charming older homes, where to find them (Chicago, Aurora: real estate market, low crime)

[chprout]

I'm sure Chicago is full of them. But I am trying to find them long-distance.

I am looking for areas that have wonderful older homes, hopefully redone, such as craftsman style or english cottage, or others. I love what I see of Geneva and along the Fox River, but again, I'm not familiar with the areas and I'm sure there are other great areas. Looking for good schools also. We would like to near a downtown so we can walk to festivals and shops, etc, and be and near a metra train. Price range - say up to $400,000

Any suggestions would be appreciated so I can narrow down areas on the internet to look at homes.

[purplesky]

Where will you be working? Woodstock has a very charming downtown (as seen in the movie "Groundhog Day". There are a lot of older homes as well, many with wrap-around porches.

[mstengle]

Check out Oak Park! Very close to downtown - one of a kind Wright homes and excellent downtown area. Not sure where you will be working, but it is a quick commute downtown Chicago via trains. (It is not cheap!!)

[sgresident]

I know that there is a lot of negative talk about aurora, however, there is a stretch along Downer place that has the most beautiful homes. I have no idea of price range.

[chprout]

Working in Warrenville. Would like to stay within 30 min drive.

[Steve-o]

Look no further than Wheaton. LOTS of great old beautiful homes (but can be pricey), combined with excellent schools, wonderful downtown, low crime, etc. I have many pics of that area on this Chicago Suburbs board, the photos are stickied at the top of the page if youre interested. Good luck!

[Lookout Kid]

Nice western suburbs known for older homes:

Oak Park
River Forest
Riverside
La Grange
Hinsdale

Unfortunately none of these are close to Warrenville! I'm not as familiar with the outer suburbs, so I'd listen to Steve-O and others about them. Many of the far suburbs developed first as small towns, so they have a limited supply of older homes near the center of town. But the gross areas of these outer suburbs are generally dominated by newer homes suburban sprawl.

[OakBrookMom]

Geneva is great, sound just like what you want. Batavia and St.Charles are also options with St. Charles being a 30 minute commute. Batavia much less expensive on average but the downtown is not as developed. Naperville old and charming will be too expensive. Good older homes in the heart of Wheaton just north of Warrenville and Glen Elynn go fast even in this market if under 400K - probably will have to look closer to 400K than below 350K. Lake Elynn area is gorgeous as is the Wheaton section by Northside Park. This slow real estate market allows you to get into those 2 towns and get a nice home - both towns offer much better commute downtown which might not ever be an issue for you but is very important for resale. Downtown Downers has many options under 400K with lower taxes. Anything other town east of I-355 will probably be out of your desired commute time plus much more expensive. The section another poster mentioned in Aurora is beautiful and the prices will be under 300K for the most part (you won't find the same quality older homes in this price range in other areas) but the larger older homes go up and sometimes above 400K - any of the older mansions on Downers Place would be way over the price range.

[At1WithNature]

Downtown Frankfort has many but the prices will be $400,000+.