First Time Homebuyer in Chicago Area (Skokie, Addison: real estate, foreclosed, lease)

[jvod8787]

Hello,

The wife and I currently are living just down the street from Wrigley Field. I moved there in 2010. I work in Oakbrook and the wife works in Skokie. We are both 25 years old and are not looking to start a family soon. I also am attending DePaul part time for my MBA. We are looking for a safe location to purchase a condo or house in the Chicagoland area. We would like something close to the highway and the L for our commutes. Fortunately we both work 7am-4pm so rush hour is usually not a problem. We would really appreciate any advise you could provide for a safe location where we can still have fun with our friends.

I am looking for a fixer upper, that I would like to rent in the future.

I appreciate your time and help.

[marothisu]

That's an interesting balance of commutes - Oak Brook and Skokie. Do both of you currently commute via car, or something else? Also, what's your range of budget and how much space are you looking for?

[jvod8787]

We both commute via car to work, I usually take the L to my classes in the Loop at night. The budget is $150,000 for a more fixed up place that is ready to be lived in. I would like to go closer to $125,000 and use $25,000 to make renovations. My father worked construction and I have learned a lot from him and he would be more than willing to lend me a hand if I needed anything.

[chet everett]

With your commute situation a location like Roscoe Village is probably about as good a compromise as you could hope for. Bring boat loads of cash if you want single family detached or even a condo with two off street parking spots.

[jvod8787]

Street parking is not a problem for us, we both drive older dependable cars that have been well maintained. A small dink or scratch is the reason we have cars like this.

[marothisu]

Gotcha. Have you considered a place in an area west of the Kennedy (i.e. Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, etc) along the blue line or something just east of it?

[jvod8787]

I lived in Logan Square on a 6 month lease when I first moved to the city, close to the Belmont blue line. It wasn't horrible however I often felt uncomfortable at night when walking around the area. Avondale and Irving Park both have caught my attention, again I was not sure if they were very safe neighborhoods. What are some of the better streets, or locations I should look at in these neighborhoods?

[marothisu]

How long ago was that? I guess everyone has a differing "safety" type of thing, but I know what you mean. The areas have a bit of a "shady" feeling sometimes even if they aren't actually shady. The areas around the Logan Square, Addison, and Irving Park blue line stop are better for feeling in my own opinion. I find the area around Belmont stop too open and weirder, so I definitely know what you mean.

The area around Logan Square blue has some great restaurants and such of course and the area is growing again (or so it seems) in both residents and business. Real estate prices may be rising as a result of course. I'm guessing with your budget in any of these areas, at least the desirable ones, that you'd be looking at foreclosed properties..


Here's a cheap one in Irving Park near the blue line/metra stops. My friend actually lived about 200 feet away from this place on the same street for awhile. The area is quiet and there's also a Tony's Finer Foods grocery store within 3 minutes walk. I never felt unsafe there even alone at night. It's about a half mile or less walk to the blue line stop, and there's the Irving Park bus at the end of the street too. Also a park near Irving Park Rd with Tennis and baseball.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...64-23267?row=1

Here's one that's about a half mile from the Logan Square blue line stop and more expensive:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...81-52146?row=1

[jvod8787]

Thanks, I'll look to spend a few nights out in these areas over the next couple weeks and hopefully can find a place that is within my budget. I really appreciate your advise.

[marothisu]

Yeah, and of course it's not everyone's cup of tea but it's good to experience it. Logan Square area has more nightlife of course, so if you're into that then it would be a little more up your alley. It's still not like Wrigleyville - quieter of course, but if you don't care then Irving Park is not bad.

There's still some good food in the Irving Park area too. My friend from Morocco says that Shokran is the best Moroccan in the city (right outside of the IP blue line stop). Bread & Wine is good ($16-$22 for entrees and a fairly nice place). Hot Woks Cool Sushi is decent and Wing Chong is OK for inexpensive Chinese food. Smoque BBQ is good as is Smalls BBQ a little east of there. Some decent Mexican places, etc. A few bars in the area but more dive bar types. Not a hopping area, but not bad.

As far as what Chet said about Roscoe Village - if you can find something there, it's good too. Not sure if you can find anything in that price range though but you never know.