Chicago?? Edited to ask about in the City life and places to live... see page 2

[DMickey28]

I know another moving question!!!

I had posted a thread awhile ago about area's near chicago to live. We don't want to be in the City and we work out of the house so that isn't a problem. Someplace upscale that a young couple with no kids yet will be comfy. We like to be at home aren't big go outers!!

Thanks....

DFiance is looking at a bunch of different job oppurtunities that have come up in the last few days so that the reason for all the questions!!!

ADDED******** What are safe areas in the city aside from Michigan Ave???? Added on page two!

 

[Roemama1]

OOOHHHH Dan.....Mr. Dan Murphy come on down...you're the next contestant on.....

 

[MJames41]

That depends. What is important to you? There are many great areas in Chicagoland, all around the city. How much can you afford? Really upscale areas include Wilmette, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Wheaton, Oak Park, to name a few. And, of course there are great shopping malls around (Woodfield and Stafford Square are a couple of my favorites).

Welcome to Chicago!

 

[Trinity721]

would ya look at that, I beat Dan?! Didn't think it was possible! No hard feelings buddy

Evanston is a good area to live. Beautiful houses there, close enough to the lake, and it's close enough to the city without being too close to the city. Or you can go further up north to the Highland Park area, also very nice. Northbrook is nice. These are all suburbs of Chicago, but again they're not too far and just close enough if you want to take a trip to the city. These are also areas that are good for young couples who have no kids yet, but also a good place to live when you want to start raising kids. I would definitely suggest the Cook County area (Chicago & surrounding suburbs) which have lower property taxes than Lake County (far north suburbs), at least for the most part. But of course that always depends on other things than just area. Barrington is also very nice, but much farther from the city. I would say an hour or more. However, it's a nice upper-scale area, again good for young couples and good for young families.

Good luck! Any questions, PM me... But i'm the opposite of you, I will be leaving Chicago at the end of the year

K Dan, your turn!

 

[DMickey28]

We are looking to rent at first and see how it goes. We need a two bedroom and would be willing to pay up to $1200-1300 for the right place IF NEED BE!!!

 

[mrsv98]

You could also look at Arlington Heights. The downtown area has been revitalized in the last few years and is very nice. The Metra line is right there so access to the city is easy. Woodfield (shopping) is close as are lots of restaurants and theatres.

Look here Arlington Heights for more info.

The other area is Glenview. The village took the old Naval Air Base and turned it into a little town within a town that is supposed the be very nice.

I totally agree about staying in Cook County. When we bought our house almost 4 yrs ago, the same sq footage was $1000 more per year in Lake County

Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Dan Murphy]

All the suburbs of Chicago (well, most of them) are great, and there are MANY, probably well over a hundred. Lake and DuPage counties will have higher taxes than Cook, which is the one is where Chicago is located.

I know nothing of rents, but doubt you would be upscale for that monthly rental for a 2 BR. Not sure, just my thought. All the towns mentioned above are great. Arlinton Heights, the town next to me, as mentioned by Rebecca, is a very nice town, just as she said. Mount Prospect is in the midst of trying to duplicate that.

It is a beautiful city, a lot to offer here in Chicago.

 

[Trinity721]

I'm not too sure about rent prices either, but the apartment I used to live in near Loyola used to go for $1800/mo when I lived there and is now $2100/mo. But it's very close to the lake, close to the L train stop, and close to the city. It's 4BR, 2bath, large dining room, kitchen, sunroom and rear sunroom. A total luxury for college students, but it would better suit a family.

I have a friend who rents in Schaumburg, a 1 BR and I think it's about $900-$950. Schaumburg is also a nice area, close to Woodfield mall.

 

[FINFAN]

I'm out in Naperville...50 minutes west of Chicago....average home price for a 2400 sq. ft 4 bed/2.5 bath is $325,000, but new housing is pretty much 3,000 sq. ft. and up, starting in the mid-to upper 400's, and $500,000 is pretty much a norm for a new upscale home.....rent around here is varied, but for the nicer end units $1400.00 per month and up for a 2 bedroom. We are DuPage county and our taxes are pretty high...at least 2.5 % of purchase price. I would try realtor.com and go into the section that says "neighborhood tour" on left side of the screen. Once that page opens you will see a choice for criterea or neighborhoods like your own. Put in your current zip code, then the city you will be moving to and then mile radius. at least it will give you a starting point for similarities of what you are used to. Good Luck and welcome to Chicago!

 

[KimRaye]

How about Park Ridge? It's a suburb 3 blocks from me. I can't speak for the rentals there, I only know 1 person who rented, the rest own/owned.

Soooooooo many choices!!!

 

[DMickey28]

Thanks for the responses.

DFiance is meeting the hiring manager for the job in chicago next wednesday for a face to face interview. He had the phone interview yesterday and it went very well.

We can go hiring in rent if we have too but we don't need to be near the city, just probally within and hour or so. I don't see paying $2500 up just to live closer to the city. We aren't city people so I don't think I would be happy....

We shall see. DFiance is following various job leads so that is why I ask about all the random areas.... Chicago, Texas! I am the researcher and the decision maker as far as what area we actually live in based on where the best job oppurtunity is for him.

Thanks again for all the advice. Keep it coming....

 

[MJames41]

You can get some very quality rentals for that price. A 2 bedroom at Bourbon Square in Palatine is nice (indoor pool, workout room). We have a nice 2 bedroom at Willows of Wheaton for a great price as well. They are apartments though.

 

[macraven]

i live about 27 miles north of downtown chgo and just a mile from the wisconsin state line. up this way is the illinois beach state park and a lot of open space, just on lake michigan.
if i could move, it would be no lower than deerfield. that is the last city of lake county, cross the street and you are in cook county. when i lived in evanston, cook county, the car insurance was high, i moved a tad north to be in lake county. what i pay for car insurance for two cars living in lake county is the same what i paid for one car in chicago. cook county.
consider the taxes, insurance and congestion when you are deciding where to move, check out which county you will be in.
if you move west or north of chicago, consider being close to the transportation lines. makes it so much easier to comute to chgo. than driving.
raven
good luck in what you decide.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Oh, almost forgot, you will also have easy access to those 'legendary' Chicago DIS meets, and Chicago pizza.

 

[Tiggeroo]

we love Chicago. I love the Wheaton area, which has a real college feel, but you are at least11/2 hrs from the city. Love Naperville as well. We lived in Lemont, Tinley Park and Orland HIlls. A bit less upscale but still nice and much closer to the city.

 

[GlennandAnn]

We live in Orland Park, which is about 20-30 minutes from downtown Chicago. It's a south suburb- I haven't head from any south siders on this thread yet!! The south suburbs are really nice and very affordable- rents and mortgages here are cheaper than those in the north or west suburbs. It's nice here because you have the suburban feel, but you are also so close to the city if you need to get there for some reason.


Ann

 

[Cruise04]

Naperville and Wheaton/Warrenville are all very great areas. Lots of shopping around, plenty of grocery stores. Shopping is more stip mall type. Taxes are high but schools are great (for those future kids...). Train station in Aurora goes into the city (there is a stop off of Eola in Naperville). Also another nice area which has a train station to the city is Geneva/Batavia/St. Charles area. By train it's about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Going in closer is Villa Park and I can't remember the other stops. We use a more northern train which goes through Schaumburg. Also along the tollway is Oakbrook, Downer's Grove which are very nice, more upscale areas as well (and goes right into the heart of downtown but no train).

I love the Schaumburg/Rolling Meadows area but it is a little more north of the city and does tend to take a bit longer because of congestion. But is closer to the airport (O'Hare). It is a more upscale area but has train stops as well. For commuters those train stops are important.

Now a bit more south is the Joliet area but I don't know if there are many "upscale" apartment areas. There are also areas in Elgin/Dundee/Carpentersville that are "upscale" and the communities are nice.

 

[pamlet]

Actually unless it's stopped very recently - there is a train if you settle in Downers Grove/Westmont area - also goes through LaGrange/Brookfield.

All of these are more "settled" places - not particularly hip (my parents live in Westmont... haha) But they are lovely.

I moved from Chicago nearly 30 years ago - grew up in "the city", then the folks moved to the "burbs".

I've always thought the St. Charles/Batavia area is beautiful. It's right on a river, and always looks so pretty. It is further out from the city - but certainly is close enough to get in for theater, downtown shopping, etc.

Chicago is a WONDERFUL area. You can find some beautiful areas.

Someone mentioned the south suburbs - they are definately less expensive than north or west.

Also - if you get a chance check out Willow Springs - it's sort of a little microcosm unto itself. Very close to the city via I-55, and very pretty. I've had a number of friends who've lived there over the years. It's a little more expensive for a "south/southwest" area - but no more than the Northern Suburbs - and much closer in.

With very few exceptions - just about anywhere you land will be nice - the people are wonderful, the shopping extraordinary - and man o man - SUCH a variety of restaurants... laugh...

I love going back to visit - just to get good Polish cookin'... and Italin Beef.... and pizza... and Chicago style hot dogs... mmmmm

Laugh - so good luck in your quest - whether it be Texas or Chicago - you'd be in 2 of my favorite places!!

 

[SpecialK]

Another southwest suburanite here! I have to say, I think most of these suburban areas are more family oriented. If I didn't have kids, I'd check out the south Loop area. I'd also look into a suburb like LaGrange, Elmhurst or Riverside where there are quaint downtown areas (especially LaGrange) with nice restaurants and shops but that are still on a convenient train line if you want to take advantage of the night life on the north side.

Have to disagree about Willow Springs. There's not much there. Western Springs is nice, but very family-oriented IMHO.

Good luck!

 

[Cruise04]

That's good to know about the train. I just wasn't sure if there was one near Downer's Grove since we usually take the train from the north. Is that the one from Geneva do you know?

Anyway - another note about the train. If you want to see what towns the trains go through go to www.metra.com. That might help some. I know people don't like to move to communities if they aren't near the train station to get to the city.