there a legitimate hippie vibe there? In comparison to what one might find in Oak Park?

No.

Originally Posted by aga412

Did you note that I said "ish?" Look, I do love living in Batavia, but I know it's no Evanston or Oak Park. However, compared to the communities near to it, I would say it does have a hippie-*ish* vibe. Note the ish, again.

In other words... no.

[aga412]

I'm sorry, do you still live in the area? As someone who still lives there, I feel like I'd be able to speak to it.

What you have against this town is something I will never, ever understand.

[Drover]

My parents still live in Geneva. My best friend lives in Batavia. I'm there often enough to know there isn't anything approximating a hippie vibe there.

I have nothing against Batavia. I have something against people making ludicrous claims about it. If you're going to speak to it, tell it like it is instead of trying to make it out to be all things to all potential comers.

[rrah]

Originally Posted by Drover

My parents still live in Geneva. My best friend lives in Batavia. I'm there often enough to know there isn't anything approximating a hippie vibe there.

I have nothing against Batavia. I have something against people making ludicrous claims about it. If you're going to speak to it, tell it like it is instead of trying to make it out to be all things to all potential comers.

Have to agree with Drover--Since when has Batavia had a hippie-ish vibe? Is that coming from the McMansions west of Randall Rd? I loved living in Batavia, but it was what it was. Certainly a little less uptight than Geneva or St. Charles, but far from hippie-ish.

[aga412]

Maybe it's just who I grew up with and the people I know that live there. I'm not making ludicrous claims. It's based on the art gallery, Limestone Cafe, farmers markets, Fermi, Art in your Eye, the town's commitment to the arts, etc.. Again, it's *not* Evanston or Oak Park by any means. I'm just saying there's elements there.

[Anne C M]

Originally Posted by Bardot

Good to know! And does anyone know what benefits Illinois offers first time home buyers (if any)? A lower down payment for example?

You may qualify for down payment assistance from the state as a first time buyer. There are income and purchase price limits, though.

For a 2-person household, the income threshold is about $88,000. Max purchase price of the property is about $360,000.

There are financing options that allow a low downpayment, though. Conventional can now be done with 3% down. FHA allows 3.5% down.

[juliakoshka]

I would recommend Clarendon Hills.

-It has a Metra station -- half hour to the Loop
-Ten minutes to Fullersburg Forest Preserve, one of the lushest and biggest forest preserves in Dupage County. Huge hiking train and gorgeous river.
-Little crime. The kids are GOOD!
-The school district (District 181) is rated #3 in Chicagoland!! That's why we moved here.
-There is a farmer's market in neighboring Hinsdale (5 minute drive) plus probably another three or four within a 30 minute drive.
-Clarendon Hills is not very hipster, but neighboring Westmont is (5 minute drive).
-As well as Fullersburg, there are a huge number of beautiful forest preserves with hiking trails all over Dupage County. There are probably a dozen within a 20 minute drive of Clarendon Hills.

We have our house on the market now (you can see it by putting 2 McIntosh Ave Clarendon Hills in Google). It is one block from the Metra station to the Loop and one block to the schools, which makes our lives very simple.

We are selling our house for about 450K but you can get houses in Clarendon Hills for as little as 350k. Most are more expensive because people want the top notch school districts, the safe community, and the easy commute.